Super Weekend

I have wanted to blog before Lundi Gras but seriously was not physically able to do so. I was really not able to do anything, except sit on a lazy boy out on the parade route this weekend. Tonight, I am taking off so I can get up at 6am for Zulu and to march thereafter in a renegade parade I cannot recall the name of right now. The name really doesn't matter, the point is you have to be in costume marching on Fat Tuesday.

As for the Muses experience, I cannot say it enough that it was simply one of the most amazing experiences in my life! There was a complete surreality to the entire ride, which for float 5, was about 7 hours that we were on the move. Count in the pre-party which was another 3 hours, it made a long evening. The pre-party consisted of only the riding ladies, who primped and dressed in their costumes while sipping nectar of the goddesses and champagne. Every float had a headdress of some sort, usually having to do with the theme of the float you were riding. There was a headdress competition, which apparently our float won 3rd place ( I was in the bathroom primping at the time). Who won first, I still do not know. The odd thing about it all though, was that since there was 768 women riding, and in costume, you wouldn't be able to really recognize anybody save for your co-riders who dressed the same as you. I felt like I was a member of some sort of bird flock that was mingling with other bird species, but yet stuck close to the same tribe throughout. It was fantastic thrill when they brought in the floats one by one for us to load on. Each time one would roll by, hundreds of female hollers were unleashed with a wave of sparkly arms and heads raised to welcome the float's arrival.

Once we got on, the immediate task of bead-organizing began. It took a lot longer than you would think. We had so much stuff that is was hard to move around. I resorted to bead surfing during that time in order to move around. The girls I rode next to we all a blast. We shard finger sandwiches and wine and combed through thousands of beads and trinkets while lining up on Tchoup. The parade suddenly pulled together on the corner of Napoleon and Tcoup when they would weave in the bands one by one in between floats. This was so organized it almost seemed like braiding hair. As soon as the bands came in and started playing, the whole thing just kicked up 10 notches and we were suddenly a real full fledged parade taking off.

The ride itself was a surreal experience. I almost felt like I was on some sort of drug, as all time suddenly ceased and you lost track of where you were. One would think that there would be a lot whooping and music on the float itself, but we were all so silent and focused on throwing, that this too, added to the slow-motion effect. In addition, the only real exchange was when you made eye-contact with a parade viewer and threw them something. To see the complete joy and thrill in their eyes was truly moving, and always followed by a "thank you". I heard from a lot of people this weekend that Muses was by far the best parade they had seen.

When we hit Canal I realized I was almost out of goods to throw (which I can hardly believe), so I had to resort to tricks and teasing to string out what was left. The only thing I did not throw, was my Snake-and-Jake's sunglasses and Cruella Deville plush toy (both I found in the throw-back stash). I hated for it to all be over, but I am so so so glad to have had the chance to do it, I am totally hooked now.

Saturday was a big time as well. I had some friends that set up camp on St. Charles, along with a margarita machine and port-a-potty-tent and loads of additional accoutrements. Sunday, I went down to a friend's house on Magazine St. for Thoth. We pulled out the lazy-boys then, and before long I was a renegade rider on Thoth for a little while when they slowed down, opened the side door and yelled, "Climb on!". I was given a tiara and a mask and rolled with them a little while too!

And let's not forget the Super Bowl, which was on during Bacchus. My friend's bar (the Delachaise) had set up a wide screen t.v. on the patio so we could watch in between floats or in between commercials. How about the Giants y'all!!! That was thrilling in and of itself! Lot's of Manning fans down here...

Time to rest up now, get ready for one last hurrah...

Re-Ride!

Due to bad weather, they postponed our ride until tonight! So, not a bad thing really, as it is beautiful today and the crowds will be huge tonight. We follow three other parades, so it will be a massive throw-down to get the big weekend rolling.

We still had our big party last night, amazing turnout (what else can you expect) and fabulous costumes! Our float had a lovely brunch in the afternoon and some great female bonding time. I found out that the wait list to ride in our parade is over 700! That is amazing! Anyhow, more to update later. I need to lay down and get some rest while I can...

We Ride!

Krewe of Muses rolls tonight!

