Nothing to See Here...

[callmeblissful]

Oops! Posted twice... I am still getting used to this...

 

[Sherry E]

N/A

 

[bumbershoot]

Well, that's a shame what happened to your ex and the fact that he lost a job he loved and was so good at - because that is rare.

And I am sure his kids missed him terribly.

...and end up miserable in their 40's because they are not where they want to be.

...Ron Jeremy - all these people who supposedly go to DLR often!

We were all bitten by the bug and convinced that we could, indeed, live there despite the fact that it is small and lacking a lot of the trappings you get in a big city.

It was too bad, especially since quite a bit of it was the politics of being a younger male working in a "female" job. Of course, he made almost nothing (something like 20K if that), but still, he loved it.

I wonder what all those kids, who are now young teens, think of their preschool memories. They have this big gruff guy who always wore a low ponytail floating around in their brains, and they must wonder if that's real or not...

I do tend to look exes up online, and I've noticed from his public myspace account that he just got married, so even though he and his wife look BEYOND trashed in their pix, I do think he's found happiness.

I think I would giggle for an hour if I ever saw Ron Jeremy in the parks... It's just not a combo you'd think of. The only famous person I've seen there was K-Fed! And he didn't even have the kids with him.

I'm sure Catalina is bigger than Vashon, but I went a bit nutty living on Vashon the summer I did that. It's a weird island to begin with, with uber-hippies along with mega-rich mega-conservatives on the same tiny island. Ultimately I don't like being known (it's the one part that bugs me about Concierge and DVC...the recognition and "welcome home" stuff), I want to be able to buy what I want at the grocery store and have no one that I know see me, LOL. Then again, no one drives around in golf carts on Vashon so maybe that is what I was missing.

 

[Sherry E]

It was too bad, especially since quite a bit of it was the politics of being a younger male working in a "female" job. Of course, he made almost nothing (something like 20K if that), but still, he loved it.

I wonder what all those kids, who are now young teens, think of their preschool memories. They have this big gruff guy who always wore a low ponytail floating around in their brains, and they must wonder if that's real or not...

I do tend to look exes up online, and I've noticed from his public myspace account that he just got married, so even though he and his wife look BEYOND trashed in their pix, I do think he's found happiness.

I think I would giggle for an hour if I ever saw Ron Jeremy in the parks... It's just not a combo you'd think of. The only famous person I've seen there was K-Fed! And he didn't even have the kids with him.

I'm sure Catalina is bigger than Vashon, but I went a bit nutty living on Vashon the summer I did that. It's a weird island to begin with, with uber-hippies along with mega-rich mega-conservatives on the same tiny island. Ultimately I don't like being known (it's the one part that bugs me about Concierge and DVC...the recognition and "welcome home" stuff), I want to be able to buy what I want at the grocery store and have no one that I know see me, LOL. Then again, no one drives around in golf carts on Vashon so maybe that is what I was missing.

I would even be happy to see K-Fed at DLR! I tell ya, I have only seen Paul Sorvino and a local weather guy named Dallas Raines! Ron Jeremy I have seen other places, as he used to lurk backstage after Poison shows or shows by other Suset Strip bands. But you are right - seeing Ron Jeremy at DLR would be funny because it seems so out of his element. And yet, a DIS-er did see him there and got a picture of him in Tomorrowland, with two blondes in tow!

That's true - living in a small town or on an island where everyone knows everyone could in one way be comforting and communal, but also would have those downsides too - everyone knows what you got at the store, what you got at the pharmacy, what you bought at the bookstore, etc.! I think Catalina is somewhere in the range of 20-ish miles long, give or take a few. Last I checked, there were about 3,500 actual residents on the Island most of them in Avalon - I don't know who on earth wouls to live in Two Harbors). You have to get on a waiting list for years to be approved to have your car ferried over. Some folks have managed to wait out the years and get their cars over on the island, but unless you are going all the way to Two Harbors and the Isthmus on the other side, you don't need a car. Everything is right there in walking distance in Avalon, so the golf carts will do fine for grocery shopping and anything else. They have a small Vons/Safeway there - actually the last time I was there, they had TWO Vons for some reason - just a couple of streets over from each other - but I think they closed one of them. They have one bank, one library, one bookstore, one hospital, one school, one movie theater, lots of hotels and lots of restaurants - you get the idea. A lot of family-owned businesses too, and the restaurants were at one time all locally operated. Then they allowed a teeny tiny KFC/Taco Bell to infiltrate the island, along with a Coldstone Creamery, and those seem very out of place. But other than those, they don't have the room to develop and allow big franchise names in the tiny town of Avalon.

