Prepared for Mardi Gras
The one problem with me leaving for vacation is the preparation. Stress of travel generally comes from the unmet organizational processes and my need for xanax to fly. Unfortunately I had time for neither the hunt for xanax or organization. Because I’m new at my job I have to work to earn vacation hours. This meant, six days a week for ten hours each day for three weeks prior to the trip to Mardi Gras. Yet again the necessary preparation lags. Preparation that includes losing 10 pounds, practicing my boob flashing pose and, making sure every single eyebrow hair was in its proper place or removed entirely from the party on my face. Its an obsession and I’ve decided that it could be the most successful endeavor ever. I like to aim high; like the Air Force.
In the end we made it to Louisiana where our first line of business was three pounds of crawfish, a plate of etouffee and a oyster po’boy. Dr. B washed his down with sweet tea, I of course went straight for the alcohol. That was my first meal in Louisiana and quite possibly the best. I over dosed on crawfish to the point of almost throwing up but as ever I was determined to hit up every single culinary memory I ever had of the south. I ate fried chicken, biscuits and gravy, etouffee, beignets, gumbo, po’boys and quite possibly enough chicory coffee to turn my insides the dull color of soot. What I remember is that Krystal burgers taste better when you’re 6 years old and that biscuits and gravy never lose their luster. The unfortunate side effect of living on the west coast since 1982 is that I am physically unable to digest this food. I have been home for over a week and I’m still eating pepto-bismol and quite possibly considering a colon cleanse.
The temperature was unusually dry for what I remember but the accent of Louisana was just as warm. I do understand that Mardi Gras is the worst time of the year to get to know New Orleans but since this was my only chance I took what I could get. I ate local, I drank local and I avoided all that screamed corporate and white washed. The sad truth is that Louisiana has yet to fully recover from Hurricane Katrina and its people are still a bit dazed and unsure of what to do next with their city and their life. Thankfully for this short period of time many were more than ready and more than willing to set their doubt aside and enjoy this small reprieve from the surroundings. I will admit that throughout our trip Dr. B and I would drive through the city i would often repeat the question, “Was this from Katrina?” He would answer the same, “no it was like that before the hurricane.” It seems this city already had the odds stacked against it before the hurricane and Katrina was just the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back.
Most of our vacation was split between the massive parades down Canal Street late into the night and navigating the throngs or bodies on Bourbon street. Most nights we gave up and wandered less populated streets because Bourbon street was too much; even for a man who’s middle name is chaos. Sometimes I think I got what I went for and other times I feel like I need a bit more time; time that isn’t Mardi Gras.
