Sound off

The Texas A & M Corpsmen demonstrate a sharp marching style at last year's Mardi Gras in New Orleans. In addition to the throws, the floats, the music, and more, there are marching groups from all around the country that come to take part in the big celebration.

This year that is probably going to be stretched to the limit. With the early Mardi Gras and all the rainy weather, parades are being canceled and then stacked up behind each other on the first dry night. It's sure that some of those group were scheduled to be in more than one parade, maybe even parades that are now marching back to back.

The only good news about this is that Mardi Gras weekend through Mardi Gras day in New Orleans is starting to look a lot better.

Good news for me. I had been under the weather and so I wasn't taking in any night parades, but this weekend, I am going to get my fill. About 32 parades are on the schedule to hit the streets through Mardi Gras night (in and around New Orleans) -- but that doesn't include the backlog of postponed parades.

Don't expect a lot of posts from here over the weekend. I'm practicing my bead catching skills.

--steve buser

Exploding star

You know those props they have at touristy places -- you put your face in the star, in the helmet, it the monster ... what have you.

This was at the Aquarium of the Americas when we visited a few weeks ago. All of the kids, dutifully, came and put their faces in the starfish. But, when it was time for our grandson, Sullivan (a.k.a the drama king) to step up, he comes exploding out of the star.

"All the world is a stage..."

--steve buser

Flaming the fans

We were talking the other day about the times of yore, when street lights and flambeaux were the only lights for the night parades as they inched their way through the tight streets of downtown. I remember back in the 60's they went through some French Quarter streets, but that ended in 1973, shortly after glass beads bit the dust and the first doubloons started flying (1970). In 1977, the first parade rolled into the Superdome, to continue it's celebration.

The flambeaux carriers would spin their flame sticks and dance to thrill the crowd and the crowds responded by throwing tips. Everything was close in, so the effect was magnified. Then, as a matter of safety, they went away -- their kerosene-filled, coffee-can fuel store was by today's standards a safety risk. Now, compact propane tanks and flares take their place -- the beauty of the flames dancing to the music is as real as ever.


--steve buser

Standing ready.

Parade stands lay ready for the throngs along St. Charles Avenue in downtown New Orleans. It's part of the route shared night after night by the dozens of parades that ply through the crowds delivering thrill, throws and merriment for the Mardi Gras celebration.

--steve buser

Gut-filling wave glide

"Okay, I'm flying wing. I'm just above you. Go low. Be careful. Let me know if you see anything that looks tasty."

Two would-be Blue Angels test out their formation flying skills at the Mandeville Harbor. The tide was out, exposing some promising areas for the two gulls looking to fill their guts.

--steve buser

The thrill of the throw

We were at my sister's house last night and our niece had a collection of stuffed animals on sitting on the sofa -- a treasure trove she had snagged from a parade earlier in the day. She was going through the motions of throwing beads to them.

I think this is the most central theme in Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Many people may spend a few days here and not be able to tell you what float they liked best or what band played better. But ask them, and they will pull out their most prized pair of beads. They always have a story about how and where they caught them.

The throws can be pretty elaborate -- dolls, footballs, glass beads, cups, even coconuts (handed not tossed) -- there is just one thing that everyone seems to forget until it's all over: "What do you do with all this stuff?"

For many people the answer is easy -- put it up in the attic and throw it a next year's parades.
We have a bag sitting in the closet that makes an instant baby-sitter --- just add kids.

Every once in a while you get a catch so good -- it becomes a real treasure -- put up on the shelf with your prizes from parades of yore. But for most of it? Well, it's the thrill of the catch that counts, not the throw itself.

Another Mardi Gras will be history soon -- not until you have lost your voice and jumped up and down until exhaustion.

"Throw me something mister," you yell with a definite list to port because 20 pounds of treasure you have already caught.

--steve buser

Okay, let's take a break from Mardi Gras for a day. Hey, it wasn't my idea, it was the weatherman's -- he let a front come through here and cancel all the parades for tonight. Tomorrow at this point is kind of iffy, too.

Let's sit back, take a deep breath and put ourselves in a good place. Imagine yourself on a sunny day, sitting on the akefront wall in Mandeville, under the shade of a century-old oak. Favorite fishing pole in hand. The fish are biting. The cotton is high.

Sing with me. "Summertime....." --- you're doing good, keep singing.

