Mr. Potatohead

At Disney's California Adventure, there's a super-fun (and super-popular) ride called Toy Story Midway Mania.  The lines are usually long, but it's one of those rides that's worth the wait.

Here's Mr. Hunter with the boardwalk barker, Mr. Potatohead.

Toy Story Midway Mania

Disney's California Adventure

Anaheim, California

November 2008 and May 2010

The Incredibles

An utterly satisfactory moment for Mr. Hunter.  We ran into Mr. and Mrs. Incredible outside the Animation Station at Disney's California Adventure.

Disney's California Adventure

Anaheim, California

December 2005

Where in the world is Mr. Hunter? The answer

Which island and state park was Mr. Hunter visiting when he encountered biting gnats?

Antelope Island!

It's located in the Great Salt Lake, just north of Salt Lake City, Utah.

We spotted a few of the island's namesake pronghorn antelope.

But what we saw a lot more of were the American bison.

Neither Mr. Hunter nor any of his bite-able human companions had any desire to even try to photograph those nasty gnats.  Just be warned that if you ever head over to Antelope Island State Park, you should avoid wearing anything that might have even the tiniest bit of fragrance; hair product in particular sent the gnats into a frenzy, as one frustrated member of Mr. Hunter's party was sad to discover.

Mr. Hunter was glad then that he has no need for hair product.

Antelope Island State Park

Great Salt Lake in Utah

May 2005

Where in the world is Mr. Hunter?

This island (and state park) somewhere in the United States is named for a particular kind of creature that lives there.  The island is NOT called Gnat Island, although biting gnats are one nasty creature that you might encounter here at certain times of the year.

Where might Mr. Hunter be?

See the answer here.

Flat Mr. Hunter at the Arctic Circle

Flat Mr. Hunter represents at the Arctic Circle in Sweden.  

He was on his first journey with Gaylon.

"Welcome to 66 degrees, 33 minutes North."

"The stones (including the one way across the lake) mark the circle."

"Polcirkeln Hunter.  Dancing around the circle stones.  Dreaming of roast reindeer."

outside Kiruna, Sweden

June 2007

Fine dining in Napa Valley

Asparagus soup at Bouchon Bistro in Napa Valley

Yountville, CA

May 2007

Snow Angel

Mr. Hunter and I took a break from sledding to go make a snow angel.

Mr. Hunter's solo version of a snow angel. 

North Tahoe Regional Park

Tahoe Vista, California

February 2006

In honor of Presidents Day

   Posing alongside a LEGO bust of George Washington

Legoland
Carlsbad, California

November 2008

The Travelocity Gnome

Mr. Hunter happened to be at work the day that the official Travelocity gnome visited.

June 2010

Fashionable Mr. H

Dressed up in Molly's bangles

March 2007

Standing on the shoulders of eagles

Mr. Hunter and Co. had reservations to visit the Borghese Gallery.

While we waited for our turn to go in, Mr. Hunter tucked himself in next to this carved bird.

 I seem to recall that there was some frustration because you're expected to check almost everything -- purses, even -- before you enter the museum.  But anyway, you can see some lovely Bernini sculptures like this one of Apollo and Daphne.  Also some works by Canova and Raphael.

But the only Borghese-area carving that Mr. Hunter could pose with was outside.  Here they are again, apparently deep in conversation.

(This Borghese bird always reminds me a bit of those birds that used to be in Disneyland's America Sings and that have now moved to Splash Mountain.)

Galleria Borghese

Rome, Italy

June 2008

Byron. Exactly.

After climbing the Spanish Steps, we headed to nearby Borghese Gardens.  

(We had reservations to visit the Villa Borghese museum.)

On our way to the gallery, we encountered this statue of Lord Byron. 

Mr. Hunter felt perfectly at home nestling himself atop a little skull that sits beside the tempestuous poet.

A bit of Lord Byron trivia for you.  His daughter, Ada Lovelace, is considered by some to have been the world's first computer programmer.

Borghese Gardens

Rome, Italy

June 2008

Hugs and Kisses from Mr. Hunter

Mr.  Hunter found a heart made of stones while vacationing in Maui.

Nakalele Point, Maui, Hawaii

August 2010

Roman Landmarks: The Spanish Steps

On a typically scorching and steamy summer day in Rome, 

Mr. Hunter and his companions walked over to the Spanish Steps.  

(Too bad about the scaffolding in front of the Trinita dei Monti church.)

At the base of the Spanish Steps, there's a handy fountain 

called Fontana della Barcaccia ("Fountain of the Old Boat").  We were all quite hot and sweaty and thirsty by the time we reached the Piazza di Spagna. It was a blessing to be able to cool our feet off in the fountain and to fill our water bottles from the fountain's cold, fresh stream of water.  

Even Mr. Hunter wanted to take a sip!

View from the top of the Spanish Steps.  

That dome to the right belongs to the basilica called San Carlo al Corso.  The building just to the left of the steps is where John Keats lived and died.  It's now the Keats-Shelley Memorial House.

Scalinata di Spagna

Rome, Italy

June 2008

Teeing up

Maybe agreeing to a round of golf at Pebble Beach wasn't the best idea...

Pebble Beach Golf Links

April 2005

The Wood Carver

I love this.  I love this a lot.  

After visiting the Pantheon, we wandered down a pedestrian street

 and came across a life-size wooden Pinocchio figure sitting on a bench.

This Pinocchio is a mascot for a little toy shop called Bartolucci.  Beside the bench was an open store front where a wood carver was busy making another Pinocchio.

Well. 

 All those woodworking tools.  Mr. Hunter.  

How could I not ask Mr. Woodworker to pose with my wooden friend?

It was my first day in Rome, so I was jetlagged.  I couldn't remember the Italian words to ask the wood carver to pose for a photo, so I shyly offered Mr. Hunter to him and held up my camera. 

 I remember the man as being serious, nonplussed.  But when I look at the photo now, he seems to have this gleam in his eye.   Bemused slightly, but friendly.

An entry for the Mr. Hunter Hall of Fame.

Bartolucci

Via dei Pastini

Rome, Italy

June 2008

High-Speed Mr. Hunter

On his second day in Rome, Mr. Hunter stopped into the Ferrari Store.

He saw plenty high-octane cars and engines, plus a ton of Ferrari-red toys, clothes, and other souvenirs.

But he felt most comfortable posing in this wooden mold of a Ferrari body.

Vroom!

Ferrari Store

Via Tomacelli

Rome, Italy

June 2008

Go Giants!

Mr. Hunter and I could not pass up an opportunity to pose with the World Series trophy, currently in the proud possession of the San Francisco Giants!

 Back in November, Mr. Hunter was pleased to see San Francisco City Hall lit up orange in honor of the Giants winning the World Series.  This was the day after the victory parade had packed the streets.

Hmm, I seem to be wearing the same pink jacket in this Giants-themed photo with Mr. Hunter.

I feel compelled to include the World Series trophy photos of a couple other Giants fans I know...

Brian clenched his fist in triumph...

...while Krumbs played it cool.

As it happens, both of my grandfathers played baseball in college.

  

My grandfather is second from left in the second row.

 My other grandfather -- he's the character on the right -- 

bat 400 in his junior year in college.

He had a tryout with the Chicago Cubs (ahem!), but an ankle injury had slowed him down, so he didn't make the cut.

But enough about other teams...

Go Giants!