The Ships Of The Rivers Of America: Part I

The Ships Of The Rivers Of America: Part I, a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

Columbia Sailing Ship

This full size scale of a train ... it's not a train? What the ... I thought it was a train. I sure it's not a train? I remember hearing 'Choo Choo!' while I was on it. And I KNOW I heard Chug a Chug a. You know what? It's a train. Ships don't run on tracks, trains do. This is a train. Who's the dumba$$ now! :)

View on Black or I'll tie you to the tracks

HCS

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More photos and stuff (including more of the train) at All Things Disney
disneypinhunters.tumblr.com/

Ghost Hunters Disneyland: They're Real And They're Rude

Ghost Hunters Disneyland: They're Real And They're Rude, a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

While passing the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland I noticed some ghost standing outside in the front yard. My heart beat sped up as excitement began to fill me and I knew I had to calm down if I was going to take a candid photo of them. I didn't want them to know I was there. I inhaled deeply, sucking in a low flying bug by accident. I coughed, hacked, spit it out and it flew off. I looked up to where the ghost where, they hadn't noticed me. I got down on the ground and crawled across the hot tarmac to the Haunted Mansion fence. A foot and half later, I reached the sacred barrier and they still hadn't noticed. Slowly I got up, raised the camera to my eye, pushed the shutter button, CLICK. I got the shot! When I looked up from the camera, I noticed them looking at me. I smiled and waved. They glared. Hey You, one of them said, did you just take my picture? I was quiet for a moment than replied, um, me? No. You did, one of them said, I saw you do it. I politely explained that I didn't have a camera. He called me a 'BLEEP' and told me I better delete the photo from the camera I didn't have that was hanging from a strap around my neck. I was just admiring your old time moustache I exclaimed as I tried to sweet talk them. The ghost next to him yelled, How DARE you talk to my wife that way! Thats when I knew I was in trouble. I ran to the Rivers of America and dove in, grabbed on to a duck and yelled Swim ugly duckling, Swim like there is no tomorrow. He did too, creating a wake behind us in the water with walls a quarter inch high. I glanced behind me to see the two ghost right behind me, each on there own ugly duckling. Faster I yelled to no avail. The ghost where quickly gaining on us. My mind raced, what to do what to do, then I had it. I reached down and with all my might, I goosed the duck.

We lost the ghost somewhere near the Pirates Lair at the back of Tom Sawyer's Island.

View on Black or I'll goose you too

Fenced Friday

Welcome To The Jungle

Welcome To The Jungle, a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

Jungle Cruises starting at just $995.00

(Mosquito bites Free)

As a courtesy to other passengers, Please use deodorant.

View on Black or I wont even shower first.

100 Pictures: #34 Travel

Hang On Minnie! Hang On!

Hang On Minnie! Hang On!, a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

I think she was under the impression I was gonna climb up there and save her. I just wanted a photo. Got it Minnie, you can let go now if you want.

View on Black or I'll drop you to the ground like a hot potato.

100 Pictures: #7 Wheel

The Creamsicle Monorail

The Creamsicle Monorail, a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

With beer in hand and my pinkie finger sticking up to show I had class, I stumbled through Downtown Disney when I saw the worlds largest Creamsicle popsicle go flying by. I was in heaven! I belched, ran, fell, got up, fell again, made my I can't believe I haven't spilled my beer yet face, got up once more and did my best Jack Sparrow walk to the Monorail Station. When I got there the polite cast member told me I had to wait in line to ride the giant 'Creamsicle'. I didn't like the way he used both hands to make air quotations when he said 'Creamsicle' so I poked him in the eye with my pinkie that was sticking up from the hand I was holding my beer with. While he stood there whining about being blind, I made a run for it. I fell, got up, fell again, made my I can't believe I haven't spilled my beer yet face again, got up once more and did my best Jack Sparrow walk up the stairs and to the waiting Creamsicle Monorail. Just inches away, I stopped, hesitated, then stuck out my tongue and took a big lick! BLECH! Not how I remember them tasting as a kid.

View on black or I'll chuck creamsicles at you.