See, weather can't bother us.

Tomorrow.... back to Mardi Gras. .... but for now, keep singing.
--steve buser

Lagniappe -- (a little something extra)

A hill,
a kid,
a cool morning,
bright sunshine.

All the elements are in place.... for the beginning of one of the country's greatest orators....

today on Pixel Eyed.

Balcony Ballyhoo

The balcony ballyhoo is big time stuff in the French Quarter of New Orleans -- a favorite pastime for any celebrious occasion -- crowd watching from above. This picture was from the party on Bourbon Street before the BCS game. But, you can be sure there will be crowded balconies this weekend. A total of 25 parades are scheduled for this weekend in New Orleans and nearby.

Jefferson Parish launches its FamilyGras celebration in Metairie Friday night and then on Saturday and Sunday it continues there and across the river in Gretna. Taylor Swift is the headline act Friday night to usher in the first parades.

Seems like there is something for everyones' taste -- and this is just a warm up for the big party that goes in to full tilt next weekend on into Mardi Gras.


--steve buser

Chrome Roamers

Still a bit under the weather here. Meanwhile, I take you back to the big party in the New Orleans French Quarter before the BCS game a couple weeks ago. If there's a merry time to be had, you can be sure that the folks who pack the chrome will be part of it.

--steve buser

Hot Brass, cold night

I'm under the weather today with the flu and can't do much. Thought I would use the occasion to pay some tribute to the bands that brave the cold weather of the Mardi Gras parades. This is the Hot 8 Brass Band at the Krewe du Vieux in the French Quarter of New Orleans Saturday night.

The Krewe on its website listed the following bands as scheduled to play. Many of the marched by so fast it was hard to get a picture.

• Kirk Joseph
• Trombone Shorty
• Treme Brass Band
• Paulin Brothers Brass Band
• TBC
• Stooges Brass Band
• Free Agents Brass Band
• Hot 8 Brass Band
• James "12" Andrews
• Da Truth Brass Band
• Rebirth Brass Band
• Panorama Brass Band
• The Jazzmen
• Charles Joseph
• Down N Dirty Jazz Band
• The Soul Rebels
• New Birth Brass Band
• Bone Tone Brass Band

--steve buser

Mule powered satire

Since you didn't ask -- I thought you might like to get a glimpse at a mule drawn float from the Krewe of Vieux this past weekend in the New Orleans French Quarter. This is one of the smaller of the floats, though all of them pail by the "normal" Mardi Gras floats that ply the streets from here into Mardi Gras night more than 50 parades in all). The mule driven floats are a relic of the past -- back when the floats could fit through French Quarter streets

I was limited in what I could show, because I thought it ought to be at least PG-13. Nonetheless, the frivolity and excitement flowed past us on Conti Street through the bitter cold.


The parades take a break now, until Friday night when they begin again with:
• Krewe of Cork - French Quarter, 3 p.m.
• Oshun - Uptown, 6 p.m.
• Cleopatra - West Bank, 6:30 p.m.
• Pygmalion - Uptown, 6:45 p.m.
• Excalibur - Metairie, 7 p.m.
• Atlas - Metairie, 7:30 p.m.

St. Tammany
• Eve - Mandeville, 7 p.m.

--steve buser


By the way I received two more "Make My Day Awards" -- see yesterday's blog below for details.

The awards came from

Karola&Pamp and elsa

Witness this

The Krewe du Vieux (pronouncd crew du voo) stumbled its way through the French Quarter spreading cheer last night. With mule drawn floats, about a dozen marching (jazz) bands, improvised costumes and smiles larger than their faces, the Krewe braved the freezing weather with little more than endorphins to protect them.

This is our favorite couple of doctors, but one look at their shirts will tell you why we cannot identify them.

The parade is kind of an informal start to the New Orleans parade season which runs almost nightly now through Mardi Gras on February 5. Of course, the parades spread far beyond the city --to almost every community around. Metairie for instance is a big center for parades. We'll see if we can fit time in to talk about that.

--steve buser

"You Make My Day" award

I'm trying to keep a pace of passing out four of these awards a day since I received two of them (see yesterday's post ) and they require passing the award on to 10 people. So that means 20 very deserving bloggers are going to be getting this award. I know you will never have time to enjoy 20 blogs in one setting. So, I am spacing this out.

