It's Almost Here!

It's almost here!  The party of the (half) century! You don't have to miss it... almost every major airline serves Louis Armstrong International Airport!  You may even be able to find a last-minut deal!  Can't wait to see who's coming to celebrate!

Another Disaster for New Orleans?

We hope not!

Last winter, as many of you blogged about bitter cold, piles of snow, and what seemed to be a never-ending winter story, Queen Ginger made a few snide comment about planting gardens, wearing shorts, and other FABULOUS Southern glorification.  She couldn't resist the temptation, even though she knows karma is a bitch, and payback can be hell.  And she knew exactly what would happen.

Yasee,  whenever the North has a terrible, snowy winter, the South has a terrible, flood-filled spring.  Unlike rain,  which runs way as it falls, snow collects, and collects, and collects.  Until it all melts at once.  And if you are a raindrop east of the Rockies, all roads lead (eventually) to the Mississippi river.  Even the mighty Mississippi, with her impressive width and dredged channels, can't hold all that water.  Many cities and towns along the northern parts of the Mississippi are suffering devastating flooding,  and Queen Ginger hopes that all of you will donate to the American Red Cross to help the people survive and recover the complete destruction of their property.  They only have flood problems when there are particularly bad winters, and as you know, last year was really bad!

Many have inquired of Queen G what will happen to her beloved New Orleans. Barring an unexpected levee breach, probably nothing.  Thanks to years and years of efforts by the Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans and Baton Rouge are well-protected by an ingenious and time-tested system of levees, spillways, and reservoirs designed to divert water through less populated areas to protect the big cities from disaster. In fact, the effort is so important to trade and commerce in the US that the Corp has special "Team New Orleans" to manage the intricate levee and watershed system.

Much of the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina was due to a levee breach, but that situation was very different.  Levees are designed to hold water "in".  The berm is designed to withstand the lateral force of the river pushing against it.  The storm surge from Katrina placed force on the levees from outside.  With equally strong forces from both sides at some points,  the levees basically washed away, leaving gaping holes that spilled water into New Orleans. The levee isn't designed as a seawall, although lessons learned from Katrina have helped the Corps location potential weak points, where they have redesigned the levees to be less susceptible to such a situation.

Along the levee systems are interchanges called "spillways", that divert water from the river into large areas of primarily swampland, where it can flow into the Gulf through the marshes. If you've ever driven along Interstate 10 between New Orleans and Lafayette, you crossed these reservoirs on long, long bridges.  Just west of New Orleans, the Bonnet Carre spillway has already been opened,  and you can see the water rushing under the bridge as you cross.  The image above shows the inundation of swampland with the Bonnet Carre opened, plus the risk to New Orleans and Baton Rouge if something else is not done. The Bonner Carre is always the first spillway opened, as the land that it floods is virtually all swamp,  and the only humans affected are the relatively small population of trappers and fishermen who make their living in the those swamps.

The more controversial relief is the Morganza Spillway, indicated in this image.

This image shows the inundation of swamp land if the Morganza Spillway is opened 50%. New Orleans and Baton Rouge are completely spared, as most of the flooding is diverted into swampland.  However, the controversy comes from the fact that there are more people and towns in the path of the Morganza Spillway, including Morgan City and Houma.
The Morganza has not been opened since 1973, so it really is an action of last resort.  Estimates are that 25,000 people would have to be evacuated to save their lives if the spillway is opened, and there property will almost certainly be lost.

As of Saturday morning, the Corps has begun opening the Morganza Spillway.  Queen G would certainly hate to be the person who has to make the decision to displace 25,000 peope from their homes and livelihood.  Still, it's a numbers game, and by predictably evacuating this smaller number of people,  we may prevent a disaster that would affect over a million people.

This interactive gadget shows the population density of the areas in question.  New Orleans and Baton Rouge are indicated,  the other heavy orange area in the south central part of the state is Lafayette.  The relatively white area in between is the land that would be sacrificed by the Morganza.