100 Pictures: #29 Orange

In The Shadows Lurked Danger And It Was Wearing Mickey Ears

In The Shadows Lurked Danger And It Was Wearing Mickey Ears, a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

As I walked down the deserted market street with a friend of mine I caught the shadow of a rather small man wearing Mickey Mouse Ears lurk out of sight from the corner of my eye. I continued on cautiously. I got no more than a few steps when I felt the barrel of a small wooden toy gun pressed into my lower back. I heard the 'POP' of a Sucker being removed from his mouth, Gib me all yous Tweets. I turned my head slightly but still couldn't see my assailant, he was too short and it was too dark. I don't have any treats I say back, I knew it was a mistake when the words left my mouth. It began with a small sniff. I heard it, barely, come from behind me. Then a sniff, sniff and whiff followed by a phhuuph. There was a hoooaaaa as I felt the entire atmosphere begin to be sucked in from behind me. I struggled to stand as the force of the pull got greater. Suddenly it stopped and just as I began to relax the world exploded in a large, loud, excruciating WHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I turned around, saw lips and lungs, tossed in a wad a gum and said here! The lips slammed shut, the horrendous sound replaced by the smacking of gum chewing.

As I walked down the deserted market street, I heard my friend say, You didn't have any treats did you. Nope, I say back, found it on my shoe.

View on Black or I'll give you some sweet treats I found

HSS

Mountain Climbing On Mars

Mountain Climbing On Mars, a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

While mountain climbing on Mars one morning, I came across this bizarre little site as the sun slowly crept up in the sky. Off in the distance, I could see a snow covered mountain shrouded in the worlds largest hair net and a little boom town with a population of 38. Population of what, I am not sure of. With curiosity in my head and adventure in my heart, I decided to go back to bed. I was too tired for this crud this early in the morning.

View on Black or I'll poke a hole in your space suit.

Cliche Saturday Sunrise (alien or not)

Does Anybody Have A Quarter?

Does Anybody Have A Quarter?, a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

He Asked for a quarter and I told him to get lost. He pooped on my shirt. I called him a pigeon. He said Whaaaaaaaat, then pooped on my shoe. I showed him my version of "the bird". Him and all his friends started flying over my head. I ran.

View on Black or the Seagulls will fly over YOUR head

Our Daily Topic: Marine

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This is only the second time I have re done a photo and posted it. The original was posted on October 13, 2010 and was originally taken in 2007. The do over challenge got me thinking and all though it's not a new photo, I wanted to see if I could make it look better since I had no real knowledge of processing back then. I like to think I succeeded. The original day was really dreary and grey and so was the photo. I think the new version still captures that without being it.

Behind Big Thunder Mountain

Behind Big Thunder Mountain, a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

Behind Big Thunder Mountain off the beaten path of a million people.

100 Pictures: #95 Off The Beaten Path

Somebody Bigger There Always Is

Somebody Bigger There Always Is, a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

Darth Vader recently hired me to take some photos of him. I knew I should of said no. At first he was just annoying, kept saying he was my Father and calling me Luke. Then he kept farting in his suit and giggling. I finally broke at the part where he kept saying Leia was my sister and I should stop kissing her. Gross! I snapped, told him I changed my mind and didn't want to take is photo. He threw a temper tantrum right there on the studio floor and tried to choke me using the force. I did the only thing I could think of, I called in my next model, The Jolly Green Giant.

View on Black. The Jolly Green Giant still owes me a favor

Our Daily Challenge: Recent Purchase

Sleeping Beauty's Castle Says CHEESE

Sleeping Beauty's Castle Says CHEESE, a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

While skipping through Fantasyland I saw this really cool lonely cloud in the sky. I stopped whistling Zip A Dee Doo Da, raised my camera and just before I pushed the shutter button, saw the top of Sleeping Beauty's Castle in the bottom of my view finder. I wanted a minimalism shot of the really cool lonely cloud in the sky so I lowered my camera and skipped along to find a better view point with no obstructions. I walked out to Main Street USA, raised the camera, focused and there it was again, leaning into view, one of the flags waving in the wind. Lowering the camera once again, I jogged over to Tomorrowland. I raised the camera yet again, looked through the view finder and just as I was about to push the shutter button, I swear I saw the Castle slowly creep into the shot from above. I dropped the camera around my neck and ran over to Toontown, pointed the camera skyward towards the cool lonely cloud and clicked the button. There it was, on the right side of the shot smiling, Sleeping Beauty's Castle. I sprinted over to Adventureland at full speed. Flinging my camera up to my eye, I looked around in all directions and saw no Castle insight, I focused on the cool lonely cloud, smashed the shutter button and heard a very quiet little voice say cheese. I looked down at the photo on my camera, lowered my head, wept, mumbled zip a dee doo da and with hunched shoulders, dragged myself around the rest of the day, defeated.

