"And a very scary correspondent you are!"

In honor of the newly-minted Daily Show archive site (thank you, Viacom!), here's a Halloween treat for y'all: a classic Even Stevphens sketch from 2000. (E-mail subscribers, visit the blog to see the clip.)

Nintendo causes fanboys to rejoyce, cry

It only took Nintendo and Sega two decades to set aside their differences and grant video game fanboys one of their fondest wishes.

The two companies announced this month that Sonic will join Mario in the much anticipated "Super Smash Bros. Brawl" game for Nintendo Wii. It's a defining moment for the two companies that once fiercely competed and now are working together for mutual benefit.

For those who don't know, Sonic is Sega's iconic blue hedgehog whose speed and attitude defined the 16-bit era, while Mario is the Nintendo mascot whose games almost singlehandedly resurrected a floundering industry at one point. To have both characters in one game is the culmination of many "wouldn't it be cool if...?" conversations I and many other video gamers have enjoyed for years.

But the wondrous announcement was quickly followed by another, sadder revelation. Production of "Super Smash Bros. Brawl" had fallen behind schedule and the game would not release until February 2008. The game had been expected in time for Christmas, and the two-month delay generated more than a few outbursts.

Still, given what's coming, I think it's worth the wait.

OMG Dumbledore is gay!

Did you hear that loud noise last night? It was the Internet, cracking in half, upon hearing this news from J.K. Rowling at a book signing.

Discuss in the comments!

Movin' on up, part 2

Back in July, I told you that Window Media LLC, owners of the Washington Blade, were making plans to move the Blade's offices to the National Press Building. I now have a bit more information about those plans to share.

Blade employees were told this week that a lease has been signed and begins Feb. 1, 2008. The transition between offices is expected to take place during the end of January.

Although employees have not yet seen the National Press Building space, we will be able to view the new offices sometime after the first week of November. I'll attempt to snap some pictures during that viewing and post them here for all to see.

More recipes of the moment

Tried more new recipes this week - they turned out very good.

Lemon Feta Chicken

Ingredients:

• 4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves
• 2 to 3 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon pepper

Procedure:

1. Place chicken in 13-in. x 9 in. x 2 in. baking dish coated with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Pour lemon juice over chicken; sprinkle with feta cheese, oregano and pepper.
3. Bake, uncovered, at 400 degrees F for 20 to 25 minutes or until chicken juices run clear.

Pumpkin Chip Drops
I made half these cookies with chocolate chips and half without, and both turned out really good.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup quick-cooking oats
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup cooked or canned pumpkin
• 1 cup (6 oz.) semisweet chocolate chips

Procedure:

1. In a mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugars.
2. Beat in egg and vanilla.
3. Combine flour, oats, baking soda, cinnamon and salt; add to the creamed mixture alternately with pumpkin. Stir in the chocolate chips.
4. Drop by talespoonsfuls 2 in. apart onto greased baking sheets. Bake at 350 degrees F for 9 to 12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on wire racks.

Yield: 4 dozen.

Josh's articles o' the week

House to move ahead with gay-only ENDA
Trans activists lack votes for inclusive bill

Maryland court allows gay-inclusive sex ed lessons
Lessons are titled 'Respect for Differences in Human Sexuality'

Mediation ordered in gay man’s lawsuit against DNC
Attempt at resolving ‘significant case’ set for 2008

Craig could retain Senate seat despite inquiry
But colleagues view him as ‘irrelevant,’ ‘laughingstock’

Gay GOP group targets Romney in national ads
Campaign cites ‘flip-flops’ on abortion, gun control but not gay issues

Recipes of the Moment

Tried a new recipe for dinner tonight and it turned out de-lish. I also experimented with a side dish that also turned out well and complemented the main dish quite well. Here are the recipes:

Buffalo Chicken Casserole
Source: Pillsbury Cooking magazine

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup uncooked regular long-grain white rice
• 1 cup water
• 1 Tablespoon olive or vegetable oil
• 1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into thin strips
• 2 medium stalks celery, thinly sliced (1 cup)
• 1 can (14.5 oz.) stewed tomatoes, undrained
• 1/2 cup buffalo wing sauce (we used Buffalo Wild Wings Mild)
• 1/4 cup blue cheese dressing
• 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese, optional but recommended

Process:

1. Cook rice in water 20 minutes as directed on package. Meanwhile, heat oven to 350 degrees F. In 12-inch skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add chicken and celery; cook 5 to 7 minutes, stirring frequently, until chicken is no longer pink in center. Remove from heat. Open can of tomatoes; cut up tomatoes in can. Stir tomatoes and wing sauce into chicken mixture.
2. Spray 8-inch-square baking dish with cooking spray. Spoon rice into dish. Spread chicken mixture over rice (do not stir).
3. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until hot in center. Drizzle dressing over top. Serve with a bowl of crumbled blue cheese so guests can sprinkle some on top if they like.

