Anyone Game? It’s my Sep 2013 Blog! Mickey Micro Cosmos Agaricus bisporus #796, 05/23

[PrincessInOz]

Originally Posted by kmedina

Wow that food looks good. I do not have a peanut allergy, so I contemplated licking the screen. It looks like everyone had an awesome time. Love the Mickey balloon.

Thanks!

Originally Posted by franandaj

Hmmm.....

That food porn looks surprisingly familiar!

Do the Yee's have it again?

The Yee's do have it.

I kinda figured I needed to post the dinner set here so that all my OT pictures were in the one spot.

Originally Posted by kmedina

I was drinking when I read that. Now I have water in my nose!

And did you use the rubber hose?

[Nancyg56]

Originally Posted by PrincessInOz

Nancy - I'm always up for a road trip myself...and a DisMeet. We should definitely try and lock something in when/if we settle on the trip to NY. I was hoping to catch some of the fall leaves but it doesn't look like I'll be able to on this trip simply because of the timings with the other DisGamers.

I'm hoping that Kimmar and some of the other "CB Ignoramies" might be in for a DisMeet too. Wonder if any of the Diners might be interested??

Let us know if you are anywhere near New England/New York/ New Jersey? Marisa and I will have no problems heading in your direction!

[shushh]

Happy Belated 80th Birthday to your father! How special to be able to celebrate it with relatives from overseas as well as from home. LOVE the balloons!

The food looks yummy! Although I can't quite pick the cuisine...Malaysian Chinese thai fusion?!??

[PrincessInOz]

Originally Posted by Nancyg56

Let us know if you are anywhere near New England/New York/ New Jersey? Marisa and I will have no problems heading in your direction!

Thanks Nancy. I'll definitely let you and Marisa know.

Originally Posted by shushh

Happy Belated 80th Birthday to your father! How special to be able to celebrate it with relatives from overseas as well as from home. LOVE the balloons!

The food looks yummy! Although I can't quite pick the cuisine...Malaysian Chinese thai fusion?!??

Thai Malaysian Chinese fusion is about right!

[PrincessInOz]

Adventures with those Firework Gods


If you've followed my PTRs and TRs before, you'll know that I've been chasing pyrotechnics in the sky for a couple of years now. You'll also know that until the start of this year, the Firework Gods have not really smiled down on me.

It wasn't that I didn't know the theory of how to take a fireworks shot....it was just that every time I had the opportunity, something would happen (e.g., out of position, launch malfunction) and the shoot would be less than ideal. I figured I have had my run of bad luck and those Gods had decided to either smile on me or plain ignore me when conditions finally turned my way over New Years, Australia Day, Moomba and at Hong Kong.

Or so I thought.....



Every Friday night during the month of July, the Dockland precinct on the edges of town hosts Fireworks at the Docklands. The Docklands is one of those urban concrete jungle developments that was started about 10 years ago. It hasn't struck the right note with Melbournians as for some unknown reason, it just seems to be so much colder at the Docklands than anywhere else in town. This area just seems to be missing a bit of 'soul' to me.

But throw in fireworks....and my tripod, camera and I are more than happy to overlook the soul and cold!

Last Friday, I headed down to the area in anticipation of more shooting practise. However, I left work a little later than expected and hit really bad traffic. It took me over an hour to move the 5 miles from one end of the city to the other. I guess the Gods weren't being kind to me this night.


It was no surprise that I got down late, with barely enough time to set up. Plus there was a BIG crowd there and all the prime viewing spots were occupied. I just managed to get the camera in place when the 10 minute whizz and bang started.


These are examples my shots from last week.









































You have to admit....they are nice shots of the yacht, aren't they?







Those Firework Gods were reminding me that they are still around! But then it is amazing what a difference a week makes!



Last night, I headed down to the Docklands again. This time, I left work so early that everyone wondered if I was sick.
And I missed the peak hour traffic, so it took me roughly 10 minutes to get from one end of town to the other.


Plenty of time to check out the prime viewing spots.








After much internal debate, I settled on a position....and then promptly moved 3 times in search of better. In the end, I positioned myself here and persuaded those Firework Gods to smile on me (a little).
































































I haven’t decided if I will head down again next Friday night. Aside from the inconsistent weather, I think I might have just about used up my favours with those Gods for this month. But I have a new ND filter in my bag and have been planning on trying out the filter with fireworks. Sadly, I forgot to take it on both Fridays! The new filter is sitting safely on the dining table at home. And I can't really blame the Gods for that one.



