Nrthwnd

What happened this morning.... One of the biggest trees in our local park, decided enough was enough, and came down during a rather nasty wind storm before noon today. It fell down at the intersection of Commercial Drive and William Street, just two blocks away from where we live (on William). It took down some bus lines and generally stopped thru traffic for most of the day. Since it happened much earlier today, I am assuming that most of it is now taken away, power restored to the bus lines, etc. I hope. And it's pointing directly up our street! Photo take by a friend of ours, Harry G.

Didn't have any... that I remember. So, no. Have you bought any holiday gifts, at this time?

Anyone see the recent photos/info Disney/Pixar have released, about the upcoming Route 66 Tours that will still (thankfully) feature Catastrophe Canyon, in WDS? I think they are starting a "storyline in motion", with the photo below. It shows a rack of Radiator Springs places to go, buy, etc. But the postcard for (heh) Carstastrophe Canyon has an obvious X across the front card... Hmmm. I think that this is Radiator Springs Tourism saying NOT to visit the Canyon. At - all. But still planting the seed of what's to happen if we take the tour. I love it even more than I do already, if that's the way this is going! p.s. I love the idea of more solar paneling being placed in parking lot areas of parks. Such an easy idea, for free power! (SPOILER RUMOR ALERT! I bet it will have something to do with a blocked tour road, and our having to take "the other 'unused' road", etc. <grin> ) Yep, that's definitely an X over that postcard. Hmmm...... Art concept of the "ticket/info booth" and covered queue for The Route 66 Tour. Where the info.flyers rack will (probably) be. Lookin' good, there! Work on it, at this time. Photos/artwork courtesy of Disney/Pixar.

"Last Christmas" Wham!

This was just emailed to us. Spider Robinson is a very well known Sci-Fi writer for many years. And a friend of ours.

^ All things considered, you took some really great shots in the park. And along the road there, lol.

"Santa's Wish (I'd Like to Teach The World...)" The Tenors It really is an awesome song and melody, apart from the fact that COKE had something to do with it. But they "don't go there" with the lyrics, and again, it's really beautiful to listen to, this version. And now of course, I am listening to "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer." Jingle jingle.

Even Hasbro is getting into the political ring. Sort of. Made me smile a little, seeing this available. At Amazon.com

It's Gobble Gobble time! Thanks all round for the good stuff that we had and went through, this year. A turkey cheese platter!

^ In my small opinion, it just sounds like he's only interested in riding the coasters, and that's it. For this particular trip of his. There's nothing wrong with that of course. But no Potter; no screen-based attractions; no "fancy theming" in a park..... I mean, it's pretty clear to me what he really wants to do/ride, etc. But - what about food, Mike240SX? Anything that Universal offers, and nowhere else? (Dare I suggest Butterbeer?) P.S. Have to add here, but if you want to not ride screen-based attractions, better avoid the Hogwarts Express train, between parks. Just suggesting.

Country singer Hal Ketchum.

^ Don't worry too much, about overseas traveling. The years I spent doing TPR tours overseas (thank you Robb & Elissa!), I found that if you were just polite, learned a few phrases (like "please" and "thank you"?) it all works out. Also, having a few actual phrases you might use more often ("where is the bathroom?" for example) helps, too. If you're going to spend a lot of time (and money) on an overseas trip with park tickets, hotels, transport.... learning a bit of the language will go a long way for you. But rest assured, in all the countries I have been to, there is usually somebody who speaks enough English, to help you out. P.S. ...... See Below V ...... (She does, she really does!)

^

^ I rode it in Mexico too, during the first TPR Mexico Tour, in 2013! Soooooo awesome, I know several of us rode it again and again, after our ERT time, when the park was open to the gp. We queued up with everybody else to enjoy it again and again. Same with the shuttle loop coaster. Several times. Lovely thing. TPR 2013 Mexico Tour.

^ Read my mind, hah! Seems like The Place to Be, when 2021 rolls around. Would be very cool to be there during it`s first season.

I just won $25 TWICE on 2 separate Poker Lotto tickets, drawn this week! Two separate draws, but DoubleBOING! So, trying for Bigger Money, end of the week. $tay tuned.

This just in! There was a complete recording of Sondheim's much revered, but doomed (it bombed on Broadway) musical, "Anyone Can Whistle" in London. The recording was done in the late 1990's. But wasn't released until......now. Go figure. Show biz. Juicy TRIVIA of it all is... John Barrowman? He's Capt. Jack Harkness in the Doctor Who series! And the father of "I can't remember who" in the recently ended ARROW tv series. And I never knew he could sing, until recently, truth! Available eventually on Amazon, or directly from https://www.jayrecords.com/ And Sondheim himself, loved this recording of the show, it is reported!

^ 'Tis the Season.... for unexpected stuff to happen. All things considered. And "Polyp" to me, sounds like some kind of skin "thing" I do not want to touch! (Even though I am pretty sure it has something to do with seaweed or kelp, etc.)

I repeat, it`s an Indiana Beach Miracle!

It's a miracle!

^ Don't think so. The Mario Kart Ride has it's exit thru a gift shop on the lower level. There's also the extension spot on the right of it, and that's supposed to be for the Donkey Kong Coaster. Other than that, I haven't seen any indication of a separate exit from the Land. Of course, I could be wrong, and they're just not revealing everything there.... including a separate exit.

Yes! That's the ride I was trying to remember a comparison to! Rode it back in 1996... way back when. Not exactly the same, but still. Freeked us out, at the speed and intensity of the thing.

To me, it looks like a smaller less spread out version of Disneyland's Toontown....with the entry and exit being one and the same. I wonder if they're going to have to deal with "crowd control" jamming into that corner of the park.... ...Unless they've announced a Timed kind of entry system, already?

That's what I immediately thought, when I saw the artwork!

^ Looking good there!