Nrthwnd

Something To Talk About ~ Bonnie Raitt

Yes. But then, what do I know? Have you ever laughed so hard, that it hurt a bit?

^ ...And it looked like it was waiting for a Monty Python segway, or something.....

I hate you already. Not really. But still. Lucky you. Sad poor me.

Hey, you can never really accurately predict, when a coaster is well beyond it's sustainability...and safety, yes? No? Well, maybe you can, but sometimes you really can't do it. And 30+ years, is pretty good years for a steel coaster, too. My once and only times to ride it, was in May 1995, after attending a con in Chicago. Loved it. There's also a little corner of one of the walls in one of the Guest Rooms, that has a few of my actually photographed coasters, one of which I enlarged because I loved it so much... My shot of Vortex, from The Tower. My Corkscrew shot, which had another train up the lift hill. I really liked this shot I took.

And here's another, from our Disneyland Resort visit... A nice shot of The Castle. Sept.09/19.

I do want to mention I took in the truncated live version of FROZEN, in the Hyperion Theater in Disney California Adventure (Sept.10/19). This time with David along, his first time seeing this. My first time was three years ago, in the upper UPPER balcony back in 2016. Tower of Terror still looked like it did, before the Guardians started to take over a few weeks, just after I left! This time we were at the back of center orchestra, by the left aisle so I could stretch my left foot out, if small pains crept up. That's why we're "on the aisle" back home here at the Queen E for touring shows, etc. Anyway... WONDERFUL to see it LIVE, this time so much closer! The special effects were still great and Elsa's Big Unveiling was still great to watch and see if it goes right. It did. And David enjoyed it too, and especially enjoyed the two actresses as Anna and Elsa. I enjoyed how everybody was in fine voice for such a fast paced version of this. And....it's been around so long, Fast Passes weren't necessary any more! (o: You still had to be there fairly early, but not like before. This was easy to queue for. We saw the 5 pm show, which perfectly fit in with our seeing World of Color later that night! Sept.15/16. From the Hyperion's upper UPPER Balcony entrance way. RIP ToT-CA.

Queen Bee - Botton's Pleasure Beach, UK. TPR 2010 UK Tour.

Awesome shrubbery around that Round Up, there. Reminds me of what we used to take for granted here, at Playland(PNE!). And then.....then....then it was........gone. I guess, PizzaPizza = PriceyPricey wanted-wanted more viewing space. The cads. )o: I miss our shrubbery.

^ Well, now I'll think twice and check out Da Swing of Da Thing next visit, yes? I also miss those triple wheels that Great America had. And SFMM had a double one. Those were trippy and actually futuristic-looking, no better words for it.

I finally rode DCA's Pal-A-Round, and was somewhat disappointed in it. The photo attached shows you why. Total steel netting across every window, including the doors! We were shocked when we were entering our (non-swinging) vehicle and seeing this immediately. You really had to have an awesome camera to fit the lens through the tiny square "holes" in that netting. And neither of us had that.....so.... We just sat there, basically did nothing, and said even less. The couple we were facing wasn't much of a thrill either. Bo-ring. P.S. I've loved observation towers, all of my life, no matter how scared I felt. I always rode them, and felt the better for doing so. Along with taking some neato pix from "the above." Bottom right car here, you can actually see the stuff everywhere. )o: Sept.09/19. One of my fave shots - me in The Pearl Tower~Shanghai, TPR 2012 China Tour. Another wonderful park tower in Sarkanniemi Park, Finland. TPR 2014 Scandi Tour.