In the meantime, it is a long time between now….and New Year’s Eve; when the next fireworks are scheduled!

[Eoywin]

Love the fireworks pictures! I love fireworks.

[zanzibar138]

Those fireworks shots are completely awesome! The only way they could be better is if they had a Disney castle as a background

[kmedina]

While the yacht was beautiful, the shots without the yacht are better.

I am impressed that there are somewhat regular fireworks where you live. How often do they have fireworks there?

[PrincessInOz]

Originally Posted by Eoywin

Love the fireworks pictures! I love fireworks.

Originally Posted by zanzibar138

Those fireworks shots are completely awesome! The only way they could be better is if they had a Disney castle as a background

I'm hoping to get some with both the Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella Castle in the background when I go on this trip.

Originally Posted by kmedina

While the yacht was beautiful, the shots without the yacht are better.

I am impressed that there are somewhat regular fireworks where you live. How often do they have fireworks there?

We have fireworks at New Year's Eve, Australia Day (Jan 26), Moomba (March) and then Fridays in July. I think there are some at the Royal Melbourne Show in September as well. About 5 times during the year?

[kmedina]

Originally Posted by PrincessInOz

We have fireworks at New Year's Eve, Australia Day (Jan 26), Moomba (March) and then Fridays in July. I think there are some at the Royal Melbourne Show in September as well. About 5 times during the year?

If they are every Friday in July, that explains why they were going on two weekends in a row. There are no random weekend firework displays here in Vegas. Fireworks just look so much better over the water, which I am sure you've noticed.

[Nancyg56]

PIO+ I thought that the first set of fireworks pics were great but that second set was stunning! You are gifted!

[PrincessInOz]

Originally Posted by kmedina

If they are every Friday in July, that explains why they were going on two weekends in a row. There are no random weekend firework displays here in Vegas. Fireworks just look so much better over the water, which I am sure you've noticed.

Or with a castle in the background!

Originally Posted by Nancyg56

PIO+ I thought that the first set of fireworks pics were great but that second set was stunning! You are gifted!

Thanks Nancy! I have to thank the other wonderful photographers on the photo subforum. I've learnt from them!

[dgbg100106]

Originally Posted by PrincessInOz

Or with a castle in the background!





Thanks Nancy! I have to thank the other wonderful photographers on the photo subforum. I've learnt from them!

Maybe I should join that forum also... But I can hardly keep up with the ones I am a part of now....

[PrincessInOz]

Originally Posted by dgbg100106

Maybe I should join that forum also... But I can hardly keep up with the ones I am a part of now....

You definitely should! The photoboard subforum doesn't move anywhere near the speed of the others.

[PrincessInOz]

It's An Actual Planning Post - first rough dates!



It eventually had to happen. I knew I couldn't just keep this thread completely off-topic for long. But really, I guess I should think about some basic planning posts so that I get to keep this thread active on the PTR section of the boards.

This trip for me is all about DisMeets. At this stage, it would seem like I have potential Dismeets in DLR, WDW and if I go to NY; in NY.

The Gamers planning on going to WDW have been having some discussions about dates and I think we're almost settled on being in WDW somewhere from after the start of October through to however long the individual gamers want to stay for.

I had thought that maybe I could head over to NY after WDW to see the start of the fall colours but if I did that, DS would need to be out of school for 2 weeks. I guess that as this trip really is about the DisMeets, seeing the full colour Mother Nature palette can wait till another trip.

So...my dates are looking like this:

21 Sep - arrive LA and head to DLR. I tend to stay off-site at DLR.

24 or 25 Sep - LA to NYC. Anyone have any recommendations for places to stay in NYC?

~ 29 or 30 Sep - NYC to MCO. DH and I would like to take DS to UA between 30 Sep to around 2 Oct. I figure he'd enjoy the rides there and DH and I will enjoy going back to WWoHP.

~ 2 Oct - WDW. I'm hoping to stay at BCV.

No later than 8 Oct - MCO to Hawaii. DH really doesn't know about Aulani and I'm pretty sure his idea of Hawaii is a chillax on the beach, shopping, Polynesian Cultural Centre, Pearl Harbour and did I mention chillax? I'm going to have to think about how I sell Aulani to him...if at all. Sometimes, it is better to know when not to start a debate.

No later than 11 Oct - head home


That would mean that we could be at WDW from 2 - 8 Oct. I think this timing would work for the other Gamers coming to the meet.


And it gives me some rough dates to play with.