tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31002363338391938042024-03-13T03:30:28.954-05:00Oh! Just one more thing...Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04065021640116419007noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3100236333839193804.post-78829293190223126052009-07-04T09:34:00.006-05:002009-07-04T09:46:24.750-05:00"So what the heck? You're welcome! Join us at the picnic! You can eat your fill of all the food you bring yourself. "<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHaNEYaUpFUf014-yKq8eVcvcdlTuzEzdC-mIQRFoTUZ5rA2jSUCyBpy0xJQDDmv46J9OCKG0uS1ZS3FmYgSzueXvCHYiCvEAe5Ohu1K2I5ZoLLASpltywpPVj2crkd-ZDOUh2K3L7w4I/s1600-h/Flag_and_stars.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHaNEYaUpFUf014-yKq8eVcvcdlTuzEzdC-mIQRFoTUZ5rA2jSUCyBpy0xJQDDmv46J9OCKG0uS1ZS3FmYgSzueXvCHYiCvEAe5Ohu1K2I5ZoLLASpltywpPVj2crkd-ZDOUh2K3L7w4I/s400/Flag_and_stars.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354614326913454626" border="0" /></a>
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line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">Found a GREAT scrapbooking blog, created by a fellow Texan.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Check out <a href="http://creativelysavvy.blogspot.com/">Creatively Savvy</a> by Susan Stringfellow. Looks as if she is a Basic Gray, Cosmo Cricket and Graphic 45 fan – all my favorites.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">She has some beautiful pages in Red, White and Blue. Go grab some ideas for your picnic, parade or firework pictures.
<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Have a wonderful <span style=""> </span>4<sup>th</sup> of July weekend!</p> Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04065021640116419007noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3100236333839193804.post-73518667751690046512009-07-02T10:36:00.006-05:002009-07-02T10:48:49.605-05:00A validation of frugality...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgulUHojGid-SmxZU3BH-YL0BQiGVSjXy9kJ2lvITU1l3d-XgQPescJE_0_okNwmtGNdXh_5QKNJUnSkkpZiCWkfYSIvSO2wUxZ4KSBqXjdjvBhGE7mRRST3gwDwyvyU5dUG80xdUjnS74/s1600-h/piggybank1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 219px; height: 329px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgulUHojGid-SmxZU3BH-YL0BQiGVSjXy9kJ2lvITU1l3d-XgQPescJE_0_okNwmtGNdXh_5QKNJUnSkkpZiCWkfYSIvSO2wUxZ4KSBqXjdjvBhGE7mRRST3gwDwyvyU5dUG80xdUjnS74/s400/piggybank1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353887273967629090" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Just saw this on one of my favorite blogs.<br /><br /><a href="http://nestingplacenc.blogspot.com/2009/07/price-my-space.html"><img src="http://i529.photobucket.com/albums/dd338/therealnester/Picture13-1-1-1-1.png" /></a><br /><br />“Do you ever see a room and wonder how much it cost to furnish it? Are you amazed at how others are able to find great junk at yard sales and then actually work it into the design of their space? Do you wonder what items people are willing to pay more for and why? Do you want to show off your great finds? Me too!<br /><br />How fun would it be if we all linked up and Priced our Spaces together? You can show an entire room, a wall or whatever and go into however much depth you feel like revealing. Don't feel like you have to tell the world how much you spent on everything. It's really about encouraging others that good deals are out there and, that there are some things that are worth paying full price for.” Entire post is <a href="http://nestingplacenc.blogspot.com/2009/07/price-my-space.html">here</a>.<br /><br />I’m so doing this. I'm used to shopping frugally. I’ve never added up what a room has cost us. I just always have had comparison prices in my head and know that most everything I’ve bought has been, shall we say, very competitively priced. Think I’ll do the formals for the Party.<br /><br />We acquired major pieces for these rooms at <a href="http://www.roomstogo.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=storeLocator">Rooms to Go outlet</a> and our favorite auction house, <a href="http://antiqueauctioncenter.com/index.htm">Alan Jones</a>. GREAT deals and at least the last time we were at the auction, great chocolate cake and frito chili pie. These are my favorite places for furniture. Many of our friends have furnished rooms and even businesses from Alan Jones. Great people watching at the auction, too.Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04065021640116419007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3100236333839193804.post-70744670775674305722009-07-01T10:20:00.006-05:002009-07-01T10:44:47.244-05:00Don't be a Potsie - The Fonz wants to DANCE!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnFLU1UtmIGSOzfepvysAbfBRUuEyvzL_5HrGLvI21qW6b-Qgllp0qXQf-aV_ngX8LgriMDkxwaULX6EAtiaNxWSThEms6AdZUMNkBSurQBY05EZebcVjxr201k6TPgLDJik3OWGBYTaY/s1600-h/074928h1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnFLU1UtmIGSOzfepvysAbfBRUuEyvzL_5HrGLvI21qW6b-Qgllp0qXQf-aV_ngX8LgriMDkxwaULX6EAtiaNxWSThEms6AdZUMNkBSurQBY05EZebcVjxr201k6TPgLDJik3OWGBYTaY/s400/074928h1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353513489677010434" border="0"></a>
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mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <p style="font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3">Theatre/Film Wednesday</font></p><p style="font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3">How about some theatre ON film and musical theatre at that!
