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Thursday, February 26, 2009

Disneyland and the 30 year old knee

FYI-THIS IS GOING TO BE A LONG ONE.

Hhahahaha, I can't even BELIEVE my body was an issue on a freaking theme park vacation. I work out 5 days a week! Come on now! More on that in a minute...
Do you watch Biggest Loser? I do. Dude, what is up with the Blue Team? Are they missing a few IQ points? Your team loses a weigh in even though 4 of 5 members did great, so you vote out your strongest man? You keep the almost 400lb crippled guy? Ron is a sweet heart but seriously, all this sacrifice for his son but then he doesn't do the same for his new team. LAME! He seriously pissed me off this week almost as much as the stupidity of the 4 team members who didn't vote for him.
One last tv show, American Idol. Last night was the second group of 12 and can I just say, wow did they mostly really suck. It wasn't just a bunch of mediocre, average, "forgettable" performances...I mean, they SUCKED! Why did all the singers insist on picking songs completely different than what got them there? Stupid. Alisha (the 16 year old with pink hair) totally smashed Heart's "Alone". Thank goodness because to sing that song bad would have been painful. Adam "emo broadway twilight pete wentz wannabe with the pretty eyes" was my second fav. Still a little over the top but boy, he wails like the 80's rockers I loved.

Joe and I had so much fun on our vacation. Seriously, whenever Joe and I do get a chance to spend more than 3 hours awake together, I remember why I married him. We really are bffs. Everything is just easy (most of the time). Anyway, we had no rain and it was 73 degrees. Disneyland was just as magical as I remember. At first my grown up brain kind of resisted the kiddie stuff but by the end of day two I was enjoying the storybook rides as much as the coasters. Dland has this thing called Fastpass where you get a ticket at the entrance to the ride and it says to come back at a certain hour and you can go right up front. It was awesome. During the interim we would go on the less demanded rides then the hour on our ticket would roll around...we'd book it over to Space Mountain or whichever ride we'd gotten the ticket for and legally cut in line! Day one we were practically running around the park trying to go on as much as possible so we were starving the whole time (yay! we got to gorge on junk with no guilt). I think we hit Space Mountain 3 times the first day. So the goal of day one was to get on every ride we absolutely could not miss and we did that. At about 1? we headed over to California Adventure and went straight to the Tower of Terror.


Me and Mr. Toad, one of my favorite storybook rides


Space Mountain, our first ride of the trip. (Joe was using multiple 4 letter words)

Let me give a little backstory; as we were arriving in town, I could see the tower and I said to Joe, "I hate rides that drop, but I hope you talk me into that ride." I don't know where that came from. My family would think I'd lost my mind or something. I have never been on Drop Zone or the Edge. I avoid them like the plague. Something about being with Joe and I think my age was telling me to do it just once. So, I did. I was freaking out and hyperventilating in line (surrounded by kids half my size, so VERY small). Everyone around me could tell I was a mess. Anyway, we get to our elevator (the story is you are going to relive an event that a family lived through 60 years ago...lightning hit the hotel while they were in the elevator and it plummeted to the ground). Anyway, our car arrives and the attendant can tell I'm more scared then anyone in the car because I'm talking to Joe and not listening to the rules and the whole car gets quiet and I look up and he's just staring at me with this "you're really scared and I'm going to stare at you and make you even more scared" smirk. So I shut up and find my totally insignificant handles and GRIP. The doors closes and you get a virtual reality screen telling the story and then basically you just DROP FAST. The first one is short though so I didn't even really get to let out a full scream before you are SHOT BACK UP FAST. Up is worse than down in some ways. And you go WAY UP and then the doors open in front of you so you can see how high you are. I knew that meant the fall was coming because you can see the doors opening from the line outside. Then you just FALL REALLY FAST. I just screamed and crammed my eyes shut and then as soon as you stop you GO UP AGAIN! So this happens three times and each drop is a different distance. My right leg started to spontaneously shake (like when you scratch your dog in the perfect spot) and I had no control of it. Somewhere during the ride my sunglasses flew off my collar and landed at my feet. When the ride was over I picked them up and they were bent from the impact of the car I think. I survived. I can't tell you if Joe was screaming or quiet or anything. My entire body was shaking as I got off and I was wondering how to get down the stairs without embarrassing myself. I ended up on the curb outside with my head down just trying to deal with the adrenaline in my body. That was basically the end of Dland Day 1. I was emotionally and physically spent. Joe and I walked back to the hotel, our legs sore, and passed out on the bed for 2 hours.

