Joannie Williams

Family-Friendly Atmosphere:
The best part about celebrating Mardi Gras in Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana is the atmosphere. There is a type of warmth that is genuine along with a simple spirit of joy which is what we Cajuns call the "joie de vivre" or the "joy of living." In Lake Charles, you can experience lavish costumes and the big city pageantry of Mardi Gras along with a family-friendly feel. In fact, there is a whole day dedicated to children and family activities during the celebration, and parade routes are filled with families lining the streets, so that makes Mardi Gras in Lake Charles a unique place to experience Carnival.

Royal Presentations:
Lake Charles has over 50 krewes and is second in the state only to New Orleans with the number of krewes participating in Mardi Gras activities. Lake Charles is also the only place in the state where the public is invited to see the ornate costumes the royal courts from all local krewes in one place, both at the Twelfth Night evening, usually held on January 6 each year, as well as the Royal Gala, held the evening before Mardi Gras day. In other parts of the state non-krewe members would have to be invited to each krewe's ball in order to see the royal court in their fine feathers! It's a nominal fee that gets the public in the door, and jeans are the comfort clothes of choice for these presentations! Also, at the Twelfth Night presentation of courts, each person walking in the door gets a piece of King Cake, and grand prizes are given out to lucky patrons.

Glitzy Costumes:
The costumes are huge at each presentation with some weighing more than 65 pounds. The court royalty have no problem wearing the costumes and even taking a bow before the Mardi Gras queens and Duke or Duchess of Misrule at the front of the stage. It's a great way to get a look at the kings, queens, royal dukes and duchesses, captains, courtesans and jesters in full costume.

There's good news and bad news this week. The good news is that the three-day Memorial Day weekend is here. The bad news is that this holiday is one of the highest risk times for traffic accidents. The National Safety Council estimates 366 people will die in traffic crashes during the upcoming holiday, while another 19,400 will suffer non-fatal disabling injuries.

"While the Memorial Day holiday signals the beginning of the laid-back summer season for many, it's also a dangerous time on roadways, with more deadly traffic accidents occurring than over New Year's Eve and the Fourth of July," according to the safety council of Louisiana. "It's important for drivers to be aware of the risk and to pay extra attention to safety over this weekend."

Here are some things to think about this weekend.

Wear your seat belt and make sure all passengers buckle up as well.

Never drink and drive. Alcohol is the single largest factor involved in motor vehicle deaths.

Have a responsible designated driver when you head out for holiday activities.

Be aware of and avoid drunk drivers. Some signs include:

• Drivers who turn with a wide radius.
• Drivers at speeds 10 miles below the speed limit or speeding excessively.
• Drivers who are following too closely.
• Drivers who have a slow response to traffic signals.
  

Establish and enforce a driver's ‘distraction-free zone' especially in cars equipped with electronic devices including cell phones, video games and global positioning systems.

Drive defensively and exercise caution especially during inclement weather.

Don't allow the holiday rush to affect your driving. A few extra minutes saved by reckless driving aren't worth the injuries you may cause to yourself and others.

Boating and water sports are also popular activities at this time of year. "Remember that traffic safety awareness applies to the waterways as well as the roadways. Louisiana ranks third among the top ten states for boating fatalities." She offers the following boating safety reminders:

• Wear your life jacket and make sure everyone on the boat wears one.
• Stay sober in your boat.
• Be aware of other boats, swimmers and other people in and on the water

HAVE A HAPPY AND SAFE JULY 4TH WEEKEND.....

WHAT DOES FREEDOM MEAN TO YOU?

America stands for – freedom, independence, equality, opportunity. It's also a terrific reminder of what makes America a wonderful place for entrepreneurs – we nurture freedom and respect and value differences.

As a entrepreneurs, I need freedom to flourish. But I not only need it for myself, but we need it as a society. A society that allows – even encourages – diversity and difference is a society that is most likely to be inventive, resourceful and entrepreneurial.

Think about it. If we're all the same, we can't create our own way. In a world of rapid change, it's more important than ever for us to be taught to think independently and value creativity if we're going to be able to compete economically. Many people understand why it's important to limit government regulation – but it's just as important – perhaps even more so – to truly embrace social diversity.Just because someone is different doesn't mean he or she doesn't have a lot to contribute.

America has prospered economically because our society has allowed each of us the freedom to be different. America thrives when we tolerate — even celebrate — those who do not follow the crowd, who forge a new or different path. Never forget: the United States has a creative business climate because we also have a tolerant social climate. The two are intertwined.

In other societies where you are not permitted to behave differently or pray differently, it soon becomes difficult to think differently. If you can't "think outside the box," Then how do we create?

This holiday, I'll reflect on the freedoms I enjoy as an American. I'll consider how these freedoms have enabled me to create my own business and also my ideas. I don't have to think the same as others or be the same as others to succeed.

That is what freedom is to me! What is freedom to you?

I want to take this time to wish all of the fathers a "Happy Father's Day

I loved my Dad,He passed 1/16/09 I miss him everyday! So to all Active Rain dad "Happy Fathers Day" and God Bless !!