Supernatural

 You tube links to the clips, as well as others:

ABOVE:  “click” – WATCH ON YOU TUBE

Link to the Official Supernatural Site:

http://www.cwtv.com/shows/supernatural/photos/00617770d4c

The show has developed quite the followings like shows of the past (Star Trek). Big conventions, collectables, and the fan and viewer list continues to grow. So if you’re into Sci-fi… and the supernatural… this is a great show… or at least we enjoyed it like countless others millions have. Check it out… hope you enjoy it!

  

Texas Wildfires

Texas wildfires are certainly in the news… scary thought that we are headed that way. Dramatic photos from unknown sources show the fires relentless drive to consume everything in it’s path. Graford, Marfa, Possum Kingdom, Strawn, Gorman, Iraan, Stonewall, Scurry, Fisher, and heading towards Dallas/Fort Worth and Austin.

Hope all our friends in Texas are safe and remain safe. 

 

According to the Texas Forest Service, March 2011 was the state's driest March on record, leaving it in extreme drought and fueling recent wildfires that have destroyed hundreds of homes and burned more than one million acres over the past two weeks. High winds have been driving some fires eastward, closer to the densely populated Dallas-Fort Worth area.

33 - 20 - 26

Did you know that the human foot has…

33 joints – 20 muscles – and 26 bones ?

and here’s how to make them all feel good…

( or so the claim goes )

It might be true… but is it for you?

Guess time will tell…

haven’t seen any yet.

But then again…

I thought the “umbrella hat” was a great idea.

Still waiting for that one to catch on.

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(Just to get your attention)

It’s a book!

Police…then.. now

Sometimes it’s good to see change… where we were… and where we are now. Ya may not always understand it completely but I’m sure there’s a good reason… a very good reason for everything that changes.

It all starts with a childhood dream.. the Police Car

sirens and lights… 

Those that inspired us…

and the original… the “Black & White”

yep… The Classic “Black & White”

back then… the car was faster than the radio.

Than they modernize the look…

gave the car a little color.

Customized the look…

and gave the car lots of color…

Muscled up the look… and back to Classic “Black & White”

( missile launcher optional… but preferred )

Economized the look…

don’t need to be fast… got a radio.

and Electrified the look…

the officer driving this looked so serious about everything.

So there you have it… the Classic Police Cars

One for every mood & situation.

I kinda like them all… but…

Think I’ll go with the Hummer as my first choice…

It kinda says I’m gonna catch you,

run you down, run you over,

and drag you and your car off to jail…

and I don’t need any help doing it!

and if you try to run…

you’re not gonna get away…

remember…  missiles!

Eggs for Breakfast

Breakfast… like everything else… campers know how to get the most out of every resource. Why use expensive electric or propane to cook… just use what’s free and readily available. Free energy right at your feet… so to speak.

Over easy is a little tough… sunny side up is perfect!

… but maybe a bit gritty.

yes… hot enough to cook eggs.

Now they tell me… this also works “in” the frying pan…

on top of the pavement…

Okay… lets try this again…

who’s next ?

 

Home Again?

Yep… home again. Rving around the country gives you lots of places to call home. After all… home is where ever you park your Rv. Sometimes for a week, sometimes for months… some places just once, and some over and over again. We are back at Sunset King Lake Rv Resort in the Florida Panhandle. It’s always been a great place to call home at least part of the year… usually in the winter or spring. We have been coming here since 2004… wow… how times flies. Met a lot of good people and made a lot of friends. Friends that we usually see every year when we return. Everyone goes their separate ways to different parts of the country… and we all share different Rving family groups at different places and times… and this is one of them. It’s funny how friends pick up right where you left off as if the months has only been days. Having Rving friends is really great. Most are or have been retired few several years… so most are well into their 60’s and sometimes 70’s…. and I guess it’s likely that when you return to see each other…someone will be among the missing. They same is true this year… some have simply quit traveling or travel to others places… some among the missing… and some have went to join their maker. It’s always a true joy to see them, return and catch up on everyone’s travels since you last met. It’s really great seeing everyone again. So this is our mini vacation here for 12 days to see family and friends before we move on to Texas and new adventures in the west.  It’s a bit late in the spring and we thought that some or most of the “Snowbirds” would have headed north to return home… but lingering bad weather in the north has kept most here a bit longer… so we get to see them once again… always a great reunion of friends… but only 12 short days. Like anything else… ya try to make the most of the time you have together. Lives change, places change, and nothing remains the same for too long… so it’s always a good idea to enjoy everything and everyone while you can. So good to be here again. Looking back at the pictures from past years… too many people, for whatever reasons, are among the missing… they touched your life… you touched theirs… but all things change over time. The sun always sets… before the new day begins… share the sunsets… cherish the moments… and be ready for new adventures.

