Shame

I'd turn my head away too if my mom made me wear that sweater.

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There Are Days...

There are days when all I need is to sit under the shadow of a giant plaster castle in central Florida. This is one of those days.

Joseph Photos

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat photos are finally up- sorry it took me a while. The link is to the right.

71 Years Over the Rainbow

Today marks the 71st brithday of The Wizard of Oz- the most perfect movie ever made.

Seperated at Birth- Jazzy and ?

Jazzy and...

Emmet Otter.

Vinylmation... My New Obsession

So, on a recent trip to Disney World last April I discovered a new collection Disney has created to rob my future children of a college fund. They are called vinylmations and are all created in teh iconic image of Mickey Mouse. Each one is designed by an artist (whose autograph is on the bottom of the foot) and packaged in sets. When you purchase a vinylmation, they are grouped according to set, however, each figure is in a black box and you have no idea which vinylmation you are getting. One might say, but why, oh but there is the excitement. Opening the box and ripping into the foil pouch which holds your new piece of art is a thrill. No comments please, Nikki knows she is married to a nerd and she loves me anyway. If you do get a duplicate, there are certain stores through out the Disney parks where you can go to a clear glass case and trade for another that you don't have in your collection. They are sold only in the Disney parks and online. There is an official Vinylmation website where you can view the different collections and make purchases say, if anyone you might know is a collector and you would like to buy them a gift for a brithday, Christmas or (cough, cough) just because they mean so much to your life and you would like to express it in a piece of Mickey shaped plastic. I may seem crazy, but if you go on line you can find people who are much more seriously "touched" by the vinylmation movement. I just think it is fun. At least my drug of choice is only Dr. Pepper and Disney- I don't think I will show up in the arrest section of the newpaper for that crime. So far, my numbers are small and the little pals are displayed on a shelf in my office... As seen below.

The other cool thing about Vinylmations is they come completely blank white and you can create your own. There is an entire store in Downtown Disney called D-Street where you can buy Vinylmations or design your own at a large drawing table. I spent a lot of time in there last visit. There are some one of a kind creations on display done by comissioned artists which are great fun to look at as well. After finding the blank canvas Mickeys, I decided to start a show tradition of creating a Vinylmation for each show we do at the theatre. If I am in the show, I will re-create the character I played or get all artsy and design a representation of the show. Amazingly enough the creation of those little guys is great therapy. After the stress of a show, it is great to finish it off and close it out by having a little personal creativity time. They are tiny (about 3 inches tall) and extremely intricate to paint, but I enjoy every minute of it. Below are my first two.

Pharoah from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Complete with blue lips, glittering eye lids,jeweled rings and sequin shoes.

The Beast from Beauty and the Beast. Although you can't see it in the photo, the cape he is wearing was made from a scrap of the fabric that the actual costume was made of nad his horns were carved from a chunk of styrofoam left over from the set.

So may say I am silly, come to think of it, I've heard that all of my life and really and truly, I am. But oh well, I am a happy silly.

Baby's First Photo

Goodnight Daaaaahling

The Wheels on the Bus

Dear "To Whom it May Concern..."

Nikki is not feeling well and we had no shows at the theatre tonight. So I have two choices (actually three, but I'm avoiding the doom called the spare bedroom and the items of clothing that need to be put away) one of which is watching Nikki sleep on the couch while watching a Meg Ryan movie marathon or staring at the living room walls. They are lovely walls with photos of wedding and family, but not enough to grasp the attention of a professed member of the ADD club. So what do I do? I think it is time to catch up in what's been going on in my life and for a rant or two...

Dear Facebook Users,

Do some of you have jobs? I've never seen so many people have time to play games where they trade cows or grow wheat or some other senseless digital make believe. If you do not have a job, are my taxes paying your well fare while you play these games? If you do have a job, do you realize that when you announce you baby calf gained a pound the time at which the event took place is posted on your satis. Just FYI. Your boss knows if he or she is your FB friend. I never thought I'd see the day when I enjoyed the idea of reading you were going to the grocery store for milk.

Dear Alton Brown,

I know most people find you grating and annoying (alas, they do me as well, my kindred spirit), but I do enjoy you late night food show, "Good Eats." It is entertaining and informative. I really enjoyed last night's episode of various cheese dips. I'm not sure if it was Nikki's fever talking that gave me the giggles or the idea of having a dinner party based only on cheese. Either way, Alton, you entertain me. Thanks for being a late-night pal.