Does this sound like Vashon - or worse?

 

[callmeblissful]

Hi, Ashley!! Yay, you came out of lurkdom! Thanks for subscribing! I am sure I won't get nearly enough done on the 21st nor take nearly enough photos, but I will make a valiant attempt! And in fact, it is going to be an 'experiment' with this new Canon camera, so I am not sure how great they will come out on my first try but we will see! As I said a few days ago, it is my goal to try to get at least one or two shots or vantage points of something that is not typically seen. Some little out of the way corner or nook or something that you never see in photos. I will try to find something like that - I am sure there are little out of the way spots all over the parks, but depending on how packed with people it is, or how bothered I am by the heat, I may not have the patience to hunt them all down just yet!

I have the LGMH dangling from my Baggallini, but no one has ever spotted me so I am beginning to think I need to hook it on to something a little higher up so it can be seen. I didn't want it getting caught up in my hair or in a camera strap, so I kept it low, but it may have to be moved.

I am so happy you enjoyed the Catalina pictures. I really enjoyed that art installation with the differently painted buffalos - it is reminiscent of an exhibit they did at WDW and also at DCA, where there were all kinds of differently decorated Mickeys around the park. I wish I had seen the Mickey exhibit in person, but I saw photos of it. I had fun trying to fnd the different buffalos to photograph. I like hunting for things - scavenger hunts, treasure hunts, Easter egg hunts, hide and seek - all of that!

The picture I took of the real buffalo (on Page 26) was taken on the way over to "the other side of the Island," which is Two Harbors. We were taking the Safari Bus through the interior to see wildlife. I think that must be where you went on the youth retreat? For some reason, when groups of people go to Catalina, they seem to end up on the uncivilized side of it, in Two Harbors!!! I bet that is where you were. There is almost NOTHING over there - not cute boutiques and shops and little galleries like there are in Avalon! If you recall, there is only ONE restaurant in Two Harbors - Doug's Harbor Reef! Doug's Harbor Reef is the last place the actress Natalie Wood and her husband Robert Wagner were seen together before she died. They were there with Christopher Walken, eating and drinking at Doug's earlier in the day, and they were all drunk. Then later on that night, the three of them were back on their boat, and she died mysteriously in the water. No one has ever quite figured out what happened to her and how she got in the water....but she was deathly afraid of water and couldn't swim, so she died in the most horrific way imaginable for her, I assume.

Also at Two Harbors is the point where the two sides of the Island come together - the Isthmus. At the Isthmus, pelicans come together and poke at the water. Did you see that? And when people camp over near Two Harbors, there have often been buffalos seen tromping through campgrounds! I was amazed at how close to the road the buffalos get when you get deep into the interior of the Island. But over at Two Harbors, there were SO many bees everywhere that it made it hard for me to snap many photos - I think one of those pictures on Page 26 was taken at Two Harbors, of the marina/boats, but otherwise, there were too many bees flying in my face to deal with photos.

Avalon is much cuter, prettier and more civilized - you must visit the good side of the island sometime!!

I used Ridemax once, back in 2007, and it did give me a pretty cool itinerary which we sort of followed, sort of didn't. I actually did contemplate whether or not to use it for this upcoming mini-trip, but I am not sure yet. The last couple of trips were weekenders, basically, so we had a bit more time (though I always end up missing something I wanted to see), but I have not done a day trip to DLR - let alone a half-day trip - in ages, so I very well may turn to RideMax just to see what it says!

Of course I subscribed! It just took me a little while to figure out how! It is great that you got a new camera! What kind did you get? I am by no means an expert, but I can tell the difference in quality. My stepdad is an amateur photographer and he has a really cool camera: a Canon EOS 5D Mark II. I don't really know what that means, but it takes amazing pictures, he got a few great ones at Disneyland, if you're interested. I think the out-of-the-way pictures are by far the best, though I will admit nothing gets me like the castle. I rarely see many creative pictures in Critter Country...maybe it's just me. But you could try some there? I can't wait to see what you find.

