Judy in Texas

Welcome aboard!
  
 Convince you, maybe. We had a great time.
 
Dave:  I've been trying to think of something creepy from this trip to post JUST FOR YOU.  Guess what?  I can't think of a thing! 
 
While in Portsmouth, we look a day cruise on the Isles of Shoals Steam Ship Company's Thomas Laighton.  We left from Portsmouth, went down the Piscataqua River to Star Island which is part of the Isles of Shoals off the Maine and New Hampshire coast.  Portsmouth Harbor is definitely a working harbor.  Note the salt pile and scrap heap in the background.  The scrap metal is sent to China. 
 

 
The new draw bridge from Portsmouth NH to Kittery Maine went up just for us.   I hope you like bridges.  This trip report is going to have lots of bridge pics. 
 

 
We went by the Portsmouth Naval Ship Yard.  Here is a submarine in for maintenance:
 

 
This is a reproduction of a gundalow boat.  You can take cruises on it, too. 
 

 
Portsmouth Light at Fort Constitution, Newcastle, NH:
 

 
Whaleback Light where the Piscataqua River meets the Atlantic Ocean:
 

 
Star Island is primarily a conference center; however, the general public can spend a few hours exploring it. 
 

 
 
The island cemetery from it's early days when it was famous for cod fishing.
 

 
One requirement for visiting Portsmouth is at least one meal at Newick's:
 

 

 
Next up.. the Port of Boston! 

My mother would be so proud! :shh:

I can't image being happy about having to wear the bracelet in the heat and humidity of a Florida summer.
Or when it's cooler. Does it go outside if the jacket sleeve or inside? What about adding gloves to the equation?
Sitting on Clementine Beach to watch the boat parade and fireworks and getting sand under it. Yuck.
I can see, though, that it might make those locals who use The Fort pool more visible. ( as if management will do anything about kicking them out even then.)
If WDW has an opt out, I definitely will.

Does anyone still read this tr? I've been too busy lately to work on it, but maybe tonight I can. Somehow my stuff doesn't generate much traffic :-\

That's why I stay away from a lot of the WDW restaurants. Weird just to be different and to justify the high price tag.

Black Bean and Corn with Chicken
3 chicken breasts cut in strips
Can of Black Beans
Can of Corn (I used the equivalent measurement of frozen)
Can of Tomatoes (I used fire roasted)
Can of Tomato Paste (6oz)
Bell Peppers, Onion and/or hot peppers to your taste (Once again used frozen Bell Peppers and hot peppers from our garden)
Spices to taste (Original recipe used taco seasoning) (I used cumin, cayenne, ancho, hot pepper flakes, garlic powder)
I cup of chicken broth (used low sodium)
Threw into crock pot, on low for 6 hours ( I did start at high for the first hour since chicken was somewhat frozen) and let it be. I stirred occasionally, but probably not necessary.
Ate with tortillia chips and cheese. Made 8 servings for us. So 6 frozen meals. Going to try over some brown rice later this week.
The original recipe did not call for the chicken broth, so if you omit, should be thicker and probably great for a borrito or chip dip.

Thank you, sir. I received the error messages this morning, too, as I was trying to compose my installment. I think Fort Fiends would benefit from a new hosting service.
 
 
Please tell Mrs. Troll where this bag-and-a-half ice machine is. It would mean I would have to make 50% less ice trips.
 
 
Thank you. Rescue dogs are the only dogs we'll ever have. If you adopt a dog that's about 2 years old, you don't even have to do the housebreaking. Someone else has already suffered through that for you.
 
 
Mrs. Troll wanted to set up a clothesline at our site. I said no.
 
 
Not a bad rendition! Agree with the Coke/Disney relationship. You know Coke views Disney as a major cash cow.
 
 
We love our puppas. They're laying on the bed in between us as I type these words!
 
Dogs are awesome. So cool of God for designing them. We checked out site 911...not a bad site, but we still prefer 916.
 
 
Noooooooooo! Please tell me she is doing that just to agitate me and it's not a genuine duck face!
 
 
Yeah. Disney should have a machine where you insert $3 and all it gives you back is a slip of paper that says, "Sucker!"
 
I bet they'd sell a ton of them.
 
 
I'm a young grumpy guy. Or, well, not young. Not old, either. Whatever I am.

My Cracker Barrel had two. Now they have one. Be aware that the light bulb has bubble pack around it and it is hard to see.

Thanks Jen.

My parents are dying to do this - I'm not sure it will happen.  They have a 6000 square feet home full of stuff!  Plus barns full of more stuff! They bought a class A 2007 Vectra last year and swear they are hitting the road in 3 years.  I will believe it when I see it!