Spicy Sauteed Zucchini and Yellow Squash

Ingredients:

• 2 cups zucchini and/or yellow squash, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 2 Tablespoons olive oil or grapeseed oil
• 1/8 cup finely diced onion
• 1/8 cup diced green pepper
• 2 cloves finely chopped garlic
• Cayenne pepper, to taste

Process:

1. Put cubed zucchini and squash in a bowl and sprinkle with cayenne pepper to taste.
2. Heat oil in 12-inch skillet over medium heat until hot.
3. Add onion, green pepper, and garlic to skillet and saute until onions are tender.
4. Add zucchini and squash and saute until crisp-tender (about 3 to 4 minutes).

Disney Journal, Day 5

Sept. 27

We had another ticket to spend at a theme park of our choice, so we decided to head back to the Magic Kingdom for another go-round on the Haunted Mansion, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and Space Mountain. (Josh managed to keep his eyes open on the latter this time.) We got to enter the park an hour early, because it was an "Extra Magic Hours" day for people staying on Disney property. The down side? Most of the stuff we wanted to ride was closed – save Space Mountain – until the park officially opened.

Josh goes Mad
While wandering Fantasyland, Josh spotted a photo op with Wonderland’s Alice and the Mad Hatter. He LOVES the Mad Hatter, so he had to get a picture taken with him. During the brief encounter, the Mad Hatter asked Josh where he was from. Josh replied "Washington, D.C." and noted there were quite a few people there who reminded him of the Mad Hatter. Having apparently outwitted the Mad Hatter, the actor could only laugh in response.

Cinderella's Carousel
Two words: Pretty horsies! We had fun taking goofy pictures of each other on this simple but enjoyable ride.

Splash Mountain
Josh was eager to ride Splash Mountain, so as to complete the Magic Kingdom's Mountain Triumvirate. Annie was surprised by the ride's high number of "fake-out" drops in the ride. On several occasions, the raft would go over a hill, seemingly positioning riders for the big drop, when, in fact, it was a minor splash.

Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin
We also checked out the new Buzz Lightyear ride, which is basically a ride that’s been turned into a shooting gallery. Riders are placed in small cars that move past pictures of villains marked by bullseye targets. Guns outfitted with laser-pointers are attached to the cars and used to shoot as many targets as possible during the ride. It’s actually pretty fun, even if it’s geared more toward the 10-and-younger crowd.

Annie goes to Chip & Dale's
Annie got her picture taken with Chip and Dale, of classic cartoon and "Rescue Rangers" fame. After the picture she kissed Chip on the nose, and he swooned. It was cute.

After spending a few final hours in the Magic Kingdom, we decided to revisit Downtown Disney.

Disney Trivia
To pass the time while waiting for and riding shuttle busses and water taxis over the course of the trip, Annie and Josh quizzed each other on Disney trivia. Some of the tougher questions included, "Name five Disney characters who smoke" and "Name five Disney villain sidekicks." We were able to meet the challenges. Can you?

Earl of Sandwich
We had lunch at the fabulous Earl of Sandwich, where Annie had one of the best grilled cheeses of her life – and managed to spill a fruit salad on a stranger's shoes. Oops. Sorry about that.

We then headed to Disney Quest, an indoor "virtual theme park" of both classic arcade games and virtual reality games. On the way, we were pelted with many surprisingly bold love bugs, who flew right at us. Yuck! We were told they usually disappear by early October, making us momentarily wish we had visited a few weeks later.

Disney Quest
Disney Quest offers several virtual thrills, including a place where visitors can build and ride their own rollercoaster. Annie built two and rode them both in a simulator – the first was too tame, but the second made her queasy – and Josh even built one and rode it with Annie. It was very cool!

