Bye! Bye! BORDERS

Bookstore chain Borders Group Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last week and said it will close about 30 percent of its stores nationwide, including the two it operates in the New Orleans area.The bookstore chain plans to shut both its Metairie store at 3131 Veterans Memorial Blvd. and its New Orleans store at 3338 St. Charles Ave in the coming weeks. The latter location is the site of the former House of Bultman Funeral Home, which Borders converted and opened in 2008.

The Veterans Boulevard location had been the site of House of Lee restaurant. Opened in 1959 and billed as "the largest restaurant south of the Mason-Dixon line" until it closed in 1995, the restaurant was opened by the parents of the late Sheriff Harry Lee.

In addition to the New Orleans area stores, Borders operates one other bookstore in Louisiana. That store, on Bluebonnet Blvd. in Baton Rouge, is not on the list of planned closings.

"Are the legal?"

Videos - INSIDE EDITION Investigates Drive-Thru Daiquiri Stands - InsideEdition.com It is the ultimate in convenience. Grab a cocktail without even leaving your car. It is also, say drunk driving activists, opening the door to disaster. Lisa Guerrero and the I-Squad investigate drive-thru booze stands. On Tuesday, Feb. 22, Inside Edition will run a story on drive-thru daiquiri stands. They reported the running of the story by saying, "Then you won't believe this!"

For a majority of people in the United States, shock was probably the reaction. However, people in Lake Charles, LA, probably laughed. The people in Lake Charles have grown up with drive-thru daiquiri stands. They have opened and closed throughout the years. Sometimes they are obvious, with signs that advertise the drinks. Other times, they are not so obvious. Some are snow cone stands, but they also sell frozen daiquiris. These snow cone stands are often across from or near schools. When the weather gets hot, it is popular for school children to head over to the stand to get a snow cone as they walk home or wait for buses or parents. Places that still exist in Lake Charles are Frosty Factory, Caribbean Hut, and Cooler's Ice House. Lake Charles does have closed container laws, but they are very liberal. An operator of a vehicle cannot drink and drive. However, a passenger can drink and drive as long as the passenger does not have what is considered an open container. An open container is a bottle of beer or wine that is open. It is a cup without a lid and without a piece of tape. The drive-thru daiquiri places are legal. The only necessary thing for them is to have Styrofoam cups with plastic lids and a piece of tape across the lid. The passenger can drink because the cup has a straw hole and a straw can be put in the hole, although it is technically open. However, being that the passenger is not driving, the drink can be consumed. The tape is either a piece of scotch tape or a piece of masking tape. There is nothing special about the tape. It can easily be removed. The Styrofoam cup looks no different from a Styrofoam cup used at restaurants that use Styrofoam cups to serve soft drinks.

In a State of Mourning

The New Orleans Saints have terminated the contract of tight end Jeremey Shockey , the team released in a statement.

"I'd like to thank Jeremy for the contributions he made to our team during his time in New Orleans," Saints GM Mickey Loomis said. "These decisions are never easy to make and we wish him the best in the future."

"Jeremy played an important role in helping our team bring a Super Bowl championship to New Orleans," said Coach Sean Payton. "He contributed to the success of our offense, both as a pass-catcher and run blocker, and we're appreciative of his efforts."

Shockey was acquired by the Saints in a trade with the New York Giants before the 2008 season and played three seasons in New Orleans, catching 139 passes for 1,460 yards with six touchdowns in 38 regular season games, 34 of them starts.

The nine-year veteran also played in four postseason games for the Saints, totaling nine receptions for 82 yards with two touchdowns, including a two-yard scoring grab to give the Saints a fourth-quarter lead in Super Bowl XLIV. The University of Miami product had 41 receptions for 408 yards and three touchdowns in 13 games played in 2010, a season that saw him catch his 500th career pass.

We'll miss you NOLA Viking!!!!

Krewe du Vieux

The Krewe du Vieux is a non-profit organization dedicated to the historical and traditional concept of a Mardi Gras parade as a venue for individual creative expression and satirical comment. It is unique among all Mardi Gras parades in the city because it alone carries on the old traditions of Carnival celebrations, by using decorated mule-drawn floats with satirical themes, accompanied by costumed revelers dancing in the streets to the sounds of jazzy street musicians. We believe in exposing the world to the true nature of Mardi Gras—and in exposing ourselves to the world.

2010 represents our 25th year in existence and we have selected Don Marshall as our very deserving royalty. Krewe du Vieux is an existential culmination of vision and spirituality, not easily described. Our parade brings us together from our everyday lives for one glorious night of love, primitive desires and ecstasy. We bond to the people around us as we playfully exchange smiles, hugs, and the joi de vivre that New Orleans brings to the world.

Happy Valentine's Day

Muses Shoe Decorating Party

http://www.kreweofmuses.org/

Was invited to my first Muses Shoe Decorating Party today. (two of my completed shoes above!)

The party was to assist some of my friends (who are also krewe members) and one is riding in this year's parade - Float # 12.

She wanted to have around 30 shoes as throws and asked us all to make up to 4 each.

Plus, it was such a nice day outside to play around with glitter and high heels.

Amie making a pair of baby Muses shoes for Julia, her 3 month old daughter.

I made the 2011 turquoise boot, but my #2 came out more as an "a" . . opps! But its a Muses history boot with past throws cut up and glued on.

You wouldn't think it . . . but it was rather difficult at times to cover the whole shoe with glitter (sole, heels, bottoms, insides, etc)

Two of my other shoes above!

I assisted Marney with the Alien shoe, fun eh?

Maybe some lucky locals will be happy to catch one of my creations! ;)

Have a great one!

Did T-Boy the nutria see his shadow?