In a couple days it started to melt. I like the way it showed the pattern of the bluestone in the patio. THe stone appears to be a better conductor of heat.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
First Real Snow of the Winter
Only About 8 inches. So beautiful before it gets dirty (or melts).
In a couple days it started to melt. I like the way it showed the pattern of the bluestone in the patio. THe stone appears to be a better conductor of heat.
In a couple days it started to melt. I like the way it showed the pattern of the bluestone in the patio. THe stone appears to be a better conductor of heat.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Rose Parade
Over the years we had enjoyed the Rose Parade on TV on the morning of New Years Day. This year it was on the 2nd because the 1st was on a sunday. So we decided to go and see it live. I have to say it was better than I was expecting and my expectations were high. Colors were amazing and we were very close. It starts early so we had to be on the road by 5:30. We found a reasonable place to park and were in our seats by 7am. Parade started at 8am, it was a sunshiny day, and we had great seats. Everyone had a wonderful time. I will let the pictures speak for themselves.
At the end of the parade there was an Occupy Wall Street parade/protest. Classic California circus. I really do miss certain things about California.
At the end of the parade there was an Occupy Wall Street parade/protest. Classic California circus. I really do miss certain things about California.
Disneyland California Adventure
Over a decade ago we were lucky enough to visit California Adventure during its soft opening. It was so neat to be amongst the first in the new park. There have been a lot of changes since then and the park has a bunch of fun rides and attractions. But its still not Disneyland, nor will it ever be. But it is wonderful to move between the parks during the day with a hopper pass.
The park was decorated for Christmas. Ornaments seem monstrous in A Bugs Land.
Like for Disneyland blog, this year we are listing our top 10 favorite things from our time spent at the California Adventure. Lots of construction going on and Cars Land will open this summer. Should be the highlight of our next visit.
10. Turkey Legs - Actually, the best value in the parks. Bart, Diane, and I share one and its filling for all 3. Also tastes great.
9. ElecTRONica - The boys like playing games in the 80's era arcade. A blast from the past for me.
8. Phineas and Ferb's Rockin' Rollin' Dance Party - We like to watch the Disney Channel on our trips and Phineas and Ferb is one of our favorites. It was fun to see the characters in real life.
7. Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue! - is fun and typically without a line in the evening.
6. Ariel's Undersea Adventure - New rides are always fun. This one is very well done and state of the art.
5. Tower of Terror - One of our favorites. And Alex is no longer worried about getting stuck in the Twilight Zone.
4. California Screaming - Best coaster in the parks. Fast and Fun! Diane and I sat in the front seats and acted as the wind breakers for the ride. Being in wind of the front seats did fun things to Diane's hair after a ride in the fog on New Years Eve. The fog clearly fogged up her glasses.
3. World of Color - Simply fantastic display of color using water as a template. We watched the show twice.
2. Midway Mania - Great game that has evolved into a serious family competition. I am glad to report that this year I beat Bart 3-2 to be the current family champion.
1. Soarin' Over California - I just love this ride, which is a hang glider simulation. Stimulates all you senses. Fate, and walking over to the other park for a fast pass on a regular basis allowed us to enjoy it this year to the fullest.
The park was decorated for Christmas. Ornaments seem monstrous in A Bugs Land.
Like for Disneyland blog, this year we are listing our top 10 favorite things from our time spent at the California Adventure. Lots of construction going on and Cars Land will open this summer. Should be the highlight of our next visit.
10. Turkey Legs - Actually, the best value in the parks. Bart, Diane, and I share one and its filling for all 3. Also tastes great.
9. ElecTRONica - The boys like playing games in the 80's era arcade. A blast from the past for me.
8. Phineas and Ferb's Rockin' Rollin' Dance Party - We like to watch the Disney Channel on our trips and Phineas and Ferb is one of our favorites. It was fun to see the characters in real life.
7. Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue! - is fun and typically without a line in the evening.
6. Ariel's Undersea Adventure - New rides are always fun. This one is very well done and state of the art.
5. Tower of Terror - One of our favorites. And Alex is no longer worried about getting stuck in the Twilight Zone.
4. California Screaming - Best coaster in the parks. Fast and Fun! Diane and I sat in the front seats and acted as the wind breakers for the ride. Being in wind of the front seats did fun things to Diane's hair after a ride in the fog on New Years Eve. The fog clearly fogged up her glasses.
3. World of Color - Simply fantastic display of color using water as a template. We watched the show twice.
2. Midway Mania - Great game that has evolved into a serious family competition. I am glad to report that this year I beat Bart 3-2 to be the current family champion.
1. Soarin' Over California - I just love this ride, which is a hang glider simulation. Stimulates all you senses. Fate, and walking over to the other park for a fast pass on a regular basis allowed us to enjoy it this year to the fullest.