View on Black or Sleeping Beauty's Castle will smack you with one of her turrets

HSS

Never Sing In Front Of A Place That Serves Food If Your Bad

Never Sing In Front Of A Place That Serves Food If Your Bad, a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

I thought it would be cool to sing "Come On Get Happy" by the Partridge Family in front of the House Of Blues in Downtown Disney. I inhaled deeply enough to turn slightly blue, uncrossed my eyes, opened my mouth and sang at the top of my lungs. COME ON GET HAP was all I got out when a rotten tomato flew out of no where and splatted the side of my face. I looked around and saw no one looking guilty so decided to try my luck once again. I inhaled in slightly more, turned slightly more blue, left my eyes crossed and belted out even louder. COME ON G ... S M A C K! A tomato again, this time from the other side. Flinging Tomato sauce off my face, I exclaimed, 'Well, I NEVER', and got a collective response from a thousand people inside The House Of Blues, 'And make sure it STAYS that way!'

View on Black or I'll sing for you ... no, you can't wear earplugs

Cliche Satureday: Music

Always Room For One More

Always Room For One More, a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

I drove down the streets of New Orleans Square in my massive U-Haul, Disney Police in there cartoon cars in hot pursuit of me once again. As I approached my destination, I banked the humongous truck left and skidded sideways to a perfect stop in front of The Haunted Mansion, three sets of tiny hands emerged from locally parked strollers holding up signs all reading '10' so I knew I did a good job. I could here the sirens getting closer as the Disney Police quickly approached. I flew out the door and ran to the back of the U-haul and flung up the door. I grabbed my suit cases and made a run for it. The Disney Police had the gate blocked so I had to climb big scary spiked fence. I chucked my suit case over, scaled the fence, got the back of my pants stuck on a spike, hung upside down and had a wonderful view of my case which broke open and flung clothes all over the bushes below. Luckily I had done laundry before packing and all the underwear were clean. I tried explaining to the Disney Police that the Dead Scary Voice in the Haunted Mansion had told me I could move in, he said "There was always room for one more" but they wouldn't have any of it.

View on Black or I'll move in with you. Don't worry, I did laundry first.

HFF

One More Disney Day On Main Street USA

One More Disney Day On Main Street USA, a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

Disneyland
February 29th 2012
8:00 am

Two hours into One More Disney Day.

I'm tired, my feet hurt and I am pretty sure I got molested in one of the shops that had about two thousand more people in it than capacity.

Twenty Two hours more to go. YEAH!
(I went back into the shops atleast four more times)

View on black or I'll send you into the shops

100 Pictures: #77 Open

the STATUES of the disneyland resort

the STATUES of the disneyland resort, a set on Flickr.

Chip N Dale Move Into Sleeping Beauty's Castle

Chip N Dale Move Into Sleeping Beauty's Castle, a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

We bring you breaking news!

Chip N Dale have evicted Sleeping Beauty from her Castle for having a pet dragon stating it clearly says in the rental agreement, NO PETS! With the Castle empty, Chip N Dale have decided to move out of their Tree House in Toontown and into the Castle. Sleeping Beauty and her pet dragon where found sleeping in the streets of Tomorrowland. When asked about her current situation and what she thought about Chip N Dale, she had this to say, "Bleep, bleep bleep bleep, BLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!" When asked if she could say that in nicer words, she said, "bleeeeeep bleep"

View on Black or I'll have Chip N Dale go over your rental agreements ... and quite frankly, they're nuts!

100 Pictures: #27 Statue

Eureka! It's Back!

Eureka! It's Back!, a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

The coolest spot in the park. Trees, grass, shade, water, cool scene and a beer. Everything was fine till I tried to stand up and realized I had WAY too many beers. As I tried to stagger across to the grass, this guest yelled at me that I just spilt my Root Beer all over his shoes. Eh, they were dirty anyway. The next thing I know, Minnie Mouse has me by the collar and with a swift kick to the rear, sends me Soarin' Over California!

View on Black or I'll accidentally spill Root Beer on your shoes.

Our Daily Challenge: Cool

What Is Real And What Is Not

What Is Real And What Is Not, a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

Does it really matter? Unless it is a history lesson who cares. Did Pocahontas really wear size 12 mens Nikes shoes? Probably not but she need a big shoe to throw at John Smith when he belched at the fancy italian restaurant in the alley and there noses touched while accidentally eating the same strand of spaghetti. It makes for good story telling to mix fact and fiction. Me on the other hand, all my stories are 100% true with no exaggeration. Would I lie? (so help me you better not answer that!)

