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Tag Archives: Life

Happy Solar… or: My Pops

08 Friday Jan 2021

Posted by TGBII in Life as We Know It

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father, Life, Life as It is

Salutations™!!

Happy Solar Circumnavigational Anniversary Day to my father! He’s a good man. He has taught me a lot about business, life and just about everything else important in my life. We don’t agree on a lot of things, but he and my mother always let me be me, no matter how much it pained them. Happy birthday, Pop!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“My father didn’t tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it.” – Clarence Budington Kelland

Back to Computin’ or: It’ll Have to Do

07 Thursday Jan 2021

Posted by TGBII in Life as We Know It

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computers, HP, Laptop, Lenovo, Life, Life as It is

Salutations™!!

Well, I got a new laptop today. It’s not exactly what I wanted but it will have to do me for now. My other one died and there was no fixing it. That’s sad because it was everything I ever wanted in a laptop. It was a two-in-one (laptop/tablet combo), made by HP, touchscreen, all the keys were where they needed to be, the 10-key numeric pad and all that jazz. This one is made by Lenovo (formerly IBM)15.6″ and has the touchscreen, 10-key pad. That’s good. I love the color of it, too. Kind of a brushed cobalt blue or something. But, the keys are weird and the screen seems a little confined.

The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 (©Lenovo)

I think my other one was 17″ because I didn’t have to pull my arms so close together to type and seemed wider. Nothing fits in this screen. There’s a lot of scrolling in all directions just to see anything. It’s kind of annoying. But, it was affordable and I spent more than I could probably afford at that, but I had to have something. I was getting nothing done and while I love the power and the big screens of my two studio computers, I don’t want to sit in those chairs and feel like I’m working 24 hours a day. I can put my feet up and watch tv whilst I work or doing puzzles or writing this blog. Now, granted, I am writing all this on Sunday and posting it for the Thursday just prior, meaning that I haven’t done a post since last Sunday, but I’m catching up.

One cool thing, while Lenovo’s global headquarters are in China, their operational headquarters are here in Morrisville, NC. So, I guess I’m buying “local.”

Anywhat! I’m glad to have something. I will say that the keyboard feels really good. I’ll let that shine above the things I don’t like.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“I have used Lenovo since I wrote my first novel. My old laptop broke, so I bought a new one, but still a Lenovo. It is one of my most essential devices. Okky Madasari
Read more at https://www.brainyquote.com/search_results?q=new+laptop

A Life Well-Lived or: A Day that Lived in Musical Infamy

08 Tuesday Dec 2020

Posted by TGBII in Life as We Know It, Video

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Howard Cosell, John Lennon, Life, Life as It is, Monday Night Football

Salutations™!!

40 years ago today, the musical world stood, sat, watched and listened as a terrible travesty was announced to the entire world. I was 10 years old and like the rest of the world, I found out that John Lennon had died while watching Monday Night Football. Howard Cosell delivered the news at the end of the game between the Dolphins and Patriots.

I’m not at all proud of what I’m about to say, and I probably have talked about this before, this is the sixth December 8 in a row I have been through on this blog. When I was young, 7-13 or so, I was so deeply entrenched in “KISSWorld” that all other things were awful to me. When I thought of The Beatles or other things that my parents may have listened to, it was all “old people music.” I remember going up to my mother and telling her, “one of your people died,” in a smug and mocking way. Turns out, she nor my father were Beatles fans. She listened to Leslie Gore, Peter, Paul & Mary and gospel stuff. My dad listened to nothing but country & western (shudders). None of that mattered. The fact that I was making fun of someone at John Lennon’s expense, nay, the GREAT John Lennon’s expense, haunts me to this day. I grew to be a huge Beatles fan. I call them my second favorite band. I am a Paul McCartney fan first, but I love John’s stuff, too.

Mark David Chapman remains incarcerated at 65 years old. I’m pretty sure if his parole is granted, he wouldn’t be long for this world. He ripped a lot of people’s world out from under them. I mean imagine if someone had murdered Kurt Cobain… oh, wait…

“Imagine” indeed.