<br /></font></p><p style="font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3">Forever Plaid</font></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman;"><font size="3">In over 350 theaters nationwide, on Thursday, July 9, a pre-taped version of the hit musical <i>Forever Plaid</i> will get a one-night screening </font></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman;"><font size="3">This version stars original cast members Larry Raben as Sparky, David Engel as Smudge, and Stan Chandler as Jinx, along with Daniel Reichard as Frankie, while David Hyde Pierce will provide the narration.</font></p> <p style="text-align: left; font-family: times new roman;"><font size="3">“Forever Plaid” is an affectionate revue of the close-harmony ‘guy groups’ (e.g. The Four Aces, The Four Freshmen) that reached the height of their popularity during the 1950s. Personifying the clean-cut genre are the Plaids. This quartet of high-school chums' earnest dreams of recording an album ended in death (literally and indeed, symbolically) in a collision with a bus filled with Catholic schoolgirls on their way to see the Beatles' American debut on The Ed Sullivan Show. The play begins with the Plaids returning from the afterlife for one final chance at musical glory. </font></p><div style="text-align: left; font-family: times new roman;"> </div><p style="text-align: left; font-family: times new roman;"><font size="3">The songs sung during the course of the musical include: "Three Coins in the Fountain"; "Undecided"; "Gotta Be This or That"; "Moments to Remember"; "Crazy 'Bout Ya, Baby"; "No, Not Much"; "Sixteen Tons"; "Chain Gang"; "Perfidia"; "Cry"; "Heart and Soul"; "Lady of Spain"; "Scotland the Brave"; "Shangri-La"; "Rags to Riches"; and "Love is a Many-Splendored Thing". </font></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman;"><font size="3"><o:p> </o:p></font></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman;"><font size="3">We’re going, Arlington Parks – are you? And if you are, where will you be? You can get more info at <a href="http://www.movietickets.com/movie_detail.asp?movie_id=74928&tstate=3&rel=&SearchZip=76019&ShowDate=8&SearchRadius=5&md2Go=Go">Movie Tickets</a> or <a href="http://www.fandango.com/foreverplaidanniversarytribute_124465/movietimes?location=76019&date=7%2f9%2f2009">Fandango</a> as to where in your area it is being shown.
