Sea is for Cookie: Sesame Street in Orlando, Florida

Sea is for Cookie, that's good enough for me.  Cookie, cookie, cookie starts with Sea!

In honor of the new Sesame Street opening at SeaWorld in Orlando, Florida, I decided to do a drawing in the spirit of Sesame Street parodies.  This one is based on Walt Disney World's Pandora: The World of Avatar attractions, AVATAR: Flight of Passage and Na'vi River Journey.  Grover and Big Bird and Little Bird star in Sesame Street: Height of Knowledge.  Cookie Monster and the Yip Yip Martians take visitors on a journey down a river of cookies and milk on Cookie Eater Thirsty.

Dizzy Mixer's Mewantcookie is inspired by Disney Pixar's Ratatouille.

It's pretty clear to me that Remy from Ratatouille takes some inspiration from Sesame Street's Grover.  The colors are very similar, as is the mouth.

Oscar the Grouch and Snuffy take on Universal Studios Grinchmas.

Oscar makes the perfect Grinch, and Snuffy is well cast as Max the dog.

Bert and Ernie take on E.T. with Er.Nie.

The E.T. Adventure is one of the last surviving elements of the original Universal Studios Florida.  Ironically, a Sesame Street dark ride exists in Universal Studios Singapore, replacing a planned version of the E.T. Adventure.

The opening of the new Sesame Street at SeaWorld has many on social media questioning its very existence, or shocked at the partnership.  But SeaWorld and Sesame go way back, starting with the opening of the very first Sesame Place park in Pennsylvania in 1980.  Sesame Place was operated by Busch Entertainment, the same company that operated Busch Gardens parks in Florida and Virginia.  Later, Busch bought SeaWorld parks.  Sesame Place has been featured on SeaWorld/Busch Gardens materials for many years.  Sesame Street characters eventually found their way into Busch Gardens and SeaWorld parks across America.  Orlando was the last to get a dedicated area for the characters.  The addition is quite possibly the smartest attraction ever created for SeaWorld.  I get the feeling that Shamu Stadium in Florida is ground zero for an eventual Sesame expansion.

Sea Change: A Move To Central Florida On The Horizon

"Are you moving to Florida?"  That is a question I've been asked quite a bit lately.  The theme parks and beaches of Florida have always been appealing to me, but recent events in my life have turned things upside down more than any roller coaster in Orlando ever could.

In August of 2015, my parents moved to Venice, Florida, "The Shark Tooth Capital of the World."  My family has been visiting Venice for decades.  My father, Dr. Larry J. Alexander, recently retired.  This picture of Venice's Shark's Tooth Festival was taken by my Dad on April 9, 2016.  This was to be the last picture he would send me.  It is appropriate that this picture is so absurd.

On April 16, 2016, my Dad died unexpectedly late in the afternoon.  Friends and family were in disbelief.

This could not be real.  But it was.  And we had no warning.

I got in my car and made the ten hour drive from Birmingham, Alabama to Venice, Florida on April 17th to be with my Mom.  It was a lot of time to think.  And suddenly everything made me think of my Dad.  The first song playing on the radio in my car was a Pink Floyd song (he always played Pink Floyd when I was a kid).

I was lucky to spend a lot of time visiting some of Venice's beaches for a week.  On Caspersen Beach, I found some patches of Palm Tree "hair" and shells and decided to make a Gibbon.  It was a nice, silly distraction.

I returned to Venice on May 7, 2016 for another week-long trip that would end with a beach memorial for my Dad on Saturday, May 14th.

I spent Mother's Day with my Mom searching for Shark's Teeth on Caspersen Beach (she found some of the best ones, of course).

I got to spend some quality time with my Mom exploring Venice.

You never know what you'll find in Florida thrift stores.  I found this vintage Pluto plush from Walt Disney World for $3.00.  This is one of my favorite Pluto items I've ever seen.

I also found this vintage Walt Disney World ash tray for $3.00.  It is really groovy.

This is a souvenir from a time when smoking was healthy.

I would like to move to Orlando and be closer to my Mom.  Walt Disney World is only two hours away from Venice!