Sorry, but this is just wrong. Bowling food is beer in bottles, hot dogs, greasy burgers and greasier fries. How else are you going to get that ball to slip off those fat fingers?

Not sure if you all have taken the "Thumbs up for Lane" picture yet, but wanted to encourage you to if you had not. One of the things that seems to help the families who have been through a loss is seeing others remember that person. A simple gesture like the picture will mean so much to the family.

Well, we made it back home a couple hours ago, got the trailer unloaded, blew the water out of the lines and added pink stuff to the traps in case we get a freeze before Christmas, and I'm finally sitting a bit. Will try to get some more pics up tonight.

Yeah Ed! My daughter and son-in-law did their first half marathons this morning, also. Congratulations!
PS: when my daughter first posted on FF.net that they had committed to training for the Expedition Everest run, you and Ed provided encouraging words. Thank you! :)

This one may be a little harder for ya!

Two pics from Fantasyland this morning. The first is on the bridge leading to the new restaurant (not yet open but you can peak inside) and the second is from the Arielle clamshell ride.

Two pics from Fantasyland this morning. The first is on the bridge leading to the new restaurant (not yet open but you can peak inside) and the second is from the Arielle clamshell ride.

I found this on the Apple Store.

I think it might be what you are talking about.
PS: see the wifi icon in the top left hand corner? That's Fort Wilderness free wifi in the 2700 loop.

I found this on the Apple Store.

I think it might be what you are talking about.
PS: see the wifi icon in the top left hand corner? That's Fort Wilderness free wifi in the 2700 loop.

I just want to add that I had a Spaten Oktoberfest draft tonight at dinner and it was delicious.

I saw one on ebay a few months ago, but that was the only one I have been able to find, I to have looked and with avail.

someone else is sulking with me

Have fun!! :)
Take lots of pictures of CBR...I'd love to stay there sometime. (Just Alex and I of course)

Congrats on the funnel vision. I agree with the girls. Rotisserie Chickens or maybe rotisserie monkeys? The monkeys do not have heads. Can't wait for the rest of your trips.

Onward!
We're at the Magic Kingdom, and fun, waffles, and a redone BTMR await us!
We entered the park with no wait at all. Then we went through the entrance that tunnels underneath the train station and emerged to see a very rare sight:

It's a parade, folks.
At the Magic Kindgom...
And there's no crowd!
You can see straight through to the parade floats! Almost no obstructions whatsoever!
You know, I really, really love Main Street USA. It's my favorite area in the park. Not a single ride attraction is there, yet I love it so. Such classic styling, such incredible, breath-taking attention to detail. Next time you're there at nighttime, see if you can find a burned out light bulb. I bet you won't!
Going with a classic, turn-of-the-century style ensures one thing -- your design and theming will never go out of style. It never looks dated or in need of a refurb.
The same, unfortunately, can't be said about the Contemporary or Future World in Epcot. Future World is no longer very futuristic.
This brings me to a question I wanted to ask the rest of the Fiends. Remember (if you are old enough) when Epcot first opened in 1982? Back then it was referred to as EPCOT Center...
Oh, and remind me to tell you a story about that, too, later...
Anyway, back in 1982, Epcot wasn't Epcot, it was EPCOT. More specifically, it was EPCOT Center. So, now, I'm sure you're familiar with Innoventions. Back in the day, it was called CommuniCore. They used to showcase the latest technological advances in CommuniCore, and I remember finding the exhibits fascinating. Well, CommuniCore is gone, replaced by Innoventions, a pavilion with the same approach -- a showcase for new technology.
But you know, somehow I don't find the technology they showcase now nearly as fascinating as I did back in the days when the pavilion was Innoventions. Everything in there just strikes me as a cheap advertisement.
So here's my question: Has everything cool already been invented?
Chew on that for a bit.
But for now, let's continue...
Fortunately Main Street USA and Br'er Rabbit never go out of style.
One of the things I've been really, really wanting to do for a long, long time is get a haircut in the barbershop on Main Street. So Mrs. Troll encouraged me to get one. So we hoofed it over to the barbershop, but we were too late:

What this sign is delicately saying is, "You're too late. We're already home, pounding back a beer. Come back tomorrow."
Well doggone!
I was really looking forward to a haircut, as my troll fur was really getting unruly.
Do trolls have fur?
Undeterred, I turned around and was struck by this view:

