Little Man, Big World

Plastic people dining together

2017-10-14T01:13:00.002-07:00

I invited my flat plastic lady friends over for take-out, but only one was able to make it.

I bought us a feast of Indian food from Chaat of India.

I hadn't seen her in a long time, so we lay on the aloo tikki for a while to chat and catch up. The aloo tikki are awesome fried potato patties.

We then stepped out onto the containers containing sweet tamarind sauce and mint sauce.

Next, we moved to the steamy sauna of fragrant basmati rice. Mmmm... smelled so good.

After gettting all warmed up, we had a hearty meal of paneer bhurji and chicken tikka masala. It was spicy and D-licious!

We later relaxed for a bit between the leftover butter naan. Ahhhh. Indian food is so filling and awesome!

Cool cave

2017-10-08T00:52:00.001-07:00

I went on an awesome day trip to California Cavern in good ol' Calaveras County.

The walking tour cost $17.50. The ticket was larger than me!

Once the tour guide arrived and began the tour, it was a short walk from the waiting area to the cave entrance. I was standing a few meters away from the cave entrance and I could already feel the cold air coming out of the cave. Awesome!

There's helictites and stalactites galore inside the cavern.

Although you can't touch the awesome cave formations, you can take photos of them!

The cave floor was slick and muddy at times, but my spiffy black shoes powered me through.

The big people had to squeeze through parts of the cave, but for me, there was no squeezing necessary because I'm a little man! I give the cave two green thumbs up! It was super awesome!

Blood drop

2017-10-03T00:00:00.001-07:00

I was riding my awesome red bicycle around the bathroom sink at my big friend's place.

Then came a THUNK!

I accidentally biked into a bottle of hand soap while turning left. And it wasn't any ordinary soap; it was Vampire Blood soap!

After I got myself and my bicycle back up, there was a PLOP! Vampire blood (soap) had dripped all over me.

But no big deal. I simply hopped into the sink to wash off and then continued on with my awesome bicycle ride!

Strolling surprises

2017-09-28T19:15:00.000-07:00

I was taking a nice fall stroll today when...

...whoa!

I tripped over a cob of glass corn. What was that doing there? That was weird.

But then, as I was getting up, I spotted something even weirder.

Is that a dead body?!?

I got a stick and poked it. Yep, it was dead alright. Stiff as a board. Funny thing is that it looked like this dude named Manny that I met back in January 2011. I had commented in my blog back then that he was kind of stiff when I had talked to him, and here he was -- still stiff, but in a different way.

Anyways, I couldn't just leave the body out in the open to rot, so I got a shovel and buried it. I did a fine job, don't you think? Shoobeedoobeedoo...

Tsum-thing mysterious

2017-09-27T22:32:00.000-07:00

A-ha! What is this that I come across?

It's a Disney "Tsum Tsum" Mystery Stack Pack. Mystery, eh? Well, let's open it!

Got my trusty red-handled scissors. They're a bit large to maneuver but they work so they're as awesome as can be!

Inside the package is -- hey, will you look at that -- a television! And a puppy!

I freed both from the packaging.

The puppy was so grateful to be freed that he jumped on me and knocked me down. Oof!

"Good boy," I told him, "Now let's go watch TV." He replied, "Arf arf!" I think he said he loves TV.

Or maybe he said he loves sitting on the TV. Kind of hard to understand a language I don't speak. But everything was awesome!

Voting is awesome!

2016-11-09T23:27:00.002-08:00

Hi-dee-ho, awesome blog readers! I've been a busy little man, but I'm never too busy to vote!

After I cast my ballot in the presidential election yesterday, I received this spiffy "I Voted" sticker. Apparently the stickers only come in one size, as it was a bit large for me but still, I proudly stuck it on my shirt! And on my pants!

I voted for neither Donald Trump nor Hillary Clinton. I voted for myself! I don't believe I'm an official write-in candidate but that's okay. Everything is still awesome. But wouldn't it be SUPER awesome if I were president?