Forecast calls for rain, but at the moment the sun is coming out. Perhaps the Goddesses above are pushing the clouds away so we can parade without bad weather. I'd like to think so. I and the other ladies have a long day ahead. Brunch at noon, pre-party at 2:30, float boarding at 5, line up at 6 and roll at 7. Then we have an after party with entertainment by The Village People. Take a guess what out theme is!

I loaded my extra beads last night, and let me tell you, I have TON OF SH**! My god, there is so much stuff, I am not sure I will be able to throw it all. The float is loaded down pretty good with everyone's stuff. If you can imagine 28 floats loaded similarly, it is no wonder we have the reputation of throwing the most. I am going to post out theme song for the parade, sung to "I Will Survive". It's pretty funny:

It’s Muses Night 2008

Once we were naive
It was our first time
Not doing Mardi Gras the right way
Would have been such a crime
But we had spent so many nights
watching men’s krewes masquerade,
we were afraid
And now we have the best parade!
And so we’re back
For number eight!
We hate to brag about ourselves
But Gambit readers say we’re great
We have even better throws
Tonight should be a stress reliever
The crowds should all be ready for a case of
Disco Muses Night Fever

Go on now – GO, Get on that mask
Hook your harness girl, And be sure to hide that flask.
We’ve spent another year of nights waiting for this one to arrive
Tonight we ride!
COLD or FLOOD, we will survive!
Oh yeah oh…
It’s Muses’ night
As long as you know how to throw you’ll do the Muses right!
‘Cause we know we will delight
And we’re lookin’ out-a-site!
It’s Muses’ night
It’s Muses’ night

It took all the strength we had
Not to fall apart
And each Mardi Gras is mending
some more broken hearts
We’re Disco Muses now
and it’s time to get it on
We took a chance
And we’ll make the whole crowd dance
And they’ll see us –
the Muses krewe
With all our disco Muses riding
And Marva in the shoe
We thought it couldn’t get much better
And the crowds will sure agree
Once they’ve gotten Muses Fever
It’s the best parade they’ll see

Go on now – GO, Get on that mask
Hook your harness girl, And be sure to hide that flask.
We’ve spent another year of nights waiting for this one to arrive
Tonight we ride!
STORM or FLOOD, we will survive!
Oh yeah oh…
It’s Muses’ night
As long as you know how to throw you’ll do the Muses right!
‘Cause we know we will delight
And we’re lookin’ out-a-site!
It’s Muses’ night
It’s Muses’ night
Hey Hey

Whack it!

It's been raining pretty much all week and I've still had this lingering sinus/ear infection/congestion that keeps giving. It's sort of become my own personal whack-a-mole in my head. Every morning I arise and do battle with it (whack with decongestants! whack with antihistamines! whack with antibiotics! whack with emergen-C! etc.). And now, on the eve of parade season, it's still hanging on. I guess it to wants to ride Muses too, and for free (imagine the nerve of that??). SO with any pure luck and divine intervention, it will have gone away before next Wednesday night. Otherwise, I guess I will have to make friends with it somehow...(sigh).


Okay, well today it begins! Tonight the first parades roll down St. Charles Avenue. I have been shut-in all week, so I am going to get my ass out to have some fun, rain or no rain. YES! They are going to roll, no matter what the weather.

The past week especially, I have had several marching bands practice on our street, marching up and down and getting their routine/walk right. It was endearing, really. This morning it was a group of middle schoolers, who I think may be marching tonight. Well, I can hear the siren's announcing the arrival of floats lining up on Tchoup, so I guess I'll go figure out my game plan. YES!!

Neti Pot

Neti Pot. Do you know what that is? Well, it freaked me out at first, just the idea of it...but I broke down and bought one for the sake of my frickin' sinuses which are driving me insane! I have been having allergy crap related sinus boofungoo for way too long I thought I would burst from the pressure. The latest rage (even Oprah had it on her show) is the Neti Pot, where you rinse your sinuses out with saline/salt water. It sort of feels like when you jump into a swimming pool and get water up your nose...not too comfortable, I admit. Plus my nostrils are larger than the spout, so there tends to be flushing every witch way. I realize it sounds gross, but after the 5th time now, I am beginning to feel a little better and getting better at doing it.

