Rose Parade survey?

[Freedom]

WOO HOO oh Richard, I can't BELIEVE you are "close" to such an American icon and have NEVER been! But then, you do enjoy it more from home.

I LVOE parades, always have. Yes, I watch! I planned my morning around it. First thing I did when I got up this AM was find out what time and channel. Then I had to
- make sure dinner was started and would be ready AFTER the parade ends
- make sure Dad (who is diabetic) had a large enough breakfast to tide him over to a later than usual dinner
- shovel the driveway
- take my shower
do a few odds and ends, play with the pups, etc.

Once the parade starts, do NOT interrupt me! I am NOT available!

I DO listen for a band from nearby. Although I have lived in RI over 15 years, I still consider Mass my home (I lived there for the first 32 years of my life). Yup, Danvers Mass. Falcons Marching Band appeared in the parade this year! I went WILD! He hee. Especially funny as I would never admit to even "knowing" of Danvers if I was talking wtih another Mass resident. Danvers who? He he heee.

They had a wonderful blind band and explained how the band watchers could let them know to move left or right, run left or right. (1 or 2 hand on left shoulder, right shoulder) . Quite an honor for that band!

A terrific float honoring organ donors, highlighting an 8 year old boy who went on vacation with his family to Italy and died in an accident such a tragedy. His organs helped 8 people. The donors were done up in flowers, portraits really, but all flowers as the parade requires.

Several other floats were worthy of note but ALL were fantastic! What can be done with flowers, grasses, seeds. Super job!

[boomersooner]

We live in Texas, and went out there for the Rose Bowl several years ago when OU played Washington State. We didn't go because we just were just not interested in parades, but we did get caught up in it trying to get to the stadium. As for watching it..I might flip over there a couple of times, but I usually don't even do that....I don't even go to the parades around here unless my kid is in it or something. I remember we had the Cotton Bowl Parade here in Dallas for most of my life, but I never had an interest in going.

[DJFyrewolf36]

I'm way more interested in the game...especially this year!!!

I did see a thing on the news that said all the parade floats had to be made from or at least covered in organic material. Its good to know that everything is biodegradable!

[pomtzu]

I watch bits and pieces, but don't usually watch the whole thing. I had it on ABC this morning when I was watching it - just because that's the station I had on earlier, not because of a specific announcer.

When I was in high school in RI (back in the dinosaur age), my school was in the parade. I can still remember all the hoopla and fund raisers it took to get them all the way across country to participate. That's one time I wished I had played a musical instrument - it would have been so cool to be a part of that.

The A.I. Dupont Marching Band from Wilmington, DE, has been there 5 times that I can remember, as well as to London, bowl games, NASCAR events, etc. They are known as the most televised high school band in the U.S.

[Freedom]

I did see a thing on the news that said all the parade floats had to be made from or at least covered in organic material. Its good to know that everything is biodegradable!

That is the requirement. Exceptions can be sought, they are few. This year, the Boy Scouts had a "fly line" authorized, and had 2 scouts crossing a ravine on it.

Did anyone catch the float with the dogs snowboarding?! Hilarious!