thirtysomething

Just kicking it @ Fontana Dam NC, Deals Gap NC, & Lake Cherokee SC

The Sink,
originally uploaded by vmpyr_david.

So what do you do with a laundry closet that isn’t being used for it’s intended design? Re-Purpose the thing into a toddler half-bath!!

ATTENTION!,
originally uploaded by vmpyr_david.

While standing in line for a ride in Walt Disney World two weeks ago I got a call from a friend.

SushiDoc: “I’ve got extra tickets to Universal Florida in two weeks. Want to come?”
VampD: “Absolutely! Uh, you do know where I am right now, yes?”

SO after a week in WDWResort with my lovely wife of 15 years (that was our anniversary trip this year) we flew home for a week to recuperate and wash clothes. Sunday I pack up the MINI and head back down to Central Florida. SushiDoc was down for the IACP 2010 Conference so he and I got into both Universal Parks on Monday for the price of one. The Studios park was bought out for the IACP people Monday night. On Tuesday we hit Walt Disney World. ALL FOUR PARKS in one day. ALL FOUR Mountains, Food & Wine Festival, and saw the Air Force Thunderbirds fly over Main Street USA for the Celebration parade.

I only took the Nikon to Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom. I’m glad, because I probably would not have made it carrying that thing on my back in the 90°+ heat all day long.

Here’s what we did in two days:

MONDAY (Universal Orlando):

ISLANDS OF ADVENTURE
Dragon Challenge (Chinese Fireball)
Dragon Challenge (Hungarian Horntail)
Flight of the Hippogriff
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
Incredible Hulk Coaster (twice)
The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man

UNIVERSAL STUDIOS FLORIDA (IACP’s Host Chief’s Night)
Twister…Ride it Out
Revenge of the Mummy: The Ride
Men in Black: Alien Attack
The Simpsons Ride
E.T. Adventure
HHNXX Hades: The Gates of Ruin (haunted house)
HHNXX PsychoScareapy: Echos of Shadybrook (haunted house)
HHNXX (can’t remember the name of the haunted house)

TUESDAY (Walt Disney World Resort):

ANIMAL KINGDOM
Expedition Everest
Kilimanjaro Safaris

MAGIC KINGDOM
Space Mountain
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Splash Mountain
Pirates of the Caribbean
Air Force Thunderbirds Celebration Parade Flyby

HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS
Aerosmith’s Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster
Twilight Zone Hollywood Tower of Terror

EPCOT
Mission: SPACE
Test Track (last ride of the night)
2010 Food & Wine Festival

evil cat,
originally uploaded by gagilas.

Great photo (not mine)! Looks like a cat I had right after getting married.

,
originally uploaded by vmpyr_david.

Took the Templetwins to Waterfront Park this afternoon. They both had a blast. More than once Ella tried to “drink from the hose”.

Hunting Island Lighthouse,
originally uploaded by vmpyr_david.

It was a busy weekend. Two different sets of friends staying over, Kids out of school for three days, and a trip to Hunting Island.

Jenn & Jay were in town for a wedding and Scott was finishing his whirl-wind tour of East Coast amusement parks & coasters with a quiet weekend in the Lowcountry. While Jenn was doing pre-wedding stuff Jay went over to the Pitt St. Bridge in Mt Pleasant to fish. Scott and I toured the islands in the area looking for good photography spots. Scott headed back home on Saturday morning and Heather & Jenn took the twins to see Jay fishing on Pitt Street. Ella was NOT a fan of the blue crabs crawling around in the bucket. Sunday was the wedding for Jenn & Jay (not their wedding) and Heather and I took the kids to Hunting Island. They wanted to climb (Ella Kiiime! Ella Kiiime!) the lighthouse, but luckily for us poor adults who would be CARRYING Ella and Sam, “No Infants or Toddlers” was emblazoned on the sign.

Monday was a light day. We went to the Charleston Museum and saw stuffed polar bears, guns, dress up clothes, and sharks in jars. Neither Sam nor Ella was a fan of the Giant Polar Bear mounted in a quite menacing pose. Heather and I will have to go back without the kids to see everything.

This morning we slept in.

Just a few photos of Hunting Island. I’ve got a few of Jay fishing that I’ll put up later.