On Wednesday, May 11th, I went to visit some friends in Casselberry, Florida.  I had also visited these friends on April 23rd.  None of these recent visits included an opportunity for us to visit a theme park.  However, on May 11th, I did manage to make a "pit stop" at Disney Springs in Walt Disney World on my way from Casselberry to Venice.

My Disney Springs visit included a visit with Mr. Potato Head to compare mustaches.

Some other souvenirs followed me home, like this Haunted Mansion Ghost.

I am now ready and eager to move to Orlando to work and play.  I just need a job there.  And a place to live.  And to sell my current house.  So, there's quite a bit to do.  I'm using Dizmentia as a platform to get a job in Orlando.  If anyone can give me any advice, or help, or a gig, I would appreciate it.

I feel like I was made for Florida.  I'm zesty like an orange.

Despicable You: Antonio And The Despicable Me 2 Minion Surprise

I seek out the rare and unusual.  Despicable Me 2 was a huge hit for Universal in July 2013 (their most profitable film ever).  Merchandise for the movie, especially toys of the Minions, has popped up everywhere.  But what about a secondary character like Antonio Perez, the son of villain Eduardo "El Macho" Perez (voiced by Benjamin Bratt)?  This figurine truly was a "Minion Surprise" for me today, especially since I was not even looking for it.

Having an outlet to write about things like this makes me feel like I'm making something constructive out of a day of setbacks.  Let me explain.

I live in the South.  It is June, and over the past few days, it has become clear that the Air Conditioner in my house (that I just bought in 2008) has a problem.  The problem, according to what the repairman said today, is that I need a brand new Air Conditioning unit (which, in case you wondered, is extremely expensive).  So that is a purchase I look forward to making.

As the repairman was getting ready to leave my house, I explained to him that my next task was to go get a new battery for my car.  Yesterday, I had problems starting my car.  Friends suggested that it was probably my battery.  The car seemed to eventually start, so could this really be the problem?

The Air Conditioner repairman suggested I go to Walmart to get a new battery.  Fingers crossed, I put the key in the ignition.  The car started, eventually.  I found the Auto Repair section at Walmart, which was unattended.  I parked my car.  I found an employee.  They told me to bring my car to one of the maintenance bays.  The car would not start.  At all.  It was finally dead.

At least I was in the right place for that to happen.

The Auto Repair guy told me it would be at least one and a half hours until he could do anything, because they were busy and short-handed.

So I spent hours wandering around Walmart, not wanting to be That Guy that keeps asking "Is my car ready yet?"

By the second hour (I think) I was wandering in one of the Clearance sections and found dozens of silver foil "blind bag" packages of Despicable Me 2 Minion Surprise figures.  They are small, and only $2.88 each, and included characters that I had not seen merchandise for, including Antonio and Eduardo.  I had just spent over $100 on an Air Conditioner that needs to be replaced and was about to spend over $100 for a new car battery.  So I decided I would not try to get all of these.  In fact, I only bought one.

I think I spent a good thirty minutes feeling each foil bag.  The Figures are packaged between a cardboard insert, which makes it difficult to tell what you will get.  I correctly guessed which bag had Antonio.  I could not find Eduardo (I bet he was there---at the time, I did not understand that they were packed between two pieces of cardboard).  I know I found Agnes, Gru, Lucy, Dr. Nefario, Unicorn and Margo.  There were lots of Minions, but I could not tell which ones.

I think today was Screaming Baby Day at Walmart.  The Minion Surprise was fun and much-needed.  I admit that I want to go back to get more of these figures, even though I really should not.

The most unusual thing I found in the Clearance Section at Walmart today was Spider-Man Fighter Pods figurines of the (retired) Marvel comic book Spider-Man spoof pig character Spider-Ham (Peter Porker).  That was actually shocking to see.  I would have bought it, but you had to get a whole set of characters and it was $7.00.  That's not really a lot to spend, unless you just bought a new car battery and what turned out to be a pointless maintenance session on a useless Air Conditioner.

I'm not bitter.  Really.

Transformers And Universal's Halloween Horror Nights, Sponsored By Wacky Packages

To celebrate the opening of the Transformers attraction at Universal Studios in Florida, the Universal Orlando Resort has an unbelievable corporate sponsorship with Topps Wacky Packages.

