Who Doesn't Love a Good Disney Parade?

I've been on a Shutterfly kick, hence my neglect with this blog and whatnot, but as I work on books for Christmas presents I've been going through lots of pictures.  These pictures are from last April, and the later pictured parade photos are from a parade that is no longer performing.  (That is a mouthful of a sentence.)

Currently it seems the only parade is the Electrical Parade, which is ending in a couple days.  I heard that there might be a new parade this spring, but I don't know anything of it, or if the news is legit.

Still, seeing these photos was fun, and my little niece sure loved seeing the parades.

 Disney characters following the Disneyland band.

Seriously though, what is Disney without its entertainment?

Scattered musical acts add magic to the parks.

 The parade!

Yesterday, mini movie review

Rating: A-

Imagine a world where something you love dearly vanishes overnight.  You're now the only one that remembers Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, or Harry Potter, or Mozart, or Beethoven.   The greatest of Shakespeare never discovered or saved.  Nobody has tried a twinkies or hot dog.  What if Walt Disney's famous creation went by his original name of Mortimer Mouse over Mickey?  What if the computer was never invented?  What if Apollo 11 failed?  What if, what if, what if . . .

Little things you take for granted.  Little things that have enriched your life, a mere memory, and no ones the wiser for it.  Gone.  And you're the only one left who remembers.

What if The Beatles never became The Beatles?

Jack Malik, played by Himesh Patel, is a struggling musician who plays and sings cover songs, mainly classics from The Beatles. There's little fanfare for his honest efforts, and in the corner cheering him on is his manager Ellie Appleton, played by Lily James, who has believed in his talent since they were in school together. Then one night, while Jack gets in an accident, there's a global light outs, and when Jack wakes up in the hospital he discovers he's the only one who knows about The Beatles.  From this springs a scheme, pretending to be the author of The Beatles songs, passing them off as his own.  These brilliant songs catch the attention of many.  Instead of being ignored Jack is now embraced, and as he ventures from one success to the next he begins to feel guilty.  How far will Jack let his stolen fame grow?

Yesterday is this movie, a love letter to The Beatles.  Honestly, even though I have a music degree, I don't know much about The Beatles music!  Shameful, I know.  All I knew was from this old karaoke tape I had as a kid, singing Penny Lane and When I'm 64 over and over again, because they're fun songs, but I didn't seek out anything beyond this.  By the end of the movie I found myself truly understanding why The Beatles are so loved and the brilliance of their music.  True geniuses.  And how sad it would be if our world lost their beloved tunes.

Even though Yesterday came out a few months ago--It's coming to DVD and Blu-ray next week--I often find myself thinking about this movie.  Rarely does a movie leave an impression on my mind.  My Dad has randomly mentioned many times how much he liked Yesterday and wants to see it again.  In an age of remakes, sequels, and prequels it seems rare these days to find an original movie that plays off of an intriguing idea.  The movie is fun.  The music great.  The cast has chemistry.  I can't wait to again watch Yesterday.

MPAA: Rated PG-13 for suggestive content and language.

Attack of the Nutcrackers!

This is why time flies when you're an adult.

We're not allowed to live in the moment.

(I'm having fun harping on this topic.  The last Christmas Hallmark movie I watched was back in January.  Good cheer leftovers.  I'm staying strong.  Maybe when the first snow comes.  I . . . shouldn't hold my breath.)

Though:

1. At least Groundhog's Day hasn't been commercialized.  I've said this once before, but it's nice having a holiday that hasn't been taken over.  Plus the only holiday movie I know of tied to this day is fantastic and worth watching over, and over, and over again.  And over again, and over again . . .

2. It's good that supermarkets don't put Valentine's Day stuff out in November, then I'd really know we've lost it as a society.  Would people complain over the increased chocolate availability?