Beautiful views over the lake.

     

 

Memories…

Sometime in the twilight of naptime when your mind gets clear of all worries, day to day issues and such stuff… and you drift in a place filled with bits and pieces of memories that have accumulated over all the years. Not really awake… not really dreaming… just thinking of all the wonderful times that you experienced and remembered. Sometimes wishing you could relive it again… sometimes thinking what if one little thing had been ever so different… sometimes wishing that, wow, that it would be nice to do that or be there again. So here’s a small list, that I will not doubt add to from time to time, of some of my favorite things remembered. Maybe they will trigger fond memories that you too once had and give you pause… and a time to reminisce… of things that were… things that could have been… and things that would have changed your life, if only one little thing had happed differently. I’ll basically started with youth and moved forward. It will all be about good things… that’s how I remember my life… all the good things.
List Number One …. from kid up to young adult… and in no particular order. Some of my favorite things and memories… 

• 3 Musketeers Candy bars while playing in the back yard
• riding my old red bicycle and my new found freedom to go places
• putting Mickey Mantle rookie cards in the bike spokes to make noise (mistake) 
• walking home from school with friends… always fun.
• the first McDonald’s real french fries
• old fashioned chocolate malts… the best.
• catch lightening bugs on a summers evening
• riding in the back of mom’s station wagon to get hot dogs in Highlandtown
• playing Monopoly and games with the girls next store
• swimming in the backyard pool on a hot day
• playing cowboys and Indians… and cap gun six shooters
• chocolate babies candies that melted in our mouth
• bit o honeys and Mary Jane candies… and Mallow Cups
• mystery movies, nature movies, and Sci-fi Movies
• US history, especially the Civil War
• Walt Disney and the “Wonderful World of Color”
• ice cold cokes in the real heavy glass 6½ bottles… the best
• taking the red wagon to collect empty bottles for deposit to buy the cokes & candy
• Pizza John’s pizza… best in the world… and how John would always give us extra cheese
• watching favorite Tv shows… first in black & white… then in color.
• playing curb ball in front of the house
• going to Ocean City with the neighbors on a hot summer day
• swimming lessons that didn’t take… can’t teach a rock to float
• baseball with the neighborhood kids
• playing hide and seek in the evenings 
• electric trains and Tyco racing cars
• Christmas and family get togethers
• trips to my grandfathers house
• the family dog that loved to play with the hose water
• learning how to eat blue crabs and peel spiced shrimp… Old Bay
• Crab feasts and shrimp feasts … the absolute best
• snow balls on a hot day
• cotton candy at the carnivals
• eating tomatoes out of my dads garden…always great 
• my first transistor radio of my very own
• 45 records … I could listen to what I liked, anytime I wanted
• building model cars and airplanes from kits
• playing marbles with friends… big time tournaments
• the smell of my neighbor’s scented cigars
• my dad teaching how to do things and fix things
• my mom’s beef bar-b-que
• neighborhood cookouts and playing outside games
• Polock Johnies Polish Sausages
• picking fresh green beans in the farmers field across from the house
• discovering girls really didn’t have cooties.
• the Beach Boys and the Beatles… she loves you… yeah,yeah,yeah…
• Kissing a special girl in a swing at the beach that didn’t lead to anything
• Not kissing a special girl which also didn’t lead to anything but maybe could have
• Kissing a girl that did lead to something… but wished this had worked on the first one
• Hot pants and halter tops… thinking about the first one again… but enjoying all !
• getting my license and my first real car 1973 Gran Torino Sport (the Pinto was a mistake)
• long drives… longer walks… holding hands…  kissing perfected!
• driving to Loch Raven for afternoon trips… feeding the fish
• real milkshakes made from real ice cream
• going to the movies… one theater… one huge screen… sitting in the back
• the girls that chased me and I pulled away from ( not sure why )
• the girls I chased and pulled away from me ( still not sure why )
• the girls that I caught ( really not sure why… after the fact )
• sunsets over the skyline drive
• roller coasters and thrill rides… amusement parks
• walks in the woods and seeing wild animals… chipmunks to deer
• cameras and flashlights … still true today
• dating would prove to be much, much better than marriage (early on)