If you do a google, you will find several youtube instruction videos on "how to". It really looks ridiculous, and I usually am laughing at myself in the mirror (I find a mirror helps me to figure out what I am doing), but if you have allergies and sinus issues, you may want to try it. If I end up with some sort of miracle recovery, you will hear me taking about the Neti Pot every which way!

Rain and Muses

It's raining in New Orleans. But I would have known that, as my ear started ringing two days before. It's a not-so-new phenomenon for me, really. When I was 13-14 years of age, I went through an entire year of ear ringing that would occur prior to some sort of rain storm. Nowadays, one can explain it as something that has to do with air pressure and allergies...and all that time I thought I had a special gift!

New Orleans is gearing up for the big Mardi Gras celebration (2/5) coming early this year. It's convenient decorating-wise, as people can reuse their christmas tree but decorating them with gold, green and purple accoutrements. It is a lovely sight and one I wish we could participate in, but since we had no christmas tree this year, we also have no mardi gras tree...(sigh). However, I do have mu Muses flag lying from the window to let everyone know that there is a Muse in the house and accounted for. This is a fun time, as all krewe members hang their flags up all over town.

We had the big Muses weekend this past Saturday/Sunday. It is important because it is when we pick up all our goods we plan to throw and get to see the floats. It is also a handy time to find out your position and figure out what all you need, like hooks, cup holders, chairs, etc.. I found out that I am on float 5 passenger side, last person. It is a good spot indeed, as I have plenty of room to move around and house all my beads (and I have a TON of STUFF). The float has two layers, with the first floor having, what I would call, a raised platform on each end of the float. This is where I stand, so I am not under anything and not too high up where I have to watch for tree limbs smacking me in the head. We will have costumes and headdresses, so this position is especially helpful, because knowing me, I'd be running into limbs, roofs and whatever else all night long.

I met a few of the girls the other day at float-viewing and they plan on bringing chairs. They had ridden before and were a wealth of info for me on what to expect. Again, out spot allows for chairs, and since the ride can last 3 hours or more, there may be a need for some rest. Frankly, I'll probaly be too excited to sit, but you never know... And in case you were wondering, we have three bathrooms on the float. Obviously, this is very important.

We are having a float 5 brunch before the parade and a Muses pre-party. In addition, there are a few float meetings and I am really really really excited!

In case you don't know, we roll January 31st at 7pm. If you want me to throw you something, make a sign so I can see you!

Day 6

Days 31, 1, 2, and 3 were good. Days 4 & 5 were a bit sloppier (especially the night of 4). Day 5 and so far 6 are back on. Today is football, so it's gonna be a good one!

I never really cared about a new year starting. It meant I had to reprogram my brain to write the next year, which oft would result in checks and other legal documents I had to rewrite. It also meant a cold winter and holiday blues.

This year is so very different for me. I don't care to be a year older this year, but I was looking forward to having a fresh start. It is the first time since I don't know when, that I really want the clean slate in my life. This year will hold some big changes for me, most especially letting go of old feelings and behavior pattern that I truly have no more use for. It's just different. I am so very thankful of so many things.

Egads!

Egads!

It's already Christmas! Sheesh, I'm still on Italian time, people...

We had a great trip overseas, a whirlwind really. We ended up having more gigs than originally planned, which was good for us professionally, but left little time for R & R. The plus side though, is that we had great crowds every night and sold many a cds, so I cannot complain. My Italian is getting better, I can understand pretty well and have the basic stuff down. My biggie is verbs and conjugating, so I bought a book for Christmas and will continue to ingest grammar the next few months until our next trip.

Next stop for me is New Orleans. I'll be back for an extended stay to help fix my mother's house, which is still not repaired from the storm. It was "repaired" 3 times already, to no avail (it's dastardly with these "contractors"). So, I plan on staying untl it's done and done right. But don't feel bad, becasue I actually miss being down there and look forward to playing some shows on the side and getting back into the thick of things. It will be Mardi Gras soon and there's plenty of social activities to be had in between the headaches. This time of year, it's nicer to be as far south as possible (hello Key West!), and NOLA has always had an earlier spring, which helps. It's raining in Memphis and cold. I'm over it.

