Andy. I told you I'd get this to you but forgot. For a year.
The Tanning Process 101 by Jim Champion
Since there's more then one way to skin a cat I'm going to go right to
dogs and start this out.
Ok, that wasn't funny. But I AM going to start this assuming all
skinning is done.
Keep in mind that there are several ways to accomplish what I'm about
to describe here. The following is the method I choose, and have used
in my shop for the past 10 plus years.
Once you have your critter skinned, you'll want to remove as much of
the meat as possible that was left behind. Same for the fat.
I use a fleshing beam or/and my round knife. A fleshing beam is
nothing more then a half round beam or a flat beam with rounded edges,
and anywhere from 4 to 10 inches wide. If you flop the hide flesh side
up across your beam, and let a small part of it hang over the front,
you can lean against it and the beam, holding the hide in place.
Smaller beams allow tubed skinned hides to be pulled onto the beam.
The beam would go inside the open end of the hide.
Using a draw knife you want to let the blade lay flat against the skin
with the edge pointing away from you and towards the direction on the
hide you will be scraping. You can shift, flip, or roll the hide as
you go, to turn up the unworked areas.
A round knife is nothing more then a fancy name for a fleshing
machine. It uses a round blade type knife. Hence the term "round
knife". The hide is pulled across the spinning blade and shaved free
of any meat and or fat. The amount removed and the depth of each swath
is determined by how you set the guards on each side of the blade.
Once the hide is completely free of any meat and/or fat you'll want to
lay it out flat, flesh side up and cover the entire thing with a good
layer of a good fine grade salt. Rub it into every square inch. Leave
no flesh unsalted. Don't forget the ears nubs if you left the face on,
and same with the paw pads. Then fold or roll the hide so that it can
begin draining. If you roll the hide, I like to fold the entire thing
in half once, then roll. But be sure to always roll the hide in the
opposite direction you folded it. Which will always leave the outside
edges of the hide facing the same direction allowing for drainage. For
example; if you fold the hide in half by reaching out in front of
yourself and pulling the farthest edge towards you. Then don't reach
across again and grab the folded edge and roll...you will be sealing
the first folded crease in the middle of your roll. DON'T DO IT. Fold
one way (only once) and then roll it up in the opposite direction.
This allows the fluids to be able to drain as the salt does it's work.
If you fold it without rolling, try to only fold it two or three times
and keep track of your outside edges keeping them all together. Set
the hide somewhere to drain.
About 24 hours later, you'll need to shake off all the salt and
reapply another coat the same way you just did. Never reuse the old
salt, but shake as much of it off the hide as you can before you
proceed.
I like to do this three times, before I hang the hide to completely
dry. At which point you can hang the hide where it is out of the
weather, and away from insects or rodents.
It will be approx. two to three days once the hide is hung before it
turns rock hard. Depending on the climate it's being stored in. Once
the hide is rock hard, I know it's completely dehydrated and I'll
prepare a rehydration solution. You can use a formula which consists
of 1 lb of salt to every gallon of water needed, and add a capfull of
Lysol Concentrate to each of those 5 gallons. So ...if you got a deer
cape, you'll need close to six gallons since it's in this awkward
postion and rock hard, and the formula would be 6 lbs of salt, 6
gallons of water, and a little more then a capfull of the Lysol
Concentrate. Mix it up until all the salt dissolves, and then go ahead
and place your fleshed dried hide in it to soak. The salt in the water
stunts any bacteria growth while it soaks, and the Lysol is there to
pick up any slack. Work it around the next few hours so eventually the
entire hide gets submerged.
Completely drying the hides this way and then rehydrating them, is the
first step in the skin to leather conversion your about to do. It
kills anything and everything as far as potential bacteria. Which is
what causes hair slippage.
Once your hide is completely rehydrated, and by that I mean in the
same state it appeared the day you skinned it, you can pull it from
the rehydration, rinse it well and hang it to drain for 30 minutes.
Rehydration may take up to 24 hours and the process can be aided or
sped up with many different chemicals available today for just that.
Now you can do a little more fleshing. You'll notice new areas that
need to be fleshed because the salt drying and rehydration process
will loosen more of it up. Give it a good once over and try to get it
all right down to the membrane if you can. Whittle around the ears,
the nose and the rest of the face being carefull not to cut into any
whisker folics. They'll look like a little brown pimples in the skin.
Next you'll need to decide what your going to use for a pickling
solution. Pickling, as far as tanning is concerned, acidifys the skin
and readys it for an even tan, and also kills and prevents any
bacteria growth what so ever from this point on. Most pickling
formulas are a very low PH level which enables it to prevent bacteria
the way it does. And also put's the hide in such a state in can be
left in the solution safley for many weeks.
Not only that, if you go through the entire DEhydration and
REhydration steps, pickling makes removing the inner membrane of your
skins much much easier. Which absolutely has to be removed by the way.
Hides should be left in the pickle for a minimum of three days at the
proper PH level. No less. Longer is fine but no less. Get yourself
some PH papers and check the PH level twice a day for the first two
days. You can add acid to lower it, or add sodium bicarbonate (baking
soda) to raise it. Use these in very small amounts because it wont
take much to adjust it. The pickling method you choose and purchase
will have mixing directions and a required PH level to maintain. Do
yourself a favor and follow those closely.
Once the hide has been in your pickling solution at the required PH
level, for a minimum of 3 days, you can pull it out, hang it to drain
for an hour or so, and then take it back to your fleshing beam and
work on that membrane. The acid will have swelled the skin making the
membrane much easier to flesh off, and like I said it has to come off
in order for the chemicals to penetrate the skin, both the pickling
chemicals and your tanning chemicals.
Some critters just flat out give you trouble when removing the
membrane. When you come across this, try breaking the membrane up a
little. Instead of making a shaving motion down the skin with your
fleshing knife like you would when fleshing the first time, push your
knife down the hide straight. Meaning no sideways motion as the knife
moves ahead. Remember the membrane is the only thing between the skin
and your knife. If you go to deep, your into the skin.
Letting your blade lay flat against the skin, press it firmly to the
skin as you push the knife away straight. You'll see the membrane
breaking away in a few spots but it may not come off like some of the
meat and fat did, especially until you develop a nack for doing it.
Keep rotating the hide to expose an unworked area until you have most
of the membrane broke up. If you put the hide back into the pickling
solution for 24 hours and try again it will be easier to remove. Your
breaking up the membrane and resoaking it in the acid will have
pickled the newly exposed flesh and loosened more membrane for you.
Keep working it and soaking it in the pickle until your able to remove
it all.
Once your convinced that the hide is completely fleshed, membrane and
all, always put it back into the pickling solution for 24 hours again
to be sure all newly exposed flesh gets pickled.
After the pickling process comes the actual tanning...thought we'de
never get here didn't you? And just think, were actually about half
done here.
Before you can tan the hide, regardless of which tanning method you
choose, the hide will need to be neutralized. The pickling acids run a
very low PH level. Lower then the tanning chemicals, which in turn
would prevent the tanning chemicals from adhering to the skin and
tanning evenly if the hide wasn't neutralized.
To neutralize the hide you can mix 1oz. of sodium bicarbonate (baking
soda) to every gallon of water needed to submerge the hide. Stir it up
making sure it's all dissolved.
Soak the hide in your new bath here for 30 minutes. Try not to go
longer, but DO agitate the soaking skin often.
When you've accomplished this you can pull the hide out, rinse it well
several times in clear water, and hang it to drain for an hour or so
again.
Now your ready for the tanning process... which I am not going to get
into due to the fact that every tanning chemical on the market today
comes with it's own instructions. They are fairly simple to follow.
Some nothing more then mixing another soak solution.
I don't sell, distribute, or promote any tan and it would be unfair to
go into full detail targeting one brand. I use Rittel's and I'll leave
it at that.
After you've tanned your skin comes the breaking process. Some tans
require that an oil be applied as soon as it comes out of the tan.
Some require that you let the hide hang until only damp.
Most oils are compatable with other tans and which oil you choose
(unless your tan requires something specific) is merely your choice.
Look through a supply catolog and read about the oils finding one best
suited for your use. Such as; are you mounting the speciman? Are you
making leather? A finished fur?etc.
The oil you choose will also have detailed instructions. What I need
to tell you is that no matter what tan you choose, or what oil you
choose, it is very important to break the hide AS IT DRIES. If you
wait to long you get a stiff hide. If you start too soon, your doing
absolutely nothing. Breaking is softening, and got it's name because
in doing so, your breaking the skin fibers.
As the hide approaches it's damp stage, work it, stretch it, pull it,
shake it. Every square inch.
You can lay it out on a table flesh side up, and use a flat edged
slicker or a piece of a board and firmly push it across the skin
working towards the edges. Hold your slicker or your board like you
would when your scraping the ice off your windshield. Push hard and
stretch the skin fibers as you go. Work over the entire hide.
Some people use a thick smooth edge piece of metal. Clamp it in a vise
and work the flesh side of the hide back and forth over it like you
were shining shoes. You could use the edge of a table the same way.
Hold the hide on each end of the area your working. One hand up top
the table, the other straight down over the edge, working the hide
back and forth.