Here’s the moments remembered.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“We have to say it: remember, this is just a football game, no matter who wins or loses. An unspeakable tragedy, confirmed to us by ABC News in New York City …” – Howard Cosell

The Next Day or: Still Going Strong

21 Saturday Nov 2020

Posted by TGBII in Life as We Know It

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Birthday, Friends, friendship, Life, Life as It is

Salutations™!!

Yesterday was my big birthday. Today was the big celebration. We had The Beer Dads Family (the Joneses, the Lowders) and our extended friends family (The Davids, Our Jim Young) come over around 2pm. We set up a fire pit in our yard, our Alexa Dot, a Bluetooth speaker and had a fantastic time day drinking before The Beer Dads went to Mojito to have some delicious Cuban-inspired Latin Soul Food.

My friends know how much I love alcohol, too. The Davids brought me a Crown Royal set with glasses. The Joneses brought two bombers of high-gravity brews. Jim brought me Templeton Rye. The Lowders brought me Ragged Branch Double Oaked Whiskey, which was part of Jon’s barrel that he went in with friends to invest in. I love it!

Birthday Fire (©S Jones)

We had a great time sitting around the fire, listening to Simply Sinatra and Yacht Rock Radio on SiriusXM and just talking and having a time. We all smelled like a campfire afterward and were a little tipsy but we did alright. The BCPF was the most inebriated and that’s okay! You go girl! I forgot to mention yesterday that we stopped by Top Leaf Cigar Lounge and one of my work wives, Bethany of The Less Desirables (and owner of Top Leaf) bought me two cigars. I had about 2/3 of one last night with my Ardbeg Scotch and the Ragged Branch.

I’ve had big parties and I’ve had small gatherings but I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed having everyone around celebrating with me. We missed the Verners, Bethany and my sister and BIL but we’ll make it up with them all soon!

Again, BEST! BIRTHDAY! EVER!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Let us never know what old age is. Let us know the happiness time brings, not count the years.” – Ausonius

Now ABNormal Chronicles or: The Make Up

16 Monday Nov 2020

Posted by TGBII in Life as We Know It

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Blogging, Life, Life as It is, Music

Salutations™!!

So, I’m going to be 100% honest with you right now, Dear Reader. This is dated for 11/16. I wrote it on 11/22. I have been without my laptop (where I do most of my posting) for over a week. I am writing this on my home studio computer. I have access to it all the time but I don’t write the same way on it. So, whilst my laptop is either being repaired, refurbished, retired or whatever other “re” we can think of I’ll have to do what I can as I can.

The biggest part for me is that this is “updated every day.” Now, that doesn’t mean I post every day, obviously. There are days that I miss, of course. However, I promised myself (and therein you) that I would write for every day. So, I just go through and backdate stuff.

Writing everyday takes a lot of time and I’ll be honest (again), sometimes my creative juices just aren’t there. That’s why I do a lot of music posts. Music is one of the most important aspects of my life. It always has been. It always will be. Even though I have been interacting with the real world more in the last bit, I still have to be very careful as I am “high risk.” That’s one reason why I haven’t done a lot outside of the music posts, too. I have always used this blog as an “experience” blog. I also consider it a “lifestyle” blog. Not a lot of that happening right now. So, I fill it with the music part. I know this sounds like I’m making excuses or “apologizing” for the music aspect. I’m not. Just explaining.

So, that’s what I have right now, and see? There wasn’t a music post here.

Until tomorrow, probably back to the music posts…
Scorp out!

—
“A lifestyle is what you pay for; a life is what pays you.”– Thomas Leonard

Brought to You by the Number 5 and the Letter “O” or: Not Trash

10 Tuesday Nov 2020

Posted by TGBII in Uncategorized

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Tags

Life, Sesame Street, Video

Salutations™!!