We woke up and showered...headed out to Sonic Drive In. Their damn commercials play all the time in San Jose but the closest one until recently was like 2 hours away. So we gave it a try. It was good I guess but not as good as I hoped.

The next day Joe suggested we alternate parks and head to Universal. My legs were so sore, especially my hamstrings. The 40 minute drive to Universal took over an hour. I hate LA traffic. Its horrendous. After we got in the park and battled the photo guys and the credit card "you get a free bag!" guys we did a quick walk through their haunted house. It was pretty good. One room had a chain saw murderer and Joe decides to egg the guy on and bolts out of the room like a girl leaving me to fend for myself. I was not impressed by my prince. From there we went straight to Jurassic Park. Poor Joe had a stomach bug the last time he had been at the park with his family and missed the whole day. So, this would be his first time. It was as fun as I remember. I love that they play the movie soundtrack...I get all sentimental because I played that music in marching band. We made it down the totally fun hill without too much water hitting us. Lunch was next...we ended up eating burgers and fries. Joe suggests the Mummy ride next. He says the pamphlet doesn't really say what it is...ok, well, I'm up for new stuff right? So, there is no line and we're walking up and I see the safety sign and it mentions something like "rapid backwards motion" and I hit the breaks. I think my shoe even squeaked on the pavement. The attendant goes "It's not that bad." So, I go in. I still don't know what kind of ride this is. I just hope its not a vomit machine. There is a monitor showing a video of riders right as you get on the ride. You can tell three things, its dark, its a fast roller coaster type ride, and people look terrified. Ok, well I can handle roller coasters in the dark right? That's what Space Mountain is. So Joe and I get front row (which we are told is less scary) and there are no shoulder harnesses so we know there is no upside down (plus its within a building) so Joe assumes it can't be that bad. The ride is themed and its all creepy like the Mummy movie with bugs on the walls and a freaky mummy king and its dark and scary and the kings voice is low and evil, its cold...I mean, regardless of what's coming, you are kinda nervous. The ride takes off and its soooo fast and its pitch black and you have no clue what's happening and well here is what you look like (pic is at the beginning unlike most rides)



Uh yeah. Need I say more? Most people would be embarrassed to post a pic of themselves like this but I feel like it's my duty to warn people. If you go on the Mummy ride, you'll make an ugly terrified I'm going to die face. Oh oh oh but it's not over! The ride stops! And GOES BACKWARDS! Just as fast and just as long. Every surge and turn made my stomach clench and I really thought I was going to be seeing my burger and fries again. Backwards and me just don't get along, even if its a roller coaster. Then...the ride stops again. At this point, Joe and I were pretty freaked, I was hysterical in a quiet sort of way and we're facing another wall and...the ride rotates 90 degrees and...there is the beautiful light of the docking station with victims waiting to ride. Another ride that had my entire body shaking. Seriously, maybe I am gettting to physically old for this stuff.

Guess what? Joe loved it and wanted to go AGAIN! I held him off for 4 hours or so and we did go again...and it was almost worse because I knew what I was voluntarily doing to myself. That day we checked out the Backdraft show...which was ok but disappointing. We also did the tram tour and I was bummed because they didn't do the California earthquake part. At least we got to sit for 45 minutes, lol. I got soaked on it during the flood scene. I was one of two people sitting in just the right spot. We also watched Shrek 4D and it was really good. You wear 3D glasses. The 4D comes in when you get splashed with water or hit with blasts of air from the seat in front of you. Donkey sneezes, you get water in the face. That kind of thing...and the seats move around. At the end of the day we decided to check out the Simpson's ride even though we both hate the Simpson's. It's a virtual ride like Star Tours at disneyland but about 10 times better.

