We Have Lost A Legend, A True American Hero...

Since the weather isn't an issue for Mardi Gras, let me begin by saluting my dear friend David Oreck who passed away this past Wednesday at the age of 99 1/2.  I feel honored to be included in David's later life, to share the beauty of his Mississippi farm, to walk its trails, fish his pond and share his favorite TV program, the Lawrence Welk Show.  

When I came to NOLA in 1978, David was known as "the RCA Man".  He sold RCA color TVs before he became "the Vacuum Guy" in the late 70s & 80s.  David was so good at selling/marketing that he could sell swimsuits at a nude beach!  Seems everyone I knew owned a lightweight Oreck vacuum.  My family owned several.  But as Lee Zurik would say "but there's more!"   TVs, Vacuums, Air Filters, Candles, David was the consummate pitchman.  And he always pitched his country.  From his service in the Army Air Corps during WWII (He continued to fly his vintage planes into his 80s!), to the National WWII Museum, David was proud to be an American.  A song once said, "we don't need another hero."   Wrong!  We need more heroes like David Oreck.  He made our country, the World a better place. 

Nothing has changed weather-wise.  The upper trough is along the West Coast with an upper ridge over the Southeast.  As Hannah Gard showed us at noon, that keeps Winter bottled up over the West & North with the rest of the country enjoying a Spring preview. 

There's still plenty of brutal cold (35-40 below) over eastern Canada and the boundary between the seasons will see a big snow storm later this week.

Unlike the previous weekend of wet & cold, this weekend has been dry & almost warm.  Mardi Gras will continue that trend so lather up with sun screen & wear a hat as sunburns can happen even in late February.  

Happy Mardi Gras Gang!   Stay safe & stay tuned!