I wanted to take a short break in the video posting to wish Sesame Street a very happy 51st anniversary. It is just over a year older than me. I watched a shload of it as a kid. I still get giddy hearing the theme song. My favorite characters were Grover, Cookie Monster, Bert & Ernie and, of course, Oscar the Grouch. Sesame Street, along with Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood and Electric Company were some of my favorite things. When I see something about them, even to this day, I stop to watch. I dig it.

Okay so I couldn’t not post a video.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Now what starts with the letter ‘c?’ Cookie starts with ‘c.’ Let’s think of other things that starts with ‘c.’ Uh ahh who cares about the other things? ‘C’ is for cookie that’s good enough for me.” – “‘C’ is for Cookie” (Raposo)

What in the… or: People Are Stupid Out There

30 Friday Oct 2020

Posted by TGBII in Life as We Know It, Video

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driving, George Carlin, Life, Life as It is

Salutations™!!

Dear Reader… (yes I know it’s been a while since I’ve addressed you directly) what in the wide world of sports is happening out there today? Not once, not twice, but about four times today I got behind someone who was driving at least 15 miles per hour below the posted speed limit. I get a few miles under, but 15 is a lot. Especially when the limit is 35. One person was going 19 in a 45. They weren’t looking for intersecting streets, they were just slow. I am not one to pass on a double line and I resisted the urge today but man… if you can’t operate it, don’t get in it.

Then, I witnessed two people running redlights. Thankfully, it wasn’t the “it’s been red and they didn’t stop” kind. But, I’m talking they were a good 20 yards away from the stop line when the light changed. Why does that mean they get to go and others must stop?

I know it’s the full moon. I know Mercury is in retrograde. I know it’s Halloween Eve. I know. I know. I know. What I don’t know is why people have to be so stupid. I love humanity but I hate many of the humans that occupy it.

Okay, rant over.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?” – George Carlin

Memories Lane or: Six Starts Part 9

10 Thursday Sep 2020

Posted by TGBII in Honeymoon, Life as We Know It, Travel

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Anniversary, Disneyland Paris, Europe, Honeymoon, Life, Life as It is, Paris, The BCPF, Travel

Salutations™!!

I messed up yesterday, Dear Reader. I stopped before I was done. But, it was a long post and this one is, too, so we will double up next time I post about it. This is from six years ago yesterday. Briefly before that, though. Today is the 19th anniversary of finding out that my ex-wife and I were going to have our first (and only) child. That turned out to be 3B. So, yeah… Anywhat! Here’s the recounting.

When we last left off in Europe, we visited Disneyland Paris. That same day we decided that we were tired and wanted to get some food and then go back to the room and relax. That had been a long, long day.

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Capucine Café

The BCPF was put in charge of picking a location.  She said we were going to go in a direction, stay within a few blocks and just see what we saw.  There’s restaurants in every direction in Paris.  Well, except the direction we walked.  Don’t get me wrong, there were some restaurants but they were few and far between while nothing looked like it was special enough for us to spend one of our Parisian dinners eating at or in.  We wandered down a few more streets, changing both direction and area until we found a more populous rue (street en français).  Surely, something would be on this street.

Lobot_SWSB

Lobot (Photo© Star Wars Wikia)

As we walked there came a loud roar and wail of sirens and flashing blue lights of motorcycle cops, leading the way for a black sedan with black tinted windows, followed by more motorcycle cops.  We looked at each other and asked who might that be?  We neither one knew.  So we stumbled upon a cozy looking restaurant called Capucine Café.  We stood looking at the street menu, trying to decide if this was the place or not.  One of the older serveurs (yes I spelled that correctly) motioned us to a table outside.  OK, we’ll take it.

We took our seats at small tables and after what seemed like 10 minutes someone finally brought out menus.  We didn’t know what to think.  We were tired so we weren’t going to get up and look for something else.  This or bust! Out came a serveur who very closely resembled Lobot from The Empire Strikes Back.  Not only did he look like Lobot, he had the same facial expression(less). I wish we’d taken a picture of him.