Well… there’s a bit of the list. All fond memories of good times, good food, good friends and family. Hopefully I’ll never need to go back and read this in order to remember. Some of these things are still great today. The sunsets, crabs, shrimp, movies, and good friends. Some are even better. Some are simply cherished memories… still vivid after 30 some years… like finding out that girls really didn’t have cooties. Not much was a mystery to me back then… except for the girls… but like my dad use to say… that I really never understood until to got much older… “If I had only knew then, what I know now”. Could never understand …. “Playing hard to get” ( when they really liked you ) … “Good Girls always going for Bad Boys” ( when it never worked out ) …. “Bad Girls chasing Good Boys” ( and why we ran from them… well… could have had a little fun )  …. and why nothing with girls was ever simple or easy… and as most would attest… it never got any easier with age. Most enlightening book…. “Men are for Mars… Women are from Venus” … maybe they should make this required study in grades 8-12… surely couldn’t hurt…. maybe help solve some of the mystery’s of life.     

Illusions…

Illusions… having people to see or experience something that either isn’t real… or at least not real … right now.  Magic if you will. People have always been fascinated and drawn to magic. The word “Magic” seems to be more appealing have and more purity about it then the perhaps questionable word “illusion”. But it’s pretty much all the same. Disney always strives to “Maintain the Magic” for guests… create an illusion and keep guests somewhere outside the realm of reality. The first simple Illusion is Main Street USA. Looking down Main Street creates two illusions. One… the buildings are taller than they actually are…. and two… the street appears to be much long then it really is. The technique is call “Forced Perspective”. By building the next higher floor shorter in height, and so on with the next higher floors, the building will appear to be much higher than it actually is. This is done all along Main Street Stores. Looking down Main Street at Cinderella’s Castle is another great example. To the eye, it appears to tower into the sky, when it is actually much less taller. Since we perceive the extra height, our mind also perceives extra distance away. The illusion of being taller and a greater distance makes everything appear to be much larger. 

The construction of the Fantasyland expansion in Magic Kingdom demonstrates this very well. A tall massive Castle from the movie Beauty and the Beast….impressive from any distance. Looking at the last photo it’s easier to see how they create the illusion.

Here’s a real castle used as a model…Impressive!

The Castle in Fantasyland…

the upper portion looks to be several stories high…

here’s a close up of the tower…

massive! …

… or is it?

actual construction reveals the illusion…

( unless that guy is a giant ! )

the massive tower is maybe only six foot wide…

the illusion makes it look much, much, larger!

and there in lies the Magic!

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More illusions… well… here’s one more. Think about a football field (standing at the 50 yard side line) … if you walk across from one side to the other you go about 50 ft. If you walk around the field you’ll travel 150 feet. If at the starting point you can see the paths you’d be traveling you could get the feeling that even if you had walked around the end of the field going a greater distance, you really wouldn’t have gone very far… cause you can see it all. In the parks, especially Magic Kingdom, you can’t see the complete path that you’d be walking. You just walk around to the other side, perhaps another themed area, and it seems that you have gone a much greater distance. Combined with the illusion of “Forced Perspective”… making distances seem much greater… well… you can see why you have the impression that the park is massive. This may also be why we seem more tired then we actually should be… we only think we have gone a greater distance… or at least you feel this way when you are older.

So there you have it… a bit of Disney Magic… right in plain site… and you maybe didn’t even know what was happening. But don’t think about it too much… in fact… don’t think about it at all… just enjoy the Magic!         

Brandi’s Visit

I will add each day to this entry as each day passes… or something like that.

