A Thanksgiving Odyssey: Bands, Buses, and Big Bad Balloons (Completed!!!)

[GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes]

Originally Posted by Wherem I Now

So, You gonna finish this off at about the one year mark aren't ya? I wonder how many of those kids will be sitting in front of the TV on Thursday saying "that was me last year".

That’s the plan. We’ll see if I can pull it off.
As for those watching this years parade …
Hard to say (but I know we had it on the telle while enjoying a little bit of brunch)

Originally Posted by Wherem I Now

I've never had a bad meal at a Chevy's. Bad service yes, but not a bad meal.

Something to consider. The place was an unknown to us as there aren’t any example of it in the area. Like I said, the food was good, just not over the top good. Bad service however… that’d make me think twice before going back.

Originally Posted by Wherem I Now

Seems that not having any tenants in the upper floors is quite a waste of valuable space. Maybe all of the signage blocks the windows and therefore the fire escapes.

The story goes that they make so much from the billboards that they don’t need the tenant income. There is also a secondary problem. The upper floors aren’t centrally air-conditioned. That upgrade was never put in since the bulk of the renter moved out years ago, and now it would be pricey to correct for no more additional income then it would generate. Or so say a couple of the articles that I based the feature on.

Originally Posted by Wherem I Now

That's one that those kids (and some proud parents) will have up on the wall for years.

Originally Posted by Wherem I Now

That was along I-87 crossing through the Shenandoah valley. We weren’t too far from where you call home

Originally Posted by Wherem I Now

That's an awesome welcome home!

The kids got a kick out if it.
Awwww, who am I kiddin’… the “grown-ups” did too.

[GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes]

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

Bring me that horizon!

Drink up, me hearties, yo ho!

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

You're eating cars for dinner?

No… I was eating burritos, but I’ve heard of a fellow that tried to eat a jeep to prove that he was too crazy to be in the army.

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

Never eaten here (or heard of it, actually). But the phrase "all-you-can-eat-buffet" is basically magic words to me.

All-you-can-eat is a powerful siren call. We actually went out for a similar buffet for Thanksgiving yesterday. That was also tasty, and I didn’t have to clean either the house or the dishes. That is also high of my list of magical things.

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

Thanks for explaining this. I never knew why they had settled on a big ball dropping.

I wandered about it myself… thus the real reason behind that mini-bonus feature. I’d heard of the “time ball” used to communicate between docks and he ships entering and leaving a port, but I never put two and two together to understand the New Year’s tradition until now.

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

So I see it's always been this crowded.

It seems so…
And more so in the past then now.

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

Shame. Looks like it was a beautiful building. It's interesting that there are no tenants. Seems like a waste of space.

They make so much form the advertising that the only tenant is the “ball” that they’ll be dropping in a few weeks.

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

That works out to about $2.78/second, so I could probably shell out for a good 3 seconds of advertising. I'll have to see if that's in the marketing budget for Cinematic Recording Arts Productions.

Let us know when you’re planning on launching that photo blitz. We might have to get a bunch of the dad’s up there to see if we can determine exactly when it occurs.

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

Actually, I think it does. Nowhere else in America do you see a place like that.

Your closer to right then they are.
Like I said they’re busy being fashionably jaded.

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

Any particular flavor? And did they use cream cheese or ricotta? I've tried ricotta cheesecake at some Italian places and...

They’re all the traditional cream cheese verity. As for flavors, I’m sure that they have a number of good ones, but I wasn’t paying attention to those verities. When I order up a cheesecake, I go after the real thing; the original unadulterated Yiddish artifact. Yummmmm….

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

Probably because you skipped Delaware again, didn't you?

I didn’t get to choose the route, so I’m pretty sure that we made a hard right just before getting to that particular boarder.

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

What happened to equal time? Hopefully this was followed by a screening of Commando.

“Hope is a dangerous thing. Drive a man insane. It's got no place here. Better get used to the idea.”

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

Very cool!

Everyone should experience a police escort at least once.

[GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes]

Originally Posted by afwdwfan

And those little moments are sometimes some of the best and most memorable.

Feeling a bit philosophical are we?
And you’ve forced me to once again agree with my nemesis.
Nicely played.

Originally Posted by afwdwfan

Well, the American English translation of the word buffet is actually "challenge." Not many people know that.

I’ll be sure to tuck that little detail into my next bonus feature.
Oh…I’ll be sure to credit you of course.

Originally Posted by afwdwfan

I think I vaguely remember something about Times Square being mentioned a long, long, long time ago.

What a long strange trip it’s been…
But it almost over now so you can breath a sigh of relief.

Originally Posted by afwdwfan

And here's what I learned today.

