Canadian Buffoon's Semi-EPIC Vacation - 10/29 - Link to new TR!

[pkondz]

All it takes is faith, trust, a smartphone, a good wifi connection, months of planning, and some good luck.

Exactly!

I can actually taste it right now just by looking at the picture. But my coworkers are looking at me weird so I should probably stop licking the screen.

You be you, girl!
Go ahead and lick away!

That dude behind you guys in the picture looks like he would kill someone, no questions asked.

I noticed him.
Thought about commenting.

Was afraid to.

ALWAYS. That's the #1 rule of ice cream.

Is it the only rule of ice cream???

I'm glad you understand.
Parenthood.
It's not like in the movies...

Except possibly Parenthood
(with Steve Martin)

You could totally have run with this. Made it into a real event, with the CM looking adorably at your daughter while the balloons smile down.

Just what I need!
A Disney romance.

Well, if it gets me free tickets,
I'm all for it!

It looks like a soggy little skull staring out of the dark abyss.

I didn't want to look at it
too long. I was afraid it would
steal my soul.

Sorry it was disappointing! I love this sandwich so much.

I guess when you make a
better one at home...

Well when you're married to a beast you have to take the edge off somehow...

Valid point.

 

[pkondz]

You got a deal.

Yay!

I love the way the Chick-fil-A employees say "My pleasure" when you ask for something or say "Thank You". I'm eating a salad from there right now.

Interesting. I didn't notice that.
Maybe because I'm used to polite
interactions (usually) from fast-food
servers.

 

[Terra Nova guy]

There's always room for ice cream!

Words to live by.
And that’s coming from a guy who ate four citrus swirls in one sitting.

And like any good father,
I made sure to not tell Elle
what to aim for.

Been there. Done that. I rarely have the upper hand with anything these days, so I take my chances when I can.

I still haven't really got the hang
of aiming, the darn thing, but...

Likewise. I just see red dots everywhere, I have no idea which one is mine.
I believe my last score was very similar to yours.

decided to try the
Croque Monsieur, which was
disappointing, unfortunately.

That’s too bad. I’ve never been to BOG but if I did go I thought I might get that.

If you haven't done the magic mirror
or seen The Wardrobe or Lumiere...
You're missing out.
It's 100% geared to kids, but
the effects are very well done.

Yes the show is well done and worth seeing.
That being said, I think my family only did it once and haven’t had much desire to go back.

 

[Tracy161]

Su-Lynn (@chunkymonkey ) and her DH, Steve
showed up a few minutes later.

Yay! I still like to think that I'm responsible for this friendship...

Here's Su-Lynn and I taking
advantage of every opportunity
to eat all the things in Disney.

When in Rome!

Our official DISmeet lasted much
less time than our un-official ones!

What lovely Dismeets you had that morning! How fortunate we all are to have the Dis

 

[pkondz]

Words to live by.
And that’s coming from a guy who ate four citrus swirls in one sitting.

That's right! You would know!

Been there. Done that. I rarely have the upper hand with anything these days, so I take my chances when I can.

It used to be easy...
Now you have to work at winning.

Or cheat.

Either or.

Likewise. I just see red dots everywhere, I have no idea which one is mine.
I believe my last score was very similar to yours.

That's not bad, then.

That’s too bad. I’ve never been to BOG but if I did go I thought I might get that.

Well, maybe it was an off day.
Others have said they really like it.

Yes the show is well done and worth seeing.
That being said, I think my family only did it once and haven’t had much desire to go back.

It's very much a once in a while
(or even one and done)
kind of thing.
But... worth seeing at least once.

 

[pkondz]

Yay! I still like to think that I'm responsible for this friendship...

You are!

When in Rome!

Eat the Romans!

No... wait...

I think that's supposed to be
"Thank the Phoenicians!"

 

[Self_resqing_princz]

Okay. I'll see what's what and
go from there.
I've already seen that it would
be 15.5 hours of driving to get there.

Oh my! Maybe stay home and sleep instead? That's a LOT of driving! ...and I mean it's not THAT exciting... it's not like it's Disney.

