Tigerland is a curious kinda place. It stretches from the ever-changing coastline along the Gulf of Mexico in south Louisiana to the northern borders with Arkansas and western borders up against Texas. It's inhabitants are really diverse- Cajuns, redbones, rednecks, culturified folks, and turnip green and cornbread eaters. But on Monday night, January 7th, TIGER NATION as it is known, became a phenomenom when dem Tigers captured their second glass football trophy signifing the national championship.  The KREWE of LSU TRUCK, Nomads of the Mardi Gras circuit in northwest Louisiana wish to give a mighty roar to dem Tigers of LSU for their exceptional play, their thrills all season long and most of all, their stellar representation of the da Bayou State.

Jacob Hester (#18 in Tigerland)  of Shreveport where the Krewe of LSU Truck is based,  receives a tip of the LSU cap for his exemplary play all season long. Jacob has had a memorable season and we are thrilled for him. Thanks to all of our Tigers especially the seniors who definitely provided leadership for the team. Thanks, Coach Les Miles for your energy, vitality and skill all season long.

As Louisiana gets ready for its annual zaniness known as "Mardi Gras", the Krewe of LSU Truck nomads will be cranking up that Tigerland music which should cause craziness wherever we parade. How proud we are of dem Tigers, dem Tigers from LSU !!!

Less than three weeks after New Years day, the 2008 Mardi Gras parade season will kick off in North Louisiana with the OIL CITY Mardi Gras parade on Saturday, January 19th at 2 p.m. Oil City is loacted about 25 miles north of Shreveport on La. Hwy 1. It is a historic oil boom town that does have a very interesting oil history museum.

This will be the Krewe of LSU Truck's first appearance in Oil City for a parade and we are gonna be armed with a number of special items like Moon Pies which is a southern delicacy, handmade Mardi Gras throws and of course, the ever popular frisbees, footballs and souvenir plastic cups. Our musical selections will aim more toward a country flavor as we saunter along the parade route.

On Monday, January 21st, the Krewe of LSU Truck will appear in the Krewe of Harambee Parade in downtown Shreveport, Louisiana. Celebrated on MLK Day, this parade is a favorite for many folks who enjoy the downtown route and the intimacy of a short parade route. Lots of great music and a variety of throws will highlight this 2008 effort.

How do you get the MOST beads? The simple answer is that someone on a float or in our case, the back of a slow moving truck has to HEAR you or SEE you waving/ screaming at them. Your location on the route may affect your competition for beads so, I definitely suggest  somewhere in the middle of the route. However, the real difference is a great costume, big silly hat or a loud yell. In our case "LSU, LSU" is the appropriate yell.

If you want a football, a cup or a frisbee then, yell that word, too. If you yell for specfic type of bead, the rider may find it but he'll probably be past you before he throws it.  I tend to rotate what I throw so, a cup may be followed by some beads or a Moon Pie and then, some more beads.

The Krewe of Highland Parade which is set for Sunday, Feb 3rd at 2 pm  along Creswell, Olive and Centenary avenues in the historic Highland neighborhood is your best bet for LOTS of beads. It has more floats (units) than the other Shreveport major parades and lots of independents who throws tons of beads like the Krewe of LSU Truck. I'd strongly suggest that parade for your family Mardi Gras outing as it is a daytime parade and it is very family friendly. The stretch along Olive and Centenary is the least populated by parade goers  and that is a major hint.

Come see the Krewe of LSU Truck with Tigger on top and you might also spot a movie star on the parade routes. Remember, Shreveport was in the top five for movies and tv shows being filmed in the US this past year. It all starts with the Blanc et Noir Marching Society's second line at the Highland Parade. Following the marching society is about an hour and half of Mardi Gras parade units . Join us for thr frivolity, fun and zaniness of a safe Mardi Gras and bring your kids !!

What about the BEADS !?  I have been asked by some folks to comment on the bead variety for our Krewe of LSU Truck, 2008 edition and what we will have to throw. While we are independents and not on a major float that does NOT limit our beads. Our truck carries six huge plastic storage boxes of beads, plus over 20 stretch bags of plush toys in the backseat of the extended cab, over 1,500 cups, couple of hundred frisbees and footballs PLUS bags of speciality beads. In other words when you see the Krewe of LSU Truck and hear the LSU Fight Song, many beads are coming your way !! Yell LSU! loudly.