We also tried a river rafting ride, in which we boarded a raft that's on a large, inflatable pad. We grabbed oars and "rowed" as the screen before us depicted our travels. We actually got splashed and were surprised how much it felt like we were riding the waves. It was fun to try, but a bit nauseating after the virtual rollercoaster experience.

Annie also enjoyed playing Ms. Pac-Man. Either the game was broken or the Force was strong with Annie, as she made it much further in the game than she ever had before (past the "Junior" cutscene). We also got to play Burgertime, Arkanoid, Frogger, Tron and Empire Strikes Back.

Todd English's BlueZoo
The culinary highlight of our trip was Todd English's BlueZoo. This swanky seafood restaurant at the Disney Dolphin Resort was a splurge, but offered gourmet goodness in the form of swordfish and a lovely trio of key lime desserts. The best part of the meal was a bottle of Lingenfelder 2003 Bird Label Riesling (http://www.lingenfelder.com/creatures/bird-label.htm). It's a dry Riesling with hints of apricot and citrus. Very nice to sip and very easy on the palette.

(By the way, here's a fun tip for any budding wine enthusiasts that Annie learned from the John Cleese wine DVD and employed at this restaurant: If you're asking for a recommendation of a wine, and the waiter suggests something out of your price range, simply say "I think we’re looking for something a bit more like this," and point to a price on the menu that’s in your range. It worked: we got a wine we loved in a reasonable price range.)

We wandered around the resort’s grounds after our meal, and caught part of the Epcot firework show.

Pleasure Island
After dinner, we returned to Downtown Disney for one last show at Comedy Warehouse. The comedians were again in fine form, and we had a great laugh before we headed back to the resort for bed.

All in all, it was a great conclusion to our final day at Walt Disney World.

The newest of those things Josh writes weekly

Oct. 5
Some fear Bush will accept hate crimes measure
HRC 'cautiously optimistic' as conservatives object

Md. lawmakers take early stances on equality bills
Some support marriage equality, others a ban

Sept. 28
Activists targeting anti-gay senators in '08 races
Coleman, Sununu seen as vulnerable next year

Hate crimes reported in Hyattsville area
Vandals spray-paint 'fag' on couple's home, car

Disney Journal - Day 4

Sept. 26

Originally, we had planned to spend two days at Epcot, but we worked through it so quickly that first day we decided to use our spare day to visit Disney-MGM Studios. To make sure we had enough energy to get through the day, we fueled ourselves with chocolate chip pancakes. Although the servings were oversized, they were delicious.

Star Tours
First stop at MGM: Star Tours, a simulator that sped us through the Star Wars universe. We ended up riding it three times over the course of the day! After the third time, we got into a spirited debate over the chronology of the ride’s storyline. Does it take place after Return of the Jedi, when the war is done and space travel is relatively safe? Or does it occur during A New Hope, since the ride features the destruction of a finished Death Star? That seems most logical, except that R2-D2 rode with us. Hmm. That's one for the philosophers – or commenters, if they feel so inclined!

The gift shop outside Star Tours offered Transformers that looked like ships from Star Wars. It was like a huge conspiracy to take Josh’s money. He did ultimately purchase a sealed pack of random, collectable Star Wars minis, after the clerk kindly helped us find one with the Star Tours ship in it.

MuppetVision 3D
Being big fans of the Muppets, we were excited to see MuppetVision 3D, yet were somewhat disappointed. The script lacked pizzazz, instead focusing on effects. But it was cool to see once.

Kim Possible
By happy coincidence, we happened to catch a photo op with two people dressed as Kim Possible and Ron Stoppable, the stars of Annie and Josh’s favorite Disney show of late. Annie had a fun little conversation with them – well, at least with Ron. Kim didn’t say much. (For the uninitiated, "Boo-yah!" is a favorite catchphrase of Ron Stoppable on the show. And also, Annie is a huge dork.)

Annie: I love your show!
Ron: Hey, you’ve got good taste! So where are you from?
Annie: Washington, D.C.
Ron: Cool! I think that’s the capital, but I kinda failed that subject...
(Josh snaps the picture)
Ron: Thanks! Have a good day and keep watching the show!
Annie: Will do! Boo-yah!
Ron: Boo-yah!? See, she TOTALLY knows the sitch!

"Buzz-Buzz-Buzz Lightyear to the rescue!"
We stopped into Pizza Planet, a restaurant based on the famed eatery in Toy Story, where Josh spied a vending machine with little Kim Possible charms. We proceeded to spend $9 in the hopes of getting a complete set. We came close, but never got the villainous Sheego.