So, New Orleans and Baton Rouge should be okay-  thanks for asking!!  And please keep the people of Houma and Morgan City in your thoughts, and consider donating what you can to the American Red Cross.  Out Cajun freres and soeurs need our love and support!

Big Week!

It's been a big week full of big events and big hats, and more excitement still to come!!


Saturday, Miss Ginger was honored to host the 4th Annual Derby Day at the BRB, benefiting Legacy Community Health Services! This event has really grown since we started it 4 years ago, and more people than ever participated in the hat contest and general frivolities of the day!  Of course, Miss Ginger's hats had to be the biggest and most fabulous, and her first one was resplendent with pink roses in her favorite shades of blush and bashful!  All those flowers also attracted 3 huge butterflies, and the whole this topped out almost 3 foot above the top of her head!! She almost pulled an all-nighter Friday to get 3 hats together, but it was worth it to hear the crowd ooh and aah over them!

Sunday was a day of rest and reflection! In honor of Momma G, Miss Ginger spent most of the day in the kitchen, doing the things Momma G taught her!  She's always with me when I'm in there, and I can hear her talking me through every step of every recipe!  Today, we made one of her favorites: Corn and Tomato soup! It's so easy- make a vegetable broth, strip the corn from the cobs and throw it in there, and add a can of tomatoes!  Yum!  Corn is in season right now so it's really cheap and beautiful!






There were also several naps interspersed throughout Sunday as she prepares herself for the other big event of the week:  meeting Nutwood Beth and Bucko in NOLA!!  Beth was one of the first bloggers to befriend Miss G back in the AOL Journal days, and we've kept up with each other ever since, and have always vowed to meet!  So, this week is it!  She and her hubby arrived last Saturday, along with her cousin and their partner, and they have been partying all weekend!  During the week they have lots of fun, touristy stuff planned, and Miss G gets into town Wednesday evening for our first "meetup" and few nightcaps!  Thursday Miss G will work, then Thursday night and Friday, it's all about the party!  Miss G can't wait to show them all her favorite places, and is looking forward to taking them Molly's at the Market so they can meet Mr. Wu!!

They say what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas- presumably because every vows to follow that "code".  But what happens in NOLA stays in NOLA, too.  But that's because everyone drinks so much, they really don't remember!!


But, with 3 of us blogging the goings on, you can all expect a full report!

For the Boys....

...of course, I didn't forget about you!

For the Girls....

You all know Queen Ginger LOVES her some lesbians! So, girls, here's a few Mardi Gras pics for you!

Happy Mardi Gras, Ladies!!

"Everywhere Else It's Just Tuesday!"

Happy Mardi Gras, everybody!  This girl's sign just kinda says it all, doncha think!?  It's been a very interesting, very unusual, but very awesome Mardi Gras for Queen Ginger, and it will probably take a few posts for her to share it all with you!!


First, you must know that Miss G risked life and phlegm to bring you these on-the-scene shots of the festivities!  When she woke up this morning, she discovered this sinus thing had dropped to her chest, so she was way too miserable to drag out the drag and be a part of the scene! She sent Boy G out, incognito and sober, to spend his day taking in the sights and snapping these pics for our gentle readers!

As soon as Boy G left the hotel, he ran smack dab into Pete Fountain's Half-Fast Walking Club,  a legend among New Orleans locals and one of the most popular walking clubs in the city!  Now, don't confuse these guys with mall walkers or anyone who walks for their health!  Click here to learn about the purpose of walking clubs and their contribution to the party!

Boy G got so distracted by one handsome walker....

....that he almost missed the opportunity to catch this awesome shot of the Legendary Pete Fountain himself!  Boy G fondly remembers seeing Pete play live with Momma and Poppa G back when Pete had a place in the New Orleans Hilton.