The two who sent me the award were:

Rambling Round at Selma Alabama Daily Photo and

Southern Heart at Good Abode--a Daily Photo of Memphis, TN, USA


Today the award goes to

Moi at Not By a Long Shot -- her blog is always filled with colorful shots, from clever angles -- wonder light plays

Karola and Pimp at Wroclaw Daily Photo -- fascinating photos from a city rich in history. Of late they have been posting striking black and white photos. Put it on your favorites.

IamTheMom at CreasyVision -- this is my daughter and she shares her life and post pictures of the growing up life of the two more absolutely cutest kids in the world (our grandchildren -- Sullivan and Sophie)

I'm going to have to leave it at that for today, we have to run out.

Note -- the award rules say: "Give the award to 10 people whose blogs bring you happiness and inspiration and make you feel happy about blogland. Let them know by posting a comment on their blog so they can pass it on. Beware you may get the award several times."


more to come...

Mardi, Mardi tall and wide

Thought you might be interested in a little "behind the scenes" look at Mardi Gras in New Orleans-- how the crowds cope with this much excitement for this long.

Two things to note in the picture --(1) the line of ladders along the street and (2) the group sitting and socializing back behind the front line.

The picture in on St. Charles Avenue in the extra-wide median (it's wide because the street cars run down the middle). This wide stripe of urban territory -- we call them "neutral grounds" in New Orleans, not medians -- provides a great setting for a full day of parades. The parades follow each other from about 10 a.m. to well into the afternoon.

The ladders provide the ability to yell loud into the float goers face and be seen by the so that they will through copious quantitities of beads. I usually pick a position just under the front of the ladders and let the beads drop from the sky right into my lap. Maybe we'll come back and revisit the ladders another day, if we have time before Mardi Gras.

Meanwhile, the neutral ground provides space to set up chairs, blankets, tables, tents -- what have you. This is for your carnival comforts -- someplace to eat, grab a drink, watch the kids, chat a while, take a break -- your choice. Don't think though that because you sit back here, you don't catch the beads and trinkets they throw from the passing floats -- those come sailing high over the front line of ladders.

Second topic today, Award Time -->


Two City Daily Photo bloggers this week passed the "You make my day award" to me. It's really a nice honor and perked my day up (twice) -- I've been posting lately at night instead of early morning -- gets kind of quiet late in the night.

The two who sent me the award were:

Rambling Round at Selma Alabama Daily Photo and

Southern Heart at Good Abode--a Daily Photo of Memphis, TN, USA

I 'm a little slow at getting around to this -- mainly because its hard for me to juggle that many links. How many links? you ask.

Well, the award rules say: "Give the award to 10 people whose blogs bring you happiness and inspiration and make you feel happy about blogland. Let them know by posting a comment on their blog so they can pass it on. Beware you may get the award several times."

So that means 20 very deserving bloggers are going to be getting this award. I know you will never have time to enjoy 20 blogs in one setting. So, I am going to space this out.

How does 4 a day sound? Good? Okay

Then here's the first four blogs you just have to check out because they "make my day."

Jules at Rabaul Daily Photo -- never heard of Rabaul? check out her blog and you be sorry you haven't been visiting all along.

Wanda at Brushstrokes from the Heart
-- not so much a City Daily Photo but her daily sharing will add joy to your heart -- she's a frequent commenter on a lot of CDP blogs.

Annie at Little Rock Daily Photo -- her daily world is full of stimulating visual images.

Abraham Lincoln at Brookville, Ohio, Daily Photo -- the absolute king of wild animal shots. The other day he had a couple shots of Bald Eagles.

Check back tomorrow for more.

Bead-dazzled

That thing you do
Every year you tell yourself the same thing -- "I'm not going to fight for those beads and trinkets they throw." Nonetheless, by the time the third float passes in the Mardi Gras Parade, you do what every other New Orleanian does -- you scramble for every last pair of beads you can get your hands on.

It's the pageantry, the music, the crowds, the excitement that gets in your blood. You've been doing this for years and every float, every yell, every pair of beads flying through the air draws up a deep and friendly primal urge. This is you. This is what you do. This is what you love to do. You do it well. You're the master bead catcher. This is New Orleans, pure New Orleans. Dawlin.

--steve buser

NOTE -- I received a couple of awards from my City Daily Photo friends. I'm a little late in acknowledging it. But bear with me -- tomorrow when I have a little more time to juggle things, we're going to have some fun with this. Make sure you come back.