Thanks. As for the showers, I found there was only one per sleeping car. It was in the lower section of the car. Around the middle, near the doors where you entered/exited. Plenty of towels there to use, too. I was tempted, but didn't use it. Thanks. And I didn't know that, about the "Union Station" name, although I've certainly seen (and arrived at) many of them on my past train travels in the U.S. Thanks for that info! Except no whales or seals, darnit. No matter. I'll eventually do the train again, and hope for the best. Yes, I collect hotel toiletries, condiment/seasoning packets, and the occasional pen, too. (o;

^ You're welcome. (re: Coaster at Playland-PNE)

Here's the BBQ we had, during our recent trip to Knott's Berry Farm and the Disneyland Resort. There actually weren't a lot of places, but I think we hit most of them, heh. Three of them, to be precise. Two in Knott's, and the other in Black Spire Outpost in you-know-where, DLR. Sept.06/19. The was The New BBQ, opened after Hangtime did. So we had to try this spot. We tried their St.Louis Ribs, with generous scoops of coleslaw and potato salad, and the all important Corn Bread Muffin. Tasty, not too messy. Juicy, too. Also showing our special Knott's Daily cup. Free refills today, other days $1. Sept.08/19. The other ribs were found here. Meal style. They almost forgot our Garlic Toast! Such a sin to forget such a... thin. (o; The chicken was a bit dry to me, the coleslaw was awesome (!), and the ear of corn was just enough. The rib itself was loaded with pork meat, stayed juicy right to the bone. We liked this rib serving the best, compared to what we had at Boardwalk BBQ. Sept.12/19. And in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, it's Docking Bay 7 Food And Cargo, for an early dinner. David had the (2) Kaadu Ribs, and I had the Tip-yip Salad. And we shared, as usual. (o; Both excellent. I especially enjoyed the dressing on this salad. And plenty of chicken in there, as well. The rib WAS a sticky one, but full of flavour and spice. We liked it, too.

Day 2 on AMTRAK to LA...And An E-Ticket Taxi Ride to Knott's Berry Farm Hotel! The second day of out train trip, was nice and casual. Although the dining car guy on the microphone was going on and on again, about everything we already knew, it was a good second day. A lot of familiar stuff we passed by. And took photos when we felt like it. The ocean doesn't really come into view, until you hit Santa Barbara Stn. which is well into the late afternoon. But it was a welcome break from all the forests, farms, and 'back alleys' we passed by. And in the end, we actually arrived 1/2 hour earlier than our scheduled arrival time at Union Station in LA! Cool! Got our luggage, and then took The Taxi Ride to Knott's Hotel..... There is a rather direct route to Knott's from LA Union Station. And that's heading south on I-5, take the Beach Blvd. Exit, then exit from Beach onto Grand Ave, then drive a bit further south to Crescent Ave, take a right, take another right and we'd be there! But - to back up here, the reason we did this is simple. If we waited for the connecting train to Fullerton Stn (closest to Knott's), we'd have waited nearly two hours at Union Station. And that connecting train , plus the taxi we'd have to take from there, would cost $60 or so. So we took that $60 and decided to take a taxi to the hotel, and hope it wouldn't cost a fortune. Well, the taxi driver was really nice, and was using his GPS to get us to the hotel. FAST! I couldn't take any photos, cause I was too scared to move, in the car. Weaving in and out of traffic on freeway sections, we really weren't sure if he knew the way, or not. He was really fast, and yet there were cars passing us as well and motorcycles going in between lanes! That was freeky to see. And we were just about to hit Grand Avenue, when his GPS went wierd, and shut down! So I chimed in where to look for Crescent Ave, turn right, etc. And when we got to the hotel, he thanked us for helping out the last bit of the trip. And then asked us if we were paying in cash, because he could give us "discounts". We said yes sure, and then he lowered the cab fare from $95 to $75! And when we asked about a tip he said not to bother! What a sweet guy he was. We should have tipped him anyway. And although it would have been around $100 if it all went right, I would still do it that way, as we got to the Hotel over 1-1/2 hours before we would have arrived, if we stayed and waited for the connecting train. Easy! Breakfast. Good stuff. More rows of greens. A couple of wind things. Not moving. Rows and rows of dead sunflowers. My fave lunch on Amtrak...big salad with a chicken breast diced and mixed in. David taking a shot of something. I remember riding around this... The California Men's Penal Colony = A penitentiary. Coastline! Ocean! Vandenberg Air Force Base. Nice and serene....and oil! Where space shuttles sometimes rest, on the West Coast. Santa Barbara Station. With a beautiful fig tree, now blocked by a (&*%@& train car. Back in Sept.2016 it wasn't there. Sure, there were cars, but you could still see all the tree. Dessert before we arrive in LA: Cheesecake. Sooooo good. After we arrive at Knott's Hotel, we find our room.

