Canadian Buffoon's DISmeet vacation - 09/14 - Bowled Over

[pkondz]

OK, I'll be back to comment on the whole thing when I get caught up elsewhere and get my next update up, but I'll comment on the "what's wrong with this picture?"

Me: Man that felt good! I'm so glad to not be carrying THAT around inside me! Where's the.....? Oh crap!

For the love of God, woman!
Don't say "Oh crap!"

ETA: I didn't see the previous posters comment. I've been looking at that picture for the last hour and it finally hit me!

Yep. No private PMing this time.
No contest!

ETA again: OK that was weird.....the only comments I saw were Liesa's, but you put that up last night and people have been commenting all day. The DIS is being weird on me!

It's been acting up on me too, lately.
Wonder what's up?

Probably ads.

 

[mustinjourney]

Actually serious!

I've never really thought about it
other than one is for baking,
the other is for spreading
on a bagel.

I always figured the container was better for intermittent use (and it’s easier to deal multiple times) while the other was for one or two uses (you don’t want to store it too long after opening).

 

[pkondz]

I always figured the container was better for intermittent use (and it’s easier to deal multiple times) while the other was for one or two uses (you don’t want to store it too long after opening).

Sure.
I'll only buy the bricks for baking/cooking.
The tub is for spreading or dipping.

 

[Tracy161]

A step in another direction.

You did a lot of sashaying in this update, so I'd say you sashayed in another direction.

"The Airport" would be better
than "the airport"?
I personally think it's a capital idea.

I see what ya did there...

But I did take this photo.
Notice anything odd about it?

Um, the toilet seat is down?

I arrived at Warner Bros
mid to late afternoon.

This would be heaven for me!

Anyway, I was pretty stoked.
I mean just look at all those
classic movies! Oh boy!

Awww, reminds me to the Great Movie Ride, may she rest in peace

I really don't mind elevators.
Unless someone farts.
Then I mind.
So I always try to be the one
who farts first on the elevator.
The best defense is being
offensive first, right?

I nearly spit out my coffee on this one!

Chocolate frosting, Oreo cookies, and peanut butter.

I would have eaten more than two bites, I guarantee that

No, I didn't see it... I'll have to go back. You always keep us on our toes!

 

[FantasiaMagic]

Hi Pkondz! I'm here and I'm enjoying your TR so far!!

 

[pkondz]

You did a lot of sashaying in this update, so I'd say you sashayed in another direction.

One can never sashay too much.


Never.

I see what ya did there...

Don't you mean:
"I See What Ya Did There"?

Um, the toilet seat is down?

You'd get bonus points
if I was running a contest!


But not what I was talking about.
And annoyed with myself
for that not being it!

Awww, reminds me to the Great Movie Ride, may she rest in peace

Tragic.

I nearly spit out my coffee on this one!

I would have eaten more than two bites, I guarantee that

You're sugar levels must be just fine.

No, I didn't see it... I'll have to go back. You always keep us on our toes!

 

[pkondz]

Hi Pkondz! I'm here and I'm enjoying your TR so far!!

Well, hi there Alison!

Glad you're here
and liking it!

to the TR!

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

These do?

I have plenty of those.

It's like you've never
read my TRs before.

Well, hope springs eternal.

Well...
I actually almost forgot
to include it.
But some things
just need to be maintained.



No idea why, really.

You know, of all people, that I can appreciate a good running gag.

See what I mean? "Goo" = not appetizing.

Well.... that's when I
noticed it.

Where's a lightning bolt
when you need one??

Who could possibly predict when and where a bolt of lightning is going to strike? Oh, right, that poor park ranger guy.

Always blame others for your mistakes.
It's the battle cry of the current generation.

Truth.

Nice catch.

See why I asked?

It was... pretty darned good!
Just... so much sweetness.
I think I became diabetic
just looking at it.

But who wants to think about consequences?

You know...
I seriously considered mentioning that.
I really liked that movie.
So much that I bought a copy.

I have a copy, too! Loved that one. Thought it was hilarious from beginning to end. Like I said, very underrated.

