This week, I’m kicking off a virtual road trip that begins in New Orleans and ends at the Grand Canyon. Why New Orleans? Because that’s the home of Mardi Gras! So today’s post is all about Mardi Gras!
If you’ve never been to Mardi Gras, you’ll find today’s post immensely unhelpful, but it might just tickle your funnybone. Of course, there’s a puzzle to go along with it that might best be worked before you try a Hurricane or a Hand Grenade or something that comes in a flashing neon cup.

Thanks to everyone for leaving your time on last week’s puzzle! The average time was a quick 8 minutes 16 seconds, and the best time was 5 minutes 9 seconds. As for me, you’ve got to do a little math to get the answer. Here’s the formula: add the average time and half of the fastest time. Then, add a fudge factor of 60.5 seconds (for those who were absent on that particular day in math or science class, a fudge factor is a scientific expression meaning whatever you need it to mean). Oh, you hate math? Okay, my time was 11 minutes 51 seconds.

