A Wig And A Dream

It's foggy and drizzling this morning, not cold, just damp. The walking groups are weaving their way through the neighborhoods making their way to the French Quarter. I hear drums and trumpets outside the front door. Time to get out the wig box, the glad rags, and mask.

Bianca Del Rio THE queen of New Orleans

People are lined up on St. Charles Avenue.
Zulu rolls at 8 AM, Rex at 10. The artists and bohemians St. Ann parade in the Bywater is also getting underway. Mardi Gras starts early and goes hard until midnight when it's all over for another year.

Alberto and I have been doing some celebrating. We saw a few parades, and tears came at Muses, always missing Sabina and Joe, and feeling thankful that Alberto lived to see another Mardi Gras. Only one year ago he was in rough shape, though we made our way ever so slowly to the parades and to the French Quarter on Fat Tuesday. This year things are so much better! Laissez le bon temp roule!

Alberto and friend Mardi Gras 2010

We went to The Lords of Leather Ball the other night. Our friend Jessica got us the invitation. She is a big deal textile conservator, and her friend and colleague Wayne is a big deal curator at The Louisiana State Museum, and is a member of the Lords of Leather, and he graciously invited us all to sit at his ringside table.

iPhone photo of Jessica and me at the Lords of Leather

Kitty Kitty Bang Bang

The Lords of Leather is a gay club with the motto "Leather, Love, Laughter". Bianca Del Rio was the MC. I dressed up in a ridiculous costume, a black leather strapless gown and a cat woman mask. Joan Rivers is right: Just because you can zip it doesn't mean you should wear it - except on Mardi Gras!!!

Love and Laughter and Leather!

So today we will put on our glad rags and make our way into the French Quarter, to see and be seen, to have lunch, to find freinds in the street, and to see Bianca host the big costume show on the street where we used to live.

Mardi Gras ends at midnight, with the mounted police and garbage trucks and sweepers clearing the street. A bullhorn shouts: Mardi Gras is over! Get off the street now!!!

Bourbon Street at midnight on Mardi Gras

For us, it ends around 6 PM. Farewell to the pleasures of the flesh. Lent arrives. Whew.