Nah. The best thing about modern
architecture, is that form doesn't
have to follow function quite so
rigidly.
I have no problem if the form
an architect choses does not meet
everyone's idea of beauty.

Actually, kinda glad it doesn't.
If everyone liked it... then it
would be boring.

And I've seen the Pritzker Pavilion.

I agree completely with you, and the principle. For me, just being "different" isn't enough. Give me a reason you designed it that way. For example, the Sydney Opera House is also "different". But the "shells" capture the shape of sailing vessels in the harbor. Great, now I get it!

I don't have any problem with the fact that Gehry's work exists, or that so many people think it's beautiful and an exciting work of art. Different strokes for different folks. The only thing that will grind my gears is if someone tries to convince me that I'm some kind of moron for not liking it. There may be many reasons for me being a moron, but a subjective opinion is not one of them.

 

[MeghanEmily]

Arm room!
(I love that table
in between the seats.)

Oh my gosh, arm room. Best thing. I think I appreciate the space around my elbows even more than the space around my feet. Call me a baby, but I hate rubbing arms with a stranger on a plane.

And yet both the same.
No ride there.

 

[Tracy161]

One can never sashay too much.


Never.

I couldn't possibly agree more

You'd get bonus points
if I was running a contest!


But not what I was talking about.
And annoyed with myself
for that not being it!

You're sugar levels must be just fine.

Oh, they are...

 

[pkondz]

I have plenty of those.

Then why did you ask for them?
Sheesh!

Well, hope springs eternal.

It's like you don't even know me!

You know, of all people, that I can appreciate a good running gag.

Who could possibly predict when and where a bolt of lightning is going to strike? Oh, right, that poor park ranger guy.

Didn't think you were
gonna go there.

But who wants to think about consequences?

Booooooring!

I have a copy, too! Loved that one. Thought it was hilarious from beginning to end. Like I said, very underrated.

Did you watch the series?
I'm thinking no, but...

I agree completely with you, and the principle. For me, just being "different" isn't enough. Give me a reason you designed it that way. For example, the Sydney Opera House is also "different". But the "shells" capture the shape of sailing vessels in the harbor. Great, now I get it!

I don't have any problem with the fact that Gehry's work exists, or that so many people think it's beautiful and an exciting work of art. Different strokes for different folks. The only thing that will grind my gears is if someone tries to convince me that I'm some kind of moron for not liking it. There may be many reasons for me being a moron, but a subjective opinion is not one of them.

I had a cousin who studied Inuit art.
I don't like most Inuit art.
Some, yes. Most, no.
She tried to tell me that I was wrong
because I didn't understand it.

Uh... No. It's because I think it's ugly.

 

[pkondz]

Oh my gosh, arm room. Best thing. I think I appreciate the space around my elbows even more than the space around my feet. Call me a baby, but I hate rubbing arms with a stranger on a plane.

So....
I was driving somewhere the other day.
Where? Doesn't matter.
Stop interrupting, Meghan.
Do you want to hear the story or not?
Okay. As I was saying...
I had the radio on and I'm listening
to some guy talking about flying.
He says that people with small children,
people needing extra time and people
sitting in the exit rows board first.
And he watches as a man with only one arm
boards the plane.
And all he can think is...
"I hope I get to sit next to him."

Because then you get the armrest, right?

So then they board the plane...
And guess what? He does! He gets to sit
beside the guy with one arm!

But...


It's the wrong side.

 

[MeghanEmily]

So....
I was driving somewhere the other day.
Where? Doesn't matter.
Stop interrupting, Meghan.
Do you want to hear the story or not?
Okay. As I was saying...
I had the radio on and I'm listening
to some guy talking about flying.
He says that people with small children,
people needing extra time and people
sitting in the exit rows board first.
And he watches as a man with only one arm
boards the plane.
And all he can think is...
"I hope I get to sit next to him."

Because then you get the armrest, right?

So then they board the plane...
And guess what? He does! He gets to sit
beside the guy with one arm!