The LGMH is a rather flashy little guy, I'm surprised nobody has noticed it. I think you should definitely put it in a place of honor.

I loved the buffalos too! I used to live in Washington, and they had...cows? Pigs? Decorated like that everywhere...I had so much fun seeing all the different designs. Where could I find photos of the Mickey exhibit? That sounds amazing!! I am also a big fan of hunting for things. It would be so fun to have an entire trip dedicated to finding Hidden Mickeys. Maybe someday!

Two Harbors may be somewhere near where I was. However, I didn't see a single restaurant. We stayed at a nasty campground, and I think the nearest civilized establishment was two hours away, around the coast, and forty-five minutes away on land. There were a few buffalo sightings - one even came into our camp! I was asleep, but I was sad to have missed it! I'm sorry you encountered so many bees - that's so scary to have them buzzing in your face! Did you get stung? And, what a scary death story....I think drowning would a horrible way to die... I hope to visit the "real" Catalina sometime. The only thing I know is that I am *never* going back to the other side!

I am a huge fan of RideMax. Granted, once I have the freedom to go to Disneyland as often as I choose, I won't use it every time. But because my family is so large, we usually spend a grand sum of money to get up there even for a day! We have a couple different RideMax itineraries in case we get behind on one for some reason or another, and we always end up going on between ten and fifteen rides in a day, with plenty of free time and in-between time to boot! It's magic!! You should really think about trying it again!

 

[callmeblissful]

Any suggestions for avoiding double posting?

 

[kaoden39]

With all of the talk about celebrities makes me feel like a real country bumpkin. I guess I am easily thrilled. When Richard Simmons called me the first time I thought I was gonna pass out and then when I met him WOW!! If I met another celebrity I would probably die.

 

[callmeblissful]

I just have to laugh right now because I am so out of it! I just figured out, by hopping from thread to thread, what you meant by "Lime Green Mickey Head." It says to other DISers that you are a DISer...right? Well...I don't have one of those on my bag. But I do have a lime green Mickey head keychain on my bag.

Cute ain't it? It was an easy mistake to make!!!

 

[Sherry E]

N/A

 

[bumbershoot]

Another PIN???? And in the mail. I only get PINs for places like Jolly Roger, and I never get them in the mail. Did they put YOUR name on it, at least?


Space is getting an overlay????

 

[Sherry E]

Another PIN???? And in the mail. I only get PINs for places like Jolly Roger, and I never get them in the mail. Did they put YOUR name on it, at least?


Space is getting an overlay????

This PIN that I got in the mail yesterday had Shawn's name on it again (like previous e-mail PINS they have sent me), but it was MY address. See, they have not been able to purge her name from their system ever since I gave them her name as being my guest at the GCH a couple of years ago and they logged her in the database as being the person who paid for the room! So this is why I keep getting PINS with all of my contact info BUT with her name. However, the last couple of PINS received via e-mail have had my name on them. And I have not been able to use any of them. I wish they were transferable!

Yes, Space is getting a Halloween overlay - did you see the thread about it on the DIS? And Storybook Land Canal Boats & Casey Jr are both suspiciously going to be shut down for a large chunk of time and then both reopened right on November 20, the start of the holiday season at DLR. So I wonder if this means they will do something holiday-ish with those (beyond the mini Christmas trees they have already stuck in there in the past).

 

[callmeblissful]

It took me a while to figure out how to do certain things on this board, too - some things I am still trying to figure out! I am not sure why you keep having the double posting problem. When you click 'Submit' or whatever, is it taking a long time to go through? Are you clicking Sumbit twice? The board has been slow lately, and it has at times taken ages to get online, so I wonder fif there is some glitch in the system! I can delete double posts if I spot them, but I am not sure why they happen.

I'd love to see your stepdad's photos of Disneyland! The camera I got is nothing too extraordinary - just a point and shoot. Canon SD 880 IS. As much as I wanted a cool Nikon DSLR, it was not in the budget. I was debating between Nikon point and shoots, Sony point and shoots and Canons. Another one of our DIS-ers (who has disappeared), Merrrydeath, got the Canon SD 880 and I read the review she linked us to, and it sounded good. Plus, the old 35mm camera I used was Canon and that served me well for a good long time. Plus, I was driving myself nuts trying to decide which one to pick and I needed to pick something, so I just chose the Canon. I have not had as much time as I wanted to really be able to test out a lot of the settings, and it came with a few different manuals that I will never have the time to read (or remember), so this is why I say the mini-DLR trip on the 21st will be an "experiment." I hope I don't botch things up too much!

