RWA: The Crazy Signs edition
Hello and happy Monday, lovely blog readers! (Oops–accidentally typed “reader” there. Think my subconscious knows something I don’t?) I did promise you a crazy signs edition to wrap up my RWA coverage, and, I must say, this might be my favorite post of RWA. I don’t know why, but so many of the signs of the Swan and Dolphin, DisneyWorld (and surrounding area) and even the Denver airport just tickled me to no end. I know–I should have been taking pictures of the people, the outfits, the fabulosity that is Nationals, but no. I take pictures of signs. Next year I’ll be better–pinky swear.
So, the first sign picture was going to be me and the “Hello Florida” sign, but I figured even as much as I loved it, you were getting sick of it, so let’s move on to something better, shall we?
It’s hard to go wrong at a place that is so active in wishing you happy thoughts. I mean, wouldn’t that be an awesome job–the “Magical Day” sign wrangler?
This one cracked me up because I could just picture some direction-challenged tourist (*kaff*Mom*kaff*) looking at the sign and asking out loud, “Now where is the Dolphin?” and totally missing the huge stone fish just a few degrees off center.
I found proof what happened to all the bugs at Disney. The poor sucker who drives this truck has to get up every morning and wrangle them. (Maybe Disney has a catch-and-release program and the bugs are all taken to a lovely farm in the country…)
Saw this one at Hollywood Studios. All I can say is I’ve been Beaker more times than I can count.
This was also at Hollywood Studios. No, it’s not a sign (it’s the Little Mermaid fountain) but that “fish” just made me laugh and shudder at the same time. Is it a dolphin that takes the short bus? Is this Flounder or Nemo’s backwoods cousin? Can Disney artists just not get the concept of a fish? (There was quite a Twitter feed on the less-than-accurate dolphin statue gracing the Dolphin resort.) Call me odd, but I had to share it.
And since steampunk was causing some buzz at RWA, when I saw this sign at the Denver Airport, I knew I had to get a shot of it. C’mon–just say it out loud. Elevator Machine. It sounds so deliciously steampunky, doesn’t it?
My other shot from Denver. I’ll let this one speak for itself.
And, once again the “Magical Day” wrangler has struck. To each and all, I wish you a magical day and wonderful week!
Pamela Cayne 
Karen Pinco said,
August 16, 2010 at 9:31 am
Fish? Come on Pam, you know better. Dolphin = mammal. Do I need to launch into lecture mode? But those ‘dolphin’ statues looked to me as 3D versions of the kind that appeared on old Pirate maps and such – whimsical, but not accurate.
We did run into a friendly (and real, I must add since it’s Disney) rabbit on our way back to the Swan one night. Behaved more like a city pigeon than like the rabbits in my neighborhood. Still, I wouldn’t call him a pest. As to insects, did you notice there were none? FL: humid, hot… shouldn’t be able to navigate the outdoors without meeting one there. Let’s just hope it’s not an organophospate.
As to Beaker, he’s the best. Love him. How could a geek not?
And ‘Elevator Machine’! My new term. Someone should run in there with those brass gears and start gluing them on the sign.
Robin said,
August 16, 2010 at 10:23 am
Pam, you are photo awesome! I must admit I’m not direction challenged, but I do tend to walk with blinders on and often miss those big, obvious signs right in front of me. :0
I love ‘Elevator Machine’ too!
Have an wonderful week!!
marilyn brant said,
August 16, 2010 at 4:52 pm
LOVE the photos, Pam, and LOL about the “Elevator Machine”. 🙂 Fun to see the “Magical Day” signs again–I really got a kick out of that one in Orlando!
Pamela Cayne said,
August 17, 2010 at 7:39 am
Karen–I loved the whimsical fish/dolphins/mammals of indeterminate gender, but their “unique” representations throughout the park did make me chortle. And yes, I saw the rabbits, too–they were so tiny and so perfect that I proclaimed them to be Disney animatronics. 😉
Robin–but you’re an excellent people watcher, something I need to do more! And I hope you have a wonderful week, too! 🙂
Marilyn–I’m glad others like that sign. We authors have to stick together on our unique perceptions, don’t we? 😀
coffeegirl88 said,
August 17, 2010 at 7:19 pm
Am I the only one who laughed at the tornado shelter sign? Of course my other quesiton is just how many tornados does Denver get that they need a shelter?
Oh and BEAKER!!!! I love Beaker! Second favorite Muppet behind the Swedish Chef .
I never noticed the lack of bugs at Disney, but I did see plenty of lizards, maybe they’re the real pest control specialists?
Heather Snow said,
August 18, 2010 at 8:09 am
What if the guy who drove that Disney pest management truck doesn’t have the job of getting rid of bugs…instead, what if his mission is to rid the parks and resorts of the really annoying tourists…with malice!!!???
I really should write horror instead of romance… 🙂
Pamela Cayne said,
August 18, 2010 at 10:46 am
Coffee–now you know why I took the picture! If a tornado was coming, I don’t think I’d know to run into the restroom, ya know?
Heather–interesting thought, very interesting. The pests are critters, the pests are people! Move over soylent green!!
Melina said,
August 19, 2010 at 12:10 pm
OMG I took a picture of the “Tornado Shelter” sign at the Denver Airport too! 😉
BTW I’m the tourist who would have read that sign and then NOT been able to locate The Dolphin. I don’t have a bad sense of direction. I have absolutely no sense of direction.
But wait. That pest control is after bugs? And here I thought it was a shuttle for naughty children to be escorted to “time out.” (Hey, a teacher can wish, can’t she?)
Such a fun post! I miss everyone now.