Throw Me Something, Mister
Parades in Slidell are small, family-oriented affairs. There are floats, marching bands, and dance teams, which seem to be required for all Mardi Gras parades. Selene, the parade last Friday, has 20+ floats in the theme of Disney / Pixar / Dreamworks animated films.
They throw beads, of course, of varying quality - some small round beads, which is standard; some are larger beads, or are more ovaloid in shape; a few uncommon beads might have a sort of medallion attached, or even the Krewe's name somewhere on it. I got one with a large silvery medallion, colorful LEDs flashing, and Selene emblazoned across the front in blue ink. If you're near the end of a parade (or even if you're not), some krewes will throw bags of beads. These five-pound monsters usually hurtle through the air with cannonball-like force. Some krewes throw doubloons, which are plastic or wooden coins with the krewe's name and year on it. Cups are also popular throws, also with the krewe name and year. Then there are the misc throws, those rare objects everyone wants. I've seen a lot of small plush footballs. At Selene I got a couple of small plush animals. I've seen bouncy balls, Tootsie Rolls, bubble gum, plush flowers, fake spears, shoes, t-shirts.
There's a lot of kids at the Slidell parades. Last week I went to the Mona Lisa & Moon Pie parade. It's a small walking parade in the Old Town part of Slidell in which costumed revelers throw moon pies (a tasty treat) to the crowd. I staked out a small patch of sidewalk long before the parade started and all was going well, but some family pops up at the last second and this sugar-addicted eight-year-old muscles in on my turf. This kid was aggressive. He ran down the street to beg for treats from the first in the parade before the line even got up to my place. He was a little moon pie black hole - everyone would see him and give him two, then pass me by completely. I see through your cute gap-toothed facade, kid. You ain't fooling me. He even got the pies that were launched my way. One landed at my feet and the brat pounced on it before I had a chance to stoop down to get it. And his parents, oh they're just laughing, saying to each other, "Oh, our little Jimmy, he's a real pistol, such a little bundle of energy!" You'd better check yourself before you wreck yourself, little Jimmy. You dive for moon pies that are rightfully mine, you'll be tasting leather boot instead of chocolate. It's hard to eat moon pies when you don't have any teeth left in your misshapen skull, you hyperactive cutthroat pie-snatcher.
I'm sorry I missed Muses in New Orleans on Friday - apparently the theme of the parade was 'shoes',
Krewe of Tucks yesterday afternoon was like the Slidell parades, though larger. Lots of kids and families, and a random sprinkling of other people as well, despite the "fratty" nature of the parade. (For their 40th anniversary, their throws had written on them 'Tucks hits Faughty, Still Naughty'). Floats, bands, dance teams. Lots of throws, though it's hard to get anything extraordinary if you're not tall, female, young, or cute. But overall we fared well and I ended up with heaps of beads. A few of my companions got small plungers. One of them got beads with a mini water meter cover on it.
Endymion last night, one of the larger parades, was like a giant outdoors frat party with everyone invited. There were large crowds of college students, and people who wish they were still college students, with daiquiris and beers. In front of us at Lee Circle was a small cluster of locals who had the spot staked out since noon. The parade got to us at around 8:30. They were in constant struggle with the fratters to our left, and the women to our right who were flashing the floats. The locals were not amused. Those women did get t-shirts, plush throws, and other prizes for exposing their breasts. A few on the float were not impressed, however, and launched heavy bags of beads full-force at these drunken revelers. Contrary to popular belief, you do not have to expose your breasts to get beads. Even though I was short, nondescript, and fully clothed, I left Endymion with dozens of beads, two frisbees, and over ten cups. My companions who also don't flash netted even more beads, several bags of beads, plush footballs, and other such. There are beads and broken cups left in the streets after the parade ended.
Today, we've got Bacchus, which is another huge one, and will likely be a repeat of Endymion. Lots of drunkenness, possible breast exposure, and enough beads to make give me neck strain.
They throw beads, of course, of varying quality - some small round beads, which is standard; some are larger beads, or are more ovaloid in shape; a few uncommon beads might have a sort of medallion attached, or even the Krewe's name somewhere on it. I got one with a large silvery medallion, colorful LEDs flashing, and Selene emblazoned across the front in blue ink. If you're near the end of a parade (or even if you're not), some krewes will throw bags of beads. These five-pound monsters usually hurtle through the air with cannonball-like force. Some krewes throw doubloons, which are plastic or wooden coins with the krewe's name and year on it. Cups are also popular throws, also with the krewe name and year. Then there are the misc throws, those rare objects everyone wants. I've seen a lot of small plush footballs. At Selene I got a couple of small plush animals. I've seen bouncy balls, Tootsie Rolls, bubble gum, plush flowers, fake spears, shoes, t-shirts.
There's a lot of kids at the Slidell parades. Last week I went to the Mona Lisa & Moon Pie parade. It's a small walking parade in the Old Town part of Slidell in which costumed revelers throw moon pies (a tasty treat) to the crowd. I staked out a small patch of sidewalk long before the parade started and all was going well, but some family pops up at the last second and this sugar-addicted eight-year-old muscles in on my turf. This kid was aggressive. He ran down the street to beg for treats from the first in the parade before the line even got up to my place. He was a little moon pie black hole - everyone would see him and give him two, then pass me by completely. I see through your cute gap-toothed facade, kid. You ain't fooling me. He even got the pies that were launched my way. One landed at my feet and the brat pounced on it before I had a chance to stoop down to get it. And his parents, oh they're just laughing, saying to each other, "Oh, our little Jimmy, he's a real pistol, such a little bundle of energy!" You'd better check yourself before you wreck yourself, little Jimmy. You dive for moon pies that are rightfully mine, you'll be tasting leather boot instead of chocolate. It's hard to eat moon pies when you don't have any teeth left in your misshapen skull, you hyperactive cutthroat pie-snatcher.
I'm sorry I missed Muses in New Orleans on Friday - apparently the theme of the parade was 'shoes',
Krewe of Tucks yesterday afternoon was like the Slidell parades, though larger. Lots of kids and families, and a random sprinkling of other people as well, despite the "fratty" nature of the parade. (For their 40th anniversary, their throws had written on them 'Tucks hits Faughty, Still Naughty'). Floats, bands, dance teams. Lots of throws, though it's hard to get anything extraordinary if you're not tall, female, young, or cute. But overall we fared well and I ended up with heaps of beads. A few of my companions got small plungers. One of them got beads with a mini water meter cover on it.
Endymion last night, one of the larger parades, was like a giant outdoors frat party with everyone invited. There were large crowds of college students, and people who wish they were still college students, with daiquiris and beers. In front of us at Lee Circle was a small cluster of locals who had the spot staked out since noon. The parade got to us at around 8:30. They were in constant struggle with the fratters to our left, and the women to our right who were flashing the floats. The locals were not amused. Those women did get t-shirts, plush throws, and other prizes for exposing their breasts. A few on the float were not impressed, however, and launched heavy bags of beads full-force at these drunken revelers. Contrary to popular belief, you do not have to expose your breasts to get beads. Even though I was short, nondescript, and fully clothed, I left Endymion with dozens of beads, two frisbees, and over ten cups. My companions who also don't flash netted even more beads, several bags of beads, plush footballs, and other such. There are beads and broken cups left in the streets after the parade ended.
Today, we've got Bacchus, which is another huge one, and will likely be a repeat of Endymion. Lots of drunkenness, possible breast exposure, and enough beads to make give me neck strain.