So, we considered leaving the ride a couple times because being stuck in Simpsons was really obnoxious. Cartoons everywhere. Vulgarity with children present. Crusty never shutting up...but we toughed it out. You get locked in a little room with a total of 8 people and you have to watch more Simpson's followed by a Simpson's style safety guide...you can imagine. From there you crawl into your virtual roller coaster car. Let me just say, I felt like I was going to throw up on this fake roller coaster it was so good. The entire room in front of you is a screen and the car moves so it felt REAL. Joe was cheating and looking at the wall behind us and going, "it's only moving 5-10 feet". I just said told him to stop ruining it and enjoy the ride. Such a mechanical nerd. It ended up being one of our favorite rides of the trip. Day two was ending and my left leg was really starting to bother me. When we got home I soaked in the tub and then iced the back of my knees. I think we ordered in that night...I may be mixing up my nights. Oh well, lol.
Day 2 of Disneyland-we started at California Adventure. The park is going to be so cool when its all done. Each section of the park looks like a part of California and its done really well. We did the Condor Flights ride first. It was another virtual ride. It was mellow ( a nice change) and beautiful. There are fans mounted in front of each seat so the wind blows on you and you really feel like you are flying. The rows of seats are massive and they lift off the ground so your feet dangle as they tilt you around and you virtually fly over California. Definitely worth checking out.

We were now Fast Pass masters so we managed to go on California Screamin 3 times! Awesome, old skool with new technology giant dipper coaster. The best part is it launches you straight ahead rather than dragging you up a hill and then letting gravity take over. It was so refreshing to ride a coaster outside in the sunlight, lol.



I think the only other ride we went on was Mulholland Madness...kind of a kiddie coaster that ended up scaring the crap out of us. It hold 4 people per car and is full of sharp turns that don't bank...so you totally feel like the car is just going to topple off. I think we annoyed the teenagers behind us with all our screeching, lol. We had lunch and decided to go back to Dland.

But first, Joe wanted me to pose with the N for New Kids!

Well, it was Friday so the park was packed. The Fast Pass wait for the rides was 3 plus hours. We spent most of our time riding the smaller rides, Astroblasters, Peter Pan, Small World, Alice in Wonderland. On the way to Small World I felt sharp pains in my knee like I'd never felt and got a little worried. I had to stop walking it was that scary. We ended up at the nurses office and they gave me some pain killers. After two more goes on Space Mountain, we left and went and had dinner. Super Mex....mmm yummy, low prices, sneaky margarita! It was great! Walked over to Target and got me a knee brace for the rest of the trip. We had a 9:30pm Fast Pass for Indiana Jones so we did that again and then Joe said, "Let's go to the Haunted House again." Sure, ok...just as we pass the river/lake in the park...they announce Fantasmic. Joe gets all excited and asks if I'd like to watch. I can sit, so I say yes. Let me tell you, it was a show beyond anything I thought it was. Lights, water fountains, disney movie scenes projected onto mist so they were floating, a live Peter Pan pirate ship fight, Princesses dancing, EVERY Disney character on the steamboat, an evil queen, a dragon!

So, our trip was ending. Fantasmic represented everything I loved about being a kid and being in Disneyland. I literally started crying, I was so overwhelmed with emotion. It really caught me off guard. I looked up at Joe and said, "I don't want to go home." He said, "Me either."

So, we had one last appointment with space mountain at 11:05pm. We took it. Then just because we are grown ups and we can, we went and got ice cream right before the park closed. So, I limped and Joe walked, and we ate full fat sugary ice cream with waffle bowls at almost midnight as we headed back to our hotel. It was great.

The last day we did check out Downtown Disney and the resort grounds. My legs were shot. Joe was disappointed I didn't want to head to Knott's Berry Farm but I think he got over it. We ate at the Rainforest Cafe which was very cool. One teary jerking moment that happened for me; a wedding was going on and we saw the bride and we saw CINDERELLA'S CARRAIGE! Omg, the little girl in me just about died with excitement. The attendant saw me and Joe and told us to take a pic so we did. He asked if we were already married then said to Joe, "Oh, your off the hook then, lol". I said, Tahoe was beautiful, I'm just fine.

So, that's pretty much it. Our drive home was uneventful and the rain started up again. We are happy to be home but we keep saying we want to go back. It's Disneyland...can you blame us?

Monday, February 16, 2009

We're going to Disneyland!