 

[pkondz]

Oh my! Maybe stay home and sleep instead? That's a LOT of driving! ...and I mean it's not THAT exciting... it's not like it's Disney.

You should actually come up here.

On Sunday I went to Germany and going to Egypt tonight. Next week will be Mexico. Not sure what else.
Folklorama is the world's largest and longest-running multicultural festival.
It's in its 50th year, runs for two weeks and last year had over 500,000 visitors.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Just starting to catch up again...

What's in Newton, Iowa?

Absolutely nothing.

Well... not a whole heck of
a lot, really.

Ha! I knew it!

Because I collect Harley Davidson
poker chips and going that way
brings me half a dozen more chips.

Seems legit.

Thought that was pretty cool.

That is pretty cool, actually.

I took the time
to sashay along the Bob Kerry
Pedestrian Bridge.

Hey, I've been there!

The only real question you have
to ask yourself is...
Why would you want to go from
Nebraska to Iowa.

Well...maybe to officially set foot in Iowa so you can cross it off your list and then not have to see any more of the state.

Did you know there's corn
in Nebraska... and in Iowa?

Yes, I'm aware. Painfully aware.

So...aware...

I saw the sign...
I took the off ramp...


And there was nothing.
Just a sign saying there
was a town seven miles north.

Oh, I hate that! When I use those signs, I'm looking for convenience.

At this point, it was pretty
much a foregone conclusion
that I'd be going to the Danish Museum.

I mean, it's hard to miss a
bright yellow building, amiright?

Oh, and if you look closely,
there's a windmill too.

Well done.

The gas attendant was very
enthusiastic about it
and told me that "Terry"
would be working at the desk today.

Oh. Good.

I walked in and saw a woman
at the front desk.
"Hi Terry!" I said. "How are you?"

Too bad it was a different woman.
Apparently, Terry was on a break.

If you're not familiar with Victor Borge
(1909-2000), feel free to simply put
it out of your mind and read on.

I love him! Even went so far as to show my kids YouTube clips of his performances.

I have to know: was there a seat belt in there?

If you've never heard of the movie
(or book) called The Bridges of Madison County...

Heard of them...but no explosions, so I didn't read/see it.

I rolled down the window
and the cop, still in his car,
asked. "Are you lost?"
My first instinct was to
immediately say "No".

Well, you are a guy.

And now... behold!
My first ever covered bridge.

Nice. Usually more interesting than your typical bridge.

I hadn't researched the Capitol building
other than to see it was one of the top
tourist sites in town.

And possibly the only tourist site in town.

What I found most interesting
is that the ship was in commission
from 1943-1949, again from 1951-1958
and again from 1984-1990.

It's like the ship has a sign that says, "Break glass in case of emergency or war."

I finally got to try Chick-fil-A.
I won't say it's the best chicken
I've had (far from it), but I will
say that I enjoyed it quite a bit.
So much so that I had it again,
on the drive home.

Hey, good for you!

Of course it's not the best chicken ever. That's the wrong comparison. The comparison is to food at other fast-food joints, in which case there is no comparison.

I've been to Indy, Toronto, Long Beach,
and Edmonton (when they raced there.)
One super speedway and three street
courses. This would be my first short oval
experience and I was really looking
forward to it.

Cool. I know nothing about it, but it seems similar to my interest in golf course architecture.

There were a few relics of
a bygone era of racing on
display and I snapped a
couple of photos.

Neat. Glad you got to see them.

1. The sky was a lot more ominous looking
then the photo really shows.
The sky wasn't just dark... it was dark green.

I was just about to ask if it was green. That's when you really need to take cover! Was in Nebraska once and saw a storm like that--worst hailstorm I've ever seen.

Wow!

During my sojourn in my car,
I suddenly realized that my
race ticket was missing.

D'oh.

There was a neat moment when
Gene Kranz, who was the Chief
Flight Director for Gemini and Apollo
space missions (including Apollo 11)
dedicated the race in honour of the
50th anniversary of the moon landing.

