I didn't even bother to try. I'm so wiped after the parade today. it was really cool. There is a long period of waiting afterwards. Even though we have a car at the end there was a lot to do before I could do anything with the car. I had four guys and a gal with a bass that needed to get back to their cars. The thing is that we had to get all their stuff off the float and on the sidewalk so Fran could watch it. It wasn't until we got all the stuff off, we couldn't go take the them back to their cars. Plus the guys driving the float didn't know where they were supposed to drive to so after they stopped, they had to move the float another block. We knew where they were supposed to go and our car was parked a half a block away.
It took a while to get it all put away and while we were sitting around waiting, people kept walking by. We were pretty obvious who we were because no one else walks around a Pride Parade wearing a Tuxedo and white dinner jacket. We got so many comments, "you guys are the best band EVER!", "You were my favorite group last year and my favorite this year", "You guys are awesome!" and more of the like.
It was pretty cool to be so appreciated. The best thing? While I was shuttling everyone back to their cars at the front of the parade, Fran was kind of chatting up the float guys while they loaded things back up. Now Long Beach is an easy parade, we live about seven blocks from the start of the parade route. We stash our cars at the beginning and end days before, it works out easily.
LA, not so much. The day of, we both have to drive a car up. We put one at the beginning of the route (so that band subs can get jackets or other uniform parts that they need), and then usually pay $20 to park the car at the end of the route so that we can get back to the car at the beginning. Well the guys at the float company offered us that once we drive up, unload the car etc. We put our SUV in the trailer that the float rides in and they will store it in there until the end of the parade and take it out at the end of the parade for us! How cool is THAT? We save the $20 parking fee and only have to take one vehicle. We bring it to the beginning of the parade route and they make it appear at the end of the route!
My laptop never leaves my house. I am using it now though. When I am out, I use my iPhone if and when i check in. That is why I rarely check in when I am out.
I had a fabulous time, it was the best weekend I've had in a long time. I needed that 
