Walt Disney World: The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
Posted on 2007-08-20 at 15:23
What Disney Says:
Take a flight of fancy aboard your very own magic carpet. Inspired by the Disney animated classic, "Aladdin," this whimsical spin above Adventureland is filled with ups and downs as you control both the pitch and height of the flight. It's better than getting three wishes!
So, here's where it turns out I'm a pansy. My daughter loved it! She was pushing the carpet up and down and wobbling it. I was grabbing on for dear life and freaking out. I handled it OK. It wasn't a totaly fear factor, but it was just on the line of the rides I can enjoy. If I had to, I'd be able to do it again, but it was not my sort of thing at all.
Walt Disney World: Peter Pan's Flight
Posted on 2007-08-20 at 15:20
What Disney Says:
Sail away aboard a flying galleon and follow Peter Pan on a whimsical journey into Never Land. Refuse to grow up as you navigate by the second star on the right to float above the glittering lights of moonlit London. Glide above mermaids, Indians and by Hook as he tries to escape the snapping jaws of an alligator.
This ride was perfect for the whole family. The scare-level was perfect for a 3 yr old. Plus, it was indoor and air conditioned. As I've said before, that's a huge plus in Disneyworld in August.
Walt Disney World: Mickey's PhilharMagic
Posted on 2007-08-20 at 15:15
What Disney Says:
Be dazzled by this immersive attraction that bursts forth with amazement from one of the largest seamless screens in the world! It stars Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and other beloved Disney favorites in a hilarious adventure through movies, music and mayhem. Experience Characters you love in a whole new dimension! This rollicking, frolicking 3-D "sym-funny" of surprises is guaranteed to delight the whole family.
Firstly, this was not fun for the whole family. Parts of the show scared the bejeezus outta my daughter. That said, my daughter is 3 and for older kids it's probably fine. For adults, it's kinda cool, though I admit my experience was tainted by having to "protect" Cadence from the villians that Mickey was dealing with.
Walt Disney World: Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin
Posted on 2007-08-20 at 15:11
What Disney Says:
Pilot your Star Cruiser through imaginative, immersive worlds. You are the pilot as you careen through a comical cosmos! Go on a daring space mission to save the toy universe from the sinister Emperor Zurg. Spin and fire your personal laser cannon to score points.
OK, you may hear stories of Denise beating me, but to be fiar, I was driving at the same time. She got to sit there and concentrate on shooting aliens. I did admirably well for a gunner who was also the driver! I liked that there was nothing here to scare Cadence. The aliens were cartoonish and in no way spooky or whatever. She enjoyed it. Also, she beat her Nai Nai's score. Hilarious. I'm raising a fighter pilot.
Walt Disney World: It's a small world
Posted on 2007-08-20 at 15:08
What Disney Says:
Take the legendary boat ride around the globe on this musical tour of nations. Hundreds of international dolls sing and dance to the famous "it's a small world" medley. After it's over, just try to get that tune out of your head.
You should do it once. But only once. If you have small children, trick the grandparents into taking them on this ride, because they will want to see it upwards of a dozen or so times. The song is fine enough once, but if you listen to it two or more times, it will weedle its way into your brain and eat you from the inside out...painfully.
Walt Disney World: Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor
Posted on 2007-08-20 at 14:55
What Walt Disney says about it:
Inspired by Disney·Pixar's "Monsters, Inc." Help Mike Wazowski, your "Monster of Ceremonies," and his wild and crazy pals power the city of Monstropolis — with laughter! Mike and his buddies have transformed the Laugh Floor at Monsters, Inc. into a comedy club for visiting humans. You won't have the exact same experience twice as Mike invites his furry and funny friends to the digital stage to trade jokes with audience members like you. And don't miss the wise-cracking Roz, who isn't sure Mike is up to the task!
Mostly, this attraction deleivered as promised. The jokes were funny enough and the animation was real time and therefre technically kinda neat. Interestingly, I got picked on. For some reason, the comedians decided I looked like the kinda guy who needed a few good insults hurled my way. It was fun, and afterward I was known as "That Guy". I was recognized much later in a different area of the park as someone walked by and said "Hey look, it's That Guy!" Odd. I should have signed autographs.
If you like comedy, this is a good one. Plus it's a sit-down show in the air conditioning. That's a HUGE plus.
Walt Disney World: 2007 Vacation
Posted on 2007-08-20 at 14:53
So, I was gonna write a quick "Here's how my vacation went" blog entry, but I have a bunch to say, so I'm gonna split it up a bit. The split entries will follow.
Enter the Rat
Posted on 2007-08-08 at 22:06
In just two days, I'll be going to the House of the Rat with Denise and Cadence. It wil be Cadence's first trip to there. I'm really looking forward to it. It's not so much the Mouse, himself, that interests me. Indeed, I couldn't care less about a single Disney character property. Mostly, I just enjoy the way they have mastered the art of vacation. Hey, I can be as cynical as the next guy, but seriously, they make vacationing drop dead simple. Gotta love that!
The countdown begins.
Happy 3rd Birthday, Cadence!
Posted on 2007-08-04 at 15:27
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday, dear Cadence
Happy Birthday to you
Disaffection and the family
Posted on 2007-06-16 at 08:55
I suppose that when the father and the mother both worked on the farm and the children worked next to them in the field and in the house and in the workshop, familial relations were easier to maintain. The children knew what the father and mother did. They helped. They were a part of the process of running the house from an early age. Now we have a problem of our own creation. The father goes off to work in a factory or office. The mother often does as well. The child grows up disconnected from the parents who a century ago would have been her whole world.