<br /></font></p><p><font style="font-family: times new roman;" size="3">Be there or be square!</font>
<br /></p> Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04065021640116419007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3100236333839193804.post-4039273004742337882009-06-29T11:36:00.000-05:002009-06-29T11:55:58.118-05:00Cameron Frye, this one's for you<span style="font-weight: bold;">Something about Books</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjov0n18rXWb0d1XTOPGjhpPli6dLx71FoGsLvB3wEe6p9XpLbIftIBcSmAP04yFVpa6bDWr7N5IZKAbwrPRcT-pVtwRL-bpMh2foooxUP5we1XYWXwh9ltOt3s6r2SsLHtHYMSuEFrOHc/s1600-h/dangerousbook4boys.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjov0n18rXWb0d1XTOPGjhpPli6dLx71FoGsLvB3wEe6p9XpLbIftIBcSmAP04yFVpa6bDWr7N5IZKAbwrPRcT-pVtwRL-bpMh2foooxUP5we1XYWXwh9ltOt3s6r2SsLHtHYMSuEFrOHc/s320/dangerousbook4boys.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352789815895310914" border="0" /></a><br />My mother had a great deal of trouble with me, but I think she enjoyed it.<br />-- Mark Twain<br /><br />Teaching on a University campus is truly one of the great joys of my life. It has also brought me some surprising challenges. The one that I am continually looking to find the right answer to is how to help my students who HATE to read, particularly the male students.<br /><br />Now, I could point you to a slew of scholarly journals with <a href="http://www.penguin.com.au/PUFFin/teachers/Articles/understand_male.htm">articles</a> on why this happens (and there are lots of opinions and lots of reasons). Add to that the predisposition of children and young adults to believe books are outmoded in our “media age” and you have a sea of <a href="http://www.iste.org/source/orders/excerpts/ebooks.pdf">problems</a> to wade through.<br /><br /><br />Goodness knows that when I first started teaching, I had no idea what kind of books to recommend to BOYS! Thankfully there are people out there with much better knowledge than I to direct me to wonderful books and resources.<br /><br />One of my favorites is <a href="http://www.guysread.com/picks_guys_older.html"><span></span></a><span><a>Guys Read</a></span> – here’s a little of their press release<br /><br />“GUYS READ is a web-based nonprofit literacy initiative for boys founded by Jon Scieszka. It is a sponsored program of the New York Foundation for the Arts.<br /><br />Statistics and anecdotal evidence shows that boys are having trouble reading. The basic idea of GUYS READ is that boys can be motivated to read by connecting with texts they will want to read.<br /><br />What boys like to read is not often the same as what they are required to read. Literary fiction is the mainstay of required school reading. Yet boys often prefer non-fiction, humor, information, comics/graphic novels, and more humor.”<br /><br />Makes sense, no?<br /><br />Even though I don’t have any brothers, my sister and I were the only girls on either side of the family until my teen years and I learned to climb trees and play war with the best of the cousins. After all, I <span style="font-style: italic;">was</span> the inventor of the “sweet gum ball grenade” <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz2l0yTOBgFvCkLWsukdagYpIHGqgbbJDSuS2-htsRUt7CVZPiCeaaS752B_3HwBKIx6DVJxs5EpVibWbpThPad7VkZeZKLB05UAmP2-G7pbdEaKWhx-3FmUSAEmb-0Fo6v5N8Y0mWEp0/s1600-h/56267923.SweetGumBall.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz2l0yTOBgFvCkLWsukdagYpIHGqgbbJDSuS2-htsRUt7CVZPiCeaaS752B_3HwBKIx6DVJxs5EpVibWbpThPad7VkZeZKLB05UAmP2-G7pbdEaKWhx-3FmUSAEmb-0Fo6v5N8Y0mWEp0/s320/56267923.SweetGumBall.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352790922068214194" border="0" /></a><br /><br />(you roll one of those dried out prickly seed pods in pea gravel and then pack wet sand around it – explodes on impact! What I lacked in physical prowess, I more than made up for in sneaky.) Surely I can connect to these students in some way.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">My</span> challenge is that in my Oral Interpretation classes, some of what might be more appealing for them to read doesn’t work well with performance.