After that, we found a photo op with Buzz Lightyear, which Josh enjoyed. Sadly, though, Buzz subscribed to the silent treatment approach that most costumed Disney actors take, and was nowhere near as talkative as Ron Stoppable.

Great Movie Ride
Ironically, the Great Movie Ride was anything but great. It’s Walt Disney World at its worst – it's slow, populated with bad animatronics, suffers from lame acting, and seems horribly dated. Annie had been looking forward to the Aliens component to the ride, but that brief segment was neither scary nor intense. And they somehow managed to make Sigourney Weaver’s animatronic look ugly! Sorry, Disney, but this one gets two thumbs down.

Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular
The coolest part of this show – which captivatingly demonstrates as many Indiana Jones stunts as the name implies – was that Annie was chosen to be in it. She was among a handful of extras that were chosen at the beginning of the show. She was put into a costume and got to interact with the show on stage. It was a great experience, and a fun one for Josh to watch.

Backlot Tour
The backlot tour has its ups and downs – mostly downs – but Josh was chosen to be a part of the pre-event show. He was given rain gear, put on set, and deluged with 1,000 gallons of water so as to demonstrate how special effects are done. Sorry you missed it? Don’t be. Check out the movie here! (Note: There is no sound.)

Another highlight of the tour was the backlot's "boneyard," where old and discarded movie props are lying around. Among the highlights were the alien ship from Flight of the Navigator, a desert skiff from Return of the Jedi, and a model plane from Con-Air.

Disney Animation Tour
We also got to glimpse some behind-the-scenes animation work and learn more about the animation process while we were at MGM. Computers were set up where passersby could lend their voices to a scene from Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, and other Disney films. We tried a couple scenes, voicing alternate characters. (In one attempt, Annie was Iago and Josh was Jafar. Ah, the hilarity!)

Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater
For dinner, we went to the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater, where we sat in forward-facing booths made up to resemble "cars" (complete with taillights and everything). While we ate, trailers from B-movies, old cartoons, and archival newsreels played on screen, drive-in-theater style. It was such a cool concept that was well executed, and the food was great.

For dessert, Annie stopped in a candy store and grabbed a snack of four marshmallows on a stick dipped in chocolate and rolled in mini chocolate chips. It was rich – but yummy.

Fantasmic!
One of the greatest highlights of our week in Walt Disney World was seeing the "Fantasmic!" show that concludes each day at MGM. Words can’t adequately describe this amazing, after-dark spectacular, but imagine a show that combines fireworks, pyrotechnics, stage acting, and water effects to create a big ol' extravaganza that features a host of Disney villains. For those who understand the comparison, it's like a live-action rendition of Kingdom Hearts, including a battle between Mickey and Malificent's dragon. Suffice to say it was very, very cool, and an amazing end to the day.

Disney Journal - Day 3

Sept. 25

Breakfast
To begin our third day, we had breakfast at the resort. Annie bought a few beignets, a specialty of the Port Orleans resort. To the uninitiated, they’re delicious little bits of dough fried up and coated with powdered sugar.

After breakfast, Josh had to run a quick errand, so Annie sat at the coloring table and chatted with a 6-year-old boy who was playing with a replica of the ship from the Star Tours ride in Disney-MGM Studios. He proceeded to tell Annie all about the ship and its features, and all about the Star Wars movies. Annie thought to herself, “I have met 6-year-old Josh.” It was an adorable moment.

Typhoon Lagoon
For the third day out and about, we took a break from the parks and went to Typhoon Lagoon, one of Walt Disney World’s two water parks.

Josh had never been on a waterslide before, so the first thing we did was go on the Crush n’ Gusher, a popular new slide that actually propels you uphill at one point. It includes 3 slides, named “Banana,” “Coconut,” and “Pineapple.” When we got in line for the Banana slide, Annie chanted, “This slide is bananas, B-A-N-A-N-A-S!” Suffice to say it was a positive enough first experience that Josh ended up riding the various slides many times that day.

Annie also went on the Humunga Kowabunga, a 5-story waterslide that sends riders virtually straight down. She declared the slide to be fun, yet terrifying.

The water park also boasted a wave pool, which featured HUGE waves every 90 seconds. (You could always tell they were coming by the screams at the deep end of the pool.) But one of the coolest features of the park was a small saltwater pool where you could snorkel and gaze at the pool’s inhabitants, brightly-colored tropical fish and sharks. “FISHIES!” Needless to say, Annie thoroughly enjoyed it.

