Christmas Time at Disneyland

Sleeping Beauty Castle, originally uploaded by brassplayer.

Click here for a few shots of Christmas Time at the Happiest Place on Earth.

Merry Christmas!

Even More Buzz

Saturday night found Sara and I once again back at Disneyland playing Astro Blasters. We still have yet to break our personal high scores, and Sara was disappointed with her showing. However, we dispelled the notion that whoever enters the ship first (e.g., the person sitting in the right of this picture), is the one who wins.

To Infinity and Beyond!

Huckabee wanted to isolate AIDS patients

The Associated Press is reporting that Republican Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee once advocated isolating AIDS patients from the general public, opposed increased federal funding in the search for a cure, and said that homosexuality is an aberrant, unnatural, and sinful lifestyle.

These statements were made after it was common knowledge that AIDS could not be spread by casual contact.

Sad. Truly sad.

Link here.

More Buzz

Sara and I are still having fun playing Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters at Disneyland. We're improving, but are not getting those astronomically high scores I keep seeing. However, a few weeks ago the two of us both got personal high scores. We got stopped in the final "Zurg" room for a fairly long time and Sara was able to score in the 300,000s and I was in the 200,000s. Unfortunately, our picture didn't come out so we don't have photographic evidence. Dang!

Anyway, here's how we did last Friday.

We also noticed something else. It seems like whoever enters the ship first (i.e., the person on the right side of this picture) is going to have the higher score. We're not sure why, but it seems to be very consistent. Perhaps it's easier to hit targets on that side of the ship? Has anyone else noticed this?

Because we were getting so tired of the "first person entering the ship is always the winner" thing, we decided to try something different: riding separately.

Here's Sara:


And me:

We both did okay, but we still want to break into the 200Ks more consistently. Stay tuned.

TO INFINITY AND BEYOND!!!

Candy Corn Acres

Candy Corn Acres, originally uploaded by brassplayer.

Sara and Tim visit Candy Corn Acres at Disney's California Adventure. Check out the pictures here.

Number 2

Last week, I was amazed to find the Cal Bears ranked #3 in the country. This week, we are ranked #2.

GO BEARS!!!

Halloween Time at Disneyland

Mickey Mouse Halloween Floral, originally uploaded by brassplayer.

This is a little late, but Sara and I took some Halloween pictures at Disneyland on September 23. Check out the set here.

Is the iPhone Honeymoon Over?

Interesting article over at the tech-site CNET about perceptions of problems with Apple's iPhone.

Number 3

I'll admit I never thought I would see the day that Cal Football was ranked third in the nation.

GO BEARS!!!

X Atencio

X Atencio
Originally uploaded by brassplayer

On Sunday, Sara and I visited the Walt Disney Barn in Griffith Park for a meet-and-greet with Disney Imagineer and Disney Legend, Xavier "X" Antencio. This event was hosted by the Carolwood Pacific Historical Society and the Los Angeles Live Steamers. Click here to check out the pictures.

Walt Disney World Pictures

Sara and I traveled to Walt Disney World in early August. Click here to check out our pictures.

More Flickr

Well, I took the plunge and created my own Flickr site. There's not much up there now, but I'll add to it over time. I also created a Flickr Picture Pool Page for the Cal Marching Band. Check them out.

Flickr

Sony just announced that they are closing Imagestation, their picture-sharing site that I've been using for years. So I've been looking for a new place to upload my photos. It appears that Yahoo's Flickr site is going to be it. I've already put a few photos up on my site. Check them out!

Cal Band Pregame

The Cal Band's Pregame Show from September 1, 2007. Cal vs. Tennessee. GO BEARS!!!

Cool Video

A cool video featuring Jenna Fischer from my favorite TV Show, The Office: "Through Any Window" by Willie Wisely.

Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters

Sara and I are becoming addicted to the Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters attraction at Disneyland. Think of it as a combination of a Fantasyland dark ride and an arcade shoot-em-up game. You ride around in a little ship and shoot at targets located in the ride. A computer keeps track of your points and displays your score at the end. Kiosks at the end of the attraction allow you to save pictures which also list your score.

Sara and I thought we would keep track of each of our high scores. Sara's current high score is 88,700 and mine is 105,200. We're new at this, but will keep trying to improve our scores at each visit. I'll keep posting our photos in the future.


Sara totally kicked my butt on this one, and got her new high score in the process.

I finally figured out that trying to aim my gun could dramatically improve my score.

Man of the Century

Sara and I watched Man of the Century last night. It's a cute little independent film about Johnny Twennies, a 1920s newspaper reporter who is somehow transplanted into the 1990s and doesn't seem to know or to care. As a result, the movie is filled with a lot of hilarious slang, styles, and mannerisms from that bygone age. It's not the best film ever, but it's definitely worth a rental.

The movie also stars Susan Egan as Johnny's modern girlfriend Samantha who is suffering through all of Johnny's out-of-date ideals regarding courtship. Disney fans will recognize Egan as the voice of Megara from Disney's Hercules, as well as originating the role of Belle in the stage production of Beauty and the Beast.

Astro Orbitor

Take a ride with Sara and Tim on Disneyland's Astro Orbitor.

More Flag Retreat

A complete Disneyland Flag Retreat Ceremony, from July 7, 2007.

Part 1


Part 2


Part 3


Part 4

Farewell Beauty and the Beast

Disney's long-running stage musical of Beauty and the Beast is closing after 5,464 regular performances.