You are right - now that I think of it, I don't see whole lot of stuff photographed in Critter Country. Maybe I will poke around there a bit and see what unusual photo subject I can come up with. It doesn't have to be anything spectacular - just something different that no one else has gotten or a different take on a familiar site, maybe.

You could easily make a whole DLR trip out of hunting down Hidden Mickeys - and make it even more challenging and try doing it without the Hidden Mickey book or without a list or anything! The Mickey exhibit with the different Mickeys around the park, decorated in different designs, was in DCA, I think, a few years back, but I cannot recall which park in WDW had it. I totally missed it, unfortunately. I wish I could remember exactly what it was called, because then you could look it up on the Web and see pictures. That would have been right up my alley, and I would have had a great time looking for them!

Does anyone out there remember the name of the Mickey exhibit? Molly? Anyone?

I think the are of Catalina where you camped MUST have been close to Two Harbors. Definiitely closer to Two Harbors than to Avalon. That is usually where the campers go and where the buffalo stomp through the campgrounds. Avalon would probably be much more your speed, as it is much more alive and has cute shops and all kinds of places to eat, and everyone is zooming around in golf carts, and there are little beachy cottages - MUCH MUCH more civilized! I am surprised you didn't encounter all the bees I did on the 'other side' of the Island. I know they try to take measures to control the bee population, but the City Council didn't want to spend the money to do that. One time we were whizzing along in the golf cart and a bee went right into my face - but no, I never got stung!! They seem to be harmless bees who are probably used to people, but still annoying nonetheless!

No one was ever quite sure if Natalie Wood (who was gorgeous, by the way) somehow stumbled overboard in her drunken stupor (because remember, she and her husband and Christpher Walken were apparently drinking all day long, and then arguing on the boat), or if she was trying to escape on a dinghy and lost her balance while she pulled the dinghy towards the bigger boat, or if something more sinister happened and she was pushed, or fell over in an argument with one of the men. It seemed odd that she would be trying to get away on a dinghy when she was deathly afraid of water - especially dark water at night. But Christopher Walken and Robert Wagner stuck to their stories and eventually the case was dropped. The last place she was seen alive was Doug's Harbor Reef - the ONLY restuarant on the other side of Catalina!

I am thinking more and more about RideMax. After that first time I used it, I didn't think I would need it again, but I hadn't anticipated such a short trip as the one in 10 days, so I may have to do it!

I love that key chain! It is super cute! I think I saw some of the other colors of that keychain in the Gag Factory in ToonTown. But I didn't see the green one the last time I looked. And you know, even though that is not the LGMH that people refer to (from the Home Depot store), DIS-ers will probably still recognize it as a version of a LGMH and assume you are 'one of them.' Anything even close to lime green and Mickey probably counts!!

I think it is just because the site is slow and my computer is overcompensating...I have a fast connection, but going from page to page on the DIS can take a couple minutes sometimes! I hope it doesn't happen again.

I will PM you with the link to his site. He is still learning how to use his camera, and didn't get any unusual shots compared to the ones I've seen on the Disneyland POTD board but I do like them! Personally, I love point and shoots...haha. I don't think I could learn to use anything else, it's just far too complicated to me! I take a lot of pictures in the hopes that a few of them turn out! The camera you got looks plenty good to me. I doubt you can make too much of a mess of things, unless every single picture you get is blurry or has random people in the forefront or something! I am sure you can find something like that in Critter Country. I personally love the little details there and I haven't seen many pictures of them.

A Hidden Mickey trip would be so fun. I've been thinking a lot about different "trips" I want to make when I am older - trips where I can do things like spend the entire day watching old Mickey cartoons in the Main Street Cinema (even though I've seen most all of them at home ), or trips spent swimming in the different resort pools, trips centered entirely around food, or shopping in Downtown Disney, or going on tours and paying attention to detail. There is still a whole lifetime to do all of those things, right? Have you dedicated any trips to things like that? I hope someone comes up with the name of that Mickey exhibit, so we can take a look at it!

