I wrote this for another reason, but felt it had a message that should be shared. Some minor editing has been made...
15 years ago (February 2005), I met a very nice lady while attending a regular Sunday at Noon event for Disneyland enthusiasts. I was involved with multiple websites that covered not just Disneyland, but many other parks.
We went for a private lunch a few Sundays later at Downtown Disney after the meet, and immediately started a relationship.
Of course, we went to many Theme Parks on dates, and got Lisa to join American Coaster Enthusiasts/ACE (I was already a member).
One thing we discussed early in our dating, while waiting in queue’s was how many Roller Coasters could we ride in a day? Well, that became a challenge. And over months, we worked on it, going to lots of parks, looking at the map, the operating calendars, and ended up with 11 different parks/locations that we thought we could do, and picked early June as the best time (longer hours and smaller crowds). So on June 10th, 2006 we started at Six Flags Magic Mountain, then Universal Studios Hollywood, Pacific Park, Knott’s Berry Farm, Adventure City, Disneyland, California Adventure, LEGOLAND California, San Diego County Fair, SeaWorld and Belmont Park. We had 13 hours to do it, and made it in just under 11 (10 hours, 57 minutes). And that include a quick lunch at California Adventure’s Cove Bar) and a trip to the Medical Office at LEGOLAND (Lisa had a serious nail injury from Tree Top Racers at Adventure City).
A favorite memory was at the Stratosphere Tower In Las Vegas, I had to really plea/beg Lisa to ride Insanity. She was so scared of it. But she finally agreed. After the ride, I asked her what she thought. And with a great big smile in her voice, she said… “Again, Again” and lots of giggles…
Early in 2009, at a major Internet event for one of the Disney websites, MiceAge/MiceChat I announced to everyone that Lisa and I got engaged. We worked on to where to get married. Well, the Church of Reflections at Knott’s Berry Farm met the requirements of a religious Church Wedding, our budget (venue and reception at the Chicken Dinner Restaurant) and our passion for the parks. We set the date of January 9th. 2010 for a few reasons, it was a Saturday and the fact I was about to turn 50 in February. With my connections, I got the local newspaper to cover our wedding, and Knott’s also had a press release about the wedding. That allowed us to go straight from the church on property. (Alas, it is currently SBNO, waiting to be moved about a mile off property to a new site on a nearby church’s property (historic building) to a ride on Silver Bullet (one of Lisa’s favorites, a B&M) before the reception at the famous Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant.
That summer, we had our honeymoon, starting at Cedar Point, staying on property, then Kings Island, a visit to meet my mother-in-law in Memphis, Tennessee (She had health issues that didn’t allow her to fly), then all over Western Pennsylvania to Theme Parks and of course, CoasterCon featuring Kennywood, a ride on Leap the Dips and much more. We flew in and out of Cleveland, and put over 3,000 miles on our rental car.
Over the last ten years, we have been active in our local ACE SoCal group, helping out in volunteering in many aspects, and attending many events.
Due to my father passing, and the desire to consolidate households (My parents moved to San Diego before I was born in 1955), we bought a house in West Anaheim, ironically basically in the middle of a straight line between Knott’s and Disneyland (not done on purpose, just a house that met our needs of staying in the central Orange County region for work reasons and the house met our needs in price and desires, including an ADA friendly portion for my Mother, who would move from La Jolla to Orange County. Side note, we bought the house from the family of Dick Gray, the LA Dodger player who hit the first home run for the LA Dodgers, as the team had just moved from Brooklyn)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Gray
One piece of trivia that most folks don’t know, he also was the first Dodger in a LA uniform to commit an error.
A move that has added to my Theme park history. One that started due to my father. He got a job with the Inter American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) in Point Loma (San Diego). Both my parents went to University of Toronto, where they met, and got married shortly after graduating. My father was born in Warsaw, Poland, and escaped during World War II with his two brothers. As refugees, they were assigned to Canada, where they were sent, to gain citizenship. My mother was born in Leaside (Toronto), her parents moved from Croydon, England.