And we wonder why our parents lack the bonds they need to be good parents and why our kids lack the bonds needed to be good children. Put your kids in daycare. Put your parents in a home. What's the difference?
So, why do we do it? I mean, if we know that the daily diaspora of the family creates a rift and teaches all the wrong lessons, why continue doing it?
As the Work Ethic of a Beaver
Posted on 2007-06-05 at 21:37
The last couple of weeks have been busy ones. Been putting in extra time at one client, then spending time in the eveings doing work for another. Had a death in the family this past weekend. Had to leave town for that. Back now. Apparently contracted disease that makes me talk in incomplete sentences. Dig? Dug.
Is that legal in Virginia?
Posted on 2007-03-24 at 20:58
While at the zoo with my daughter and wife today, I spied this scene:
So, what exactly is that frog doing to that elephant and aren't their laws (of nature) against it?
The hand of death creeps
Posted on 2007-03-05 at 08:47
So, last week I had some flu that put me down, then my wife got ill, then cadence got ill, the I had eye surgery, then I got better, then Cadence got better, then Denise got better, then Friday afternoon, I got ill again (stomach bug), then it goes away by Sunday only to have me with a sore throat Sunday night and this morning.
Damn you Bryan! You've poisoned me, haven't you?!? What is it? Polonium? Cianide? Crack and Tide? I hate you!
If I should die in the next week or so, let it be known that I point my (middle) finger Bryan-ward It was him. I know it. He did this to me---may he rot in that special hell reserved for child molesters and people who talk in the theater.
Pimp my Feet
Posted on 2007-02-27 at 20:48
Straight up, you know you are jealous of my sweet new slippers from Roses department store! These bitches are off the hook solid slipper goodness!
I walk as a god among men with my new slippers.
EDIT: As I typed this entry, Denise called to me frantic from the bathroom. I ran in. She'd left a faucet running and the floor was a pool of water. Guess what the first casualty was. That's right. My new slippers. Seriously. Why does my life work this way? Oh sweet sweet slippers of yore, would that I could take it back and never rush in to help my frantic wife and her damnable siren-like plea!
Well, when I started this entry they were really good slippers. :-(
The Virginia Aquarium
Posted on 2006-10-06 at 09:52
Cadence and I are going to the Virginia Aquarium today. She loves the aquarium. Apparently, she is good friends with the fish, the turtles, and the seals (at least that's how she tells it). Life is good. Here's a picture I took earlier this year from the aquarium:
I'm a travelling man
Posted on 2006-08-04 at 09:22
I'm headed out of town to Danville to visit family after work today. I'll be back sometime Monday afternoon. I'll be leaving again on Wednesday for GenCon and not coming back until late Sunday evening. So from this afternoon until the 14th, I'll be out of town, excepting Tuesday, the 8th, when I will be in town briefly between trips.
While out of town, I'll be blogging offline, which means that after I get back, you may see a bunch of backdated posts added to the blog all at once.
Happy Birthday, Cadence
Posted on 2006-08-04 at 08:14
OMG PONIES!!1!!!eleventy-one!!!11!!!!
The Danville trip was a success
Posted on 2006-05-30 at 11:17
In that I am still alive, had fun, and relaxed a bit.
Cadence is sick
Posted on 2006-02-27 at 10:37
Just an fyi, I've not been blogging as much in the last few days because Cadence is a bit ill and I've not had much free time. Once she's better, I'm sure things will pick back up.
Age = Age + 1
Posted on 2006-02-21 at 13:04
Happy Birthday, Denise
This gift-getting stuff is serious business
Posted on 2005-12-31 at 20:58
I've centered my chi and I am prepared for the excess of presents that you have purchased for me. Commence with your offerings so that I may show you that I am pleased:
The Case of the Haunted Hayride
Posted on 2005-10-31 at 08:01
I, Denise, Cadence, Brent, Kyoko, Hanna, Chris Susko, and Chris Susko's woman all went to the Hunt Club Halloween thingy last night.
Firstly, regardless of what lies others might spread in the wake of this event, I carried myself with dignity and respect.
Secondly, much fun was had by all. There were long lines and stupid, lying pizza men, but once you get past that, the night was brisk but not cold and the events were well done. Those that didn't go are worse for having abstained.
Denise and Kyoko and the children (Hanna and Cadence) spent most of their time in the main barn area with the music and dancing and *GASP* karaoke! You haven't lived til you've seen a drunk dude in a poor wolfman costume singing along to Warren Zevon's Werewolves of London. It hurt my ears and soul in ways unspeakable.
Jason Returns
Posted on 2005-03-24 at 08:05
Pictures of Me, Denise, and Will enjoying Jason's return.
Danville
Posted on 2004-10-12 at 08:02
Just got back from Danville, VA. Relaxing trip. Nice time. More to blog about, but that'll wait for a different day.
Disney
Posted on 2004-09-13 at 08:05
Danville
Posted on 2004-04-29 at 08:02
I spent a week in Danville, VA earlier in the month. Nothing interesting to report. Mostly a lot of clean air, open spaces, and nothing to do. That's a nice vacation, but damn if I could live there.
Worlds collided
Posted on 2004-04-05 at 08:01
My mother-in-law met with my Sunday School class for breakfast yesterday. There was collateral damage.