Glad to be of service.
There’s apparently not enough useless crap rolling around in your noggin, so I’m attempting to rectify the situation.

Originally Posted by afwdwfan

I'm definitely curious about this one... why isn't it in use? As valuable as real estate is in that city, I can't believe that they'd just let a building sit idle, regardless of how valuable its facade is, unless there's a really good reason.

The profit form the signs is really that good…
And they don’t have to upgrade the interior or field complaints from the tenants.
Signs don’t complain much

Originally Posted by afwdwfan

Think we can find a mysterious benefactor to scrape together that kind of change to air a live broadcast of the live Disdads podcast recording at the convention?

It’s a fine goal to be sure…
Not in my budget, but still a fine goal.

Originally Posted by afwdwfan

A Disney shirt for cheaper than a sandwich??? How does anyone afford to eat in NYC?????

That’s a good question.
At this time though, I don’t have a good answer,
But it’s a good question.

Originally Posted by afwdwfan

Love a good cake. Like Mark, I'd like to know what kind you had.

The real stuff. Traditional with no toppings.
Real cheesecake don’t need ‘em.

Originally Posted by afwdwfan

Ill-gotten??? Did you "forget" to pay?

Oh I paid for them.
In many ways to be sure…

Originally Posted by afwdwfan

Cool experience. I'm sure the kids enjoyed it.

Probably. Being teenagers they were a bit blaze about it when questioned afterward.
The adults however were as giddy as little girls at a slumber party.

Originally Posted by afwdwfan

Well, you keep talking about country bumpkins and everything, but it can't be all that backwoods and redneck if there are car alarms to be set off!

Oh I forgot to mention that the alarms were really just a mixture of barking dogs, cowbells, and the odd shotgun being fired into the air.

Does that bring it back into perspective?

[GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes]

Chapter 6: A Whole Different Animal…

I was and am quite thankful. Thankful that we had the chance to travel to New York; thankful that our kids got to be part of a iconic national event; thankful for the many unique experiences that we’d had through the entire year; but mostly, I was thankful that we had traveled back home on Saturday. That gave me at least one day to convalesce before having to go straight back to work. And that’s a good thing because I wasn’t even worth shooting the next morning.

First off I was dealing with fairly nasty cold that had started to manifest itself on the long ride home (that wasn’t much fun). But mostly I was just beat from the extreme and rambling schedule that the trip had required. Most everyone in our house spent the better part of Sunday in our own familiar, comfortable beds (something else you tend to miss while traveling).

But even still…
Monday was upon us before we knew it and it was back to the regular grind.


Well… not exactly.


There was one more minor event on the calendar that demanded the attention of our little high school band.

A parade…


What!?!?!? Another Parade!?!?!?
Isn’t that where we came into to this D-Grade excuse for a TR in the first place!


NOOOOOOOooooooooooooooo……….



Oh yes Virginia, and it gets worse.
It’s a small town parade.




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No Place Like Home




I want to welcome y’all to our hometown.





I actually moved around a good bit in my early youth, but I’ve been in this particular county since the bicentennial and this little town is the only home my son has ever known. Since you took time to drop in, let me show y’all around a bit.

Here’s the memorial park (every southern town has some variation on this theme)…





And another ubiquitous small town feature: the rail line running smack through (but no longer making stops within) downtown…


Followed immediately by the pièce de résistance… Main Street!





All two blocks of it. Yep… I said two blocks. You see that ugly, multicolored, flowery looking thingy at the top of the hill on the far left of that last image? That questionable bit of public art marks the northeast end of the street and the railhead at the bottom of the hill is the southwestern terminus of our glorious rendition of Broadway. That’s it, there ain’t no more.

Now, we do have a few “major” monuments just like the big cities. There’s our veterans memorial (a fairly new feature here that the local boosters, myself included, are quite proud of)…





And the big ol’ waving Saint Nick standing on the hill top overlooking Main Street and the “Mill Stone Plaza”.


Yah… we’re hicks… we’re quite aware of that fact.



So why am I bothering you with all these pointless details?

So that you’ll have a little bit of context surrounding the major event that all these folks were gathering to see…





With myself being among them…



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Let’s get this party started…




We staked ourselves out a spot just after the turn off of Main Street. As it turns out this was good for getting a clear view of the various units, but it had a slight downside that would crop up later on. That’s a minor detail though… lets get on with the show.

Up in the big city, they started the parade off with folks on roller-blades, a police escort and a big ol’ balloon. Down here we kicked it off with an ROTC unit. That just seems like the thing to do. The two schools down here maintain Marine ROTC posts and they will take turns leading off the town parades.