Now all I need, is the twin girls at the end of the hallway. Knott's Hotel. Heading towards our room (on the right, we're pretty sure). Late. But still Sept.5/19.

^ Damn, I wish they had at least one skillet place on the west coast, like in Knott's Berry Farm. They're too good to keep over in (just) your part of the parks world, lol. Actually, I am surprised that they don't have at least one, by now, in one of theme parks, over thisaways. Or IS there one over here, in California? Thought I'd check.

It wouldn't, and we did it a couple of weeks ago! Hot, hot, humid weather, though. For us, 90-95'F is not our usual 'normal' weather back home. But we survived it. And had a great visit there, as well as the Disneyland Resort, too. Including a few rides on this lovely beast in Knott's. Sept.08/19.

Here's the first view we saw of the Millennium Falcon, when we toured through Black Spire Outpost, on our first day in Disneyland a couple of weeks ago. Really breathtaking to see it, truth! We later rode Smuggler's Run (twice) and just enjoyed the whole atmosphere of the place. And Oga's Cantina? Well.... yeah! Sept.09/19.

^ It was really great to see the merchandise still there, and it was especially nice to see an entire wall and counters devoted to "Love" in Elias & Company (the main shop) in DCA. That's where I got my two t-shirts. Couldn't resist buying (at least) two of them, lol. The Rainbow Ears I got at The Mad Hatter in DL, beside the Great Moments w/Lincoln attraction, Main Street.

Anybody who's been to Tokyo Disney Resort AND enjoyed one (or more?) of it's many, many popcorn flavours, will enjoy this little trinket...maybe for a Holiday Gift to someone who also geeks out on popcorn, like you??? It is a snack case, shaped like one of those all familiar popcorn carts in both parks. This one carries the Caramel Popcorn, and is "dressed up" for the winter holidays! I love it, and hope to get one, eventually. They carry either m&m's or jelly beans in them at the parks, but are usually sold on eBay, w/o the snacks in them. (o;

Great Kings Island Haunt report! But - where are the sexy gentlemen???? And that first skeleton you saw, looks like he's doing the Macarena or something, lol! ...Or he's having a terrible time hearing things.

^ Unfortunately, we had to cancel the Fantasmic! meal/show pkg. We also missed the Electrical Parade, due to leaving early, because - we - were - exhausted! And didn't think of coming to the parks later on, in the day, etc. Oh well, next visit. But we did do the "World of Color" Dessert Party (great time with food, drinks, and chairs!) and of course had a wonderful meal at the Blue Bayou. City Hall (Customer Services) in DL helped us out cancelling stuff and getting us earlier pickup times, with the Knott's Shuttle we used back and forth to that hotel. And Oga's......mmmmm...... Oga's made me wish we had a reservation there every day we were at Disney, lol! Great place, awesome atmosphere (yay Rex!) very noisy, but fun noisy, and a LOT of adults enjoying their cocktails and just schmoozing around with everybody else at their table, etc. And we inadvertently overstayed our time there (45 min.maximum), but nobody suddenly ushered us out quickly. We just strolled out, arm in arm, just after 5pm. From a 3:45 call. p.s. We do not own or carry cell phones. Sept.12/19: Oga's and Rex! We dropped $50+ on four drinks, but they were very potent, pleasingly delicious.

Satellite of Love *** Lou Reed

^ I would loved to have seen him LIVE as the original LOLA in the Broadway musical "Kinky Boots". He won the TONY for Lead Actor in a Musical for that, in 2013. A powerhouse of a performer he is. "Kinky Boots" won Best Musical too. And Cyndi Lauper for Best Score. A total of 6 awards, all told.