Full Metal Jacket Reach Around: The Perfect Weekend Edition

The camellias are starting to bloom but it's clear that mine have suffered from the drought last summer.  I spent a little time this afternoon pruning dead wood from my camellia bush and now I'm hoping it makes a comeback this summer.

But when the camellias start to bloom I know spring is not too far behind.

Mr. SIGIS and I had a busy Saturday and a lazy Sunday which is just about a perfect weekend.

Saturday I hit up a couple of estate sales early in the day then we headed over to Minden for the kickoff of Mardi Gras with their German Fasching celebration.  We had a grand time catching beads and watching the infamous Milly Rose dancing in Main Street along with the parade (video below).

My shopping treasures this weekend include this pretty jadeite vase (left).  I also picked up an old "depression era" green water bottle.  I remember we always had one of these in our refrigerator when I was growing up and it just reminded me of my childhood so I bought it.  I also bought an old Kosmos Brenner brass oil lamp.  And finally, Milly gave me a beautiful depression glass pink serving tray which I adore.  So as far as treasures go, it was a great weekend!

Today we've moved at a slower pace.  I did some much needed housework, went to my mom's and took care of her, then Steve and I took the rest of the day off.  We sat on the deck in the sun, drank a beer, and watched the dogs play and visited with our neighbor for a bit.

I'm disgusted with the Republican race right now.  Like Pundette, though, I'm "bitterly clinging" to Rick Santorum as long as I can.  Deep inside I'm just enraged at the ignorant establishment at the head of the Republican party who has put us right back in the same mess we were facing in 2008.  I can't even verbalize just yet how pissed off I am at the state of things.

Elsewhere:

The Other McCain is still filing great "on the road" coverage of the campaign - this time from Florida.

Speaking of the bone-headed Republican establishment, Sister Toldjah wonders if they're out to get Allen West.

Legal Insurrection points out the "scorched earth" tactics of the Romney campaign.  It's not pretty, folks.  Not a bit.

Saberpoint likes Santorum and calls the Republican fisticuffs between Newt and Mittens "vicious, self-destructive, personal and bitter."

American Power thinks Sarah Palin is endorsing Newt (video at the link).  I'm actually surprised; I'd have thought her to be more of a Santorum kind of gal.

Doug Ross checks out Occuy DC (with photos). 

Wyblog posts on the mandatory contraceptive edict.

Herman Cain has endorsed Newt.

Global warming is out; Cycle 25 is IN.

Be sure to check out The State of Our Disunion at Political Clown Parade.

Mark Levin is very concerned about Romney's character.

Dan Riehl has analysis of Levin's comments.

All in all, this campaign has gone somewhere very ugly.  It doesn't do any good to think about what could have been at this point but there's a lot of that going on inside my head.  It does seem as if Mitt and Newt are eating each other alive and quite possibly Rick Santorum will be the last man standing.

Oh well.  Much will be made of the Florida primary and let the chips fall where they may.  ABO in 2012.

Here's Milly Rose dancing in the streets:

Loose Thoughts

If you're looking for debate coverage you might head on over to Legal Insurrection or The Other McCain.   I.Just.Can't.  Meh.

I've been busy at work and real life.  I tried to watch the State of the Union, got three minutes in, and had to bail.  When Obama starts spewing crap about "fairness and equity" and how the "rich" should give "their fair share" I start seeing spiders and creepy crawling things in my head and my head starts to spin.  I had to turn it off.

Speaking of SOTU, what did you think of Michelle's dress?  I thought it was ill fitting but I'm no fashionista.  You'll usually find me in blue jeans and a sweatshirt.  I liked the color and I even liked the brooch, but I thought the straps crossing above the boobs looked weird.  I didn't think it was tailored well for her.  I've read some blogs that criticized her for dressing as if she was going to a cocktail party rather than a SOTU speech but that part doesn't bother me.  I just didn't think the dress fit well.  It's not exactly "for the common man," either, at an estimated $2,400.  Not a Target dress.

Let them eat arugula.

Charles Krauthammer has some thoughts on the SOTU:

It sounded like the Clinton years with their presidentially proclaimed initiatives on midnight basketball and school uniforms. These are the marks of a shrunken presidency, thoroughly flummoxed by high unemployment, economic stagnation, crushing debt — and a glaring absence of ideas.

