View 51: Main Street USA

Main Street USA in Walt Disney Worlds Magic Kingdom.

Main Street USA in Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom.

For me, a visit to Walt Disney World doesn’t really start until I enter the Magic Kingdom and walk down Main Street USA. This Disney depiction of a turn of the 20th Century town is full of old time fun. You might run into the Dapper Dan’s Barbershop Quartet, see a glass blower creating small trinkets, watch a high school marching band lead the afternoon parade, have some hand-scooped ice cream cones or enjoy seasonal holiday decorations. Walt Disney wanted to capture American history with Main Street USA and I believe he has.

Internet access is disappointing slow at the resort I am staying at so I will add more photos to this posting when I return in a few days. Hey, guess where I’m going this morning? Yep, back to Main Street USA!

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Off to See the Mouse

Minnie Mouse and Goofy open Disneys Animal Kingdom back in December, 2006.

Minnie Mouse and Goofy open Disney's Animal Kingdom back in December, 2006.

That’s what a fan(atic) says when s/he is traveling to a Disney Themepark in reference to Mickey Mouse. Walt Disney, himself, was always reminding people that it all started with Mickey.

In this case, I am going to be spending the next week with over a 1,000 other fans at Walt Disney World in what has become Mousefest. It is my hope I will find enough time to do next Monday’s blog from there. I probably will be too busy and tired to do much, if any, commenting. You all behave yourselves until I return.

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View 50: Scrooged!

Ebenezer Scrooge, brought to life by actor Robert Krigbaum, gives me his humbug look during the Dickens Christmas in Skaneateles.

Ebenezer Scrooge, brought to life by actor Robert Krigbaum, gives me his “humbug” look during the 15th Annual Dickens’ Christmas in Skaneateles.

I spent last Saturday in one of my favorite Christmas stories, Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. For the last 15 years, the Village of Skaneateles, New York, has hosted a Dickens Christmas on weekends between Thanksgiving and Christmas. The troop of actors portrays many of the most famous characters and perform scenes from Dickens’ classic tale.

Meet more of the characters I had the pleasure of encountering. Jacob Marley lamented about why he was wearing his chains and then broke out in Christmas songs. He had a great voice. I ran into Father Christmas and Scrooge’s nephew, Fred. The fiddle player provided the music for the Christmas Present dancing scene. Lastly, the Christmas Ghost who haunted Scrooge all day.

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View 49: Banana Bread

Mmmmmm.....Banana Bread!

My sister makes the best banana bread. I know I am bias but it is fabulous. She left me two loaves after we ate up this plate on Thanksgiving last week. Thanks, Sis!

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View 48: Do the Dew!

Mountain Dew bottle moves down a conveyor to be shipped out to stores.

Mountain Dew bottles moving down a conveyor to be shipped out to stores.

I work for a soda (or pop or soda pop or just coke depending on where you live) bottler near Syracuse, New York. The other day I went out and took some pictures around the plant. I enjoy capturing motion in my photography and the Mountain Dew bottles were flying down the conveyor belts which made for some great shots. If you have never tried panning to show motion, it is a fun and valuable technique to learn. Click here for a short article I wrote on panning.

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