Dragon Con 2011

Shot in the dark here but does anyone know anybody who is attending the Dragon Con in Atlanta this year?

I need them to pick something up for me. Big nerd stuff....:)

BP (5)

BP (4)

Vacation videos (5)

Here's what the view looked like from behind the set of the Rangers post game show. We're still working on how we can get the actual Fox Sports highlight on YouTube.

Tomorrow is more comic strips folks! See you then!

Vacation videos (4)

Here's what the view looks from Ranger Stadium when you're sitting in the $8 cheap seats. Not bad eh?!

Vacation videos (3)

Ronald McDonald at the Rangers game?! This may be the first time I've ever seen him LIVE?!

Vacation videos (2)

From our vacation on the beach we came across one of these. Any suggestions? LOL

Vacation videos (1)

Just wanted to show you a few vacation videos for today. A lot of miscellaneous trips we've made of the summer.

This one was from our first trip to Ranger stadium last July. Good view!

More to come throughout the day...

Sunday drive (11)

A dress I knew Megan would love so I got a picture of it. When I showed her it, I was right. : )

Sunday drive (10)

Megan's favorite store... you should have seen her face when I showed her the video.

Sunday drive (9)

The animated crocodile in front of the Rainforest Cafe.

Sunday drive (8)

A kiddie train that went around the entire mall that your kid could ride. This place had it all!

Sunday drive (7)

An ice rink in the mall, or should I say hockey arena? Either way, that was really cool.

Sunday drive (6)

The Board Game shop I told you about. Simply amazing! I wish I had more footage of it.

Sunday drive (5)

A shoe store I KNEW Megan would just love!

Sunday drive (4)

The Rainforest Cafe, never been, but I'd like to check it out someday.

Sunday drive (3)

A strange looking Disney Store...

Sunday drive (2)

Check it out! An indoor Sonic in the Food Court!

Sunday drive (1)

Not much to show today but I went to this mall last week and wanted to show you around to some of the places they had in it...more to come...

Statistics say...

So now I can check the statistics on my blog and I'm noticing some interesting things. My popularity dwindled in the US over the past few years, but my international presence strengthened to the point where I'm above traffic on the blog then a few years back!

Apparently I'm huge in Germany thanks to my "board game" reviews. So.. hello to all my friends overseas! My mother's side is German too, you know.

I also discovered that of all the posts that get the most attention it's the written ones. For instance, my post on 80's cartoons has gathered over 7,000 hits. And last month's post about the Batman TV show garnered over 1000 hits so far, so expect to see more written post in the future.

Ok, that's all for today. Hope everyone's having a good weekend!

The star at night, shine big and bright....

First off let me just extend a big "Howdy" out there to everyone and give you an update on how my week in Texas has been.

In one word: amazing. I've gone places this week that have amazed me. Here's what my schedule consisted of this week:

Sunday night: We ate at this mexican buffet called "Poncho's" where whenever you want more food you raise this little flag at your table and they come bring you anything you want. LOVE that place.

Monday night: Was all Rangers baby! I love Major League Baseball, doesn't matter who's playing I can always enjoy it. Got a free cap, saw a great game and was even seen LIVE on the post game show on Fox Sports Southwest. (Megan has it recorded, if someone can tell me how to upload that sucker to YouTube I'll do it) By the way, thanks to everyone who texted me while I was on the air. It made me realize blowing kisses to my wife watching at home may not have been such a good idea for the world to see.

Tuesday night: Went to this huge mall (Grapevine Outlets I think) where they had a store that sold ONLY board games!! Incredible. I didn't get anything but I was sure impressed... and the only one in the store too!

Wednesday night: Went to Red Robin for the first time in years. Just as good as I remember it being back when I was visiting Seattle.

Thursday night: Visited with my good friends Heather and Kirk Sweeney.

Now it's off to start my final class and fly back this afternoon so Megan can discover that she didn't miss me that much after all. : )

Have a good weekend folks!

BP (3)

BP (2)

BP (1)

World largest Cobra found dead in India

Megan's reaction to the snake video

Here's what Megan thought of the video when she first saw it. : )

busy weekend at the beach

We just got back from the beach yesterday. It was fun as always. Megan beat me twice at putt-putt keeping my defeated streak FLAWLESS in Gulf Shores!

Went to the Award Show last night. Congratulations to all the winners!

Also, work has me temporarily moving to Texas for the next few weeks but don't worry, I'll be keeping up with posts on the blog on a daily basis. Ok, I need to get packed!

The Results

Wow. First off let me thank everyone who voted. What a turn out!! But remember, this is just what you (the fans) voted for. In no way is this meant to reflect who'll win tonight. Though I'll give you my picks afterwards.