You're right, my campground can't have been very close to Avalon. Too bad, because I might've escaped!! It really sounds adorable. I have been to one place that seems a lot like your descriptions of Avalon - Hamilton Island, off the coast of Australia. You also had to use golf carts to get around, and there were the most adorable shops. We stayed in a quaint villa that belonged to the main resort on the island and it was such a relaxing, wonderful vacation. If Avalon is like that, I am so there!! I might have to wear a full-body beekeeper suit though...I am not a fan of bugs flying into me. I don't know how you survived having a bee in your face.

That story about Natalie Wood is a regular ghost tale!!! So scary. It would be horrible to die facing your worst fear. At least she was drunk...I guess? Though she might have avoided her death had she not been!

I don't know how much it costs and how long it lasts, but it's been worth it for us. Last time, we got a little bit off schedule trying to get all of us to the same place, but we got back on track and got so much done. Space Mountain twice, Indiana Jones, Star Tours, Buzz Lightyear, Big Thunder, Winnie the Pooh, Splash Mountain, the Orange Stinger, Mickey's Fun Wheel, and Tower of Terror on a busy summer day, with plenty of shopping, eating, and observing time to boot!

I love it too! I saw them in a few places, but I got mine at World of Disney. I am still cracking up at that mistake though...I am such a newb! So far, I haven't been stopped by anyone, but maybe if I'm a little more flashy about it, I will be! I guess the DIS and I were meant to be!

 

[wazowskiLOVER:)]

Sherry!! So kinda bad news

We're switching our MTOTP weekend to the following weekend (9th-11th). A couple of people in my family find it easier to go on that weekend, so Eric is NOT going to be there for his birthday. BOO. Oh well!

 

[Sherry E]

Sherry!! So kinda bad news

We're switching our MTOTP weekend to the following weekend (9th-11th). A couple of people in my family find it easier to go on that weekend, so Eric is NOT going to be there for his birthday. BOO. Oh well!

Oh no! He can't get his Fun Card! Well, you may not be able to escape me anyway! Muahahahahahah! I am totally up in the air as to what any October plan may be, and whether or not it will be one day or a few days or what. And I still don't know which weekend yet, BUT I think Courtney said at one point that she was trying to go to DLR on the weekend that you are now going, so if I know that BOTH of you guys are there on the DLR property at the same time, and you have got the bungFACE contingent in tow, then I really may try to go out of my way to get there then instead of the weekend before. At this rate, I am not holding out hope for the flaky Idaho friends. Their loss if they can't get their act together to communicate with me about plans I will carry on with my own plan and if they decide to come out, then we will deal with it. So if I am the one choosing the dates and don't have to rely on anyone else's plans, then I may just choose that second weekend in October and neither you nor Courtney will be able to hide! I am coming for both of you!!!

 

[Sherry E]

N/A

 

[wazowskiLOVER:)]

Oh no! He can't get his Fun Card! Well, you may not be able to escape me anyway! Muahahahahahah! I am totally up in the air as to what any October plan may be, and whether or not it will be one day or a few days or what. And I still don't know which weekend yet, BUT I think Courtney said at one point that she was trying to go to DLR on the weekend that you are now going, so if I know that BOTH of you guys are there on the DLR property at the same time, and you have got the bungFACE contingent in tow, then I really may try to go out of my way to get there then instead of the weekend before. At this rate, I am not holding out hope for the flaky Idaho friends. Their loss if they can't get their act together to communicate with me about plans I will carry on with my own plan and if they decide to come out, then we will deal with it. So if I am the one choosing the dates and don't have to rely on anyone else's plans, then I may just choose that second weekend in October and neither you nor Courtney will be able to hide! I am coming for both of you!!!

Oh no way really !?!?! I'd be sooo stoked if I could see both Courtney and yourself How fun would that be !??! We could totally bungFACE the whole resort!! WOO.

If your trip with your Idaho friends falls through, at least you'll be able to apply those tickets to your AP! So thats good news. If you do plan on going that weekend, do you think you'll be going to MTOTP?

Oh & I'm soo excited to see DLR all Halloweened up, especially Space! I was there when they did the rockin' theme and LOOOVED it! If you plan on going then, at least Space will be open!