The new partnership will allow Universal's Halloween Horror Nights to be celebrated in bold new ways.  Building on the success of Butterbeer and the exclusive merchandise found at Universal's Islands of Adventure, a new world of products will be available at Universal Orlando.  And since it's written on the Internet, it has to be true.

You've never seen Nickelodeon characters like this before.

Do you remember "The Funtastic World of Hanna Barbera" attraction at Universal Studios in Florida?

The Flintstones have been excavated for Halloween fun.

Jaws went belly up to make room for the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter Diagon Alley expansion at Universal Studios in Florida.

Jaws is back because he doesn't know the meaning of the word "Fin."  (The world "Fin" is often used at the end of a high-brow or foreign film).

King Kong went ape when the Mummy unraveled the gorilla's attraction at Universal Studios.

Folks are going bananas when they hear that King Kong will be swinging back to Universal for Halloween.

Rumors about new attractions for Jurassic Park at Islands of Adventure just won't go extinct.

Jurassic Park 3D debuted in theaters in 2013.  A fourth new movie is in the works, but has been delayed.

Can we expect to see a restaurant with Brontosaurus Burgers on the horizon?

No, because the term "Brontosaurus" is not used anymore.  (The creature is now called an "Apatosaurus").

Men In Black: Alien Attack will get a tasty new sponsor.

Mallomartians are out of this world.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter will have some new food items.

Look for tasty cookie treats at new snack stands located under select bridges at the Universal Orlando Resort.

Of course, when you visit the Simpsons in Springfield, you'll have to get some donuts.  Mmmmm.

It's time to make the D'oh Nuts.

New candy will be offered at Marvel Superhero Island.

We never see Spider-Man eating flies, do we?

Universal Studios has been celebrating Halloween in a big way for years.

You never know what famous face you'll run into who'll want to take your face off.

Universal's slogan early on was "Ride the Movies!"

So grab your popcorn and pour some cola on the bottom of your shoes, because it's time to get moving.

You'll be spending the whole day at the parks, so you'll want to get some good meals here.

You'll be happier than the Pillsbury Doughboy on his way to a baking convention.

Maybe you'd enjoy a quiet dinner.

It could be so romantic, you'll find yourself coming apart.

You'll find all sorts of low-fat dining options.

So you can stay fit on vacation.  You'll just be skin and bones.  Or just bones.

Even the condiments get into the Halloween spirit.

Only fresh Killer Tomatoes are used in the ketchup.

There's nothing like a hearty bowl of soup on a cool October night.

How about a shrunken heady bowl of soup?

Enjoy some crackers with your soup.

It's OK to eat these crackers in bed, because they can get rid of your bedbugs.

Now it's time for dessert!

You won't find these cookie monsters on Sesame Street.

Sink your fangs into some bloody good treats.

Forget about counting calories.  It's Halloween!

How about some cookies?  I'll toss you some.

Dessert was great, but now it's time to go trick or treating for candy!

What will you find in your trick or teat bag?  Dental floss?  Pennies?

No way!  Frankenstein knows what folks want.

One of the most coveted items is a ring!

Look at it, my precious!

Even pets can celebrate Halloween at Universal.

Dogs staying at the Universal Orlando Resort Kennel will enjoy their own Halloween treats.

And yes, cats are fed special food at the Kennel, too.

I'm not sure how many people bring their cat with them in a car on a trip to the Universal Orlando Resort, but I guess it happens more than you'd think.

Humans staying at Universal resort hotels get special Halloween perks, too.

Enjoy a wonderful breakfast in the morning.

Sip on a refreshing beverage.

Don't spill it!  It will leave a nasty stain.

Enjoy the special Halloween shampoo at Universal's hotels.

Frankly, the shampoo is shocking and electrifying.

You'll find the scent in the hotel rooms to be bewitching.

The luxurious rooms at Universal's hotels will cast a spell on you.

The partnership between Universal and Wacky Packages will probably make other Orlando attractions a bit green.  With envy!