It will be great to see Brandi again… this time for a 5 day visit. When she leaves, Bri will go home with her. Bri has been with us to finish her Disney Vacation (shortened last spring)… and it’s time for her to return home again. A great way to end her visit with a visit with Brandi.

Day “0” - Tuesday : Brandi arrives on a late flight to Orlando, picks up a brand new Kia rental car from Enterprise, that we found for $19/day, no mileage. Since it is very late she drives to her best friends house for the night… she get there at midnight.

Day 1 - Wednesday: We’re off to an early start and get to Magic Kingdom when they opened. Hoping to avoid the crowds and avoid the heat. Neither the crowds or the heat proved to be a factor. Stayed in the 70’s most of the morning and attendance was extremely light. Walked right onto every ride… longest wait 10 minutes… wow. Even the ever popular Splash Mountain and Peter Pan’s Flight was less than 10 minutes. Come Sunday they will be 90 minutes plus with the Easter crowds. A extremely pleasant day. We all had a great time, got on all the rides we wanted to do, had an early lunch at Pecos Bills and Ice Cream on Main Street and watched the Celebrate Party Parade (not the big 3pm parade) and left early. Brandi had seen most of the attractions on her last visit, so this was more or less a “mopping” up visit… just to see what see didn’t see on her first visit. So a short day in the park and off to the pool to relax and beat the heat. Even by 1pm the heat wasn’t too bad, and relaxing by the pool finished off the mid day time together. Back to the Rv at Deer Creek… a short visit and Brandi was off to spend some time with her friend Nicole. They planned a dinner and evening together. Dinner for us at home, relax, and we were so tired. OMG… it’s only 5:30… fighting to stay awake… too late for a nap… to early to got to bed. A little computer time, Tv time, and relaxed outside… beautiful evening ‘bout 72°, beautiful sunset, and played with Bri with RC cars and had some fun with the hose and making Bubbles. There’s something so simple and enjoyable about bubbles. Watching them, catching them, popping them, or simply seeing them float away on the breeze… kinda like the white feather in Forrest Gump. We even wet the pavement and watched the big bubbles set on the ground looking at all the swirling colors atop the bubbles as they reflected all the colors of the evening sky. Yep… lots of little special moments all day long… a great first day.

Day 2 – Thursday: Going to Boma at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge for breakfast. Than onto Blizzard Beach for a day of fun and relaxing in the Waterpark. It has a winter theme, so there’s snow everywhere… maybe that will make us feel cooler. Relaxing today should get us charged up the the next three days at Epcot, Animal Kingdom, and Studios. Okay… Breakfast at Boma. Traditional breakfast items served with an African Flair for Flavor. The were also plenty of American favorites, but something new is definitely the spice of life. Wow… where to start… beautiful atmosphere and great service… and onto the menu. Everything was buffet style… so it was all you cared to enjoy… and enjoy I did.  There was way to many choices to try everything… but there’s what I tried. I had the Fresh Corned Beef and Glazed Ham that was cooked over open flame pit and carved to order… great with the special African Spicy Mustard Sauce. The stewed tomatoes were also a tasteful treat. Seasoned home fries, scrambled eggs or omelets made to order, pancakes, french toast, bacon, sausage, and many , many different kinds of other items with special sauces and topping that I didn’t have room for. I did save room for the fresh fruits of which I enjoyed the pineapple, strawberries, and ripe watermelon. The house juice was also especially good… I forgot to ask but I think it was a papaya mango orange blend… really different and good. Than there was the breakfast pastry table… everything to did for. I think you could go there several times, enjoy some favorites and have several new things to try each time and still not sample everything. Everything was excellent! … and our 50% off cast member coupon made it all the better. Than on to the water park… Blizzard Beach. It was our first time there. The rather warm day and  clear weather seem to bring out the crowds… we saw more crowds there than we had in Magic Kingdom yesterday. We used our free  Cast Member Passes which  were going to be blacked out in two more days… so I guess lots of other cast members also had the same thought and went to the water park… adding to the crowds. Shelly, Brandi, and Bri enjoyed doing all the water things… I enjoyed just resting and listening to music. Nice relaxing afternoon. It was a short visit to the park… less than 4 hours… but we were all pretty much ready to move on. A quick bite on the way home. Brandi & Bri left to spend the evening at Nicole’s. Bri will be there the next two nights… Friday is “Adult Day” at Epcot. Time for a restful evening and a good nights sleep. By the way… the snow capped mountains and villages at Blizzard Beach did very little to make me feel cooler… even the ice cycles hanging from the edges of the roofs didn’t bring any relief either… wishful thinking on my part.