But...


It's the wrong side.

...

 

[pkondz]

Brothers And A Pier.

This update will be photo heavy
and prose light.

You can thank me later...


Morning found me winding my way through
Los Angeles traffic, retracing my steps
to Warner Bros Studios.

I took a bunch of photos on the tour...
And now don't remember what half
of what I shot actually was!
Lots of shots of building fronts
that, at the time, meant something.
But now?

"Remember in Friends when
Ross ran down the street?
That was there!"



Yeah... Not so much.


I got myself checked in and waited
for the call to arms...
uh... to queue up.
I joined another group of tourists
eager to see what the next
few hours would bring us.

After a very brief introductory movie
we were on our way.

Our tour was punctuated with gun shots.
I assumed this was merely a typical
Los Angeles occurrence,
but apparently they were recording
gun shots for a show.
I'm really not sure how they
distinguish between the two.


We boarded a trolley and set out.
First things first...

The famous Warner Bros water tower.
(Yeah... it's blurry. We were moving. Sue me.)
The guide told us the reason it was facing
the way it was is so that the people
at Universal (on one side) and Disney (on the other)
would always have it staring at them.


While I no longer remember what buildings
are which, I think some of you may
recognize this one:

Never watched it myself, but I took
the photo just for you.

You're welcome.
Donations gratefully accepted.
(And encouraged.)

We did see a lot... and our guide
kept pointing out things to us,
and it was really cool....

But obviously not overly memorable.




We left the backlot and started
winding our way in and around the
sound stages.
We paused briefly here:

And he told us that it was pretty rare for
such a recent show to have a sound stage
named after it.

We came by this one:

...but weren't allowed to enter.
Instead we went to this one:

How many of these shows have you seen?
I know I've seen at least half a dozen.
And... they filmed Casablanca here!
How cool is that?
More on that a bit later.
(And that's not an exhaustive list
of what's been filmed there.
Merely the highlights.)

We then went inside and were told
that no photography was allowed.
Ruby and I watch a show called Lucifer.
And I visited that set.
It was really cool to be walking around
on the same set of the show that we watch.
I kept thinking: "Oh! Look! The piano he plays.
There's the spot where he... blah, blah, blah."
I'll spare you the commentary.
Nevertheless....cool.

What was really interesting was the balcony.
Whenever they need a Los Angeles city background
they just pull a massive curtain across
that has the city printed on it.
(at a guess... 150 feet long by 40 feet high?)
There are holes in it at strategic locations
so for a night shot, they light it from behind
and where the light shines through looks like
lights from windows.
Cheaper than green screen and just as realistic.
The next time we watched the show,
we noticed the screen and it looks like a real city view.

Here's a still from the show.
The city in the background is the curtain.

After that set, we went to the props building.
It's filled with actual props that have been
and will be used in various productions.
Everything we saw (and there were several)
that had a yellow tag affixed meant that the
item was on loan and ready to be picked up.
​

Why yes. Those are the actual Maltese Falcon(s).
(They made a few in case of damage, I believe.)

This desk was used for several shows
to represent the one in the oval office.

(Notice the statue in the background
has been rented out and is awaiting
delivery/pick up.)


These Samurai outfits
were used in the movie Inception.

And the actual chairs from
The Matrix.
Do you take the blue pill? Or the red pill?

We didn't have far to go for our next stop.
We exited one soundstage and walked into
the one next to it.
Inside were several of the cars from
the Batman films.
But, alas, not the original from the TV series.

Tragic.

Continued Next Post​

 

[pkondz]

Continued From Previous Post​

Next stop, we visited an area with
props from Harry Potter,
Fantastic Beasts
and a few costumes
from Wonder Woman and Batman.

The stuff nightmares are made of.
The extra giant spider, went up the water spout.
Down came the rain and...

Well, really it's too big to be flushed anywhere.
And frankly, I don't think it's fitting in anything
but an industrial sized water spout.

We exited, and... one last glimpse of the tower...