You could also put the hide in a cloths dryer WITH THE HEAT TURNED
OFF. Providing your wife never finds out. Tumbling does the same
effect as the methods just described. I've made a full post with
detailed instructions and pictures on how to build a tumbler here. How
to Build a Tumbler
You can tumble the hides to break them (soften). And if you have
access to a tumbler you can put hardwood sawdust in with the hide
after the breaking stages to clean and shine the fur.
The saw dust can be later combed and/or shaken out. If you have a cage
tumbler, which has cage walls instead of an enclosed drum, this would
be the time to use that. Cage tumbling removes the saw dust.
That's all there is to it.
Treat your tanned skins like you would your wifes fur coat because
that's basically what they are. You wouldn't leave the fur coat laying
on your basement floor. Nor would you run it through the washing
machine. Don't do it with your tanned skins either and you'll have a
soft, healthy looking trophy hide that'll outlast even the youngest
member in your family.
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Thursday, November 16, 2006
building web sites
November 15, 2006
The Internet
How to Make Your Web Site Sing for You
By ERIC A. TAUB
THE idea that if you build it, they will come, might have worked for Kevin Costner in the movie “Field of Dreams,” but it certainly does not hold true for Web sites.
Build a bad-looking small-business site filled with poorly written text, and your potential customers will go away. Build one that is attractive, compelling and clever, but crucial design mistakes will still guarantee that few people will know that the site exists.
Your Web site is like a digital business card, designers say, the first online look at your company that a customer gets. With luck, it will not be the last.
A site must have addictive content, said Vincent Flanders, a Web design consultant in the Seattle area who is the creator of Webpagesthatsuck.com, a site that analyzes why some pages do not work. “People must be willing to crawl through a sewer for it.”
It is not just small operations that make a mishmash of their sites. Large companies can be just as prone to major design mistakes.
One global company states on its home page that “Indigenous and proven career management tools coupled with a comprehensive series of integrated initiatives have been evolved, to ensure that employees continue to sustain a high performance culture, while recruitment and selection is based on necessary competencies.”
That is “just gobbledygook,” Mr. Flanders said. “The words are not understandable by humans.”
According to Jakob Nielsen, a Web site consultant and author of the book “Prioritizing Web Usability,” it is essential that a Web page get a company’s message across quickly, because visitors are a fickle bunch. Most people do not go beyond what is in front of their faces.
Studies by Mr. Nielsen’s company, the Nielsen Norman Group, an Internet design firm in Fremont, Calif., show that only 50 percent of Web visitors scroll down the screen to see what lies below the visible part on their PC monitor.
“Users spend 30 seconds reviewing a home page,” Mr. Nielsen said. “A business must encapsulate what they do in very few words.”
With findings like those, it is no wonder that Web pages must visually hit a visitor right between the eyes. If a site does not answer a user’s questions about a business, then you have scored one for the competition. For example, the first thing customers visiting any restaurant’s Web site want to know is when it is open. But often that information can be found only by digging through multiple pages. As a result, “the site fails,” Mr. Nielsen said.
“It’s all about the basics,” said Baris Cetinok, Microsoft’s director of product management for Office Live, a site that offers free Web hosting and design tools for small businesses.
Visitors must immediately find out “who you are, what you do and how people can reach you,” Mr. Cetinok said.
Besides good grammar, Mr. Nielsen suggests that companies list a physical address, include a photograph of the building and not ask potential clients to fill out a form simply to ask a question. “That immediately communicates danger,” he said.
Making a site look good is complicated by the fact that no two monitors will necessarily present the Web in the same way. Users can set their browser’s default font size to be bigger or smaller, so it is impossible to know exactly how text will appear to any one person.
And how much of a Web site’s home page can actually be seen by users varies, based on the screen’s resolution.
The problems are made worse by designers being in Los Angeles or New York, and not, say, Texas, so “they think everyone has a large monitor and a fast D.S.L. connection,” said Neil Hettinger, co-owner of Lead Pencil Ad Design, a marketing and design company in Manhattan Beach, Calif. He suggests mixing text and graphics on a Web site, with dark type set against a light background for easy reading.
If you are selling a product, use thumbnail photos that can be enlarged when clicked on, Mr. Nielsen said, not a graphic that can be rotated in every direction. Otherwise “you see products at weird angles.”
“The most important rule in Web page design is to eliminate unnecessary design,” Mr. Flanders said. He recommends not adding large, spinning graphics that take a long time to download.
He also advises business owners not to add introductory splash pages that force a viewer to watch a video or animation.
“Splash pages are only needed for pornography, gambling and multinational Web sites that need to direct users to a particular country’s page,” Mr. Flanders said.
Graphics also do nothing to help a site get discovered by search engines like Google or Yahoo. Those sites troll the Internet for key words, as well as the frequency and quality of one site that links to another.
Text embedded in a graphic, like the name of a shop in a photograph, cannot be seen by search engines. And the old practice of embedding key words in white-on-white type will not increase a site’s page ranking; in fact it will do the opposite.
“The first time a word is used on a site, it’s significant,” said Matt Cutts, a Google software engineer. “If that word is used 50 times, there is a diminishing return.”
“If you put hidden tags on your page, you’re a total moron,” Mr. Flanders said. “You will get caught by search engines, or others will turn you in.”
If your business is local, make sure that the entire geographic area you serve is mentioned in text on the site. To increase the number of sites that link to yours, list your business in online trade directories, and mention it on various blogs.
Google offers free Web master tools that automatically analyze a site to determine if it is being optimized by search engines.
In the end, getting a prominent placement in a search engine is the only way to ensure that your site will be seen by those who can increase your business.
“If your site is not listed on the first page of search results, you might as well not exist,” Mr. Nielsen said.
The Internet
How to Make Your Web Site Sing for You
By ERIC A. TAUB
THE idea that if you build it, they will come, might have worked for Kevin Costner in the movie “Field of Dreams,” but it certainly does not hold true for Web sites.
Build a bad-looking small-business site filled with poorly written text, and your potential customers will go away. Build one that is attractive, compelling and clever, but crucial design mistakes will still guarantee that few people will know that the site exists.
Your Web site is like a digital business card, designers say, the first online look at your company that a customer gets. With luck, it will not be the last.
A site must have addictive content, said Vincent Flanders, a Web design consultant in the Seattle area who is the creator of Webpagesthatsuck.com, a site that analyzes why some pages do not work. “People must be willing to crawl through a sewer for it.”
It is not just small operations that make a mishmash of their sites. Large companies can be just as prone to major design mistakes.
One global company states on its home page that “Indigenous and proven career management tools coupled with a comprehensive series of integrated initiatives have been evolved, to ensure that employees continue to sustain a high performance culture, while recruitment and selection is based on necessary competencies.”
That is “just gobbledygook,” Mr. Flanders said. “The words are not understandable by humans.”
According to Jakob Nielsen, a Web site consultant and author of the book “Prioritizing Web Usability,” it is essential that a Web page get a company’s message across quickly, because visitors are a fickle bunch. Most people do not go beyond what is in front of their faces.
Studies by Mr. Nielsen’s company, the Nielsen Norman Group, an Internet design firm in Fremont, Calif., show that only 50 percent of Web visitors scroll down the screen to see what lies below the visible part on their PC monitor.
“Users spend 30 seconds reviewing a home page,” Mr. Nielsen said. “A business must encapsulate what they do in very few words.”
With findings like those, it is no wonder that Web pages must visually hit a visitor right between the eyes. If a site does not answer a user’s questions about a business, then you have scored one for the competition. For example, the first thing customers visiting any restaurant’s Web site want to know is when it is open. But often that information can be found only by digging through multiple pages. As a result, “the site fails,” Mr. Nielsen said.
“It’s all about the basics,” said Baris Cetinok, Microsoft’s director of product management for Office Live, a site that offers free Web hosting and design tools for small businesses.
Visitors must immediately find out “who you are, what you do and how people can reach you,” Mr. Cetinok said.
Besides good grammar, Mr. Nielsen suggests that companies list a physical address, include a photograph of the building and not ask potential clients to fill out a form simply to ask a question. “That immediately communicates danger,” he said.
Making a site look good is complicated by the fact that no two monitors will necessarily present the Web in the same way. Users can set their browser’s default font size to be bigger or smaller, so it is impossible to know exactly how text will appear to any one person.
And how much of a Web site’s home page can actually be seen by users varies, based on the screen’s resolution.
The problems are made worse by designers being in Los Angeles or New York, and not, say, Texas, so “they think everyone has a large monitor and a fast D.S.L. connection,” said Neil Hettinger, co-owner of Lead Pencil Ad Design, a marketing and design company in Manhattan Beach, Calif. He suggests mixing text and graphics on a Web site, with dark type set against a light background for easy reading.
If you are selling a product, use thumbnail photos that can be enlarged when clicked on, Mr. Nielsen said, not a graphic that can be rotated in every direction. Otherwise “you see products at weird angles.”
“The most important rule in Web page design is to eliminate unnecessary design,” Mr. Flanders said. He recommends not adding large, spinning graphics that take a long time to download.
He also advises business owners not to add introductory splash pages that force a viewer to watch a video or animation.
“Splash pages are only needed for pornography, gambling and multinational Web sites that need to direct users to a particular country’s page,” Mr. Flanders said.
Graphics also do nothing to help a site get discovered by search engines like Google or Yahoo. Those sites troll the Internet for key words, as well as the frequency and quality of one site that links to another.
