Wherem I Now
DIS Dad #30
- Joined
- Feb 7, 2007
I’m going to finish this up even if no one reads along.
WE ARE HERE!!!
I’m going to finish this up even if no one reads along.
I appreciate that Mark, but dont worry about it overly.
Im going to finish this up even if no one reads along.
I have, however, decided to cut it down in scale a bit (since not many are reading along). There are about three Bonus Features that wont be seeing the light of day. Ive also decided to discontinue the Flash Back segments as well. It was a good idea at first, but Im behind on them, and honestly, I dont really think yall want to listen to me drone on about band stuff much more.
Ill probably have this wrapped up in about three or four updates at the most and then well call it quits until I get back to Disney (although that may be a long time from now).
I would have liked to write about our excursion to Dayton back in April or about this past summers trip to the Williamsburg and Norfolk area, but again, I dont think there will be much audience for those non-Disney adventures.
WE ARE HERE!!!
Wow... I got way behind. I was going to go back and multi quote responses, but I read so much stuff this morning, I've already forgot what I wanted to say.
The Thanksgiving dinner cruise looks like a lot of fun. From the food aspect, I think I'd prefer the family meal where there is enough turkey to stuff yourself silly until you pass out for a couple of hours, but you definitely can't beat the view on that cruise.
The feature on the lions is actually very interesting. I never thought I'd learn so many new things this morning at work.
The visit to Ellis Island looks very fascinating as well. That is one place I definitely want to have a chance to visit at some point in time,
but that update is making me feel sorry for Max. He's just trying to enjoy some time with friends and his dad is acting like the friggin paparazzi.
Ok, I'm all caught up.
First: the night cruise around Manhattan looks really fun. I imagine the views must have been spectacular, seeing the city lit up at night. But I have to admit that if that tiny plate had been all that amounted to my Thanksgiving "feast", I'd be a little upset.
It ain't a Thanksgiving meal unless you've had second and third helpings and then have to unbutton the top pants button while you fall asleep on the couch in front of a football game.
Looking at the evolution of the NY Public Library was interesting from the eye of an engineer. As I read about the changes to the topography I kept thinking, "Do you have any idea how many permits and bureaucratic red tape we'd have to wade through to be able to fill in those creeks and wetlands today?"
The Roman-style aqueduct was pretty cool, too. And the Library itself looks like a spectacular building on the inside.
I would have assumed "Patience" and "Fortitude" were qualities that visitors to NYC would need.
Finally, the trip to Ellis Island was a nice blast from the past. Although it looks like you had a much better view of the skyline than we did when we took my daughter up there for her birthday! Definitely a worthy trip for any American.
Your TR, so it's your rules. Who cares about the audience? If these reports help you re-live the adventures, go for it. I can't speak for anyone else, but I really enjoy your writing, your sly movie references, and your dry sense of humor (I may glaze over a bit with marching bands--sorry.)
I really enjoy the historical tangents, too. The volume of research you do is impressive, and no one can ever say they're less well off for having learned something new.
Rob - as you can tell from the "frequent" updates to my own TR, I've been a tad busy lately. But I sat down yesterday and got all caught up on this one. Fantastic work - the Thanksgiving cruise looked really cool and the history of the library is fascinating. I'd hate to think how many people walked around that giant reservoir at night and decided to take a wiz in it.
Keep writing, sir. I may not be the timeliest with my reading or responses but be assured that it is all fascinating stuff.
HA! I'm going to read this entry backwards so I can get the answers in the order I want them! And you can't do anything about it!Well, just to be different, Ill answer those in reverse order; starting where I left off a little bit ago
They probably hired a Brazillion as a consultant. Were your kids singing and chanting much, by any chance?It takes a lot of work to keep nearly two hundred youngsters all together and the chaperone corps deserved special thanks for pulling that job off in good fashion.
Huh? Wha? Where'd everybody go?(we thought we did at one point, but it turned out that someone was just not paying attention).
Our next mode of transport for the day would be the ferry Miss New Jersey which was just gliding into the landing channel at Ellis.
Just like Magic Kingdom in September! That D*#$ Crane Ruined my vacation pictures!!!Notice the rather long pole just to the left of the lady holding up the torch? That was actually a harbinger of an unfortunate development.
We haven't seen many pictures of you and your lovely bride, so I thought this would be nice time to interject with : Nice Picture!
Yaaaa!! More History!!Well Ill tell you.
How much would you freak out if you were cleaning out a long-forgotten attic or garage and found a giant toe? Yeah, me too.The formed copper parts that make up Liberty were actually finished, shipped to the US in 241 separate crates, and put into storage long before the base could be completed.
Here we go again...Well, just to be different, Ill answer those in reverse order; starting where I left off a little bit ago
Oh no! Lady Liberty has taken up pole dancing????Notice the rather long pole just to the left of the lady holding up the torch? That was actually a harbinger of an unfortunate development.