After a couple of council rep and local officials, the next bit of actual entertainment was the synchronized go-carts maintained by one of the area Shrine clubs. A little like the Energizer Bunny, these guys would head up a little ways and then turn and come back variously breaking into figure eights or crisscross maneuvers before turning again to move farther down the way.



And finally… a celebrity I know. Well… Sort’a.

Meet “Fat Elvis”





The bottom image was before the parade started. I figured you’d like a clearer look just to see for yourself that Elvis is indeed still alive (He may have just gone back home, but still saw fit to return just long enough to appear in our humble procession.

We are truly blessed…


Next up… a choir





Little else speaks to the hearts of a small town like an elementary school choir. I don’t remember specifically which carols they serenaded us with, but does it really matter.

Children were singing.


Christmas had arrived.


Now the next two entries are prime examples of the difference between a big city parade and a small town parade. Up in New York the city sent out a brigade of boom-lift trucks to move all the street lamps and traffic signals. Down here we have a different use for a “cherry-picker” truck during such festive occasions. As parade floats…





As for that second picture… I’ve got no clue how to even explain that one. What they intended to represent or even what connection the papier-mâché dragon’s head that had been built onto an office chare had to do with the Christmas season escapes me at the moment (Chinese New Year maybe… still not sure). But again, does it really matter? A group of proud parents and small children got to mach in a parade.

What could possibly be more festive or speak more to the heart of the season?



Next… a bit of music.





Introducing… our rivals; the very fine young musicians that make up the Fort Mill HS Band. With decades of experience and better then twenty state marching championships, they deserve respect (and I do respect that program, but I also rather enjoyed seeing our kids taking the championship over them that year).

Speaking of respect… The Grinch was in the process of acquiring a little bit of that commodity. It seems that the County Sheriff’s officers had picked him up and were offering the ol’ boy a bit of time to consider his actions (a concept close akin to the old colonial concept of a public pillory).





Right behind the mobile Whoville penitentiary was something a bit more serine; one of the local hand-bell choirs. Quite the jarring bit of juxtaposition wouldn’t you say? They were a might hard to hear over the general outdoor noise, but it was still a nice and unexpected touch for a holiday parade.


Now it’s time to get back to a little bit of Americana. Does that mean Dancing Girls? Not just yet, we’ll get to that latter on. Right now though we encountered something else very American, are more typical of small towns… Boy Scouts.





This is a group from a very well run troop/pack from the next town out. One of their signature annual events is a great push-go-cart race and they decided to bring out some of the better entries built by the kids and their parents that season.


Pop Quiz! When you don’t have a lot of floats handy to glide down the thoroughfares at your local parade what do you use as a substitute?

Random trucks of course…





Ok… not completely random. We encountered the Elks Club’s pick-up promoting drug awareness. The “Servepro” truck however, actually was rather a bit random (if you ask me), but it appears that the Grinch had escaped from the county sheriffs and was hitching a ride. Gratuitous advertising aside, no parade is truly complete until you see an old fire engine and that last image right there was one mighty fine example of the breed.


I said earlier that our spot along the route had a disadvantage. This issue was that we were just beyond where the local television cameras had set up. Generally not an issue, but since the three bands performing that day would make a point to play at that spot, they likely would be walking by us in a cadence. That being the case, I figured I needed to walk over to the corner to get a better picture of the next group in the procession. These kids right here…





If you were to click on that little image, you’ll notice that what they were playing was distinctly not very Christmassy. Well… they’d only had a week to prepare and decided that rather then play a medley of carols, they’d play the same stuff that had worked so well up in NYC. Not to mention the hometown folks (and local cable television folks) hadn’t gotten to hear it live prior to now anyway.

I was headed back to my chair as they made their turn off of main and on to the home stretch when the majors caught me off guard and kicked off the next tune without rolling through the cadence. As such I missed the first few measures of the next tune…





That’s my favorite of their various pep-band tunes, simply because it represents the Carolinas so nicely. That vid also allowed the girls from the school’s “Dance Team” who were uncharacteristically traveling along with the band that morning to get a little bit of camera time. Hay, it’s the holidays… we can share the limelight.


Right behind our kids was a couple more fire trucks
(of the more modern variety).





The kids riding along in the basket out in front of that last truck looked to be having the time of their lives.

Next on the agenda was this hillbilly-esk contraption
(Plese don’t ask me to explaine it… I don’t think it’s possible).





But as you can see, we did try to atone for our appalling lack of judgment by immediately following it up with more cub scouts (pictures of young kids are second only to pictures of babies when it comes to quickly changing the subject).