And that was about it for the tour.
We were dumped off at the requisite
gift shop to hopefully spend
tons of cash.
However, there was another area
that you could walk through.
And it was here that I found some
of my favourite sights.

Like these figurines from Corpse Bride.

The clothes worn by Humphrey Bogart
and Ingrid Bergman in Casablanca.
(Except I'm pretty sure the hats weren't authentic.)

I could be wrong. Thoughts?


And those worn in Rebel Without a Cause.

I had to tell myself
that I felt lucky
to have seen this:

I wonder how many of you
will understand that reference?

Also liked this from what could
arguably be called the best Western
ever filmed.
If you haven't seen Unforgiven.... see it.

And, the piece de resistance...
The actual Oscar from Casablanca.

I mean... how cool is that???

After the tour I got back to the car
and headed out to...

I'd heard of Santa Monica Pier
for a long time.
And it a-piered to be pretty crowded.

Well, I'd driven here so...
Let's brave the crowds, shall we?

A quick look at the beach
and all the brave
(aka foolhardy) souls
in the water.

Well... okay. Maybe not foolhardy.
I understand that most of them
didn't get eaten by sharks that day.

At the end of the pier is a restaurant
called Mariasol.
I knew that a restaurant located at the
end of a tourist attraction probably
wouldn't be very good and would
probably be expensive.

But... YOLO.

I was tempted to order the tableside guacamole,
just to see it prepared...
But considering I don't really like guac.... it seemed silly.
So I ordered a clam chowder instead.
And it was good!
Plus... the table next to me ordered the guac.
So I was able to watch it being prepared
without having to order/eat it.

I also ordered another dish that I'd heard of
but never tried.
Fish tacos.
I'd never quite been able to wrap my head
around that.
Tacos? With fish?
And.... not bad.
Would I order it again?
Probably not.
But if someone served it to me,
I'd gladly have it.


After that, I headed back to the hotel.
I made a detour over to Bartel's Harley Davidson.
I'd missed it when I arrived, but was practically
driving right by it now.

And... for the first time ever,
I almost walked away without a poker chip.

I don't know if I've just been very lucky,
or if it's company policy...
But every HD store I've gone into,
I've been greeted by very friendly staff.

This time?

I walked in and no one spoke to me.
I saw one staffer who was talking
to another customer.
I expected a "I'll be with you in a moment"
as I stood at the counter, but she just
glanced at me and glanced away.

Okay. I'll look around.
I found another counter and spotted
the poker chips.
No one around.
I saw two staffers come out of a back room and
walk right by me as they chatted.
I considered going behind the counter
and just taking a chip, hoping that
would draw some attention.

I thought better of it.

I approached the couple of yappers
and interrupted.
"Does anyone work here?"
Reluctantly, one of them deigned to
glance at me and said "Yes?"
I told her I wanted a chip and she meandered
slowly behind the counter.
She obviously got paid by the hour.
I waited until I got my chip
and then got out of there.

Less than impressed, Bartel's HD.
I won't be back.

Speaking of chips,
@Captain_Oblivious asked me
how many poker chips do I have.
(i.e. how many stores have I visited.)

To date, I have 78 poker chips.
None of them repeats.


And that was my day.


In the previous chapter, I posted this photo

And asked what was missing.
Some of you got it.
Others missed it.
For those of you who missed it...
There's Kleenex on the counter.
For the rest of you who got it,
you can just see the toilet paper
peeking out from under the counter.
If you didn't know it was there....

Good luck finding it.

You certainly wouldn't be able
to see if if... er... you were sitting down.
(This is the voice of experience here.)



Coming up:
More adventures, a few DISmeets,
a Disney Day and a Grand Prix.


Oh....

And did you see it?

That Sinking Feeling​

 

[Steppesister]

One can never sashay too much.


Never.

And... they filmed Casablanca here!
How cool is that?
More on that a bit later.

Very. I love that movie!

Why yes. Those are the actual Maltese Falcon(s).
(They made a few in case of damage, I believe.)

I have that movie on my dresser. Been sitting there for over a year. Someday... maybe.... I'll watch it.