1) Best Young Troupe Production
Back to the 80's
This KILLED in the polls and I expect it'll win tonight as well. I mean, did any main stage members even SEE the others shows??

2) Best Play/Musical
Curtains. BARELY! In reality tonight I think OK will win, sadly a show like Curtains has been long forgotten by the fans.

3) Best Leading Actor in a Musical
Bray Wilkins. I agree, tonight little bro will take home a shiny little head as well.

4) Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical
Taylor Nelson. This one's tough. I can see it going to Taylor, but will Amy win tonight instead?? Ooooohhh.... I'll pick Taylor on this one, but it's close!

5) Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play
Wendy Ryland. She killed it in the fan poll and... yes, I think she'll pick up the member's vote tonight as well.

6) Best Performance by a Feevatured Actor in a Musical
CeJay Geautreaux. He killed in the fans polls and will be the winner tonight as well... I think. : )

7) Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical
Caleb Wilkins. This one was close in the fan poll and to be honest, it's too close to call tonight. It may even be a draw but if I had to pick A winner... Nathaniel Medlin all the way.

8) Best Performance by a Featured Actor/Actress in a Musical
Dana Otero. This one was close too. (and oddly received more votes than any other category?) and though Dana did a great job, this is the "Elizabeth Bennett" award of the night. She's never lost yet and I don't see that streak breaking tonight.

9) Best Performance by a Featured Actor/Actress in a Play
Gayle Frick. Clean sweep in the Fans poll AND tonight as well I believe.

10) Best Costume Design
Amy Medlin. The same will be true tonight.

11) Best Scenic Design
Joseph J Egan. Again, true tonight.

12) Best Lead Actress in a Little Theatre Show
Wendy Ryland. Not on the card for tonight but it'd be nice to see who'd win if it was!

13) Best Lead Actor in a Little Theatre Show
Alex Matherne, Who beat out his brother by ONE vote! That's how close it was!!

14) Best Supporting Actor for a Little Theatre Show
Beaux Coleman KILLED it in the votes! His "slow motion" antics in Back to the 80's still crack me up today!

15) Best Supporting Actress for a Little Theatre Show
Hannah Matherne wins this one easy in the Fans Poll. Congrats ma'am!

16) Biggest Snub for a Nomination
Alex Matherne. Killed it. In fact, when taking this poll people were shocked he wasn't nominated at all for his role in Oz. Tony on the other hand seems to have been forgotten altogether. Sorry my friend, but you have my sympathies. You should have gotten a nomination as well!

17) Director of the Year
Jon Baccarini. Why isn't this on the ballot for tonight anyway?!

18) Best Dinner Theatre Show
Trouble at the Tropicana. Killed it. It was a good show, so many people want Steve to bring it back too. I'm thinking about writing a sequel but I can't seem to make the time to sit down and TYPE!!

Ok folks, that's all for now. I hope to see you at the Christopher's tonight. Good luck to all the nominees!!

I'll see you then!

Goodbye to Universal

I have no idea what this place was because sadly we didn't have the time to check it out due to tine. It was a HUGE place though, that's for sure. Next time we go back it's definitely going to be on my list to visit!

Have a good weekend folks!

Return to Harry Potter World (2)

Return to Harry Potter World (1)

Megan had to go back for another butter beer and I had a "pumpkin" juice.

Universal Studios

Here it is, the globe. Megan was more excited because it's always shown at the beginning as Family Feud.

I Love Lucy tribute (2)

I Love Lucy tribute (1)

And speaking of Lucy, they actually had a Lucy Tribute museum at Universal as well. We got to see a lot of things, like an actual Lucy dress from the show!

I may never be on Facebook, but I do have Google+ now!

I'm so excited, though I have no idea what to do on it. : )

I Love Lucy

As most of you know I played Ricky Ricardco in a dinner theater last year. To study for the role I watched the first 5 seasons of it on DVD. Well, it's been a while and Megan and I decided to watch the remaining season 6-9 as well.

Now that we've finished them all I have to say it's an amazingly funny show, even in today's standards. I don't think there was a single episode where I wasn't laughing. What a testament to a show that's been around for so long to still be good after all this time.

If you have the time (and Netflix) it's worth your time to watch.

Fan's Choice Awards

Hi Folks! As some of you know I've always wondered what would happen if Strauss let the fans vote instead of just the members. Who counts as a "fan"? The volunteers, actors, actress' and their families as well as their friends who come to see it.

So I've decided to make a little poll that everyone can participate in. This is just for fun and is in no way intended to "challenge" the outcomes of the upcoming Christopher Awards at Strauss.

So tell your friends, tell your families, vote your heart out and I'll reveal the winners next week on the blog.