After taking in the sights along Royal Street,  Boy G wandered up Dumaine to Lafittes, where the costumed revelers were gathering for the annual Bourbon Street Awards, to be held at noon.

Here, Boy G was able to catch up with some of the gang from home, and finally found the person she had been looking for all weekend long:

...the elusive Amber LeMay!! Of course, Amber was all dolled up in her Mardi Gras finest, and Miss Ginger was just sick that she didn't get to meet her!  Lucy Belle and the other girls were off at the parades, but being the hard-core party gurl that is Amber, she wanted to stay in the French Quarter to she wouldn't miss a sinful inch of the party!  I always knew she was from good people!!

Amber was, as always, the Belle of the Ball, and was having a great time meeting the crowds and oggling over the fabulous, creative costumes that are a hallmark of a French Quarter Mardi Gras!










We saw:

Wonder Woman meets the Golden Girls!

The Doublemint Twins- Rehobeth Beach style!

Mary Poppins and her Spoonful of Sugar.

The Supremes- and their "Love Child"!

Rosie the Robot!

and many, many, more!!  Watch this spot for a couple more posts coming your way!  There's also some great costume pics on NOLA.com!

Happy Lundi Gras!

What's that? You've never heard of Lundi Gras?  Well, quelle surprise, since it really isn't a holiday!  And you can confirm this by looking it up on Wikipedia, which isn't really an encyclopedia, so that settles it!

Lundi Gras is one of those "Hallmark holiday" kind of marketing schemes dreamed up several years ago by a greedy marketing tyrant tradition-minded city leaders to bilk the tourists out of every possible dollar extend the celebration and spirit of Mardi Gras!  Literally "Fat Monday", the term has come to mean, simply, the Monday before Mardi Gras.

The "official" Lundi Gras celebration takes place along the riverfront, with bands, entertainment, and gradually expanding crowds that peak around sunset, when the King of Rex and the Zulu King come across the river by boat and meet at Spanish Plaza for a celebratory toast.

Nowadays, people celebrate Lundi Gras all over the city,  and Boy G and his old pal John from back home spent the late morning and early afternoon walking the French Quarter and watching the city gear up for the party.  Jackson Square was already gathering quite a crowd by mid day,  with the usual artists and street performers joined by still more bible thumping christians and self-proclaimed missionaries.

The party spilled from the Square and Bourbon Street all up and down Royal, the usually reserved, daytime pedestrian street that is home to many of the cities finest antique and art dealers.  Today, however,  the street was filled with street performers, musicians, mimes, and such, of varying qualities and talents. The tourists were clearly into it, and rewarded them with attention, photos, and generous tips!!

Almost every balcony in the quarter had people with beads bargaining with the crowd below for a glimpse of this or that.  Spirited tourists frequented the balconies of hotels and guest houses with cases of beads, boas, and other throws to taunt the passersby.

In the more residential areas of the Quarter, families and locals drank, entertained, and just soaked in the party atmosphere.

And, of course, in the gay section of the quarter,  men with beads on the balconies taunted boys with bodies below, offering the largest, most luxurious strands of beads to the boys who showed the most!

It is truly impossible to be anywhere in the city and not be sucked into the spirit of the celebration!  Booze flows, beads fly, but mostly, EVERYONE wishes one another "Happy Mardi Gras" at the world's largest party!

Don't Rain on my Parade!

Queen Ginger has not attended any parades this year... she tends to avoid them like the plague!  They are, however, a really important part of the Mardi Gras experience, and being the benevolent Monarch that she is, your Queen has thoughtfully provided this link to the NOLA.com webcam at ">Fat Harry's so you can enjoy the parades yourself!!

The Rain Has Gone!!

 It was a BEAUTIFUL day in New Orleans today: sunny, clear, and a bit chilly but not really cold!  Inside Queen Ginger's brain things were a bit more foggy after a long night at The Corner Pocket, so she spent much of the morning trying to get her eyes open and un-knot her back from sleeping like a rock! 