Cool. Of course I recognize him from the Ed Harris character in Apollo 13.

By the way, Ed Harris makes any movie better.

And a second later, they stopped the race
for another rain delay.

Ugh...

I got back to the hotel sometime after 2:00am.

But at least they got the race in!

Back for the next chapter later.

 

[pkondz]

Just starting to catch up again...

Slacker...

Absolutely nothing.

So you've been there, then.

Seems legit.

Why else would I drive through
Nebraska to get to Iowa???

That is pretty cool, actually.

Right?
I seldom see something
worth photographing at
the Harley shops.
This was one of those times.

Hey, I've been there!

I thought you had!
I remembered how you
and the fam went on a
pedestrian bridge that
spanned two states.
I didn't remember it curving,
so wasn't sure if that was it.

Well...maybe to officially set foot in Iowa so you can cross it off your list and then not have to see any more of the state.

Now who would do that???

Yes, I'm aware. Painfully aware.

So...aware...

My condolences.
Sorry for your loss of innocence.

Oh, I hate that! When I use those signs, I'm looking for convenience.

Turned out well, though.

Well done.

I love him! Even went so far as to show my kids YouTube clips of his performances.

I have to know: was there a seat belt in there?

Glad you're educating the kids.

The piano was his... not the seat.

Heard of them...but no explosions, so I didn't read/see it.

I watched the movie.
Well... I watched about
five minutes of the movie.

Nice. Usually more interesting than your typical bridge.

And possibly the only tourist site in town.

As far as I can tell, it was.
Good steakhouse though!
I highly recommend the
Iowa Beef Steakhouse if you're
ever trapped in Des Moines.

It's like the ship has a sign that says, "Break glass in case of emergency or war."

How much would you love it
if you could have a radio control
model like that?
With working paintball guns
of course, to shoot at unruly teens.

Hey, good for you!

Finally!

Of course it's not the best chicken ever. That's the wrong comparison. The comparison is to food at other fast-food joints, in which case there is no comparison.

And that's exactly what I've
been telling people.

Cool. I know nothing about it, but it seems similar to my interest in golf course architecture.

Maybe?
I usually don't care too much about
the design or shape of the race course.

Hmmm... Maybe a bit.
I like finding out about the bank
and lengths of ovals.
Or where the best passing zones
are on street and road courses..

hmmm...

I was just about to ask if it was green. That's when you really need to take cover! Was in Nebraska once and saw a storm like that--worst hailstorm I've ever seen.

I got lucky and didn't
have hail.
But I was waiting for it.
That and/or a tornado.
Incredible light show, though!

Wow!

See?

Cool. Of course I recognize him from the Ed Harris character in Apollo 13.

By the way, Ed Harris makes any movie better.

I think the first movie I saw
with him in it was The Abyss.

Good movie.

But at least they got the race in!

Yeah, I was pretty happy about that.

 

[mustinjourney]

But Elle and I had had our hearts
set on Dole Whip floats for months.

I'm somewhat ashamed to admit that I'm just not a big fan of dole whips or the floats. I think I'd rather have a hot fudge sundae, honestly.

I want to try the citrus swirl -- but haven't done that just yet.

Su-Lynn, Steve and I each got
a Hei-Hei cone.

did it make loud noises?

the umbrella behind her is perfectly positioned to look like it's part of her minnie ears -- especially since the colors match

...I trounced her.
She was in shock.
"How did you get
so many points???"

I told her I was skilled.

you're both amateurs! I once was able to max both guns out on a single ride by myself!

It helped that the ride stopped at the point where there is a 100,000 point target...but still -- I was quite proud of myself.

Croque Monsieur, which was
disappointing, unfortunately.

what was wrong with it?

the lone pearl

You can't leave the castle
without a photo of the
Pantsless Prince.

It's just not done.

that's hilarious. Hadn't thought about that before.

It's so well done.

If you haven't done the magic mirror
or seen The Wardrobe or Lumiere...
You're missing out.
It's 100% geared to kids, but
the effects are very well done.

