The Peep Drop for Early Birds
food, Fun December 31st, 2010I know it’s not 2011 yet, but I’ve already been out to see the clock countdown to the new year.
I went to my first ever Peep Drop!
What’s a Peep Drop, you ask? Just Born, the company who makes deliciously sugary, marshmallowy Peeps, is located in my town. Every New Year’s Eve, they drop a Peep at two times: early evening (for kids and tired old people) and again at midnight, for people who can stay up past say, 10PM.
I’m a tired old person, so that meant fake midnight. My husband and I sidled up to the viewing area, and looked up to the sky to find a glowing fiberglass Peep hanging from the top of a giant crane.
As the countdown approached, screaming kids chanted “Drop-the-Peep! Drop-the-Peep!”
And then at the appointed time, Enormous Peep in all its paunchy yellow glory, was lowered to the ground to great fanfare and then fireworks.
After Mr. Peep touched down, an organizer came over to the area where I was standing and said “OK, press? You can come over now.”
OMG. She thinks I’m press. Should I go over? I can get real close and maybe hug the costumed Peep who walked around and cheeped at people.
And then I chickened out. I stayed behind while real press people got to get within inches of both real and Plastic Peep.
Sigh.
At least that’s the last regret I’ll have in 2010. Tomorrow’s a new year, ripe for plenty of new regrets.
Stumble it!
December 31st, 2010 at 8:17 pm
OMG you live where they make those things? I thought they were from outerspace or something. They’re so…creepy. Ummm, I mean, Creeptastic!
Karen´s last blog post ..Too Much Introspection
December 31st, 2010 at 8:18 pm
That is the saddest thing I’ve ever heard…that you actually can’t stay up to see the real ball drop. 🙂
Unfinished Rambler´s last blog post ..My final thanks and no thanks of 2010
December 31st, 2010 at 8:21 pm
You live such an interesting life!!
Happy New Year!!
The Florida Furkids and Angel Sniffie
The Florida Furkids and Angel Sniffie´s last blog post ..Flashback Femme Friday with Sniffie
December 31st, 2010 at 8:57 pm
If I lived there, I’d be at the Peep Drop for sure. Yep, I’m old and don’t even think about staying up after 10:00. I do wish you had gone on and interviewed the Peep. Maybe next year?
Happy New Year, Kathy! You made me smile many, many times in 2010, and look forward to much more next year! I just get a little nervous about my thens and thans and such words when I post to you. Just be gentle when I make those boo-boos 🙂
Cats~Goats~Quotes´s last blog post ..Napoleon Thankful and sad
December 31st, 2010 at 9:24 pm
Hey I’m old people, that’s my kind of event. I could seriously celebrate New Years that way.
Happy New Year to you.
Ann´s last blog post ..Happy New Year
December 31st, 2010 at 9:27 pm
You know I never really thought about the fact that they had to be made somewhere. Weird. And certainly fitting learning about the peep drop here, from you!
And thanks for reminding me what night it is. I need to go right now and give one of our dogs her twice yearly dose of tranquilizers so she lives through the night!
Will´s last blog post ..How to Reduce Cell Phone Radiation Exposure
December 31st, 2010 at 9:53 pm
Oh, And Happy New Year All!
Will´s last blog post ..Happy New Year!
December 31st, 2010 at 10:32 pm
I can’t remember the last time I was up for the New Year. I think they should have blown up a giant Peep – now that would have been cool.
December 31st, 2010 at 10:50 pm
Awesome! I saw your post on Facebook asking where the Peep Drop was going to be. I had no idea what you were talking about. This is so neat! And the fact that they have an early drop is so great.
You totally should have taken advantage of the press thing. Think about all the great news and stories you bring to us, your dear readers. Who keeps us informed about Windy on a regular basis? Who reported on those crazily loud Sun Chips bags? You’ve even been on NPR! I’m sad you missed a chance to hug a Peep.
Surfie´s last blog post ..Im Ready to Take on the World
December 31st, 2010 at 11:05 pm
That definitely sounds like the type of New Year’s celebration Gerard and I would like. Early for us oldies is definitely a plus! That’s funny they thought you were the press–such a great opportunity for you. I’m surprised you chickened out, Bwak, bwak, bwak. Thanks for last laugh of 2010!