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The BCPF’s Soup

So we ordered beverages, wine for The BCPF, beer for me; sad to say I don’t remember which one.  She ordered a glass of wine.  They brought a bottle. Here’s the thing, the ladies who sat beside us – sisters, one from Oklahoma, one from Nebraska – kept ordering bottles of wine but Lobot would only bring them glasses.  This should have let us know something was up.  We ordered our appetizers: soup for her, tuna tartare for me.  We ordered our entrees at this time, too, but we’ll get back to that.  Lobot left and brought back the silverware. He put the soup spoon in front of me and the small fork in front of her.  Um, it’s backwards hoss, she got the soup.  So we switched the silverware and sipped our libations.  Then the apps arrive and Lobot sets the soup in front of me and the tuna in front of her.  We informed him of this and with a blank look on his face, he somehow managed to look confused at the same time.  He switched them. He had also left some bread on the table for us to share.

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Line of Security Bikes

All of a sudden, a bevy of motorcycle cops and a certain black sedan came back down the boulevard and stopped on the street in front of where we were.  The bikes got up on the sidewalk, lined up and parked.  Gentlemen in dark suits and earpieces all got out of the car.  We wanted to get the camera ready to take a picture in case it was Johnny Depp or Brangelina or Lady Gaga or whomever.  No one that we recognized was there.  The “secret service” detail promptly marched in to the restaurant and, from what we can tell, started drinking.  The sisters told us that the hubbub had just come from their hotel as the President   of Czech Republic was staying there and they had gone through that earlier.  This was just security detail, I guess.  Which begs the question, why weren’t they protecting him?  Was he having a meeting? Perhaps a “meeting” that required his “full attention?”  Conjecture.  I don’t know.  Anywhat!

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Mussels for The BCPF

After the importantish people went into the restaurant and we finished our appetizers, Lobot took the app plates and went away after I ordered another bottle of delightful barley and hops.  Then in about 3 minutes he came back, took away the silverware that was still on the table, took the bread and asked us if we wanted dessert.  The BCPF and I looked at each other, half thinking this was a joke and half confused beyond measure.  We informed Lobot that we hadn’t even eaten our main course, yet.  He nodded as if he understood.  Then, he still walked off with the bread and the silverware.  The sisters were laughing and said he was acting weird with them as well.  In another 2 minutes or so, he brought the bread and sat it on our table along with silverware.  My lady and I did all we could to keep the snickering to a minimum by covering it up with coughs and what-have-yous.

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Crepes

The mussels she ordered and the scallops dish that I ordered (this was the only dinner in Paris that wasn’t beef tartare for me) finally arrived and were all quite flavorful.  We were almost finished with the main course when the battalion of security came marching out single file and placing themselves upon their bikes, in their cars, to their positions.  They then proceeded toward the direction from whence they came.  Lobot returned to inquire (again) if we wanted dessert. A chocolate ganache for Mrs. Scorp and a crepe with Grand Marnier/sauce of some sort for Mr. Of course, as is customary for me in Paris, a snifter of Grand Marnier was ordered  We ate up our lovely desserts and I ordered a second Grand Marnier.  In a move that was totally un-Lobot-esque, when I requested the second, he not only nodded (which was his signature move) and actually glanced at my eyes and threw some weird creepy smirk at me; more like a “yeah drink up, buddy!” look that anything.  I just chuckled as he walked back in to get my bev.

Again, some of the best food we’ve had, as was all of Paris, but this has to be the weirdest, most peculiar dining experience we have ever had, together, or apart.  I guess Lando Calrissian had Lobot on standby all evening and that distracted him.  Who knows, but it truly was bizarre; totally.

lobot-stare

Lando: I think she had the soup. Lobot: Whatchyou talkin’ ’bout, Lando!?

Well, that’s the ending of a pretty good day.  Disney (even if it was less than perfect) and Lobot – hey! He’s now a Disney character… coincidence?  Hmmmm.  The BCPF and I speculated that perhaps Lobot was part of the security detail and was mixing in.  That could have been his awkwardness.  I doubt it, though.

