Come see us parade!!

At our Librarian workshop today, one of the librarians was telling me about one of our upcoming Mardi Gras parade, the 10th Annual Krewe of Barkus and Meoux!! I instantly decided that Grace and I are going to enter. I don't know about Warren and Pete!! ha That might be a bit much for Petey! He's only just started going outside by himself...a parade might be a bit a nail-biter! Below is the information from the Galveston Humane Society website about the Barkus and Meoux parade:

The 10th Annual Krewe of Barkus and Meoux Mardi Gras ParadeMark your calendar now - The 10th Annual Krewe of Barkus and Meoux Parade will be held on February 3rd, 2008. The Krewe of Barkus and Meoux was formed in 1999 to provide a festive venue for pet owners to celebrate and share their beloved pets. It also serves as a fundraiser for the shelter benefiting the daily operations of the Galveston Island Humane Society. This year’s celebration will include a costume contest and microchip clinic prior to the parade.Last year we had just over 210 pets in all species, sizes, and shapes, happily escorted by their humans. A pre-parade costume judging will be held with winners making up the royal court and escorting the 2008 King or Queen. Pets, as well as their humans, are encouraged to wear their Mardi Gras finest or any fun outfits that make them feel good. If you would like to be included on our mail list, please emailcaroline@galvestonhumane.org or call (409) 740-1919.
View The Photos!
Register for the Parade!
View The Event Flier!

Drama for Dinner!

We ended up just walking up the street to see what places were still open...looking to see who had some jambalya on the menu and went into a place called the Corner Sports Bar (I think, hey it was late...we just wanted food).

We were actually wondering if they were still serving, cause we had gone in a place a bit before it and they were out of jambalya and only serving for 15 more min...but they were. The manager/owner was all over the place talking to people, chatting up the big groups. The two waitresses were busy. But we went in and sat. Got a menu. Ordered the 'Special'...specifically the New Orleans special, which was a little bit of gumbo, jambalya, shrimp creole, and red beans & rice...mmm...a nice mix that we could just split and share and have a bit of it all!!

Well, she got it wrong. Apparently there were two specials on the menu. Yelling and screaming ensued in the back!! We were a little nervous to eat our food! ha Apparently the guy got on to her (we could sort of see it) and then she went to the kitchen to change it and the chef proceeded to throw a fit (or something like that). Needless to say the whole dynamics after that were interesting to watch! She was fussing and complaining to the other girl about how upset she was, etc. lol Drama!

After that, we went and had more beignets. It was just right there! :)

Then Warren decided he had not gambled quite enough, so we went back so he could lose $40 and feel better. heehee...he still came out ahead overall tho -- he'd just already spent most of it on dinner and beignets.

We got up and left this morning about 9:30 or so...drove around following the Garmin's crazy directions trying to find a Cracker Barrel but didn't succeed. Apparently there is an invisible one in Gramercy, LA.

So then we hightailed it out of there with gas and McDonald's to try to hustle back in time to pick up the dog. Saw many policemen, but didn't get pulled over...tho once was a close call...I just happened to be far enough up in the pack. :) They all drive like crazy people over there anyways.

Grace was so excited that she wasn't abandoned!!! She about knocked me over with all her wiggling!! We were so happy!! The lady said she was fine and didn't have any problems...personally I don't think she's slept much the past few days as she is currently snoozing at the end of the bed.

Pete seemed to make it just fine...we can't find anything that he's gotten into. The house was a little smelly b/c his box hadn't been scooped, but I took care of that right away and got the candles going. He has complained long and loud that he did NOT like being left here!! He is currently snuggled between me and Warren and is laying on Warren's textbook! ha

I'm glad we went it was a fun little trip and a place I'd like to go back to to explore more!

Today in New Orleans...

Our morning started off at a slower pace. It was nice to sleep in until 7:30! ha

We poked around and got ready to go eat breakfast at Cafe du Monde, where we had cafe au lait and beignets (french doughnuts...they sort of look like sopapillas only more solid and covered w/ powdered sugar). YUM! I'm glad that we are having to walk everywhere, it helps counteract all the FOOD we are eating!! But our hotel is very nicely located and everything is just a few blocks away. Warren always picks out good places. :)

After that we went by the St. Louis Cathedral, but we didn't go inside...they were having Mass. It's very big and grey and sort of reminds me on the outside of Cinderella's castle!

