Mini Earful Tower

Want a look at this Mini-Earful Tower? Take the backlot tour at Disney's Hollywood Studios and you will find this little treat that brings back many early memories of Disney and the sculpted animals, etc. Not far from here is the real Earful Tower.

Mr. Toad's Memorial

For those who may have missed this bit of Disneyana, there is a statute of Mr. Toad in the Haunted Mansion Graveyard as a memorial after the ride "Mr. Toad's Wild Ride" was closed several years ago. You never know what hidden secrets pop up all around Disney :)

Welcome to the Luau!

As you start to hum "Welcome to the Jungle" by Guns N Roses, be sure to substitute the word Luau for Jungle. Today marks the start of the Gator Football Season and what could be better than throwing a Luau (since we are playing against Hawaii)!

This is not a political picture!

Despite what you might think, this is NOT a political picture and does not represent any particular political affiliation. This photo was taken with an original Kodak 1 camera.

Gator Hunting

One of my closest friends went gator hunting this morning. I thought I would share his capture. And yes, gator hunting is legal with the proper permits, etc.

Phelps / Moore - Behind the Scenes

Here are some pictures of the "behind the scenes" of the Anne Leibovitz photo shoot for Michael Phelps and Julianne Moore. Enjoy!

Annie Leibovitz - Phelps / Moore Picture

In case you haven't run across the Million Dreams photos that Disney has commissioned through renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz, here is my favorite. This picture includes two of my favorite celebrities (Michael Phelps and Julianne Moore) in an undersea representation of Ariel in "The Little Mermaid." Click on the photo above for a high-resolution version, perfect for your desktop, etc.

More behind the scenes info, pictures and the full series of Million Dreams Photos can be found at this site - Million Dreams Photos. I added this site and it's parent site, The Disney Blog, in the 'Blogs of Note' section below. Enjoy!

OCT History - Old Theatre

 

Memories of Ocala Civic Theatre history reside in this non-descrip plaque that hangs on the green-room wall. What is today known as the Republican Headquarters on State Road 40 next to Sonny's in Ocala was once the home of Ocala Civic Theatre. Local lore has it that before OCT, it was the home of a local magician (with trap door included). Much of the inside still remains exactly as it was.

Joy of the Season!

TomPhilipStPete072208 (9), originally uploaded by thespotdad.

Imagine the smell of astro-turf under a dome with crazy fans screaming next to you. The joys of watching Evan Almighty and others as they beat the Blue Jays to a pulp... wow, truly the joy of the season!

Swarmin!

BeeSwarm0308, originally uploaded by thespotdad.

Recently we had some visitors stop by our baby magnolia tree in the front yard. After researching the odd occurance, it seems that this group of bees must have been displaced from their home and were only taking up a temporary residence in the magnolia. They arrived and departed in amazing speed...

The full set of Swarmin pictures can be seen at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thespotdad/sets/72157604132465786/

Google Maps Camera Car

GoogleMapsCar0708 (2), originally uploaded by thespotdad.

If you haven't checked it out lately, Google Maps ( http://maps.google.com ) added a new feature to it's mapping features called "Street View." Primarily in larger cities (like New York, Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando, Minneapolis, etc.) you can click on this new feature in the top right corner. When you click, blue lines appear on the map you are viewing to reveal a new feature. If you click on one of these blue lines, the view takes you from purely vertical (up and down) to a street level view (left, right, all-around). It even lets you move in for a closer look at things, and drive down the street with this feature on. You virtually can visit a city with this feature and look at things all around you. I recently traveled to St. Petersburg and was able to see the hotel from the street and all the neighboring sites. I also was able to see my birth home without spending a single cent in travel.

Anyhow, this picture is of the Google Maps cars as I caught it driving around my city. The weather was a bit wet so the camera was covered at this time, but this is the magic tool being used by Google to take over the mapping world (George Orwell would be proud!).

Complicated Pile

Complicated Pile, originally uploaded by LessRoads.

An unusual balloon sculpture featured in a wheat field behind the Paul Klee museum in Bern, Switzerland. The artist is American born; Paul McCarthy

Awesome Picture!

What an awesome picture - just had to share! 

Gators: Ready, Set, Go!

Can you smell the grass of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium?  

Evan Longoria - Grand Slam!

TomPhilipStPete072208 (16), originally uploaded by thespotdad.

Yep, I had the pleasure of seeing this with my own eyes - Evan Almighty proved his worth!

This one's for you!

OCTasuCastPhotos0708 (66), originally uploaded by thespotdad.

I was recently informed that my blog had transitioned from a place of information and inquiry to a place of photo blogging and shameless marketing. Well, I hadn't really thought about it, but this wisdom inspired me to write a bit more. This picture is the cast and crew of the recent OCT production of "All Shook Up!" and they were amazing. This summer production was of the highest quality and easily could have fit into our regular mainstage grouping. These kids worked and performed as pros. The fact is, many of these have numerous mainstage credits to their name in leading, supporting, and ensemble roles. It is so nice to watch these kids from various schools and colleges get the chance over the summer to intermingle, build friendships, and more importantly memories that will last a lifetime. Great job cast and crew, you deserve it!

Tour de Sky - Riding High!

, originally uploaded by rémi avec un i.

Wow, this is an interesting picture I couldn't help but share...

All Shook Up - Press Shot

OCTasuCastPhotos0708 (5), originally uploaded by thespotdad.

Here is a press photo for the musical All Shook Up produced at OCT.