Karen and Gerard´s last blog post ..5 Things I Learned This Week 102 health- PO- jokes- books
January 1st, 2011 at 1:35 am
Very Cool! You should have ran right up there with your daughter and had fun. Maybe next year 🙂 Go Peep!
TheFlyOnTheWall´s last blog post ..What do you carry in your car
January 1st, 2011 at 1:46 am
That is made out of win. I have wanted to go to the Peep NYE for forever!
SewDucky!´s last blog post ..Happy New Year! Changes Are A Comin’
January 1st, 2011 at 3:34 am
That is possibly the most bizarre and yet coolest thing I’ve seen on NYE. Sadly there is nothing so entertaining to go to here, the best things I get to see fall to the ground are the drunken Marines! The Peep Drop seems so much more wholesome! Happy New Year!
January 1st, 2011 at 6:16 am
I think that live Peep has inspired a new fashion statement for me. His/her legs look so thin in that huge Peep outfit which means I should buy a puffy coat for winter so my legs can look spindly as well.
Thank you Peep Mascot for giving me the best tip of 2011 so far.
January 1st, 2011 at 6:54 am
Karen — Yep! They are a little creeptastic. It’s because of the eyes.
Unfinished Rambler — Yeah, but I feel great the next morning and don’t blow the 1st trying to play catch-up!
Florida Furkids and Angel Sniffie — Oh, now that’s funny. My life begs to differ. Happy New Year to you too!
Cats-Goats-Quotes — The drop was very well attended. Lots of screaming kids and parents who were excited as well. Great time. I’m telling you, I was “thisclose” to walking up to the Peeps and acting all official like. Yeah, maybe next year. Thank you for your kind words and NEVER worry about misspellings on the blog. I don’t even notice. It’s only when people who are paid to spell correctly, and get it wrong, get mocked on the blog.
Ann — Mine too. It was part of a First Night (non-alcoholic) event. Nice to have less drunk NYE celebrations as I age. p.s. I was asleep by 10:30.
Will — Some day I want to take a tour of the Peep factory. There are people who work there whose only job is to put the eyes on. Seriously. Hope your dog made it through all the festivities and happy new year to you too!
Sheila — You and me both, sister. My husband (and some random guy in the crowd) both said they wanted to see it explode when it got to the ground. It’s hilarious to me that people would think of that. Poor Peep!
Surfie — I missed the early one last year b/c I couldn’t find out when it was. I wouldn’t go if not for the early bird special. You know, you’re totally right! If they asked me my credentials, I would have just said “I got Windy on NPR.”
Karen — It was really fun, a big party atmosphere. We’re definitely going to make it a tradition. We came home after and had a big dinner and then I was in bed by 10:30. I can’t do the NYEs of old anymore. Happy New Year, Karen (and Gerard)!
TheFlyontheWall — My daughter, if I had one. In fact, I should rent a kid next time to increase my chances of having a photo opportunity with the peeps. It helped if you had little ones around you.
SewDucky — It was awesome! We talked to another couple who came in from upstate New York just to see it. They’d read about in an article featuring weird things some towns drop to ring in the new year. I also live near Crayola (Easton, PA) and they dropped a giant crayon at midnight. In Lebanon, PA, they drop bologna.
Laura S — Totally! Yep, not falling drunks. Just Peeps! Wholesome feels less exhausting to me at my age.
Cardiogirl — I know! “Spindly” came to mind as soon as I saw the costumed Peep’s legs. OMG. That has to be a woman under there. If it was a guy, he needs to hit the gym.
January 1st, 2011 at 7:16 am
You are sooooo lucky to get to see the Peep Drop! Peeps are very magical and taste extra-delicious. I did not realize they had such spindly legs though.
Does it smell Peep-y in your town?
Daisy the Curly Cat´s last blog post ..Happy New Year!
January 1st, 2011 at 7:47 am
Awesomeness to the Peepth Degree!