Let the voting BEGIN!!

Lebowski P.I.

Fantastic!

Texas A&M to "sec"cede from the BIG 12?

As all you sports fans now know, Texas A&M and fanning the rumor mill and lighting the embers of a plan many of us thought dead last year...joining the SEC.

I have to admit it's a smart move for both sides. The SEC gets a team in Texas country and Texas A&M gets to know what it feels like to be in a dominant conference.

Seriously, this move is all aces for A&M. Think about it, they got the raw deal when the Longhorns got permission to have their own TV station and a LOT of the money flowing into the BIG 12. What did A&M get? A conference with 10 teams in it who still call themselves the "Big 12"

A&M has a right to be upset. They should bolt to better pastures in the SEC. Sure they'll be the whipping boy in the SEC West but practice does make perfect and when you play with the best you can guarantee you'll win like the rest, over time.

There's also rumors flying that Florida State is considering a move to the SEC as well. I don't blame them either. If I was in a basketball conference I'd want to go play real football teams too!

The penquins

I loved these guys from the movie and was so happy we got to take a picture of them. Taking pictures with the mascots is getting to be one of my favorite things to do when I visit these theme parks!

Ok folks, that's all for today. Have a good weekend!

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ET (1)

Never saw the movie... but I rode the ride!

More to come later today.

Simpsons ride

Truth be told this virtual reality ride kinda made me sick.

It was enjoyable though and had some funny shorts you could watch while waiting in line!

Men in Black ride

An amazingly fun ride where you go around the ride shooting aliens up! Megan did turn out to have the higher score... but she cheated to do it. : )

Jaws (2)

This was Megan's most exciting moments.

Jaws (1)

After a little video break I bring you back to our adventure at Universal Studios.

Battlestar Galactica review

I just finished the much hyped newest version of Battlestar Galactica. It's sad because this isn't half as good as I was lead to believe. In fact, it's the first time I've ever watched a TV where each season was worse than the prior.

Seriously, after watching season one I wanted to go out and buy the entire series. After season two I thought it was good but lacking from the first. Season 3 had me wondering about the series but I still held out hope for the fourth season... that I'd wish I'd never scene.

It's like the writers couldn't decide what to do with the characters or the story line. It's sad to see such an interesting story come to a Soprano's ending!

My recommendation? Watch the first 2 seasons and pretend the show got prematurely canceled before it hit it's prime.

If you're a sci-fi fan? Watch the first 3 seasons and torture yourself thru the fourth. Throw all hopes for a successful story line out the window and don't regret the last 11 hours of your life.

Yep, that's about right

Operation Iron Snare

Ok, how awesome is this? Local sheriff's department in Alabama set up a fake sting operation to capture folks who haven't been paying their child support.

How did they get them to come in? By telling them they won free tickets to the Iron Bowl! CLASSIC!!!

I like turtles!

And uh... nunchucks?!

Seriously? Why?!

He just beat you at Halo

Letting sitting ducks lie...

So I watch a little Darkwing Duck earlier this week and sadly it wasn't as good as it was when I was a kid. I watched disc one thru Netflix and canceled the others from my que.

I still love Darkwing Duck but since then several other more witty toons (i.e. The Tick) have now preceded it, Darkwing Duck is sadly outdated and strictly should be enjoyed for nostalgia instead of enjoyment.

Who says cats aren't funny?

And the parent of the year goes to....

Vector Prime Commercial

Speaking of Star Wars commercials check out this book commercial voiced by Mark Hamill in 2000. Best book series EVER!!

Star Wars : Deleted Scenes

Here's the teaser trailer to the Blu Ray edition of Star Wars. It is SO mine on Sept 16th

Return of the Jedi - Deleted Scene Restored (without the screaming)

On Blu Ray September 16th with deleted scenes from the original trilogy... I'm so there.

How to deactivate a cat

Am I the only one who hasn't heard about this?!

Babylon 5 review

So last week I finished watching the entire Babylon 5 series and it's spinoff show Crusade and I'm ready to give me opinion.

Overall I give it a 3 out of 5 stars. Meaning, it was worth my time watching once but I don't think I'll watch it again. The story had it's ups and downs as far as writing is concerned and though the creator (and writer) of the series J Michael Straczynski, who is one of my favorite writers today but this was when he was in his learning faze.

Moments of brilliance sprinkled around a bland sandwhich but worth your time if you like science fiction.

I've been wanting to watch this series for quite sometime due to the fact that Straczynski wrote out the complete five seasons all from the very beginning! Like I said, there were some great moments in the show, but not enough to make it brilliant. I'm sure even he would admit to that.

Overall it was worth my time and I'm glad I watched it. Up next? Battlestar Gallactica!