Text embedded in a graphic, like the name of a shop in a photograph, cannot be seen by search engines. And the old practice of embedding key words in white-on-white type will not increase a site’s page ranking; in fact it will do the opposite.
“The first time a word is used on a site, it’s significant,” said Matt Cutts, a Google software engineer. “If that word is used 50 times, there is a diminishing return.”
“If you put hidden tags on your page, you’re a total moron,” Mr. Flanders said. “You will get caught by search engines, or others will turn you in.”
If your business is local, make sure that the entire geographic area you serve is mentioned in text on the site. To increase the number of sites that link to yours, list your business in online trade directories, and mention it on various blogs.
Google offers free Web master tools that automatically analyze a site to determine if it is being optimized by search engines.
In the end, getting a prominent placement in a search engine is the only way to ensure that your site will be seen by those who can increase your business.
“If your site is not listed on the first page of search results, you might as well not exist,” Mr. Nielsen said.
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
Scrap Iron Cleanup
FREE COUNTRY?
Today the Scrap Iron Man came and got the last load from our 50 year old scrap iron pile. We sold him the pile for 50.00$ He hauled at least 7 loads of scrap from the pile and received over 500.00$ from South St Paul for his efforts.
You are probably thinking,why didnt you haul it?
It is because we were to busy with work and the day is only so long. It is also because Rice County Planning and Zoning is coming to inspect our property mid November and we had to clean up before then for there Communist Nazi ordinance. We still have the 2 pickup boxes to remove.
Wednesday, October 05, 2005
Rice County
FREE COUNTRY?
Update Oct 11 2005
I stopped by the local Restaraunt today on the way home from some errands,
I was asked how the problems with the county was going.
I told them about the below.
I was then informed there is a grass roots organization starting now.
It was starting from a group of around 6 concerned citizens.
One has 30 cars he was told he has to remove.
They call it "Patriots against Rice County" "PARC" they said there not against Rice Co. so much as against the particular ordinance and what they feel is an abuse of power.
Update Oct 10 2005
Today The Lady from the county came out to inspect.
She gave us a 30 day extension. She said the scrap iron pile has to go.
and my 2 pickup boxes.
I said well, the scrap iron pile is 90% farm scrap, she said she didnt care.
I explained that I was told I can have 2 cars without current tabs.
I said how about our 3 tractors? One leaks worse than any of our cars.
She said theres no ordinance against farm equiptmant.
I then asked, was there no ordinance because the person writing it owned a bunch of tractors. she laughed about that one.
I beleive I should go to faribault and get in writing what i still need to do.
More to follow.
Oct 7 2005
I added the flag as a bit of sarcasm for the below letter that my Dad and I got in the mail. The person who wrote the article and came up with the ordinance is a male county employee that spent many years in the Air Force and considers himself a Patriot. The below article is, in my opinion, not from a patriot who believes in peoples rights.
The lady mentioned below is a person who is employed just for this particular job, and has the thankless job of enforcing Rice County's Ordinance.
I think I will buy a flag to fly just when they come out to inspect.
Dear Mr. Nelson
My reason for writing you is that I am looking into a complaint on your property of too many vehicles.
It appears that you may have more than two unlicensed and inoperable vehicles on your property. I understand that your son, Andy, is operating a business on this property. One of his conditions of obtaining that business license is that he does not have more 2 unlicensed and inoperable vehicles.
If Andy is in violation, his business license can be revoked. But the ultimate responsibility lies with the property owner. If you feel that you are in compliance, please contact me so that we can schedule a time for me to come out and inspect your property. The Rice County Ordinance Reads as:
Rice County Planning & Zoning Ordinances defines a junkyard as follows:
Land or buildings where waste, discarded or salvaged materials are bought, purchased, sold, exchanged, stored, cleaned, packed, disassembled, or handled, including, but not limited to, scrap metal, rags, paper, rubber products, glass products, lumber products and products resulting from the wrecking of automobiles or other salvage vehicles, provided further that the storage of 3 or more inoperative and/or unlicensed motorized vehicles for a period in excess of 3 months shall also be considered a junk yard.
The vehicles must be properly disposed of legally and within the next 30 days. The county requires that you show documentation on the disposal of the vehicles or where the vehicles were taken. As a reminder, you are not allowed to park over any septic system.
Once you have completed this task of vehicle removal or licensing or feel that you are already in compliance, please contact me so we can schedule a time to come out and inspect the property. You must contact me if you cannot complete this task by the deadline.
If on October 10, 2005, you have not contacted me about this matter, I will be refering this matter over to the Rice County District Attorneys office for prosecution.
In addition to the referral to the County Attorneys Office, if the property is not cleaned up by October 10, 2005, I will be proceeding with action to to get your property cleaned up, with the cost of the clean up being assessed on your property taxes.
If you have any questions or comments, please contact me at 507-332-6113
Thanks again for your cooperation
Sincerely Kris Olson
Rice County Planning And Zoning
507-332-6108
Dear Andy Nelson
We have received and reviewed your business licensing application. We have accepted
your business licensing application upon the condition that no more than two unlicensed and inoperable vehicles may be present on the property as stated in the notice.
Please remove the addition vehicles from the site. We also determined that because of the type and location of your business, we suggest that you apply for a conditional use permit.
If you choose to apply for the permit, the $50.00 annual business licensing fee would be dropped upon the approval of your conditional use permit. For further expansions, enlargements, or changes, please consult with the Rice County Planning and Zoning for proper procedures and obtaining permits.
If you have any questions, please contact Rice County planning and zoning at
(507)332-6113
Josh Pearson
Rice County
Planning and Zoning
Sunday, January 09, 2005
Rose parade lineup
The parade Lineup
There are 104 entries in the 2005 Rose Parade. The entries start their 5 1/2-mile trip on Orange Grove Boulevard at 8 a.m. The parade lasts about two hours.
1. Happiest Celebration on Earth
Disneyland Resorts
Festival Artists
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Disneyland this float depicts Sleeping Beauty's castle. More than 40,000 roses of many colors decorate the float along with 600 bunches of statice that form the pinnacles at the top of the castle towers.
2. Long Beach Mounted Police
The Mounted Police are noted for their beautiful golden palomino horses with snow-white manes and tails. The group was founded in 1935 by 16 men who had an affection for riding.
3. United States Marine Corps Mounted Color Guard
Designated as an official military color guard in 1968, they perform all over the Western United States. This is the only remaining mounted color guard in the Marine Corps.
4. West Coast Composite Marine Band, San Diego
Since the establishment of the United States Marine Band in 1798, Marine music has expanded into 12 field bands across the nation.
5. The Proud Americans
City of Alhambra
Phoenix Decorating Co.
This entry represents the 77th year of parade participation for Alhambra — whose residents are fully responsible for decorating the city's float. The American flags are created with whole red and white carnations, with carnation petals on fields of blue statice.
6. Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament
Andalusian horses, seen in this group, are known for their glorious physique and noble temperament. They are bred and trained for use in the eight Medieval Times dinner attractions.
7. Protecting Your Home and Family
Farmers Insurance Group
Phoenix Decorating Co.
A crusading knight is astride a white charger, protecting a family as he gallops down the parade route. The gigantic white charger is created with white everlasting. The knight is armored in silver leaf, dry flowers and sesame seeds, with a cape created from red carnations.
8. Seminole High School Warhawk Marching Band (Seminole, Fla.)
This group of 204 performers has been awarded the prestigious Sudler Shield Award from the John Philip Sousa Foundation.
9. Family Tree
Rotary International
Charisma Floats
The tree on this entry represents a family tree. Float riders include members of Rotary International. To create the park setting, there is real grass sod, roses, carnations, mums and orchids.
10. Bands of America Honor Band
(Indianapolis, Ind.)
The Bands of America Honor Band is comprised of 345 of the most outstanding high school band members from nearly every state. Members were selected by audition.
11. Tournament of Roses President — Dave Davis
Dave Davis has been part of the Tournament of Roses for 37 years and has chaired five committees including Music, Formation Area and Public Relations.
12. Playful Pandamonium
Rain Bird Corp.
Fiesta Parade Floats
Rain Bird's float shows a colony of giant pandas and their playful offspring. The pandas are fashioned with whole white carnations and glossy black allium seed.
13. Lee Family Belgians
(Twin Falls, Idaho)
Lee Family Belgians is strictly a family-owned group. The group started driving draft horses as a way for their family to spend quality time together.
14. The Family Business
U.S. Bank
Phoenix Decorating Co.
A hardworking family is driving the bounty from their farm to market in a bigger-than-life truck. The truck is covered with yellow strawflower, carnation petals and silver leaf. The tires are created with black seaweed. The produce is presented in both sculpted and real form.
15. Grand Marshal — Mickey Mouse
An icon for 76 years, Mickey Mouse was chosen to lead the parade “Celebrating Family.”
16. Caballos Pura Raza Azteca (Charros on Parade)
The Azteca horse is a combination of characteristics of three breeds: Andalusian, quarter horse and criollo. After hundreds of years, the three are now being selectively bred to create the Azteca — presented in this group.
17. The House That Love Built
Ronald McDonald House
Charities of Southern California
Phoenix Decorating Co.
A warm and inviting residence symbolizes the nearly 240 Ronald McDonald Houses located around the world. The Ronald McDonald House is created with ti leaf and parsley shingles. The drapes in the windows are created with white everlasting.
