MY ADVENTURES N AMERICAN HISTORY & OTHER ASSORTED SILLINESS TRIP REPORT; SEPT '18

[knewton64]

Well, well well......the dust has finally settled and....

(from my ABD's Spirit of America Adventure; Sept 2009)



It has been quite a challenge for me to find a vacation to would peak my interest......
For example, I have been wanting to experience a Disney park overseas but I am finding out that they are if you will, "Owned and Operated" and not "franchised" so that's out......


I have looked at http://www.gocollette.com/Cowboy Country........
Nope --- not yet aleast.

I have looked at http://www.gocollette.com/American Music Cities...
NO -



From my earlier trip report, you can see starting around page 3 or 5 that I have been running through Travel Agent after travel agent who from some silly reason, don't know what they are doing........
and that had me shall we say quite ticked and not too happy as I really have a strong desire to see a DISney park overseas....



Then, just by accident, I chanced across https://www.trafalgar.com/ and here is where something caught my eye....


Yes, I have been to Washington DC, Colonial Philly, etc before But through this Vendor, there are some additional things I haven't seen before - such as.....


SIGHTSEEING HIGHLIGHTS

• City tour in Washington, D.C.
  
  
• View the Washington Monument, U.S. Capitol Building and Liberty Bell
  
  
• Visit Mount Vernon, Gettysburg National Military Park, Jamestown, Colonial Williamsburg and Monticello.

....such as Gettyburg, National Military Park, Jamestown, Monticello and I plan on having a pre day in Washington D.C. so look out for Yours Truely to do experience some more on my Pre-day (am thinking of an evening river cruise and then on my day of arrival, head out on an Viator.com activity that will take me out all day .....

** this is what I am thinking of doing via Viator.com**

,,,,,just to arrive back in time for the Welcome tour group Dinner) -


And with that,
I took the plunge on this very easy, "click of the mouse, pay and that's it" vacation adventure that will be started in September.



Activities before that that I will be posting on this TR will be from my days at Scarborough Faire (Waxahachie, Tx)

in April followed by a celebrations of sorts down at the Great Wolfe Lodge (May).....details forthcoming I promise.



Speaking of partying.....
I have taken off 2/5 inches off my waistline SO FAR in preperation for my upcoming Nawlins adventure that's now beginning to creep up on me.



WHATS THAT?
What about my DISneyland Paris adventure??


Well....
I have decided to put it off my a while......and pick it back up again in about 2 or 3 years (good to hear DISneyland Paris is now being bought by the DISney Corp)




SO with that, let me hop back on over to my New Orleans trip report......
follow me if ya want on my weigh loss adventures -


Both Ladybug and I will be stepping on the scales for the first time Friday.....







T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS Y'ALL




MY VERY 1ST TRIP 2 WDW / DISNEY WONDER" 01-07-09 to 01-15-09 (w/pics & video)
www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2062857
MY ADVENTURES by Disney "Spirit of America" Sept 2009 trip report ...
www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2201584 - Cached
MY "GETTING SPOOKED @ WDW" - MNSSHP TRIP REPORT; Oct 28th -Nov 4th 2010(w/pics & video)
http://www.disboards.com/showthread....0&referrerid=0
My "ADVENTURES N IRELAND" - TRIP REPORT; JUNE 2011 (w/pics & video) -http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2203028&referrerid=0
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2625762&referrerid=0
MY "ADVENTURES N HAWAII" -October 2011 trip report (w/pics & video)- http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2625762&referrerid=0
My "IT'S 5 O'CLOCK SOMEWHERE N KEY WEST, COZUMEL & G CAYMAN DCL TRIP REPORT; JAN'12 (w/pics & video)http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2686953&referrerid=0
MY "ADVENTURES N NEW YORK CITY" TRIP REPORT; SEPT '12 (w/pics & video)http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2765761&referrerid=0
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2875727&referrerid=0
MY "ADVENTURES N SAN FRAN, ROSE BOWL, ROSE BOWL PARADE & COASTAL CALIFORNIA" TRIP REPORT (w/pics & video)- DEC '13
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2875727&referrerid=0
MY "ADVENTURES N ENGLAND, SCOTLAND & WALES" TRIP REPORT - August '14 (w/pics & video)
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3112285&referrerid=208040
MY "ADVENTURES N DISNEYLAND, CATALINA ISLAND & OTHER ASSORTED SO CAL STUFF" TRIP REPORT; SEPT 2015 (w/pics & video)
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3112286&referrerid=208040
MY ADVENTURES N WALT DISNEY WORLD, UNIVERSAL STUDIOS & OTHER ASSORTED SILLINESS TRIP REPRT; APRL '16
MY ADENTURES N SAN ANTONIO, BANDERA, STONEWALL TEXAS & OTHER ASSORTED SILLINESS TRIP REPORT; NOV '16
http://www.disboards.com/posts/55360595/
MY ADVENTURES N NEW ORLEANS & OTHER ASSOERTED SILLINES TRIP REPORT; NOV '17
http://www.disboards.com/posts/56498543/
MY ADVENTURES N AMERICAN HISTORY & OTHER ASSORTED SILLINESS TRIP REPORT; SEPT '18
https://www.disboards.com/posts/58044097/
MY ADVENTURES N NASSAU BAHAMAS WITH DISNEY CRUISE LINE; SEPT '19