<br /><br />One of my favorite non-fiction topics is WWII history – I thought that might appeal to some of the guys and be a good place for me to start. So I set out on a search for great Children’s and YA literature focusing on that topic.<br /><br />Here is what I’ve <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/profiles/mmm956/lists/843901?view=&se=yr&sd=desc&qt=sort_yr_desc">found</a>.<br /><br />That's one list on one topic. I develop more as I get input from my students. As always, I’m open to suggestions – class starts next week. Any theme is fair game, just needs to be children’s or YA. What could you suggest for my guys in these categories? Non-fiction, fiction, humor, and information<br /><br />And finally a shout out to Jen Robinson and her <a href="http://jkrbooks.typepad.com/blog/2009/06/childrens-literacy-roundup-june-29.html">Book Page</a>. This will be a wonderful resource for me and my students for years to come.Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04065021640116419007noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3100236333839193804.post-45489092841197480332009-06-28T10:53:00.000-05:002009-06-28T11:09:58.500-05:00Lucy and Dinos and Art, OH MY!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQdrE35RRTp1m3d3Hw-jzc-GxmigcmvYszhUBMn5JMgnX2DaWHEW0co0hfzmAC5DXOepdhRn14Rx3zgxfLfFetbOHyBfC9IFF2A-brC51xqj14dmUooueT4AY6nv1lZnefFcmg4OtNc00/s1600-h/02prof-600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 450px; height: 248px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQdrE35RRTp1m3d3Hw-jzc-GxmigcmvYszhUBMn5JMgnX2DaWHEW0co0hfzmAC5DXOepdhRn14Rx3zgxfLfFetbOHyBfC9IFF2A-brC51xqj14dmUooueT4AY6nv1lZnefFcmg4OtNc00/s320/02prof-600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352408747186756978" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >
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line-height:115%;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Science Sunday</span>
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<br /></span><p style="font-style: italic;" class="MsoNormal">Photo by Sara Krulwich/The New York Times</p> <p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Here’s a title for you – Paleoartist, i.e. artists using fossil remains and/or Paleontological study to inform their art. Art that is dependent on Science. I love it already.</p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Let me introduce you to Viktor Deak. I want to sit in his studio and just watch him work for a day. Watch this great <a href="http://video.nytimes.com/video/2009/06/01/science/1194840586485/nvisioning-our-distant-past.html">video</a> from the NY Times and then check out his personal <a href="http://www.anatomicalorigins.com/www.anatomicalorigins.com/Welcome.html">website</a>.</p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmK9V7n3ixwuI2OigZtW7jyxXfd_LHCiGJpClFh6C-5KOovBwhWSz8AzAG3rTyy8EDpFg1lBt9w7LJ_KgfqBjf6AWoRDf5d7tc5-SRX9k5kK4pDspLUkC67_OiwjsetFc5CsxTjJm_pc/s1600-h/0207feature_image1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmK9V7n3ixwuI2OigZtW7jyxXfd_LHCiGJpClFh6C-5KOovBwhWSz8AzAG3rTyy8EDpFg1lBt9w7LJ_KgfqBjf6AWoRDf5d7tc5-SRX9k5kK4pDspLUkC67_OiwjsetFc5CsxTjJm_pc/s320/0207feature_image1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352410735276204882" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Then, if you are a geek like me, troll through this page from the <a href="http://www.naturalhistorymag.com/Index_exhib.html">American Museum of Natural History</a>. And for good measure look at the exhibit information on <a href="http://lucyexhibition.hmns.org/about-the-exhibit.aspx">Lucy </a>that just opened in NYC. Note to my buds who live in the area – if you go see this (or the Titanic Exhibit) I expect a full report. We’ve been talking about a trip to the city, but just don’t know when we will get to go. So many things I’d like to see.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">And finally, because I now have a family connection that has opened my eyes to the video gaming world, see what you can do if you have a bent for Paleoart in the<a href="http://www.linesandcolors.com/2009/06/16/dinomixer-on-creating-art-for-an-iphone-app/"> iPhone app world</a>. (There is an app for EVERYTHING.)</p><p class="MsoNormal">There, that should keep you busy for a while.