Anyways, as a scientist for IATTC, he had a lot of international visitors (Russia, Cuba, China, Japan, and others, plus all the Central/Southern American countries, basically anywhere Tuna was caught. He also was involved with Hubbs/Sea World, the group that was formed a year prior to the opening of Sea World (they used a space back then). So the visitors wanted to see the sights, and as a young child in the 1960’s, well I got to tag along. So regular visits to Sea World, Disneyland, Knott’s, Busch Gardens, Lion Country Safari, Universal when they opened, and other tourist locations. As an only child with two working parents, I found myself at Belmont Park near our house on Mt. Soledad (La Jolla) a lot, my first “Home Park”. Of course, with my Sea World connections, got tickets to visit Magic Mountain on its first summer of operation. Had fortunate opportunities to meet and talk to folks like Bud Hurlbut, Bob Gurr, Tony Baxter and others as a teen who loved parks and wanted to learn the secrets about how rides worked
By the 1990’s I was following the developments of Disneyland exploring an expansion, and the battle between Port Disney in Long Beach or WestCot in Anaheim. A project that ended up with Disney’s California Adventure in 2001. It was this period where I first helped a local reporter on the story, to actually reporting on it myself. One of the things I ended up covering was the formation of S.O.A.R., which stood for Save our Anaheim Resort, over a battle over land in the Anaheim Resort area. An item that ended up on the ballot, and of course, had the group turn into a political one in 2008.
Back to the time we bought the house in 2014. Well, that was ironic. Lisa was still working for the County of Orange Health Care Agency (she got her 20 year pin in 2019) Got her AA from Santa Ana College in 2016.
darkbeer.smugmug.com
For me, while I was still reporting on Theme Parks (though not as much as I was before I was married), I also was working as a Tax Accountant. (my work history also included the restaurant business in Foggy’s Notion (A Saloon next to the then San Diego Sports Arena and the San Diego/La Jolla Johnny Rockets franchise group. One that ended up with becoming a minority owner in Foggy’s Notion and the Regional Manager for Johnny Rockets. I got to meet a lot of famous folks from those jobs, including ending up with on the TV show San Diego at Large (bit part in “The Adventures of Biff & Skippy), doing a Sunday morning Jazz Show with Larry Himmel from KIFM radio. Also did a lot of TV work due to my Tax Accountant during Tax Season.
In February 2017, we had a major scare. I had recently had surgery to remove cancer from my Colon. (I am now Cancer Free). But a month later, without notice, I become severely ill, and Lisa had to call 911. So close to death, I ended up in a Coma for a couple of weeks, followed by a stay in a Nursing Home to learn some life skills I lost while in the coma, including walking.
While recovering at home, started to get involved in local politics due to what was happening in our neighborhood. One that has ended up becoming a Community Leader, and being offered the opportunity to fill an empty seat in S.O.A.R., which continues to be one of the strongest political groups in the city. Our budget was about $2 million in the 2018 election. Funds that come from Disneyland and the other Resort Businesses. I was the one who got the Declarations honoring ACE and its great non-profit missions. Ironically, the Federal one came from US Congressman Lou Correa. I had the honor to meet the Congressman first in 2012. Lisa and I won a trip to Istanbul, Turkey from KTLA in 2012. I knew that Knott’s had a VIP event regarding its famous Halloween Haunt event, and planned our trip back from Istanbul to make the event. We had a Hotel Room for that night at the Resort Hotel (One where I used to sit at the Bar with Jack Falfas when he was still assigned to Knott’s on a regular basis, the hotel for my wedding and other memories. Thanks to the time difference, boarded a plane in the morning, arrived in LA in the afternoon, and instead of heading back home to Tustin, went straight to Knott’s. When I arrived, the Knott’s PR rep, Jennifer informed me she would like for me to sit with the Congressman and his family at our dinner table. Now, to be honest, we spent most of the time talking to his sons, and of course, Knott’s and other parks. But I think the Congressman appreciated that. So very grateful his staff went out of their way to honor ACE last June.
So while we are celebrating on Thursday the 9th, it isn’t over.
In June, we will celebrate with a second honeymoon, one that will have us fly into Cleveland, then back to Cedar Point, Kings Island, the Ark Encounter, KennyKon, CoasterCon and other related events.
And of course, we will continue to visit Theme and Amusement Parks, ride Roller Coasters, and share that enjoyment with others.
As I sit back, looking to let alone my 10th Anniversary, but my 60th Birthday on February 20th. Lisa’s is on March 3rd. While I won’t mention her age, I will mention her weight. After being in a coma, well, Lisa has made some very good lifestyle changes. She quit Smoking, and went from a size 18 to a size Zero. One she states was due to her getting a Fitbit, watching what she eats and lots of walking and a gym membership (We both have one, I go for rehab reasons). But now walking at nearby Theme Parks is a regular activity for us. For me, sometimes in an ECV, others using an UpWalker. I might not be fast, but in less than three years, I have done 5k’s. (The large Angels 5K, out of 3,522 participants, I came in 3,522 with a time of 1:42:32. But I did it. And I have progressed much farther that my Medical Staff has expected).
