Sunday, April 10, 2011

Elaine and I at the IMAX Theater

Here we are at the IMAX Niagara Falls: Legends and Daredevils. The movie does a pretty good job telling the history and eventful highlights of the Falls.
After, we toured the Museum where they have the actual barrels of people who went over the Falls. Some survived to fame, fortune, and infamy, while sadly, others did not.

Niagara Casino

This was across the street from the Hilton and we spent time here everyday, not gambling, but just going to eating places or passing through.
I was told that the rich and famous come here. Certainly, professional hockey, baseball, and football athletes, as well as the performing celebrities, such as Robin Williams.
It was amazing to walk through the vast Casino. Several times, we got lost and could not find our way out, which is exactly what you want. There is an all you can eat buffet for $20, which is probably the cheapest place that we saw. They just don't want you to leave.
Elaine saw someone so exhausted, they were slumped over a slot machine, but still pulling the handle. I could not take any pictures inside the actual gambling location, so there are as close as I could get.There was a theater there and the Beach Boys were playing there with two of the original ones and John Stamos on the drums. We tried to get tickets, but we were fourteenth on the waiting list and the waiting list only got as far as two.
This was in the food court, which we ate several meals at. Tim Hortons is everywhere there, on every street corner, practically. The coffee, donuts, sandwiches, and cookies were very good.

The last night, we were taking one last look at the Falls out the back of the Casino, which are lit up at night. Elaine saw this raccoon scavenging for food. Looked like a big one, so I image that people were keeping it well fed.
Elaine and I went to Niagara Falls

Needing a little R & R after the tough winter, Elaine and I took a long weekend, drove five hours, and went to Niagara Falls. We stayed at the Hilton on the Canadian side and had a wonderful trip.
We could not wait to see the Falls, so on the first day, we walked through the Casino, along the path walkway, and took the cable car down to the Falls building.
Out the other side of the Falls Building was the magnificent Niagara Falls. Pictures do not do it justice in terms of the grandeur and splendor, but here are a few, nonetheless.
This was our first view of the Falls and it was breathtaking. The excitement and exhilaration that we both felt was very much akin to the best of my scuba diving adventures. I mean the adrenaline was pumping in both of us. You do not get to see the whole Falls at once as there is this constant mist. Here is the very brink of the falls where it falls over the edge 176 feet down.
It was very cold here at the brink of the falls. The cold and wind was unbelievable and my face chapped in moments. There was this mist and spray from the water shooting up, so I could only stay here for a few minutes at a time. My camera lens were getting misted up right from the start and I had to constantly wipe them, shoot quickly, and wipe again.
Niagara means "Thundering Waters" and the roar here was just unreal. Truly a remarkable experience.

Saturday, April 02, 2011

Review of Ron White Show

Elaine and I went to the Canton Palace Theater last night, April Fools Day, to watch comedian Ron White.

This was our first trip to the Palace Theater and we were looking forward to it as Aaron (or Matt as some of you(?) may know him) has worked their since November. Aaron was very busy working in the box office, so we just gave him a quick wave hi, but did not get to talk to him. Aaron was very excited about the show as Ron White is a big name A list comedian, so it was kind of a combination of Aaron working there, a big name coming in, and just a Friday night out after a long winter of being cooped up as to why we went.

As for the Canton Palace Theater, it is a beautiful old style grand opera house type theater from another era, beautifully preserved with the ghosts, light, and ambiance of other days gone by. It was a real thrill for us to meet with Georgia Paxos, Aaron's boss. Very nice lady and she runs a good operation there.

As you can see from the ticket, the performance was for mature audiences. We had watched Ron White several times on Comedy Central and he was funny with his unique take on things, life, and events. I knew about his trademark scotch drinking and cigar smoking. Also, I knew that he was raw (is that the polite term for dirty, filthy, potty mouth, obscene, trash talking, explicit, etc., etc., and, of course, etc.?), but I did not know that he was that raw. Hmmm, Comedy Central must do the editing on most of that. Not to say he wasn't funny or we did not laugh, but I was not expecting the degree of the off-color rhetoric, which was extensive. I know, I know, I should have known, but I have never in my life heard such explicit and crude language and jokes like that. Well, okay, maybe around my sixth grade lunch table.

