Mardi Gras Mambo everybody!
I truly miss Mardi Gras - the Gulf Coast version. Since moving away to the cold, dark north, I have been bombarded with bombastic cries of, "Oh yes, today is Shrove Tuesday" and invites to celebratre something called Pancake Day. There are also apparently these Polish cream-filled doughnuts called push-keys (spelled paczki). Give me what I grew up with: a big, sugary, slightly gaudy King Cake, a parade and some women who are flashing for beads. New Orleans needs to survive and re-build if only to show the rest of the world what a celebration truly is.

I did a little research about today and how it is celebrated around the world. Here area a few of my faves:
*In Sweden they eat sweet buns filled with whipped cream and almond paste.
*In Hawaii it is called malasada day and they eat, you guessed it, malasadas. These are a Portuguese doughnuts that we enjoyed on the Big Island of Hawaii when we visited.
*In Iceland they eat salt meats and peas.

Today is also Super Tuesday. Martin and I made a special trip to the elementary school (our polling place) to vote. We even got up early! I hope everyone has voted in their primary and voted for who they think will be the best nominee, no matter what your affiliation.