'Tis the Season for Pumpkin Goodness

A couple weeks or so ago I said I wasn't ready for Autumn and everything that comes with it, but that's changed.  Maybe it's the occasional lower temperatures mixed with remnants of Summer.  Maybe I've fallen victim to supermarkets bringing out seasonal Autumn goodness.

Pumpkin goodies really are the best.

While at Trader Joe's, which is quickly growing to be one of my favorite places (thanks to the most interesting items), I spotted this Danish Kringle.  It was obscured in paper, no hints peaking through.  What was it?  What could it be?  What loveliness lie within?

Visions of Solvang, that glorious place that's totally worth a gander if you've never been, sprung to mind.  Variations of Danishes taunting their various flavors.  My Mom tried a sample of this Danish Kringle earlier in the week and said it was heaven, so I had to try for myself.

 This Danish Kringle from OH Danish Bakery was so good and tasty, one of the best Danish pastries I've ever had, and that includes all the many, many times I've visited Solvang growing up till now.  It's $21.49 on their website, but at Trader Joe's it was about $7.99 or so, maybe more.  Can't remember the exact price, but reasonable enough to try something new.

 And now I'm ready for Autumn!  More pumpkin goodness and apple crisp please.  And, gasp, I'm even starting to itch at seeing a Christmas Hallmark movie, though I really shouldn't get ahead of myself! 0_0.

Building a Savi's Workshop Lightsaber in Star Wars Galaxy's Edge, Why I Think It's Possessed, and Where to Find the Batteries

So I've built a lightsaber.  That makes me a Jedi, right?

It totally does.

Building a lightsaber is a rite of passage, and at Savi's Workshop at Star Wars Galaxy's Edge, Black Spire Outpost, in Disneyland you can build one for $200.  It's expensive.  Becoming a Jedi does not come cheap.

You have to choose what set to work within.

Unfortunately there's no mixing and matching.

 Entering the hideout.

 First you select a crystal: Green, Blue, Red, or Purple.

I choose green.

 The set I get to work within.  For $200 it would be nice to keep all the parts in the set to play with later.  Apparently it was once possible to purchase saber scrap metal at Dok-Ondar's Den of Antiquities, but when I went to inquire about it, they said this benefit was no longer offered.

 Magic!

And I'm the only green saber of the group.

 So . . .

When you buy a droid they tell you to turn it off or it will beep through the night.

Nothing was said about the lightsabers.

I built mine at the end of July.  And I noticed, starting a few weeks ago, that whenever I moved around the room it would make a humming sound, like when you put the crystal in.  Didn't think much of it.  Assumed my saber was being overly sensitive.  If we can be overly sensitive, why can't machines?

Then, about a couple weeks ago, right as I was getting ready for bed, I heard my saber make a strike sound, like it was getting hit.  It takes great effort for me to get that effect on a good day.  Didn't think much of it.  Went to bed.  Work up around five in the morning, made the humming sound when I hopped out of bed, and then got back under the covers.

About five to ten minutes later my lightsaber made the turn on noise and the green light moved halfway up and down the blade, lighting up my room.  I stared at it, more than a little spooked, and quickly turned on the lights.

Those batteries were coming out!

Maybe my room's haunted.  The next day one of my brothers joked that one of the first things a ghost hunter does is teach a ghost how to turn on lights.

Didn't need to hear that. -_-;;

Technically, if not a ghost, it could simply be the battery dying and the saber's technology freaking out over dwindling power.  Apparently when you place the crystal inside the hilt it lights up as the color of the crystal, and it stays lit up, even with the outer casing covering it, so batteries die quick.  If you want to preserve battery power you should remove the pack when not in use.

It was tricky figuring out where the battery pack was, as I had to consult YouTube with no brain power at five in the morning.  It's at the bottom.  Twist the bottom off, take the battery pack out.  There's tiny screws that require a tiny screwdriver, which I haven't sought out, so I haven't replaced the batteries.

Still, technology or ghost, the saber turning on on it's own, filling my room up with green light, was really creepy.