Wacky Packages did reach out to many other Florida attractions with partnership offers, but most got cold fins.

One particular item is another story.  It is a toy.

For this, you've got to get in line early.  Otherwise, midway through the day, you'll have to wait in line over two hours for it.

Universal's Grinchmas And The Sleigh Ride Plummet Down Mount Crumpet

Ever since Seuss Landing at Universal's Islands of Adventure in Florida opened in 1999, there's been chatter in Whoville about when visitors could expect to see a certain famous snow-capped summit. What better way to celebrate Grinchmas at the Universal Orlando Resort than a sleigh ride with the Grinch down the top of Mount Crumpet?

Here I am showcasing official blueprints for Universal's Grinch roller coaster. Don't get too excited, because it is only about the same height as a toaster.

You can build this Grinch coaster while eating a bagel and lox and getting an injection of Botox while drinking a Scotch on the rocks. It's really quite simple once you've opened the box. You won't need help from the Red Sox, or the White Sox, or even Courtney Cox.

Man, when you are racing through the abominable snow covered caverns of Mount Crumpet, watch out for the Grinch! He's not exactly scary, but he might make you flinch.

The Grinch seems like a menace, yet he sings and is pleasant. At the end of your sleigh ride, maybe he will give you a present (a souvenir photograph, for a fee---after all, we are talking about Orlando, where nothing is free).

The Grinch's sleigh is one awesome, fast ride. There's all sorts of blinking lights and gadgets inside.

Whoville is a place that's always on the move. It has its own style and has its own groove.

When the 2000 live action "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" movie debuted, brand new cartoon versions of the Grinch, Cindy Lou Who and Max inspired by the Jim Carrey film were created for merchandise and promotions. You could find the new Grinch characters on books, toys, and probably bottles of shampoo and lotions.

An unusual Grinch Sleigh Game could be found at your local RadioShack shop. It is not very high-tech, as it features a scrolling paper backdrop.

The Grinch takes his sleigh through the drive-thru at Wendy's for a Green Eggs and Hamburger feast. If his promotion had been at Arby's instead, he could have gotten a sandwich filled with hot Roast Beast.

The Grinch toys at Wendy's double as ornaments and are quite the sight to see. Haven't you always wanted something that smells like greasy burgers and fries hanging on your Christmas Tree?

Max is the Grinch's friendly and loyal assistant pet hound. Living with the Grinch is not great for him, but it is better than being locked up in a cage at the pound.

Max is not only good at pretending to be a reindeer, he obeys when the Grinch gives him a call. I bet you Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer can't play fetch or catch a ball.

Is the Grinch stealing your stocking or filling it full of trinkets and toys? This clever double stocking is perfect for greedy girls and boys.

Will you get treasures of all sizes and shapes that will put you in a good mood? Or will you get lumps of coal due to your rotten attitude?

They say it is always better to be bigger and bolder. Yet this set of tiny Grinch and Max plush clips each doubles as a Hershey-ets chocolate candies holder.

Hershey's Max and Grinch plush are among the best Seuss toys I've seen. Max is adorable and the excellent Grinch looks just the right amount of mean.

The Max Candoodler Pen and Candy Dispenser is an amazing invention. It allows you to enjoy eating candy while doing school work in detention.

Use the Candoodler to write checks to the cable and electric company and you'll still have a good day. Use the Candoodler to sign divorce papers and eat your worries away.

In the Grinch Viewer, see pictures of actors Jim Carrey, Christine Baranski and Molly Shannon. They've got lots of cool Rick Baker prosthetics, fur and makeup on.

The Grinch and Cindy Lou Who share a heartwarming moment, about which Grinch director Ron Howard knows a thing or three. It is still fun to watch him on the Andy Griffith show as little boy Opie.

Max would like to get a Grinch Koosh ball during Whoville's Christmas celebration. He can chew and slobber on it to take out some of his simmering frustration.

Throw the Grinch Koosh ball to Max and it is something he might not retrieve. He might bury it, or it could be subjected to fluid that he might have to relieve.

The Grinch is eye pleasing in complementary red and green. That's the only compliment he will get here, since he tends to act so mean.