And...We're Off!

I have no idea how this year had gone by so fast. Seems like it was just July a few days ago, and even June---the last time was in Italy. November seemed so far off, but now it is here and I'm outta here heading back to Italy with a little stop in south Florida...

I have never been away for so long, at least not in many years, so packing for something like this is a whole new concept for me. In ture Libra fashion, I spent hours deciding what bags to use, clothes to take and additional acoutrements. Three weeks? I'll need like, nail clippers, band-aids, spot cleaner, eye-drops...and how many shoes do I bring? Socks? Do I bring 1 week or two weeks of underware? Should they all be in like colors so that it is easier to do a laundry load? In addition to just plain packing, I am micro organizing, attempting to pre-plan the plan. It's ridiculous of me when you look at Jimbo, who has one small bag. How on earth does he have almost a month worth of supplies in that little thing?

Well, save faith, as I got all my crap together in one bag as well, plus a giant suitcase full of cds. That, is probablly our biggest and heaviest bag (for once). The good part about the cd suitcase, is that when it gets lighter, I can replace it my Italian purchases (hehehe). And I brought bubble wrap for the wine bottles (you better believe I will try my hardest to bring back some Italian wine and olive oil...like, duh). And I decided not to bring too many shoes, becasue then I would not have room for the new ones I plan on buying in Rome. I mean, isn't that the place to acquire the hottest foot stylings in season? Okay, maybe that's in Milan, but c'mon, I'm sure there will be some kickass boots in Eternal City. So there.

We are off to Key West this week, then Miami on the weekend. That reminds me to pack some sunscreen....and a koozie...

Fall Short

It seems like Fall is the shortest season of them all. I've noticed that over the years, or perhaps it is just where I live, but Fall seems to be cut short every year by a sudden cold snap/jolt into Winter.

When I lived in the mountains, this was quite apparant with the sudden appearance of snow, often in the form of a snow storm. The snow storm would drop a few feet in early October, therby cutting off the rest of Fall, because, naturally, after a snow storm, the leaves would fall off the trees without changing their colors to their fullest capacity and the temperature would never climb back up to a pleasant Fall temp of around 70.

When I lived in SF, the Fall would be cut short by the cold damp temperatures and fog, which would often prevent one from seeing or enjoying any Fall activities (who can see through that fog?). The only locale where I lived that had a bit longer of a change over, was in New Orleans. Often the climate would stay at 70 - 80 degrees, and there are a lot of flora and fauna in NOLA, hence a lot of activity with the business of Fall's arrival. The only thing though, is that the weather would be so pleasant, that many tress opted not to change their leaves at all and many birds stuck around cause things were so...nice. And that was actually the best form of Fall I have experienced yet, even thought there really was none...it certainly made for a good Halloween.

Now in Memphis, it's just a one-day-it's-totally-over thing. We have had really nice weather the last few weeks, even hot and muggy, and then one day it freakin' cold man, and we have to turn on our heaters and the trees dump their leaves like in one day, without any sort of color changing. The birds are suddenly gone and the grabage men get lazy and don't pick everything up, beacuse it's, well, wet and cold and who the hell wants to be outside working in the rain?

So inclosing, I have felt that Fall has been the most cheated of all the seasons of really reaching it's fullest Fall capacity. And the reason I talk about it today, is because it's happened again!

Birthday Muse

Today is my brithday!

I just found out I will be riding in the Krewe of Muses Parade for Mardi Gras! I am psyched! It was a perfect way to wake up this morning and a perfect birthday present! We will roll on Jan. 31st 2008. YES!!

I am not sure what to do today, as it looks like rain outside, but I was thinking of maybe going to the Brooks museum and checking out the exhibit on Pissarro. Or maybe I'll just meander around and think about how thankful I am to be alive and healthy and even though I am another year older (yikes!), I am blessed to be able to start another one (yes!).

Plus, I'll be on float #5!!

kreweofmuses.org

Older and Wiser?