Last Sunday, attended a Mock Funeral for the Voyage of the Iron Reef at Knott’s. And on May 15th, we will be there for the rebirth of Knott’s Bear-y Tales. In life, things change, but they also move forward. But the past, and history in general is important. And ACE in that respect is important. Yes, ACE’rs in general have fun, and enjoy the rides. But as a group, we need to preserve the past with goal of protecting our future
As someone who grew up with the love of adventure and Theme Parks, to now trying to help let Theme Parks grow and improve through S.O.A.R. to let others enjoy them for generations to come.
And the hope that they find amazing things on their life journey, one in which I look back, and remember making a Paraffin Wax figure at Universal Studios Hollywood, to getting a tour backstage at Knott’s with Bud Hurlbut, having Tony Baxter come up to me at an event and having a nice chat about things not related to Theme Parks, but life in general, and trust me, after being in a coma, you learn life is precious, to finding the best thing you could ever find, the love of my life, my cutie, and proud to say my wife of 10 years, and hopefully decades more, Lisa Klawe.
And just like my first ride on the Giant Dipper in Belmont Park over 50 years ago, our relationship, like everyone, has its up and downs. But my, the Airtime is AWESOME!!!
https://www.prweb.com/releases/knotts_berry_farm/wedding/prweb3422364.htm
https://www.ocregister.com/2010/01/09/couple-gets-married-at-knotts-berry-farm/
https://www.ocregister.com/2010/01/09/bride-groom-ride-knotts-roller-coaster/
https://darkbeer.smugmug.com/Theme-Parks-2006-Photos/11-Parks-11-Roller-Coasters/
https://darkbeer.smugmug.com/Theme-Parks/Knotts-Berry-Farm-Wedding/
https://darkbeer.smugmug.com/Weddings/Official-David-and-Lisa/
https://darkbeer.smugmug.com/Weddings/Lisa-and-David-Wedding-Photos/
15 years ago (February 2005), I met a very nice lady while attending a regular Sunday at Noon event for Disneyland enthusiasts. I was involved with multiple websites that covered not just Disneyland, but many other parks.
We went for a private lunch a few Sundays later at Downtown Disney after the meet, and immediately started a relationship.
Of course, we went to many Theme Parks on dates, and got Lisa to join American Coaster Enthusiasts/ACE (I was already a member).
One thing we discussed early in our dating, while waiting in queue’s was how many Roller Coasters could we ride in a day? Well, that became a challenge. And over months, we worked on it, going to lots of parks, looking at the map, the operating calendars, and ended up with 11 different parks/locations that we thought we could do, and picked early June as the best time (longer hours and smaller crowds). So on June 10th, 2006 we started at Six Flags Magic Mountain, then Universal Studios Hollywood, Pacific Park, Knott’s Berry Farm, Adventure City, Disneyland, California Adventure, LEGOLAND California, San Diego County Fair, SeaWorld and Belmont Park. We had 13 hours to do it, and made it in just under 11 (10 hours, 57 minutes). And that include a quick lunch at California Adventure’s Cove Bar) and a trip to the Medical Office at LEGOLAND (Lisa had a serious nail injury from Tree Top Racers at Adventure City).
A favorite memory was at the Stratosphere Tower In Las Vegas, I had to really plea/beg Lisa to ride Insanity. She was so scared of it. But she finally agreed. After the ride, I asked her what she thought. And with a great big smile in her voice, she said… “Again, Again” and lots of giggles…
Early in 2009, at a major Internet event for one of the Disney websites, MiceAge/MiceChat I announced to everyone that Lisa and I got engaged. We worked on to where to get married. Well, the Church of Reflections at Knott’s Berry Farm met the requirements of a religious Church Wedding, our budget (venue and reception at the Chicken Dinner Restaurant) and our passion for the parks. We set the date of January 9th. 2010 for a few reasons, it was a Saturday and the fact I was about to turn 50 in February. With my connections, I got the local newspaper to cover our wedding, and Knott’s also had a press release about the wedding. That allowed us to go straight from the church on property. (Alas, it is currently SBNO, waiting to be moved about a mile off property to a new site on a nearby church’s property (historic building) to a ride on Silver Bullet (one of Lisa’s favorites, a B&M) before the reception at the famous Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant.
