It all begins with the CHALK! My sister lives close to the parade route and went out early Friday, Dec. 30th morning to mark our territory. There is a silent law that one must respect the chalk. Rarely, if ever, does anyone try to take a spot that has been pre-chalked. It's just not cool! When you're needing a space as large as we needed, this is just what you have to do!
Another ritual is fighting off the cops who tell you, "you can't save seats until 12:00 p.m. the day before the parade." Been there, done that! For some reason these officers are on a total power high but I do as I always do and say, "I'm just cruising the sidewalks, no harm in that is there?" I was out at our spot at 10:30 a.m. Saturday {mind you the parade isn't till Monday} 
Another essential: zip ties and wire cutters.
The parade people think they're being smart or something by zip-tieing all the porta potties shut until 12:00 p.m. the day before the parade. Experience is a great teacher and I have been schooled on how to get around little things like this. It's a simple solution that gives me my own, personal porta potty for over 24 hours. This year I mixed it up a little and found pink zip ties!
This year New Year's Day falls on a Sunday. The parade has a no Sunday policy so it won't be until Monday, January 2nd. It's a little bit of an anti-climatic New Year's Eve when you don't have the entire street celebrating with you. I was so grateful that Theresa drove down at 10:30 that night to hang out with me. At midnight, we had a party for 2 along Orange Grove Blvd. We had our poppers, our noise makers, and such. We had a terrible time getting our camera set up for a picture, but it is what it is! By about 12:10 a.m., we nestled in the warm car and waited out the night while watching our chalk!
1 comment:
Dyana you are awesome, I would never have the guts to cut of zip ties or be so blase to police. If I ever need someone shady I know who to call.
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