Lagniappe -- ( a little something extra )

Marathoner, you have run 26.2 miles. 0.013 miles to go. And those last few hundred feet are all about love.

Today on Pixel Eyed

Marching Mardi Music

It's not all floats, beads and costumes for Mardi Gras in New Orleans -- the music will be flowing in every variety possible. Here the Paulin Bros. add life to a marching parade on St. Charles Avenue last year.



It's down by the museum district but looks like a scene from some European country, 1800's.

Today on Pixel Eyed

Stretching out your neck

This is another montage look at the quartet of Brown Pelicans from yesterday's post. They have been hanging around by the Canal-Street-to-Algiers Ferry Boat landing next to the World Trade Center in New Orleans. When the ferry starts approaching from Algiers Point, they get out of the squatting position on the left and start stretching their bills and gular sac as you see from the various positions. They put on quite a display. I can only think that they area expecting a pretty full meal of some large tasty fish.

--steve buser

Technorati tags: Brown Pelican, birds, Mississippi River

Lagniappe -- ( a little something extra )

Sweet River, sweet life.

Today on Pixel Eyed

I saw fish I tell ya

No 1. (right) --- "I'm telling you I saw fish. Get your sacs a yapping and stretching or you are not going to be ready. I'm not missing this. You guys just stand around it you want to."

No 2. (middle) -- " I don't see know fish. If you woke me up for nothing. I'm going to push you in the water under the ferry boat when it pulls up. "

The scene is down by the Canal Street-Algiers ferry landing in New Orleans where these guys (brown Pelicans) have become regulars of late. I think they have discovered that when the ferry pulls in and uses its propellers to hold it still against the current as it docks, it pushes a lot of good eats up stream. They lay around in a crouched position but get up and start yawning and stretching their necks as soon as the ferry boat gets near.

Check out this web site for some fun stuff you didn't know about Brown Pelicans -- including how they use their large gular sac.

-- steve buser
Technorati tags: Brown Pelican, birds, Mississippi River

Lagniappe -- ( a little something extra )

The day will slowly melt. But time isn't what's important. Another day will come to take its place. But this time, this moment with your new peace, it can't be replace or regained.


Today on Pixel Eyed

Racing in Space City

We were in Houston this past weekend to watch my son, Charlie, run his first marathon. I didn't realize how one of these events takes over your life with all the preparation and training.
Just trying to figure out a route for us fans to see him in several places along the run took us an few hours.

To the right, with a gigantic boom, the racers were off just as the sun started to peak into downtown Houston.

There were 17,000 runners, so the whole was congested -- that became painfully obvious when we tried to catch the light rail to the next vantage point only to find out it wasn't running. We had to scramble for taxis to get there.



At the 10 mile marker (lrft), Charlie sees us and shows us he's got plenty of steam and stamina. He would need it. At that point, he had 16.213 miles left to go. ( a marathon is actually 26.213 -- but it's the first 26.2 miles that are the hardest)

At the top. with less than a mile to go, Charlie's friend, Matthew, runs along beside him to egg him on to the finish line.

We are now back safe in New Orleans and ready to keep posting from here. By the way it was my daughter Vicky's XX birthday -- you know, not over the hill, but you can see the other side. And my son, Shawn, announced this week end he is going back to school this semester to get his teaching certificate.

A lot going on for 48 hours. Hope you had a relaxing weekend.

--steve buser

Mardi Gras with an attittude

Oh, yeah. Mardi Gras is coming to New Orleans. And, it's coming with an attitude. Someone asked why they have so many different parades. It's because there are thousands who want to be part of this. And, because there are so many different people with different tastes. Besides, the parades on Mardi Gras day can take 4 hours or more to pass in front of you. You have to pace the fun out a little bit.

I love the creativity of the float builders -- everything you could never imagine could be built into a float --- they build into one.

Take note of the beads the guy on the left is lining up. They look to be about 4 or 5 feet long. Imagine what people will do to catch a pair of them.

-- steve buser
Technorati tags: Mardi Gras

Ready, set, soar

Raise your wings. Test the wind. Let your hollow bones shift your weight up into your outstretched feathers. Feel the tightening in your pectoral crest. The wind is accepting you. It's flowing back and forth through your air sacs, lungs and bones. You're ready. Soar.

