Today, Lundi Gras, King Argus and King Zulu landed in Kenner (Jefferson Parish) to be greeted royally by the appropriate "civilian" officials.

This afternoon Rex (King of Carnival) and the King of Zulu landed (via Coast Guard Cutter) at the foot of Canal Street, to be greeted and toasted by the Mayor of New Orleans. Rex was masked, and I have sometimes heard it hinted that it's not the real Rex.

Anyway, there are only two parades this evening in New Orleans proper.

Slidell's last parade was Friday evening, and the city didn't get around to de-trashing the streets till today. I don't know what the big deal was--it's not like they have to pay overtime to their workers. (Yeah--the ones in stripes, whose transportation has red and blue lights on top and tows a Portolet.)

I went to the lab to surrender a couple of body fluids and learned that unless there is a 8 - 12 hour fast, the cholesterol readings are highly inaccurate.

The first cholesterol reading was right after I'd been to the doctor. No mention of fast. In fact, I have never had a cholesterol test after a fast.

One never knows what tidbits of information one can gain when the people at the lab are not about five patients behind.

I'll be dropping my doctor a note.

After my abortive trip to the lab, I stopped at PJ's to do some geek reading. I got almost none done, because I got talking with a very interesting woman who retired from teaching and then got herself a law degree. We managed to waste the better part of the afternoon.

The PJ's I normally go to changed owners, and the new ones have painted the walls in somewhat less garish colors than were fashionable when the former owners took over.

They also changed the furniture. The tables are round and rather fancy. And larger than the previous tables. The chairs are larger, and upholstered. Very comfortable, but a room which formerly had six or seven (smaller) square tables, and about fifteen or so chairs, now has just three tables and four chairs.

Unfortunately (from my perspective) they have not (yet?) changed the room with the super squishy couch and two chairs. Those chairs are great for reading while sitting (draped) crosswise, but the majority of the time the "ambience" is dominated by staff (taking a "break") and high school kids.

My current geek reading is A Mind of its Own. It is quite interesting, and the chapter I am currently reading is about rape. Some of the theorizing is along lines similar to those Shlain argues in Sex, Time, and Power.

Other than the lab thing, an interesting day.