Day 3 – Friday: Adult Day at Epcot. Early to bed, early to rise, into the park early … before it gets too hot & crowded… makes for an early finish or a long day!  We arrived at Epcot shortly after opening. Shelly and Brandi, our friends Bob & Glenda, and me. It was still in the mild 70’s when we arrived. First stop, fast passes for Soarin. The Flower & Garden show was in progress so this was a double treat… lots of flowers and topiary everywhere. Next stop Mission Space, the Green Team… Flight Training on the new X-2 Star Shuttle… and a flight to Mars. The blast off was precision perfect followed by 3 months of hyper sleep… than an emergency landing on Mars.  What a epic journey. Today’s adventures also included a stop over at Test Track, a bite to eat at the Electric Umbrella and a hang gliding trip over California on Soarin. Than a leisurely trip around the world showcase. Mexico. China, Germany, Italy, America, Morocco, France, United Kingdom, and Canada. Lots of special booths for the garden show, and lots of beautiful flowers and gardens. Nice in the shade but the afternoon sun was getting pretty warm as the afternoon wore on… and before we knew it… it was after 4pm.  Still 5 hours before the main event fireworks, but time to call it a day. Bob & Glenda elected to stay for the rest of the evening… and we headed home. A great day out for the adults. A quiet evening at home resting up for Animal Kingdom tomorrow.

Day 4 – Saturday: Early start at Animal Kingdom. Planned to get to Animal Kingdom at opening… 8am… ran somewhat late getting there at 9:30. First stop, Safari Fast Passes, then to see Festival of the Lion King Show at 11pm. Always a great show. Went back to Africa to go on Safari… fast passes are always a good idea… waited 5 minutes instead of 60. Safari is always a little different every time you go… some animals closer, sometimes more numerous, and sometimes… better luck next time. Today was really good, lots of animals close up an more clusters of animals together. Walked around a bit then went to “Bugs Life”. By now it was getting on to 1pm and even though it wasn’t as hot as yesterday, everyone was feeling a little hot and wore out. We left the park with plans to eat off property… and then go swimming. The choice for rest and nap time prevailed… so all went to the coolness of home to relax and nap. Not a bad idea… this brings us to 6:30 pm… and still 85° outside. A nap was certainly better than ‘No Shade Available” pool fun. Rest of the evening… movie time… outside fun (when the sun sets)… and another movie time… we get to stay up late! … we all took a nap.

.

Day 5 – Sunday: Planned to go to Hollywood Studios. --- FLASH --- Plans changed again. I’ve noticed this week that plans are a highly fluid situation and change with the direction of the wind. Who knows what Sunday will really bring… planned as a day to relax and just spend time together. Doing what is yet to be seen. Hey… I’m the husband… I don’t make those decisions… to just go where I’m told to go… stay when I’m told to stay ( that’s easy enough )… and nap when left alone… life’s perfect that way. (lol).

Day 6 – Monday: Gonna meet Brandi & Bri for an early breakfast at Denny’s as they head to the airport. Another tearful scene on a public parking lot. Vacation over… Monday evening we punch the clock at Disney for the last time this season.

Tuesday & Wednesday: Rest and prepare Rv for travel… leaving Orlando for the season.

Thursday: One day drive to Sunset King Lake Resort in the Florida Panhandle to visit family & friends… then onto Texas!

Not really sure where 7 months here this winter went to. 3½ months with Brianna… not sure where that time went to either. Life goes by so quick. Sometimes I take a real good look in the mirror and wonder who that old guy is… yep… life goes by fast… even faster when you are over 50. So make good use of your time… it’s just like the sand in the hour glass… it only runs one way… and the top has less and less in it.