That summer, we had our honeymoon, starting at Cedar Point, staying on property, then Kings Island, a visit to meet my mother-in-law in Memphis, Tennessee (She had health issues that didn’t allow her to fly), then all over Western Pennsylvania to Theme Parks and of course, CoasterCon featuring Kennywood, a ride on Leap the Dips and much more. We flew in and out of Cleveland, and put over 3,000 miles on our rental car.
Over the last ten years, we have been active in our local ACE SoCal group, helping out in volunteering in many aspects, and attending many events.
Due to my father passing, and the desire to consolidate households (My parents moved to San Diego before I was born in 1955), we bought a house in West Anaheim, ironically basically in the middle of a straight line between Knott’s and Disneyland (not done on purpose, just a house that met our needs of staying in the central Orange County region for work reasons and the house met our needs in price and desires, including an ADA friendly portion for my Mother, who would move from La Jolla to Orange County. Side note, we bought the house from the family of Dick Gray, the LA Dodger player who hit the first home run for the LA Dodgers, as the team had just moved from Brooklyn)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Gray
One piece of trivia that most folks don’t know, he also was the first Dodger in a LA uniform to commit an error.
A move that has added to my Theme park history. One that started due to my father. He got a job with the Inter American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) in Point Loma (San Diego). Both my parents went to University of Toronto, where they met, and got married shortly after graduating. My father was born in Warsaw, Poland, and escaped during World War II with his two brothers. As refugees, they were assigned to Canada, where they were sent, to gain citizenship. My mother was born in Leaside (Toronto), her parents moved from Croydon, England.
Anyways, as a scientist for IATTC, he had a lot of international visitors (Russia, Cuba, China, Japan, and others, plus all the Central/Southern American countries, basically anywhere Tuna was caught. He also was involved with Hubbs/Sea World, the group that was formed a year prior to the opening of Sea World (they used a space back then). So the visitors wanted to see the sights, and as a young child in the 1960’s, well I got to tag along. So regular visits to Sea World, Disneyland, Knott’s, Busch Gardens, Lion Country Safari, Universal when they opened, and other tourist locations. As an only child with two working parents, I found myself at Belmont Park near our house on Mt. Soledad (La Jolla) a lot, my first “Home Park”. Of course, with my Sea World connections, got tickets to visit Magic Mountain on its first summer of operation. Had fortunate opportunities to meet and talk to folks like Bud Hurlbut, Bob Gurr, Tony Baxter and others as a teen who loved parks and wanted to learn the secrets about how rides worked
By the 1990’s I was following the developments of Disneyland exploring an expansion, and the battle between Port Disney in Long Beach or WestCot in Anaheim. A project that ended up with Disney’s California Adventure in 2001. It was this period where I first helped a local reporter on the story, to actually reporting on it myself. One of the things I ended up covering was the formation of S.O.A.R., which stood for Save our Anaheim Resort, over a battle over land in the Anaheim Resort area. An item that ended up on the ballot, and of course, had the group turn into a political one in 2008.
Back to the time we bought the house in 2014. Well, that was ironic. Lisa was still working for the County of Orange Health Care Agency (she got her 20 year pin in 2019) Got her AA from Santa Ana College in 2016.
Santa Ana College 100th Graduation - 6/3/2016 - Darkbeer
Hi there, I am David Michael, and this is my photo album.... A hobby gone bad, I am now a Theme Park Reporter and Photographer (in my spare time). I hope you enjoy the photos, and thanks for visiting. If you see me at a park, please come over and say hello! If you want to send an e-mail, you...
darkbeer.smugmug.com
For me, while I was still reporting on Theme Parks (though not as much as I was before I was married), I also was working as a Tax Accountant. (my work history also included the restaurant business in Foggy’s Notion (A Saloon next to the then San Diego Sports Arena and the San Diego/La Jolla Johnny Rockets franchise group. One that ended up with becoming a minority owner in Foggy’s Notion and the Regional Manager for Johnny Rockets. I got to meet a lot of famous folks from those jobs, including ending up with on the TV show San Diego at Large (bit part in “The Adventures of Biff & Skippy), doing a Sunday morning Jazz Show with Larry Himmel from KIFM radio. Also did a lot of TV work due to my Tax Accountant during Tax Season.
In February 2017, we had a major scare. I had recently had surgery to remove cancer from my Colon. (I am now Cancer Free). But a month later, without notice, I become severely ill, and Lisa had to call 911. So close to death, I ended up in a Coma for a couple of weeks, followed by a stay in a Nursing Home to learn some life skills I lost while in the coma, including walking.
