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