Navidaddy - December 3: Drummer Boy
Here's an instrumental take on the classic Drummer Boy tune, performed by the Appalachian Christmas Quartet. Go acoustic this festive holiday season!
Dec
Dec
2
December 2: Santa's Boy – Steve's 25 Days of Christmas Music 2011: Navidaddy
Navidaddy - December 2: Santa's Boy
A little country fun with Del Reeves and his rendition of Santa's Boy. I like his "doodly do" parts quite a bit. Lots of fun! Are you Santa's Boy?
Dec
5
December 1: This Year's Santa Baby – Steve's 25 Days of Christmas Music 2011: Navidaddy
Navidaddy - December 1: This Year's Santa Baby
As I mentioned in the Introduction, this year's Steve's 25 Days of Christmas Music theme of "Navidaddy" — a play on words combining the Spanish phrase for Christmas along with being a Daddy — will feature songs that reference babies or children in the titles, given that Amy & I are about to become proud parents to our first son (due date: December 21).
We're all pretty familiar with Eartha Kitt's rendition of "Santa Baby" from 1953. However, did you know that it had a sequel? The next year Kitt recorded today's song, This Year's Santa Baby, as an attempt to capitalize on the popularity of the original. It failed. Miserably. That would probably be the reason why you really don't hear it today. This makes it a great candidate to kick off our 25 Days event!
Dec
0
Introduction – Steve's 25 Days of Christmas Music 2011: Navidaddy
Returning once again for our 11th season is Steve's 25 Days of Christmas Music, a tradition we share via the TannerWorld Junction discussion forums, SteveandAmySly.com, Facebook, and Twitter.
For those who are just joining us, here's what Steve's 25 Days of Christmas Music is all about. Starting December 1 through December 25, I'll be posting new music each day that you can download, no strings attached. It's all FREE, FREE, FREE! Songs will be in MP3 format — so you can listen via any media player or your iPod. It's just like an audio advent calendar, except that you won't have to fight with your dumb sister over who gets to open the next little door!
Nov
0
Steve's Second Bike
Recently, my sister uncovered a photo of my first bike. It was quite small. Thus, it didn't take long for me to graduate to a larger frame, and thus we have my 2nd bike, which I took possession of in 1981.
Steve & Dan in 1981
In this photo, I'm the one on the left, hanging out in Grandpa's back yard sporting a spiffy fall outfit! My cousin Dan, who is a year older, is on the right. I've moved on to a single-speed, cruiser-style bike, with fatter tires and a coaster brake. You will note that the bell from my first bike has made the transition.
Oh, and it's a girl's bike!
Closer look at my cruiser bike
An interesting piece of trivia regarding this photo… while the handlebars are different on the two bikes, they are actually the same model! You see, these bikes were hand-me-downs from Dan's two older sisters (hence the step-through frame), continuing the odd Steve Tanner tradition of never owning a brand new bike.
My parents have a hilarious Super 8 movie of me riding up and down our alley shortly after I received this bike. Soon there was a car approaching, and I hadn't quite figured out how to work a coaster brake, so to get out of the way and stop, I intentionally crashed into a fence!
While I did enjoy the bigger bike and the ability to coast, when compared to the bikes that my friends had at the time (typically a BMX-type model), I have to admit that I didn't feel very "manly" while riding this thing.
Thankfully, that inferiority complex was corrected with my third bike, my favorite of all time. But we'll cover that wonderful machine on another day!
Nov
1
Theme Park Thursdays: Hoop-Dee-Dad!
Theme Park Thursdays feature photos from one of our theme park adventures in the past.
Hoop-Dee-Dad! (2007)
This is my Dad. Behind him is the actress playing Dolly Drew at the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue. And he's about to get quite embarrassed!
Hoop-Dee-Doo is a dinner show that takes place at Fort Wilderness, the campground on Walt Disney World property. For all those snobs that stay in hotels and DVC units, this is probably the only reason they'd make the trek to Fort Wilderness, because God forbid they associate with the "lower class" of folk who prefer to camp. (As one who has spent his fair share of time sleeping under canvas at the Mouse, I'll step off the soapbox now!)
During a September 2007 trip, my Dad was targeted by one of the players during this show because he wasn't "participating" properly. To see what happened, you'll want to watch the video I shot. Needless to say, Dad turned quite red. It was awesome and a family memory we'll long smile upon!