Yes, that's right...after 10 years, Joe and I are finally going to the happiest place on earth together. Funny, someone I follow on Twitter is there today and they keep twittering about how packed it is and how unhappy she is. Surprising for February. It must be because today is a holiday. Hopefully everyone will be gone the rest of the week, lol.

So, I'll fill you in next week. I'm sure I'll have some pics to share too!

Oh and just because it's obnoxious and slightly related and has my favorite boyband, here's a video to enjoy. I believe NKOTB was the first pop act to perform during a Superbowl Halftime. So, not only can you thank their managers for every boyband since, you can thank them for Janet's wardrobe malfunction.

Not exactly sure why they did a super speed version of Step by Step but its entertaining.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

View at your own risk

Pic of Nadia Suleman (aka Octomom according to the WWW) 8 days before the birth.

http://www.tmz.com/2009/02/12/octomom-it-was-a-very-goodyear/

What?

Crazy Tatiana made it? Oh please America, continue with your intelligent voting streak and get this chick off American Idol before I lose my sanity. Her laugh alone...



She was the only one I REALLY didn't want on the show. Fine she can sing...but last night she was hysterical before she even found out her fate...and her siren call mesmerized Paula into giving her a ring.

Sunday, February 8, 2009

51st Annual Grammy's Play by Play

So, hubby is off on a tow and won't be home until it's tomorrow so why not share my thoughts as I kill time watching the Grammy's?
Here we go. Ok, U2 is on. They are playing their new song about boots. Can't understand a word Bono is saying...must be why they have the lyrics on the screen behind him. Is he lip syncing? There is so much echo on the Grammy's compared to other award shows. Ooooh pretty rainbows spinning around behind them. Bono is wearing Herman Munster shoes, whoa. Kind of walking like him too.
OMG Whitney! She gets a standing O. Aww she has some weight on her...showing some leg, ok she's talking kind of slow...hmm. Maybe not at 100%, course, we don't know what all those drugs did to her brain. Sad. Ok, now Whitney is talking about Clive. He's so creepy. Yeah, Whitney is looking a litttle too perfect, hmm. Ouch oh she's having a rough time...hurry finish. Yay! Jennifer Hudson wins best R&B. She's gonna make me cry. That girl is tough...I couldn't do that after half my family is murdered.
The Rock delivers some really cheesy dialogue the best he can. He's super likable though, so whatever.
Now its JT talking about the general store and Al Green. Who wrote this crap? I really don't like JT's hair that short...the ceasar cut is so early 2000s. Boyz II Men?!Eek with JT and Al Green. OH this should be cool. JT's having fun...he needs to just sing, that's when he's the sexiest. Keith Urban gets a solo. Ok, seriously, BoyzIIMen could be anyone. They didn't get any screen time! Lame! There are only 3 of them...I heard a while back one of them had major back problems and couldn't even stand anymore.
Coldplay...ugh. Yes they are talented but they just don't do it for me. The lead guy is alone with his kiddie piano. Pretty colors on the piano. Matches his jacket. Whoa, where'd Jay Z come from? This parts pretty cool I guess. Haha, I just thought of Schroeder from Charlie Brown on his little piano. Oh, here's the rest of the band, lead guy skips over. Wow, Purple really bangin his drum. Omg, they look like crayons! Ok seriously, the lead guy, none of his clothes fit and I keep getting a flash of his hairy belly button. Eew. The Crayons harmonize at the end. Wow, they sound like a female choir. Trippy.
Carrie Underwood in the shortest dress ever. And you can see through the skirt. Wow, from Jesus Take the Wheel to Before he Cheats to a guy whose last name has slipped her mind. Fame will do that to you. I have to give it to her though. She is a great performer. On Idol she was so stiff and boring. Dude. That dress is so short. Oh look she has a hot blonde guitar player who seems to REALLY like her guitar.
Leann Rimes and Sheryl Crow come out in matching blue and give out a country award. Sugarland wins and the lead singer chick totally acts like a dork. A cute dork. She loves Paul McCartney, woo!
Duffy and Al Green sing a little and give out an award. Some old guys get really excited when Al sings. Duffy is cute. I hope she just starts singing Mercy and Donnie Wahlberg comes out and acts out wall sex with her. (if you aren't a fan, you will have no idea what I'm talking about, YouTube Donnie Wahlberg and Mercy) ANYWAY, the Crayon band wins song of the year and apologizes to Sir Paul for stealing his style.
Kid Rock. Hmm, singing an Amen song. Okaaay. All I think when I hear Kid Rock is boobs, bikinis and beer. This is different. Ok now the Sweet Home Alabama rip off song (which I like). Ok, now Kid is Rockin a little but I have no clue what he's singing. One of his background singers is channeling Tina Turner.
Miley and Taylor. As long as Miley stays on her stool and doesn't end up on the front of the stage on her spead knees I'll be happy. Cute song. I'd love it if I was 15. Taylor is cute. Miley looks like she's smelling something rotten while she sings. Seriously, look how she scrunches her nose. I'm not trying to be mean. If she was on Idol, Simon would call her on it. Aww they are bffs! Oh, I don't like how Taylor said "even OLDER". Just wait 10 years Taylor... old people win Pop collaboration on some song I've never heard.