 

[knewton64]

Here is a little silly something ta keep ya n the mood until next time -

(my two stowaways who have agreed to come along for this adventure)

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10155038885349576

T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS Y'ALL

 

[knewton64]

thought I would quickly pop in and say....

..saw this on You Tube and couldn't resist.
(I am such the numbers Geek so it was a lot of fun learning more about this attraction at Epcot)....
Like I knew that the sets were placed up underneath you but I didn't know in what sequence and where the sets were coming out in the moving grid below you.
And it was also fun to see the history of this attraction in how it impacted the construction of Epcot.....



and yes, this Lady who sings "Two Brothers" is on You Tube -
just wish she would sell this on I-tunes.



ANYWHO -


and with that, cya n about 60-90 days ish -





T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS Y'ALL

 

[knewton64]

and speaking of Adventures.........
this is where I will be in April -

pic and video where I can I promise.



ANYWHO -
After that, I'm heading out to Grapevine, Texas for some wine tasting
at

followed by a few days of
a nice spa
retreat at the Great Wolf Lodge (May '18) -



Give me a few more weeks & I promise ta let y'all n on all the details -

T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS Y'ALL

 

[knewton64]

APPROXIMATELY 270 MORE DAYS AND.........

This American Adventure begins -





P.S.S.
and i am gonna slip this one in so ya dont think this TR is all about US history and start falling asleep on me....

(slight hint of things to come) -



T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS Y'ALL

 

[knewton64]

Thought I would have some fun "WITH" my Dentists expense as I will be in Margaritaville all day today celebrating my unbirthday (December 30th) ......



followed by a of all things -
a 7:30am teeth cleaning Tuesday -


So I thought I would look and feel my best for my Dentists followed by seeing the newest Star Wars movie @ 8:30am-

Looking forward to the movie -
(and NO, I haven't read any of the reviews)



** MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE **





T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS Y'ALL

 

[knewton64]

The Star Wars movie was fun...


am about to continue having fun celebrating my birthday by embarking on seeing the movie Coco on Wednesday

followed by
Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Christmas Lights, Chocolate and Sips Tour - Park Cities/Swiss Avenue - Wednesday, December 27, 2017 - 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
View holiday lights in sweet style on our private motorcoach! Begin by tasting scrumptious treats from premier local dessert venues (venues will vary, as several tours may be going on at once). Then relax as we glide past some of Dallas' most spectacular holiday displays! A panoply of exquisite Winter Wonderlands await in beautifully decorated locations like the Park Cities and (new this year) Swiss Avenue. While touring, we'll sip hot chocolate, soft drinks and water as well as other great beverages (you may also bring your own). So sit back, listen to holiday music and enjoy the spirit of the Season! Includes transportation via private heated motorcoach, dessert samples, beverages and tour guide. Please note that this is a dessert tour, so plan to eat ahead of time. Buy 4 tickets and save $4 per ticket


and we all meet up at Krispy Kreme by 6pm -

Will have the hot cocoa, blankets and other what nots all packed and ready for one nice relaxing day.


Celebrating birthdays are always fun -





Merry Christmas
&
Cheers Y'all

 

[knewton64]

and of course, we can't forget about our other loved ones this Holiday Season -

Been fun but Santa Beagle and I are gonna get a wee bit creative overnight for Ladybug.
CYA -





ENJOY THE DAY EVERYONE -





T.T.F.N.
&
CHERS Y'ALL

 

[knewton64]

Just got out of seeing Coco .. very sweet movie


Now about ta head off to IHOP and see whats up with my 'free' birthday meal -
** YYUUMM!! **

About now to get on a group escorted tour of Dallas Christmas lights and chocolate places via Dallas by Chocolate.com - I'm in their tour bus now which I see is heated ..... as it's currently 38 degrees outside ...

which makes it all that worthwhile as we get a chance to tour some Dallas' chocolate spots

out Tour Guide Madison was very outgoing personality wise as we slowly made out way through the sights and sounds of the holidays - Dallas, Texas style

for some wonderful cheesecake

and other yummy treats as well

just "had" to make sure some of these (15) came home with me that evening as I am beginning now to prepare for DISneyland Paris......

and who can forget the highlight of the evening was seeing this front yard of this house in downtown Dallas....