I don't think you'll be able to miss us when we're there because so far we have a confirmed 9 people and possible of about 13!

 

[casiland]

Sherry,
My cousin has lived on Catalina for about 7 years minus an 18 month stint in South America and loves it. Both he and his wife are big outdoorsy people and love nature so they say it is the perfect place for them. He was raised in Oceanside (so not as big of a city as LA) but still bigger than the island. Their son went on his first camping trip at 3 weeks. He is also a fish in the water and he is only 8 months old. This will be my second time to Catalina but my first with him showing us around (last time I went he was in South America). I will take pictures. I was a child/pre-teen of the 80s (5-15) and we went to Disneyland every year on New Year's Day because we would be visiting my mom's family in San Diego county and trek north for the day. Once I turned 14 I started going with a family friend who is a single mom and wanted company and than at 21 I started taking family and friends whenever I could. I am amazed at how much it has changed over the years.

 

[mariezp]

Wow, Sherry! Your thread has really been on a roll since I was here last!

That is pretty funny that I am one of the few to have been to Catalina Island. It was one of the very first years that we went to California, I think 2001 or 2002, and I had no idea if we would ever be back so I made sure to go see some things in the area just in case we did not make it back. (We stayed overnight on the Queen Mary too which was kinda fun.) I never imagined I would end up falling in love with DL and want to come back every year. Anyway, when we went to Catalina we did stay right there in the Hotel Catalina! We had a lovely room with one of those balconies overlooking the ocean. I remember wondering why they did not have air conditioning but later realized with the ocean breezes you just don't need it. (hard to think like that when you live in Texas) The sub tour was the only one we took. We did rent a golf cart and drive around town a bit. We wandered over to the theater but they were not open so I was really disappointed that we did not get to see inside. Most of your photos look very familiar. I don't remember the pet cemetery or the buffalo art. Perhaps overly commercialized was a bit too harsh but I do recall them having an abundance of touristy gift shops and a harbor full of boats. I think DH was expecting more of a tropical deserted island. It was cool that they did not have many cars. Everyone who lived there drove golf carts or walked wherever they wanted to go. I did enjoy talking with some of the local people. I briefly fantasized about living on an island during one conversation with one woman who shared with us all about what they had to go through to have items shipped over to the island. We also went swimming and had a little boy who decided to adopt us for the day. We talked and helped each other collect sea glass that apparently washed up on the shore in abundance. Like I said, I really would have loved to stayed longer. Maybe some day we will make it back and get to explore the rest of the island. If I win the lotto maybe I can go stay at the Inn on Mt. Ada!

Old news now but I watched the MJ memorial service too... well, sort of. DH had the nerve to come in for lunch right in the middle. I made it back just in time to watch poor little Paris break down in tears which in turn made me get all teary too. I had to go back and watch the rest later. I got a little choked up when I went back and saw Brooke Shield's bit and MJ's brother's mention of his deceased twin too. I thought the service was very nice and a tasteful tribute to MJ. It has been a long time since I had listened to much of his music but since I have been listening recently I just realized what a truly beautiful voice he had. The man was an amazing performer.

Cool! The Canon Power Shot SD880 is the main one I have been considering too. Must be pretty good with so many recommendations. Basics will have to do for me too. I am no good at memorizing instructions! I am still deciding. I shouldn't spend the money BUT if we ended up going only once to WDW I would like for the photos I take to be really good. Decisions, decisions...

That's it! Keep it positive! Neither rain, nor snow, not temperature hotter than hell shall keep you away, right? While you are at DL picking up you Fun Card in the 90 degree heat you can always think of me and how much cooler you are than the the 105 degree weather that am baking in! Seriously, I hope a cool front blows in for you. I look forward to seeing your one photo to stump us all AND tons of new photos from the new camera. Oh yeah, and if you want to avoid one of the excessively hot places at DL stay away from the island! I swear that place is hotter than any other place in the park. Also, be glad it will only be close to 90. The one year we went in September during the record breaking temperatures it got up to 107! Too bad you can't go ahead and renew your AP while you are there but at least that will be one less thing you have to plan around this trip. I hope you manage to have a fun day, regardless of the weather.

 

[Sherry E]

N/A

 

[Sherry E]

N/A