The scene is from a dolphin in the Mississippi River near the foot of Canal Street in New Orleans.

--steve buser
Technorati tags: New Orleans, seagull

Into the heart of the sunset

The week is over. The day is done. Put the work up. Time to head home for the weekend and some relaxation. The sun lingers around and looms up front. You're heading into the heart of the sunset. Pace yourself. No hurry. Your time is coming.

The scene is sundown on Tchopitoulas Street in Uptown New Orleans.
-- steve buser
Technorati tags: New Orleans, Sunset

Lagniappe -- ( a little something extra )

The show comes right at you with a cornucopia of colors and images. I have to admit I was skeptical going into the show. But I came out a fan

Today on Pixel Eyed

Fogging down the river

The section of the Mississippi River by the foot of Canal Street in New Orleans flows directly north-south for about 5 miles. So when a wind blows in off the Gulf of Mexico on a cool morning, it picks up the vapor off river waters and a fog blows down stream (north) and blows it right into the French Quarter. It's an amazing sight to see.

When the wind dies down the fog does, too. They both pick back up moments later. The forg actually rolls in waves sometimes.

Here a tug boat pilot makes his way down to his job. Once he gets around the bend, he'll probably have clearer sight. The green buoy light you see at the top is very near where the ferry lands on the Algiers side of the river.

--steve buser

Technorati tags: fog, Mississippi River,

Lagniappe -- ( a little something extra )
It's an all American tradition, But, when you have the mountains as a backdrop, it just seems a little more poignant.

Today on Pixel Eyed

Mardi Gras marches early.

The first Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans rolls, Saturday, January 19. But the official start of the Mardi Gras season has already passed -- Jan. 6. That's when the King Cake parties and the balls start.

Let's take it one at a time -- the first Parade is the Krewe du Vieux (pronounced crew du vue) -- a racous group that sprints and stumbles along its route through the Marigny and the lower French Quarter. The Krewe actually has four sub-Krewes. Check out their web site -- and make it to the bottom of the page to check out the sub-krewes' sites. ( the picture is from another parade -- not Krewe du Vieux, by the way)

Why is Mardi Gras starting so early? It's one of the rare years that come along about every 40 years. Mardi Gras is a moving holiday, based on when the Vernal Equinox occurs and how that falls in the Catholic Church's ecclesiastical calendar. It's all esoteric. But I did post an explanation last year if your that anal and have to know.

For you right brainers, just remember the big street party comes to an end at midnight on February 5 when Mardi Gras ends and Lent begins.

Now if you still with me. Here's a site with all the parade routes and a lot of information on the traditions of this famous four-week-long New Orleans party.

King Cake parties? Check here for background on this tradition.

--steve buser
Technorati tags: King Cake, Krewe du Vieux, Mardi Gras

Lagniappe -- ( a little something extra)

In Orange Texas, it's a Stark reminder of Texas social history.

Today on Pixel Eyed

Crowded quarters

One last shot at the crowds in the New Orleans French Quarter for the BCS College Championship game this week end. This is the crowd on Bourbon Street. What surprised me was the with the size of the crowd and the many impromtu pep rallies that erupted, how few police or for that matter how little trouble there was. Got me to thinking -- if I paid a couple thousand dollars for a seat at the big show, last thing I was going to do was to get in trouble and miss it.

-- steve buser

Technorati tag: BCS, football, French Quarter
Lagniappe -- ( a little something extra )
Suppose they were to ask you to design the entrance sign to Texas. Made me start thinking... Today on Pixel Eyed


By the way, Mardi Gras is about on us. Make sure your back tomorrow for my official countdown.

BCS Championship Crowds

The BCS game that LSU won tonight was a big event for the tourism industry in New Orleans. We caught this traffic jam of horse and buggies on St. Ann Street in the French Quarter on Sunday. The crowds were wall-to-wall on Bourbon Street and even some of the side streets. The party atmosphere was everywhere. We didn't make it down after the game, but I'm sure the merriment was even more massive.

--steve buser

Technorati tag: BCS, football

Lagniappe -- ( a little something extra )

Grandson Aullivan picks out his own Christmas presents for all the family. Each has a perfect story for the person he gives it to. This year, Papa got the perfect present.

Today on Pixel Eyed.