Then we wandered over and walked along the Mississippi River down to the Aquarium of the Americas. It was amazing to go through it and know that nearly everything in the exibits has been replaced since Hurricane Katrina. Read about it on Wikipedia here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquarium_of_the_americas.

They had a really cool seahorse and jellyfish exhibit and a white alligator (not albino, see Wiki article for explaination of leucistic)!! Oh, and an anaconda! That was in the water!! I got a really nice picture of a Lion Fish:

After that, Harrah's was convienently across the street...so I went and lost some money and he went and won some. Then we took a break to go back to eat at Acme Oyster House, because I saw a sandwich on their menu that sounded really good the night before (still a small line wait) and then back to Harrah's again. Lol, this time I won all my money back and he came out a little ahead too.

Now we are in the hotel room to watch the football game and try to decide where to eat tonight! :)

New Orleans here we come!

Well, this weekend finds us visiting a new town that neither of us have been to before! :) The Big Easy...New Orleans!

We didn't decide to come until about Wednesday this past week...Pete is fending for himself at home (we left him two litterboxes and a salad bowl full of food) and Grace is staying at the Tail Waggers Pet Resort. The first time she has been boarded in the 4 years that I've had her. It's been very traumatic, but the place looks nice and clean. She has her OSU blankie and a couple of toys, but the other dogs didn't seem very nice, maybe just b/c she was the newbie.

So we left yesterday at about 7:45ish and got here around 2...I'm learning that whatever Warren estimates at how long the trip will be ("Oh yeah, it's closer than Dallas! We'll be there in four hours!") that I probably need to add about 2+ hours to his estimation. ha

We drove straight through, only having McDonald's for breakfast and then some snacks in the car, so that by the time we got here we were both REALLY hungry. So we decide to go to Mother's Restaurant. The place is listed in the book 1,000 Places to Visit Before you Die, so of course we must go...nevermind that the guide says be prepared for a wait. We waited an hour (!!!!!) to order the Famous Ferdi Special and Debris Po'boy's with a side of fries which we proceeded to eat in about 20 min! lol

Then we went to the hotel to check in...it's a smaller, boutique hotel like right in the French Quarter. It says that to park we have to valet...which we thought would be fine because we're right here in the French Quarter, we'll walk everywhere and just park the car the one time. Well, they have parking for like 10 cars (83 hotel rooms)...so we had to take the car over to another hotel and leave it there!!! Then carry our stuff back 3 blocks to our hotel!! Wouldn't you think they would have their own parking lot somewhere?!?

After all that, we got checked in and took a short nap then got ready to go watch the parade hosted by the Krewe du Vieux. We shopped around some on Decatur Street while waiting for it to come our way...when the police jumped out and started putting up the barricades we decided to grab a good spot on the corner...It was bawdy and satirical and we about froze our a$$es off waiting for it to start! But it was fun! We caught beads they were throwing and other trinket-y stuff. Definitely a parade intended for adults as there were body parts being used in creative floats!! (like below...the Extended Tour of Booty float...heehee) They were all raunchy, yet pretty creative. Definitely a carnivale atmosphere!

Then we went to eat at Acme Oyster House where we had 1/2 doz. raw on the half shell, then a dozen cooked w/ garlic butter & parmesan on the half shell, and a plate of red beans and rice w/ sausage that we shared. MMMMM!!! SOO yummie!! Oh yeah, and we waited OUTSIDE (again!!!) for at least 30 min. What's the deal with all the places he's picking?! Such wait time! & outside! Brrr!

After that we were right next to Bourbon street so we went and checked that out...very interesting. Lots of bars and nudie clubs and sex shops...lol, classic Bourbon street. And plenty of policemen on foot patrol, I liked that, it made you feel safer. We explored and wound our way back to the hotel to sleep.