Inside were several of the cars from
the Batman films.
But, alas, not the original from the TV series.

Tragic.

Fun fact.

My grandfather owned an original BatMobile from the TV series in the mid-70s. I remember it sitting in his office parking lot as a kid.

I mean... how cool is that???

Again. Very!

No thanks!

Nope, nope, nopitty, nope!

I also ordered another dish that I'd heard of
but never tried.
Fish tacos.
I'd never quite been able to wrap my head
around that.
Tacos? With fish?
And.... not bad.
Would I order it again?
Probably not.
But if someone served it to me,
I'd gladly have it.

MMM!!! Grew up on these. A little cabbage, a little pico de gallo, flaky white fish, NOT fried, thanks!....

I saw two staffers come out of a back room and
walk right by me as they chatted.

Rude.

To date, I have 78 poker chips.
None of them repeats.

I was wondering too! And that's really quite impressive. Nice collection!

There's Kleenex on the counter.
For the rest of you who got it,
you can just see the toilet paper
peeking out from under the counter.
If you didn't know it was there....

.... you'd shower.

 

[vamassey1]

Our tour was punctuated with gun shots.
I assumed this was merely a typical
Los Angeles occurrence,
but apparently they were recording
gun shots for a show.
I'm really not sure how they
distinguish between the two.

While I no longer remember what buildings
are which, I think some of you may
recognize this one:

I don't but I'm curious. Where is it from?

How many of these shows have you seen?
I know I've seen at least half a dozen.
And... they filmed Casablanca here!
How cool is that?
More on that a bit later.
(And that's not an exhaustive list
of what's been filmed there.
Merely the highlights.)

That's a lot of history.

It was really cool to be walking around
on the same set of the show that we watch.
I kept thinking: "Oh! Look! The piano he plays.
There's the spot where he... blah, blah, blah."
I'll spare you the commentary.
Nevertheless....cool.

I find this very cool. When I toured Johnson Space Center we got to sit in the chairs where the big whigs sat for viewing the control center. I kept thinking of Apollo 13. It was the same room they used for the movie and the real room used way back then.

The stuff nightmares are made of.
The extra giant spider, went up the water spout.
Down came the rain and...

No thanks, don't care for spiders.

I wonder how many of you
will understand that reference?

Maybe. Elaborate?

But considering I don't really like guac.... it seemed silly.

I love guac!!!

But every HD store I've gone into,
I've been greeted by very friendly staff.

You're usually greeted by several people.

I told her I wanted a chip and she meandered
slowly behind the counter.
She obviously got paid by the hour.
I waited until I got my chip
and then got out of there.

How rude!

To date, I have 78 poker chips.
None of them repeats.

That's a lot of chips.

Good luck finding it.

When I first saw the picture I couldn't find anything missing, just he hard to see TP. I guess it was even harder to find when you're on the throne.

And did you see it?

I did see it. I hope he enjoyed his company.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

This update will be photo heavy
and prose light.

You can thank me later...

Great, tha--oh, right.

I took a bunch of photos on the tour...
And now don't remember what half
of what I shot actually was!
Lots of shots of building fronts
that, at the time, meant something.
But now?

Well...this should be a riveting update.

Our tour was punctuated with gun shots.
I assumed this was merely a typical
Los Angeles occurrence,
but apparently they were recording
gun shots for a show.
I'm really not sure how they
distinguish between the two.

Good question! I guess it depends on the neighborhood.

The guide told us the reason it was facing
the way it was is so that the people
at Universal (on one side) and Disney (on the other)
would always have it staring at them.

Ooh...very petty. I like it!

While I no longer remember what buildings
are which, I think some of you may
recognize this one:

Um...it's a house?

How many of these shows have you seen?
I know I've seen at least half a dozen.
And... they filmed Casablanca here!
How cool is that?

Very cool!

I'm probably around a half a dozen as well. Noticed The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.--that was an underrated show, too.

