I now live close to the City of Roses in California and luckily one of my newest local friends, Mr. Pasadena, told me about a wonderful charity event benefiting the Pasadena Police Activities League where you could get an advance sneak preview of the 2013 Rose Parade Floats this week.

While I’ll admit that I’ve never been a big parade fan, this seemed like a unique opportunity and a way to become part of my new community.

Jay, Wild Boy and I got to see 20 of the floats scheduled to be in the parade including the lead float based on the Dr. Seuss book “Oh The Places You’ll Go” (which is appropriate for our family in 2012).

I learned quite a bit during my tour:  I had no idea that float making basically takes all year long and that the Rose Parade is seen in over 200 international territories and countries around the world.

Did you know that all of the materials used on each float must be organic?

Buckets of Organic Matter (reminded me of Morocco)

Can you see the black beans on the turtle?

I watched her put fur on the raccoon for a bit.

As a former dietitian working in dialysis, it did my heart good to see these buckets of glue.  Are you an organ donor?  I certainly am!

It was interesting to hear the constant whir of blenders being used to pulverize things into powder to be glued onto the floats for texture (and not for cocktails).

The floats were spectacular both up close and from the raised catwalk.

Our family has been here a few times.

This is the lead float of the 2013 Rose Parade

Birds eye view of the “barn” (float holding grounds).

I’m not sure I’ll actually make it to the parade route on January 1st but I understand that the floats line up on New Year’s Eve not far from my house.  If I can get Wild Boy to stay awake perhaps we’ll get another early preview and I’ll share pictures.

And the countdown to New Year’s begins in earnest!