Ashes, ashes...
OK, yeah, I know Ash Wednesday was two days ago, but Mardi Gras took a lot out of me...
Ash Wed. doesn't have any religious significance for me, really, but it is the day after Mardi Gras and the beginning of Lent and in this town that does mean something.
First of all, you wake up to a house full of dirty dishes, plastic beads and glitter everywhere. (I washed some dishes today and the sink wasn't draining, the drain was full of glitter...) There are still MG decorations on the house that have to come down. The monkey cam has to be redone. The Mardi Gras pics have to be sorted, resized and put up on the site. The poor cats nerves are frayed and she has a cough. You don't really want to go outside because the city is still covered in trash; it takes two days to clean it up and this year there were over 2,000 tons of trash. You've got blisters on your feet from walking miles and miles through all the partying and you don't want to see another persons private parts. (OK, that last thing, you get over fairly quickly...) Valentine's Day is a bit of a blur... Mardi Gras is intense. It's an insane event, you enjoy it immensely and when it's over you've had enough. You don't want any more until next year. On Ash Wednesday you really feel it.
Now people do give up things for Lent in New Orleans. One example I'll always remember is Josef, who was Tennessee William's houseman in NO for many years. I used to frequent a bar near Tennessee's house in the Quarter and Josef was always there, but Mardi Gras was the last day we'd see him until Easter Sunday when he would come in with the most enormous Easter hat and drink himself silly once again. He loved to be out and he loved to party, but he was very serious about Lent; you might see him in the gate to the alley by Tennesee's house or on the street, but never in the bar. He wouldn't even talk to us during Lent.
So people give up smoking or drinking or meat, or something, for the 40 days of Lent. But they don't really have to make it all the way through because there are three St. Patrick's Day Parades (March 15, 16, and 17th) and an Irish American Parade on the 24th for St Joseph's day. They are typical New Orlean's type blow outs with bead throwing, marching bands and floats with the addition of the throwing of cabbages, carrots, onions and potatoes for the Irish and fava beans, roses and kisses for the Italian parades. Yes, the Italian men march through the Quarter and kiss people; they used to come by one of my favorite gay bars... It's all a lot of fun and the religious aspect of these "holidays" doesn't seem to get in the way any more than it does for Mardi Gras. Easter is another big day with several Easter hat parades in the Quarter, including one gay Easter hat parade, all in decorated horse drawn carriages. Of course, the gay parade has the best hats.
After Easter, there's only a couple of weeks until Jazz Fest, (which lasts two weeks). Then it gets rough, there's a whole blazing hot summer to get through before Southern Decadence! We muddle through somehow.
The Message Boards
I've been around these boards for quite a while; started out with Mark's old board, and I've seen storms come and go. There were times when I thought the boards would just disappear altogether because of the bad feelings and controversy; I've been surprised time after time how they bounce back. Perhaps I shouldn't have been surprised, there are a great many good people that come to them and I've gotten to know many of them. I've made friends here, some of whom I've met in person and others whom I have not yet met face to face. I am often amazed at the kind of people I've met and how interesting, intelligent and witty they are.
I've also, on occasion, been stunned by the bitterness, anger and ugliness that people will show to each other. My position has been that everyone is welcome to post on my board, but that they respect each other as they do. It's supposed to be fun. If I were throwing a party at my house, I'd expect people to be laughing, talking about films, books, music, current events, (having arguments about them), gossiping a bit... but when someone starts throwing punches, that's the limit.
I also will say that I support GC; he has what is often a thankless job. He set this up, negotiated the space on the net (hosted by BadPuppy) and has to make the decisions; the various moderators contibute their opinions, but in the end it's his decision and his responsibility. I can tell you that the decisions are not easily or lightly made. I see how it is after having my own board for a while and talking to others who have one.
All that said, welcome everyone! Have fun! And give each other a break once and a while, eh?
OK, yeah, I know Ash Wednesday was two days ago, but Mardi Gras took a lot out of me...
Ash Wed. doesn't have any religious significance for me, really, but it is the day after Mardi Gras and the beginning of Lent and in this town that does mean something.
First of all, you wake up to a house full of dirty dishes, plastic beads and glitter everywhere. (I washed some dishes today and the sink wasn't draining, the drain was full of glitter...) There are still MG decorations on the house that have to come down. The monkey cam has to be redone. The Mardi Gras pics have to be sorted, resized and put up on the site. The poor cats nerves are frayed and she has a cough. You don't really want to go outside because the city is still covered in trash; it takes two days to clean it up and this year there were over 2,000 tons of trash. You've got blisters on your feet from walking miles and miles through all the partying and you don't want to see another persons private parts. (OK, that last thing, you get over fairly quickly...) Valentine's Day is a bit of a blur... Mardi Gras is intense. It's an insane event, you enjoy it immensely and when it's over you've had enough. You don't want any more until next year. On Ash Wednesday you really feel it.
Now people do give up things for Lent in New Orleans. One example I'll always remember is Josef, who was Tennessee William's houseman in NO for many years. I used to frequent a bar near Tennessee's house in the Quarter and Josef was always there, but Mardi Gras was the last day we'd see him until Easter Sunday when he would come in with the most enormous Easter hat and drink himself silly once again. He loved to be out and he loved to party, but he was very serious about Lent; you might see him in the gate to the alley by Tennesee's house or on the street, but never in the bar. He wouldn't even talk to us during Lent.
So people give up smoking or drinking or meat, or something, for the 40 days of Lent. But they don't really have to make it all the way through because there are three St. Patrick's Day Parades (March 15, 16, and 17th) and an Irish American Parade on the 24th for St Joseph's day. They are typical New Orlean's type blow outs with bead throwing, marching bands and floats with the addition of the throwing of cabbages, carrots, onions and potatoes for the Irish and fava beans, roses and kisses for the Italian parades. Yes, the Italian men march through the Quarter and kiss people; they used to come by one of my favorite gay bars... It's all a lot of fun and the religious aspect of these "holidays" doesn't seem to get in the way any more than it does for Mardi Gras. Easter is another big day with several Easter hat parades in the Quarter, including one gay Easter hat parade, all in decorated horse drawn carriages. Of course, the gay parade has the best hats.
After Easter, there's only a couple of weeks until Jazz Fest, (which lasts two weeks). Then it gets rough, there's a whole blazing hot summer to get through before Southern Decadence! We muddle through somehow.
The Message Boards
I've been around these boards for quite a while; started out with Mark's old board, and I've seen storms come and go. There were times when I thought the boards would just disappear altogether because of the bad feelings and controversy; I've been surprised time after time how they bounce back. Perhaps I shouldn't have been surprised, there are a great many good people that come to them and I've gotten to know many of them. I've made friends here, some of whom I've met in person and others whom I have not yet met face to face. I am often amazed at the kind of people I've met and how interesting, intelligent and witty they are.
I've also, on occasion, been stunned by the bitterness, anger and ugliness that people will show to each other. My position has been that everyone is welcome to post on my board, but that they respect each other as they do. It's supposed to be fun. If I were throwing a party at my house, I'd expect people to be laughing, talking about films, books, music, current events, (having arguments about them), gossiping a bit... but when someone starts throwing punches, that's the limit.
I also will say that I support GC; he has what is often a thankless job. He set this up, negotiated the space on the net (hosted by BadPuppy) and has to make the decisions; the various moderators contibute their opinions, but in the end it's his decision and his responsibility. I can tell you that the decisions are not easily or lightly made. I see how it is after having my own board for a while and talking to others who have one.
All that said, welcome everyone! Have fun! And give each other a break once and a while, eh?