Munchin' around town

2015-10-13T20:54:00.002-07:00

A few other stops on my trip included the Upside-Down House in Lee Vining. The house was created by Nellie Bly O'Bryan, a longtime resident of the Mono Basin, and was inspired by two children's stories, Upside Down Land and The Upsidedownians.

Everything inside the small house is, of course, upside-down, including the (fake) cat. Nearby is the Mono Cone where I got a chocolate soft-serve ice cream cone and battled alkali flies from landing on it!

In Mammoth Lakes, I bought this waffle-shaped donut from Vons. Then I headed over to The Stove, a restaurant known for its country cookin'.

They served some delicious breads to start off with.

Then my main courses arrived. This is the Sierra Sunrise -- potatoes, bell pepper, onion, ham, cheddar, and two mighty fine eggs!

I also had a plate of eggs, bacon, and potatoes. D-licious! The food was awesome! And I had an awesome time in the Eastern Sierra!

Tufa, too cool Part II

2015-10-07T20:00:00.000-07:00

After visiting the section of Mono Lake by the Mono Basin Scenic Area Visitor Center, I headed back uphill.

I passed by this little guy on my way out. I think he was dead.

Anyways, I headed south to the Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve.

This reserve has an awesome array of tufa towers. Tufa here, tufa there, tufa everywhere! It was awesome!

There were also alkali flies here, alkali flies there, alkali flies everywhere! And their larval shells littered the lake shores. Not exactly an awesome aspect of Mono Lake.

But the alkali flies live in the lake along with brine shrimp. They feast on algae, and they in turn are food for the migratory birds that stop by.

Overall, Mono Lake is one awesome place and I'd definitely recommend that you stop by for a visit!

Tufa, too cool Part I

2015-10-05T23:19:00.001-07:00

Tufa towers. That's what I think when I think Mono Lake.

A great place to stop by before visiting this saline lake is the Mono Basin Scenic Area Visitor Center.

You can learn all about the different types of tufa! If you're wondering what tufa is, well, tufa is calcium-carbonate formations caused by fresh water mixing with alkaline water.

And if you're small enough, you can stand in the lake model! You probably don't want to stand in the real lake because it's full of alkali flies and their larvae.

Outside the visitor center, it's a short hike downhill to the lake.

Shoobedoobedoop. I had a grand time hiking in the heat and high elevation.

Come back for Part II!

Devil with a rainbow fall, not a blue dress

2015-09-30T22:43:00.000-07:00

In the Mammoth Mountain area is the awesome Devils Postpile National Monument.

To get to the monument, you first have to take the mandatory shuttle bus down the mountain. Then, it's a short hike to this:

This awesome wonder is columnar basalt.

The part still standing towers 60 feet high!

I hiked the trail to the top of the postpile to view the tops of the columnar basalt. Most are perfect hexagons. A nearby sign said that hexagons "appear throughout nature because of its ability to save space and energy". It mentioned beehives and turtle shells. Hexagons are awesome!

I then hiked back down and headed to Rainbow Falls.

I took a few breaks during the hike. It was hot and dusty!

There were lots of big people at the base of the falls! But I still had an awesome time!

The Bold and the Bodie-ful

2015-09-29T23:28:00.003-07:00

It's a long, bumpy, and dusty road to Bodie State Historic Park, located in an isolated area of the Eastern Sierra Nevada.

Originally a gold mining town in the mid-1800's, Bodie became a ghost town in the 1940's.

Bodie is kept in what they call "a state of arrested decay".

Buildings and contents have been left as-is, and refuse is scattered across the town.

I came across a rusty old pot with an awesome green handle!

Some buildings have held up to the elements better than others. Sitting on a porch next to a rusty bucket. Awesome!

Legend has it that if you take something from Bodie (which is a big no-no!), you'll be cursed and something terrible will happen to you.

All I took were photographs and awesome memories of Bodie. I had a rockin' awesome time at Bodie!