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<br />Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04065021640116419007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3100236333839193804.post-28305516629761567852009-06-27T10:08:00.001-05:002009-06-27T11:02:02.271-05:00Competitive Baking<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu3KZMLt3DU0GZmT9WU42hQtkeoXL_RIvjcirE8waooz8CQRRofe1fwsJzeXOE1pXj_AHwtYqBXyscaczrWzSTYplylbkxs85DUW2CTl9vRq1wOlxzRmln3ywwpajjpNv6ZfzpSZ4Ir40/s1600-h/!BVORV2g!Wk~$(KGrHgoH-DEEjlLl1e6UBKRZ0ncZbg~~_1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu3KZMLt3DU0GZmT9WU42hQtkeoXL_RIvjcirE8waooz8CQRRofe1fwsJzeXOE1pXj_AHwtYqBXyscaczrWzSTYplylbkxs85DUW2CTl9vRq1wOlxzRmln3ywwpajjpNv6ZfzpSZ4Ir40/s400/!BVORV2g!Wk~$(KGrHgoH-DEEjlLl1e6UBKRZ0ncZbg~~_1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352035582288773970" border="0" /></a>
<br />
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">"I always had the will to win. I felt it baking cookies. They had to be the best cookies anyone baked."</span>
<br />
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> Bette Davis</span>
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<br /></p><p style="font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal">Home Ec. 101 Saturday</p> <p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I have to be honest and tell you that I don’t spend a lot of time in the kitchen. I don’t enjoy cooking – there – I said it. And fortunately, I don’t have to because for the last 20 years Himself has taken the baton. I am very spoiled because a) he loves doing it and b) he’s GOOD at it.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">BUT – I do like to bake. And the more creative I can get, the better. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">A couple of weeks ago I was introduced to this blog – <a href="http://bakerella.blogspot.com/2009_06_01_archive.html">Bakerella</a>.<span style=""> </span>AMAZING stuff and great directions and links and totally DOABLE projects.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Case in point. </p><p class="MsoNormal">Just look what you can do with cupcakes, brownies and sugar cookies.
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjavWskfSlj_dqYGu89nl6hx2fHf1guvjXg5P2fDj69PGXx7IuVcsZhj-DUsfcBu9_fuAbIQf2TM9bnUrb4O4ZIYYZVpdTOKhUBRNjDlHu5kTxLOuLhJL2G-AZY_XaN0SBkn4m8iU5uKv4/s1600-h/DSCN0148.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjavWskfSlj_dqYGu89nl6hx2fHf1guvjXg5P2fDj69PGXx7IuVcsZhj-DUsfcBu9_fuAbIQf2TM9bnUrb4O4ZIYYZVpdTOKhUBRNjDlHu5kTxLOuLhJL2G-AZY_XaN0SBkn4m8iU5uKv4/s320/DSCN0148.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352024896246967938" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPDk3_azSqTy1siuOIMJ8JzVd2W36u1mnfQlcEFnUhei-96fJEh6kK45NcGZqSvNNqRB0e20y-FU0UogxuiEmeTnQl8FaZS3TGpfXwUPd94etEo3XVbWs76O0NHlWkkyyLIyHd_69MqTI/s1600-h/DSCN0145.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPDk3_azSqTy1siuOIMJ8JzVd2W36u1mnfQlcEFnUhei-96fJEh6kK45NcGZqSvNNqRB0e20y-FU0UogxuiEmeTnQl8FaZS3TGpfXwUPd94etEo3XVbWs76O0NHlWkkyyLIyHd_69MqTI/s320/DSCN0145.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352024890135580002" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal">Yep – that’s my kitchen. I made those (Himself did the sugar cookie French fries, ‘cause he wanted to play, too!)<span style=""> </span>I am not a purist and used my favorite boxed mixes. Here is the direct link to the Bakerella <a href="http://bakerella.blogspot.com/2009/06/fast-food-fun.html">instructions</a>.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Sooooo cute – didn’t take any special tools. I used a juice glass instead of the cookie cutter. And I opted out of using icing for the lettuce, mustard and ketchup. My family is picky and wouldn't have enjoyed the icing on the brownies. Only thing that I didn’t have in the pantry was sesame seeds and sugar cookie mix. Had all the paper products (card stock, tracing paper) to use with the templates. Easy peasy. Got to bake AND paper craft. (Made me giddy!!!)</p><p class="MsoNormal">Check out some of her Christmas creations. You'll love them.
