A Night at the Ball

Growing up, the sorts of dreamy royal dances and balls I saw and dreamed up were the ones that dotted the Disney movies and fantasy literature piling up my bookshelves- whimsical tales of dainty young courtesans and their captivating Prince Charmings, fanciful illustrations of men and women donning majestic suits and gowns trailed by miles of shimmering gold and purple fabrics as members of the court bowed and curtseyed before their Queens and Kings. Not until I arrived in NOLA did I realize that I'd be walking into my very own fairytale, minus the guy and jewel encrusted crown, that is.

Mardis Gras, one of the longest and most withstanding traditions in the heart of Lousiana, sure loves their balls. With a clear homage for old Southern gentry, the Krewe of Thoth threw their 53rd annual ball, while I got to play the part of spectator and snap a few pix in the process. While I couldn't help but swoon just a little bit, as all the fanciful parts of my imagination came alive, there's something about these ritualistic processions that has me sort of creeped out. Little boys wearing bright blond wigs? Men in KKK-reminsicent masks walking stiffly about as we clap and cheer like it's the Medieval times? The stiff and painted faces of normal people masquerading as Kings and Queens in their full regalia? Call me a pooper- but there's just something off about it. Nevertheless, I can definitely claim my place in history- this former LA girl raised on palm trees, sun and surf secured her place in a very exclusive and bizarre underworld of old money and high society.

my fave nola gals pulling a quick smile for the cam

the very ornate and lavish Ball set up

Junior princess lined up to greet their Queen


creepy much? cool? sound off.

the royal queen and kind

oh, what a night!

the last of 2011.

the ones that didn't make it onto the blog...til now. #oldiesbutgoodies; @ New Yorker, 2011.

The G Word.

Always on the lookout for a feel-good, lift-me up inspiring read, I hit the jackpot when I stumbled upon this kid's story. He's the sorta guy we know we're never gonna become (c'mon, face it- college at age 8?) but who let's us think that we are less common-folk than we think we are and in a way, relatable (<--So I'm not an abysmal failure for pulling off a BA by a quarter century, whew, thank goodness.)Armed with a wicked appetite for knowledge and an intense focus and wisdom rare for a person his age and size, Moshe let's on more than he shows from outset. I had to snatch this one up and show it to my class of open-faced, wonder-eyed mini chitlins- who says that greatness is out of our reach? Moshe shows us that we can be all that and more, we just need to buckle down and work hard.

Boy genius's book reveals life in college at age 8
By JOHN ROGERS Associated Press
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The one thing 14-year-old Moshe Kai Cavalin dislikes is being called a genius.
All he did, after all, was enroll in college at age 8 and earn his first of two Associate of Arts degrees from East Los Angeles Community College at age 9, graduating with a perfect 4.0 grade point average.
Now, at 14, he's poised to graduate from UCLA this year. He's also just published an English edition of his first book, "We Can Do."
The 100-page guideline explains how other young people can accomplish what Cavalin did through such simple acts as keeping themselves focused and approaching everything with total commitment. He's hoping it will show people there's no genius involved, just hard work.
"That's always the question that bothers me," Cavalin, who turned 14 on Valentine's Day, says when the G-word is raised. "People need to know you don't really need to be a genius. You just have to work hard and you can accomplish anything."
And maybe cut out some of the TV.
Although he's a big fan of Jackie Chan movies, Cavalin says he limits his television time to four hours a week.
Not that he lacks for recreational activities or feels that his parents pressured him into studying constantly. He writes in "We Can Do" of learning to scuba dive, and he loves soccer and martial arts. He used to participate in the latter sport when he was younger, winning trophies for his age group, until his UCLA studies and his writing made things a little too hectic.
Indeed one of the key messages of his book is to stay focused and to not take on any endeavor half-heartedly.
"I was able to reach the stars, but others can reach the 'Milky Way," he tells readers.
It was a professor at his first institution of higher learning, East Los Angeles City College, who inspired him, Cavalin says. He didn't like the subject but managed to get an A in it anyway, by applying himself and seeing how enthusiastic his teacher, Richard Avila, was about the subject.
Avila, he says, inspired him to write a book explaining his methods for success so he could motivate others.
It took four years to finish, in part because Cavalin, whose mother is Chinese, decided to publish it in Chinese, and doing the translation himself was laborious.
Han Shian Culture Publishing of Taiwan put the book in print, and it did well in Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia, as well in several bookstores in Southern California's Asian communities. He then brought it out in English for the U.S. market.
Because of his heavy study load, Cavalin has had little opportunity to promote the book, other than a signing at UCLA, where he also lives in student housing with his parents and attends the school on a scholarship.
After earning his bachelor's degree, the math major plans to enroll in graduate school with hopes of eventually earning a doctorate.
After that, he's not so sure. He points out that he's still just barely a teenager.
"Who knows?" he says, chuckling at the thought of what lies ahead in adulthood. "That's a very distant future, and I'm pretty much planning for just the next few years. That's too far into the future for me to see."