(yes.....over the alcove is the head of what was once the former life of 'Big Tex' and rumor has it he is trying to audio animatronic it)......fyi - imagine being his neighbors


but.....
Seeing all that "money" in Highland park via those houses??

** WOWZERS**

they were a sight to see as well.



T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS Y'ALL

 

[knewton64]

Now on the other hand......
seeing the musical group "Mannheim Steamroller" on Thursday December 28th at 8pm was
unfortunately a complete disaster.

What could go wrong at the
Irving's Toyota Music Factory - Premier Live Music Destination‎

DID that evening with me leveling numerous complaints through various channels just to see IMO them be filed under section 13 (AKA.....no apology from the Toyota Music Factory, no apology from the City of Las Colinas, no apology from Live Nation, No apology even from
Mannheim Steamroller – Official Fan Site to Mannheim Steamroller

......no apology from anyone - no minutia service recovery from anyone .....its as if they just dont care)........


So.....
hence the reason for the absurd and silly video I have enclosed with this posting as I am attempting to smile through my pain

as I feel I am a first time visitor into the Toyota Music Factory and will plan on being a LAST TIME visitor into the Toyota Music Factory with the seriously looking at the Morton Meyer Symphony Center

for some of my birthday celebrations this upcoming December........
possibly I will be looking also at attending a Petatonix concert or even a TSO concert during that time frame as well as I just get a sense that the "UMPH" of seeing a Mannheim Steamroller concert (1995, 2005, 2014, and now 2017) has run its course and I feel its time for me to find newer and fresher sources of Christmas fun and enjoyment.


and speaking of having fun -


Its my birthday today -





T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS Y'ALL

 

[AnnaFloridaLover]

Now on the other hand......
seeing the musical group "Mannheim Steamroller" on Thursday December 28th at 8pm was
unfortunately a complete disaster.

What could go wrong at the
Irving's Toyota Music Factory - Premier Live Music Destination‎

DID that evening with me leveling numerous complaints through various channels just to see IMO them be filed under section 13 (AKA.....no apology from the Toyota Music Factory, no apology from the City of Las Colinas, no apology from Live Nation, No apology even from
Mannheim Steamroller – Official Fan Site to Mannheim Steamroller

......no apology from anyone - no minutia service recovery from anyone .....its as if they just dont care)........


So.....
hence the reason for the absurd and silly video I have enclosed with this posting as I am attempting to smile through my pain

as I feel I am a first time visitor into the Toyota Music Factory and will plan on being a LAST TIME visitor into the Toyota Music Factory with the seriously looking at the Morton Meyer Symphony Center

for some of my birthday celebrations this upcoming December........
possibly I will be looking also at attending a Petatonix concert or even a TSO concert during that time frame as well as I just get a sense that the "UMPH" of seeing a Mannheim Steamroller concert (1995, 2005, 2014, and now 2017) has run its course and I feel its time for me to find newer and fresher sources of Christmas fun and enjoyment.


and speaking of having fun -


Its my birthday today -





T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS Y'ALL

Happy Birthday! Hope you have a great day and awesome year!

 

[knewton64]

Happy Birthday! Hope you have a great day and awesome year!

...... even with the wind chill sitting at 6 degrees right now.....
the new year is now upon us


so............
From the Mannheim Steamroller silliness......I'm turning a negative n2 a positive -

"FROM THE 'SAY WHAT?" file: Just yesterday, I realized I have never celebrated my birthday with a cake and other assorted things.....