That was crazy, but so darned good. Like I said, I will catch us up over the next few days. Tomorrow is 9/11 so I may or may not post about this. We’ll see. 

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Well done. Get them to the security tower, and keep it quiet. Move.” – Lando Calrissian to Lobot, Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back

Memories Lane or: Six Starts Part 8

09 Wednesday Sep 2020

Posted by TGBII in Honeymoon, Life as We Know It, Travel

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Anniversary, Disneyland Paris, Europe, Honeymoon, Life, Life as It is, Paris, The BCPF, Travel

Salutations™!!

In this post, I talk about what happened when we visited Disneyland Paris, six years ago today. Copied from the original “Honeymoon Chronicles” post.

Bonjour, mes amis. This is Day 3 in Paris! Oui, oh oui!

DSCN1431

Beautiful older couple on Paris sidewalk

When we last left the blogosphere of The Honeymoon Chronicles, The BCPF and I were wandering through the streets of Paris seeing the Eiffel Tower and watching some dude water the ivy on the garden wall.  One thing I did forget to say was in our street touring we ended up behind an older/elderly couple that were walking through the streets holding hands.  They seemed to be natives and looked happy and content. I told The BCPF that that would be us in about 30 years.  I had her take a picture with her digi-obscura and you can see the result here.

This day was something that I had been waiting on. We missed the opportunity last year and this year, we weren’t going to miss it. I’ve touted myself as a Disney guy over and over and over, and I’ve been to Walt Disney World fifteen times! So, it just seems natural that I’d visit other Disney theme parks. And, that’s what we did on this, the third Parisian day.

The way to Disneyland Paris is to find the RER A Train. RER means Réseau Express Régional or Regional Express Network. This train serves from the city proper into the outlying suburbs. This particular train was going to the Marne-la-Vallée – Chessy. That station is right at the gates of Disneyland Paris. So we took our tickets that we pre-purchased and walked up to the main gates of Paris’ “Happiest Place on Earth.” Disneyland Paris is made up of two theme parks in one: the “Magic Kingdom” part and Walt Disney Studios, which is DLP’s version of WDW’s Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

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Scorp really excited about Disneyland Paris

When we arrived, there was a giddiness that had already taken me over. When we got to the turnstiles I was about to hop them before they took the tickets. But, I didn’t. I held it together. Once through, though, I had settled down a bit. It looks a lot like the Magic Kingdom: firehouse, confectionery shops, outlet-like shops, and even a Casey’s Hot Dog shop. Casey’s doesn’t open until 11a there and we were about 10 minutes early. The BCPF and I have a tradition of going to Casey’s as the first thing-to-do on every trip to WDW so why not carry that tradition on to DLP? A couple of things that are different was that the dogs – all of which are foot longs – came prepackaged and there was no “fixin’s” bar. They came how they came, either with melted cheddar and bacon or without, and that’s pretty much how it is. Paris apparently doesn’t know what yellow mustard is, only Dijon mustard. While I love me some Dijon mustard, I want yellow mustard on my hot dog. So, a couple of dogs (mine with cheese and bacon, hers without) with fries and bottled sparkling water and we’re ready to move on.

Once you move off of Main Street U.S.A. (yes, that’s its name) the similarities to Magic Kingdom get a bit weird. Not dissimilar mind you, just weird. Did I mention it’s weird? Anyway, just like its Anaheim counterpart, this Disneyland’s castle is called Le Chateau de la Belle au Bois Dormant or Sleeping Beauty Castle (WDW has Cinderella Castle). As you can see the castle is pink. The inside of the castle has a few shops – glass and crystal making shop and a Christmas shop. The upstairs features stained glass windows and a spinning wheel, like the story. Underneath it there is an animatronic dragon in a grotto that is supposed to represent Maleficent. It’s actually pretty cool. You can then step out to the side and be under the bridge that connects the castle to the “land” and that covers the “moat.” A pretty and relaxing waterfall is present here as well. Not as spacious as Cinderella Castle, but appealing and interesting nonetheless.

