Whee! I saw this on the telly.

I wish I had. I missed the whole thing unfortunately. I hope they got it on YouTube.

But, of course they did, Mister Foxy.
UPS Giraffe Float (Toys for Tots)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-ZHzIxRHMQ

Hey! I know where that corner is. I've walked by it many times.

It's a gi-raffe, a gi-raffe!

(Butch voice.) Naaaw... A Gi-Raffe gots a Loooong Neck like this... Oh wait. (I thought you'd like this.)

Oh wow, that's amazing. Looks great.

Thanks. I'll see if I can get any more of those photos transferred to my e-mail account. Getting this image resized and submitted to FA was like "Pulling Teeth" without Photoshop.

What happens to those after the parade? I can sort of imagine them being set adrift on the tide and washing up on a beach in Chile several months later, causing wide-spread panic among superstitious fishermen.

Actually, it's nothing spectacular. The floats are taken back to their respective yards, and dismantled. The electronics and complex mechinisms go back to where they were rented from, and the flowers and stuff get tossed in the dumpster. Finally, the mechanical movements, chassis components, wheels, tires, and engines get stored away in the "Bone Yard." All await to be re=used again later in the year. The float building process takes all year really, with some designs and proposals settled even before Christmas.

On a similar note, clean until the late 1930s, the Macy's parade had a custom of letting their big balloons go at the end of the celebration, and there were quite a few reports of sea captains noting that they saw what appeared to be Donald Duck or Pinocchio floating over the Horizon.

Sort of like the Russians did with the Mishka balloon at the end of the 1980 Summer Olympics Closing Ceremonies. Heard it came down in a liquor store parking lot a few miles away. Hurt a couple guys there who where too drunk to get out of the way of the giant flying bear..

I didn't know of that. It seems like a pity to create such a remarkable thing and have it dismantled like that. Still, one should take into consideration that it reads like the balloon fell into the category of Parade floats, Movie Props and multi million dollar space exploration satellites that these things were considered "Expendable" and would perhaps cost more to transport and save in a museum over their scrap value.

I couldn't help but be reminded of those huge mining machines like the "Big Muskie" and the Terrex Titan mining equipment that were built in the pits, and after they wore down, were scrapped in the pits.

Sounds like a fun project. One I'd never be able to do because of my allergies, let alone being on the right coast. Looking forward to seeing more pictures.

Oh Tell me About it! On my first day sorting seeds, I developed into a sneezing fit so bad I had to tie my Kerchief around my nose and mouth to keep the irritants at bay. I was photographed several times by "Tourists." Perhaps they liked the idea I was adaptive, or more for the way I resembled a Wild West Train Robber.

My Kerchief was Green! Green is Neutral!

That is three bow ties too many.

LOL! Welllll.... It was a nice touch though. It beats four or five scarves, right?

very cute. :)


do you know why giraffes have such long necks?

I always thought it was because they were selective browsers, and fed mainly on the tender leaves atop Acacia Trees on the African plains. I'd like to read your explanation though.

it's easy: because their heads are up so high. need to connect that noggin with something, yes?

Ah! I get it.

I wish they had kept the floats on display until Wednesday, so I could have a day off work to go up and see them! Wanted some pictures of that one and the Monkey King one.

That was City of Torrance, yes?

I believe The Monkey King was sponsored by The City of Torrance, but I'm not sure. I thought it was also tied in with the recent release of a computer animated movie based on the ancient Chinese myth. Oh it was soooo cool! They even had a costumed performer in applied makeup and regalia as The Monkey King. It was like a mini, simian furry con... Heh heh... I also lie the way they rigged up the Monkey King's staff to shoot fire from it's tip.

I missed the after viewing too. I stayed home in bed, nursing a cold.

So who was the sponsor for the giraffe float again? I forgot.

Oh! It was a joint venture between UPS stores and Toys for Tots.

I only played a minor role in it, but it was a pleasure to tell my fellow volunteers and friends, "We did it!"

Oh, how cool!

I thought you'd dig it. If anything, I figure you might find the inner workings of these machines even more fascinating. These days they've gone beyond simply welding pencil wire onto an old Dodge military truck frame, and create machines which would be more than worthy of the rigs seen an any "Mad Max" movie. ...Without the ped mount, compressed air dart slingers and flame throwers of course.

Heh heh, yeah. I've seen some stuff on them, it's amazing.

Cool pic!

I've really got to get the rest of those photos out of my phone. The clerk at the Verizon store suggested going to The Geek Squad or Fry's and you know any excuse to visit Fry's is always a good one.

Very cool

Wait until I show you guys the biggest plate of Spaghetti in Pasadena!

All the noms!

Nice!

It was the most fun I've had in a long time.

Wow! Very cool

Thanks Misha. I owe you a letter... A Long letter.

And of course you chose an animal-themed float to work on ;)

It was kind of a strange coincidence. I was "Thrown into the lions den" clean clothes and all as a Volunteer, and decided to stay and help out as it was six hours to the final roll out. Technically I started on Ragu, but ended up sticking flowers on a tiny, red train at the rear of the UPS Giraffe float. I stayed with that crew until the roll out, and finished my day schlepping trays of flowers and foam applique parts. The giraffe ended up meaning a lot to me because of a friend of mine's "Fursona" being a bookish giraffe. I found myself wishing he could have been there, especially when that float saw daylight, and the giraffe unfolded to it's full height.

Haha, yeah that giraffe certainly looked Bookish with a capital "B." And I bet your friend got a kick out of hearing about your working on it! I'm sure it was much more fun than working on a spaghetti-sauce-themed float =P