18. Pasadena City College Herald Trumpets
Pasadena
The Pasadena City College Herald Trumpets have participated in the Tournament of Roses Parade for many years. They traditionally precede the Queen's float, heralding the Rose Queen and her court.
19. Rose Queen and Royal Court
Macy's
Fiesta Parade Floats
Rose Queen Ashley Moreno, 17, of La Cañada Flintridge is joined by her court. Rose Princesses are Lisa Pallay, 17, Altadena; Jennifer Propper, 16, La Cañada Flintridge; Kara Murphy, 17, La Cañada Flintridge; Allison Pedro, 17, of Pasadena; Alaire Hanashian, 17, Temple City; and Megan Sheehan, 17, of South Pasadena.
20. Conservatorio de Artes de Cartago (Cartago, San Rafael, Costa Rica)
This band's uniform maintains the traditional uniform of the colonial soldiers of the ancient Gendarmeria of the Headquarters of Carthage.
21. Viva la Familia ... Experience the Good Life
Starbucks Coffee Co.
Fiesta Parade Floats
The rich culture, traditions and heritage of the Costa Rican family are celebrated by this entry. The macaws are fashioned in floral feathers of blue iris, red poinsettia, carnations and Pee Wee anthuriums.
22. Canadian Clyde Ride
With hooves the size of dinner plates and weighing as much as a Volkswagen Beetle, these beautiful majestic creatures called Clydesdales are capturing audiences everywhere with their social grace and magical presence.
23. Family of Explorers
JPL / Caltech
Phoenix Decorating Co.
This float presents a truly out-of-this-world family — a family of space missions designed to explore our universe. The gigantic Explorer figure rises to 50 feet above the parade route. Various elements of the Explorer's body of space missions are created with blue and purple statice, carnation petals, silver leaf and eucalyptus leaf.
24. University of Texas
The teams are ready to don their football helmets and battle for the title of Rose Bowl champions. Spirit squad members cheer their team and rally crowd support along Colorado Boulevard and during the "Granddaddy of Them All."
25. Longhorn Band
The college band follows their spirit squad to get the fans ready for the game later in the day at the Rose Bowl.
26. California's Founding Families
City of Ontario Fiesta Parade Floats
In this idyllic Southern California park scene the simple pleasures of a family outing come florally alive on the Euclid Avenue trolley. The trolley is covered in eucalyptus petals and is accented with yellow button mums and strawflower petals.
27. Buffalo Bill's Wild West
Many of the horses, which include quarter horses and appaloosas, have performed in Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show and are used in trick riding, trick roping and Roman riding. Costumes reflect the period of Buffalo Bill's Wild West.
28. Celebrating from Sea to Shining Sea, Smart & Final
Fiesta Parade Floats
Smart & Final honors the Coast Guard Family. Shimmering dolphins are individually petaled in silverleaf protea, and seahorses are crafted in peach lentil and petals of yellow strawflowers.
29. Lassiter High School Band (Marietta, Ga.)
This band has 312 members and was recognized with the John Philip Sousa Foundation's Sudler Shield for demonstrating excellence in a marching band.
30. Enjoying Our Environment
City of Los Angeles
Phoenix Decorating Co.
The City of Los Angeles — the longest Rose Parade participant, presenting its 107th consecutive entry — offers a view of the past, present and future of the city. The great blue heron and the snowy egret are created with uva and pampas grass.
31. Western Group
The Western Group is a band of elegant riders from across the United States assembled primarily for the Rose Parade. These riders are attired in leather, rhinestones, silver and other elegant fabrics as well as ornamental accessories.
32. Families Across America
American Honda
Phoenix Decorating Co.
Honda presents the longest float in Rose Parade history — 207 feet — featuring a patriotically decorated locomotive with a Fourth of July-style fireworks display. The locomotive is decorated in white everlasting and ground sweet rice.
33. PUSD All Star Band (Pasadena)
This band was created specifically for the Rose Parade and includes performers from Pasadena high and middle schools.
34. Memory Lane
Eastman Kodak Co.
Phoenix Decorating Co.
A gigantic family of butterflies weaves its fluttering way through a colorful garden on this float. The butterflies feature scores of floragraphs on their wings and are created using yellow, orange, blue and purple strawflower.
35. Spirit of the West Riders
The Spirit of the West Riders is a unique horse group that blends American history and entertainment while representing the men and women of various ethnic backgrounds who tamed the wild frontier of the 1840-1920 period.
36. Dinner's On ... Fire!
City of Burbank
The Burbank Tournament of Roses Association
On this entry a family barbecue celebration runs amok when a pesky bee irritates Papa. On this float look for Skyline, Blue Curiosa, Orange Unique, Yellow Unique, My Lovely and Versilia roses. It also features dry materials like maleleuca bark.
37. University of Michigan
Cheerleaders generate crowd enthusiasm throughout the parade for their team, which will play in the Rose Bowl. The team members vow to carry the ball to victory.
38. University of Michigan Band
The band will represent the Rose Bowl contender in the parade and later at the Rose Bowl Game.
39. Family Fun On Route 66
City of Duarte/ City of Hope National Medical Center
Fiesta Parade Floats
The City of Duarte and City of Hope celebrate their 32nd consecutive float together in the parade. On this float, vibrant chrysanthemums and straw-flower petals create the body of the convertible woody roadster.
40. North Park Middle School Band (Pico Rivera)
This group of 312 received four standing ovations from the New York City audience at their second Carnegie Hall concert. They have performed in Canada, Mexico, Florida, Hawaii and New York City.
41. The Family of God
Lutheran Laymen's League
Phoenix Decorating Co.
On this entry a dove of peace leads the way for people around the world, carrying an olive branch and rainbow ribbon in its beak. The gigantic dove is created with a combination of dry strawflowers, everlasting, shredded coconut and whole white chrysanthemums.
42. Martinez Family
This year marks the 25th year for Benny Martinez and his group participating in the Rose Parade. The group wears authentic charro-style suits, something like Emiliano Zapata wore in the days of the revolution, and ride on authentic Mexican handmade charro saddles of leather and sometimes bone.
43. Saturday in the Park
The Home Depot
Phoenix Decorating Co.
Families enjoy time together outside. The gardens that border this park setting are made up of roses, carnations, orchids, iris gypsophila and ferns. The grassy areas are real sod from Home Depot's nursery as are many of the live flowers on the float.
44. Taipei First Girl High School Marching Band (Taipei, Taiwan)
This school has been a prestigious institution for more than 100 years in Taiwan. The team is often invited to present itself before foreign visitors on National Day and other major events.
45. Celebrating Our Native Family
China Airlines
Festival Artists
Three generations from two families are riding on this entry, which is decorated with traditional Taiwanese decor. The flowers featured include Gerbera daisy, orchids and carnations.
46. John Suttill's Parading Arabians
Dressed in authentic Arabian costumes, this very colorful group shows the Arabian horse in its full regalia. This group was formed in the early 1950s.
47. Music Makes Us a Family
NAMM
Studio Concepts Inc.
At the front of this colorful float Elmo leads the enthusiastic drummers as they use their hands to bring the music to life. Sitting at the piano, Big Bird gets a little help from the country's most recognizable green grouch, Oscar.
48. Pasadena City College Tournament of Roses Honor Band (Pasadena)
The Pasadena City College Tournament of Roses Band (originally the Pasadena Junior College Bulldog Band) first marched in the Rose Parade in 1930 and has performed in the Tournament of Roses Parade for 76 consecutive years.
49. Mayor of Pasadena Bill Bogaard
Bill Bogaard rides down the parade route with his family in a 1932 Packard Model 903 Deluxe 8 Convertible Sedan. The car is one of only five of its kind in operation.
50. Riata Ranch Cowboy Girls
All Riata Ranch horses are either purchased or donated to the program for use in youth horsemanship classes or the performance team. Riata uses paints and appaloosas because of their bright and flashy color patterns and their adaptability to the unique aspects of the program.
51. Family Outing
Trader Joe's
Phoenix Decorating Co.
A woodland picnic is a traditional family outing. However, as demonstrated by Trader Joe's float, not all families are traditional. The family enjoying this outing comes directly from the woodland — raccoons, squirrels and birds.
52. California State Firefighters' Association
Percherons in this group are of the draft horse family and are the traditional fire horse. The largest of the Percherons here today is 18 hands high and weighs more than 2,000 pounds.
53. Pride
Lions Clubs International
Phoenix Decorating Co.
The pride of lions depicted on this float includes a mother, her two cubs and a proud papa with an impressive mane. The gigantic lion towering over the float is created with pampas grass, cordome puffs, wheat stalks and a selection of seeds.
54. The Spirit of Central Marching Band (Indianapolis, Ind.)
With 193 performers, the Lawrence Central High School Band was recently the subject of a feature article on marching bands in the May edition of School Band and Orchestra Magazine, a national publication.
55. Garden of Dreams
FTD
Fiesta Parade Floats
This entry showcases a fairy tale world in a garden setting. It showcases the widest selection of springtime flowers ever used in the Rose Parade, with tulips, daffodils, iris, tuberose, forsythia, lily of the valley, calla lilies, hydrangea and peony.
56. Scripps Miramar Saddlebreds
The Scripps Miramar equestrians are riding registered American Indian horses that have earned show ring honors in American Saddlebred competition. The horse regalia and costumes are authentic and Native-American made.