Surrounding the castle, as is the case in both Disneyland California (DLC) and WDW, is a collection of “lands” that represent various themes. In WDW (the one I’m familiar with) there is, clockwise, Adventureland, Frontierland, Liberty Square, Fantasyland and Tomorrowland. In DLP the lands are (in the same order): Frontierland, Adventureland, Fantasyland and Discoveryland. There’s no equivalent for Liberty Square, which is the counterpart of New Orleans Square in DLC. Confused, yet? It’s not rocket surgery, but more info than you’d probably ever want to know. Some other oddities to me are that the haunted house ride is called the Phantom Manor instead of Haunted Mansion, the storyline is entirely in French, and sits right next to Big Thunder Mountain; and this after you pass the Legends of the Wild West which looks like the fort on Tom Sawyer Island in WDW. Those sit in Frontierland. Then we moved to Adventureland where we saw the DLC version of Swiss Family Tree House called Le Cabane des Robinson. The Pirates of the Caribbean ride was closed.

Moving on to Fantasyland there were some familiar rides like Blanche-Neige et les Sept Nains (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs), Peter Pan’s Flight, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, a carousel called “Lancelot’s Carousel” and Mad Hatter’s Tea Party (Cups, in DLP). But something we don’t have, which to me seems redundantly similar to Snow White, is Les 

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It’s a Small World Ride – Disneyland Paris

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Scorp and The BCPF on It’s a Small World in Disneyland Paris

Voyages de Pinocchio. I don’t know, it just seemed like it was rehashing her ride. Also, there’s Le Pays des Contes de Fées (Land of Fairy Tales), a mostly useless boat ride around a loop that shows models that represent various fairy tales. I know that sounds kind of harsh, but really, it seemed like they just needed to stuff something in a space and this was it. The theming was nice, but really, meh. The main attraction in this land, though, was It’s a Small World. The queue is actually outside and there’s an open court that, I’m sure, lends to queue management during the busy months. The DLP version actually has some American theming that you don’t see in the American version (at least not at WDW). Overall, there were several things that matched the WDW, but overall it kind of fell flat.

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Space Mountain: Mission 2 in Disneyland Paris

We moved on, then to the Tomorrowland equivalent: Discoveryland. There was Space Mountain: Mission 2 and Star Tours, Orbitron – Machines Volantes (Astro Orbitor) and touching on some Epcot action, Captain Eo starring Michael Jackson. There was also a very strange 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea thingy called Les Mystères du Nautilus that was basically a “life-size” model of The Nautilus that Capt. Nemo sailed in the story/film. It was a cool, shady distraction but really I don’t get why it was there.

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Les Tapis Volants – Flying Carpets over Agrabah Disneyland paris

 

 

 

 

So we decided to head over to the other park, “Walt Disney Studios,” which is kind of like a misnomer because there aren’t any studios there; not working studios, anyway. There we did ride the Studio Tram Backlot Tour which is very similar to the now-defunct ride of the same theme in WDW. We skipped around inside looking at some of the rides and comparing/contrasting with WDW. We also rode the Les Tapis Volants – Flying Carpets over Agrabah that are also in WDW. There’s a Twilight Zone Tower of Terror there. I’ve never ridden the one in WDW and wasn’t about to this time, either. Some of the other rides were Ratatouille: The Adventure (which we didn’t know anything about it so we didn’t get in line for it), Toy Soldiers Parachute Drop (like a drop zone/Tower of Terror-type ride), Rockin’ Roller Coaster featuring Aerosmith (just like in WDW), Crush’s Coaster (not riding roller coasters) and Cars Quatre Roues Rallye (bumper cars). Interesting things, yes, but nothing I wanted to ride.