Now, I don’t want to miss lead you into thinking that our little rendition of a parade was completely devoid of festive holiday floats. Such is not the case. There is a group of folks down here that own about a half dozen or so “generic parade floats”. This same hand full of glittery trailers will show up at each local parade in turn. You just slap a sign or two for the local sponsor on the side, load up a few of said sponsors employees or principals along with some kids and at least one person in a costume of some type, and you get visions like these…





Now I cant speak directly to the character of the individuals working the suits, nor for the choice of image that said suites are intended to represent, but I can say with all certainty, that there actually were floats in the parade that day.

Next up… the third band of the day.





These kids are from the next town over (and if you dot speak South’rn… that would be to the east), and yes the name of the town actually is Indian Land. That’s not a slur or a slight; it’s the name of the town. And you can tell by the size of their corps of ambassadors that it’s a very small town as well (making ours look like a veritable metropolis). Being small however doesn’t mean that you can’t be good at something and these kids are quite competitive in their class (and entertaining to listen to).


By now it’s fairly apparent that about the only thing we saw in the Macy’s parade that we’d not yet seen in the hometown variant, was dancing girls. Not to worry, we’ve got that one covered too…





You’ve got to know that the local dance schools live for stuff like this. There were elves, snowflakes, reindeer and various Mrs. Clauses all just a clickin’ their heels and succeeding in being down right adorable to boot.

As things were starting to wind down, we were next treated to a number of fine example of classic automotive locomotion in the form of one of the local car clubs…





And as you can see that was immediately followed by a triumphant appearance of our Mayor. Wait a minute… that’s not the mayor! At least I don’t think it is… is that him? Nooooo… that’s not him I’m sure of it.

I think?



Oh wait!


Look!




A Tae Kwon Do demonstration!!!







Followed none too soon by another ROTC unit. It’s about time y’all showed up I was starting to worry about the overly serious themes that this parade was turning to. Bless the Army ROTC for returning us to something more honorable.

Oh… and you did think to go back up there and click on that last compilation of images didn’t you?

Well did ya'?


OK, now that the fine young ladies and gentleman of the junior officer corps have reinstated a bit of sanity… there really is only one other possible unit that could be coming up next in this shindig.


“The big man… The head honcho… The connection!”


Riding what else? A fire engine of course.
(What? You were expecting reindeer?)





And as with any great holiday event… the appearance of the Jolly Ol’ Elf signaled the official end of another traditional pageant.



Huzzah!!!




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So what was the point?


By the way…
This here TR is actually complete now, so y’all are under no obligation to read any farther.


Really!




So why did I decide to close this distinctly Non-Disney Trip Report by comparing our grand adventure to New York City back to a humble small town Christmas parade? Well… on the surface, there really was no “reason” for it at all. The Christmas Parade was simply the next event on our kids schedule and the official end of the 2011 marching season. So it just seemed to be the next logical entry in my chronology of events.

But then again… these two event were just days apart in my realm of experience. The famous national event was still quite fresh in my mind as I was enjoying the more simple innocence of our home event. It seemed to put everything we’d experienced into perspective. The trip to New York was a rare opportunity for the kids and parents alike. We saw and experienced things that for many of us will never be available again. We expanded our worlds a bit and got some first hand experience with people and places that most of us really knew only from books, films and pop culture.

I think that the real point of all this nonsense is to say that when a chance to travel presents itself, no matter how it is disguised, make sure that you hop on that bus

“Baby steps… get on a bus…”

This is true no matter how far the bus is traveling. The entire world may be just over the horizon, but the entire world is also all around you if you take time to experience it. And more importantly, take time to realize that you are a part of that world, and not just existing within it. Proverbs proclaim that every journey begins with a single step. But they’re never specific as to when a journey ends. The easy answer is that it ends when you stop taking steps. The real answer is that is ends when you either don’t remember or no longer care about the steps you take. Myself I’m looking forward to taking more steps away from where I currently am.


If you’d care to follow along, I’d be grateful for the company…

[Wherem I Now]

Originally Posted by GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes

There was one more minor event on the calendar that demanded the attention of our little high school band.

A parade…


What!?!?!? Another Parade!?!?!?
Isn’t that where we came into to this D-Grade excuse for a TR in the first place!


NOOOOOOOooooooooooooooo……….



Oh yes Virginia, and it gets worse.
It’s a small town parade.




= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
No Place Like Home

I was just thinking after the last update that they probably had a local parade (or a few) to do back at home...

Nothing like a hometown parade. Sure, you don't have giant balloons, national recording stars, and Network TV coverage, bit Macy's doesn't have Fat Elvis, Grinch in a cage, or Shriners!

So why did I decide to close this distinctly Non-Disney Trip Report by comparing our grand adventure to New York City back to a humble small town Christmas parade? Well… on the surface, there really was no “reason” for it at all. The Christmas Parade was simply the next event on our kids schedule and the official end of the 2011 marching season. So it just seemed to be the next logical entry in my chronology of events.