View On Black or I'll throw Pocahontas other size 12 mens Nike shoe at you

100 Pictures: #94 Tilted Camera Angle

And In The Quiet, I Heard A Tiny Little Toot

And In The Quiet, I Heard A Tiny Little Toot, a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

Twenty bees flitting all over this tree and they were all shy! I slowly crept to the tree, they all flew to the other side. So I slowly crept up to the other side, and they all flew back to first side. So I crawled underneath, they flew to the top. I showed them one of my fingers, they ignored me. Finally, one bloated little fella flitted over to where I was. I inhaled and held my breath, not a sound anywhere, my finger slowly pushing down the shutter button and in the quiet, I heard a tiny little toot. I SWEAR! Barely audible but there. toot. I stared at it, slack jawed as it flew away giggling. And with perfect timing as usual, my spouse walks by scrunches their nose and says, Whats that smell, is that you? I tried to explain it was the bee to no avail. Stupid Bee

View on Black or I'll send gassy bees to your flowers

Our Daily Challenge: Vivid

How Do You Start This Thing?

How Do You Start This Thing?, a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

I think the battery might be dead. Anybody have any jumper cables?

View on black or I'll do a fly by of your house

Our Daily Challenge: Chore

I Don't Understand, My Ears Aren't Big.

I Don't Understand, My Ears Aren't Big., a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

People all over town seemed to have named me after that sweet, innocent, lovable disney charachter, Dumbo. Just the other morning as I was driving down the sidewalk, Polka music blaring from my car stereo system, there must of been 20 people yelling Hey Dumbo! at me. Then it hit me. I saw there fists pumping in the air. It's the POLKA music! They LOVE the Polka Music. So, I turned the music up, continued down the sidewalk, "Parade Waved" my hand out the window, smiled and yelled I Love you too, Man.

View on Black or I'll leave tire marks on your sidewalk

HSS

Hats, Supplies And A Cactus I Named Bob

Hats, Supplies And A Cactus I Named Bob, a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

Disneyland. Feb 29, 2012. 7:05am

The odd thing about the One More Disney Day 24 hour event at Disneyland was the crowd. At first, it seemed packed at 6am but once you got passed Main Street USA and all the guests trying to buy their "I Took The Leap And Didn't Sleep" Memorabilia, the park was empty. It was a virtual ghost town. It was so empty, I had time to take this shot with no people in it. I also had a lovely conversation with this cactus, that I named Bob. (I had to name it or people would of thought I was nuts talking to a cactus with no name)

View on Black or I'll have Bob here shake your hand.

HCS

Stuck On The Wrong Side Of The Fence

Stuck On The Wrong Side Of The Fence, a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

On a recent walk with my friend Alice, we spotted a brown and white fence. When we looked in, we saw a field of bottles all with the tag 'drink me' on them. Being the gentleman that I am, I quickly hollered So Sorry after I pushed Alice down into some brown muddy slop pond and hopped through the fence. I had to drink them all, they said 'drink me'. Now I'm to big to fit back through the slats. I'm stuck here and Alice won't help me back out. Geeze, some people!

View on Black or I'll chuck the empty bottles at you.

Our Daily Challenge: Brown

I Am Not Your Bulletin Board

I Am Not Your Bulletin Board, a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

I barely remember how I got here and you want me to remember what again for you? Ok, let me get another tack then.

View on black. Really, I have jumbo tacks with jumbo spikes on them if you don't.

Our Daily Challenge: Spiky (they are too)

I Seem To Have Lost My Button

I Seem To Have Lost My Button, a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

Dang it, I lost my One More Disney Day Button. With the 24 hours of Disney in my back pocket, I was going to give it to you as a souviner. Last time I remember having it was when I sat down to tie my shoe. Now stop looking at my butt and help me find it please.

View on Black or I'll put a tack on your chair

Our Daily Challenge: Button

One More Day Of Disney Began: 5:45am

One More Day Of Disney Began: 5:45am, a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

I dream of going to Disneyland for 24 hours.

Oh wait, I did!

and it was AWSOME

but

I learned I'm not as young as I used to be

I hurt

I'm tired

Still a bit gassy from all that food

but

It was AWSOME

View on black and you can cut to the front of the line

Our Daily Topic: Dream

(this is the line that led to the crowd that led to the security that led to the crowd that led to the gates of Disneyland. but it was AWSOME)

I Dream Of Dodo Birds And Gargoyles

I Dream Of Dodo Birds And Gargoyles, a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

Watching over buried treasure left long ago on a tropical island by pirates. I dream of barking cats and purring dogs playing together on warm summer days. I dream of feathered bumble bees gliding above flowers for hours on a cool winter breeze. I dream.