I’ll be honest here, I was just going through the motions mostly at this point. We’re not really “thrill ride riders” as much as we are “experiencers.” There was something of a letdown when it came to the whole “Magic Kingdom” and Studios aspect. Parts of my problems were as such: The park opened in April, 1992. It seems that most of the park was still stuck there. In Disneyland Paris you can see ceiling tiles, a/c units, cobwebs where they shouldn’t be, etc. There was no attention to detail and “keeping the magic alive” happening. They were fleecing money from the consumers and tourists only. I’m not naïve enough to believe that’s not what is happening in WDW but when I’m there, I get that air of mystery; mystique. Unless you’re really looking for it, you’re not going to find many things out of place. Notice I don’t say all, that’s virtually impossible, except Disney does a darn fine job of it. The ceiling tiles in It’s a Small World are painted black with other decorations giving the perception of depth and infinity. DLP there were tiles missing and you could see the a/c above holes in the drop-tile. I know I’m repeating but the illusion is lost there. The paint jobs on the attractions are old and tired. I’m thinking there should be a push in the Disney Company to capitalize on the fact that DLP is finally profitable. You’d think they’d want to do what WDW and DLC are doing, updating, renovating, refreshing their parks.

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Bride and Groom at Disneyland Paris

Now, all that being said I’m glad I saw it. Truly, even knowing what I know, I’d really hate to have missed seeing it. If my son wants to see it, I’ll definitely take him, in a heartbeat. However, as I said, I’ve seen it. I don’t ever have to go back. Been there/done that. I was so done with DLP that we didn’t even eat anything else there. In WDW, food is the main highlight of my trip. So that’s saying something.  But, hey! I was with my new bride, so that’s awesome, too.

One thing that I found cool outside of the parks proper was the inclusion of benchmarks of the other Disney parks in a “compass” and I’ve included them here.

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Walt Disney World Benchmark

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Disneyland (California) Benchmark

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Hong Kong Disneyland Benchmark

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Tokyo Disney Benchmark

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We decided to go back to Paris to see what we could find and where we could explore. That’s part of the next blog. This is already long, as it is. Next up in The Honeymoon Chronicles, it’s the most bizarre experience I’ve ever had at a restaurant.

Like I said, I would have always kicked myself for not going if we didn’t, but I am glad we did, even if I didn’t really care much for it. This is primarily the reason I don’t get excited about Disneyland in Anaheim. If it’s not WDW, I don’t want it. Anywhat! I’m out for today…

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“I’m a big Disneyland nut.” – John Lasseter

Memories Lane or: The Woman of My Life (Six Starts Part 3)

02 Wednesday Sep 2020

Posted by TGBII in Honeymoon, Life as We Know It, Travel

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Tags

Edinburgh, Honeymoon, Life, Marriage, The BCPF, Wedding

Salutations™!!

Six years ago today, I married the perfect woman for me. I never have liked that “I married my best friend” thing. I don’t see me marrying Eugene or Paul or Jon. But, she is my best friend in many ways, just differently. She is my life’s partner. And, there’s nothing that happens in my life that I don’t tell her first or consult with her for life stuffs. We aren’t the same crazy kids that ran off and eloped in Scotland today, and life is far from perfect — 2020 or otherwise — but she’s perfect for me. Keeping with the plan, I’m going to repost the post about the anniversary of the honeymoon itself.

 

Well, here it is, the second part of the honeymoon posts. Can you believe it!? Within a few days’ time. It’s almost like a real writing gig or something. I will say this post is picture intensive. Now, where was I? Oh yeah…

Stephanie & Tim Wedding Day -3

Alright, it’s time for the wedding story. So, The BCPF had stuffed her wedding dress into a vacuum bag and sucked the dickens out of the bag until it was a brick of white mess. Of course, I had to take her word for it because I didn’t get to see it. As I mentioned in the last post, I already had the kilt and had to do the “hiring” of the accessories. She unleashed the dress and handed it off to the concierge (or the castle’s equivalent) and they sent it off to have it pressed. So we were set. We got up, had breakfast (more haggis and black pudding), and then went back to the lobby to wait for what-happens-next.

