Log / Pic 102 NBC & Madam Tussauds

So we took our seniors to another trip to the city for the holiday season. This is a combo between this and last year. This year we started off with a tour of the NBC studios at 30 Rock. We saw things like the control room, Good morning America set, and my favorite, the set for Saturday Night Live. There were a couple of celebrities on stage rehearsing, but I didn't really know them. It's not like it was Angelina Jolie.

Next we ate at the Stardust Diner. The future stars sang to us while we ate our $20 grilled cheese sandwiches. Below is one of my favorite places-M & M World. M & M everything!

Next we went to Toys R Us.

I must have really liked this place.

I had to squeeze in the New York Public Library for my students.

The tree at Rockefeller Square...

where we watched the people skate.

Then Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum.

Where I met many of my idols/heroes.

Like Morgan Freeman & Ben.

Nelson Mandela

Einstein

The Dalai Lama

Gandhi

The Pope

Lucy-I Love Her

Ali

Pele'

Of course Bruce Springsteen-The Boss

I asked Bill Gates if he could spare some change

I met Hanna Montana

And I spent my final minutes with my favorite celebrity/hero/idol-Angelina.

Log / Pic 101 Connecticut's Fall/Winter Storm

So Connecticut's awesome foliage got interrupted a bit when we got an unexpected snow storm.

Although the trees that made it looked great with the snow sticking to them, most lost many branches.

Here is my neighbor to my right. He had a big branch on his car, and one on my fence.

My neighbor to my left, well our branches fell on two of their cars.

Above is our front yard-most was covered with limbs.

Luckily, this is the only branch that made it to our house. Some gutter damage and a couple holes in the siding.

Oh, yeah, and some fence damage. This is our side yard.

Our back patio got covered, and after i tore this down and burned it, It was followed by another.

We actually lost three or four big branches from our backyard tree.

We lost branches from every tree we have (had).

Above was the view when I walked to my hiking trail across the street.

Below is the sign for the Scantic River Park.

This does not look the same as it usually does. Maybe it is the obstacle course I had to take to get onto the trail.

Once i reached the river, there were limbs down everywhere...and still falling!

Below is the picnic table by the entrance.

This is what I saw heading the other way. Many of these power lines would eventually be out.

This section of the road was clear, but other sections and roads would be closed due to down lines and trees.

Luckily I had the 5 days off work so didn't really need to move my Jeep anyway.

Log / Pic 100 Jungle Jack Hanna

So this is my 100th blog! Wow! for over 5 years I've been blogging about my travel, adventures, or experiences. Well, this month I was fortunate enough to meet one of my heros, Jungle Jack Hanna. I've watch Jack on Jack Hanna's Animal Adventures, Jack Hanna's Into the Wild, Letterman, and Ellen (not that I watch that show...unless Jack is on). Jungle Jack travels the world to see wild animals. He also raises awareness to help animals in need through books, television and talks. Saturday he spoke at the Warner in Torrington, CT. I got there a couple hours early (it's what I do). I went in to see if he would be signing books before the show. He had just arrived and was in the lobby. I walked up and started talking to him. He brought me backstage to give me a picture. There was a problem so I had to wait. I waited while he directed all the staff on how the show would go (music, videos, lights, layout, etc). I waited contently as I watched all the animals being brought in from outside-a sloth, cheetah, owl, python, fox, etc. Above is Jack signing a photo for me backstage.

Below is a photo of me and Jack that I was wicked psyched to get.

Jack's Into the Wild Tour began with an inspirational speech, followed by videos of him going into a bear den and holding a baby bear.

He also had video of him and his family visiting mountain gorillas...

...my favorite.

Jack brought a bunch of animals on stage and gave a bunch of interesting facts about each one of themHere is a two-toed sloth. I hiked for days (okay, hours) in Central America on several occasions to find a sloth, and nothing!

an owl

a type of wolf

a huge python, a penguin, and many others-my favorite being the cheetah.

It was a great show and a great experience. After the show I bought his book, and he signed it, Jungle to Jungle.