Canadian Buffoon's Disney With a Teen Vacation - 08/13 - The Wrap

[pkondz]

The Blue Screen of Death.

I've had that happen too many times to count.

Sucks.

Every dang time.

Glad you were able to solve the problem and the show will go on.

Sorry about that.
But I's gotz to do it.

Glad you weren't like me and abruptly end the TR. Hmmm. Wonder if I should ever finish that old TR Lady H and I started now that I think about it?

Finish it!

I mean... if you can remember any of it....

Anyways, good luck along the rest of the way. Hopefully you get all the problems resolved.

Still debating what I want to do.
I think it will depend on how the laptop behaves over the next little bit.

I've thought about getting a new one. Mine is from 2012 and often has "problems", but then I'd have to go to Windows 10. We upgraded our Windows 8 machine that we use for Netflix and Amazon TV viewing, but I've been so busy I haven't had a chance to do anything on it to see if I like Windows 10. In fact I haven't even had a chance to see if the upgrade installed properly. I think it had problems.

That's my concern too.
So if I'm having problems now, does W10 fix them... or make them worse?
Will Photoshop CS5 work on W10? Or do I have to upgrade to Photoshop CC?
CC has a $10/month fee whereas CS5 is bought and paid for.
I just don't know.

Like I said to T-Man.
I think it'll depend on how the laptop behaves over the next little bit.

No. Nothing educated. It just seemed a good way to stop it from "dumping". Sort of a really hard reboot.

Ah.
(And somewhere out there a techie is screaming "Don't do that!!"
While another just as loudly screams "Don't listen to him! Do it!!")

 

[Steppesister]

"Basking"... good word.

Better than barking. I try not to do that very often either.

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Yikes! Sorry about the screen O' death! I hope you are able to get it working. I'm looking forward to your next update - just don't do too much, cuz I will miss out on uneducated guesses! (while I am gone)

 

[ForeverDance]

And then the piece de resistance.

(And yes, I'm sure you've seen photos like this before...

but it was still cool to see it in person.)

Pictures are nice but it really is something when you get to see it in person. I couldn’t believe how “ugly” it was.

You want to interact with pkondz?

Get a FP

So I had to "explain" it to her a little more clearly.

I gently showed her the error of her ways

and Ariel and I were able to gaze deeply into each other’s eyes.

I love this picture. Too funny.

The photographer didn't seem thrilled with the picture,

so he made us take a more "traditional" shot.

Bleh. Everyone has that one. I like the first one much better.

They were Maximus' shoe prints (from Tangled.)

I noticed this on our last trip too. I thought it was pretty neat.

I mean Disney does a great job with special effects,

and even I thought it was pretty realistic...

But since we were inside, well... she sure is gullible!

Umm… Ponzi…. oh nevermind.

What time does Kay wake up?

Hint: It ain't early.


What ride do we go on that costs us time

because we FP'd it?


What drink has been on my list for ages...

And I finally drink (for the first time.)


We have park hoppers.

Do we use them today?


And finally... lots of choices here.

Where's our Dinner ADR for?

Let’s say:

Kay wakes up at 10:45am

The ride that takes more time because you FP… tough one… how about Spaceship Earth.

The drink you finally have is going to be a margarita in Mexico.

I think you’ll have enough to do in EPCOT that you won’t park hop.

Dinner ADR… Biergarten.

 

[pkondz]

Better than barking. I try not to do that very often either.

I am now thinking of Bill Murray in Caddyshack.
If you have no idea what I'm talking about.... never mind!

Yikes! Sorry about the screen O' death! I hope you are able to get it working.

So far... Sort of...

I'm looking forward to your next update - just don't do too much, cuz I will miss out on uneducated guesses! (while I am gone)

How long are you gone for?
I know you'll be gone at least until after the 26th.

 

[pkondz]

Pictures are nice but it really is something when you get to see it in person. I couldn’t believe how “ugly” it was.

You expect to see the usual Disney attention to details, don't you?

I love this picture. Too funny.

Thanks!

Bleh. Everyone has that one. I like the first one much better.