Yes I'm sane. NO, I'm not drunk.

View on black or I'll have the feather bumble bees sting you. (I dreamed they kept their stingers)

Our Daily Challenge: Dream

One More Disney Day

One More Disney Day, a set on Flickr.

Main Street Market House: 5:26pm

Main Street Market House: 5:26pm, a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

One more Disney Day was halfway done now. The easy part was just finishing up, the first 12 hours. This is where it started getting cold and the threat of rain began. Some people don't realise that it actually rained that night but Disneyland had Tinkerbell up in the sky with a baseball bat smacking the rain drops over to the next county as they fell. No drops ever made it to the ground.

At this time, Disneyland started to really get crowded as people showed up after work. In fact, people kept showing up all through the early morning and around 1am to 2am they actually closed the gates due to capacity.

View on Black or the rain drops that Tink hit will fall on your house forever.

HSS

Main Street Market House: 5:26pm

Main Street Market House: 5:26pm, a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

One more Disney Day was halfway done now. The easy part was just finishing up, the first 12 hours. This is where it started getting cold and the threat of rain began. Some people don't realise that it actually rained that night but Disneyland had Tinkerbell up in the sky with a baseball bat smacking the rain drops over to the next county as they fell. No drops ever made it to the ground.

At this time, Disneyland started to really get crowded as people showed up after work. In fact, people kept showing up all through the early morning and around 1am to 2am they actually closed the gates due to capacity.

View on Black or the rain drops that Tink hit will fall on your house forever.

HSS

Disneyland 3:49 am: Would You Like A Balloon?

Disneyland 3:49 am: Would You Like A Balloon?, a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

As February 29th progressed into March 1st, Disneyland actually got more and more crowded. Cast members were finding people asleep here and there and would gently try to wake them. One young women was asleep in a corridor of the Crystal Palace and it took a Cast Member about 5 minutes to wake her up. When the young women awoke, she didn't believe she'd been asleep. It started to become crazy as 6 am approached. The crowd was a mixture of people who had been there for Twenty Two hours already and people that had come later in the day or evening. And in some cases, were just getting there now. It was freezing for California and I found myself for the first time ever headed TOWARDS the crowd of people instead of AWAY. Warmth baby, warmth!

The Balloons by the way are lit up from the inside. Pretty cool stuff Manard

Two Hours Eleven Minutes Till Six.
BTW I made it from 6am Feb 29 to 5:30am March 1st. At 5:30 I felt I made it and didn't really want to be around the parking lot at 6 am with a bunch of sleep deprived people driving.

View on Black or I'll Pop your Balloon

Cliche Saturday: Balloons
HCS

The Itsy Bitsy Spider

The Itsy Bitsy Spider, a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

The itsy bitsy spider crawled up the water spout.

Along came my hand and knocked the spider out

Sprawled on the ground all it could do is wish

That the bottom of my shoe would miraculously miss

It didn't.

View on black or suffer the fate of the spider

HFF

It's Called Compromise

It's Called Compromise, a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

Not knowing what I was gonna shoot today, I recruited the Little Purple Monsters help. We sat there for a few minutes, I thinking, him picking his nose and an Idea came to mind. Fire. His eyes got big with excitement over the idea of shooting Fire. I told him my idea of setting him on fire and shooting him as he rolls around in a puddle of gasoline. His eyes quickly shrank and became beady as he glared at me. I gave him my "What?" look and he said he had a better idea. Wind. Cool I said, but how do we shoot wind I inquired. He turned around, bent over, broke wind at me and snickered. My eyes swollen shut from the noxious fumes, I glared at him. Well, I think I glared at him, I couldn't really see very well anymore. I reached out through the murky air, grabbed him, threw him in the dirt, burried him upto his neck and clicked the shutter button. We'll compromise I said, we're doing Earth. And I left him there.

View on black or I'll bury you up to your neck in earth.

Our Daily Challenge: Earth Wind or Fire
Say, do you remember
Dancin in September
(hehehe, get THAT song stuck in your head)

Tea Cups 4:17 am

Tea Cups 4:17 am, a photo by hbmike2000 on Flickr.

4:17 am

At this point I was more or less just dragging my feet along. I was cold even though I had enough shirts on and a jacket to keep my arms floating straight out from my body. I thought this would be an appropriate shot to take at this point since this is exactly how I felt, dizzy, blurry, and thirsty.

View on black or I'll have the Chesire Cat pour Tea on you lap

100 Pictures: #5 Blurred