Odds and ends

Odds & Ends:

When asked to interpret this year's theme of "Celebrate Family,' most float designers looked to the animal kingdom for models. There were apes, frogs, elephants, raccoons, dragons even a Noah's Ark. Las Vegas chose a family of showgirls.
Scott Jenkins, chairman of float entries for the Tournament of Roses, said the choice raised eyebrows, "especially in light of last year's Super Bowl.' He even asked for photos of what the ladies were going to wear.

"I wanted to make it clear this was a family-related event and they were appropriately attired,' Jenkins said. "I was happy there wasn't too much flesh exposed.' As happy as the Pasadena Unified All-Star Band was to appear in the parade, members were probably hoping for a better spot.

They followed the "Families Across America' float, a 207- foot train that belched smoke and intermittent fireworks displays. Then there was the off- key train horn that sounded every few seconds. The Taipei First Girls' Senior High School Marching Band, with its precision rifle drills and militaristic formation, wins the vote for the most orderly, most disciplined and most prepared band to launch a successful assault on the parade crowd or mainland China. From an inebriated Longhorns fan to a female reporter: "The parade was fantastic. I'm a fan of roses. I like pretty things. I like you.' The Armageddon crowd that always brings up the rear of the parade is used to sneers and smirks.

"Keep laughing,' said one of the street preachers. "You're laughing at God.' The Rose Queen wave is famous the world over: elbow, elbow, wrist, wrist. The queen and her court are trained in the art, and many float riders do their own imitations.

But if you're Jesus, it just won't do.

The guy playing Him on the Lutheran Laymen's League float chose to do a three-finger wave that could have been inspired by the Last Supper. An unofficial theme of several parade entries seemed to be "That '70s Show.'

JPL/Caltech's 50-foot space explorer belted Elton John's "Rocket Man;' the Home Depot float chose "Saturday in the Park,' by Chicago; Kool & The Gang's "Celebration' rocked the Las Vegas Centennial float; Kiwanis Club chose "We Are Family' by Sister Sledge; and "I Can See Clearly Now' by Johnny Nash was the theme song for the LensCrafters float again.

And Barbra Streisand's hit, "The Way We Were,' was featured on both the Kodak and Subway Restaurants floats. Why didn't some White Suiter catch this? Parade outfits most likely to perk up bleary-eyed spectators:

brown chaps, with peekaboo openings on the back of the legs, worn by the Texas Longhorns pompom girls (yee-haw!);

six rope trick girls, standing atop their horses, wore red, white and blue unitards and red cowboy hats;

two shirtless young men, blowing large conch shells and wearing red sarongs, led the Kaua'i "Ku Kilakila' All-Island Marching Band. The Hawaiian contingent also included spear- toting warriors and drill team girls wearing yellow grass skirts. The crowd cheered the girls' hula-style shimmying;

miniskirts worn by the xylophone-playing girls from Costa Rica's Conservatorio de Artes de Cartago marching band. Message on T-shirt worn by a Texas fan at the parade: "Come Early. Be loud. Stay late. Wear Orange.' "It's 12 o'clock Texas time.' The response from Longhorns fan John Overton to a remark that 10 a.m. was too early to be drinking. Overton was working on his third beer at Moose McGillycuddy's after the parade. "They lead charmed lives.' National Weather Service spokesman Bill Hoffer, on the odds of a dry Rose Parade after rain all last week and more rain forecast for next week.

Compiled by Staff Writer Gary Scott with input from the Pasadena Star- News staff.