Me too.
I wasn't kidding when I said the photographer insisted on the "normal" shot.
It wasn't my idea.
But since I had it, I figured I'd post it.

I noticed this on our last trip too. I thought it was pretty neat.

You did! You're the first one who's known about it.

Umm… Ponzi…. oh nevermind.

Yeah....

Let’s say:

Kay wakes up at 10:45am

The ride that takes more time because you FP… tough one… how about Spaceship Earth.

The drink you finally have is going to be a margarita in Mexico.

I think you’ll have enough to do in EPCOT that you won’t park hop.

Dinner ADR… Biergarten.

Noted.

 

[GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes]

I am now thinking of Bill Murray in Caddyshack.
If you have no idea what I'm talking about.... never mind!

Feel the need to teach someone the meaning of the word respect, do you?

 

[pkondz]

Feel the need to teach someone the meaning of the word respect, do you?

 

[ougrad86]

Just an update for those of you who know Nebo.
Talked with him for a bit the other day.
He's going in for back surgery in a few days and is expected to be in the hospital for four or five days.
He's not online anymore (although he did say he'd like to be) but Smidgy's still around.

Anyway, thought I'd pass that along.


Off to start editing photos now.

Thanks for the update on Nebo. I have been away from the boards for a few weeks and trying to catch up now. Been missing that guy! Got into trip reports through his, and found yours through him as well!

Back to catching up - my son is coming home for Thanksgiving week tomorrow, busy week planned, so I probably will get behind again!

 

[pkondz]

Thanks for the update on Nebo. I have been away from the boards for a few weeks and trying to catch up now. Been missing that guy! Got into trip reports through his, and found yours through him as well!

I started reading TRs before his, but he's the one who got me thinking I should write my own.
So blame him!

Actually, I need to call and see how he's doing now.
I think (think!) he should be out of the hospital by now.

Back to catching up - my son is coming home for Thanksgiving week tomorrow, busy week planned, so I probably will get behind again!

Whoops! I guess I should've hurried up with an update.
Computer issues prevented that, though.
Hoping to have the next one up within the next day or three.

 

[Thumper_Man]

Sorry about that.
But I's gotz to do it.

Still debating what I want to do.
I think it will depend on how the laptop behaves over the next little bit.

The Show Must Go On.

Finish it!

I mean... if you can remember any of it....

Yeah. That's the fun part. Trying to remember it. Good thing I have pictures and notes still. Hopefully that will help.

 

[DonnaBeeGood]

.

 

[ougrad86]

So. There's bad news.

A few days ago, I was on my laptop doing this 'n that.
I had Photoshop open, Windows Explorer, Internet Explorer, maybe some other stuff too.

I tried to move the mouse to click on something and... nothing.
"Hmm. That's odd." I thought. "Probably just lagging."
Sure enough, after a second the mouse began to move again.

And that lasted for less than 10 seconds.

The mouse froze again.


And then it happened.
The BLUE SCREEN OF DEATH.


I may have gasped.
I didn't scream (Ruby was sleeping right beside me) but I wanted to.

"Okay, don't panic. Reboot."

And it rebooted no problem.
Well, except instead of my windows desktop, I had a black screen.

I shut it off for the night.


The next day... I was busy.
I brought it to work with me on the Midnight shift.
And I got it running! And it only took me...
Three and a half hours.



Okay, it was a pain, but it's up and running.

And thank goodness!
I have about a year's worth of photos on this thing that I haven't backed up yet!
Including four photo shoots and... all the photos for the TR.

Now that it's up and running, that's job #1!


That afternoon (after getting some sleep) I grabbed my external drive
and plugged it into the laptop.
I had a little scare when it didn't connect.
I unplugged and plugged it back in and... Yes!
Good to go.

So I happily went about backing up my photos.
(As it turns out, I hadn't backed up since 2013!)
I got as far May 2015 when...

Blue screen.
A schwack of text... culminating in "Emergency disk dump".

That can't be good.
And it wasn't.


I had the day off today.
I started working on the laptop first thing, around 8:30am.
It took a few hours (about 3 again) before I got to the point where
I had a glimmer of hope.
Windows was repairing itself. Yay!

