Zev and Fiona at Kevin Costner's concert!  

Kevin also brought his new wife along to the concert. She was dancing right behind Zev and I!! 

Kevin Costner put on a free 80 minute concert for the base tonight. Disney paid for free drinks and food for all, to thank the base for support during the making of the movie called "The Guardian" which has been filming around Shreveport and on base over the past few months. 

Zev summed it up well when he described Kevin Costner's music and style as a college band....he wasn't too bad!! 

Mardi Gras celebrations in Shreveport!

Louisiana is well and truly in Mardi Gras season! All around our base, people have decorated their homes with the traditional Mardi Gras colors of Gold, Purple and Green. Just to explain the Mardi Gras tradition for people not familiar with why it is celebrated, here is this little explanation courtesy of Google:

Mardi Gras, also known as Fat Tuesday, is the celebration leading up to lent. Mardi Gras season officially begins on Twelfth Night, or the Feast of the Epiphany, and concludes on Shrove Tuesday, just before Ash Wednesday and the beginning of lent. Traditionally, it is a time of feasting and celebrations before the onset of the upcoming sacrifices. In the old days, and to many Catholics today, this most meant the giving up of meat, hence Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday, which in years past was known as Boeuf Gras. Boeuf Gras was in homage to the feast of meat (beef) before the culinary austerity of the Lenten season.

From 1872-1901 a live ox graced New Orleans' Rex Parade. Today, a papier mache symbol of Boeuf Gras takes its place.

We just enjoyed seeing Shreveport come to life and the experience of catching some beads!!

This was the "Krewe of Boeuf Gras" float which is a homage to the feast of meat (hence all the krewe members dressed up as butchers). 

As they say here in Louisiana, Laissez les bons temps rouler!! (Let the good times roll!!!) Happy Mardi Gras!! !
 

It was a VERY chilly night so I (Fiona) had a waterproof blanket wrapped around me!! After the first "throws" where the people on the floats throw beads and cups, I learnt to not smile when the beads where being thrown (because they kept hitting my teeth!) Zev caught the best beads for me!! 

Each Krewe has its "Royalty" meaning that they have a King float, a Queen float and Dukes and Duchess float, which you see here. 

The Krewe of Centaur had their parade through Shreveport today. Next Saturday is the Krewe of Gemini. Just like in New Orleans, local krewes (including a krewe just made up of lawyers and judges!! - the Krewe of Justinian) will have balls and float parties before the big parade they put on for the towns of Shreveport and Bossier City. 

Happy Mardi Gras! 

Podnuh's Slow Cooked BBQ. Right out front the main gate to the base and the first restaurant we went to when we first arrived in Shreveport. Truly a Southern experience to say the least... 

A local Shreveport man, dressed in his best hunting gear and traditional Mardi Gras decorations. Zev and I felt a little out of place not wearing camoflage.... 

Zev and I waited in our car for the Mardi Gras parade to start. The usual sweet treat for Mardi Gras season is "King Cake" but the bakery that we went to before the parade had run out of King Cake (surprise, surprise!) so we got two coffees and a sweet fleur de lis to keep us warm! 

Today, Shreveport held the first Mardi Gras parade, the Krewe of Centaur Parade. It was an unseasonally cold day for Shreveport. 

Zev cooking up a STORM!!!! 

Hope everyone had a Happy Valentine's Day!! 

A Big THANKYOU to all our family and friends who supported BOTH of us during Fiona's bar exam experience. Thanks to those people who inspired and motivated me (Fiona) on a daily basis (Meme and Zev) and to people who sent well wishes and cards and happy thoughts!! Can't wait for the New York bar exam!???????????????? 

Here I am revising my flashcards the week before the Bar. Zev was my little helper during my entire bar exam preparation, including cooking for me (well ok, he does that anyway!), caring for me, cutting up those flashcards that you see on my desk for each subject, motivating me and being VERY patient with me! He deserves a Louisiana law license too!  

I "decorated" my hotel room.... 

Well, I (Fiona) am happy to be done with the Louisiana Bar Exam. Two months of full-time study and one week of exams in Baton Rouge. Thanks very much to all our family and friends who offered so much support and encouragement. Thanks especially to my wonderful husband for EVERYTHING and just for being the greatest husband a girl could ask for. xoxoxoxo 

Thanks to Dave and Judy for the beautiful pink stargazers that they sent to keep me motivated and brighten up my day, during my week in Baton Rouge!