Here comes Jennifer Hudson again. Very dramatic. Wow, this Grammy's has quite a church vibe this year. Aww she's crying again. Stop it Jennifer I can't take it. Just think, a few short years ago she was wearing horrible outfits on idol and now she's a Grammy winner.
JoBros and Stevie? Huh? Um ok. Ooh Steve sounds cool on the vocoder. All squeaky like the JoBros. EEEK (sorry, 11 year old me woke up for a minute) They always seem really nervous to me. Ok, that pink shirt and stuff looks kinda girly to me. 11 year old Myka says "shut up! they are cuuute" OMG JoBros swarm Stevie...ah don't hurt Stevie! Overall, good job. Much better than I've heard in the past.
Blink 182!!? Back together? Yay! And Travis looks good. Seriously? The Crayons won best Rock Album. Well, at least they know they don't totally rock. Modesty is good.
Katy Perry looks like a fruit basket! LOL LOVE the giant banana. I hate how she always sings this song (I Kissed a Girl) in a lower key live. She's so cute and fun and man would Joe love her outfit but hate those flats. I like the flats. They are practical. She has great boobs. Still love this song.
Whao, Kanye is totally giving me flashbacks of the first MTV Video awards in the 80's. HE even has Lionel Richie hair. That is one shiny jacket. Estelle seems very 1960's. Love this song (American Boy).
Awww, Adele won an award for Best New Artist and she's so nervous. Oh no. She's chewing gum....that dress makes her look old...aww don't cry. She said MUM. I love British accents (hi Logan). Hehe she's so cute!
Morgan Freeman says he's friends with Kenny Chesney. Sorry, but I've gotta fast forward. Way too country for me. Natalie Cole, Herbie Hancock and Puffy present an award. Natalie says they guys are cute twice. The old people win Record of the Year. Ok yay for them I guess.
Queen Latifah's looking good. She introduces the Rap Pack and MIA. And woah is MIA preggers! Um, my tv just went black and white. MIA...ok that outfit is horrible preggers or not. The Rap Pack includes Kanye, Lil Wayne, TI, and JayZ. I can't believe I got that right. I'm so out of the loop in hip hop these days. Lots of strobe lights. They are all rapping and attemting to sing and I'm bored. I just have to say that the tuxes and the black and white is not makin them seem more classy or whatever they are going for. They need to just be themselves. MIA was due today! Well, thank god she didn't go into labor. That would have been messy.
Kate Beckinsale is gorgeous...and she introduces Paul McCartney. Yay, he's doing Beatles stuff. Oh! He's with Foo Fighters. That's cool. Paul colored his hair, lol unless he's aging backwards. Wow, he looks really good actually. Dave is having a blast on the drums, lol. That was fun.
Jack Black kisses his father in laws butt and then gives John Mayer best Pop Vocal. Thank goodness John has his hair short. He looks spippy! lol.
LL! Still so sexy. Adele and Sugarland perfom...hmm. This should be interesting since I know NOTHING about either. Ok, they aren't performing together...one after the other. Sugarland blah. Adele has scary finger nails. She's so cute though. I got sick of seeing this song on the VH1 countdown. The girl can sing though. Oh, Sugarland is back. Now they are singing Chasing Pavements together.
Are you tired yet? I am. Oh, hubby is home. Well, the rest of this may not happen. Gwyneth is on. Sparkly god dress...and she announces Radiohead. Lead singer spazzin out. Sorry, not into...oh wait, I just saw a drum harness. Marching band geeks! OMG a tuba. What no clarinet? Just kidding. OMG he has a whole freaking marching band behind him. that's awesome for them. Can you tell I was a band geek? Lead singer is still weird though.
Samuel L. Jackson says something about Man Love and introduces TI and JT. JT is at the piano. I don't know this song, sorry. TI is rapping, coming out of the fog. Oh this is a serious song. There are gravestones in the background. They are saying something about Dead and Gone. Hmm. I think I really like this. Yeah, I can just see myself bumpin this in my old Maxima driving around Los Gatos with my blonde hair blowin in the wind, lol. Yeah, I like this. Too bad I don't know what its called.
Obama has two Grammys! Hmm. Just another reason to think he's cool.
Smoky and the last living 4 Tops guy are performing with NeYo and Jamie. Now, these guys are smooth...the rap pack could learn a thing or two. Aww, I love this! NeYo and Jamie fit right in. I love music. It doesn't matter how old someone is...it always makes them seem younger. Sugarpie Honeybunch! Woo! My foot is bouncing. Yay! That was great. Sir Paul loved it.
Crap my laptop battery is dying! Josh Groban is on and something is going to be so good so good. Neil Diamond? Oh god. I'm not going to say anything mean. This just really isn't my style. Unless he sings Coming to America. Touching me! Touching You! Sweet Caroline! Jeez. Haha. These are the 2009 Grammy's right? Now they are showing all the people that died this year.
BB King and John Mayer. I had a BB King cd when I was a band geek. Oh wait we also have Keith Urban and some other guy. That's what happens when you fast forward the Tivo.
What to do? My battery only has 20 minutes left and there are still 30 minutes left...and my Tivo is caught up. My butt is numb. Hubby is out of the shower. I'm gonna go. I'm sure you are bored of my ramblings any way. Things have kind of been boring since the giant banana. Gary Sinise just said Lil. HAHA. Lil Wayne and Robin Thicke. Man, weird combos tonight.
I gotta go. Battery warning just popped up. Just one last thing. Robin Thicke, you are no Jordan Knight.
Good night!