While recovering at home, started to get involved in local politics due to what was happening in our neighborhood. One that has ended up becoming a Community Leader, and being offered the opportunity to fill an empty seat in S.O.A.R., which continues to be one of the strongest political groups in the city. Our budget was about $2 million in the 2018 election. Funds that come from Disneyland and the other Resort Businesses. I was the one who got the Declarations honoring ACE and its great non-profit missions. Ironically, the Federal one came from US Congressman Lou Correa. I had the honor to meet the Congressman first in 2012. Lisa and I won a trip to Istanbul, Turkey from KTLA in 2012. I knew that Knott’s had a VIP event regarding its famous Halloween Haunt event, and planned our trip back from Istanbul to make the event. We had a Hotel Room for that night at the Resort Hotel (One where I used to sit at the Bar with Jack Falfas when he was still assigned to Knott’s on a regular basis, the hotel for my wedding and other memories. Thanks to the time difference, boarded a plane in the morning, arrived in LA in the afternoon, and instead of heading back home to Tustin, went straight to Knott’s. When I arrived, the Knott’s PR rep, Jennifer informed me she would like for me to sit with the Congressman and his family at our dinner table. Now, to be honest, we spent most of the time talking to his sons, and of course, Knott’s and other parks. But I think the Congressman appreciated that. So very grateful his staff went out of their way to honor ACE last June.
So while we are celebrating on Thursday the 9th, it isn’t over.
In June, we will celebrate with a second honeymoon, one that will have us fly into Cleveland, then back to Cedar Point, Kings Island, the Ark Encounter, KennyKon, CoasterCon and other related events.
And of course, we will continue to visit Theme and Amusement Parks, ride Roller Coasters, and share that enjoyment with others.
As I sit back, looking to let alone my 10th Anniversary, but my 60th Birthday on February 20th. Lisa’s is on March 3rd. While I won’t mention her age, I will mention her weight. After being in a coma, well, Lisa has made some very good lifestyle changes. She quit Smoking, and went from a size 18 to a size Zero. One she states was due to her getting a Fitbit, watching what she eats and lots of walking and a gym membership (We both have one, I go for rehab reasons). But now walking at nearby Theme Parks is a regular activity for us. For me, sometimes in an ECV, others using an UpWalker. I might not be fast, but in less than three years, I have done 5k’s. (The large Angels 5K, out of 3,522 participants, I came in 3,522 with a time of 1:42:32. But I did it. And I have progressed much farther that my Medical Staff has expected).
Last Sunday, attended a Mock Funeral for the Voyage of the Iron Reef at Knott’s. And on May 15th, we will be there for the rebirth of Knott’s Bear-y Tales. In life, things change, but they also move forward. But the past, and history in general is important. And ACE in that respect is important. Yes, ACE’rs in general have fun, and enjoy the rides. But as a group, we need to preserve the past with goal of protecting our future
As someone who grew up with the love of adventure and Theme Parks, to now trying to help let Theme Parks grow and improve through S.O.A.R. to let others enjoy them for generations to come.
And the hope that they find amazing things on their life journey, one in which I look back, and remember making a Paraffin Wax figure at Universal Studios Hollywood, to getting a tour backstage at Knott’s with Bud Hurlbut, having Tony Baxter come up to me at an event and having a nice chat about things not related to Theme Parks, but life in general, and trust me, after being in a coma, you learn life is precious, to finding the best thing you could ever find, the love of my life, my cutie, and proud to say my wife of 10 years, and hopefully decades more, Lisa Klawe.
And just like my first ride on the Giant Dipper in Belmont Park over 50 years ago, our relationship, like everyone, has its up and downs. But my, the Airtime is AWESOME!!!
https://www.prweb.com/releases/knotts_berry_farm/wedding/prweb3422364.htm
https://www.ocregister.com/2010/01/09/couple-gets-married-at-knotts-berry-farm/
https://www.ocregister.com/2010/01/09/bride-groom-ride-knotts-roller-coaster/
https://darkbeer.smugmug.com/Theme-Parks-2006-Photos/11-Parks-11-Roller-Coasters/
https://darkbeer.smugmug.com/Theme-Parks/Knotts-Berry-Farm-Wedding/
https://darkbeer.smugmug.com/Weddings/Official-David-and-Lisa/
https://darkbeer.smugmug.com/Weddings/Lisa-and-David-Wedding-Photos/
