Happy Mummers Day

Happy New Year! In Philadelphia, we’ll at least in this house and many houses we know, January 1 is more Mummers Day than New Year's Day.

What's a Mummer?
http://www.pennlive.com/life/2016/12/mummers_philadelphia_what_is.html

What type of Mummer is MFD? 
He's in The Joseph A. Ferko String Band. The String Bands are the last division to perform and Ferko goes up 14th out of 16 string bands. Their theme is The World Renowned Ferko Circus.

They are supposed to be on TV around 3:10 but the parade is typically running behind (live stream link below), so start checking in a little before 3:10 if you specifically want to see them or a little earlier if you want to catch all the string bands - it's quite a production with the music and the costumes and props; and a time honored tradition to put a good show out on the street on New Year's Day. REMEMBER TIMES ARE APPROXIMATE, PARADE RUNS BEHIND.

Today is MFD's 31st parade. Best of luck to him & Ferko and all of our framily in other bands.

For a guide of the 2019 parade, visit  
https://phl17.com/2018/12/21/2019-mummers-parade-order-of-march-and-themes/

http://www.mrmummer.com/blog/2018/11/2019-mummers-parade-guide/

http://www.philly.com/things-to-do/mummers-parade-philadelphia-route-start-time-road-closures-how-to-watch-20181227.html

Guide & street closures: https://philly.curbed.com/2018/12/28/18159058/2019-mummers-parade-guide-new-years-road-closure-route

To stream live - you cannot use Internet Explorer as your browser:
http://phl17.com/live/

Coverage begins at 9 am. Stringbands are on a lot later.

The parade will also be live on PHL17's facebook page.

To catch some shots on Instagram:
Philly Mummers String Band Association (@phillymummerssba)

As always, I will post a pic of MFD so you know what type of costume to look for if you watch the live stream (@lifeaccordingtosteph on Instagram).

Cheers!

TWTW - the one with New Year

Raise your hand if you didn't make it until midnight on New Year's Eve...my hand is raised. I did take Gus to acupuncture earlier in the day, MFD and I were unintentional samesies dressers, and Debbie came over for crab dip and other apps and a super easy ice cream sandwich.

Good thing I made the traditional pork & sauerkraut New Year's meal on New Year's eve because as I was settling in with my coffee to make mashed potatoes on New Year's morning, I got a call from MFD that he needed me to bring his sax to the clubhouse. It's not Mummers Day unless he forgets something that requires me to leave the house in pajamas. And then he came back home looking for something else. I felt anxiety and I'm not even a mummer. LOL

Peters and I met Jenn & Kit Kat at the train station...then I had to get off at 30th Street to pee. So, need to pee before the parade and I wore a coat that wasn't warm enough. Amateur hour. No matter, Peters and I hopped a cab down Market Street to see Frank at Fralinger and take a look see at the street scenes before heading to see Ferko.

We watched Ferko run through a few times.

Then we made our way to the stands where we encountered a hipster in an awesome suit and a marshall with a man bun. We were sitting in the back, which is where you can see the marshalls sweat it seemingly more than the performers sometimes. Many things go into a show, not just what you see in the front!

Lots of chicanery on the train home, a stop at Three Monkeys, then Jenn picked me up and we headed down to Ferko. I was very pleased with the parade through the neighborhood after it was announced that Ferko won second prize. Congrats to South Philly on first prize! Plus time with my favorites before I started whining to go home. Old ladies cannot drink beer all day. Trust.

I loved Ferko this year, especially the music. Here is aYouTube clip of it below if you're interested.

I meant to do a great many things Saturday including driving down to the shore, but when I woke up I didn't want to do much aside from watch Making a Murderer and order food. Luckily MFD and I blurted out to each other immediately that we didn't want to go to the shore as planned which alleviated either one of us from feeling like a ruiner. We stayed home and he went to make his Mum rounds at night. After we watched the parade again, of course.

Sunday it was time to pay the piper. We were on the road to the shore by 9:30. We took photos to put it up on VRBO and winterized it. We stopped at the beach to see the ocean and on the way home we made a huge list of things that need to be done in the spring. Well, not on the way home. On the way to a showing appointment. I was driving Miss Daisy all over NJ and got home a few hours later than planned.

I had grand plans of things to do at home, but I was exhausted. So I made mashed potatoes to accompany the leftover pork, made scrambled eggs and poop soup for the dogs, and egg muffins for breakfast for me this week. Lunches are salads (buying from Wawa) and dinners are leftovers and spaghetti squash with olive oil, black olives, grape tomatoes, and fresh mozzarella. I'll make that today or Tuesday.

Speaking of dogs...

And of course, the best thing about January - the return of Downton Abbey.

I hope you started 2016 off on a good foot! I'm looking to settle into it this week. I'm feeling a little overwhelmed...time to stop thinking and just breathe and make some to do lists.

My BFF Laura celebrated her birthday yesterday, and my aunt Sue celebrates hers today. Happy Happy!

Linking up with Biana at B Loved Boston for Weekending

The Streets of Philadelphia - New Year's Day Version

What the hell is happening, friends? I'm back to work after nine days off in a row. I feel sort of like I'm in the Twilight Zone. I'm zonked. You know that song The Streets of Philadelphia?

This is what the streets of Philadelphia look like on New Year's Day:

Bat cars. Golden slippers. Costumes. Merry mayhem. Bands in formation, poised to take their place on the street in front of the judges (Joseph A. Ferko String Band pictured above). Mummers work hard all year for this one day. It's like their Super Bowl.

This is what the skies in Philadelphia look like on New Year's Day

Mumfetti in the air near City Hall. A captain looks out on his band. Teddy bears are shot into the air and parachute down from the the sky.

More glimpses of my day and my people...disregard my fat guy in a little coat appearance - I'm wearing three layers, mofos:

Scenes from Ferko String Band (and one of our BFF Frank looking fierce with Uptown String Band in the lower right corner):

Click here to watch Ferko's routine.

I hope you were able to watch the parade live, on TV, or via live stream yesterday. It's many things, this mummer business, and maybe you have to grow up in Philadelphia to truly understand it and appreciate it; but when it comes down to it it's a great, storied, long-standing tradition that's only held up on the backs of its members and their families. Mummery takes up a lot of time.

Thanks to all you mummers out there - from first prize to last, you certainly entertained. It was my first time back on the street in years. I only saw some wench brigades, the fancies, and the first six bands in person, but whether I saw it live or on TV, I really enjoyed the parade this year. A little slow (and can the fancies be first?) but not too many sucks in it.

Where are my January Spending Freeze people? On day two I want to buy all the things BUT I WILL NOT. However, I do suggest you satisfy yourself by entering some giveaways, like this one for a $75 Target Gift Card that I'm taking part in on Till Then, Smile Often; or this one pinned to the top of the Lower Bucks County Moms Facebook Page that has a huge list of prizes.

Now, excuse me while I roundhouse kick 849 cups of coffee in the face and make them my bitch.