57. Something to Crow About
City of Torrance
Fiesta Parade Floats
In true American fashion, the tradition of the annual county fair and family fun is cause for anticipation and celebration. Fuzzy bees are created with black onion seed and yellow strawflower confetti.
58. Winston Churchill Band (San Antonio)
This group includes more than 300 musicians and color guard performers. The group won fourth place at the State University Interscholastic League Marching Competition in Waco, Texas.
59. Family Retreat
Roto-Rooter Plumbers
Phoenix Decorating Co.
Roto-Rooter presents a tropical water wonderland. Thousands of tropical flowers, ferns and plants are utilized to create this island paradise. Orchids are the primary flower accenting the lush landscape, with roses, irises, gladiolas and lots of hanging moss.
60. All American Donkey and Mule Riders
The All American Donkey and Mule Riders are a group representing the versatility of the modern donkey and mule. All animals are experienced parade animals.
61. Together by Design
Bayer Advanced
Phoenix Decorating Co.
Spanning the length of this colorful 55-foot-long float are roses, of all varieties, colors and sizes. Thousands upon thousands of roses are the focus of this impressive garden — and they are the decorative core of the dozens of larger-than-life sculpted roses.
62. Oswego District 308 High School Marching Band (Oswego, Ill.)
The city is celebrating its 70th year of bands in Oswego. Some of the children marching in the group this year are grandchildren and great-grandchildren of those who marched in the very first band in Oswego, seven decades ago.
63. The Family Album
Subway Restaurants
Fiesta Parade Floats
Magnificent roses are the floral focal point of this entry with yellow roses adorning a wedding cake of crisp white chrysanthemum and radiant hot pink roses.
64. Escaramuza Flor de Primavera
This group is a Mexican equestrian sidesaddle drill team that performs precision drills at gallop speed in an arena. Escaramuzas exist throughout Arizona, California, New Mexico and Mexico.
65. Mother's Love
City of Glendale
Phoenix Decorating Co.
A mother owl keeps a watchful eye over her brood — a pair of fluffy young owlets. The mother owl is created with cordome puffs, palm fiber, uva grass, strawflower and seeds. Her babies are decorated with everlasting and cordome puffs. The giant pine cones are constructed of deconstructed actual pine cones.
66. The Salvation Army
Los Angeles
This band is made up from various groups throughout Southern California. Two young musicians are also invited from each of the Salvation Army's 56 divisions across the United States and Canada.
67. Many Families, One Gift
Donate Life
Phoenix Decorating Co.
Donate Life presents a park scene in full bloom, with families relaxing together, enjoying the simple pleasures life has to offer. The fountain at the front of the float is covered with crushed walnut shells, and the flowing water is created with laced strings of irises.
68. Wonderful Outdoor World
The riders in this group are eight campers from inner-city areas in Los Angeles who participated in WOW both at their neighborhood park and on a mule pack trip in the Sierra.
69. A Day at the Beach
City of Long Beach
Phoenix Decorating Co.
A group of youngsters enjoys a good time when they spend a day at the beach. The giant crab is created with a combination of yellow strawflower and fresh flowers; the shovel and pail handle are red strawflower.
70. Hempfield Area High School Marching Band (Greensburg, Pa.)
This group, 284 strong, has been featured at the Riverside Orange Blossom
Festival and at Disney World. The band has been under the direction of Roderick Booker for the past 28 years. He has taken this band from 80 musicians to its present size.
71. Families Make A Community
City of Cerritos
Fiesta Parade Floats
This float celebrates conservation in the rain forests of Africa. Through lush tropical ferns and foliage, accentuated with exotic flowers, there is a family of nine mountain gorillas. Fire and buffalo
grasses have been used to create the realistic textures and coloration of their long, silky hair.
72. International Andalusian and Lusitano Horse Association
This group features many Andalusian horses including Rio Paraiso, Alborozo Gray, Dia Gray Andalusian and Moneeka Black. All are in traditional Spanish tack and attire.
73. School's Out
City of West Covina
Charisma Floats
A brother and sister are sledding down a ramp they made in the snow with their dog alongside. Coconut and rice create the snow. Strawflower, cotton, lentils, onion seed, raspberry and cranberry seed are also used.
74. Lindbergh High School Spirit of St. Louis Marching Band (St. Louis, Mo.)
This group is 180 strong. The Spirit of St. Louis marching band borrows its name from Charles Lindbergh's historic airplane. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the marching band.
75. Harvest Celebration
City of St. Louis
Phoenix Decorating Co.
St. Louis presents a colorful offering of bountiful crops and wildlife. The giant cornucopia is created with raffia, corn husk and dry flowers. The bunches of grapes feature fine-cut purple statice; the tomatoes are made with carnation petals; the pumpkins are decorated with yellow and orange strawflower.
76. Valley Hunt Club Fresian Hitch and Riders
The Valley Hunt Club was founded in 1888 as a riding group to hunt jackrabbits and other game on horseback in the Pasadena fields and foothills. It founded the Tournament of Roses in 1890 and sponsored the parade the first six years of its existence.
77. Family Road Trip
Automobile Club of Southern California
Phoenix Decorating Co.
On this float, the earliest version of the "mobile home" is mounted atop a gigantic 35-foot-tall dinosaur. Much of the decoration reflects the vegetarian tastes of the gigantic dinosaur — drawn from the produce market rather than the flower mart.
78. Sioux Falls Lincoln Patriot Marching Band (Sioux Falls, S.D.)
The Lincoln High School Marching Band is actually the product of five concert bands that meet on a daily basis throughout the school year.
79. EleFun Time
Cal Poly Universities of Pomona and San Luis Obispo
The 57th Cal Poly Tournament of Roses Parade entry depicts a family of elephants enjoying a country joy ride. Big brother leads the pack on a scooter and younger brother tags along behind on his tricycle.
80. Sons & Daughters of the Reel West
This group is made up of the sons, daughters and grandchildren of Western movie heroes who ride in celebration of their ancestors' contribution to our Western heritage.
81. Mom's Flight School
City of South Pasadena
South Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association
A mother dragon is lying on her back protecting her toddler and unhatched egg. Various flowers/materials are used to illustrate the dragon including carnations and chrysanthemums. The belly is decorated with tea leaves and Yoko Ono carnations.
82. Kaua'i "Ku Kilakila" All Island Marching Band (Kaneohe, Hawaii)
Unique and colorful, Kala'au players are wearing traditional Kihei shoulder wrap-around sash, white Tahitian skirt, yellow satin shirt and purple head lei. This large group of 348 musicians and dancers includes Kala'au warriors.
83. Friend of Youth
Optimist International
Phoenix Decorating Co.
This international service club has depicted a pair of friends — a young boy and girl, along with their dog. A profusion of fresh comprise the garden, including roses, irises, gladiolas, pansies and dahlias. The sculpted youngsters are largely created with fine-cut strawflowers.
84. America's Cavalry
America's Cavalry is dedicated to the preservation of the U.S. Cavalry history and heritage. This mounted group is comprised of cavalry re-enactors from Colorado, Texas and California wearing authentic wool uniforms of American cavalry from 1833 to 1942.
85. The Arts Bring Families Together
Coachella Valley Art Alliance
Festival Artists
This is the first year for the Art Alliance in the Rose Parade. The float features a steel drum band. The Caribbean theme is achieved with roses, ginger and other tropical plants.
86. Pomona High School Marching Band (Arvada, Colo.)
This group of 209 performed in the 2001 New Year's Day Parade in London. The band has also performed at the Bands of America regionals and Grand Nationals and is a past Grand National Finalist.
87. Las Vegas Centennial 1905-2005
City of Las Vegas
Fiesta Parade Floats
The last time Las Vegas had a float in the Rose Parade was 1954, when the Desert Inn was the tallest building on the Strip. In this entry, celebrating the city's centennial, the float will honor the familial bonds shared among members of the local resort community.
88. Broken Horn Ropers
The Broken Horn Ropers have been together six years. Team members are students of Felix A. Lopez. The team is culturally diverse and multigenerational and has international members from England and Mexico.
89. We Are Family
Kiwanis International
Phoenix Decorating Co.
Kiwanis presents parade viewers with an ark of families, from giraffes and leopards to gazelles, zebras and eagles. The ark is created with redwood bark and palm fiber. The elephant is created with gray moss along with seeds and herbs.
90. Hellgate Marching Knights (Missoula, Mont.)
Montana schools rarely take part in competitive marching events — distance and weather being major factors. But this group of 177 is making its third appearance in the Rose Parade. Some of the same uniforms that were purchased new for earlier Rose Parade appearances are being worn in 2005.
91. Monkey Mischief
City of Sierra Madre
Sierra Madre Rose Float Association
A family of monkeys has the opportunity to escape from their zoo enclosure, but do not stray on this entry. Roses, gladiolas, orchids, tulips and iris are used, as well as various types of seeds and beans.
92. New Buffalo Soldiers
This nonprofit, mounted, historical re-enactment group was established in 1992 with a mission to educate the public about Company H 10th Regiment of the U.S. Calvary during the post-Civil War era and Indian Wars.
93. We Are Family, Two
Oddfellows and Rebekahs
Phoenix Decorating Co.
On this float a pair of furry, cuddly kittens tilt their heads from side to side, curiously eyeing all that the world around them has to offer. The kittens are created with uva and pampas grass, curly seaweed, strawflower, onion and sesame seed.
