It is the BIG night here.

Rex, King of Carnivval, has been given the keys to the city, and festivities are underway.

There is a lot of ritual involved, as would be expected of any "activity" that has gone on as long as Mardi Gras. And Mardi Gras came across the Atlantic along with the settlers.

It was interesting watching the mayor of New Orleans greeting Rex. A bunch of years ago I was involved with a play (Slidell Little Theatre) in which he had the lead. As he put it, the play was his final "fling" before settling down to civic activities. (His father had served several terms as Mayor.) It wasn't too much after his SLT involvement that he ended up running for--and getting elected--mayor of New Orleans.

Tomorrow I need to visit my favorite nursery to make arrangements for plants to replace the ones my well-meaning neighbor mowed. I had gotten the view of her front yard pretty well concealed, but her mowing messed that up. It's not so much concealing her yard (which is basically nothing but grass) but screening mine.

At least this is a fairly good time for planting new bushes etc. I think I'll include a couple of azaleas--they grow fairly rapidly and are definitely pretty. And I shall willingly pay to have the nursery plant them. I don't want to endanger the new plants with my brown thumb.

Once Carnival is over I can (hopefully) get back to a somewhat more predictable routine.