Sunday, December 18, 2011

Bring It

Well yay, we did not have another big horrible storm this weekend. Fingers crossed, I post at midnight and you never know what'll happen while I'm sleeping. But it looks like we can stop talking about "Hurricane Pasadena" as my neighbor called it, and move on to what's really important: the Tournament of Roses.

The giant logs on my street can wait. This is solely my opinion, of course. I don't know how the Hurricane Pasadena neighbor feels about it, or the California Cyclone neighbor, or the San Gabriel Gale neighbor (have at it, you have a thesaurus) or any other neighbor for that matter, I'm just talkin'.

The bleachers are up and they're not coming down 'til January. We are getting spruced up (spruce, okay, bad word choice)--we're (shut up! I'm not going to say that!)--my inner devil wants me to say "pining for yew to visit" but I'm not going to say it--we're going to be ready! Yes, Pasadena will be ready on time for the Tournament of Roses, both parade and game, and our fair city will look better than ever because this year every single tree has been trimmed for the occasion.

23 comments:

dive said...

Sounds like an exciting time to be in Pasadena, Petrea.
And thank you for the excruciating puns; you know how to keep your English fans happy.

Kalei's Best Friend said...

I use to wonder what the residents thought of 'strangers' stomping thru their grounds... the mess, the trash, the parking....but, I think there is a sense of pride you Pasadena-ians have,right? I've been once to the day after to view the floats...omg, the floral smells were unbelievable.. the crowds were so thick you could feel the vibration of the walking..My girls were little (my son wasn't even born). It was one of the excitements my husband enjoyed... his first and last view up close.

pasadenapio said...

The next worst disaster would be for Pasadena to be unprepared for the Rose Parade! Our community is getting back to normal while cleanup continues. Soon everyone will cedar results and be happy, I hope.

Petrea Burchard said...

Touche Ann! I laughed so loud I woke Boz.

Obviously, Dive, there are more excruciating puns to come. I've thought of some, but I've had all night to think about it so I'll leaf the field open for a while.

We all have different feelings about it, Kalei. I don't like crowds much myself, but I love that Pasadena gets this moment in the sun and, on a practical level, this influx of commerce. It's an exciting time: the bleachers go up, the hotels fill, and we get to see the city we love through the eyes of others. Plus, the clean-up crews are crack, as they say: 24 hours after the parade is over the trash has disappeared. It's like magic.

Bellis said...

Ha ha ha, very good. Thank goodness it didn't happen the day before the big event. By the way, Richard was asking why it's called a Tournament when it's a Parade.

Petrea Burchard said...

Richard could read the History section at Wikipedia, or just stop by the Valley Hunt Club and ask them what the hell they were thinking when they named it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tournament_of_Roses_Parade

John Sandel said...

U R so weerd.

alex said...

took me awhile to figure out the location of this shot. so glad the Rose Parade is a go. hopefully it doesn't rain like it did last year after decades of precipitation-free parades.

Petrea Burchard said...

We had a bad one just within the last five years, I think. Does anyone remember which year that was? Freezing rain on the parade. I felt so bad for those high school kids in their short outfits, parading in the cold.

But I am weerd.

Petrea Burchard said...

Also, Alex, no need for me to be mysterious: The bleachers in the background face North Orange Grove Blvd., with the Hulett C. Merritt mansion behind them. I would want to sit on the top row where I'd have a good view of the parade, and a bird's eye view of the mansion and grounds as well.

Bellis said...

Hah! You'll never get onto those particular bleachers unless you're a VIP. But I always stand near them - it's free and it's in the center of all the excitement. I'm missing the Parade this year - I'll be pining for it.

Ms M said...

Your post is punfully wonderful :-)

Hope things go smoothly for the clean up and preparation for the Big Parade.

Petrea Burchard said...

Bellis, never say never, but I don't think I'll ever see the parade live unless I have a seat (probably of the indoor variety). So far, though, I haven't barked up the right tree.

I hope so, too, Ms. M. The Tournament planners work hard year 'round, and this year everyone's putting in extra effort.

Anonymous said...

Oakay, you guys used up all the good trees.

Petrea Burchard said...

I know. People get tired of puns. I myself am sycamore.

John Sandel said...

… or, more at "wyrd."

Katie said...

Cool photo; looks like the calm before a different storm. I'm sure Pasadena will pull it together in grand style. (However your inner pun devil is so coy, uh!)

TheChieftess said...

Delightful inner pun devil Petrea!!! Pasadena has never missed a parade yet...or should I say Tournament!!!

Steven said...

I'm going to go out on a limb and predict a clear sky with temps in the upper 60's for the "Grand Daddy of all Bowls and Parades." I also suggest that the bars and saloons put in an extra-large stock of beer and brandy for those fans from The Land of Cheese also know as Wisconsin.

Petrea Burchard said...

Katie, you are absolutely right about everything you said.

I don't even want to think what it would take to make us miss a Tournament of Roses, Chieftess!

Steven, you are correct. We will need beer, beer and more beer, plus some for the folks from Wisconsin.

Patricia said...

I remember begging my parents for years to let me go sleep out on Colorado Blvd, the night before the parade. My brother always got to go but I never did. Now as an adult, that is the last thing in the world I would want to do. So glad you are all getting back to normal there in Pasadena. I always know where I'll be every New Year's morning, watching the Rose Parade.

Steve Scauzillo said...

When I saw the bleachers going up on Colorado earlier today I was surprised. Every year I'm surprised. I don't know why. I guess it always feels like magic... this year especially with all the work that went ahead of it to get trees cut, limbs moved, etc. (It rained like crazy in Little Tujunga, Santa Clarita Saturday evening!)

Petrea Burchard said...

Patricia, you could no more get me to camp on Colorado Blvd. in the middle of winter than you could get me to swim from LA to Japan. I'm with you! But people have a lot of fun out there and I'm all for it.

Steve, it rained here, too. Not much wind, thankfully.