94. Los Angeles Unified School District Honor Band (Los Angeles)
In the 2003-04 school year, the 324-member All District Honor Band has performed at the 31st annual Band and Drill Team Championships, the Tournament of Roses Bandfest, Disneyland and in last year's Rose Parade.
95. Helping Generations See
LensCrafters Foundation
Phoenix Decorating Co.
Helping Generations See depicts gigantic replicas of the glasses that have been distributed to families around the world. The floragraph pictures in the lenses of the glasses are created with flower petals, mixtures of seeds, herbs and spices.
96. Painted Ladies Rodeo Performers
This group of horses is flashy and beautiful and gets lots of attention from crowds. They are very friendly, especially to little children, and they have many skills including reining, cutting, team penning, roping, western pleasure, trail riding and trick riding.
97. Together with Nature
City of Downey
Downey Rose Float Association
A group of friends raft down a mountain river where various wildlife critters abound and a waterfall can be seen. On this float dried materials including white rice, dried statice, seaweed, palm fiber, silver leaf, strawflower, poppy seed and white raw cotton are used.
98. El Dorado Golden Hawks Marching Band & Colorguard (Placentia)
The group, made up of 260 members, wears black and white with gold trim and red accents. They have won numerous sweepstakes at Southern California field and parade competitions and performed at the opening ceremony for the Sydney, Australia, Olympic Games.
99. Family Getaway
La Cañada Flintridge
La Cañada Flintridge Tournament of Roses Association
On this entry, decorated, designed and built by the community of La Cañada Flintridge, a family of frogs makes a quick getaway from a chef, who is intent on putting them on the menu.
100. War Horse & Militaria Heritage Foundation
Each year the War Horse and Militaria perform parades, public history shows, battle demonstrations and endurance rides. The War Horse & Militaria Heritage Foundation was established in 1999 and is part of the National Heritage Foundation.
101. Where Family Dreams Take Flight
Antelope Valley
Fiesta Parade Floats
The communities of the high desert celebrate the abundance of family recreational activities in their area. Warm sunset shades of chrysanthemums bring life to the canyon wall with accents of walnut shells, fino moss and lentils.
102. Benicia High School Panther Band (Benicia)
Benicia was the original state capital of California. In addition to many recent awards, the band's accomplishments include an invitation to perform at the White House.
103. Our Family of Friends
City of Whittier
Charisma Floats
An elephant and three friends have a tea party. The setting is a Victorian-style sitting room. Thousands of roses, carnations and mums are used as the main flowers on the float. Purple mums and pink carnations make the couch the elephant is sitting on look like velvet.
104. El Monte Mounted Police Unit
This unit is comprised of a broad spectrum of breeds, including quarter horses, appaloosa, Arabians, mustangs, pintos and mules. All of the horses are working horses.
There are 104 entries in the 2005 Rose Parade. The entries start their 5 1/2-mile trip on Orange Grove Boulevard at 8 a.m. The parade lasts about two hours.
1. Happiest Celebration on Earth
Disneyland Resorts
Festival Artists
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Disneyland this float depicts Sleeping Beauty's castle. More than 40,000 roses of many colors decorate the float along with 600 bunches of statice that form the pinnacles at the top of the castle towers.
2. Long Beach Mounted Police
The Mounted Police are noted for their beautiful golden palomino horses with snow-white manes and tails. The group was founded in 1935 by 16 men who had an affection for riding.
3. United States Marine Corps Mounted Color Guard
Designated as an official military color guard in 1968, they perform all over the Western United States. This is the only remaining mounted color guard in the Marine Corps.
4. West Coast Composite Marine Band, San Diego
Since the establishment of the United States Marine Band in 1798, Marine music has expanded into 12 field bands across the nation.
5. The Proud Americans
City of Alhambra
Phoenix Decorating Co.
This entry represents the 77th year of parade participation for Alhambra — whose residents are fully responsible for decorating the city's float. The American flags are created with whole red and white carnations, with carnation petals on fields of blue statice.
6. Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament
Andalusian horses, seen in this group, are known for their glorious physique and noble temperament. They are bred and trained for use in the eight Medieval Times dinner attractions.
7. Protecting Your Home and Family
Farmers Insurance Group
Phoenix Decorating Co.
A crusading knight is astride a white charger, protecting a family as he gallops down the parade route. The gigantic white charger is created with white everlasting. The knight is armored in silver leaf, dry flowers and sesame seeds, with a cape created from red carnations.
8. Seminole High School Warhawk Marching Band (Seminole, Fla.)
This group of 204 performers has been awarded the prestigious Sudler Shield Award from the John Philip Sousa Foundation.
9. Family Tree
Rotary International
Charisma Floats
The tree on this entry represents a family tree. Float riders include members of Rotary International. To create the park setting, there is real grass sod, roses, carnations, mums and orchids.
10. Bands of America Honor Band
(Indianapolis, Ind.)
The Bands of America Honor Band is comprised of 345 of the most outstanding high school band members from nearly every state. Members were selected by audition.
11. Tournament of Roses President — Dave Davis
Dave Davis has been part of the Tournament of Roses for 37 years and has chaired five committees including Music, Formation Area and Public Relations.
12. Playful Pandamonium
Rain Bird Corp.
Fiesta Parade Floats
Rain Bird's float shows a colony of giant pandas and their playful offspring. The pandas are fashioned with whole white carnations and glossy black allium seed.
13. Lee Family Belgians
(Twin Falls, Idaho)
Lee Family Belgians is strictly a family-owned group. The group started driving draft horses as a way for their family to spend quality time together.
14. The Family Business
U.S. Bank
Phoenix Decorating Co.
A hardworking family is driving the bounty from their farm to market in a bigger-than-life truck. The truck is covered with yellow strawflower, carnation petals and silver leaf. The tires are created with black seaweed. The produce is presented in both sculpted and real form.
15. Grand Marshal — Mickey Mouse
An icon for 76 years, Mickey Mouse was chosen to lead the parade “Celebrating Family.”
16. Caballos Pura Raza Azteca (Charros on Parade)
The Azteca horse is a combination of characteristics of three breeds: Andalusian, quarter horse and criollo. After hundreds of years, the three are now being selectively bred to create the Azteca — presented in this group.
17. The House That Love Built
Ronald McDonald House
Charities of Southern California
Phoenix Decorating Co.
A warm and inviting residence symbolizes the nearly 240 Ronald McDonald Houses located around the world. The Ronald McDonald House is created with ti leaf and parsley shingles. The drapes in the windows are created with white everlasting.
18. Pasadena City College Herald Trumpets
Pasadena
The Pasadena City College Herald Trumpets have participated in the Tournament of Roses Parade for many years. They traditionally precede the Queen's float, heralding the Rose Queen and her court.
19. Rose Queen and Royal Court
Macy's
Fiesta Parade Floats
Rose Queen Ashley Moreno, 17, of La Cañada Flintridge is joined by her court. Rose Princesses are Lisa Pallay, 17, Altadena; Jennifer Propper, 16, La Cañada Flintridge; Kara Murphy, 17, La Cañada Flintridge; Allison Pedro, 17, of Pasadena; Alaire Hanashian, 17, Temple City; and Megan Sheehan, 17, of South Pasadena.
20. Conservatorio de Artes de Cartago (Cartago, San Rafael, Costa Rica)
This band's uniform maintains the traditional uniform of the colonial soldiers of the ancient Gendarmeria of the Headquarters of Carthage.
21. Viva la Familia ... Experience the Good Life
Starbucks Coffee Co.
Fiesta Parade Floats
The rich culture, traditions and heritage of the Costa Rican family are celebrated by this entry. The macaws are fashioned in floral feathers of blue iris, red poinsettia, carnations and Pee Wee anthuriums.
22. Canadian Clyde Ride
With hooves the size of dinner plates and weighing as much as a Volkswagen Beetle, these beautiful majestic creatures called Clydesdales are capturing audiences everywhere with their social grace and magical presence.
23. Family of Explorers
JPL / Caltech
Phoenix Decorating Co.
This float presents a truly out-of-this-world family — a family of space missions designed to explore our universe. The gigantic Explorer figure rises to 50 feet above the parade route. Various elements of the Explorer's body of space missions are created with blue and purple statice, carnation petals, silver leaf and eucalyptus leaf.
24. University of Texas
The teams are ready to don their football helmets and battle for the title of Rose Bowl champions. Spirit squad members cheer their team and rally crowd support along Colorado Boulevard and during the "Granddaddy of Them All."
25. Longhorn Band
The college band follows their spirit squad to get the fans ready for the game later in the day at the Rose Bowl.
26. California's Founding Families
City of Ontario Fiesta Parade Floats
In this idyllic Southern California park scene the simple pleasures of a family outing come florally alive on the Euclid Avenue trolley. The trolley is covered in eucalyptus petals and is accented with yellow button mums and strawflower petals.
27. Buffalo Bill's Wild West
Many of the horses, which include quarter horses and appaloosas, have performed in Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show and are used in trick riding, trick roping and Roman riding. Costumes reflect the period of Buffalo Bill's Wild West.
28. Celebrating from Sea to Shining Sea, Smart & Final
Fiesta Parade Floats
Smart & Final honors the Coast Guard Family. Shimmering dolphins are individually petaled in silverleaf protea, and seahorses are crafted in peach lentil and petals of yellow strawflowers.