But then again… these two event were just days apart in my realm of experience. The famous national event was still quite fresh in my mind as I was enjoying the more simple innocence of our home event. It seemed to put everything we’d experienced into perspective. The trip to New York was a rare opportunity for the kids and parents alike. We saw and experienced things that for many of us will never be available again. We expanded our worlds a bit and got some first hand experience with people and places that most of us really knew only from books, films and pop culture.

I think that the real point of all this nonsense is to say that when a chance to travel presents itself, no matter how it is disguised, make sure that you hop on that bus

“Baby steps… get on a bus…”

This is true no matter how far the bus is traveling. The entire world may be just over the horizon, but the entire world is also all around you if you take time to experience it. And more importantly, take time to realize that you are a part of that world, and not just existing within it. Proverbs proclaim that every journey begins with a single step. But they’re never specific as to when a journey ends. The easy answer is that it ends when you stop taking steps. The real answer is that is ends when you either don’t remember or no longer care about the steps you take. Myself I’m looking forward to taking more steps away from where I currently am.


If you’d care to follow along, I’d be grateful for the company…

This was a great way to close out this Trip Report!

This has been a fun an interesting read. I think I may have even learned a thing or two from the Bonus Features.

I like the What about Bob reference above. As I read through that section, another movie quote with a different transportation service was running through my head. "The thing about trains... it doesn't matter where they're going. What matters is deciding to get on." That may apply to buses as well...

Thanks for taking us along for the journey Rob!

[GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes]

Originally Posted by Wherem I Now

I was just thinking after the last update that they probably had a local parade (or a few) to do back at home...

Nothing like a hometown parade. Sure, you don't have giant balloons, national recording stars, and Network TV coverage, bit Macy's doesn't have Fat Elvis, Grinch in a cage, or Shriners!

Very true.
The images presented in the big city may be what folks “calm” to aspire to…
But it the small town stuff that says who we really are.

And all things considered, that’s not a bad thing.

Originally Posted by Wherem I Now

This was a great way to close out this Trip Report!

This has been a fun an interesting read. I think I may have even learned a thing or two from the Bonus Features.

Thanks for following along Mike. It took me a while longer that it ought to have to get this one done, but I enjoyed putting it together. I don’t generally pick up a lot of followers (especially when it’s for a non Disney trip), but I appreciate those that do follow along.

Thanks again.

Originally Posted by Wherem I Now

I like the What about Bob reference above. As I read through that section, another movie quote with a different transportation service was running through my head. "The thing about trains... it doesn't matter where they're going. What matters is deciding to get on." That may apply to buses as well...

Thanks for taking us along for the journey Rob!

That’s a great quote as well (and more seasonally appropriate).
I may need to bust that DVD out in the near.

[afwdwfan]

Originally Posted by GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes

But even still…
Monday was upon us before we knew it and it was back to the regular grind.


Well… not exactly.


There was one more minor event on the calendar that demanded the attention of our little high school band.

A parade…

So... this parade was Sunday afternoon??? Busy weekend.

Originally Posted by GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes

And finally… a celebrity I know. Well… Sort’a.

Meet “Fat Elvis”

Well, better than a few of them you saw in NYC...

Originally Posted by GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes

It seems that the County Sheriff’s officers had picked him up and were offering the ol’ boy a bit of time to consider his actions (a concept close akin to the old colonial concept of a public pillory).

So, is this considered to be another celebrity sighting?

Originally Posted by GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes

The “Servepro” truck however, actually was rather a bit random (if you ask me), but it appears that the Grinch had escaped from the county sheriffs and was hitching a ride.

So, somebody apparenlty didn't get the memo that the Grinch was already in the parade. They'll scar the kids for life. That doesn't sound like very good advertisement.

Originally Posted by GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes

Next on the agenda was this hillbilly-esk contraption
(Plese don’t ask me to explaine it… I don’t think it’s possible).

Ok, I'll take a stab at it...

It appears that some movie buff tried to merge this:



With this:

Originally Posted by GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes

By now it’s fairly apparent that about the only thing we saw in the Macy’s parade that we’d not yet seen in the hometown variant, was dancing girls. Not to worry, we’ve got that one covered too…

Where was the Mickey balloon?

Originally Posted by GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes

And as you can see that was immediately followed by a triumphant appearance of our Mayor. Wait a minute… that’s not the mayor! At least I don’t think it is… is that him? Nooooo… that’s not him I’m sure of it.

I think?



Oh wait!


Look!




A Tae Kwon Do demonstration!!!

No, not good enough, back to this holstein you have for a mayor...

Originally Posted by GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes

Riding what else? A fire engine of course.
(What? You were expecting reindeer?)

