If you can't go to Mardi Gras....

then bring Mardi Gras to you! No, it's not the same as being in New Orleans, but we still had fun. A local non-profit hosted a Mardi Gras party this weekend. There was a great band, and the Cajun food was actually excellent (except for the awful hush puppies). My lovely wife and I decided to kick it old school-- as in 17th-century Venetian old school! Had there been a costume contest, we'd have won easily....

Adult Chili Number 5 Rules!

Tonight was a local charity event to raise money for the local charter school. It was a square dance and chili cook-off. We are good friends with the event's organizer, so I threw my hat in the ring for the chili cook-off. I've always made good chili, if I do say so myself. However, I usually use Carroll Shelby's Chili Kit as a base. I did not feel right about using a mix for a contest, even just as a base; thus, Doc's Down South Chocolate Chili was born. (Yes, I do put a bit of grated unsweetened chocolate in it, much like a Mexican molé sauce.) There were nine entries (I was number 5), and most of them were quite good (especially the seafood chili and the chipotle vegetarian chili). Regardless, my chili won! For my culinary efforts, we get a night in a whirlpool suite at a resort up in the Dells. Woo hoo! Now I can call my concoction Doc's Award-Winning Down South Chocolate Chili....

COLD!

It's cold here. Right now it's five below zero (Fahrenheit). With gusts of up to 27 mph, that puts the wind chill at about 30 below. Oy. Tonight, the low will be 12 below. The high tomorrow will be four below. Tomorrow night, the low is supposed to be -15! And you know what? We're okay. I walked Logan this morning, and it was fine. I did bundle up pretty well.... As my old carpool buddy Mary said recently, "There is no such this as inclement weather, only inadequate clothing." The picture above is the view from our hallway window.