I've lived in this city for roughly 82% of my life. This includes childhood. For better or worse (I suspect the former), I've never attended the Grand Floral Parade. This year I'm working out the logistics of camping out overnight on Friday night to watch it. Why? Several factors, not limited to:

I actually know people that are willing to go with me.

Stupidity. I don't even like parades.

To display a sign of solidarity with area homeless people that sleep on Portland's downtown streets every night and/or for the novelty of being able to legally camp in the middle of a major metropolitan city.

Stupidity. It's supposed to get cooooooooold on Friday night.

I would get to watch city commissioner Randy Leonard land himself in the middle of inevitable arguments with old women and small children.

Because I enjoy getting hassled by drunks, employees of the armed services, crazy people, other people stupid enough to camp out over night for a parade (AKA crazy people) and/or the police.

Stupidity. My Friday night could be better spent someplace warm that serves both alcohol and is screening Top Gun.

A deluded sense of civic pride.

Stupidity. Good, old fashioned, all-American stupidity.

If I do decide to go through with this I plan on the live-blogging the whole thing. Stay tuned.

Labels: Rose Festival, stupidity