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As I was leaving the Irvine Spectrum Center this afternoon, I saw this. Seriously? You can’t put your cart in the cart return? The best you can do is beside the cart return.

Ugh, so annoying.

Jimmy “The Rev” Sullivan, drummer for Avenged Sevenfold was found in his Huntington Beach home on Monday, December 28th.  It is reported that he passed in his sleep due to natural causes.  Jimmy was only 28 years old. 

There has been a huge outpouring of support from fans and friends alike.  My thoughts and prayers are with the Sullivan family.  They are a close bunch and I know this is devastating. 

Rest in peace Jimmy, you won’t be forgotten.

My e-card from last year. Photo by me.

Firstly, let me apologize for my too-long absence. I have no excuse except extreme busyness and to say, moving during the first week of December flat out sucks.

Well it’s that time again out with the old and in with the new. Whatever highlights or pitfalls you celebrated or endured in 2009 I wish you all nothing but the best in 2010, the start of a new decade. However, according to some (mathematicians and Jerry – see below) decades begin with a “1” not a “0.”

[YouTube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BF8P7Rrjkdk#watch-main-area[/youtube]

Are you ready for Christmas?

What are your holiday plans?

I cannot remember the last time I was at Disneyland during Christmas.  But I think it may be the only time I go in the future.

It was amazing, magical and full of holiday cheer.  The entire Haunted Mansion is redone in Nightmare Before Christmas attire.  The parade and firework show is the best ever.

AND at the end of the fireworks show….IT SNOWS!  As soon as the lights come back it snows.  So fantastic.

Have you been?

Aaand…

Insert any other rainy weather cliche you can think of, and that is Orange County right now.

If you’ve gotta be out, be safe!

If you find yourself at Knott’s Merry Farm this year be sure to check out the Barn in Ghost Town for a nice display featuring some familiar characters from the venerable theme park’s past…

If you don’t know who that is in the picture above, it’s a (non functioning) animatronic from the famed and long-gone legendary dark-ride Knott’s Bear-yTales. The Bear-yTales website notes the attraction took you along “various adventures of the Bear-y Family. Along the way, you’ll see Frog Forrest, the Candy Company and bakery where everyone is making boysenberry pies and preserves, the Gypsy camp, where Sara tells your fortune, and the spiders and creatures of Thunder Cave. And you can’t forget the Weird Woods, home of Crafty Coyote, or the trilling conclusion at the Country Fair.” The Boysenberry smell piped into the attraction was the best!!

Interestingly, KBT was replaced by Kingdom of the Dinosaurs in 1986. That ride (also quite good) closed in 2004 and you can find some of the former set pieces in the Timber Mountain Log Ride; such as the evil red-eyed wolves.

It’s nice to see Cedar Fair making use of old Knott’s props and historical ride pieces throughout the park. Now if only they would scale down the thrills and beef up the family entertainment. A nice new Peanuts dark-ride or even a new concept dark-ride altogether would we a welcome addition.

I’ve been meaning to get on here and tell you all about the amazing fundraiser that Corey has been telling me about.  He is raising money for the Someone Cares Soup Kitchen in Costa Mesa.  They are getting more than 350 people a day looking for a hot meal, toiletries, clothing and more.

Corey is awesome and will be blogging as they strive to raise $40,000 in 40 days.  Visit him HERE!

Tonight there will be an awesome fundraiser at Woody’s Wharf from

6 pm to 9 pm,     2318 Newport Blvd, Newport Beach

There will be appetizers, a DJ and a silent auction as well as several hundred fantastic people.  $20 donation suggested.

While strolling through Fashion Island not so long ago, the Missus and I spotted this in a store window…

That’s right, it’s a life-size pony-horse-statue thing with a lamp on it’s head. Stay classy Newport Beach.

The store in question is Room Service and they just opened their first OC location. It’s “a furniture store with a mid-century modern slant popular with celebrity interior designers”. I have to admit, giant horse-lamp aside, I was quite taken with their merchandise. It was right up my alley!

Fashion Island has a press release all about it located here.