Sunday, February 27^th. Sunny and almost 80. I waxed some more of the coach and Elaine sewed. We gotta get a smaller coach!! After the race we went back to the Hard Rock Casino for their free slot tournament. We didn’t place plus we lost some.

Monday, February 28^th, Mid 70s with rain in the morning and sun in the afternoon. Elaine did laundry and sewed. I drove around Ocean Springs and went to Rouse’s Market. I got Cajun sausage, catfish and alligator. Had the catfish tonight, just fried in butter. Very good.

Tuesday, March 1^st. Sunny and 70s. Had to go to Gulfport for a blood test. Elaine sewed. I made some hamburger rolls but got talking while they were rising and forgot about them. They were huge, about 6 or 7 inches across. So what could I do? I made two huge sausage patties to fit them and grilled them. The Cajun sausage was good but rather mild. Elaine has not been happy about missing so many hockey games, particularly the Buffalo Sabres. So we got NHL Center Ice and she not only saw her Sabres but parts of three other games. Hockey Heaven.

Wednesday, March 2^nd. Mid 70s and sunny in the morning but clouded up in the afternoon. Elaine found a lady to cut her hair then came back and sewed. I waxed some more of the coach. It is about three-quarters done. Should finish in three or four more mornings. We went to Checker’s for lunch. About like McDonalds but not as good as Hardee’s or Whataburger. Had the alligator for supper. Rubbed half with Cajun spices and left the other half plain and fried it in butter. Plain was very good with a mild flavor almost like fish but with a firmer texture more like chicken (texture, not taste). The Cajun spices overpowered the taste of the alligator. After supper we took a walk around the park and caught the tail end of a beautiful sunset.

Thursday, March 3^rd was cloudy and high 60s. Stayed around the coach in the morning. Elaine sewed and I took a break from waxing the coach. We went to Whataburger for a late lunch and then to the Hard Rock casino for the free slot tourney. We did not place so we went to the Palace Casino but lost there too.

Friday, March 4^th was cloudy and mid 60s with light to moderate rain on and off. Elaine made some 3-D greeting cards. We went to super at Sicily’s Pizza Buffet with Joan and Ken, a couple from Oneonta, NY. Then we went to a Mardi Gras parade in Ocean Springs. It drizzled on and off and took forever to get started. They start it off with two rows of motorcycle cops (about 12 to 14 in all) with lights flashing and sirens blaring. I think they do that to clear the people out of the street. All the wagons have their own generators to power their lights and sound systems. They all play music. There is much more energy and excitement at the Mardi Gras parade than at our firemen’s parades at home. Instead of throwing candy they throw beads. We both had about a pound of beads around our necks when it was over.