Isn't that building just beautiful? I'm with Walt: Steam trains are just plain cool.
OK, now it's time to possibly rile a few people up.
There's a strange new phenomenon spreading across our great land. I am unable to explain it or understand it. I'm sure you've seen. Perhaps you're even guilty of committing it.
Young women everywhere, ostensibly in a vain and laughable attempt to look "sexy," are...what's the word...posing themselves for photographs in a most peculiar, annoying way.
It's called...
The Duckface.
I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. They pucker their lips and poke them out exaggeratedly. Their eyes are wide open, almost bugged out.
And for some reason, this most contrived expression is almost always combined with the two finger peace sign...only held sideways.
If you're still unsure what I'm referring to (and if you are, damn, what rock have you been living under?), here's a visual aid:

Duckface.
Almost textbook duckface.
The only atypical thing about this one is the fact that the duck in the photo is holding her peace sign incorrectly. It's supposed to be backwards and sideways, like this:

Now we're talking!
Anyway, Mr. and Mrs. Troll hate duckfaces. I mean, hate -- as in despise.
As in possibly willing to commit bodily harm.
So Mrs. Troll decided to lampoon these fools by ridiculing them at Disney World. I have an entire series of Mrs. Troll mockingly doing duckfaces for your enjoyment.
Here she is now, duckfacing on Main Street, USA:

Yes, I have a whole collection of these.
You thought you liked the POV set? Well, it gets even better. Duckface galore. Courtesy of Mrs. Troll.
So if you're a genuine duckfacer, you have my apologies.
Well, not really.
So after making the duckface, Mrs. Troll pointed out that the Disney overlords were already putting out the Halloween decorations.
Keep in mind it's August.
Here's Minnie, ready for a fall festival:

Notice the mini Minnies at her feet.
Kind of cool display. The life size manikin's outfit matches the mini Minnies'.
And here's Mickey in a Halloween-themed tux:

I must say, that's a very garish outfit for a guy with such a dull personality.
I wonder if that clock in the display is for sale?
We decided to press on to the waffle sandwich dispensary.
Now let's revisit a comment from the guy who can make anything fascinating and engrossing, Mr. TCD:
Yes, indeed, you know the cruel, tragic way it ended.
It ended like this:

Noooooooooooo!
Confound it!
How can this be?!?
If the masterminds at Disney know anything, it's how to separate a mark from his money. How can they only serve those heavenly waffle delights until 5PM?!?
It's dinnertime!
Many, many people eat dinner after 5PM!
And many, many people are perfectly willing to eat waffles for dinner!
Noooooooooo!
I told the lady at the window I'd give her $20 if she'd make us waffle sandwiches anyway, but she said no.
In fact, she said no while frowning. She evidently did not think my attempt at bribery was very funny.
Of course, I wasn't trying to be funny.
Blast.
No waffle sandwiches for the Trolls.
Dejected, we pressed on.
Trivia time! Who can guess where I got the saying, "Confound it?"
Here's a hint: It's uttered by a legendary character out of a legendary movie that isn't a Disney movie but should be.
Anyone know?
Bonus Troll Points for the person who guesses first.
In fact, I will buy the winner a beer. If no one guesses right, you all owe me a beer.
And I don't drink the cheap stuff.
So now Mr. Troll was 0 - 2 -- no haircut and no waffle sandwich.
My money was still firmly in my wallet.
Fail, Disney managers, fail! Walt would be most displeased.
So we pressed on. Notice Mrs. Troll is still lugging the backpack:

Also notice how empty the walkways are! This was really nice. We were like taking a stroll down an uncrowded downtown street. This is not common at all. Ordinarily you are stuck in a morass of hot, sweaty, people, many of whom are angry, tired parents, scolding their children for wanting to do something unruly -- like go on a ride or something. And then to make matters worse, there are people pushing triple-wide strollers into the backs of your ankles. In agony at having your ankles rolled up on, you turn to see what hit you and notice that the triple-wide stroller does not have a single child in it. The children are trailing behind on foot and the stroller is being used as a cargo cart, like a wheelbarrow.
I don't think anyone on this site has ever been assessed any penalty points.
I wonder if I might be the first?
Let's find out.
I'm clicking the POST button right now.
Coming up next, we head for the town of Big Thunder to ride a train possessed by Sitting Bull.

Silvia was feeling better and it was time to head back to California Adventure. We had the reserved area for World of Color so we headed over there to watch the show.




A nice moon that night


A sample of what the water screens looked like this is what was displayed at the end of the show.

Heres a link to the show
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ElmObzUvYg
This is a newer version as I can't find a good one from when we were there. This one includes the Brave section and has the new Glow with the Show Ears. Which are way flockin cool in my opinion.
After the show we checked out the tail end of Electronica and checked out Flynn's arcade.







They had one of the prop Light Cycle's from the movie on display but you could only see it at night during Electronica.

And after that we made our way out and back to the hotel.

To be continued. I have to upload day 3 still.