Barb @AgingGracefully-ish´s last blog post ..2011 – Chapter 001
January 1st, 2011 at 8:38 am
press? guess that person started drinking earlier. um did you have your camera with you. yeah that’s why. i totally would have walked around like i was the press. would have even said, “excuse me, press coming through.”
v´s last blog post ..He beat her to the punch- but she got the last laugh
January 1st, 2011 at 8:53 am
Oh, wow. Bacon totally wishes he could have been there! Peeps- food with eyes! I think it looked pretty, um, weird. Which would be right up my alley. Maybe next new year we’ll drive on up to PA and see the Peep drop. lol!
I’m Bacon´s last blog post ..Bacon brews a lovely cream ale
January 1st, 2011 at 8:54 am
At first I thought “What the….? Why would anyone want to see something drop down on a crane?” Then I remembered that you have some sort of large ball drop down at the stroke of midnight right? (shows her ignorance) Good idea to have an early one, or you would never see it 🙂
Babs – beetle´s last blog post ..Another one bites the dust
January 1st, 2011 at 9:32 am
Am I the only person on Earth who thinks Peeps are really gross? They look like so much fun (squishy! bright colors!) that I usually try one every couple of years, only to find that I still think they’re gross. The Drop looked like fun, though. Happy New Year!
absepa´s last blog post ..There are no magic numbers here
January 1st, 2011 at 9:35 am
Next year we want video of you hugging a Peep..come on step up to the plate Kathy… maybe I will start a campaign…with billboards and bumpers tickers
HUG THE PEEP KATHY…….
robert bourne´s last blog post ..The Road the middle years part 15
January 1st, 2011 at 11:13 am
I love Peeps. Completely ridiculous because they embody everything I claim to try to avoid in my life. But I enjoy marshmallows, what can I say?
I am shocked they didn’t drop actual Peeps for everyone to scramble around and pick up. I was sure you were going to say that the giant Peep opened and it spilled them out. Or it was made of sugar and people swung at it like a pinata and all the Peeps inside came out.
I can’t believe you didn’t play along like you were really there from the press. What harm could it have caused? Would you really have been arrested for impersonating press at a Peep show? Oh that just made me laugh!!
sparkling74´s last blog post ..6 Days of Christmas
January 1st, 2011 at 11:54 am
You didn’t go with the press…and yet here you are reporting on it to a bunch of people that probably would never ever heard of such a thing otherwise. Silly blogger! Of course you’re the press.
flit´s last blog post ..Native Hunting Rights
January 1st, 2011 at 1:23 pm
OMG a peep-drop! You live in a wonderful, magical land indeed! Yummy, I love those yummy yellowy goodies.
DrowseyMonkey´s last blog post ..No Year in Review
January 1st, 2011 at 1:23 pm
Now that’s the way to spend New Years Eve! We tried putting firecrackers in peeps once and flinging them off the deck with a catapult. Good times! Good times!
CatLadyLarew´s last blog post ..That Was the Year that Sucked
January 1st, 2011 at 1:41 pm
That was quite the event! We do a pretty safe and sane NYEve with my best friend, CT, and my husband. We go to a nice dinner and then to a movie and get home by 10 or 10:30. We do have the champagne icing, and sometimes stay up to toast in the new year. Sometimes not. Another friend has a traditional New Years Open House and goes all out for it. It runs from 2 PM till 6 PM and is something we always really enjoy. I made it till Midnight last night, and Alex and CT stayed up to watch scary movies for a while. I’m not foggy this morning so it’s good!
Linda Medrano´s last blog post ..Never Say Never
January 1st, 2011 at 7:29 pm
Daisy the Curly Cat — I am lucky! I laughed at Mr. Peep’s spindly legs, too. I think it must be a woman underneath all that yellow stuffing. Yes, it smells Peep-y here. But I would be happier if I lived in Hershey, PA. I would love to live in a magical chocolate land.
Barb — Indeed!
v — It was weird. I couldn’t tell that the other people were press either. Everyone here had cameras. It’s just that I was standing at a non-roped off area (where I wasn’t supposed to be apparently) and got sucked into it. Shoulda, woulda, coulda.
I’m Bacon — Welome, Bacon! You’ll feel right at home here, for this is the Land of Porky Goodness. Bacon would have loved the peep drop. Although if Bacon showed up, he would have been trampled to death because, well, he’s BACON!