A disappointment? Yes, but still its not every day I get to be this close to a national treasure, so we made the best of what opportunities we did have.
They don't know exactly how or where it stoood, but they know it held a torch up. Kind of wonder how they come up with some of this information sometimes.There is argument though as to whether it stood to one side or straddled the entrance, but they generally agree that it held some type of torch aloft and soared to better then one hundred feet above its already oversized base.
Thanks for reassuring me, but I already knew that my tax dollars didn't go toward building that pedestal.(entirely from private sources so know that your tax dollars were not wasted on public art here)
I did a Google Image Search for "Miss New Jersey." My results are much nicer than that picture.
Maybe the photoshop crane removal expert should try to help out. I'm sure Max would like a picture of him and his friends without a crane.Just like Magic Kingdom in September! That D*#$ Crane Ruined my vacation pictures!!!
And more importantly, just why am I bothering you with this foolishness in the first place?
Between the busses, ferries and extensive walking needed during this trip; we never once lost a sole (we thought we did at one point, but it turned out that someone was just not paying attention).
Once aboard we were off for the next rather familiar destination. A little spot on the map called Liberty Island.
Notice the rather long pole just to the left of the lady holding up the torch? That was actually a harbinger of an unfortunate development. Well, unfortunate for us at least, but not so for the lady with the lamp. But Ill get to that in a minute.
With the renovation still in progress, much of this monuments amenities were closed. We couldnt get into the Immigrant Museum and certainly not into the base or climb the statue itself.
Well Ill tell you.
King: No! Wait! Stop that!
When sufficient funds were finally raised (entirely from private sources so know that your tax dollars were not wasted on public art here),
I did a Google Image Search for "Miss New Jersey." My results are much nicer than that picture.
HA! I'm going to read this entry backwards so I can get the answers in the order I want them! And you can't do anything about it!
They probably hired a Brazillion as a consultant. Were your kids singing and chanting much, by any chance?
Huh? Wha? Where'd everybody go?
I did a Google Image Search for "Miss New Jersey." My results are much nicer than that picture.
Just like Magic Kingdom in September! That D*#$ Crane Ruined my vacation pictures!!!
We haven't seen many pictures of you and your lovely bride, so I thought this would be nice time to interject with : Nice Picture!
Yaaaa!! More History!!
(Note: no sarcasm was used in writing that last sentence. History rocks. Well, actually, geology rocks. History is awesome. )
How much would you freak out if you were cleaning out a long-forgotten attic or garage and found a giant toe? Yeah, me too.
Here we go again...
Oh no! Lady Liberty has taken up pole dancing????
They don't know exactly how or where it stoood, but they know it held a torch up. Kind of wonder how they come up with some of this information sometimes.
Thanks for reassuring me, but I already knew that my tax dollars didn't go toward building that pedestal.
Do you have a new wallpaper on your computer at work now? We won't tell Bambi.
Maybe the photoshop crane removal expert should try to help out. I'm sure Max would like a picture of him and his friends without a crane.
I don't know. What other foolishness would you like to bother us with?
I think I've heard of it...
It would have been cool if they'd hung a sign on it that said "Gone Fishin'".
He's going to tell! He's going to tell!
Great! Then they can waste them on something else.
Nice pictures! Looks like you made the best of it.
CONCORDE: Quickly, sir! Come this way!!!
LAUNCELOT: No, it's not right for my idiom. I must escape more..........[sigh]
CONCORDE: Dramatically sir?
LAUNCELOT: Dramatically!!!! [crash] [Launcelot hovers on chandelier]
Excuse me, could, uh, could somebody give me a push, please...?
Roads and schools come to mind
But most of my neighbors think that such socialist trappings are Un-American. Well not their schools and roads of course, just those frequented by all those other scumbags out there that wont take responsibility for themselves.
Since we could not get inside the statue this day, I decided to do a bit of research about the bits that I could not see, and thats bad news for you...
What was in most of those crates were the exterior pieces or the skin of the statue. The internal workings were something else that had to be figured out. All of the beaten, pressed and molded copper plates were designed to fit together into a harmonious whole, but without some kind of skeleton, the whole thing would simply collapse upon itself.
Well yes...
No one in their right Victorian mind would have allowed anyone to erect such a hideous assault to the eye if they thought for a moment that the thing would be permanent scar on the skyline of the City of Lights.
Ive got one more little bit of hidden detail; the broken shackles. As imagined, Liberty is actually walking and in doing so she is trodding over a set of broken leg irons...
I just love watching the water and ships gliding along it.
The decision was made that we ought to check out the gift shop (cause thats what tourists do by God)
Well... classy for knick-knacks that is, but we found a very nice understated Christmas ornament that included the image of Lady Liberty and the year. We collect ornaments from our travels... they make fun memories and being as we pull them out every year, they give us reasons to stop and reminisce while decorating the house.