Disneyland
Another family visit to one of our favorite destinations, the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim. We like to visit once a year and have a blast every time. We enjoyed coming last year for the Christmas Holiday we decided to do it again. The weather was glorious, getting into the high 70s to mid 80s every day. No rain this year. Weird fog rolled in on New Years Eve night which messed up the light show, but we still had a blast. The downside of the Holidays is that the crowds are heinous. But we got in early, relaxed in the afternoon, and finished strong to closing time at midnight. With this pattern and optimal use of fast passes we got in plenty of rides and wasted minimal time in line.
Diane got to see her favorite Tinkerbell!
Pluto was definitely in the holiday spirit.
Traditional family picture with Whinnie the Pooh.
This year we decided to rank our top 10 favorites from this trip. Here they are:
Honorable Mention: Small World Holiday - This classic ride is redone for the Holidays. The ride is very Christmasy, but the neatest part is the way the outside is decorated. Beautiful!
10. Davey Crockett's Explorer Canoes - Simple self paddle ride around the Rivers of America. Lots of fun! The boys do a better job every year.
9. Splash Mountain - Splash Mountain #9. What????? Well the water is very cold and its not fun waiting to dry out without getting too much of a chill. Only took one ride and got soaked. Definitely one of our favorites in warmer times of year.
8. Pirates of the Caribbean - Another one of our traditional favorites. But this trip it just didn't rank that high. Maybe its the lack of holiday decorations.
7. Star Tours - Usually wouldn't make the list, but it was refurbished last year and this was our first time on the new ride. The new high-resolution 3-D show and simulator are outstanding. I also have a tradition of getting off this thing feeling nauseous. Didn't happen on the new ride.
6. Buzz Lightyear Astro Blaster - A great source of family competition. Bart's the family master of this one although he did come in second a few times. I managed to beat him once with a score above 600,000. The lines dwindle to nothing late at night allowing multiple competitions. One of our favorites every visit.
5. Haunted Mansion Holiday - Jack Skellington has take over the Haunted Mansion and the result is Holiday fun. This year we got to meet him.
4. Matterhorn - Always a great ride, with long lines. But we tried to go first thing in the morning and its not too bad.
3. Indiana Jones - This is always a great ride, but a fast pass is a must. As you can see in the picture, the wait time was 3 hours. Crazy. In times like this we head back to the hotel. There are no lines for the pool and hot tub. The ride went down a number of times but we got plenty of rides.
2. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (BTMRR) - "Its the wildest ride in the wilderness". Always one of our favorites and we worked hard to get the last car this year, which is the best ride. A short line in the morning and fast pass at night allowed us to ride this one a couple time a day. Life is good.
1. Space Mountain - This year there was something different and better about Space Mountain. Thats why it ranks #1. We think it was darker and there were more stars projected in the room. Really had the feeling that you were flying through space. Wonderful!
Diane got to see her favorite Tinkerbell!
Pluto was definitely in the holiday spirit.
Traditional family picture with Whinnie the Pooh.
This year we decided to rank our top 10 favorites from this trip. Here they are:
Honorable Mention: Small World Holiday - This classic ride is redone for the Holidays. The ride is very Christmasy, but the neatest part is the way the outside is decorated. Beautiful!
10. Davey Crockett's Explorer Canoes - Simple self paddle ride around the Rivers of America. Lots of fun! The boys do a better job every year.
9. Splash Mountain - Splash Mountain #9. What????? Well the water is very cold and its not fun waiting to dry out without getting too much of a chill. Only took one ride and got soaked. Definitely one of our favorites in warmer times of year.
8. Pirates of the Caribbean - Another one of our traditional favorites. But this trip it just didn't rank that high. Maybe its the lack of holiday decorations.
7. Star Tours - Usually wouldn't make the list, but it was refurbished last year and this was our first time on the new ride. The new high-resolution 3-D show and simulator are outstanding. I also have a tradition of getting off this thing feeling nauseous. Didn't happen on the new ride.
6. Buzz Lightyear Astro Blaster - A great source of family competition. Bart's the family master of this one although he did come in second a few times. I managed to beat him once with a score above 600,000. The lines dwindle to nothing late at night allowing multiple competitions. One of our favorites every visit.
5. Haunted Mansion Holiday - Jack Skellington has take over the Haunted Mansion and the result is Holiday fun. This year we got to meet him.
4. Matterhorn - Always a great ride, with long lines. But we tried to go first thing in the morning and its not too bad.
3. Indiana Jones - This is always a great ride, but a fast pass is a must. As you can see in the picture, the wait time was 3 hours. Crazy. In times like this we head back to the hotel. There are no lines for the pool and hot tub. The ride went down a number of times but we got plenty of rides.
2. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (BTMRR) - "Its the wildest ride in the wilderness". Always one of our favorites and we worked hard to get the last car this year, which is the best ride. A short line in the morning and fast pass at night allowed us to ride this one a couple time a day. Life is good.
1. Space Mountain - This year there was something different and better about Space Mountain. Thats why it ranks #1. We think it was darker and there were more stars projected in the room. Really had the feeling that you were flying through space. Wonderful!
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