Author: admin

If I were a horse, I'd be dead now.

Life, Randomness

20080109_00252.jpgOh it looks bad!20080109_00254.jpgZombie Toes20080111_00256.jpg20080117_00260.jpg

What do Rice Kispies and my ankle have in common?

Well the first one has a cute slogan that has a new horrific meaning to me.

The first pictures are about 3 weeks old now, so my it’s significantly better now. I’ve actually played 2 games of basketball on it. It’s still bigger than the other foot, but I hope that will come down with time. This is by far the worst sprain I’ve ever had, I could barely walk on it for the first 3 days. Now I just have to keep it wrapped up for the games and try to be aware of it.

RIP Barbaro, my homie.

Later!

Inoperable stub arms.

Entertainment, The Interweb

Words of the Day!

Found them in this description of an incident at Disney World:

In 1976, a woman filed a lawsuit claiming one of the Three Little Pigs ran up to her at the “it’s a small world” attraction, grabbed at and fondled her, while exclaiming “Mommy! Mommy!” She claimed to have gained 50 pounds as a result of the incident, and sued Disney for $150,000 in damages for assault and battery, false imprisonment, and humiliation. The plaintiff dropped charges after Disney’s lawyers presented her with a photo of the costume, which had only inoperable stub arms.

The Wikipedia page for “Incidents at Disney Parks” is quite a list of idiots and heart conditions

Later!

Down and out in the Magic Kingdom.

Life, Trips

20071230_00234.jpg20071230_00235.jpg20071230_00236.jpg20071230_00238.jpg20071230_00239.jpg

December 29th 2007 – January 2nd 2008

Mark’s adventures in the Happiest Place on Earth ©.

From what I remember I hadn’t been back to Orlando since around 1993? The last time I was there I remember just seeing everything as boring and for kids. This time was a little different, I’m still not indoctrinated into the Cult of Disney, but I did wear some mouse ears for a while.

They’ve really got some good rides at MGM now, The Tower of Terror and Rock N’ Roller coaster were actually awesome. Not just Disney Awesome. The Star Wars ride could use some work. I really think they could update it and make it a lot better. I’m sure they’re going to just tear it down and build something else. But it was kind of nostalgic to see the training video that looked like it was made before 1990.(update – the wiki on this ride states that a sequal ride is in the works. probably because this one cost 35 million bucks)

The Magic Kingdom definitely wasn’t lame. There still aren’t many “thrill rides” but they do such a good job of entertaining you while you’re in line and on the ride that you forget that they’re a little slow. The new Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean rides are really good. They’re so well done that you forget you’re just on a track inside a warehouse. Especially in Pirates, when you’re floating by as Barbosa is attacking the fort you really feel like you’re out in the ocean. Especially awesome was the blast of air that comes through and feels like a cannonball just missed you.

I wish I could have spent more time at Animal Kingdom, But I wanted to go watch the Illinois Rose Bowl game (bad game). The safari was really cool, it felt like you were really out there. They’ve designed the enclosures so that there are no visible boundaries from one area to the next, so it looks like the lions could go over and attack the other animals at any time. I think that makes it really cool. The Everest ride/roller coaster is another example of the typical Disney ride. They take an average coaster and dress it up so that it’s a really fun ride. I’ve never seen a coaster have so many video/ anamatronic elements. The image that really sticks in my head is coming flying through the cave at the end and having a 30ft yeti hanging over me and trying to claw at me. Really cool looking!

New years eve at Epcot center was a really fun time. I think as ive gotten older I really appreciate Epcot more. When I was last there the only thing I can remember is buying a really big sombrero in Mexico and walking around a lot. This time it was really cool eating in the different countries and realizing that the people working there were actually from those places. Also getting a beer in every country was excellent.

Laurel’s Dad and Step-mom were my guides for the adventure, I really like vacationing with them. They have their little quirks like any parents, but they do really know how to have a good time and are really interesting people. We did so many fun things that I can’t believe that we were only there for a few days. I’m really looking forward to out next vacation together.

Later!

Update on life – 12/28/07

Life, Randomness

Man life moves fast. Especially when you’re traveling and things are happening. I’m moving in with my girlfriend to a homestead in Oakton. It feels like we’re living in the old west. We’re moving into a house built in 1948, oil heat, septic, well water… our neighbors in their executive mansions have every conveinence know to modern man. I feel like it’s the frontier and we’re the last people who haven’t sold out to the wealthy ranchers. It’s going to be an adventure to say the least.

Later!

Poddington Jr. – missing – found alive – scared.

Life, Randomness

So I’ve been wondering where my Ipod shuffle has been for a week or two. I figured it was either lost or in my room somewhere. So I “cleaned” up my room, I didn’t find anything. My next thought was that it was in my laundry somewhere, since I hadn’t seen it in a while and conveniently had also not done laundry in some time. I’d actually bought more clothes instead of doing laundry. So where do I find the little Poddington? Staring at me from the open door of the dryer.

I guess this says a lot about Apple’s quality, but the thing still works! I think I got lucky because it had to be dead by the time it went into the washer, I had left it in the “on” position. But it survived that and tumbling around in a hot dryer, the earbuds still work too!

Later!

It's a major award!

Projects, Stuff and Things


DSCF1244

Originally uploaded by mark5four0

I knew that our Halloween decorations and costume were cool, but now it has been verified by an independent source. Laurel and I have received what amounts to “Honorable Mention” in the Make Magazine Halloween contest. I really didn’t know that I was entering a contest, I just thought I was sharing the photos. But this will go right up there with the 7th grade science fair project “Can Hamsters Predict Earthquakes?” in the Schumaker Honorable Mention Hall Of Fame.