For the longest time, I wanted to be wiser and taken seriously. That did not happen until I was 25, and then it seemed people started to be interested in who I was and what I was doing, my thoughts and ideas about the future. Now I am straing another year down the barrel (34 on October 18) and I wonder if I really am all that wiser. In a way, yes. In other ways, no. The years seem to go faster than my personal development and I wonder if that is by my own fault or if life just is that way. Perhaps part of the design is to be a know-it-all by the time you're 80. That's sounds good to me, as it is something to look forward too, however, the downside is that life is much shorter then. There is not much time to fire out know-it-all advice and opinions. Then again, maybe there never has been much time all along. In reality, we are here but for a moment, and in that moment, a thousand pieces of life flow by, so that perhaps all the wisdom that it really holds, is really too much to handle too soon. No, I am not stoned!

PERFORMER MAGAZINE, September 2007

Now is the Time‘s challenge is to present songs that, with enough personality, bypass listeners’ tendency to easily put artists like Olga into the jam band category. The album inherently calls to mind the Southern rock and blues sounds of artists like the Allman Brothers Band and Alison Krauss. That’s the vein Olga works in. But does Now is the Time contain those gems that magically shed whatever drawbacks spawn from categorization?

In keeping with Olga’s style, the framework of Now is the Time is blues-oriented. While the title track kicks the album off with eerie slide-guitar ambiance and Shannon Crufman-style Southern rock riffing, “Weary” and “I Won’t Ask” stick to typical blues composition and offer little to no surprises. “Take Your Rest, Daddy” and “Gotta Keep Moving” demonstrate what Olga is capable of: inspired songwriting that captures the maturation of delicate lyricism and the excitement of arranged songs. Olga breaks the jam band mold completely with “Can You Forgive Me,” a ‘50s-esque doo-wop lullaby that wears its heart on its sleeve and, at its best, recalls the lofty melodies and electric-palm-muting sways of Roy Orbison.

At the end of the day, Olga’s vocals are what make her stand out. Country songs “What’s the Matter With the Mill” and “Stealin’” meld bluesy, acoustic picking with her always-familiar voice, which at times achieves the creamy-and-cool thickness of Norah Jones. These songs, along with a reworking of traditional classic “Goin’ Down the Road Feelin’ Bad” account for her distinguishing Now is the Time as more Americana than her last releases. (219 Records)
www.laolga.com
-Brian Gilton

Jessie's Headstone

funny little blogthings

Your Beauty Element is Earth

You are the epitome of a natural beauty. Your look is definitely effortless. And while you shy away from a lot of make-up and accessories, you're no granola girl either!

What's Your Beauty Element?

You Belong in Amsterdam

A little old fashioned, a little modern - you're the best of both worlds. And so is Amsterdam. Whether you want to be a squatter graffiti artist or a great novelist, Amsterdam has all that you want in Europe (in one small city).

What European City Do You Belong In?

Your Personality Profile

You are elegant, withdrawn, and brilliant. Your mind is a weapon, able to solve any puzzle. You are also great at poking holes in arguments and common beliefs. For you, comfort and calm are very important. You tend to thrive on your own and shrug off most affection. You prefer to protect your emotions and stay strong.

The World's Shortest Personality Test

Star Wars Horoscope for Libra

You are on a lifelong pursuit of justice and determined to succeed. You convey the art of persuasion through force. You always display your supreme intelligence. You have a great talent in obtaining balance between yourself and your surroundings. Star wars character you are most like: Obi Wan Kenobie

What Is Your Star Wars Horoscope?

Your Life Path Number is 3

Your purpose in life is to express your unique self. You are a creative and artistic person with an interesting view on life. Witty and outgoing, you enjoy sharing your crazy ideas with anyone who will listen. A total social butterfly, you're the life of any party. In love, you inspire and enchant your partner. You are often an object of fantasy and desire. While you are very talented, you sometimes lack the ambition to put your talents in play. And while your wit carries you a long way, you occasionally use it to mask your true feelings. Your natural abilities can bring you all the success in the world ... if you let them

What Is Your Life Path Number?