I've been selected as the knight the last two times. My oldest daughter has moved up in her roles. She started out with the extras (salt), then she got to be the dog chair, then Maurice, and this last time she got the LEAD and was THE BEAST. She was soooooooo excited. younger sister got to be chip this time and she had fun hopping around.

I didn't realize Pkondz had an intergalactic division.

 

[pkondz]

I'm somewhat ashamed to admit that I'm just not a big fan of dole whips or the floats.

What?
You can leave right now, mister!!


kidding of course.
I never have a problem if people
like what I don't like or don't like
what I like.

I think I'd rather have a hot fudge sundae, honestly.

I'll have both!
I think I've proven I can have
more than one thing in a
relatively short time span.

I want to try the citrus swirl -- but haven't done that just yet.

I liked it less than the Dole...
but it was good and would
happily have it again.

did it make loud noises?

No, that was just me
smacking my lips.

the umbrella behind her is perfectly positioned to look like it's part of her minnie ears -- especially since the colors match

Su-Lynn mentioned that.
It really does look kinda like:

you're both amateurs! I once was able to max both guns out on a single ride by myself!

It helped that the ride stopped at the point where there is a 100,000 point target...but still -- I was quite proud of myself.

That's cheating.
Do it without stopping...
And then I'll be impressed.

what was wrong with it?

It was soggy.

the lone pearl

Sorry? Not getting this?

that's hilarious. Hadn't thought about that before.

No?
It's the height of vaguely
rude Disney photography.

I've been selected as the knight the last two times. My oldest daughter has moved up in her roles. She started out with the extras (salt), then she got to be the dog chair, then Maurice, and this last time she got the LEAD and was THE BEAST. She was soooooooo excited. younger sister got to be chip this time and she had fun hopping around.

Love that you joined in too.
My girls were too old when
they saw it.
Hmmm... Not sure if Kay
even saw it. Maybe?

I didn't realize Pkondz had an intergalactic division.

I'm diversifying.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Why else would I drive through
Nebraska to get to Iowa???

Masochism?

Now who would do that???

My condolences.
Sorry for your loss of innocence.

(banjo music plays)

Glad you're educating the kids.

The piano was his... not the seat.

Dang. That would have been awesome.

My favorite performance of his was watching him play a duet of (I think) Hungarian Rhapsody. He and the other player kept trading places on the bench and playing over top of each other. Both amazing and hilarious.

I watched the movie.
Well... I watched about
five minutes of the movie.

If it had been called Blowing Up the Bridges of Madison County, I would have been so there.

As far as I can tell, it was.
Good steakhouse though!
I highly recommend the
Iowa Beef Steakhouse if you're
ever trapped in Des Moines.

Cool, thanks!

I got trapped in Des Moines a couple of years ago for a work conference. I arrived on a Sunday and the city was so dead I had to call my wife and ask if the Zombie Apocalypse had taken place during my flight.

Speaking of zombies, though, I did find this place in town, which I really liked: Zombie Burgers

How much would you love it
if you could have a radio control
model like that?
With working paintball guns
of course, to shoot at unruly teens.

Shut up and take my money!

And that's exactly what I've
been telling people.

I got lucky and didn't
have hail.
But I was waiting for it.
That and/or a tornado.
Incredible light show, though!

I bet! Glad you were safe in the car.

I think the first movie I saw
with him in it was The Abyss.

Good movie.

I liked that one a lot. Not a fan of the ending, but everything up to that was great.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

We had a PP FP that was expiring
soon and she thought we were
going to miss it.
Elle hadn't been to Disney in
ten years and she really didn't
want to not go on PP.

Very understandable. That one is must-do Disney.

But Elle and I had had our hearts
set on Dole Whip floats for months.

Also understandable, for the exact same reason.

But our next DISmeet was right
around the corner!

This is the most efficient set of DIS meets ever!

Pfft. Amateur.
There's always room for ice cream!
(or a close proximity thereof.)

Unless you're lactose intolerant.