<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">And to quote my favorite renegade chef, “Do it bigger, do it better, do it AWESOME”.</p> Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04065021640116419007noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3100236333839193804.post-87976403042920423122009-06-26T08:19:00.000-05:002009-06-26T08:32:09.291-05:00Perspective<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicQ1rBZTCuEwyE-tHxVwFHVv2kW8Uhs2ymGTXII1vFd2Zor3fMetnG2H9PKiygfYS65RQrwCQIOcTp_gMgSa12GBj6jp85O6VBqB2G3l_jqXr1ZrfYbybqvZfxYTtMqFIeyYa7EOJueF8/s1600-h/Moonwalking+MJ.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 224px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicQ1rBZTCuEwyE-tHxVwFHVv2kW8Uhs2ymGTXII1vFd2Zor3fMetnG2H9PKiygfYS65RQrwCQIOcTp_gMgSa12GBj6jp85O6VBqB2G3l_jqXr1ZrfYbybqvZfxYTtMqFIeyYa7EOJueF8/s320/Moonwalking+MJ.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351628452849317986" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Anything Can Happen Friday</span><br /><br />Actually, it looks like everything happened yesterday. I'm on news overload.<br /><br />One of my friends posted this on FB this morning. It about covers it...<br /></span><br /><div class="articleheadings"> <div class="headlines"> <h1>Michael Jackson vs. the news</h1> <h2><a href="http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=95926023057&h=VXDa8&u=Rh2Xe&ref=nf">There's meaningful, there's epic and there's revolutionary. What about all three?</a></h2> </div> <p class="byline"><a href="mailto:mmorford@sfgate.com">By Mark Morford, SF Gate Columnist</a></p> <p class="date">Friday, June 26, 2009</p> </div>Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04065021640116419007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3100236333839193804.post-43688165523314418732009-06-25T07:41:00.000-05:002009-06-25T07:58:34.005-05:00Happy "Burt" Day - Burt's Bees that is!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLdSks2r4p2p3nOHK0-myRBygC67lmGiadgNT2QYUl2zytjjpSwWaA2OBkm0_AAo5RulV-BjsAd5ZEjuTWTzDsLruU6OpRIQDSq1t_X1-DuUFRq01BSCLKjQ1xPHv7PL0iB7UCk-FuqyQ/s1600-h/char_buzzbuzz.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 312px; height: 231px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLdSks2r4p2p3nOHK0-myRBygC67lmGiadgNT2QYUl2zytjjpSwWaA2OBkm0_AAo5RulV-BjsAd5ZEjuTWTzDsLruU6OpRIQDSq1t_X1-DuUFRq01BSCLKjQ1xPHv7PL0iB7UCk-FuqyQ/s400/char_buzzbuzz.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351245305763321314" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Shopping Thursday</span><br /><br /><br />Have you started your Christmas Shopping yet? I have. Well, really I shop all year long and I know that isn’t a possibility for everyone, but it works great for me. I have a couple of plastic bins in a closet that I keep things in that I find. It has more than once saved me when I needed that last minute birthday or hostess gift. And I learned long ago to keep everything together so that when December rolls around I haven’t “lost” gifts because I’ve hid them so well.<br /><br />I troll several discussion boards for deals – and not every day, just when I have some time. I’m pretty patient and don’t mind sifting through things to get at the bargains. BUT, I’ve figured out that I have to be in the right mind set and not be rushed.<br /><br />One of my favorites is the <a href="http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=22&order=desc&page=3">Budget Board</a> on the <a href="http://www.wdwinfo.com/">DIS</a> site. It claims to be “The Internet's Largest Unofficial On-Line Guide to Walt Disney World” and it has been invaluable for saving us money on our many jaunts to the world. And as you would think, the Budget Board predominately centers around saving you money on your trip. However, there are many savvy posters there who view the “penny saved is a penny earned” to go into the Disney Vacation money jar and they apply it to their household yearly budget. You are never really sure what offers people will post. After looking through several pages, I found this.<br /><br /><a href="https://www.burtsbees.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10051&productId=21001">Burt’s Bee Grab Bag</a> - $25<br /><br />Many have posted that they have divided into smaller bags and used for teacher and office gifts.