You Are a Plain Ole Cup of Joe

But don't think plain - instead think, uncomplicated You're a low maintenance kind of girl... who can hang with the guys Down to earth, easy going, and fun! Yup, that's you: the friend everyone invites. And your dependable too. Both for a laugh and a sympathetic ear.

What Kind of Coffee Girl Are You?

Your Linguistic Profile:

60% General American English 15% Dixie 15% Yankee 5% Upper Midwestern 0% Midwestern

What Kind of American English Do You Speak?

You are "Excited"

What Japanese Smiley Are You?

Jessie Mae Hemphill Headstone Dedication Ceremony

We will dedicate Jessie Mae Hemphill's new headstone on Monday, July 30th at 4:45pm at the Senatobia Memorial Cemetery, located on Highway 51 South in Senatobia, MS. Reverend John Wilkins will officate the ceremony.

Pillows

Much better! last week I wrote about how crappy I have been sleeping and after a particularly rough night where I woke up with my back in my ears, I had had enough. I went and splurged on some new pillows, etra firm shape shifting ones that will match my neck, head, shoulders and method of sleeping no matter what. They are making a difference, as of the last two nights, now at least I am not waking up as a royal wretch of a human being.

Now the next problem, are the ants! Little things, I know, but they can really muck up a morning...

Dreams or...Nightmares?

I don't know what the deal is, but lately I have been having these insane crazy dreams. Not very pleasant, but not nightmare-ish enough to wake my ass up. They are really affecting the quality of sleep I am receiving. I would share some here, but they really are f***ed up and just not somehting I'd like to post on myspace. To get an idea, I suppose they are a confluence of waking life/thoughts/experiences with subconscious versions of the same ideas, yet mutated usually on a grander scale. So, I could say, that some of the topics are what I do wrestle with in daily life but engrossed by additional subconscious exaggerations. I should keep a diary, but frankly am not sure if I want to...

Do As The Romans Do

Okay, I FINALLY get it. Or I will get it. Because I will FINALLY be visitng Rome after all these years and trips to Italy, I had never ventured farther down the boot after Pisa. And lately, both Jimbo and I have been reading and viewing a lot of Roman stuff. We recently watched BBC's "I, Claudius"...excellent production BTW. Also been reading Claudius' book, "Claudius the God". Then there is the HBO version of the rise and fall of Julius Caeser, which I was already aquianted with, having performed in Shakespeare's "Julius Caeser" as Cassisus and the tender age of 11. I have been reading up on Roman history so as to be in the know of what to check out when I go. Now, for some people the Vatican would be the first stop. In my case, I am heading straight to the Forum. I am just so facinated with old stuff and ruins. I like to imagine what is was like and how I would live my life then.
According the the most recent book I finished, Deepak Chopra's "Life After Death", I could have very well been alive several times before. Would that explain my love for beautiful things, opera and espresso?

I head over now for a mini tour in Italy, perfomring at a few festivals, one in Rome. Glad to have some days off in the Eternal City as well. This week, I have been listening to "In Flight Italian", working on some key phrases like, "La liste de vino, perfavore" and "uno bottiglia di whiskey". Now, I must finish my cappucchino and start packing. A piu tardi!

Jessie Mae Hemphill Headstone Update

Yesterday, I was finally able to order Jessie's headstone. With many thanks to the Rodgers Funeral Home in Coldwater, MS, we are getting a large, grey, slate stone (4 feet hight 3 feet wide, base is 5 feet long) with a color photograph and two vases on each end. The back of the stone will have Hemphill etched on it, facing Highway 51, along with an eagle flying with the rising sun. The front of the stone, will have Jessie's full name, dates, and a verse from her song "Lord Help the Poor and Needy". It will take about 6-8 weeks, at which time we will organize an unveiling celebration. Timing wise, it looks like it will be early July before the stone is installed, marking the 1st anniversary since Jessie's passing.

We are especially grateful to Shonda Warner, who paid for the remaining balance of the stone and the Rodgers Funeral Home, who donated about $1500 worth so that we could get a larger stone with the little money we had. Thank you also to everyone who donated to Jessie's funeral fund last summer.

More news will follow soon...