Like any good DISer, I had done
a bit of research on how to
maximize points.
And like any good father,
I made sure to not tell Elle
what to aim for.

Exactly! This is how it's done.

...I trounced her.
She was in shock.
"How did you get
so many points???"

I told her I was skilled.


A skilled fibber.
But she doesn't need
to know that.

Well done, Dad. Winning is all that matters.

Our official DISmeet lasted much
less time than our un-official ones!

But you made it work.

And now for lunch!
I have no idea what Elle had.
I just know it was vegetarian.

Which means it was uninteresting.

And I guess that's supposed
to be a hidden Mickey, but...
It just looks... vaguely terrifying.

It looks more like a Hidden Jack Skellington.

"Try the grey stuff, kinda bland
Don't believe me? Anal gland."

You can't leave the castle
without a photo of the
Pantsless Prince.

It's just not done.

I can't say I'm ever eager to take a photo of a guy without pants.

If you haven't done the magic mirror
or seen The Wardrobe or Lumiere...
You're missing out.
It's 100% geared to kids, but
the effects are very well done.

I agree. The mirror is amazing.

We were done in 25 minutes.
Huh. That CM was right.

Good work, CM!

Did you see it in this chapter?

You bought a whole ride now?

 

[pkondz]

Masochism?

Can't think of any other reason.

(banjo music plays)

softly... with candles...

Dang. That would have been awesome.

Was surprised enough just
to find the piano there!

My favorite performance of his was watching him play a duet of (I think) Hungarian Rhapsody. He and the other player kept trading places on the bench and playing over top of each other. Both amazing and hilarious.

They had that clip there!
Watched it (again).

If it had been called Blowing Up the Bridges of Madison County, I would have been so there.

Ninja Robots Blowing Up
the Bridges of Madison County.

I got trapped in Des Moines a couple of years ago for a work conference. I arrived on a Sunday and the city was so dead I had to call my wife and ask if the Zombie Apocalypse had taken place during my flight.

I believe you!

Speaking of zombies, though, I did find this place in town, which I really liked: Zombie Burgers

I heard about this place...

After I got back home.

Shut up and take my money!

I bet! Glad you were safe in the car.

"Safe"
If a tornado came along,
I wouldn't have been able
to move.

Stayed dry, though.

I liked that one a lot. Not a fan of the ending, but everything up to that was great.

Ah yes... the ending.
Oh well...

 

[afwdwfan]

As we chatted, I noticed Elle getting
a bit quiet and withdrawn.
We had a PP FP that was expiring
soon and she thought we were
going to miss it.
Elle hadn't been to Disney in
ten years and she really didn't
want to not go on PP.
(And without a FP... you don't
go on PP. At least not without
waiting in line for an hour or so.)
I asked Kari if she wouldn't mind
if we zipped over to PP for a bit
and she (extremely graciously)
agreed to wait for us.

Well, you don't want to miss out on that FP! I can understand how Elle might get concerned. I know it stresses me out when I'm looking at the clock and trying to move "others" to the next FP, ADR, whatever! Very nice of Kari to wait on you though!

Pfft. Amateur.
There's always room for ice cream!
(or a close proximity thereof.)

Seriously... did you just take up residence in Adventureland?

I still haven't really got the hang
of aiming, the darn thing, but...

There's really not much aiming those things. More like point in the general direction and hope that dot on the target is yours.

Well, fourth if you count that
we'd already met Ariana (@Pluto0809 )
and Jackie (@missjackiemcg ) already.
Fifth if you count we met them
twice already.

So why not a third time?

But you met 2 of them twice, so if you count each of them individually as separate meets since they are separate Dis-ers…

Math. Mind blown. I'm confused. Carry on.

"Try the grey stuff, kinda bland
Don't believe me? Anal gland."

Er… something like that.

I'm so pleased that they don't
just let any ol' riff raff in there!

Not even if you present a rose at the door?

We were done in 25 minutes.
Huh. That CM was right.

I guess if you spend 8 hours a day there every day, you get a good feel of it.

