Zannee’s Blog at BargainsLA.com

I go to the Doo Dah parade to laugh and watch an exercise in the ridiculous. I hadn’t been in years and decided at the last minute to go. But the good oldies were gone. No precision brief case drills, no lawn mower brigade … and my all time favorite the paparazzi newsmen. They did have the BBQ Hibachi guys throwing bits of Hot Dogs at the crowd, and a killer drum band from some local high school….which barely saved the day.

I am not sure when good old fashioned sarcastic fun became an opportunity for political activism. Along with all the typical silliness there was a great deal of political statements being made. “Vote for Obama”, “Impeach Bush”, “Impeach anyone”, “Make Marijuana legal” people along with “911 was a hoax” people. Okay, it’s a bit annoying, but I can live with that.

But now add the nearly naked women to the mix. That just ruined it for me.

Honestly, if I wanted to look at naked women in pasties, I would have hit a strip joint. If I wanted to go to a political rally, I would have. But I had two kids in tow and watched their stunned faces when a woman in a real g-string, spike heels, feather boa and scotch tape across her nipples hand out flyers over their heads to the crowd. When did this parade start needing to be PG 13 rated? Where was the smart originality I so loved years back?

I loved the Andy Baby for President and the guys dressed up as grandmas in electric scooters telling everyone to vote. The Church of the Stop Shopping guy was there. But the best thing was the Napping Brigade…. Hilarious! Synchronized pillows and napping, smack dab in the middle of the street.

The Doo Dah had many elements from Mardi Gras and the Gay Pride parade now which was fun, but had I known about some of the other stuff I would not have taken the kids. Don’t get me wrong, there was still some good fun, but not enough in a 2-hour parade to make me go back again.