Of course, this being Obama, there was a reach for grandeur. Hope and change are long gone. It's now equality and fairness. That certainly is a large idea. Lenin and Mao went pretty far with it. As did Clement Attlee and his social-democratic counterparts in postwar Europe.

As for the Republicans, I'm sick of Newt and Romney going after each other.  When are we going to go after the incumbent, eh?  At this point I'd be just fine if they ate each other alive and Santorum came out on top.  

Surfing the links I see that Bride of Rove is struggling with some of the same issues.

Pundette is expecting Newt Fatigue to hit at any time.

As for me, tomorrow is Friday.  Centenary College will commemorate the 67th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz with a 12 hour loop screening of the testimony of local Holocaust survivors Rose and Louis Van Thyn.  I'm going straight from work to see both of them.  If you're around here I'd encourage you to go.

Speaking of the Holocaust, heck out this stunning poll (H/T: Mike).

Steve and I are headed to Minden on Saturday for the kickoff of Mardi Gras season; the Fasching Carnivale and parade will be the highlight of the day, plus some shopping with Milly Rose!

Oh, and I'm going to test drive a Jeep when we go, too!  Yay!

Out.

Full Metal Jacket Reach Around: Minden Fasching 2011 Edition

Your FJMRA was delayed this week because we spend the day yesterday in Minden, Louisiana at the second annual Fasching.  Minden's Fasching celebration kicks off the winter holiday season and then there will be another one in the spring, around Mardi Gras, to close down the season. 

The celebration yesterday drew really large crowds and was a terrific boon for the Main Street shops (like my friend Milly Rose's Second Hand Rose Antiques shop) and for all the street vendors that came out.

Steve and I helped Milly in her shop off and on throughout the day and from time to time took a break to pop outside and listen to the German music which ran throughout the day with a string of live bands. 

We ate German food (I can recommend the Schnitzelwich and the Currywurst!)...

We drank German beer, and checked out a few home brews at the beer making exposition:

There were clowns making balloon animals for the kids:

There were church bake sales and  "ice-skating" (well, it wasn't really ice, but I applaud the effort and the kids loved it):

And even Santa Claus walking through the crowds. 

There was a little petting zoo set up at one end of Main Street which was pretty cool. 

The day ended about 7:00 with fireworks (which sent Milly's Boston Terrier, Heidi, into shivers of terror), and after helping Milly close up the shop, we got home around ten, exhausted, but with a great day behind us.  Milly's shop reminded me of something from A Christmas Story with its lights and window displays:

Kudos to the folks in Minden who organized the day; Minden works hard at its festivals and it shows.  Even the dogs were having fun.

Great little town!

And no, I did not DVR the Republican debate.

Pirate's Cove looks at the issue of paper towels vs. air dryers for drying your hands.  I hate those air dryers.  I don't care if paper towels DO contribute to global warming.

Stacy McCain has photos and a report from last night's debate.

Fishersville Mike reports that all at Penn State is not bad.

Doug Ross has a couple of top ten lists for you; this one involves guns.

The Daley Gator caught the debate last night and reports that Rick Perry was "on his game."

According to Legal Insurrection, the occupiers in San Fran now carry shivs.

Adrienne posts on the bulldozing of Occupy Salt Lake but I liked the pictures of the cool things you can do with wooden pallets!  Love the lounge chairs!

Fenway Nation posts on Obama's punting on the Keystone Pipeline.

The Camp of the Saints has a righteous rant for you to check out.

In time for Veteran's Day, Saberpoint has a cool picture of an eagle on a gravestone and the story to go with it.

Pundette makes the case for home schooling.

Be sure to check out Wyblog's weekly jobs report, this one on the tax breaks for hiring veterans.

Politicaljunkie Mom is pulling for Perry and wonders "why is Gingrich still up there?"

That's about it for this week.  Hit the links, folks! Maybe even link back every now and then.  That would be cool.  According to Technorati, which is, of course, far from perfect, I got NO linky love last week.  If you linked me and I didn't know it, please let me know.

And now, here's a blast from yesterday's Fasching in Minden - The Czech Melody Masters:

Minden Fasching Celebration

We're headed for Minden on Saturday for the fall Fasching celebration.  The weather will be gorgeous and it's Saturday!  If you're in the Shreveport Bossier area, pop on over to Minden. 