Babs Beetle — Yep, there’s all kinds of stuff being lowered to the ground in the US for NYE. It’s gotten pretty crazy, with some cities dropping bologna, pickles and other strange items. I heard Hawaii drops a pineapple.
absepa — I know you’re not the only one. I think you either love them or hate them. Stop trying them. You hate ’em. Happy new year to you too!
robert bourne — You know what? I’m gonna do it. But I’ll ask first before I accost the peep. Don’t want to get arrested for assault and hugging.
sparkling74 — What they did do was hand out hundreds of peeps after the drop. That’s what’s in the boxes you see in the video. Kids were screaming from all directions “I want a peep! Gimme a peep!” Total insanity. I don’t know what harm it would have caused. But I don’t think fast on my feet, so if someone asked me what media outlet I was from, I would have froze up and said The Junk Drawer. “What’s that?” and then I would have run away, never to show my face again.
flit — I’m starting to see the logic in that, except how do I get others to play along with my delusion?
Drowsey Monkey — I do! I do! Cheep!
CatLadyLarew — OMG. You’re a murderer!
Linda Medrano — That’s exactly the kind of NYE I like. I’m not 21 anymore, so long gone are the days of throwing a few back and getting all toasted. If I did that now, I wouldn’t recover for four days. Congrats on making it to midnight. Sadly, but not surprising, I did not.
January 1st, 2011 at 10:50 pm
That was LOL funny. I had to share it with Gail. But geesh, Kathy, if you were attending a fake midnight, why not be fake “press.” No more chicken, k? Just go for it! Worse that could happen is you’d get kicked out or something, and even that would make a good story! 🙂
Back home in Toledo, we’d always get to see the New Year’s festivities of nearby Port Clinton on the news. It is a little town on Lake Erie, famous for Walleye fishing. The have a Walleye drop, just like your Peep drop.
I wish we had something cool to drop in Winston-Salem. I guess we could drop a great big Krispy Kreme donut. Tastier than a Peep, but not nearly as cool! 🙂
January 1st, 2011 at 11:18 pm
I have to say I can not stand Peeps. I would have only been impressed if it burst into flames.
January 2nd, 2011 at 6:23 pm
Aww, why’d you chicken out? I think my gf would have opted out too. I would’ve totally gone over there. Anyway, totally sounds like a fun time.
Happy New Year Kathy!!
January 2nd, 2011 at 7:01 pm
That’s hysterical. And of course you’re the “real” press. The real Bloggy press. I stayed up until nine to watch Kathy Griffith torture Anderson Cooper on CNN until the ball dropped in New York. Hey, when it’s midnight in New York, that’s good enough for me. Then I put my California ass to bed.
Happy New Year, Kathy.
injaynesworld´s last blog post ..injaynesworld The Tree Stays Up
January 2nd, 2011 at 8:47 pm
Oh Kathy, no more chickening out in 2011!
Happy New Year, my friend.
meleah rebeccah´s last blog post ..Snowpocalypse- The Blizzard of 2010
January 3rd, 2011 at 6:08 am
Ferd — Yes, getting kicked out would make a good story, but only if it were my story. Can you imagine if it became a newspaper story? “Woman Crashes Peep Party; Claims to be Reporter.” Winston-Salem really ought to drop a donut and then hand out samples afterward. I’m totally serious. And they could have a tie-in with Starbucks to hand out coffee with them, enough to keep people up through midnight.
Phunnieone — You’re not alone (on either count). Some kid was quoted in the paper saying he wanted it to explode when it got to the ground (with peeps spilling out like a pinata). My husband and a random guy in the crowd said the very same thing.
Ricardo Bueno — I was soooo close to walking up there with the legitimate press, but my feet wouldn’t move. Next year.
injaynesworld — Well, I did at least tell one random person that I was “filming for my blog.” That’s as official as I got. I didn’t watch the ball, even on tape. Lately, I just don’t care about NYE enough to stay up. Happy New Year to you!
meleah rebeccah — Promise. Maybe I’ll even make a fake press pass to wear around my neck. Who would know unless they looked? “What’s the Junk Drawer?” “Lady, where’ve you been?”