Our girl finally got herself out of the hotel about mid-afternoon to find the damn dog that bit her so she could pluck a hair from it! When she arrived on Bourbon Street, the  christians were out in full force with their bullhorns and signs.  Then, 2 hot Harley Daddies drove their motorcycles into the mele, revving the engines and creating a monstrous noise that completely drowned out their bullhorns! It was hilarious, and well wisher after well wisher walked by and put beads around the necks of the noisemakers to show their support!  Miss Ginger watched for a while, but concerns about CO2 poisoning made her decide it was time to move on to fresher fields!  


She had a few leisurely cocktails with a few fabulous friends, and then decided to make an early stop by Nelly Deli to pick up sustenance for an early night!  There's still 2 more days of this nonsense, so this old lady has to pace herself!

I Can't Stop the Rain!

Instead of hundreds of shirtless men, the Quarter was filled thousands of garbage bag ponchos as the rain continued Saturday night.  After the gullywasher came through, lighter rain continued into the evening, dampening the hair, if not the spirits of the thousands of people who came to NOLA for the world's biggest party!  There is not a square inch of New Orleans where one could escape the party atmosphere, and why would anyone want to?

Boy G risked life, limb, and watery beer to bring you the pictures he promised of the Mardi Gras festivities, so here' a bit of the experience for you!


For Miss Ginger and her friends, the corner of Bourbon and St. Ann is the "center of the Universe", the spot around which all of the parties revolve.  There on St. Ann street, between 2 of the city's largest gay clubs, the party spills onto the street, and from overlooking balconies, the boys bargain with beads to see various and sundry body parts of the passersby!  

Of course the religious right never fails to miss the opportunity to oggle men's body parts under the guise of salvation, so there they were, as always, with their hate filled-rhetoric.  Their venom was not so potent this year, however, since their leader, Grant Storms, was arrested last week for masturbating in his car while watching a bunch of kids play in a Metairie park! Methinks thou protest too loud!  And c'mon: "Grant Storms"?  That's a porn name if I ever heard one!!


All of this commotion causes a great deal of traffic on our little narrow corner, and even though most of the French Quarter is closed off to vehicular traffic,  there are still quite a number of taxis and beer trucks that are allowed through.

Lucky for us, our self-appointed TRANSportation director did a remarkably effective job of keeping everyone safe, and entertaining the crowd in the process!

With all these cute boys lined up likes ducks on the balconies and in the streets, SIRveillance is like shooting fish in a barrel! 

My favorite boy is Marco, a dick dancer from Nicaraugua, via DC, who looks like a munchkin Mario Lopez, with oversized equipment, if you smell what I'm stepping in!!  He's a sweety and always has that dimply little smile that makes you want to reach in for another dollar's worth!!

More later!! Miss Ginger is STILL trying to find Amber and the LeMay Sisters!

It's Fixin' to Come a Gullywasher....

as we say here in the South!  The Quarter is wet and rainy, and Miss G can hear the thunder outside the hotel.  This seems to her to be the perfect time for a little snappy nap!  Goodnight!!

WTF?!

Granted, Miss G is an early bird....but she always has been! Where the hell are all the gay boys?!   The "straight" end of the quarter is PACKED!! When one passes St. Ann, it's like a multi-family military funeral!  Where are all the party boys?!

The Weatherman Got it Wrong!!

Queen Ginger commanded "PERFECT" weather for Mardi Gras weekend.  What she has arrived to is "TYPICAL" Mardi Gras weather! She hates it when the people don't listen carefully!!


So,instead of sunny and shirtless,  it is drizzly and cool. Not cold, thankfully, and not raining steadily... just enough to make the streets wet and the bars full!




It doesn't seem to have slowed down the revelry on Bourbon Street, and even though it's still a bit quiet past St. Ann,  Miss Ginger is certain that the boys will come out a bit later.... after their spray tans dry a bit!!


Stay tuned for more tidbits!!