We had hired a wedding planner, Kimmie Brown of Litú, which was a treat and a lifesaver for us. Kimmie handled getting all the paperwork put together, she and her husband, George, served as our witnesses, she got the piper, Andrew, hired the photographer, Michaela Waddell, and lined up and directing us through the process of the registrar. Priceless, I tell ya, priceless. Also, we had already pre-selected our vows and ceremonies. So when the time came, we were pretty much prepared. I put on the kilt kit that turned into a much more involved procedure than putting on a tuxedo. The kilt shirt, first. The kilt, next. The waistcoat, the socks, the flashes, the ghillie brogues (shoes), and then the sporran (the man purse of awesomeness), which held it (mostly) in place. The Prince Charlie jacket was next to last and then the sgian-dubh (pronounced skee-un-doo) which is a small knife that rounds out the ensemble. I’ve lost a bit of weight since I was originally fitted for the kilt so it was a bit loose. Tradition says that I don’t wear a belt with the Prince Charlie jacket, but in the future, I certainly will wear one (I have already purchased one to wear once back home). And the part everyone has asked me… yes, I went unbreeched. Aye, that means I didn’t wear anything under the kilt. If you’re gonna do it, do it Scottish, I say.

Stephanie & Tim Wedding Day -1

Stephanie & Tim Wedding Day -2 (1)

 

 

 

 

I wasn’t allowed anywhere near The BCPF while she got ready, but when it was time for the wedding (noon for us in Edinburgh, 7pm for our friends back home), the piper piped me downstairs to the “gun room.” The gun room doubles as a chapel for the religious ceremonies and we used it as a location for our civil, non-religious, ceremony. The registrar talked with me a few minutes and then Andrew piped The BCPF down to the door and then after making sure she was ready, piped her down to me. She was BEAUTIFUL. I don’t have pics of her at the altar, just yet, so we’ll have to wait until the photographer sends me the collection. I cried, no shame in telling. We exchanged words, vows, and rings. We kissed. We signed the paperwork. Michaela shot us all over the grounds of the castle and that was it. It truly was much more glamorous than I just described but without pictures, I can’t do it justice. It was simple but wonderful. She was my wife, my bride, my life’s partner – which she already was. Dang, I love that woman!

But, as is the story of our lives, there was no rest for the wicked. We had to jump out of our formal wear and into civilian clothes and run back into town to get our last-minute shopping done. We bought stuff for 3B (my 12-year old son) and my mother. We had reservations at the castle for dinner so we headed back and took our place in the Library Bar, drank some complimentary champagne, talked to a slew of Americans who were also taking holiday, and then went down to the Dungeon Dining Room to have our wedding supper.

Dinner

Venison

Dessert

 

 

 

We started with an amuse-bouche which included a mushroom mousse and bread. The BCPF had a chicken pate and I had beef carpaccio. Our minds not being still and sound at the time, I forget what the actual dish was, but there is a picture of it. For the main course, she had a slab of pork and I had venison with beet sauce. I’ve never been big on venison (or beets for that matter), but man this was delicious. For dessert, I had a raspberry flan dish, and of course, Grand Marnier. A truly lovely food experience.

Pork

Up early the next morning as we had a train to catch from Edinburgh to our next destination, London. The train ride was a four and one-half hour ride. I spent plenty of time on the WiFi updating the website for that week’s The Less Desirables. But, I have to say, First Class is the way to go. We got to choose our breakfast (Scottish for me, please…) and all the tea or coffee or water you can stand. The ride was not bad at all.

And, here we are. Stephanie, I love you more than I ever have. We have something others only dream of. It’s far from perfect but I’m perfectly happy. I’m still alive because of you and I am so thankful for everything you are that makes me everything I am. Happy sixth anniversary, baby.

Until tomorrow, Dear Reader, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Marriage has no guarantees. If that’s what you’re looking for, go live with a car battery.” – Erma Bombeck

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