Ash Wednesday / Valentine's Day

Sober up. Repent your sins - but give us a kiss. 

Travel day today. Reports soon.    

Tough Guy

The look: black jacket, black knit cap, black sunglasses on a cloudy day. The cigar and the posture that says "just try it." Beer can tucked under his arm. And yet festooned with beads, big colored balls and standing next to signs for orange cream pop freezes and ersatz Mexican food. Cognitive dissonance, anyone?   

Can You Think Of A Better Reason?

First place come-on sign at the Mardi Gras parade.     

What's On That Screen?

The height of the silly season is upon The Lou. Yesterday was the official Mardi Gras parade from downtown to the Soulard district. I didn't get my usual image haul, unfortunately. We decided to take Ellie. Didn't get to the walk staging area before the start as usual and the kid couldn't tolerate the noise. The floats were loaded with big amps and speakers and at one point under a trestle, when a train was crossing over the street, Ellie clamped her hands over her ears in pain. My wife and daughter took her to a restaurant while I walked some more.

The people watching was more interesting than the floats.  I really, really want to know what the young woman is watching on her phone. (The imagination runs wild.) The guys below are just getting into the swing of things. There is enough material to cover daily posts until we head south later this week.      

Chihauhua With a Margarita

It seemed like everyone except aging photographers was imbibing at mid-day during the dog parade. (I had an excuse: my hands were full of equipment.) And while you're at it, why not put a tiny sombrero on your tiny dog and give it a sip of the essence of agave? Dogs just wanna have fun.

Our big Mardi Gras parade is today, the Saturday before the date itself. I'll go shoot it if we are not getting freezing rain. Of course this Wednesday is both Ash Wednesday and Valentine's Day.  Might create a conflict for the more devout. We're planning a Valentine's dinner at a Cuban restaurant in Miami's Little Havana during a one-night stop before points beyond.        

Everything You Need

It is common to see street vendors at public events selling all sorts of junk roughly related to the occasion. It's all overpriced, tacky, and most of it will be gone in days or weeks. I wonder about the people, men and women, who sell the trinkets. Where do they come from? Why do they want this job? This ruggedly handsome man has perfect clothing for the weather. He is not impoverished.

There will be dozens of these people on the street for our official Mardi Gras parade tomorrow. I'll shoot it if the weather is not too bad. The forecast is for cold, although not extremely so. The prospect of freezing rain could keep me away.    

Where Do These People Come From?

 

St. Louis, I guess. What does that say about our character? Probably something good. Eccentrics and silly people are a welcome change from the daily grind.           

Late post today. Too much work.