I Hate Working Parades!

[nitestokker]

Tomorrow we have our annual "Parade of Lights" Christmas parade and I have to work traffic control. I HATE WORKING PARADES! No one pays attention to the traffic barriers, all these idiots who think you are part of the entertainment want to get your photo and talk to you about stupid shit like their neighbor's barking dog, and inevitably there are at least two carloads of tourists and one tractor-trailer who get pissed because they just want to go straight through town. This shit is why I work nights! In the dark you don't have to wave at everyone and most people you talk to are either your fellow cops or else someone who is going to jail......therefore, you DON"T HAVE TO PRETEND TO BE NICE! Grrrrrrrr!

[jcsdscott]

well you're right, but look on the bright side, tomorrow you get back to everything the way you want it, and it could always be worse: We could work when the sun is up and deal with it every, single, day

[mavriktu]

ROFL,you gotta be kidding stokker,"A" parade,come on down to Mardi Gras land where you have dozens of "Real" parades over a 2 week period,and beleive me they aint nuthin like your parade of lights.

[K9brando]

I agree, at night time there are only two types of people on the street, the good guys and the bad guys and I tell people I am interviewing or yelling at that I don't see a badge on their chest so that makes them a bad guy.

I hate parades also. Our Christmas parade is December 10th. I am counting down the days and dreading it!

[Jenna]

A Christmas parade in November? So was your Thanksgiving parade in October and your Halloween parade in September? Is this because of global warming?

[TXCharlie]

I liked manning baracades at our Christmas Parade, because it was one of the EXTREMELY few police functions (no actually the ONLY thing) we were allowed to assist in while I was a member of our CPA organization.

I tried to get the PD to give us a one-sheet map with the blocked roads marked that we could copy & hand out (so we wouldn't have to stand there explaining to pissed-off idiots how to get to whereever they were going over & over), but like every other request I made to the PD, it was pretty much ignored.

[Andrewtx]

What's so fun about parades, anyway?

[gozling]

What's so fun about parades, anyway?

the candy lol

[Retmilleo909]

ROFL,you gotta be kidding stokker,"A" parade,come on down to Mardi Gras land where you have dozens of "Real" parades over a 2 week period,and beleive me they aint nuthin like your parade of lights.

Yeah, man!!

[Retmilleo909]

the candy lol

The drum majorettes!!

[adroitcuffs]

Yeah, I especially like those folks who, while you're manning a barricade, say "But I always go that way!" The worst offenders are usually the long-time residents who KNOW that particular parade covers that route on that day every year!!!

I'd much rather be IN the parade!

[10-42Adam]

I know it sucks, but just be glad it's a change oh pace and you don't have to deal with scumbags for a while!

[Autumn2009]

I think directing any form of traffic sucks ass. I always get stuck having to direct traffic here for our campus hockey games and even though I'm wearing a bright ugly ass yellow highlighter reflecting vest, people are still trying to kill me. Dumb asses.

[TXCharlie]

Somebody got shot that way in Dallas a few years ago - A football fan tried to run a Reserve officer down because he wanted to turn in a direction that wasn't allowed. Another Reservist shot the guy. Well, I guess next time he'll turn the right direction

[Willowdared]

My son will be marching in the Ocean Beach Christmas Parade on Saturday with his Boy Scout Troop - and I managed to comp off to see it this year!

When SDPD starts towing the vehicles away, the crowd starts cheering.

It's one of the quirkiests parades I've ever seen, featuring an opening courtesy the local Harley club, floats from everyone from the Lions Club (living nativity featuring real camels/goats) to Dr Jefe's Piercing salon (belly dancers and leather.)

The Geriatric Precision Surfboard Drill Team with the Gidgette Brigade is usually on board, and the last few years they were joined by a local pre-schools Boogie Board Team.

I will try to get some pictures - it's the best!

[Retmilleo909]

>>My son will be marching in the Ocean Beach Christmas Parade on Saturday with his Boy Scout Troop - and I managed to comp off to see it this year!<<

Great!!..glad you got time off to see the parade. I know you'll be one proud Mom when your son comes marching past, all decked out in his BSA uniform, to the beat of drums and the blare of a marching band.
My kids are now grown, but I recall how proud I was when my 2 daughters took part in Christmas pageants, piano recitals and other school and youth activities.

[nitestokker]

Well, my parade is over and I survived. But it's not a good parade unless you get at least one complaint. Sure enough, some idiot wouldn't stop for me and tried to turn the wrong direction (INTO ME!). Therefore, he got a nice MagLite shaped dent in the side of his fancy pickup. He threatened to sue, the boss laughed at him and then we all went home. Lived to die another day. The end.

[jcsdscott]

So I see I'm not the only wielding the Maglite of Justice, or in my case Streamlight, shedding light on all those non-drivers who cannot follow simple dierction

[Trojan 42]

What's so fun about parades, anyway?

Content deleted as public area.

[ticktwrter]

My primary job is to plan things like parade routes and walk routes and I am also responsible for the part of the home Notre Dame football traffic pattern. They get old, but I think we do a good job directing them.