Musical Schedule of events for Saturday:

Saturday Schedule:
10:00-12 Dorcheat Bottom Band
12:00-12:30 Ben Shirley (Acoustic)
12:30-2:00 Czech Melody Masters
2:00-2:30 Chrissy Wise (Acoustic)
2:30-3:30 Czech Melody Masters
3:30-4:00 Landon Miller and Benjamin Densmore (Acoustic)
4:00-6:15 Matt Tolintino and the Royal Klobasneks
6:30 Firework Demonstration (If not still under burn ban)

And other events:

Fasching Old World Santa:  Downtown Minden Friday night 6p.m. - 8p.m.  Saturday 11a.m. - 8p.m.  Professional pictures available Saturday.  Santa will be located on Main Street.

Royal Klobasneks Music:  The Royal Klobasneks are a 7 piece polka band, based out of Dallas, TX.  The Klobasnek’s repertoire is that of a true dance band, with a song list that includes not only a large selection of polkas and waltzes, but also schottisches, two-steps, landlers, rhumbas, cha chas, pop songs, and fox trots.  The group is also able to supply their crowds with a wide variety of rhythms guaranteed to get you out on the floor!

Czech Melody Masters:  Formed in 1994 as the Dancehall Boys, the Czech Melody Masters have been going strong since 1999.  Like our influences, we keep it simple and sweet.  The band has always strived to emulate the classic brass band sound of such beloved Texas bands and the Bacova Ceska Kapela, Adolph Pavlas, and the Joe Patek and Lee Roy Matocha Orchestras.  In addition, the Czech Melody Masters strive to push their music back in time as well.  The band tries to present songs in their original, full format, often using old faded music scores or scratchy 78 records as a guide.  The result is a book full of songs the way they used to be played, yet performed with today’s energy.

Germantown Tour: Saturday 10a.m. until 1p.m. for bus shuttle to Germantown Colony.  Departure from Minden Building & Loan at the corner of Main Street and Pine Street downtown.

City ArtWorks Artist Show:  Featuring artists Larry Milford and Rebecca Tyree.

Fasching Homemade Pickle Contest: Saturday 9a.m. - 10a.m at City ArtWorks at 701 Main Street.  Entries accepted Friday 4p.m. - 6p.m.  Any kind of cucumber pickle.  Prizes awarded.

Minden Cemetery Ghost Walk:  Saturday 12:00p.m. until 3p.m for bus shuttle for tours.  Departure from Minden Building & Loan at the corner of Main Street and Pine Street downtown.  Admission is $10 for adults and $4 for children 12 and under.

Food & Vendors:  Saturday 10a.m. until 7p.m. - Authentic German Cuisine!

Beer Exhibition & Beer Garden:  Main Street at 10a.m. until 6p.m.  See how beer is made and enjoy a taste if you like!

Fasching Boutique:  Boutique items ranging from original art, to children’s clothing, floral arrangements, homemade breads and more!  Up and down Minden Main Street from 9a.m. - 6p.m. on Saturday.

Come on out!

Minden Fasching Karneval and Parade

Steve and I are in for a string of busy weekends.  It's Mardi Gras season and we have parades and parties one after the other to attend and then in March we have tickets to a Dallas Stars game, so we are about to be very busy!

The fun starts this weekend with a trip to Minden and their version of Mardi Gras:  a German Fasching celebration.  Milly Rose invited us several weeks back to come over for "the Fasching" and I've been hard pressed to find many details other than that they have a parade at "dusk" - around 5:30 or 6.

After a search again today I found where there's been a Facebook page created, and a website, even though there isn't much there.  The schedule of events says "Coming Soon."

There does appear to be a photo of an ad on the Facebook page with a lineup of bands, and I was tickled to see Buddy Flett on the schedule from 2:00 to 3:00.  There will be "Food, Entertainment, and Fun" the ad says.

I'm in!

I talked to Milly today and she says they've been busy all week setting up rides and food booths, much of it right across the street from her shop.  She's right there in the thick of it all!  Even better, her shop will be open for business Saturday so I'll be taking lots of new pictures and a video of the first floor this time.  If you thought that attic of a third floor was something, just WAIT until you see the first floor!  I'll need a bigger video card.

I'm hoping Sandy might pop in here and chime in something about the Fasching.  I'm wondering if the food will have a German flair since this festival is supposed to celebrate Minden's German heritage. Sandy usually rides a float but isn't planning on it this year.