The Grinch is not afraid of bold self-expressions. To bad he focuses on objects and material possessions.

In the original Grinch story, Cindy Lou Who was no more than two. For the live action movie, she grew and grew and grew.

This kind of rapid character aging happens all the time in Hollywood to give projects a storytelling fix. Remember how Andrew Keaton on the TV show "Family Ties" was a baby one year, and the following season he was age six?

If Max wanted to find a new home, it wouldn't be rough. Resisting his charm would be very tough.

Max is easy to train, and is easily led. He's already stuffed, so he doesn't need to be fed.

Da Grinch looks like a hooligan that is up to no good. Folks wouldn't take kindly to this Dirt-Bike delinquent in a quiet neighborhood.

We know the Grinch is a bad boy, and his reputation ain't sunny. He can sure give Jack Nicholson a run for his money.

The Grinch used to love going to Blockbuster Video, then they crossed his path. He got charged a late return fee, and the store felt his wrath.

Blockbuster Video stores closed down and the Grinch got his way. If it's up to the Grinch, Redbox will be Greenbox someday.

The Grinch is happy to give folks the game of Whoville-opoly, where cash is king and more green is better. After all, people have more fun with money than a tacky holiday sweater.

You can play Whoville-opoly as the Grinch, the Roast Beast, the Stocking, Cindy Lou Who, Max, or the Heart. If you don't get your first choice game piece to play with, please don't have a dramatic come-apart.

The version of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" that people seem to remember best is the 1966 special, which was both heartwarming and funny. It was directed by animation legend Chuck Jones, best known for his work with Warner Brothers characters like Road Runner and Bugs Bunny.

The animated special features the voice talents of Boris Karloff as the Grinch, with singing by Thurl Ravenscroft (so GRRReat as Tony the Tiger for Kellogg's Frosted Flakes) and a memorable line from June Foray as Cindy Lou, the tiny Who girl. Foray may be best known to folks as Bullwinkle the Moose's friend, Rocky the Flying Squirrel.

The Grinch has appeared on more than just one holiday decoration. And it looks like his TV special was the source of some "Grinchspiration."

Hallmark's 1987 Reindoggy ornament looks like he could be TV special Max's long lost kin. Compared to the dog in the 2000 Jim Carrey movie, Reindoggy looks like Max's twin.

In 1998, Jim Henson Productions brought the Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss to life with their famous puppetry and innovation. The Grinch, The Cat in the Hat, and other famous Seuss faces could be seen on TV screens in homes across the nation.

In "Horton Hears a Who" (1954) Horton the Elephant discovers the tiny Whos of Whoville living on a speck of dust (a few years before the Grinch made Christmas in Whoville Merry). In the 2000 Jim Carrey Grinch movie, the Whos lived on a snowflake, and in the 2008 Horton computer animated movie, the famous elephant was voiced by Jim Carrey.

In 1957, the original story of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" by Theodor Seuss Geisel debuted as a storybook. In this incarnation of the Grinch, the character had a very different look.

The original "Classic Grinch" is still quite popular these days, and he loves to show off his sinister sneer. He can be found on merchandise in book stores, cards shops, and as a theme park souvenir.

For many years now, Christmas time at Universal theme parks in California and Florida is celebrated in a different form. That's when the snow-filled Grinchmas can be found where it is typically sunny and warm.

The wild world of Grinchmas in Whoville is a kinetic, wacky place. It's sure to put a smile on even the most Grinchy face.

At Christmas, the Grinch's heart grows rather large. So does his ego, because at the Universal parks, he's now in charge.

It's getting close to Grinchmas, so we'd better start counting down. If you're good, the Grinch won't steal the decorations and gifts from your town.

Since it's better to give than to receive, how about a gift for the Grinch, please? I'd like to suggest Advantage for his ticks and his fleas.

The Grinch will accept monetary tips, since he loves green money. Make it easy on yourself---how about a ten or a twenty?

Be sure to leave a plate of cookies and a glass of milk out for the Grinch, and for Max, Kibbles 'n Bits in a bowl on the floor. If you do, they just might leave you presents galore.

Yes, I did it! I made this whole thing rhyme. What can I say? I have lots of free time.