 

[mustinjourney]

Su-Lynn mentioned that.
It really does look kinda like:

yup -- that's exactly the type of hat I was thinking of at first.

That's cheating.
Do it without stopping...
And then I'll be impressed.

I've maxed out one side without any stopping several times. But getting both sides (with one person only) maxed out without stopping is probably impossible.

It was soggy.

These sandwiches aren't made fresh to order? I'm shocked!!!

Soggy sandwiches are pretty offputting. My wife refuses to eat Subway now b/c in college, we used to get Subway sandwiches catered for several of our band meals (we did marching band in college, so after away games, we'd usually get a boxed meal on the bus ride back) -- and they were always pretty soggy.

What's funny is that someone ran for band president, and his only platform was "no more soggy sandwiches!"

He got voted in on that! hahaha

Sorry? Not getting this?

the little pearl/balls that are on the grey stuff. There's a brown/black one that fell off and is all alone on the plate.

Love that you joined in too.
My girls were too old when
they saw it.

I think DD got the lead role mostly b/c I was already the knight -- and when I was walking up to get the knight thing, DD was jumping up and down and excited and we gave each other a big high five. They definitely look for kids that are high energy for that roll.

 

[pkondz]

Very understandable. That one is must-do Disney.

One does not skip PP.

Also understandable, for the exact same reason.

mmmm… Dole Whip...

This is the most efficient set of DIS meets ever!

It had to be!
We had to get them all in
in one day and also not
overwhelm Elle.

Unless you're lactose intolerant.

She is!!

But she can take a pill.

Exactly! This is how it's done.

Well done, Dad. Winning is all that matters.

You want them to earn
those victories.

And if they never happen.
It's because I'm better.

Which means it was uninteresting.

Correct.

It looks more like a Hidden Jack Skellington.

You're not the first to mention that.

I can't say I'm ever eager to take a photo of a guy without pants.

I agree. The mirror is amazing.

Still no clue how they do it.
I mean... it expands in
four directions.

You bought a whole ride now?

Wouldn't you?

 

[pkondz]

Well, you don't want to miss out on that FP! I can understand how Elle might get concerned. I know it stresses me out when I'm looking at the clock and trying to move "others" to the next FP, ADR, whatever! Very nice of Kari to wait on you though!

It was nice of her.
I was very pleased
that she did.

Seriously... did you just take up residence in Adventureland?

Not the worst place for it.
Dude...
There's Dole Whip there!

There's really not much aiming those things. More like point in the general direction and hope that dot on the target is yours.

But you met 2 of them twice, so if you count each of them individually as separate meets since they are separate Dis-ers…

Math. Mind blown. I'm confused. Carry on.

I should've said:
"We had a number of DISmeets..."

Er… something like that.

But close, right?

Not even if you present a rose at the door?

That gets you in.

I guess if you spend 8 hours a day there every day, you get a good feel of it.

Yes, I suppose so!

 

[pkondz]

yup -- that's exactly the type of hat I was thinking of at first.

I've maxed out one side without any stopping several times. But getting both sides (with one person only) maxed out without stopping is probably impossible.

I dunno about that.
@docsoliday1 want to chime in?

These sandwiches aren't made fresh to order? I'm shocked!!!

Soggy sandwiches are pretty offputting. My wife refuses to eat Subway now b/c in college, we used to get Subway sandwiches catered for several of our band meals (we did marching band in college, so after away games, we'd usually get a boxed meal on the bus ride back) -- and they were always pretty soggy.

Ew.
Just... no.

What's funny is that someone ran for band president, and his only platform was "no more soggy sandwiches!"

He got voted in on that! hahaha

Sure! Give the people
what they want!

the little pearl/balls that are on the grey stuff. There's a brown/black one that fell off and is all alone on the plate.

Oh! I hadn't even noticed.

I think DD got the lead role mostly b/c I was already the knight -- and when I was walking up to get the knight thing, DD was jumping up and down and excited and we gave each other a big high five. They definitely look for kids that are high energy for that roll.

That's great.