<br />Includes:<br />6 Regular-Sized Products:<br />Lip Shimmer Merlot<br />Lip Shimmer Toffee<br />Replenishing Lip Balm<br />Beeswax Lip Balm<br />Spearmint & Lime Body Wash (4 oz)<br />Nourishing Body Lotion (3 oz)<br />12 Mini-size:<br />Baby Bee Buttermilk Bath<br />All-in-One Wash<br />Lip Gloss Red<br />Lip Gloss Nude<br />Natural Skin Care for Men Soap<br />Peppermint Soap<br />Citrus Spice Soap<br />Baby Bee Buttermilk Soap<br />Orange Essence Facial Cleanser<br />Peppermint Foot Lotion<br />Rosemary Mint Shampoo Bar<br />Therapeutic Bath Crystals<br />4 Special Gifts:<br />Bamboo Poof<br />Burt's Bees Gardener's Gloves<br />Red Wristlet Bag<br />Lip Balm Clip-On<br />Items may vary. All sales final. No returns or replacements.<br /><br />Free FedEx Ground shipping on orders of $25 or more. Just enter BURTDAY (case-sensitive) at checkout.<br /><br />I even had a free lip balm show up in my cart! I love, love, LOVE these products and will be hard pressed to give any up!<br /><br />Merry Christmas!</span>Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04065021640116419007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3100236333839193804.post-86237688171758339562009-06-24T10:35:00.000-05:002009-06-24T10:50:25.646-05:00Something to see, something to do...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoKoAE6-HGvekmbaogciH7YvdLkyY-uQtSB9XCP3jqri24ybZKNPQq3fi4lw-WIb0ii4fi6qzOugil63AhjRsFbtK8qQebYdG5YA6Fua06fwkrXRWpMOQARBBS5edX2YbSrAB7UgODe2w/s1600-h/orientalsd2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 170px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoKoAE6-HGvekmbaogciH7YvdLkyY-uQtSB9XCP3jqri24ybZKNPQq3fi4lw-WIb0ii4fi6qzOugil63AhjRsFbtK8qQebYdG5YA6Fua06fwkrXRWpMOQARBBS5edX2YbSrAB7UgODe2w/s320/orientalsd2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350920410264184482" border="0" /></a>
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<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Theatre/Film Wednesday</p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Two exciting things today.
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<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">First <a href="http://www.fwsceneshop.com/">Sceneshop</a> – “Based in Fort Worth, Texas, SceneShop is a showcase for short dramatic works - scenes, monologues, excerpts from larger works- written by local and regional writers. Since 1996, the 'Shop has presented nearly 100 new works, performed by a core of regulars and featuring guest turns by some of the area's most gifted performers. With a focus on simple staging and casual ambiance, SceneShop has earned consistently positive reviews and a loyal following. Each edition promises a variety of works - comic, serious, thoughtful, sometimes silly- that comprises a memorable, intimate evening of theatre. Currrently, SceneShop produces a new edition each August, an irreverent holiday-themed show each December, and, for the past four years, has been a participant in the prestigious "Out of the Loop Festival" at WaterTower Theater in Addison, Texas.”<span style=""> </span>The group is spearheaded by Steve McGaw. <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=97408670822&ref=ts">Here is their FB page</a>.</p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">They have a great June project titled “Ten by Tenn” – poetry and prose by, you guessed it, Tennessee Williams, curated by my dear friend, Assistant Professor, Natalie Gaupp. <span style=""> </span>If you dwell in the metroplex, check it out.</p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Second, <a href="http://www.actunlimited.net/">A.C.T. Unlimited</a> – Great new studio in Plano, run by Brent Anderson. They provide audition taping and demo reel production among other services for area actors. 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support materials look great and work for you. You can find them on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=112965156211&ref=mf">FB</a>, too.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Oh, and did I mention Steve, Natalie and Brent are all University of Texas Arlington Theatre Alum?</p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">How do you like them apples.