29. Lassiter High School Band (Marietta, Ga.)
This band has 312 members and was recognized with the John Philip Sousa Foundation's Sudler Shield for demonstrating excellence in a marching band.
30. Enjoying Our Environment
City of Los Angeles
Phoenix Decorating Co.
The City of Los Angeles — the longest Rose Parade participant, presenting its 107th consecutive entry — offers a view of the past, present and future of the city. The great blue heron and the snowy egret are created with uva and pampas grass.
31. Western Group
The Western Group is a band of elegant riders from across the United States assembled primarily for the Rose Parade. These riders are attired in leather, rhinestones, silver and other elegant fabrics as well as ornamental accessories.
32. Families Across America
American Honda
Phoenix Decorating Co.
Honda presents the longest float in Rose Parade history — 207 feet — featuring a patriotically decorated locomotive with a Fourth of July-style fireworks display. The locomotive is decorated in white everlasting and ground sweet rice.
33. PUSD All Star Band (Pasadena)
This band was created specifically for the Rose Parade and includes performers from Pasadena high and middle schools.
34. Memory Lane
Eastman Kodak Co.
Phoenix Decorating Co.
A gigantic family of butterflies weaves its fluttering way through a colorful garden on this float. The butterflies feature scores of floragraphs on their wings and are created using yellow, orange, blue and purple strawflower.
35. Spirit of the West Riders
The Spirit of the West Riders is a unique horse group that blends American history and entertainment while representing the men and women of various ethnic backgrounds who tamed the wild frontier of the 1840-1920 period.
36. Dinner's On ... Fire!
City of Burbank
The Burbank Tournament of Roses Association
On this entry a family barbecue celebration runs amok when a pesky bee irritates Papa. On this float look for Skyline, Blue Curiosa, Orange Unique, Yellow Unique, My Lovely and Versilia roses. It also features dry materials like maleleuca bark.
37. University of Michigan
Cheerleaders generate crowd enthusiasm throughout the parade for their team, which will play in the Rose Bowl. The team members vow to carry the ball to victory.
38. University of Michigan Band
The band will represent the Rose Bowl contender in the parade and later at the Rose Bowl Game.
39. Family Fun On Route 66
City of Duarte/ City of Hope National Medical Center
Fiesta Parade Floats
The City of Duarte and City of Hope celebrate their 32nd consecutive float together in the parade. On this float, vibrant chrysanthemums and straw-flower petals create the body of the convertible woody roadster.
40. North Park Middle School Band (Pico Rivera)
This group of 312 received four standing ovations from the New York City audience at their second Carnegie Hall concert. They have performed in Canada, Mexico, Florida, Hawaii and New York City.
41. The Family of God
Lutheran Laymen's League
Phoenix Decorating Co.
On this entry a dove of peace leads the way for people around the world, carrying an olive branch and rainbow ribbon in its beak. The gigantic dove is created with a combination of dry strawflowers, everlasting, shredded coconut and whole white chrysanthemums.
42. Martinez Family
This year marks the 25th year for Benny Martinez and his group participating in the Rose Parade. The group wears authentic charro-style suits, something like Emiliano Zapata wore in the days of the revolution, and ride on authentic Mexican handmade charro saddles of leather and sometimes bone.
43. Saturday in the Park
The Home Depot
Phoenix Decorating Co.
Families enjoy time together outside. The gardens that border this park setting are made up of roses, carnations, orchids, iris gypsophila and ferns. The grassy areas are real sod from Home Depot's nursery as are many of the live flowers on the float.
44. Taipei First Girl High School Marching Band (Taipei, Taiwan)
This school has been a prestigious institution for more than 100 years in Taiwan. The team is often invited to present itself before foreign visitors on National Day and other major events.
45. Celebrating Our Native Family
China Airlines
Festival Artists
Three generations from two families are riding on this entry, which is decorated with traditional Taiwanese decor. The flowers featured include Gerbera daisy, orchids and carnations.
46. John Suttill's Parading Arabians
Dressed in authentic Arabian costumes, this very colorful group shows the Arabian horse in its full regalia. This group was formed in the early 1950s.
47. Music Makes Us a Family
NAMM
Studio Concepts Inc.
At the front of this colorful float Elmo leads the enthusiastic drummers as they use their hands to bring the music to life. Sitting at the piano, Big Bird gets a little help from the country's most recognizable green grouch, Oscar.
48. Pasadena City College Tournament of Roses Honor Band (Pasadena)
The Pasadena City College Tournament of Roses Band (originally the Pasadena Junior College Bulldog Band) first marched in the Rose Parade in 1930 and has performed in the Tournament of Roses Parade for 76 consecutive years.
49. Mayor of Pasadena Bill Bogaard
Bill Bogaard rides down the parade route with his family in a 1932 Packard Model 903 Deluxe 8 Convertible Sedan. The car is one of only five of its kind in operation.
50. Riata Ranch Cowboy Girls
All Riata Ranch horses are either purchased or donated to the program for use in youth horsemanship classes or the performance team. Riata uses paints and appaloosas because of their bright and flashy color patterns and their adaptability to the unique aspects of the program.
51. Family Outing
Trader Joe's
Phoenix Decorating Co.
A woodland picnic is a traditional family outing. However, as demonstrated by Trader Joe's float, not all families are traditional. The family enjoying this outing comes directly from the woodland — raccoons, squirrels and birds.
52. California State Firefighters' Association
Percherons in this group are of the draft horse family and are the traditional fire horse. The largest of the Percherons here today is 18 hands high and weighs more than 2,000 pounds.
53. Pride
Lions Clubs International
Phoenix Decorating Co.
The pride of lions depicted on this float includes a mother, her two cubs and a proud papa with an impressive mane. The gigantic lion towering over the float is created with pampas grass, cordome puffs, wheat stalks and a selection of seeds.
54. The Spirit of Central Marching Band (Indianapolis, Ind.)
With 193 performers, the Lawrence Central High School Band was recently the subject of a feature article on marching bands in the May edition of School Band and Orchestra Magazine, a national publication.
55. Garden of Dreams
FTD
Fiesta Parade Floats
This entry showcases a fairy tale world in a garden setting. It showcases the widest selection of springtime flowers ever used in the Rose Parade, with tulips, daffodils, iris, tuberose, forsythia, lily of the valley, calla lilies, hydrangea and peony.
56. Scripps Miramar Saddlebreds
The Scripps Miramar equestrians are riding registered American Indian horses that have earned show ring honors in American Saddlebred competition. The horse regalia and costumes are authentic and Native-American made.
57. Something to Crow About
City of Torrance
Fiesta Parade Floats
In true American fashion, the tradition of the annual county fair and family fun is cause for anticipation and celebration. Fuzzy bees are created with black onion seed and yellow strawflower confetti.
58. Winston Churchill Band (San Antonio)
This group includes more than 300 musicians and color guard performers. The group won fourth place at the State University Interscholastic League Marching Competition in Waco, Texas.
59. Family Retreat
Roto-Rooter Plumbers
Phoenix Decorating Co.
Roto-Rooter presents a tropical water wonderland. Thousands of tropical flowers, ferns and plants are utilized to create this island paradise. Orchids are the primary flower accenting the lush landscape, with roses, irises, gladiolas and lots of hanging moss.
60. All American Donkey and Mule Riders
The All American Donkey and Mule Riders are a group representing the versatility of the modern donkey and mule. All animals are experienced parade animals.
61. Together by Design
Bayer Advanced
Phoenix Decorating Co.
Spanning the length of this colorful 55-foot-long float are roses, of all varieties, colors and sizes. Thousands upon thousands of roses are the focus of this impressive garden — and they are the decorative core of the dozens of larger-than-life sculpted roses.
62. Oswego District 308 High School Marching Band (Oswego, Ill.)
The city is celebrating its 70th year of bands in Oswego. Some of the children marching in the group this year are grandchildren and great-grandchildren of those who marched in the very first band in Oswego, seven decades ago.
63. The Family Album
Subway Restaurants
Fiesta Parade Floats
Magnificent roses are the floral focal point of this entry with yellow roses adorning a wedding cake of crisp white chrysanthemum and radiant hot pink roses.
64. Escaramuza Flor de Primavera
This group is a Mexican equestrian sidesaddle drill team that performs precision drills at gallop speed in an arena. Escaramuzas exist throughout Arizona, California, New Mexico and Mexico.
65. Mother's Love
City of Glendale
Phoenix Decorating Co.
A mother owl keeps a watchful eye over her brood — a pair of fluffy young owlets. The mother owl is created with cordome puffs, palm fiber, uva grass, strawflower and seeds. Her babies are decorated with everlasting and cordome puffs. The giant pine cones are constructed of deconstructed actual pine cones.
66. The Salvation Army
Los Angeles
This band is made up from various groups throughout Southern California. Two young musicians are also invited from each of the Salvation Army's 56 divisions across the United States and Canada.
67. Many Families, One Gift
Donate Life
Phoenix Decorating Co.
Donate Life presents a park scene in full bloom, with families relaxing together, enjoying the simple pleasures life has to offer. The fountain at the front of the float is covered with crushed walnut shells, and the flowing water is created with laced strings of irises.
68. Wonderful Outdoor World
The riders in this group are eight campers from inner-city areas in Los Angeles who participated in WOW both at their neighborhood park and on a mule pack trip in the Sierra.
