2010 TRAVELING FLOAT

CONSTRUCTION PROJECT

March 29 - April 4, 2010

by Tom Grady:

On Friday, Judy, Sheila and Carol went down and met Greg at the float barn to lay out some of the decorations. They set the rocks, mushrooms, birds, birdhouses, and butterflies where they wanted them on the float. Greg will figure out how to attached them.

I flew up on Friday night and Greg and Amy picked me up on their way to a dinner engagement. I went over to the float to plan ahead for the very short weekend.

On Saturday, Past-President Darrell Wigdahl dropped by to finish up some auto electrical work for us. Darrell checked out our horn (which was dead), replaced it, and got us a new switch. He also made us a new dashboard for the gas gauge, horn switch and starter switch that he installed from a previous week. He also discovered that maybe we have the wrong sending unit in our gas tank...so during the Daffodil Parade we'll have to find out whether or not it is working properly. If not, we'll have to buy a GM gauge instead. Greg also had Darrell adjust the cold start idle on the carburetor so that it would stay running after we start it up for the first time in the trailer. Thanks for everything that you did Darrell!!! It's nice to have you back!

Also, President Angie came down with her daughter Darien and brought down our new signs that were made by Sarah and Mike Leighan from Vinyl Signs and Banners in Marysville. They look great! And they produced them extremely quick! Sarah and Mike have always done a wonderful job for Maryfest - and Mike has been a past Board member for the Festival.

Angie helped me attach the decorations while Greg tried to figure out how we were going to get the bees to spin on a record-like platter. We had a problem with the rocks. They don't like staples all that much.....so this week we are going to have to either try Liquid Nails (John Hiatt's suggestion) or silicone (my Linda's suggestion from her trophy store days) and see if that works to make them stick to the Astroturf. There's not many more decorations to add to the float.

It will only take a little while to add the signs. I made all of the receivers this Saturday - painted them - now they just had to dry. Greg and I finally got the bee-thing to work....you will see a picture of it in this week's slide. Well, only one bee on it. Trust me, it works. But we got out of there at midnight. It spins one-and-a-half turns per minute, so no one should get hurt from it....unless Carol walks by it! hahahahaha!

Gosh...7 days to go....it's hard to believe that Daffodil is upon us. Friday we will be rolling this thing out on River Road in Puyallup and getting ready for Saturday's 4-parade day. Another grand season is in store for us gang....I hope that you all are ready....I know that we will do our best to be...

SEE YOU FRIDAY!!!!!

Greg & Tom