So -
with the Cotton Bowl crowd now back to where they need to be and the Cowboys out of the NFL playoffs, I began to see a pretty neat way to have one last bit of fun celebrating my birthday -


With a carrot cake, birthday card, streamers, margaritas (strawberry and mango), Dr Pepper and the ingredients to make a home made sausage & pepperoni pizza -

Ladybug
and I are out to just "chill out" over this 6 degree weather we are experiencing today while having fun kicking off the new year with a pretty good start.......


which will give me a small timeout to be thinking up some fun things to do and see while at the NFL draft (Arlington, Texas) coming up in about 99 more days or so -


as I will also be celebrating kicking off getting this TR officially underway....

feel free to begin to follow that blog by about then -


Oh the things I get myself n2 -




T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS Y'ALL

 

[knewton64]

**ENJOY THE DAY **

while I work more on putting together more of some of my birthday gifts...
(I'm turning this.....courtesy of Ebay) ...... ie - i've been on ebay these last few months slowly buying things that interest me and such.....

and

n2 this.......

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10211014419376047

(its for display only - take note of the Howard Johnson's restaurant and the hot wheels cars)



.......and that but just a smidge of what I have been buying off of Ebay - from old coins, old money, Disneyland framed pictures, etc

and -

(Can't forget about Ladybug)



- you name it -

(this is hanging up in my living room - framed of course)



to -

and -
\

and I have been on it. Matter of fact, Ebay sent me an email just last week saying I have ordered from them 79 times last year....




T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS Y'ALL

 

[knewton64]

Thinking of my 3-day spa retreat coming up in early May....

T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS Y'ALL

 

[knewton64]

MAKING PROGRESS.........

In a few more week, Im off to the NFL Draft in Arlington. Looking forward to it Been a few years since I have seen NFL Players up close (Denver Broncos a few years ago) so be on the lookout for me to be somewhere in those ESPN crowd shots come draft day.


Gonna be fun to see how the 49ers, Browns, Cowboys, Saints & Eagles fare in the draft.....
-(pics and video where I can I promise) -


On a different note,
that pesky Paris France trip you see listed below in my Signature is stalling again - wont know for sure if its a 'go" until I come back from this vacation in September...



Tho -
having fun getting schooled on things Gettysburg.....

(one of the many places I will be visiting while on this September adventure)


Feel silly to say that I know very little about this place Gettysburg, me being such a "Alamo" Texas boy, but I am getting very quickly brought up to speed on this place and am looking very forward to seeing this place.

ANYWHO
and with that -

**64 MORE DAYS & THE NFL DRAFT IS HERE **



T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS Y'ALL

 

[knewton64]

Here is a little trivia ta keep ya n the mood until next time -

From the “DOH”

files...:: all these years and I never knew that the statue of Lincoln is also on the tails side of every penny ......

-



Keep or get rid of????

T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS Y'ALL

 

[knewton64]

NFL EXPERIENCE UPDATE AND MORE -

With almost 330,000 people attempting to go after 20,000 tickets for the NFL Draft, its slowly dawning on me that this event IMO is a no go -

Which just stinks cuz I was really looking forward to seeing all the sights and sounmds
of what the NFL Experience is all about -


AH WELL........
and anywho -


So now we move on to a favorite of mine - coming up first week in May

(have a three night stay there, daily spa retreat and of course, ya cant forget some wine tasting there as well;

courtesy of Grapevine Winetours.com

Been a crazy bunch of these last few weeks - DISney Paris is off again.............
(one dollar = .81 Euro = )


BUT -
on the flip side.....

been buying more thngs off of Ebay for the reno of my home as well as I am projecting to go to Nebraska Furniture Mart in early September to buy all new furniture and wireless stereo tv, new tv and ya cant be complete w/o a table top pool table or bumper table.


Even thought I would get caught on on some of PL Travers works while out at the Great Wolfe Lodge as I just bought a 1962 edition of this book we all know and love -

Thought it would be fun to see the differences from her first two books of the series from what we all know in the DISney movie -



and thought this wouid make for some airplane reading material come early Fall when this adventure finally commences -

MORE DETAILS AS THEY DEVELOP -


Will pop in a few times between now and these next 5 weeks -





T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS Y'ALL

 

[knewton64]

Here is a little blip about the USA Civil War that just cropped up in the last few days....

Until next time -

T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS Y'ALL

 

[knewton64]

**1,088 MORE HOURS AND MY MUCH NEEDED ADVENTURE AT THE GREAT WOLFE LODGE BEGINS**

......while it beings me closer to seeing some more of our Nations History come September -







T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS Y'ALL

 

[knewton64]

I'm soooooo looking forward to my retreat at the Great Wolf Lodge -
a few pics or video will be shared so no worries.


Saw this while on Youtube that really caught my eye.

(really looking forward to this adventure) - kicks up in early September....




And wit dat, its approx 400 more hours and I'm off to the Great Wolf Lodge





T.T.F.N.
&
CHEERS Y'ALL