It's been a little while since I've posted an updated list of scores in our "Steve vs. Amy" Ticket to Ride games. Having a baby will do that, I guess. We actually still have been playing, but I haven't spent the time to blog about the scores, so it's time to play catchup.

For those just tuning in for the first time… whenever we play a head-to-head game, we update the ongoing results table on our guest bathroom wall, which features chalkboard paint. Our guests are always quite amused when they take a look! (Previous Updates: Round 1, Round 2, and Round 3).

The following scores include games played December 2011 through April 2012:

Round 4: Steve vs. Amy Game Results

Continue Reading…

Theme Park Thursdays feature photos from one of our theme park adventures in the past.

Jonas Graffiti (2009)

During a December 2009 trip to Walt Disney World, we spent some time on Tom Sawyer Island at the Magic Kingdom. It was there that I discovered this graffiti that made me laugh.

Two days prior, the Jonas Brothers had been in the park filming segments for Disney's Christmas Day TV special. Apparently, Alexa needed to know about it!

Theme Park Thursdays feature photos from one of our theme park adventures in the past.

Join the Pumpkin Band! (2007)

It's a Pumpkin Band Leader on Main Street! The area is all decked out for Halloween… and isn't scary at all! I took this photo during a September 2007 trip to Walt Disney World. What's interesting about this scene is that it seems like the skies are going to open up with rain at any second!

… I went for a bike ride after work. Things didn't go as I planned.

Theme Park Thursdays feature photos from one of our theme park adventures in the past.

Neon Mickey (2007)

Main Street Station is decked out for Halloween in this night shot from September 2007. Note the orange/brown/yellow bunting on the structure, along with the stacked pumpkins in front. The oddest thematic choice, however, was to illuminate the Mickey floral area in neon, with blue and orange light outlining a Mickey pumpkin head.

Theme Park Thursdays feature photos from one of our theme park adventures in the past.

Blue Bayou Blur (2005)

At Disneyland, you can eat inside at the Blue Bayou Restaurant in New Orleans Square, which is part of the same building the holds Pirates of the Caribbean. The place is themed to give the impression that you are actually eating outside at night, while you overlook the ride. It's one of the more awesome dining experiences, and the inspiration for the setting of Mexico's San Angel Inn at Epcot's World Showcase.

In this January 2005 photo, I was shooting with a really slow shutter speed and got a blur effect while viewing one of the plantation buildings.

Theme Park Thursdays feature photos from one of our theme park adventures in the past.

Mapping Your Way (2009)

If you were ever wondering how to best navigate the Bay of Bengal, this map might be quite helpful in your travels. Of course, you'll need to climb up the Swiss Family Treehouse at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom to find it!

I took this photo in December 2009 while we were walking through this iconic Adventureland attraction in late afternoon. Of the two U.S.-based Disney properties, Orlando is only one that maintains the Robinson storyline. The treehouse at Disneyland was re-themed to Tarzan in 1999.

Trust me, it's not as good.

Theme Park Thursdays feature photos from one of our theme park adventures in the past.

Bus-ted (2007)

Anyone we spends an extended period of time at Walt Disney World is probably familiar with the transportation system. Sure, monorails are all cool and everything, but most likely, you'll spend a lot of time on a bus.

And let me just say, there's nothing really magical about that. Other than the abundance of Disney-centric advertising, there isn't much of a different between these buses and what the CTA offers here in Chicago.

The abundance of buses at WDW is due to Disney's lack of investing in sustainable transportation systems, such as monorail expansion or light rail. Inefficient bus sprawl has gotten out of control over the past few decades, accordingly.

Enjoy the wait!

As life with our son Wesley hits 6.5 months, certain patterns and tendencies are starting to appear. Those include nicknames we may call him from time to time. One of those — which I have no idea regarding origin — is "Buddy Boy." (Yeah, seriously, not really sure how that popped up).

At the same time, I've started digging into reading older G.I. Joe comics. Thus I had to crack up when I saw this panel in one of the books…

Violence against Buddy Boy!

This appears on page 22 of G.I. Joe European Missions #2 (July 1988), which was a reprint series of the UK's Action Force Monthly comics (sort of the international version of G.I. Joe that allowed Hasbro to sell more toys).