Hold on. Not so fast.
I got a brand spanking new message.
Something like "Unable to repair Windows".

This is not a good thing.

I kept working on it and finally... around 3pm...
I (sort of) got it running.


It doesn't look quite right... but... I don't care!
As long as I can get my pictures onto the external drive!

Try connecting the external drive... nope.
I tried for about 30 minutes and finally.... Yes!


I think... think... it's a heating issue.
It gets too hot and... poof!


So... all photos backed up.
And bonus. Because I'm scared to turn off my laptop,
I've gotten all the photos for the TR uploaded to Photobucket.



So the bad news?
I was very, very seriously considering ending the TR.
Wouldn't be much point with no photos, now.

But... Sorry folks.
Looks like you'll have to put up with me for a while longer.

The show will go on.

Glad you manages to scrape them all into backup. Since I was not working this summer, I had time to reorganize my computer, clean it up and backed everything up. I have a copy of our photos and some backup in our safety deposit box as well, and will switch it with an updated drive every once in awhile. I want to use Carbonite, but Doug is old school and kind of funny about that kind of stuff.

Photos, in my opinion, are the most important thing on my computer. So many memories tied up in those.

So I guess a new computer is in your future? I have my older computer on a little pad that has a fan in it, just plug it into the USB - cost like $20 at Staples. If I am going to be on for a long period of time, I just plug it in. Has helped a lot.

 

[Thumper_Man]

I hear a rumour that you might be longing for the heat of Florida. Do you have a little bit of the white stuff around these days?

You heard correct. Going to be a long time before we ever get back. And yes, we do have some of the white stuff around. Melted in the city already, but the mountains still have plenty.

Oh, I'm guessing you were referring to Ponzi. Never the mind.

 

[DonnaBeeGood]

.

 

[pkondz]

The Show Must Go On.

Dang. At work. Gonna have to wait until I get home.

Yeah. That's the fun part. Trying to remember it. Good thing I have pictures and notes still. Hopefully that will help.

Man, good luck. I'm already having trouble remembering what the heck my notes are about.

I hear a rumour that you might be longing for the heat of Florida.

Well... Maybe.
Maybe not quite that much heat...

Hang on...
Just took a gander at the current and forecast temps.... Yeah. I'll take that.

Do you have a little bit of the white stuff around these days?

Oh... Shush, you.
I so enjoyed shoveling the driveway after I got home at 11:30pm last night.

Glad you manages to scrape them all into backup. Since I was not working this summer, I had time to reorganize my computer, clean it up and backed everything up. I have a copy of our photos and some backup in our safety deposit box as well, and will switch it with an updated drive every once in awhile.

Whoa. Now that's organized!

I want to use Carbonite, but Doug is old school and kind of funny about that kind of stuff.

I think I am too. My external drive costs me $0/month.

Photos, in my opinion, are the most important thing on my computer. So many memories tied up in those.

That's pretty much the only thing on the laptop that I want to keep.

So I guess a new computer is in your future?

Hmmmm.... possibly not now.
I turned on the laptop this morning to see what was what.
It took a while to boot (but it's been doing that off and on for over a year)
but it did work almost like before.
The only thing is when I open IE, I get a message saying something didn't run...
but it works perfectly fine.

I have my older computer on a little pad that has a fan in it, just plug it into the USB - cost like $20 at Staples. If I am going to be on for a long period of time, I just plug it in. Has helped a lot.

That's actually a good idea. I should grab one of those.

You heard correct. Going to be a long time before we ever get back. And yes, we do have some of the white stuff around. Melted in the city already, but the mountains still have plenty.

Oh, I'm guessing you were referring to Ponzi. Never the mind.

You got snow?!? Huh!

I was, but I guess it applies to all of us that will be dealing with the white stuff over the next few months! I hope you're keeping your spirits up about the job search.

Nope. Not looking for a new job. I've got too much invested in the one I've already got.

Oh, I'm guessing you were referring to Thumpy. Never the mind.