Friday, February 6, 2009

Thank goodness

From the Associated Press

California Medical Board probes octuplet birth


2 hours ago

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Medical Board of California is investigating whether there were any violations by a fertility doctor who helped a woman become pregnant with the octuplets born last month.

Board spokeswoman Candis Cohen says the board will determine whether there was a violation of medical standards. The board has not identified who is under investigation or where the fertility treatment was performed.

The probe was first reported by the Whittier Daily News.

Nadya Suleman of Whittier gave birth to six boys and two girls on Jan. 26. The 33-year-old single mother has six other children. In a portion of an NBC interview broadcast Friday, Suleman says all her children were born through in vitro fertilization by the same specialist.

(This version CORRECTS that Suleman does say all her children were born through in-vitro fertilization in portion of NBC interview broadcast Friday.)


The lastest news on this "woman who formerly wished to remain anonymous" is that she gave a tv interview with Ann Curry. I saw a clip. She looks kind of like Angelina Jolie. Anyway, apparently she tried to get pregnant for 7 years before she had her first child in 2001. At some point she separated from her husband. She's 33 so that means she has been trying to have children since she was what 18? Then she was injured in a workplace accident and suffered from depression...which contributed to the end of her marriage. Anyway, she still hasn't convinced me that she is stable enough for 14 kids. Check out this article at CNN.com.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Breeder

1. Woman miraculously gives birth to 8 babies.
2. The babies are doing well! Yay!
3. Woman and her family wish to remain anonymous.
4. Doctors will not answer any questions about the conception. Natural or not?
5. We find out woman lives with her mother in a modest single family home WITH HER SIX OTHER KIDS!
6. We find out she IS A SINGLE PARENT, NAMED "SUCH AND SUCH" THAT DIDN'T WANT WASTE THE EMBRYOS HER FERTILITY CENTER HAD SAVED!
7. THE TV AND BOOK DEALS COME ROLLING IN!


This just makes me sick...it makes me want to pull my hair out. As a friend said, "We'll if she gets the tv show at least the tax payers won't have to support her."