Float Decorating

So it has taken me ages to post this blog because for some reason it didn't want to upload the pics. So here it is. This year my supervisor worked all year to get one of my patients on the Donate Life float for the Rose Parade. It was an issue since Donate Life is for donors that donate after they die and bone marrow can be given as a living donor so there was a little convincing that needed to be done to get permission. It probably helps that the hospital donates a bunch of money to the parade... My patient was super excited to ride the float and all the fun that went along with it. A group of my patients and staff from the hospital as well as Barbie all went down to Pasadena to help decorate the float. It was super intense.

The group gathered at the hospital prior to heading out. Barb is taking the picture.

Yes it was downpouring rain. We had to wait outside for the whole team to get signed in and we all got a little bit wet while we waited.

So the leader asked for volunteers who were unafraid of heights and who would be willing to walk on the scaffolding. I raised my hand, figuring it would be no big deal. Then I spent the next 2 1/2 hours up on the scaffolding in awkward positioning placing tiny seeds in a row. It was very tedious work and I am glad I did not have to do the whole thing!

This is a pic of what took me all that time to complete. Although it was only about a 6 inch section so the picture is of a way bigger portion then what I completed. So glad someone else was willing to donate their time to fill in that section.

Me up on the scaffolding which was actually really fun, even though my whole body felt bruised and beaten the next day from the awkward positions I had to put myself in to reach the seeds.

Barbie placing her carnations with the utmost concentration. Love the sticking out of her tongue.

Again dealing with the carnations.

The whole group eating lunch trying to stay dry since it was STILL raining.

Barbie and Stefanie

Barbie was balancing on top of a 5 gallon bucket that was placed on a not smooth surface. She was a little dramatic with the whole balancing act.

Once she felt a little more confident of her balance she became the bucket model.

Barbie relinquished her bucket climbing duties to another volunteer who was a little more gutsy about bucket climbing. Of course she had to keep her hand on his side, cause he was making her very nervous. He was able to reach high enough, but couldn't see so another volunteer who was up higher and could see was directing him. It was pretty funny and involved some smashed flowers, but the space did get filled.

There were signs that were put on the sides of the float. Jen and Dr. Morris worked on placing the seeds in perfectly straight lines. Jen tried to instruct Dr. Morris that the supervisor wanted the rows done horizontally, but he didn't listen. He made his rows vertical and then was a little upset when the supervisor came back around and scraped all of his seeds off and told him to redo the rows horizontally! They take this float decorating business very seriously!

Some deflowered stems

Barb finished with the yellow flowers and moved on to the red section.

We were so good at placing the flowers on the float that we finished with the flowers before the people preparing the flowers had more flowers ready. So we goofed off a little, until the head boss came along with his laser pointer and looked a little irritated. So we played it cool after that.

Barbie getting all sticky from the tacky glue on the flowers. Things got a little messy and that glue really sticks! I have washed my jeans twice and there are still sticky spots!

Part of the section that we finished. Well mostly Barb. I did the purple flowers in a different section.

Working on placing the flowers on the underside of the float. Definite neck pain, but it was so worth it!! We had so much fun decorating and it was a great experience!