What was really interesting was the balcony.
Whenever they need a Los Angeles city background
they just pull a massive curtain across
that has the city printed on it.
(at a guess... 150 feet long by 40 feet high?)
There are holes in it at strategic locations
so for a night shot, they light it from behind
and where the light shines through looks like
lights from windows.

Wow, that's a neat trick! Looks pretty realistic, too.

These Samurai outfits
were used in the movie Inception.

That's a GREAT movie. Loved that one.

And the actual chairs from
The Matrix.
Do you take the blue pill? Or the red pill?

As Neo would say, "Why didn't I take the blue pill?"

Inside were several of the cars from
the Batman films.
But, alas, not the original from the TV series.

Still, Batmobiles.

Next stop, we visited an area with
props from Harry Potter,
Fantastic Beasts
and a few costumes
from Wonder Woman and Batman.

This is where my daughter dies and goes to heaven.

The stuff nightmares are made of.
The extra giant spider, went up the water spout.
Down came the rain and...

Well, really it's too big to be flushed anywhere.
And frankly, I don't think it's fitting in anything
but an industrial sized water spout.

I think that's the only creature that could put up a fight against Everglades mosquitoes.

I could be wrong. Thoughts?

It doesn't look the same to me.

I had to tell myself
that I felt lucky
to have seen this:

I wonder how many of you
will understand that reference?

I did, punk!

Also liked this from what could
arguably be called the best Western
ever filmed.
If you haven't seen Unforgiven.... see it.

That is a great one.

Well... okay. Maybe not foolhardy.
I understand that most of them
didn't get eaten by sharks that day.

But I bet they were pretty cold.

I approached the couple of yappers
and interrupted.
"Does anyone work here?"
Reluctantly, one of them deigned to
glance at me and said "Yes?"
I told her I wanted a chip and she meandered
slowly behind the counter.
She obviously got paid by the hour.
I waited until I got my chip
and then got out of there.

Less than impressed, Bartel's HD.
I won't be back.

Good grief. That's pretty poor.

To date, I have 78 poker chips.
None of them repeats.

Nice work! That's a quality stash.

You certainly wouldn't be able
to see if if... er... you were sitting down.
(This is the voice of experience here.)

And did you see it?

I did! But I don't remember him being in Corpse Bride.

 

[Tracy161]

I think some of you may
recognize this one:

Yes! Yes! Yes! I'm a child of the 80s/90s, after all

And... they filmed Casablanca here!
How cool is that?

What?!?!? Super cool. One of my faves

It was really cool to be walking around
on the same set of the show that we watch.

I bet. I would have been in my GLORY! These are the things I miss about MGM...

The clothes worn by Humphrey Bogart
and Ingrid Bergman in Casablanca.

I would have been on

(Except I'm pretty sure the hats weren't authentic.)

I'm with you. Ingrid's hat just doesn't match up.

I mean... how cool is that???

SUPER cool

And it a-piered to be pretty crowded.

I see what ya did there

To date, I have 78 poker chips.
None of them repeats.

Good work!

For the rest of you who got it,
you can just see the toilet paper
peeking out from under the counter.
If you didn't know it was there....

Yikes. I wonder how many people have reached for the tissues out of desperation

 

[MeghanEmily]

This update will be photo heavy
and prose light.

You can thank me later...

Our tour was punctuated with gun shots.
I assumed this was merely a typical
Los Angeles occurrence,
but apparently they were recording
gun shots for a show.
I'm really not sure how they
distinguish between the two.

Haha wow! Neat to know they're filming...something?

I know that place!

Never watched it myself, but I took
the photo just for you.

I'm sad you've never watched.

Here's a still from the show.
The city in the background is the curtain.

...I feel like I've been lied to.

Next stop, we visited an area with
props from Harry Potter,
Fantastic Beasts
and a few costumes
from Wonder Woman and Batman.

Now this is pretty cool...I'm fan.

And... for the first time ever,
I almost walked away without a poker chip.

Less than impressed, Bartel's HD.
I won't be back.

That's so disappointing. Sounds like really lousy service, which I wouldn't think is the norm there at all.