Oh, there was an incident, too. Ron was about ten minutes into the show and did make mention and a joke of a lady who was holding up a homemade sign in the first row, directly in front of him. At first I thought she was a plant or a shill. Another few minutes and Ron walked away from the microphone, bent down to face her, and let go with an angry profanity filled rebuke. Sounded like she was either talking to those around her or was trying to talk to him while he was performing. The jist of the tirade was that he could not allow her to be distracting to the other fifteen hundred people who had paid to see him perform. Right on, right on. He said that he tried to warn her, but things were already in motion that he had no control over. A few seconds later, three security officers escorted her and her friend from the premises with mixed response from the audience. The show went on, but Ron did express remorse about the incident towards the end of the show.

This was as close as we got to see him. He was in his bus before the show getting a manicure and a pedicure. No, I'm serious. I met a co-worker for Aaron's (sorry, I can't remember your name, but it was nice meeting you) outside the bus who sounded like she was Ron's Official Gopher. She said that Ron had called her from his cellphone to get someone right away for a mani and pedi. So she did.

I don't think Ron travels from Los Angeles in this bus, even though I am sure it is luxorious. He has his own private jet (Ron White Air, I believe), which he probably flies to geographic locations where he is met by the bus and tours in the vicinity, then flies back home.

Elaine and I got there way early so we could get a good parking spot and eat. Actually, we were able to park right across the street and got right out of town when the show was over. We had about an hour before showtime, so we went to The Brownstone, which was a bistro, bar, and grill across from the Palace. Very nice place and we had the lasagna and I had peanut butter pie.

On the whole, it was a somewhat adventurous evening out. If you are a Ron White fan, you will enjoy the show, not to say that we did not, but we enjoy clean humor more. We are looking forward to attending more shows at the Canton Palace Theater.

I would rate Ron White at **1/2. (I would have given higher if he was cleaner)
I would rate The Brownstone at ***.
I would rate The Canton Palace Theater at ****. (I apologize for the bias)


Friday, April 01, 2011

Here's What the Twin Babies are Saying

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Ron White Show April Fools Day

Elaine and I will be going to see comedian Ron White at the Canton Palace Theater tomorrow.

Jokes.com
Ron White - No Dogs
comedians.comedycentral.com
Ron White BiographyJokesJoke of the Day

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Elaine's Birthday 2011

Tuesday, March 08, 2011

Disney's "Up" House Really Flies


Good by Mr. Fredrickson and Russell

Monday, March 07, 2011

Elaine's New Car


2011 Dodge Journey Mainstreet AWD

Monday, February 28, 2011

Frank Buckles Passed Away

America's last surviving World War I veteran. He died February 27, 2011 at 110 years of age. My condolences to his family in this time of sorrow. These are Library of Congress photos of him. According to Wikipedia, there are two surviving veterans of World War I left.


Sunday, February 27, 2011

The Life Flight Helicopter

Elaine and I went to Buehler's in Dover and we saw the helicopter land. The Dover Emergency Squad was waiting for it and they took someone away.

Monday, February 21, 2011

Happy Birthday Marshall

Ryan in North Carolina

Ryan went to the ocean to spend a few days with her friends. She called last night and is having a lovely time. She flies back home today.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Star Wars Re-Enactment Scene in Reign of Fire


I saw this movie a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away and kind of forgot about it. Just happened to catch this part of the movie last night and it is a highly creative scene and probably the best part of the movie. Watch the kids react, they are priceless.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

The Man in the Muffin



Elaine made muffins last night and this one reminded me of the Man in the Moon.

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Christmas Eve 2010










Thursday, December 23, 2010

Ryan Interviews Santa at the Airport


Santa is correct. Area Code 99705 is for North Pole, Alaska.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

In Case You Missed It Last Night

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Merry Christmas


From these beautiful young children at First Baptist Church.

Monday, December 06, 2010

Pearl Harbor Day

This is a very different Pearl Harbor Day than any in my life as my father passed away August 7. Every year and later on in life, when his health allowed him, he participated in the local Pearl Harbor Day commemorative events and I would always call him in the evening to see how his day went. I will think of him often today. God bless all our veterans and once again, it is time to honor those who served at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. May we never forget.