I have NO idea what the price of gas is...

...but it's something between $2.19 and $2.39 per gallon...

We like to stay "on property" when we go to Disney. You can forget about your car, take the Disney transporation everywhere, etc. Our favorite hotel is the Port Orleans - French Quarter. It's somewhat compact, and has really nice landscaping and is just a fun, quiet area to be in...

A view down one of the 'streets' between buildings...

Another view, looking towards the pool...

And their street signs...again, Disney really pays attention to detail...

Toy Story....IS REAL!

After a long day at the Magic Kingdom, we get back to our room, and see this, in front of a TV that is turned on...

I'm going to be good to my toys from now on...

A quick jaunt to Disney

My eldest is about to have her birthday, so we gave her the choice of a birthday party at home or to go to Disney. Cost-wise...it was a roughly the same for us, and she chose Disney. Here's what a typical Magic Kingdom visit for us is like.

Ahh...a nice overcast day to keep the temperature down...hopefully...

SPACE MOUNTAIN! SPACE MOUNTAIN!

Awww...newlyweds...they have NO idea what they're in for...

Hmmm...there's some strange writing here...
(Disney is great on details...you CAN decode that plaque.)

What's this? Space Mountain. A part of it.

HAUNTED MANSION!

Madame Leota...we miss you. However, you don't seem quite dead yet...those who visit your tombstone in person will see why...

It's a small world after all...it's a small world after all...
...BUT IT'S A BIG FREAKING LINE BEFOREHAND!!!

It's always a relaxing ride through it...and it numbs your brain with the theme over and over again so that you don't notice how Disney gouges you throughout the day. I highly recommend riding "It's A Small World" a few times just so the rest of the day doesn't get to you...

The back of Cinderella's Castle. The windows immediately above the tunnel are for a restaurant that's in the castle. This is where we're headed...

Inside the restaurant, the windows have nice stained glass...

...and a great view of the carousel!

This...sword...NEVER...comes...OUT!

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad!

Looking back at the castle and across Frontierland.

Another view of the castle at night...

...Tomorrowland at night...

...and another view of the castle...

...and the finale for the day...the fireworks!

Weird sky...

Yeah, it must be vacation.

The price has gone down...again! I bet someone is gonna get fired for this.

Blogging update

Hi, all.

My apologies for not blogging for awhile. Work has been hell (in my new work capacity), and it's been sapping the life out of me. Yesterday in particular was rough, but there were a few highlights:
- A friend came from vacation in Iceland (yes, Iceland...and vacation...in the winter...it DOES boggle the mind!) and gave me several Krona (I collect foreign coins/bills...small hobby of mine...). Thanks again, Andrea!
- Dave Barry used something of mine on his blog.

Okay, maybe not a few highlights, but a couple. I think there was one more...but already, I'm forgetting yesterday, which is a good thing. I certainly know what would help...a few of these filled with Guiness (as this one was):
I'm off to see the Mouse this weekend, or to go to Pixar World...or Steve Jobs Land...I'm not sure what they're calling it nowadays...but it will be fun, and I'll have updates sometime next week. Hopefully.

Hang in there. I know you can do it.

BIRDS! RUN!

It's kinda scary when you look outside your officec window to this...

NOTE: Those wing spans are about 5-6 feet!

...and they're watching us...

...intently!

Dave! Dave! Dave! NEW Dave!

Don't know what to make of this.

The owner must be on vacation...the price couldn't have gone down, could it?

I need one...BAD!

My need for a roofer has gotten so bad that I am forced to take pictures of trucks as I commute to work so that I can call them up!

Papa's got a brand new....boat?

Nice boat, dad! Radar, GPS, etc.! Cool!

Speaking of renaissance fairs...

(I'm saying this up front: This is mean of me. I can't help myself.)

Some poeople should NOT wear fairy costumes. No no no. I mean, her wings have NO chance of getting her off the ground...

Renn fair time!

Years ago...around the time we got married, the wife and I used to belong to the Royal Chessmen, which was a group of people that would perform a "living chessgame" at various "Ye Olde Renaissance Faires". Internal politics, our careers, etc. drew us away from the group...but we still certainly enjoy going to the fairs when we can.

This weekend, it was time for the Florida Renaissance Faire!

The entrance to the faire...

One of the well-dressed participants...get a load of that mustache!

Yards of Guiness beer! (NOTE: In this case, Yard = 20 overpriced ounces.)

I almost bought a skir..er...KILT...to reflect my Irish/Scottish heritage. What you see above would have run over $400(!). (NOTE: I still plan to buy one...and when I do, I will post a picture of me wearing it up here for all to see.)

Custom medieval ride!

And another custom medieval ride!

Really, there's little you can do for a Helement

This, however, is probably the ONLY thing you can do to a Helement to improve its looks. Other than compacting it.

An indoor rainbow...

Not exactly someplace I was expecting to see one...but kinda cool.

My snobby neighbors...

They always have their noses stuck up in the air when I go by...they think they are SOOOOO much better than me...

They may be right.

This poor, poor bastard...

I think I want HIS job...

(...or HER job...I guess you can't tell...)

Atleast I'm not alone on having a bad day...

But I'm glad I didn't have the same car problems that THIS person did!

It just keeps going...and going...

Hurricane Wilma update...

Out with the old...
...and in with the new!

Finally have my new fence since Hurricane Wilma! YAY!

Phew!