Or at least a cow with antlers velcroed onto it's head.


Looks like a nice little parade. A bit different from the big stage experience in NYC, but maybe a bit more meaningful to all involved with all the friends and family present.

[GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes]

Originally Posted by afwdwfan

So... this parade was Sunday afternoon??? Busy weekend.

Actually it was the next Saturday, so while it was still a break from the regular grind, we all still had to deal with that grind for at least the first five days before another diversion showed itself.

Originally Posted by afwdwfan

Well, better than a few of them you saw in NYC...

And… I knew who it was. Bonus!

Originally Posted by afwdwfan

So, is this considered to be another celebrity sighting?

In my book… it counts (and both the Grinch and Fat Elvis are far more deserving of the title “celebrity” then most of the folks laying calm to the distinction).

Originally Posted by afwdwfan

So, somebody apparenlty didn't get the memo that the Grinch was already in the parade. They'll scar the kids for life. That doesn't sound like very good advertisement.

Well kids don’t generally get on the phone to hire a “post disaster clean-up” company, but it was somewhat of an oversight. My explanation for the young’ens around where we were sitting was that he’d simply escaped form the sheriffs and was making his get-away from town by hiding in plain sight.

Originally Posted by afwdwfan

Ok, I'll take a stab at it...

It appears that some movie buff tried to merge this:



With this:

A picture is worth a thousand words.
Those two speak volumes.

Originally Posted by afwdwfan

Where was the Mickey balloon?

I forgot to post the picture of the street vendor pushing a grocery cart full of various carnival trinkets and souvenirs before the parade got started. Amongst the stuffed animals, blow-up “Santa” dolls, glow sticks and knock-off light-sabers, he also had helium filled balloons, and I’m pretty sure one of them looked a lot mike a Mickey-Head.

Originally Posted by afwdwfan

No, not good enough, back to this holstein you have for a mayor...

What… you’re telling me you elected officials are more respected and capable then our Holstein?

I’m gonn’a need proof of that one.

Originally Posted by afwdwfan

Or at least a cow with antlers velcroed onto it's head.

Better then antlers stapled to the head of a door mouse.

Actually… now that you mention it, I think that there were a set of antlers strapped to the mirrors on either side of the fire truck (or at least there will be once I go photoshop them in).

Originally Posted by afwdwfan

Looks like a nice little parade. A bit different from the big stage experience in NYC, but maybe a bit more meaningful to all involved with all the friends and family present.

It was fun and we’ll get to watch the current version of that one this coming weekend.


That’s the last easy shot I’ll be teeing up for you to whack me for taking so long to finish this TR so you best find a really good come back for it.



While I’m at it…
Thanks for following along Andy. It may be a while before we have another trip that will merit a TR (on this board at least).

I am looking forward to the TR for your upcoming trip. I’ve been reading the PTR, but I’m waiting for the real thing to get started before regularly harassing you.

[afwdwfan]

Originally Posted by GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes

What… you’re telling me you elected officials are more respected and capable then our Holstein?

I’m gonn’a need proof of that one.

No actually, I'd compare ours to a different kind of barnyard animal known for its stubborn demeanor... Although, ironically, most of them are from the party that uses a different animal as its mascot.

Originally Posted by GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes

It was fun and we’ll get to watch the current version of that one this coming weekend.


That’s the last easy shot I’ll be teeing up for you to whack me for taking so long to finish this TR so you best find a really good come back for it.

I'll just save the low blow for the next part.

Originally Posted by GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes

I am looking forward to the TR for your upcoming trip. I’ve been reading the PTR, but I’m waiting for the real thing to get started before regularly harassing you.

So what will you be doing next Monday morning?

[GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes]

Originally Posted by afwdwfan

No actually, I'd compare ours to a different kind of barnyard animal known for its stubborn demeanor... Although, ironically, most of them are from the party that uses a different animal as its mascot.

Our officials fit the same ironic description as well (including the Holstein).

Originally Posted by afwdwfan

I'll just save the low blow for the next part.

There ain’t no next part, I’m officially done with this TR.
So go on ahead and take your shot now.

Unlike you, I don’t even have a trip on the horizon at all.
It's sad that I wont have the year “2012” listed anywhere in my Sig.
Just plain sad

Originally Posted by afwdwfan

So what will you be doing next Monday morning?

Working at a job I no longer enjoy and being envious of the big family trip y’all are on.

So you’ll need to get the new TR started up pretty quickly.
I’ll be needin’ someone to vent all that frustration out on.


Y’all have fun down there!
(and try to avoided anymore confrontations with big ol’ cranes on barges).

[Captain_Oblivious]

Originally Posted by GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes

And that’s a good thing because I wasn’t even worth shooting the next morning.

