Nrthwnd

Just a heads up, to anybody local who was thinking about getting tix for the PNE's Winter Nights Drive-Thru... We got our ticket for Friday, Dec.11th (5:30-6pm entry), so I will post a TR that weekend. Ho ho ho. Big EDIT: We found out today (Wed/9th), our car "in the shop" may not be ready by Friday. So, we're accepting the fact that we might not be able to do the Drive-Thru then. Such is life with cars. Thankfully, it didn't cost a bundle for the ticket per car ($42.50 Cdn).

^ Nope. Never been to those other parks, except Kings Island in 1995, before theirs was built. All my park traveling was usually all overseas, and any in the USA was an 'extra' thing I didn't think about visiting, beforehand. For example, my only visit to Astroworld happened in 1992, due to a convention I was attending, and the hotel was within walking distance of the park. So I took the Sat. afternoon off and went to the park! But no. The only messes of track I have been on, is the Disney indoor one in Paris Studios (now becoming a Marvel adventure), and the outdoor version of it at Walibi Holland. Truth!

Man, I would really love to ride Poltergeist, some day. Some day. <sighs>

It looks great! Thanks for the look-see, Mattias!

Listening to the awesome TRACK 7 on the soundtrack of FROZEN 2 - "Show Yourself." It is an awesome piece of epic orchestration. Best of the entire CD.

I will miss that great artwork on the ceiling of the load station for Montana Rusa. Beautiful stuff. TPR 2013 Mexico Tour.

Here is today's RANT..... When the f*** are they calling this virtual online 2020 TONYs Awards Ceremony?.... They already announced the nominees weeks ago. But now......nada? No telecast announcement? I hope they announce The Date soon. Really soon. I DO want to watch it, as well as the rest of the theatre world.

^ The great thing about Elliot's announcement, was that it was treated really lightly on the general media, and like it was a 'no-big-deal' kind of reporting. Which I liked happening, at this time. No - big - deal. Or deal with it, lol! P.S. (EDIT) Welllll.... not exactly light on publicity, lately. But pretty much all of it is very positive about Elliot's announcement, etc. Still great for him and the trans community.

The preview video was pretty cool to see. Are the USO Men In Black "tandem" ride vehicles set up the same way, i.e. separation fences where you can't see who you are "playing against", etc. before the vehicles take off? Definitely what I saw, in this attraction's loading station. Just curious about that comparison. The ride's VR helmets look pretty cool, too! Love this shot of the load station! I am SO THERE! ...... In a few years ....... eventually. (o;

Something I forgot about, till today.... Happy Birthday, Ms. Bette Midler! Stay healthy and happy. You are a New York Treasure, in your support of cleaning up neighborhoods' parks and play areas for children. Inspiring!

This was just announced in the news. The artist, formerly known as Ellen Page, is now known as... https://ca.yahoo.com/news/elliot-page-transgender-174401611.html I was quite surprised by this. I have always enjoyed him in his previous movies. We've also enjoyed him in the recent Netflix series, "The Umbrella Academy." Great stuff. All the same, good for him to 'come out' in his own way and time, and feel very happy about it.

Just found a recently posted overhead view of the entire Tokyo Disney Resort! Showing progress on Fantasy Springs in TDS. And as well, you can just make out the progress on the new Toy Story Hotel (bottom left corner) they're building, too. Photo from @katsumisama816. Damn, I do want us to visit here in the mid-2020s!

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!)

^