A Texas-sized meal

2015-08-20T21:37:00.000-07:00

My big friends and I went to a Texas Roadhouse to have a Texas-sized meal!

They gave us a basket of fresh baked rolls with butter...

...and a big ol' bucket o' peanuts!

The peanut and I were about the same size!

I cracked it open.

Mmm... Peanuts...

We first ordered some Rattlesnake Bites, which were tasty deep-fried morsels of diced jalapeños and jack cheese. D-licious!

Later, our entrees arrived. Steak, shrimp, and toast with some awesome yellow corn!

And here we have BBQ ribs, chicken, steak fries, mashed potatoes with gravy, and a bowl of veggies.

Everything was so tasty except maybe that untouched bowl of awesome yellow corn. I passed out after that feast!

Exploring the Exploratorium Part II

2015-07-31T23:58:00.000-07:00

I had an awesome time at the Exploratorium in good ol' crowded S.F.!

Everywhere I looked, there were big peeps. A big peep here, a big peep there, everywhere a big peep peep peep peep...

This light and color display made me feel like dancing! No need to put on my dancing shoes; my cool black shoes serve all purposes!

After a couple hours of exploring the Exploratorium, I headed out the exit...

...and headed south of S.F. to meet up with my big friends for dinner!

I had a bento box and a bowl of ramen. Awesome!

Nothing like ending an awesome day with awesome food!

Exploring the Exploratorium Part I

2015-07-22T21:28:00.000-07:00

I rode the BART to San Francisco. For those of you who don't know, BART is the acronym for Bay Area Rapid Transit.

I sat on a wrinkly BART seat; it was probably wrinkled by big people's rear ends. Little men like me leave nary a dent.

Anyways, I brought my trusty red bicycle with me on the BART, so after arriving in the city, I hopped onto my bicycle and went for a ride!

First stop was to grab a bite to eat. I bought a couple of sandwiches from Boudin, located along the pier. The sourdough bread was super delicious but extremely chewy. It took me a while to finish my sandwiches.

Afterwards, I headed to the Exploratorium, also located along the pier. This is a human brain.

The place is full of hands-on, interactive exhibits.

Come back for Part II!

Cruising in Santa Cruz Part II

2015-07-15T00:09:00.003-07:00

Along the Santa Cruz Wharf, I stopped by Stagnaro Bros. Restaurant for some piping hot clam chowder and deep fried seafood.

It was awesome! Not so awesome were the hordes of seagulls wanting my lunch.

I continued down the wharf after eating my awesome lunch. That's the Santa Cruz Boardwalk in the background!

I passed lots of big people while riding my bicycle. Big people sure are big. Just look at this big shoe!

I had an awesome bike ride along the streets of Santa Cruz.

It was exhausting, though, so I refreshed with some frozen yogurt from Yogurtland. Awesome!

Cruising in Santa Cruz Part I

2015-07-08T21:51:00.002-07:00

I had an awesome trip to the California coast. First stop was the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center in Santa Cruz!

There were lots of awesome exhibits inside. This geodiversity exhibit showcased sands from different Monterey Bay beaches.

And then there was this small plastic whale.

I was petting it on the head when...

...whoa! Suddenly it came apart!

After exploring the Exploration Center, I hopped onto my awesome red bicycle and pedaled over to the Santa Cruz Wharf. Come back for Part II!

Game night with Little Man #5

2015-06-24T21:48:00.002-07:00

My big friends and I played an awesome game called Dixit.

Each player selects a marker and six cards to start off with.

I chose the green marker, of course, because green is awesome!

A player selects one of the cards they have and makes up a phrase about it. The other players then pick one of their own cards which they feel most closely matches the phrase.

The player who made up the phrase collects all the cards and places them face up. The other players then guess which card actually belonged with the phrase.

Points are then awarded accordingly.

It was one fun game! We had a blast!

And ooh, mama, will you look at my new plastic buddy. Just kidding! It's just two of the markers stacked on top of each other. Have an awesome night, everyone!