The (future) national college football champ is in town

The Championship game from college football (BCS Bowl) is tomorrow (Monday) here in New Orleans and there is a real frenzy of excitement. The French Quarter was filled with Purple and Gold for the LSU Tiger fans and Red and White for the Ohio State Buckeyes who have come to town. This is one of the many creative floats, cars, buses and more that were cruising the streets to the excitement of the crowds. Of course, when you want to have big party in New Orleans, it has to involve a float (or 50) .

Allstate Insurance had a huge fan zone in the heart of the quarter where you could try you skills at kicking field goals and tossing touchdown passes. We tried to make it for the LSU pep rally featuring the LSU band and cheerleaders, but the crowd was overwhelming. In any case, there will be a national champion Monday night decided on the floor of the Louisiana Superdome.

--steve buser

Lagniappe -- ( a little something extra )

What's going to happen in the BCS Championship Game? The commentators were in some familiar places in New Orleans trying to figure that out.

Today on Pixel Eyed

Come on, take a free ride

The eager winter group
Go ahead and say it and get it over with. 'Steve, there's something wrong with you. You must have gotten taken out of the cosmic oven way too early."

I admit it. I have a loose screw or too. One of them is ferry boats. I love a ferry boat ride. And when our grandchildren and daughter, Vicky, were in New Orleans a few days ago it gave me to opportunity to do what I love. Fortunately, they all loved it too.

The ferry from the foot of Canal Street over to Algiers was pretty full of pedestrians -- it being a holiday and the weekend of the Sugar Bowl. But, I was surprised at the number of people that did just what we did -- rode over to Algiers, and got right back on the ferry to come back. It's not the destination that counts it's the journey.

Here, the ferry goers were lined up along the sides as we cruised into the dock in downtown New Orleans. The trip over was punctuated with a passing cargo ship and tug pushing a load of barges down stream. All of which is just a distraction to the main event. To see downtown New Orleans grow taller and taller in front of you.

Best free ride in town.


Lagniappe -- ( a little something extra )

Close your eyes and dream, m'lady.

You will wake up in that dreamland. You will be in the 16th century and it will be a Royal dream, if I do say so.

How does that song go? "Lost in the 1600's tonight -- shoo do be do bop, shoo do be do bop."

Today on Pixel Eyed

Shark blind

See level view
From the darkened "in camera" setting, visitors at the Aquarium of the Americas get an amazing view of sharks and other things that go swish in the dark. The huge shark tank setting, replete with barnacled replicas of drilling rig legs, is a favorite mulling area for visitors. So much so that there is a bleachers area just behind me where I took the photo, for sitting and watching.

The Aquarium, which lost all of its fish in Hurricane Katrina, is back up and running and full of sea creatures of all types as well as oohs and ahs from kids and adults.

--steve buser . . . . . Technorati tag: fish . . sharks


Lagniappe -- ( a little something extra )

Glory fades quickly at first, and then stubbornly refuses to go away completely. Today on Pixel Eyed

Shark touch

Conquering fear
It isn't if your afraid or not. Great accomplishments happen in the shadow of fear. It not that you have fears, it's what you do with them. If you let them control you, or you use them to get that burst of energy and excitement to do what you thought you could never do.

Our grandson, Sullivan, took some convincing, but then he step up to the tank and slowly lowered his hand into the water toward the waiting shark. Voila. The Shark Touch. There should be some kind of a certificate, or diploma or something. But come to think about it, many if not most of the greatest accomplishments done come with a piece of paper to acknowledge it.

The scene is from our visit this week to the Aquarium of the Americas in New Orleans -- a really spectacular adventure -- most of it untouchable.

--steve buser .... Technorati Tags shark fear Aquarium

Lagniappe -- ( a little something extra )

The weather was so foggy maybe a seagull couldn't find fish in the water. But it was not all disappointing, dispite the long ferry ride over to get there.

There was on bonus that you may not expect.

Today on Pixel Eyed

Feeding Fish

We were at the Aquarium of the Americas in New Orleans this week with our daughter, Vicky, and our two grandchildren, Sullivan and Sophie. They were in town for the holidays. The Aquarium was a really unexpected treat. We had been to the Aquarium in Houston over the summer and were expecting something similar. We were surprised by the breadth and depth of the exhibits here and all the exciting things to do and see.

