Float #1 – The 9 Muses 2006 (Muses Officers)
The Captain and Nine Muses lead the 668 riding members of the Krewe of Muses parade. The entire organization is now over 1000 members strong. The Captain of the Krewe of Muses is in the first position on the float. The nine Muses are Clio was the Muse of history, Urania of astronomy, Euterpe of lyric poetry, Polyhymnia of songs to the gods, Melpomene of tragedy, Thalia of comedy, Terpsichore of dance, Calliope of epic poetry, and Erato of love poetry. The float is lit by fiber optic Muse tiles across the front and state of the art bulbs changing colors constantly.

Float #1a – The Muses Shoe
This year, Muses honors Urania, Goddess of Astronomy. Representing Urania is our own star, Muse Becky Zaheri, founder of the Katrina Krewe. The Katrina Krewe has organized over 1,000 volunteers to clean up the streets of New Orleans twice a week. Muses is proud to be able to honor one of our own members with a ride in the fabulous shoe float.

Float #1b -The Mount Olympus Brass Band
Coolbone. A Muses favorite gives music to inspire.

Float #2 - The Bathing Muses
Another signature float from the Krewe of Muses…the Bathing Muses have become a Muses tradition and appear every year. This year the bathtub is lighting up brighter then ever and offering fabulous throws and squeaky-clean fun.

Float #2a - First Responders
Muses honor first responders – our stars - who were true heroines following Hurricane Katrina. These women are our inspiration to move forward in our rebuilding. The first responders on this float are:
Lucy Pribennow, animal rescue; Dr. Cathi Fontenot, Medical Director, Charity and University Hospitals; Judy Darby Hoffmeister, Red Cross, St. Bernard Parish; Lily Duke, Emergency Food & Water; Sara Faulkner, Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer; NOPD Officers: Pauline Willioughby, 7th District; Donna Patterson, 3rd District, Marsha Heirsch, ISB; Victoria Guidry, 5th District; Sabrina Richardson, ASB; Theresa Meunier, 2nd District, and firefighter Christine Legrande-Delatte.

Float #3 – Title 2006– Muses Got Game
For 2006 the Krewe of Muses enter the game closet and pull out a pile of our favorite games – with a special satirical twist! This float also carries a subtitle chosen by the Muss for 2006 – “If we don’t laugh we’ll cry.” A sentiment many of us understand this year above all.

Float #4 – Candyland
A childhood favorite…this year we go down the pain clinic path – past the OxyContin tree the gingerbread house of Xanax, Soma Swamp and Lortab lollipop woods. That’s a nice trip through Candyland…oh yeah.

Float #5 – Operation
With President George W. Bush on the table this is Operation Internal Freedom. To win you need to remove oil from his brain, fundamentalism from his heart, a pretzel from his throat, Halliburton contracts from his hand, a wild past from his liver and as we learned after Katrina – poverty from his eyes.

Float #6 – Hungry Hungry Hippos
You know these guys and how to play this game – it’s the Hungry Hungry Hippos and they are snatching up Vioxx and levee breach lawsuits as fast as they can – the one with the most suits wins!

Float #7 – Babble
The game of scrabble takes on a whole new meaning with Babble – a game we all played a part in this past fall as we were attached to our radios and television sets. Catch the word and remember the coverage.

Float #8 – Barrel of Monkeys
A childhood favorite game – unless you are trapped in New Orleans after a major disaster and waiting on FEMA – our own American Barrel of Monkeys

Float #9 – Rockem Sockem Bouncers
This game is great fun – unless you happen to be on Bourbon Street just out for a good time – beware of the Rockem Sockem Bouncers.

Float #10 – The Blame Game
Sing along with me – Blanco Blanco Bo Banco Banana Fana Fo Fanco Fe Fi Mo Manco – BLANCO.
Let’s try Ray
Nagin Nagin Bo Bagin Banana Fana Fo Fagin Fe Fi Mo Magin NAGIN.
A little round with Brown
Brown Brown Bo Bown Banana Fana Fo Fown Fe Fi Mo Mown BROWN.

Float #11 – Hurling
This game was played often in New Orleans homes this past September and October – It’s not curling – like in the Olympics – It’s HURLING – the game of getting your fridge cleaned out without vomiting on yourself.

Float #12 – Souse Trap
We all played Mouse Trap – the most fun was setting up the game. Well for some of our law enforcement officers the most fun is setting up those DWI checkpoints around town. At least its fun for them – not necessarily for those caught in the SOUSETRAP!

Float #13 – Scuffleboard
Forget Shuffleboard and pushing things around the deck…This is Scuffleboard and the Mayor is fighting over the crown prince crown with Thad Allen. Now that’s a scuffleboard game worthy of national news coverage.

Float #14 - Hide & Seek
Here’s a hide & seek game where no one is saying olly olly oxen free. Bill Jefferson and the FBI are also playing a game of don’t break the ice – in the freezer that is. And who is hiding out in Jamaica on the back of the float?

Float #15 - Red Rover
Red Rover Red Rover – send who over? It was a school yard favorite – unless you were up against the Gretna Police Department. We don’t remember M16’s being allowed in the game.

Float #16 – The Game of Life
Remember the game of Life? Well it’s lots more complicated these days – especially when GW and Tom Delay get involved.

Float #17 – Bouray
Bouray Nagin that is – Cajun poker looks different these days …MLK thinks so too…what’s that he’s saying “I told you to say WHAT??!” And Garland Robinette has a news release hot off the wire – “This just in – God has released a statement – he does not know this man and wishes he would stop using his name.” And of course our DA Eddie Jordan has a few words for the Mayor of Chocolate City.
Hey Ray – That’s Twister you’re playing – foot in mouth edition.

Float #18 – Frisk
The game of getting past airport security with your dignity intact. Anyone found with nail clippers, baby photos, buck teeth or pocket lint will be immediately apprehended and sent to Guantanamo Bay Cuba. That’s FRISK!

Float #19 – Trivial Pursuit
This is Jesse Jackson’s favorite game – and he’s playing it in New Orleans now…with a goal of bringing back citizens…but it looks like Jesse might be cheating. You’re disqualified. Better luck next time.

Float #20 – Assteroids
The old arcade game has changed a lot. Now days it is all about playing duck duck juice.

Float #21 – Ouija Board
We all remember pulling out the Ouija Board and calling upon spirits from the past for advice…Muses has called upon a few to offer advice to the living. Buddy D, Johnny Cochran, Ernie K-Doe and who else is up there?

Float #22 – Loosiana Olympics
It is Olympic season and in New Orleans let the shames begin! We’re playing games like Fencing, the 50 kilo dash, dodge ball with Jim Letten and of course the triathlon of Lie Cheat and Steal…looks like old Edwin Edwards is a 3 time gold medalist in that event.
The closing ceremonies can’t come soon enough.

Float #23 – A Game of Chance
A game of chance is a game whose outcome is random, and upon which contestants frequently wager money. Common devices used include dice, playing cards, roulette wheels, or numbered balls drawn from a container, or …living in New Orleans. We’re going to let it ride! It’s worth the risk.

Float #24 – Sirens
This year she says it for all of us – Come hell or high water there’s no place like home.

Float #25– Mnemosyne - Goddess of Memory and Mother of the Muses
She’s the mother of the Muses and the goddess of memory. This year she is our reminder of all we have suffered. We celebrate life, we mourn the past, we shall never forget.
Muses chose to end this year’s parade thankful for all we are able to celebrate in our great city, but always thinking of all we have lost. This riderless float is in honor of those Mardi Gras lovers lost in our recent disaster.