Are you sure? Did you ask Andy?

Originally Posted by GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes

What!?!?!? Another Parade!?!?!?
Isn’t that where we came into to this D-Grade excuse for a TR in the first place!


NOOOOOOOooooooooooooooo……….

Originally Posted by GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes

You see that ugly, multicolored, flowery looking thingy at the top of the hill on the far left of that last image?

I'm not sure that passes the Captain_Oblivious Art Test.

Originally Posted by GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes

We staked ourselves out a spot just after the turn off of Main Street.

I'm sorry, I've just been trained differently. Whenever there's a parade you're supposed to head for the ride that usually has the longest wait.

Originally Posted by GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes

After a couple of council rep and local officials, the next bit of actual entertainment was the synchronized go-carts maintained by one of the area Shrine clubs. A little like the Energizer Bunny, these guys would head up a little ways and then turn and come back variously breaking into figure eights or crisscross maneuvers before turning again to move farther down the way.

Now that's fun. More of these guys, please!

Originally Posted by GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes

Meet “Fat Elvis”

Next you'll tell me they had so much trouble coming up with celebrities that they put 2 Grinches in the parade.

Originally Posted by GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes

I figured you’d like a clearer look just to see for yourself that Elvis is indeed still alive (He may have just gone back home

That's Agent K's story.



Christmas had arrived.

Originally Posted by GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes

As for that second picture… I’ve got no clue how to even explain that one. What they intended to represent or even what connection the papier-mâché dragon’s head that had been built onto an office chare had to do with the Christmas season escapes me at the moment (Chinese New Year maybe… still not sure). But again, does it really matter?

The Fort Mill Christmas Parade...We'll Let Anybody March!

Originally Posted by GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes

Now it’s time to get back to a little bit of Americana. Does that mean Dancing Girls? Not just yet, we’ll get to that latter on. Right now though we encountered something else very American, are more typical of small towns…

The Pool Hall? Motorcycle gangs?

Originally Posted by GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes

Boy Scouts.

Oh...right.

Originally Posted by GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes

Pop Quiz! When you don’t have a lot of floats handy to glide down the thoroughfares at your local parade what do you use as a substitute?

Please say zambonis. Please say zambonis.

Originally Posted by GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes

Random trucks of course…

Rats.

Originally Posted by GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes

Next on the agenda was this hillbilly-esk contraption
(Plese don’t ask me to explaine it… I don’t think it’s possible).

I like Andy's theory. Although he missed the Griswold Christmas tree.

Originally Posted by GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes

But as you can see, we did try to atone for our appalling lack of judgment by immediately following it up with more cub scouts (pictures of young kids are second only to pictures of babies when it comes to quickly changing the subject).

Hey, it works for Barry's TR.

Originally Posted by GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes

Oh… and you did think to go back up there and click on that last compilation of images didn’t you?

Well did ya'?

"Site Blocked"

Originally Posted by GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes

Riding what else? A fire engine of course.
(What? You were expecting reindeer?)

No zamboni?

Originally Posted by GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
So what was the point?

There was a point?

Originally Posted by GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes

I think that the real point of all this nonsense is to say that when a chance to travel presents itself, no matter how it is disguised, make sure that you hop on that bus

I'm with you, brother.

Originally Posted by GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes

“Baby steps… get on a bus…”

Dr. Marvin!

Dr.! Leo! Marvin!

Originally Posted by GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes

The entire world may be just over the horizon, but the entire world is also all around you if you take time to experience it. And more importantly, take time to realize that you are a part of that world, and not just existing within it. Proverbs proclaim that every journey begins with a single step. But they’re never specific as to when a journey ends. The easy answer is that it ends when you stop taking steps. The real answer is that is ends when you either don’t remember or no longer care about the steps you take. Myself I’m looking forward to taking more steps away from where I currently am.


If you’d care to follow along, I’d be grateful for the company…

If you do the journey right, it should never end. There's always something new around the corner.

Lead the way, sir. I'll be right behind you.

Unless the game's on. I just got HD, and it's spectacular. But it should only be a couple of hours.

[GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes]

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

Are you sure? Did you ask Andy?

That’s not really in my best interest now is it?

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

I'm not sure that passes the Captain_Oblivious Art Test.

It don’t pass my Art Test either…
But there it sits.

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

I'm sorry, I've just been trained differently. Whenever there's a parade you're supposed to head for the ride that usually has the longest wait.

Around here that would be either the Olive Garden or Outback.
At about 90min on a Friday or Saturday, that’s about the longest queue for a few hundred miles.

I wouldn’t be waiting for them mind you, but everyone else around here…

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

Now that's fun. More of these guys, please!