When it was time to unwind, we grabbed a couple of inner tubes and floated around the lazy river, which forms a perimeter around the waterpark. It was so relaxing that we could have taken naps – except for the fact that you drift under fountains and water falls every 100 yards or so.

P.S. Sorry for the lack of pics in this post, but if you'd like to see pictures of Josh riding his first waterslide, e-mail Annie and she'll point you toward them. Disney Photo Pass doesn't allow you to simply download the pictures to repost elsewhere, sadly.

California Grill
Following another midday nap at the hotel, we donned some proper attire and went to the Contemporary Resort’s fancy California Grill for dinner. We had really looked forward to this outing, having made special reservations months in advance so we could be seated in time to watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks while we ate.

Sadly, this outing was one of the few disappointments of the trip. We were told to check in early, so we arrived an hour before our reservation, killed a little time, then checked in on the second floor 30 minutes prior to our reservation time. We were taken upstairs to the restaurant on the top floor and stood and waited... And waited... And waited. On very sore feet. There was no place to sit. The bar was packed, and there was no designated waiting area.

Finally, after our reservation time had passed, Josh asked the maitre’d how long we’d have to wait, as the fireworks were quickly approaching. He told us we were 14th on the list, and we wouldn’t be seated until after the fireworks. (It should be noted the fireworks were scheduled to begin 20 minutes after our seating reservation.) So we had to watch the event while standing outside. The fireworks were very good, and the resort broadcasted the music to the patio outside the restaurant, but it was crowded and the atmosphere definitely wasn’t the same.

Fortunately, the meal and service was pretty good... Once we were finally seated.

Disney Journal - Day 2

Sept. 24

The Haunted Mansion
At least half of the reason Josh wanted to bring Annie to Disney World was so she could behold the glory that is the Haunted Mansion. So on our first day in the Magic Kingdom, we made a beeline for it. And indeed, she found it to be pretty cool. Josh was also pleasantly surprised to find it had been updated with many new and improved features since he last rode it 15 years ago.

Josh’s First Rollercoaster
Prior to this trip, Josh had never ridden a rollercoaster in his life. So after Haunted Mansion, we headed off to ride Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. An employee at the ride’s gate noticed the “1st Visit” buttons we’d been given at check-in, chatted with us a bit, then walked us directly to the front of the line and made sure we got the best seats on the coaster. Josh was slightly unnerved by the ride – teeth chattering upon exit – but enjoyed it and was ready for more.

Josh’s Second Rollercoaster
So, next stop: Space Mountain! Annie felt a bit of trepidation about riding, vividly recalling her mom getting quite ill after riding Disneyland’s equivalent. But she bucked up her courage and joined Josh, the Magic Kingdom’s newest rollercoaster convert, on the ride. And it was fun! Of course, Josh had his eyes closed half the time, but still enjoyed it.

Pirates of the Caribbean
Pirates, like the Haunted Mansion, also recently got a face lift. Inspired by the Pirates movie trilogy, the Disney Imagineers added a few animatronic Jack Sparrow figures throughout the ride, plus an animatronic Captain Barbossa. On a related note, merchandise related to the movies is now everywhere on Disney property, even in stores that specialize in princess items or holiday wares.

When we exited the ride, we saw an opportunity to get our pictures taken with Captain Hook and Smee, which was fun. Captain Hook “stole” Annie’s tote bag, but Smee made up for the theft by kissing her hand.

Amidst the fun, we saw an area near the Pirates ride being cordoned off and heard the words “Jack Sparrow,” so we went to investigate. We were soon treated to a show featuring an impressive and convincing Jack Sparrow lookalike. He had all the character’s mannerisms and speech down to a science. He taught the gathered kids how to be pirates, including such vital skills as fighting…and running away from fighting.

In one particularly amusing bit, Jack spied a little boy dressed up as Jack Sparrow, face makeup and all. He pulled the boy close to him and said, “You look familiar. Where’s your mum?” He then looked around and said, “Oh, good. She DOESN’T look familiar.”

Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor
We checked out the Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor, which was fairly enjoyable. The projected performance used technology similar to the “Turtle Talk” attraction, with dynamically animated jokes poking fun at selected audience members. It was pretty cool, but designed more for the 10-and-younger crowd.

