Lee and Fidel
One of the pleasures of my weekend gig as a Girl Reporter is that it is freelance, so I don't have to take an assignment if I don't want to. When I go out on a story, I want to either 1) get to have fun or 2) learn something cool.
Today fell into the fun category.
Assignment: Cajun Music and Food Festival.
I strolled in with my press pass instead of paying $15 to get in. Listened to the music, yakked with anyone who would talk to me. One of the benefits of the job is that you can stroll right up to any local harmless eccentric like the guy above and chat them up for a while, and they will be thrilled to tell you their life story.
(The man in orange is Lee. He said he has loved Zydeco music since the first time he ever heard it. He and his friend Fidel compete to see who can come up with the wildest outfit. (Don't tell Lee, but I think Fidel - in the background - has a lock on this one.) He embroidered the snakes on his pants and customized those green Crocs to be toeless. He drew pictures on his t-shirt with permanent markers - accordions, fiddles, the Native American Kokopelli symbol "and other Cajun stuff."
He plays his washboard tie with two teaspoons, strumming along with the band. I'll bet the band loves that. He said "When I hear this music, I can't sit down. I just gotta dance.")
I ate some beignets, drank some coffee. Bought a big silly Mardi Gras necklace for $3 from the local teen beauty queen. It was a fundraiser for something...This photo is my tribute to Mocha Momma who is always licking something in photos.
Went to a cafe, drank more coffee, wrote 450 words. Done. The check will be in the mail. I will deposit it in the BlogHer fund.
Nice work if you can get it.
I know I have badly neglected Linkateria lately, but today there are new links - a cool blogger, an amazing story about homeland security, and the White House screwing up (again).
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9 comments:
Looks like a heck of a lotta fun! I always liked going with my mom when she was starting out and doing those kinds of stories. SO much fun!
That IS nice work! I had a reporter acquaintance who covered the city council and county commission meetings and haaaaated it. She would have loved covering a Cajun Festival.
Fess up, SueBob, we know you got those beads SHOWIN YER BEWBEEZ!!!!!!
I am in LOVE with Lee and Fidel. Also: Mmm, beignets.
I remember covering county fairs and various festivals years ago. It was so much fun eating funnel cake, watching kids ride the rides and listening to bands and chatting up various people with big personalities. Thanks for bringing me back to that time.
Can't wait to meet you at BlogHer!
Getting paid to eat beignets is awesome.
For the record: there was no showing of bewbeez. Thank you.
Did that guy cut the toes out of his Crocs...or did they come that way? Either way? Yuck.
Yes, Wordgirl, he cut them out himself. Go figure.
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