Nov
1
Audio: A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
Continuing a yearly tradition here on SteveandAmySly.com…
Halloween has come and gone… and so has It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. Now that Turkey Day is soon upon us, why not revisit the special that doesn't get as much attention as its established Halloween and Christmas siblings, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (1973)
This episode first appeared on CBS back on November 20, 1973 and was the 9th primetime Peanuts special to air. Because its age is older than Christmas and Halloween, most of the voice talents are very different. Linus is voiced by the same person as in You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown, Stephen Shea… who incidentally was the younger brother of the guy who originally voiced Linus in the Christmas episode, Christopher Shea. The episode won an Emmy for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Children's Programming.
Nov
1
Theme Park Thursdays: Steve & 2D Mickey
Theme Park Thursdays feature photos from one of our theme park adventures in the past.
If only Steve was in black & white too! (2009)
The Town Square Exposition Hall, located on Main Street USA, opened with the Magic Kingdom in 1971 with architecture that resembled that of a hotel. At the birth of Walt Disney World, it was the Gulf Hospitality House, sort of a central booking area for the whole resort.
A theater was part of the complex, showing a film called "The Walt Disney Story" until 1981, at which point it became the EPCOT Center Preview Center. It had the same role for the Disney-MGM Studios in 1988. In 1996, a new role was found as the Walt Disney World 25th Anniversary Welcome Center, and shortly thereafter, it held a Welcome Center role for Animal Kingdom. It eventually morphed into an exhibit hall with exhibits on photography and vintage cameras (sponsored by Kodak).
I think I only have been in this building twice, because frankly there's not much to see there. Amy & I ventured inside during a December 2009 trip, and it felt neglected and filed with a hodge-podge of stuff, reflecting the many roles it had over the years. Tucked in the back were a couple of photo opportunity areas, where I was able to be part of Steamboat Willie.
In March 2011 it took on a new role and name as the Town Square Theater. With the removal of Mickey's Toontown Fair from the Magic Kingdom to make way for the New Fantasyland Expansion project, Mickey was moved into this space for character meet-and-greets, redesigned to look like the backstage of a theater (but with no actual theater)… and they even gave it FastPass! In any case, this building remains sort of an oddity at Walt Disney World, in that it's just sort of there, looking for a purpose.
Nov
1
Steve's First Bike
My sister Karen is our resident family historian. She's been researching our family tree and digging up archival photos for years. The other day she e-mailed me a photo of my first "real" bike.
Steve rides in 1980
Found in the albums of my late grandpa is this photo of me in 1980, riding a red 2-wheeler bicycle. I've moved on from the plastic Big Wheels and tricycles. It was purchased at a garage sale in Wisconsin and repainted, fenders and all. While this bike did come with training wheels, it looks like 5-year-old Steve has moved beyond them!
I'm descending a hilly road at Phantom Ranch Bible Camp, the camp I worked at for many years, and where I met Amy. My uncle was the Executive Director, so we often would drive up there and enjoy the property. I look so intent and focused, probably because I'm trying not to crash! This was a fixed-gear bicycle, meaning that it didn't have the ability to coast, nor did it come with any brakes.
Take a closer look!
At the time, helmet wearing wasn't in vogue, but check out that bell on the handlebars! I remember it had a little flag logo on it that eventually fell off. Still, I tried to let people know I was coming by ringing it… a lot!
Completing my cycling ensemble is a stylish tank top that featured the word "Sneakers" printed on it; I'm not quite sure why. How about those red gym shoes? Awesome. And no spandex here… I'm apparently content to bike in jeans.
Interestingly enough, just 3 years later, I would fall and break my right wrist in this very same location. Of course, then it was winter and I got injured while sledding.
I've always loved to ride my bike, enjoying the freedom that comes with that experience. Special thanks to my parents who helped encourage that as I grew up!
Nov
1
The Tale of the Purple Passenger
by Tannerman || Ticket to Ride
Recently, Amy & I purchased Ticket to Ride Marklin, the German map version in the Ticket to Ride boardgame series.
Ticket to Ride Marklin
Compared to other versions of the game, Marklin is considered to have the most advanced play, namely because it introduces the concept of "Passengers" who travel along the routes you build, picking up cargo points along the way. (FYI, Marklin is the name the largest model railroad company in the world, based in Germany.)
Is this passenger traveling light due to TSA restrictions?