Dear Twilight Saga,

I must confess I had little or no care for you for the past few years. I must, however, say the third movie currently in theatres is quite entertaining. Less angst on the brow and more action in the story. Mostly, thank you for explaining why the character Jasper has an accent and a really weird haircut. I know all you twi-hearts say if I had read the books, I would already know why. But really, think about it. Books? That is so "civil war era"- that's a reference to Jasper. All those that protest should just be happy I remember his name.

Dear McDonald's,

For the past decade or so, I have loathed you. Now, your crispy chicken mcnuggets and gold brown fries are my drug of choice beyond the usual Dr. Pepper. I am a McPepper.

Dear Summer,

Oh, how I love you. Mostly because, dear pants oh how I dislike you.

Dear Vinylmations,

You know how to make me become obsessed. Oh how you toy with me in you small black box and the mystery of what is within. How long before this phase passes? Nikki hopes soon. I hope never.

Dear Papa's Pizza,

Square pizza- mmmmmmm. I believe you Hughie Lewis, it is hip to be square.

Dear Hostess Chocolate Cupcakes,

With out you, breakfast would be a mere reference to life before 9am or a passing commercial for Denny's. Speaking of Denny's, someday I will have to tell the story of being at a Denny's in Kisseemee Florida at 2am and the waitress assigned to my table having a nervous breakdown in the parking lot while we waited for a basket of chicken strips. I had never eaten at a Denny's before in my life and will probably never go again.

Dear Cats and Dogs, the Revenge of Kitty Galore,

For all your creativity, I still do not plan to see you.

Dear Lifesavors,

Thank you for the pineapple flavor. Finally, something in life that is good to suck at.

Warning

This is why you don't squeeze the bottle of body wash while smelling the flavor.

No Rehearsal Night

Rehearsal was done early tonight so Nikki and I had a nice dinner together, went to a late movie and came home at midnight to see a beautiful star filled summer night. No, I did not just run over Nikki. This is her lying in the parking lot admiring the universe. The things we do when the rest of the world is sleeping. Silly kids.

It's Electrifyin'

Disney day three: one word, hot. Started at Animal Kingdom and made my way back to Epcot. I had seen a few items for Nikki and wanted to get them before the rush of tomorrow. Afterwards, I went back to the hotel to cool off a bit. On my way I went by the Earl of Sandwich and picked up some early dinner. Back at the Magic Kingdom by 7:30pm in time to ride Pirates and grab an orange slushi before the electric parade and fireworks. I've never really given much attention to folks when I'm here, yea I've people watched but never really observed them. Since I'm here alone and have no one to talk to in line, I've spent more time watching. The conclusion: people are even more stupid than I give them credit for. But with a million twinkling lights and an orange slushi, I'm not distracted by them for long. By the way, the new fireworks for the summer- spectacular! Tomorrow is Paul's wedding, so I
will play in the morning at the studios. No visit is complete without saying hi to the muppets.

And Here I Am Now

This is Where I Is

This is Where I Was

Live Right Get Your Minnies in a Row

Disney day two: slept in then went to Epcot to see Captain EO, a 3D movie from the 80's staring Michael Jackson. I remember seeing this movie a looong time ago. It is at Epcot for only a limited time to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the film. Made my way around to Mexico and had a giant plate of nachos for lunch- incidentally, the Pirate E Perico at the Magic Kingdom has nachos again. They were off the menu for about the last five years, but they're back! Hurray! Went to Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios then back to Magic Kingdom. Saw lots of shows, ate lots of food, walked lots of steps. It took everything I had not to jump up on one of the floats in the parade this afternoon. Maybe tomorrow they won't be so lucky. It was a good day, it could have been a great day, but there was just one thing missing. Electric parade tomorrow night, Animal Kingdom in the morning. Saw a great quote from Walt Disney today, "The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing." Amen, brotha!

Disney Day One

So after two long weeks, I came down to Orlando for Paul's wedding this weekend. I decided I deserved an extra day or two to play in the park. Nikki stayed home due to work, so it is kinda weird being here by myself. After making it in record time (8 1\2 hours) I had a nice dinner and icecream at the market place and went to some of my favorite shops, the first being the vinylmation store where I purchased two new friends- one of which I was hoping for when I pulled the box from the display. Tomorrow I'm going on a photo safari in the parks. Right now though, crash time. I have the air cranked to 55 and plan to sleep well. Goodnight O-town.

Vault Disney

I have discovered this great site where old videos from Disney TV specials are posted. This one is particularly interesting to any of us who have gone to Epcot- it shows all the construction and mounds of dirt that would one day be my stomping grounds. Spaceship Earth is fun to see when it was just beginning to take shape with metal ribbing.

Happy Fourth of July