Not in San Jose Part III

2015-06-12T00:37:00.001-07:00

A few last photos of me at Mission San Jose!

Inside Saint Joseph Catholic Church.

This place is an active parish, as it is still used by peeps today.

Outside I wandered through the cemetery.

Big people are awesome, alive or dead!

I had a great time at Mission San Jose! I look forward to someday going to the other missions in California. Awesome!

Not in San Jose Part II

2015-06-07T23:24:00.004-07:00

Mission San Jose is one spiffy mission!

It's California registered historical landmark number 334!

Inside the mission were all sorts of awesome displays and artifacts.

The people in this exhibit were not big people but they weren't exactly little either. Perhaps medium people?

Come back for the final Part III of my Mission San Jose pictures!

Not in San Jose Part I

2015-06-02T22:14:00.002-07:00

I visited Mission San Jose.

It is number 14 of the 21 Spanish missions in California.

Built in 1797, the mission is located in present day Fremont, not in San Jose!

The mission was named in honor of Saint Joseph.

I sat on Father Junipero Serra's big toe. It's always a pleasure to sit on his big toe, wherever I find him in California!

Come back for more pictures of me at Mission San Jose!

Farewell, Victoria

2015-05-27T21:42:00.000-07:00

I had a couple of last stops in Victoria, BC, before heading back home for the States!

Here I am outside the BC Parliament Buildings near the Queen Victoria statue.

This is home to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. After meandering around outside, I went inside to meander around.

There were lots of awesome stained glass windows!

Then I stopped by Victoria's Chinatown.

It's a small, not-too-much-happenin' kind of place.

Victoria is a cool place, though! I had a rockin' good time in BC, Canada, but it's now time to bid it farewell till next time!

What makes a man happy

2015-05-24T20:32:00.000-07:00

What makes a (little) man happy?

Food. And lots of it!

For lunch, I had some wraps from BJ's Bakery. They were quite tasty!

Then, for dinner, I went to Szechuan City Buffet. The food was pretty much standard Chinese fare and then some.

For example: They had an icee machine! Granted, it churned out some not-quite-frozen-enough stuff but it was still awesome!

And will you look at that! Rice crispy treats at a Chinese buffet. How awesome is that?! Food makes my world go round!

Cool castle Part II

2015-05-21T21:02:00.000-07:00

Also in Victoria, BC, is Hatley Castle, which was completed in 1908.

It was originally a residence for James Dunsmuir and his family, but now serves as the administrative center of Royal Roads University.

Hatley Castle was featured as the X-Masion in two X-Men movies -- that's how awesome this castle is!

Also awesome were the expansive gardens surrounding the castle.

Shoobedoobedoo...

I had a grand time strolling through the gardens.

And to top it off, I took a picture with this cherub dude! Awesome!

Cool castle Part I

2015-05-18T16:44:00.002-07:00

I visited the Craigdarroch Castle in Victoria, BC.

The "castle" -- more accurately, a large Victorian mansion -- was built between 1887 and 1890.

It was built for Robert Dunsmuir, an industrialist who made his fortune from coal. He lived in the castle with his family.

Fake sweets and treats! Yum!

This room was pretty awesome -- just look at those awesome green walls!

This is where the Dunsmuir ate their morning and afternoon meals.

In its history, the castle has also been used as a military hospital and by Victoria College. Such a cool castle. Next I'm going to Hatley Castle!

Fast food feasts

2015-05-07T20:53:00.001-07:00

My big friends and I went on a fast food tour of Canada.

We first feasted at McDonalds, where we ordered poutine and sandwiches. What, you ask, is poutine?

This is poutine! French fries topped with cheese curds and brown gravy! It was super awesome!

Later we went to A&W.

We got fries, onion rings, and teen burgers.

Then we went to Dairy Queen! The fries came with brown gravy. Canadians sure love their brown gravy. I love brown gravy, too. Brown gravy rocks!