Downtown Disney
After taking lunch in the shadow of Cinderella’s castle – and heading back to the resort for an afternoon nap – we headed to Downtown Disney. We shopped, had a delicious dinner at Wolfgang Puck and dessert at a Ghiraldelli soda shop. Josh also got to build his own lightsaber at Once Upon a Toy.

The evening’s big highlight was the Comedy Warehouse, a Pleasure Island attraction that houses a fantastic improv group. They put on an excellent and hilarious show – we highly recommend it for anyone planning to visit.

Disney Journal - Day 1 (Part 2 of 2)

Sept. 23 (continued)

And now it’s time for the Showcase Showdown! Which country is best represented in Epcot? The contestants are...

Canada
Noted for a popular steakhouse we didn’t visit, Canada also boasts a 360-degree film starring Martin Short. The film was surprisingly hilarious and entertaining, but the remainder of this showcase was somewhat lacking.

China
China also offers a 360-degree film, which is less humorous than the Canadian film, but more breathtaking in its cityscapes. The pre-show entertainment was excellent – we saw amazing acrobats doing all manner of tricks. There were also some great shopping opportunities, and a small restaurant.

America
Built primarily for foreign visitors, we didn’t bother checking out this showcase.

France
Home of an amazing pastry bakery, the France showcase gave us the opportunity to indulge in a Napoleon (which Annie accurately described as “butter, cream, sugar, with some butter, and a bit of cream, and lots of sugar and butter”). Annie also had a big fangirl moment here when she got to pose for a picture with Beast of Beauty and the Beast fame!

Germany
The highlight of Germany was the Tiny Village! There’s an impressive display of miniature houses, cars, and people in Germany, which Josh enjoyed photographing at length. But there were few other stops of interest here.

Italy
While arguably the prettiest showcase, Italy doesn’t offer much aside from some shopping opportunities. Annie found some lovely sterling silver earrings there.

Japan
Japan’s showcase was the most enjoyable and expansive place to shop, offering many Japanese import toys, beautiful chopsticks and bowls, and an impressive selection of POCKY! Josh, who had come to Disney World in search of merchandise related to his favorite video game, Kingdom Hearts, found a Sora action figure here.

Mexico
Mexico makes up for its downright culturally insulting water ride featuring the old “Three Caballeros” with its excellent restaurant. The eatery is set under a starry sky and overlooks a faux volcano and a Mayan pyramid. The food was exquisite – Annie tried a pepper stuffed with pork, fruit, and spices and found it to be quite delicious, while Josh tried a chicken and steak combo platter that he also enjoyed. The wait staff was available without being intrusive, and the atmosphere was very romantic.

Morocco
Morocco’s showcase was mostly a big bazaar. The décor was cool, but it was otherwise a bit of a yawn.

Norway
Being of primarily Norwegian heritage, Annie was excited to check out the Norway showcase. She bought some lefse, which was wrapped with cinnamon in addition to butter and sugar! But then there was the Maelstrom ride. Oh dear. Norway desperately needs to update its trademark ride and movie. The ride was weird and somewhat creepy, with various mythical figures shooing you down the watery passageways. (Annie came out of the ride saying, “I have learned nothing about Norway”).

And then you get to see The Film. Clearly made 20+ years ago, The Film looks like Fellini attempting to direct a 3M promotional video. It jumps from silent contemplation to alarming and way-too-arty shots of Vikings to cliché shots of (so-out-of-date-it’s-almost-back-in-style) fashion, recreation, and industry. The background music sounded like it was pulled from the chase scenes of the movie Mitchell, further devolving an already bad experience.

United Kingdom
We had excellent fish and chips in the U.K. showcase for lunch, and watched Mary Poppins posing for photos with some kids. The shops, small as they were, unsurprisingly featured some Harry Potter merchandise.

And the winner is...China! We really enjoyed the acrobats, the film, and the shopping. Cheers to China!

Face Painting
Amidst our showcase exploration, we came across a face painting area, where Annie had her face done up in a wild design. This got lots of compliments from passersby and caused Annie to repeatedly exclaim, “I’m a pretty princess!”

Illuminations
At the end of the day, we got to see the Illuminations fireworks/water/light show. Wow. It was spectacular, though there was a prolonged slump in the middle where video projected onto a giant globe failed to captivate. But the fireworks – holy cow! The whole experience was very, very cool, and was a great way to end the day.