69. A Day at the Beach
City of Long Beach
Phoenix Decorating Co.
A group of youngsters enjoys a good time when they spend a day at the beach. The giant crab is created with a combination of yellow strawflower and fresh flowers; the shovel and pail handle are red strawflower.
70. Hempfield Area High School Marching Band (Greensburg, Pa.)
This group, 284 strong, has been featured at the Riverside Orange Blossom
Festival and at Disney World. The band has been under the direction of Roderick Booker for the past 28 years. He has taken this band from 80 musicians to its present size.
71. Families Make A Community
City of Cerritos
Fiesta Parade Floats
This float celebrates conservation in the rain forests of Africa. Through lush tropical ferns and foliage, accentuated with exotic flowers, there is a family of nine mountain gorillas. Fire and buffalo
grasses have been used to create the realistic textures and coloration of their long, silky hair.
72. International Andalusian and Lusitano Horse Association
This group features many Andalusian horses including Rio Paraiso, Alborozo Gray, Dia Gray Andalusian and Moneeka Black. All are in traditional Spanish tack and attire.
73. School's Out
City of West Covina
Charisma Floats
A brother and sister are sledding down a ramp they made in the snow with their dog alongside. Coconut and rice create the snow. Strawflower, cotton, lentils, onion seed, raspberry and cranberry seed are also used.
74. Lindbergh High School Spirit of St. Louis Marching Band (St. Louis, Mo.)
This group is 180 strong. The Spirit of St. Louis marching band borrows its name from Charles Lindbergh's historic airplane. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the marching band.
75. Harvest Celebration
City of St. Louis
Phoenix Decorating Co.
St. Louis presents a colorful offering of bountiful crops and wildlife. The giant cornucopia is created with raffia, corn husk and dry flowers. The bunches of grapes feature fine-cut purple statice; the tomatoes are made with carnation petals; the pumpkins are decorated with yellow and orange strawflower.
76. Valley Hunt Club Fresian Hitch and Riders
The Valley Hunt Club was founded in 1888 as a riding group to hunt jackrabbits and other game on horseback in the Pasadena fields and foothills. It founded the Tournament of Roses in 1890 and sponsored the parade the first six years of its existence.
77. Family Road Trip
Automobile Club of Southern California
Phoenix Decorating Co.
On this float, the earliest version of the "mobile home" is mounted atop a gigantic 35-foot-tall dinosaur. Much of the decoration reflects the vegetarian tastes of the gigantic dinosaur — drawn from the produce market rather than the flower mart.
78. Sioux Falls Lincoln Patriot Marching Band (Sioux Falls, S.D.)
The Lincoln High School Marching Band is actually the product of five concert bands that meet on a daily basis throughout the school year.
79. EleFun Time
Cal Poly Universities of Pomona and San Luis Obispo
The 57th Cal Poly Tournament of Roses Parade entry depicts a family of elephants enjoying a country joy ride. Big brother leads the pack on a scooter and younger brother tags along behind on his tricycle.
80. Sons & Daughters of the Reel West
This group is made up of the sons, daughters and grandchildren of Western movie heroes who ride in celebration of their ancestors' contribution to our Western heritage.
81. Mom's Flight School
City of South Pasadena
South Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association
A mother dragon is lying on her back protecting her toddler and unhatched egg. Various flowers/materials are used to illustrate the dragon including carnations and chrysanthemums. The belly is decorated with tea leaves and Yoko Ono carnations.
82. Kaua'i "Ku Kilakila" All Island Marching Band (Kaneohe, Hawaii)
Unique and colorful, Kala'au players are wearing traditional Kihei shoulder wrap-around sash, white Tahitian skirt, yellow satin shirt and purple head lei. This large group of 348 musicians and dancers includes Kala'au warriors.
83. Friend of Youth
Optimist International
Phoenix Decorating Co.
This international service club has depicted a pair of friends — a young boy and girl, along with their dog. A profusion of fresh comprise the garden, including roses, irises, gladiolas, pansies and dahlias. The sculpted youngsters are largely created with fine-cut strawflowers.
84. America's Cavalry
America's Cavalry is dedicated to the preservation of the U.S. Cavalry history and heritage. This mounted group is comprised of cavalry re-enactors from Colorado, Texas and California wearing authentic wool uniforms of American cavalry from 1833 to 1942.
85. The Arts Bring Families Together
Coachella Valley Art Alliance
Festival Artists
This is the first year for the Art Alliance in the Rose Parade. The float features a steel drum band. The Caribbean theme is achieved with roses, ginger and other tropical plants.
86. Pomona High School Marching Band (Arvada, Colo.)
This group of 209 performed in the 2001 New Year's Day Parade in London. The band has also performed at the Bands of America regionals and Grand Nationals and is a past Grand National Finalist.
87. Las Vegas Centennial 1905-2005
City of Las Vegas
Fiesta Parade Floats
The last time Las Vegas had a float in the Rose Parade was 1954, when the Desert Inn was the tallest building on the Strip. In this entry, celebrating the city's centennial, the float will honor the familial bonds shared among members of the local resort community.
88. Broken Horn Ropers
The Broken Horn Ropers have been together six years. Team members are students of Felix A. Lopez. The team is culturally diverse and multigenerational and has international members from England and Mexico.
89. We Are Family
Kiwanis International
Phoenix Decorating Co.
Kiwanis presents parade viewers with an ark of families, from giraffes and leopards to gazelles, zebras and eagles. The ark is created with redwood bark and palm fiber. The elephant is created with gray moss along with seeds and herbs.
90. Hellgate Marching Knights (Missoula, Mont.)
Montana schools rarely take part in competitive marching events — distance and weather being major factors. But this group of 177 is making its third appearance in the Rose Parade. Some of the same uniforms that were purchased new for earlier Rose Parade appearances are being worn in 2005.
91. Monkey Mischief
City of Sierra Madre
Sierra Madre Rose Float Association
A family of monkeys has the opportunity to escape from their zoo enclosure, but do not stray on this entry. Roses, gladiolas, orchids, tulips and iris are used, as well as various types of seeds and beans.
92. New Buffalo Soldiers
This nonprofit, mounted, historical re-enactment group was established in 1992 with a mission to educate the public about Company H 10th Regiment of the U.S. Calvary during the post-Civil War era and Indian Wars.
93. We Are Family, Two
Oddfellows and Rebekahs
Phoenix Decorating Co.
On this float a pair of furry, cuddly kittens tilt their heads from side to side, curiously eyeing all that the world around them has to offer. The kittens are created with uva and pampas grass, curly seaweed, strawflower, onion and sesame seed.
94. Los Angeles Unified School District Honor Band (Los Angeles)
In the 2003-04 school year, the 324-member All District Honor Band has performed at the 31st annual Band and Drill Team Championships, the Tournament of Roses Bandfest, Disneyland and in last year's Rose Parade.
95. Helping Generations See
LensCrafters Foundation
Phoenix Decorating Co.
Helping Generations See depicts gigantic replicas of the glasses that have been distributed to families around the world. The floragraph pictures in the lenses of the glasses are created with flower petals, mixtures of seeds, herbs and spices.
96. Painted Ladies Rodeo Performers
This group of horses is flashy and beautiful and gets lots of attention from crowds. They are very friendly, especially to little children, and they have many skills including reining, cutting, team penning, roping, western pleasure, trail riding and trick riding.
97. Together with Nature
City of Downey
Downey Rose Float Association
A group of friends raft down a mountain river where various wildlife critters abound and a waterfall can be seen. On this float dried materials including white rice, dried statice, seaweed, palm fiber, silver leaf, strawflower, poppy seed and white raw cotton are used.
98. El Dorado Golden Hawks Marching Band & Colorguard (Placentia)
The group, made up of 260 members, wears black and white with gold trim and red accents. They have won numerous sweepstakes at Southern California field and parade competitions and performed at the opening ceremony for the Sydney, Australia, Olympic Games.
99. Family Getaway
La Cañada Flintridge
La Cañada Flintridge Tournament of Roses Association
On this entry, decorated, designed and built by the community of La Cañada Flintridge, a family of frogs makes a quick getaway from a chef, who is intent on putting them on the menu.
100. War Horse & Militaria Heritage Foundation
Each year the War Horse and Militaria perform parades, public history shows, battle demonstrations and endurance rides. The War Horse & Militaria Heritage Foundation was established in 1999 and is part of the National Heritage Foundation.
101. Where Family Dreams Take Flight
Antelope Valley
Fiesta Parade Floats
The communities of the high desert celebrate the abundance of family recreational activities in their area. Warm sunset shades of chrysanthemums bring life to the canyon wall with accents of walnut shells, fino moss and lentils.
102. Benicia High School Panther Band (Benicia)
Benicia was the original state capital of California. In addition to many recent awards, the band's accomplishments include an invitation to perform at the White House.
103. Our Family of Friends
City of Whittier
Charisma Floats
An elephant and three friends have a tea party. The setting is a Victorian-style sitting room. Thousands of roses, carnations and mums are used as the main flowers on the float. Purple mums and pink carnations make the couch the elephant is sitting on look like velvet.
104. El Monte Mounted Police Unit
This unit is comprised of a broad spectrum of breeds, including quarter horses, appaloosa, Arabians, mustangs, pintos and mules. All of the horses are working horses.
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.
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.
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