Tell ya’ what…
This year’s rendition of the event just happens to be this Saturday.
I’ll record these guys and post it up just for you.

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

Next you'll tell me they had so much trouble coming up with celebrities that they put 2 Grinches in the parade.

Us? Do something as unsophisticated as that?
Sacrilege!

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

That's Agent K's story.

The most respected agent in MiB history.
The most feared human in the universe.
And you’re doubting his story?

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

The Fort Mill Christmas Parade...We'll Let Anybody March!

So you’ve see it before?
You should have stopped by and said howdy!

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

The Pool Hall? Motorcycle gangs?

You forgot strip clubs, massage parlors, title loan hucksters, and 24-hour bail bond services.

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

Please say zambonis. Please say zambonis.

Not bloody likely…
There’s more ice in my freezer then we see during a given winter.

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

I like Andy's theory. Although he missed the Griswold Christmas tree.

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

Hey, it works for Barry's TR.

It works for nearly every TR
Mine tend to suffer from a distinct lack of “cute”

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

"Site Blocked"

Can’t get to Youtube at work eh?
You didn’t really miss much.

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

No zamboni?

I thought we covered that earlier?

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

There was a point?

Shhhhhhh… Don’t’ let on.
I’m trying to fool the hundreds of lurkers following this TR () into believin’ that they haven’t been wasting their time.

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

Dr. Marvin!

Dr.! Leo! Marvin!

That movie give’s me nightmares.
There are some great lines, but still… Nightmares.

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

If you do the journey right, it should never end. There's always something new around the corner.

Lead the way, sir. I'll be right behind you.

I appreciate the encouragement

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

Unless the game's on. I just got HD, and it's spectacular. But it should only be a couple of hours.

So much for encouragement (but we must keep our priorities in order).


Thanks for following along on this apparently pointless TR.
Hope it wasn’t too painful.

[Captain_Oblivious]

Originally Posted by GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes

Thanks for following along on this apparently pointless TR.
Hope it wasn’t too painful.

Not at all. I actually like your writing. So there. And I love your philosophy on seeing the world, raising your child, and doing things right (without too much fuss). You're a good man, Charli--uh, Rob.

[GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes]

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

Not at all. I actually like your writing. So there. And I love your philosophy on seeing the world, raising your child, and doing things right (without too much fuss). You're a good man, Charli--uh, Rob.

Thank you sir. I am honored.


Undeserving…

But honored.

[FreezinRafiki]

Arrrrgggg! I feel like Charlie Brown, and that b*#%! Lucy keeps pulling the football away when I try to kick it. As you can tell from the blistering pace that I'm updating my own TR, my employer has decided that my "work" time needs to be spend on more "work." This really cuts into my DIS time.

However, I have thoroughly read (and thoroughly enjoyed) every word of every entry of your TR. Having spent only about 3 months of my life in 6th grade in any type of band (playing a trumpet), the whole "band trip" idea was a bit foreign to me. Growing up playing high school football, the band was merely something to play the fight song after touchdowns and entertain the good folks at halftime. Sure, I knew there was work involved in all of it - you don't play that well without practice - but I had no idea how much time, energy and effort it takes simply to march in a straight line and play music. Throw on top of that all sorts of funky choreography (while still playing music) and you've got a Herculean effort to put forth. I'm glad your young'ens got to head on up the big city and perform so admirably in front of a national audience. The lights and sirens welcome home was quite a treat as well!

Oh, and as far as this thing:

It reminds me of a "parade entry" (I can't in good conscience call it a float) that is in my home town's St. Patrick's Day Parade every year. 51 weeks out of the year, it's New London, Wisconsin. But around the middle of March, the city council and a few guys from the Dept of Public Works dress up as leprechauns and put up new signs on the outskirts of town welcoming everyone to New Dublin. (Yes, they're big on their Irish up there. And the green beer that comes with it.) Anyway, there is an old green hearse known as Finnegan's Wake that makes it's way down the parade route, following whatever band or elected official or whatever position it is in the lineup. The latches on the back door are faulty, so whenever it speeds up, the casket rams into the door, knocking it open, and the casket ends up laying in the middle of the street. The lepreachaun-clad driver and his assistant jump out of the car and scramble around to re-load the dearly departed. Meanwhile there is much rejoicing and celebration by the parade goers that were witness to the events. Rinse, lather and repeat on the next block. Small town parades. I wouldn't trade them for anything.

But back to the TR. Sure, it wasn't Disney. And while we certainly would like to, none of us think about Disney 24/7. It was great to follow you and your family on such a grand adventure. Thank you so much for sharing it with us. I wish Max the best of luck on his college career and hope he can follow his dream of teaching music to the next generation of American youth.