Mardi Gras Galveston

Every time I'm in Houston, my skin is instantly dewy and youthful from the humidity. But my hair becomes a curly/frizzy mess, which completely ruins it. I need to keep a bag full of Houston hair products with my travel gear, ready to grab for weekends like this.

Mardi Gras Galveston was pretty awesome. Cathy and I got there around 2 and stayed into the night. We home-based at Crow's Southwest Cantina on The Strand, where her friend Jimmy was working sound for the bands all day. We'd listen to some music and then head out to get some beads and check out the tents and other bands. Then we'd go back to Crow's. We got so many beads that our necks were aching by the end of the big nighttime parade.

Cathy and I went to New Orleans Mardi Gras in college. It was one of my favorite trips ever. Galveston wasn't as wild or as ginormous as the New Orleans celebration, no nudity (several very scantily-clad women in the equivalents of thong bikinis though) and not as many people passing out in the street (we saw only one). It wasn't anywhere near as crowded as Bourbon Street, although it was a bit rainy all day, so that may have curbed the attendance.

My favorite part of the parades were the high school bands. There were some amazing ones. SO much fun. It was freezing and misty at the night parade, but they were still having such a good time and really got the crowd going. Impressive drumlines, too.

Cath and I were trying to post photos and status updates to Facebook all day and evening, but not a single one went through. Facebook Mobile-- so unreliable. I just knew that at some point everything we had tried multiple times to post was going to show up on our walls all at once, and people would think we were completely trashed. We didn't drink much. We were going to be driving home in the middle of the night with 6000 drunk revelers over the Galveston causeway. You have to be sober for that experience. (In New Orleans, we were at Pat O'Briens at 9am each morning when they opened, after about four hours sleep, to start the day with a diabetic coma traditional Hurricane. It was a pretty constant drinkfest. Our travel group stayed at a hotel in walking distance, which makes all the difference.)

Great time! Next on our list is Carnival! We can't wait another twenty years though. Body paint will be out of the question at that point.


Sunday Stealing: The 99'er Meme: Final Part

76) In your opinion, what makes a great relationship?
Excellent communication and truly enjoying each other's company.

77) How did/could someone win your heart?
We have to laugh a lot together as a requirement. And I think the moments I've really fallen for guys are when they've shown depth of character, like when they put aside the cool version of themselves to be vulnerable and honest... or nerdy/goofy.

78) In your world, what brings on more creativity?
I'm usually inspired by the creativity of others. Or a good Syrah.

79) What is the single best decision you have made in your life so far?
our decision to have a baby 19 years ago :)

80) Why did you break up with your last ex?
My last ex was Jeff. He dumped me after a year because he wanted to date other people. He felt like college was for dating around, not for staying with one person for too long. In other words, there was another girl he liked. :)

81) What would you want to be written on your tombstone?
Ack. I have no idea.

82) What is your favorite word?
serendipitous

83) Give me the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word: delusional.
Celebrities and others who are completely uneducated and uninformed on an issue who espouse their personal opinions as if they are fact, and as if they are important or relevant.

84) What is a saying you use a lot?
Awesome!

85) Are you watching Idol this season? If yes, how do you like it?
No. I was such a huge fan before Simon left. It's hard for me to believe we haven't watched it in a long time.

86) Were you surprised that House got canceled?
No. It's a fabulous show, but the medical portion of the plot is predictable every week. And there are only so many obscure diseases and conditions one can present.

87) What is your current desktop picture?
Texas A&M Association of Former Students wallpaper

88) If you could press a button and make anyone in the world instantaneously explode, who would it be?
I'll go with the obvious Casey Anthony.

89) What would be a question where you'd not tell the truth?
Ha. Trick question. Next...

90) One night you wake up because you heard a noise. You turn on the light to find that you are surrounded by WEEPING ANGELS. The Weeping Angles aren't really doing anything, they're just standing around your bed. What would you do?
Holy crap. I would run from the room screaming.

91) You accidentally eat some radioactive vegetables. They were good, and what's even cooler is that they endow you with the super-power of your choice! What is that power?
Invisibility trumps all other superpowers. I'll take that.

92) You can re-live any point of time in your life. The time-span can only be a half-hour, though. What half-hour of your past would you like to experience again?
I would love to relive my wedding, because I was in that slightly freaked out mode (about the ceremony, not the guy) and it went by in a flash.

93) You can erase any horrible experience from your past. What will it be?
Easy. I've said this before--- having Hodgkins.

94) You have the opportunity to sleep with the music-celebrity of your choice. (let's say that you are both single and available) Who might it be?
I would sleep with Lenny Kravitz if we were both single and available, provided he tested negative for anything he may have caught over many years on the road. If we're honestly talking getting intimate with a celeb, I'd rather be with someone other than a musician, for that reason.

95) You just got a free plane ticket to anywhere. You have to depart right now. Where are you gonna go?
Puerto Rico

96) Do you have any relatives or friends in jail?
Cathy is still in Galveston County, but I'll bail her out today. :)

No.

97) Who's winning the U.S. Republican presidential nomination? Why?
The new popular guy who is overtaking Romney. I can't think of his name, and I don't know a thing about him other than Jeff said he is "scary." He will win because Romney is too slick and elitist. I just never believe a word Romney says. He's insincere and condescending and I don't think he has a clue how most people live.

98) Who's winning the next U.S. Presidential election?
Obama, who I think, if he had his druthers, would rather not run at all. He's just going to be the default winner, because he "has" to be the Dem nominee and the Republicans can't come up with anyone reasonable.

99) If the whole world were listening to you right now, what would you say?
Can't we all get along?