This year we have as our premium item the flashing GEAUX TIGER beads for the Highland Parade, 2008. Just press on the tiger to see it flash ! Neat bead and really glad to have them. Queen Becky and Brenda will be throwing Breast Cancer Awareness Pink Ribbon beads. We affectionatley call them, "Save the Ta-Ta's " beads.

We also have some voodoo doll beads, the spooky "Cities of the Dead" beads featuring a New Orleans crypt door and the ever cheerful, winged VooDoo charm beads. Those charm beads are just plain creepy. They will be scattered about in our throws.

Queen Becky will have some Margarita beads as those are close to her heart. Colvin will throw his famed black pearl beads. He's kinda easy to spot at 6' 8". We also have some "8 Ball" frisbees and Cleve has some pirate crossbones frisbees and a raft of other pirate stuff. One of my personal favorites is the bloodshot eyeball beads. I will also have some  $$ sign beads for the bling-bling amongst us. Trolls, kazoos, pirate rings, duck whistles  and flamingo eyewear for the kiddos along the route will be tossed and of course, our MOON PIES, hot dogs and this year's handmade item...

We have a tag bead which is handmade by our Krewe and while I won't give up its design, you'll have to watch local blogs and be at the 2008 Krewe of Highland parade in Shreveport on Sunday, Feb 3rd to catch it and see the design.

Blanc et Noir Marching Society ( you can see them on youtube in their 2007 debut) will kick off the funky and dingy Highland Parade. It is the largest Mardi Gras parade in north Louisiana and I can assure you, the MOST BEAD HEAVY parade you'll find upstate.  During the daylight hours it is also VERY safe and FAMILY FRIENDLY. My previous blog post gives all the directions you'll need to catch the parade on Sunday, Feb. 3rd at 2 pm in Shreveport. Great music and cookouts follow in Columbia Park on the parade route.

GEAUX Krewe of LSU Truck !!

Upstate Mardi Gras in north Louisiana swirls some 320 miles away from the Big Easy in New Orleans but it is  a major attraction for tourists who want a bit less raunchy fun. It is even family friendly in the Krewe of HIGHLAND PARADE which will be held on Sunday, February 3rd at 2 pm. Shreveport is easy to find as it is on I-20 in northwest Louisiana just about three hours from Dallas -Ft. Worth, 3 1/2 hours from Little Rock or 4 hours from Houston, Texas.

The HIGHLAND parade route is also very easy to find as you exit I-20 on LINE Avenue South and turn left on any street from Olive Street to Kings Hwy. The parade rolls down Creswell ( just 2 blocks east of Line Ave) and over to Centenary Blvd using Herndon and Olive Street. If you come early then, you can find all the floats from most other area Krewes in the parking lot of Byrd High School and flowing down Creswell, south of Gladstone. The children really love to see the floats up close during this daylight parade. Pssst, let me tell you a secret.. you might be able to get some beads for the kids before the parade this way.

The well-known childens author and Disney film animator, William Joyce usually cranks up his Roly Poly Olly float for the parade as the route  runs beside his home near Centenary College. The Blanc et Noir Marching Society starts off the parade and you can find out more about this group on Robert Trudeau's blog. Bill Joyce usually has his signature beads to throw. You'll find one krewe that throws only HOT DOGS! Check out youtube.com for the Highland Parade and the real Hot Dog krewe. And then there is the matter of the Krewe of LSU Truck as Highland is its "home" parade...

The famed nomad Krewe of LSU Truck has already started to gather up its delightful plush toys, pink ribbon Breast Cancer Awareness beads, Colvin's highly- desired black pearl beads and over 1,500 souvenir cups and of course, the truck's signature hot dogs, Moon Pies and handmade beads. The Krewe of LSU truck will also participate in the Krewe of Harambee parade on Shreveport's MLK Day, January 21st, the Oil City parade ( our first time in this historic North Caddo parish town parade) and our first time in the African-American History parade held on Saturday, February 2nd. Stick around in Shreveport that afternoon for a major Mardi Gras parade on the Clyde Fant Parkway at 4:30 pm.