 

[Saturn23]

Wow! Never thought of that. Maybe I should start wearing a pirate eyepatch.
That could be my moniker.
"Pirate patch pkondz"

Has a nice ring to it....
No. Skip that. I don't want a nose ring.

You really should! You don't need a nose ring, just a parrot that sits on your shoulder and poops on you. You should write the rest of the trip report in pirate.

That's not what Sheldon Cooper says.

That's true, Sheldon doesn't think anything biological qualifies as real science. That's ok, I still love him. We share an extreme hatred for driving. Also most of the stuff he says that is supposed to be weird makes perfect sense to me.

I really wonder now what would happen.
I mean, you're not doing anything wrong, right?
They couldn't kick you out for it, could they?

"Hi! I'm Ariel!"
"Hi! Didn't I see you before?"
"Hi! You again! Ha, ha!"
"Uh... Hi! You must really like me!"
"Um. Hello... Again?"
"... hi..."
"......."
"OMG. Not again?"
"Okay, this is getting creepy."

And thus continues her descent into hell.

No, there's absolutely no rule that limits the amount of times you can go through a character meet. They really wouldn't be able to kick you out, so go for it! See, this is why you need a film crew on your next trip. You really need video of that experience.

I'm glad you got your laptop to work again. FYI we would all have wanted you to write the rest of it even if you lost your pictures.

 

[pkondz]

You really should! You don't need a nose ring, just a parrot that sits on your shoulder and poops on you.

Well, I could borrow one of the DDs' guinea pigs and plop it on my shoulder.
That would work, right?
It would poop on me too. (Well, one would. The other's a bit tidier.)

You should write the rest of the trip report in pirate.

I wonder how long I could go before everyone revolted?

Let me re-phrase that. My writing already revolts my readers.


I wonder how long I could go before everyone got tired of pirate-speak?

"Arrgh... Well, me hearties, 'twas around the time the sun was highest in the sky that we fancied ourselves some grub.
We sailed over to th' nearest galley and ate like kin's."


Tired of it already, arrghn't you.

That's true, Sheldon doesn't think anything biological qualifies as real science. That's ok, I still love him

How could you not?

We share an extreme hatred for driving.

Your check engine light is on.

Also most of the stuff he says that is supposed to be weird makes perfect sense to me.

Funny. I find that too.

No, there's absolutely no rule that limits the amount of times you can go through a character meet. They really wouldn't be able to kick you out, so go for it! See, this is why you need a film crew on your next trip. You really need video of that experience.

I can see it now.
I'd post it and minutes later it shows up on Youtube with the title:
"Old creepy dude freaks out Little Mermaid"

I'm glad you got your laptop to work again. FYI we would all have wanted you to write the rest of it even if you lost your pictures.

I wonder if others would share your opinion.
I dunno. TRs without pics don't do very well.
Gotta have the eye candy, ya know.

 

[pkondz]

Update first draft done!
Expect an update tomorrow evening.
Night all!

 

[Saturn23]

Well, I could borrow one of the DDs' guinea pigs and plop it on my shoulder.
That would work, right?
It would poop on me too. (Well, one would. The other's a bit tidier.)

Yes, any animal that fits on your shoulder and poops would qualify.

I wonder how long I could go before everyone revolted?

Let me re-phrase that. My writing already revolts my readers.


I wonder how long I could go before everyone got tired of pirate-speak?

"Arrgh... Well, me hearties, 'twas around the time the sun was highest in the sky that we fancied ourselves some grub.
We sailed over to th' nearest galley and ate like kin's."


Tired of it already, arrghn't you.

HAA HAA!!! See, I knew you could do it.

Your check engine light is on.

I've been meaning to put a sticker over that.

I can see it now.
I'd post it and minutes later it shows up on Youtube with the title:
"Old creepy dude freaks out Little Mermaid"

It would go viral. You would be internet famous.

I wonder if others would share your opinion.
I dunno. TRs without pics don't do very well.
Gotta have the eye candy, ya know.

Only one way to find out. Start a poll. Anyone who says yes gets points, anyone who says no loses points and gets banned from the rest of your report.