January 3rd, 2011 at 4:09 pm
Dropping a giant peep from a crane at midnight is an awesome tradition. The costumed peep is quite frightening, even with that nice scarf. You’re very brave for wanting to get close enough to hug it.
January 3rd, 2011 at 4:38 pm
They really drop peeps?..wtf??!!?…I must visit now!
January 3rd, 2011 at 5:13 pm
You totally should have pretended you were the press and gotten an interview with the costumed Peep. It would have led to greater and greater interviews like the Sta – Puff Marshmallow Man, those hollow bunnies at Easter and maybe eventually Mr. Peanut who is making a big comeback this year.
Jen´s last blog post ..The Dome Has Come Down In Arkansas!
January 3rd, 2011 at 11:56 pm
I am so bringing the kids to your house nest New years. That looks cool. You chichened (haha) out? no way! Windy would have LOVED her pic with the chick. Shame, shame.
Rachele´s last blog post ..How to Choose Free Online Learning Games
January 4th, 2011 at 1:13 am
Aw its a lost opportunity haha. =) Happy new year!
RonLeyba´s last blog post ..UFC 125 Resolution Frankie Edgar vs Gray Maynard
January 4th, 2011 at 6:50 am
The Peep Drop!
Sounds like something more suited for a boxing match between friends, but I like the concept.
givejonadollar´s last blog post ..Jons Perfect Girl
January 5th, 2011 at 8:23 am
But you are press, right? I mean, like, technically, your blog is acknowledged by one of your local papers so… that’s press. Affiliation! Acceptance! Potential Peep Proximity!!
Jenn of Many Cabbages´s last blog post ..This is what you get when you feed a stranger in the Alps- Larry!
January 5th, 2011 at 6:06 pm
Kathy, you’re from Bethlehem? I’m from Allentown!
I never knew they made those marshmallow chickens there. Steel, yes. Sugar chickens, no.
January 5th, 2011 at 7:29 pm
Hi Kathy,
I hope you had a wonderful new year celebration. This is the first time I read about the marshmallow Peeps. It looks interesting… and sad I cannot eat sugar. By the way, You do not look old and tired.
Karina´s last blog post ..Getting in to the world of socks!
January 5th, 2011 at 10:38 pm
hello! you blog! you ARE the press. 🙂
January 6th, 2011 at 6:00 am
Medical Assistant — For some reason, I love costumed characters with their oversized and exaggerated bodies. I accosted both Eyeore and Winnie the Pooh at a Disney character breakfast. Hugs all around!
ryan — There are stranger things that get dropped in my state. Bologna anyone?
Jen — I am SO regretting not doing that. I would love to interview the Peep. I’m seriously going to look into that next year. I thought Mr. Peanut was dead by now. He was like a hundred years old already when I was a kid.
Rachele — I know, I know! I missed my opportunity. I made Windy a celebrity. I coulda done something big with the Peep. Next year.
RonLeyba — See? I already started my list of 2011 regrets. Idiot me.
givejonadollar — The concept is well-embraced ’round these parts. No one admits how ridiculous it is.
Jenn — Yes, yes. I know. I shoulda, coulda, woulda. Next year, I swear! I was just so afraid someone would ask me for credentials and I don’t think fast on my feet. But now I’ll prepare myself for next year.
Lynda — Small world! And not steel anymore 🙁 But hey. We got Peeps and Crayola crayons, so what more does the Lehigh Vally need?
Karina — Aw, you’re sweet! But that’s not a current picture. My goal for 2011 is to post a current one I’m not mortified by. Happy New Year!
Ali — I swear, as God is my witness, I will try to interview the peep next year or at least get a picture.
January 7th, 2011 at 9:03 am
I’ve heard of a peep show but not a peep drop! Next year consider yourself press and get a close up!
SuziCate´s last blog post ..A Letter To Young Love
January 8th, 2011 at 5:52 pm
I’m with you on the early New Year’s Eve. Wow, you had an early bird special. And it is a little ironic that you chickened out on a little/big baby chicken drop. Ok, I’ll take my puns and go home.
Happy New Year!
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