The riverfront location added a special bonus with great vistas through glass walls. The kids were most excited about this happening -- divers appeared in the walk-through (tunnel) fish tank to feed the fish and a frenzy exploded before us. Fish of every kind swirling and swishing to get in for lunch. It's one thing to see them swimming smooth and orderly, this was something else. You had the opportunity to see lemon fish and sting rays and all their cousins -- how fast they can zoom and zip when a tasty meal of shrimp is on the line.

-- steve buser

Lagniappe -- ( a little something extra )
What was good technology for its time has to give way to the new. But the glass door knob is a different thing. Our life could use more grace and refinement.
Today on Pixel Eyed

"Firm Deadline"--Theme Day

On the first of each month, 117 City Daily Photo sites do a new "theme day." Today's theme for January 1, 2008 is "Best Photo of the Year." I had to dig through my old photos to find the one I rated highest. This picture is what I chose.

The photo was from May 7th, just a couple weeks after I started this blog. Here's the link to the orginal post The scene is a sundown shot from the lakefront in Mandeville. I don't think it needs any explaining.

Other Theme Day participants are:

Paris, France - London, England - Hyde, UK - West Sacramento (CA), USA - Grenoble, France - Stockholm, Sweden - Riga, Latvia - Saint Paul (MN), USA - Manila, Philippines - Silver Spring (MD), USA - Weston (FL), USA - Prague, Czech Republic - New Orleans (LA), USA - Wichita (KS), USA - Cleveland (OH), USA - San Francisco (CA), USA - Hobart (Tasmania), Australia - Greenville (SC), USA - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Menton, France - Monte Carlo, Monaco - Mainz, Germany - Melbourne, Australia - Portland (OR), USA - Albuquerque (NM), USA - Wassenaar (ZH), Netherlands - Kyoto, Japan - Tokyo, Japan - Toulouse, France - Naples (FL), USA - Jakarta, Indonesia - Brussels, Belgium - Stayton (OR), USA - Selma (AL), USA - Mexico City, Mexico - Ocean Township (NJ), USA - Minneapolis (MN), USA - Port Angeles (WA), USA - Toruń, Poland - Fort Lauderdale (FL), USA - Budapest, Hungary - Baziège, France - Nashville (TN), USA - Saint Louis (MO), USA - Cottage Grove (MN), USA - Chicago (IL), USA - Prescott (AZ), USA - Bellefonte (PA), USA - Nottingham, UK - Moscow, Russia - Philadelphia (PA), USAEvry, France - Trujillo, Peru - Arlington (VA), USA - Denpasar, Indonesia - American Fork (UT), USA - Seattle (WA), USA - Chandler (AZ), USA - Coral Gables (FL), USA - Montpellier, France - Joplin (MO), USA - Pilisvörösvár, Hungary - Crystal Lake (IL), USA - Bucaramanga (Santander), Colombia - Boston (MA), USA - Torun, Poland - New York City (NY), USA - Dunedin (FL), USA - Quincy (MA), USA - Stavanger, Norway - Chateaubriant, France - Maple Ridge (BC), Canada - Jackson (MS), USA - Wailea (HI), USA - Port Elizabeth, South Africa - Budapest, Hungary - Austin (TX), USA - Montréal (QC), Canada - Cypress (TX), USA - Bicheno, Australia - Wrocław, Poland - Brookville (OH), USA - Minneapolis (MN), USA - Nelson, New Zealand - Cheltenham, UK - Wellington, New Zealand - Rabaul, Papua New Guinea - Mumbai (Maharashtra), India - London, UK - Haninge, Sweden - Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation - Arradon, France - Jefferson City (MO), USA - Orlando (FL), USA - Mumbai, India - Terrell (TX), USA - Bogor, Indonesia - Delta (CO), USA - Radonvilliers, France - Saigon, Vietnam - San Diego (CA), USA - Adelaide (SA), Australia - Belgrade, Serbia - Auckland, New Zealand - Seguin (TX), USA - Inverness (IL), USA - Oslo, Norway - Singapore, Singapore - Las Vegas (NV), USANew York City (NY), USA - Anderson (SC), USA - Torino, Italy - Susanville (CA), USA - San Diego (CA), USA - Sharon (CT), USA - Melbourne, Australia - Port Vila, Vanuatu - Memphis (Tennessee), USA


Lagniappe (a little something extra)

The legs tell the story. What is the story you ask? Well, you have to check it out today on Pixel Eyed.