12/5/2009 Electric Light Parade

Oooohhhh,,,a cold chill has settled into the desert and we don’t like it! We’ll be back in the low seventies later next week but right now we’re dealing with high 50’s to low 60’s during the day. NOT shorts weather! It isn’t bad at all if you are in the sun but step into the shade and you shiver!

Since it was so chilly today and the light hanging is in the shade at this point Bob opted not to work on the lights today. Instead, we went to town in the mid-afternoon to pick up some more Icicle lights for the side of the house.

Lights bought, it was off to the Promenade shopping center to get a new jacket for Bob. His lightweight jackets are nothing more than logo’d windbreakers and his heavier jacket is a lined leather, too warm for this weather. He needed an in between one for these cool Arizona days and evenings. We found a really nice one in Kohl’s at 50% off, at least that what the sign says but I have my doubts because I would NOT pay $100.00 for this jacket! It’s $50.00 nice,,,,not $100.00 worth of nice!

On the corner of the Promenade shopping center was this young fellow. We had a red light so we had time to watch him spin this sign every which way but loose! What a show he put on.

Here its spinning on his head. These signs are for Ashley Furniture and kids this age are on every corner doing these spinning shows with these signs. I don’t know if they are just supposed to stand there and just hold the sign or engage in this showmanship in order to draw attention. He was entertaining enough, for all I cared the sign could be for Joe’s Bail Bond’s.

Ahhhh,,,,he saw the camera!

From the Promenade it was off to the Elk’s Club situated on Florence Blvd. the main drag through Casa Grande. (For you Delawarean’s, think Concord Pike.) We went there for the secure parking and a place to spend some time before the real reason for coming into town started. This evening is the Casa Grande Electric Light Christmas Parade.

The Elks Club was quite busy and we’re guessing it was because of the parade. We set our chairs up outside on the sidewalk to reserve our space and went back in and had some drinks to pass the time away. As it got busier more people were just pouring in. One couple started to sit down at the table next to us and since we were at a table for four and they were getting ready to sit a table for four and tables were needed,,,, I asked them if they would like to join us. The gladly accepted our invitation and we learned, once again, just how small this world is. Turns out they are former Quail Run residents and still have friends in the park. His name is Harold and during our introductions when it came time for her to give her name the table behind us laughed very loudly and drowned her voice out. We just let it go and now I find I don’t know her name. Regardless, they were lots of fun. Harold started telling this one story about what him and one of us his buddies did when they were here. He hadn’t gotten very far into it when I practically jumped out of my seat and said, “Mud Fish!”. I had heard that story and have told it several times. For you long time readers, you’ve read about it on the blog but you can refresh your memory HERE. Needless to say, he was surprised we knew the story. They told us of more of their antics while here and the practical jokes they played on another and I was wishing they were still here, they are just tons of fun!

Five o’clock came and the Elks kitchen started serving turkey soup. Oh, was it good! Soup done, it was time to move outside. It was very near dark and soon the parade would be starting.

We were glad to be in this spot because we were at the beginning of the parade and the parade “officials” were situated on a flatbed truck and announced each entry so we knew who each one was. There were about 95 entrants all told so it was quite a parade.

Local businesses decked there company trucks out in lights to participate. Here’s APS the local electric company.

Most all of the RV parks in the area had a float in the parade. Quail Run did not, but I don’t know if that’s because we are in the unincorporated town of Arizona City and not in Casa Grande proper or not. Bob and I thought it would be great fun for QR to have a float so we’re going to look into it for next year.

Sundance is an RV park in the area and where Harold and his wife now spend their winters.

Los Colinos is another RV park.

I forget who this float belonged to, one of the local churches I think, but they went all out!

There were several marching bands from the area schools. Even the kids were lit up and their instruments too. The had strings of lights and battery packs. Unfortunately, with them moving the pictures turned out like streaks of light.

Here’s what a fire truck looks like when it is covered top to bottom and front to back in lights.

It was a great parade! We're glad we went!