However, the idea of always pushing a deadline past is maximum safe limit is normal for her... so off she went. Being as the idea of always pushing a deadline past its maximum safe limit is something I avoid like the plague... her sister and I werent quite as enthusiastic.
The renowned Staten Island Ferry is not one ship. There are currently eight of them in service making the round trip (that one there happens to be the MV Senator John J. Marchi). These ships are also the only form of public transportation in the area that is free. Yep... you pay not a single farthing, halfpenny, hay-penny or any other imaginable type of penny to board one of these ships. A round trip across the length of New York harbor and right by both of the oyster islands costs the thrifty tourist exactly bupkis. Thats something Im going to have to do the next time Im up there.
As the name would suggest, this was once a defensive position and it is still where youll find Castle Clinton...
And start our walk into the heart of very old New York. The last bit of history we encountered before marching up Trinity was this rather battered bit of art...
I'm actually not sure I ever knew about that detail...Ive got one more little bit of hidden detail; the broken shackles. As imagined, Liberty is actually walking and in doing so she is trodding over a set of broken leg irons...
Ain't that just your luck?Since the museum was closed the NPS has set up a mini-museum in the form of a tent that was designed to explain the restoration work being done. Unfortunately, it wasnt open at the time either...
I wouldn't have been too happy in that situation either. I'd have been tempted to just let her find her own way off the island if it came down to it.We were still cooling our heels. Just as the crew finished clearing the ship and opened the walkway for boarding... my SIL strolls up just as calm and casual as could be and asks if we were ready to head out. This kind of thing is normal for her and I do love the girl (bless her heart) but for Tamara and I, thats just far more stress that we really wanted to deal with.
Look at Rob posting a dirty "up the skirt" picture. Sinner.
And we'd expect nothing less.but rather instead I think Ill use it to tell a couple of small stories and bury some more unnecessary details.
Cause... thats what I do.
hehehehehehehe "bits that I could not see'. sinner.I decided to do a bit of research about the bits that I could not see
DUCT TAPE!!All of the beaten, pressed and molded copper plates were designed to fit together into a harmonious whole, but without some kind of skeleton, the whole thing would simply collapse upon itself.
What to do, what to do?
Maybe they should have set up a table next to the tent next to the museum to explain why the tent that explained why the museum wasn't open wasn't open. Trust me, I did the math. That sentence is correct.Since the museum was closed the NPS has set up a mini-museum in the form of a tent that was designed to explain the restoration work being done. Unfortunately, it wasnt open at the time either.
So, you can actually avoid a gift shop if you choose? How very un-Disney of them.The decision was made that we ought to check out the gift shop (cause thats what tourists do by God) and then head back to the dock to meet up with the rest of the group.
Yes...Bless Her Heart.My SIL had bought a couple of post cards and wanted to mail them to her son from the island so that theyd have the unique postmark on them. A nice idea, but we were running out of time. However, the idea of always pushing a deadline past is maximum safe limit is normal for her... so off she went.
If that particular building was in Wisconsin, it never would have made it to the exhibition hall, theater or public aquarium stages of life.The name then changed to Castle Garden and it has served over the years since in many capacities including stints as a beer garden, an exhibition hall, a theater and a public aquarium.
I think Launcelot's tale is my favorite part of the whole movie.
I think your research paid off. This is basically what you would have learned in the museum, anyway.
I don't even remember seeing that when I was looking down from above. It's hard to get to those particular windows.
In other news, the water is wet.
Especially if you're exiting a Disney ride.
We do the same! We have a little Statue of Liberty decorating our tree as well. But it gets lost in all the Mickey ear ornaments.
I'm with you. I hate being late for anything. So I'll join you in virtual aggravation.
We've talked about taking that route into the city next time we feel up to the adventure that is visiting NYC. It's both cost-effective and scenic, so that makes it hard to beat.
Can you inhale there?
Judging from the buildings in the background of the "old" picture, this is going to be a very sobering update.
I'm actually not sure I ever knew about that detail...
Ain't that just your luck?
I wouldn't have been too happy in that situation either. I'd have been tempted to just let her find her own way off the island if it came down to it.
Interesting look at the engineering of the statue and the boat ride over to Manhattan. I'm sure the next update will have some very interesting bonus features to it as well.
Look at Rob posting a dirty "up the skirt" picture. Sinner.
And we'd expect nothing less.
hehehehehehehe "bits that I could not see'. sinner.
DUCT TAPE!!
Maybe they should have set up a table next to the tent next to the museum to explain why the tent that explained why the museum wasn't open wasn't open. Trust me, I did the math. That sentence is correct.
So, you can actually avoid a gift shop if you choose? How very un-Disney of them.
Yes...Bless Her Heart.
If that particular building was in Wisconsin, it never would have made it to the exhibition hall, theater or public aquarium stages of life.