Summer Road Trip- Seein' Stars

 Ah- we are working again! I know were getting attached to that dinosaur picture. So, these events happened last month, and I'm really behind now, due to the technical difficulties, but I will try really hard to get caught up!

Next on our Summer Road Trip tour is Grauman's Chinese Theater, in Hollywood. I thought I'd never been there, but my mom tells me I have been. Seems that we went to see Dr. Dolittle there when I was young. I remember the movie, (odd), but not going to the theater. Anyway, this place was crazy! Tourists out the wahzoo- like us! Bruce and Brian had to circle the block in the cars because there was nowhere to park. Dressed up people wanting money for taking their picture with you. Here's a man who made his own Transformer costume:

Ben, Shannon, Lindsey and I made our way down part of Hollywood Blvd, (following Stratford Rule #1- Stay Together), checking out the stars on the sidewalk.

 Even cooler were the hand and footprints in the theater courtyard. Look how big Elizabeth Taylor's hands were. Shocking!

We Apologize For The Technical Difficulties

I'm here in Colorado, all ready to post, except I can't get my pictures to work. We may be on a temporary hiatus until I can work out the bugs...

Summer Road Trip- Bad Guys On Fire

Lindsey had never been to Universal Studios, so we went and showed her the wonders of:

The Mummy Ride- Who doesn't love the Mummy movies? Really.

 The Jurassic Park Ride, where Lindsey got soaked. Well, she wanted to go, didn't she?

 The Simpson's Ride: So, so silly.

 The Backlot Tour, where I was this close to Jaws. Sorry, C.

 

And the Waterworld Show, where there was a lot of shooting. And water.

 And planes on fire.

 And hanging heroes, with bad guys doing the Wookie victory dance above them.

 And bad guys catching on fire.

 And bad guys, on fire, falling into the water.

 I've never seen Waterworld, the movie, the whole way through. Can't say as I'm planning to anytime soon. But Universal was fun, and now Lindsey can say that she's been there.

Summer Road Trip- Disneyland Wrap-Up

I know you're probably getting a bit tired of these Disneyland blogs. Frankly, so am I. So, here are the last, and some of the best, photos from our time at Disneyland.

Lindsey likes to do things behind Shannon- like creep up on her.

 Mikey's Wheel of Death:

 Lines can be fun, if you turn them into a game:

 Love this one in Finding Nemo:

 Shannon and Lindsey danced off to Pirates:

 "Princess Tiana says the rest of you were too slow getting here."

 My new formula for taking pictures in dark places has started to pay off:

 "We wants the redhead!!"

 Pig in the Haunted Mansion cemetery:

 Mark Twain canoes...sigh.

 Princesses in the castle:

 Gotta try on Disney hats:

 Tinkerbell flying out of the secret door in the Matterhorn!

Best part of this revamped ride- Chewbacca smeared on the ship's windshield.

Can't wait to go back!

Summer Road Trip- Our Teacup Tradition

My kids have a Disneyland tradition that must be perpetuated at all costs. They have to ride the Teacup Ride- in the dark- spinning as fast as they can- and throwing their heads back, to get the full effect of the overhead lanterns. I know, it's not for the faint of heart. Bruce cannot participate or he'll be out out of commission for days. I can participate- but only if they beg. I have a feeling I'll be holding grandbabies on my lap as their dads spin as fast as they can. "Toughen up, Smee (or Smitty)! This is a tradition!" I hear them say in my head. Here's the latest spin down the light fantastic:

Pregame pep talk:

Faster!!!

Ok! Time to look up!

The dizziness sets in...

Summer Road Trip- Well, What Did You Expect?

You know those pictures Disney takes of you at the most thrilling point of the ride? Where you should be screaming, or grinning big Disney grins? Well, they do that on this ride:

And this is what they got:

 Or, if you don't like this one, try one of these:

Well, what were they expecting?

On a side note: I once went on a Disney ride with Shannon where pictures were taken. We had a plan. I was going to choke her and she was going to stick out her tongue. They did even preview the picture, because it was "too violent". Guess that taught me. I'll stick with sticking my finger up my nose.