We will be seen  four times this year on the parade routes and we will be the only independent krewe to be part of that many events. Look for our well- known Tiger on the top of the truck, lots of LOUD LSU music and the Seminole War Chant which is in celebration of Queen Becky's heritage, pirate beads thrown by our driver, Cleve and thousands of beads and other items tossed by the traveling nomads of the LSU Krewe.

Shreveport has major parades on Sat. January 26th and Saturday, Feb 2nd. So, it would be possible to see three parades in Shreveport on Feb 2-3rd. The hotels are not as expensive as the Big Easy, the police presence is phenomenal and the funky, eclectic neighborhood Highland Parade features MORE parade units than any other Shreveport parade. Plus there is a family celebration at Columbia Park after it is over with music and cookouts everywhere.

Remember, the way to get beads is to yell, "Throw me something, Mister!" and when you see the Krewe of LSU Truck start chanting, "LSU! LSU! LSU!"

I must admit that I find the present state of affairs most distasteful. Not that I needed any prodding but I visited my old neighborhood this morning while I was out at garage sales. It is a most rundown place these days. Taken over by rent lords and in disrepair. It is not the pristine place of eternal fall as it exists in my memory.

I  see in my child's memory a place that had crunchy, crisp leaves and stately trees with small but well-kept yards and homes among the working folks who made up Claiborne and Ingleside in Shreveport, Louisiana. I have visited other small town neighborhoods in the midwest that are so similar to my memories. In particular the old coal mining and agricultural town of Duquoin, Illinois. Places were America grew its families and folks tended to what they had whether it was humble, just a bit or more than most. In all ways the faded nature of my memories remembers the giggles and glea of children when they could play safely and most of all, a time when "home" meant a place of safe harbor and settledness.

I guess that is why I like so many others, are drawn to the old linen and real photo postcards of yesteryear America. The warmth of the linen's colors and the richness of the hues matches our gentle memories however, inaccurate they may have been. It represented what I believe may have been the best that Old Glory will ever know. The era encompassed by the 1920s- 1950s may have been  time of turmoil, challenge and peace but most of all, it was a time when common values were shared by most Americans. We don't seem to share the dreams of Old Glory, mom and apple pie anymore. I'd rather hear the gentle hum of an old V-8 Ford engine or a hotwater six Chevy than I would the squawking on television as it seeks to point out the criminal, bizarre or worse, the ravaging wolves lurking in our neighborhoods. I haven't heard a sewing machine as it treddles or bobs in a coon's age. Nor have I heard a call of "All aboard!" Oh, the smell of a train station and the magic of the clickety-clack.

I guess one could choose to live in their own era within their mind and among their ways. To long for yesterday is but a wish to capture the moments when you understood what you found wonderful about life. Like watching an old movie again and knowing its ending. The safety of whatever good there is left being triumphant is worth the preciousness of the time one has left just to know there is a happy ending.

Some of it is still there and an old searcher and scrounger like me still sees it often in old paperback cookbooks made by flour companies, pamphlets  which were read by someone but not tossed into the trash only to be found some fifty years later or even in some old postcards of vacation trips to Florida,  Lookout Mountain or the treasured "See Rock City". Life has changed in marked ways since the days of Burma Shave signs, tufted couches and doiles made for comfortable chairs but not all has been for the better.

I'd rather hear the gentle raking of a backyard gardener serenaded by a songbird or see an old style fence guarding a front porch swing as it rocks in a puffed wind or even, smell the oil and grease in a old two pump gas station with maps of the American highways displayed in the dusty windows than to drive another twenty miles on an interstate highway to bypass small town America. My memories are but a trip to the small town and neighborhood I knew. The one that had electric trolley buses, Gilmore's newsstand, Doc's WW2 Army Surplus store and the theatres downtown on Saturday mornings. My memory still seeks the backroads as I seek the old postcards and paper not discarded to another century's trash pile.