</p> Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04065021640116419007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3100236333839193804.post-91995400047114798362009-06-23T11:42:00.000-05:002009-06-23T12:06:50.420-05:00Kessler Theatre - Oak Cliff<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaak3a5fApJ4XLqscFrimrWzgfNwGeJlCoh82VFwuS9Bj1o24citeJ9ZtYMhDh5bgkRl4rU2ADIK-zUP-6ZItpSbp1D2MK6d4gV9bYhP2yMYfso9MG-XzYcXT2WzYB9rcBgznNnlHuQg0/s1600-h/4164_85441830813_83998190813_1884286_3713847_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaak3a5fApJ4XLqscFrimrWzgfNwGeJlCoh82VFwuS9Bj1o24citeJ9ZtYMhDh5bgkRl4rU2ADIK-zUP-6ZItpSbp1D2MK6d4gV9bYhP2yMYfso9MG-XzYcXT2WzYB9rcBgznNnlHuQg0/s320/4164_85441830813_83998190813_1884286_3713847_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350566697074578626" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Cultural Tuesdays<br /><br /><br /><br />Sister lived in the Cliff for a while and she helped the whole family discover a wonderful Dallas microcosm that has slowly been seeing resurgence over the years. This is the newest refurb, resurrection, repurpose, etc. that is happening. Thank goodness there are those in Dallas that understand preservation and retention instead of tear it down and “put in a parking lot.”<br /><br /><br />“The historic <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Dallas-TX/The-Kessler/83998190813?v=wall&viewas=25313625">Kessler Theater</a> opened in 1942 and was once owned by Gene Autry. It has been hit by a tornado, burned down and served as a revival tabernacle. It has been dormant for 30 years, but things they are a changing. Witness the resurrection!”<br /><br />Check <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mDmjDqOljA">this</a> out....<br /><br /></span>Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04065021640116419007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3100236333839193804.post-12306869014414353762009-06-22T07:34:00.000-05:002009-06-22T08:03:17.503-05:00Books that Belong in the Treehouse.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNx34NbH5yS-_hQeEfY02es90JbTdrsYu4CwhQNnKk837XKge-WzIIxpVMkZIJjdq3eisCacKG-qREtELg6TFzenCMf_57R2To0kuoabCZ6kD2YISOp0gNmlXp-Fv4pIY78-KaD2WdOXM/s1600-h/!BUuZ+dQB2k~$(KGrHgoOKisEjlLmIUKBBKO9Mt5KT!~~_1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNx34NbH5yS-_hQeEfY02es90JbTdrsYu4CwhQNnKk837XKge-WzIIxpVMkZIJjdq3eisCacKG-qREtELg6TFzenCMf_57R2To0kuoabCZ6kD2YISOp0gNmlXp-Fv4pIY78-KaD2WdOXM/s200/!BUuZ+dQB2k~$(KGrHgoOKisEjlLmIUKBBKO9Mt5KT!~~_1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350132993034596578" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Something About Books<br /><br />Yes, I am immersed once again in the amazing world of children’s and young adult literature. I am of the generation that began to read in the decade of the 1970’s and it seems that when I was done with picture books and fairy tales and all things <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ralph-Mouse-Collection-Beverly-Cleary/dp/0064410048/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245674502&sr=8-6">Beverly Cleary</a> that, with the exception of Nancy Drew, I jumped straight into adult literature.<br /><br />Granted, there wasn’t the wealth of YA material then as there is now, so I am grateful that over the past several years I have been given the opportunity to have a “purposeful” reason to read “<a href="http://www.peterandthestarcatchers.com/">Peter and the Star Catchers</a>”, <a href="http://www.deborahwiles.com/littlebird.htm">“each little bird that sings”</a>, <a href="http://www.sonyasones.com/stoppretend.htm">“Stop Pretending”</a> and of course Harry Potter all over again and, yes, The Twilight series among many, many others. And now I know that the only reason one needs to read these book is to simply enjoy them.<br /><br />Here is my question. What was your favorite book as a child or during your tween or teen years? Did you even LIKE to read? So many of my current students have NEVER read for just the pleasure of it and that really distresses me. The NEA commissioned a study in 2004 that states “Literary reading is in dramatic decline with fewer than half of American adults now reading literature, according to a National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) survey released today. </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" ><a href="http://www.nea.gov/news/news04/readingatrisk.html">Reading at Risk: A Survey of Literary Reading in America</a></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> reports drops in all groups studied, with the steepest rate of decline - 28 percent - occurring in the youngest age groups.” There are some flaws in the study, in my opinion, but it does a good job tying literacy to many important aspects of our culture and puts a magnifying lens up to what we are potentially losing as a society by not reading.<br /><br /><br />So share your favs with me and I’ll share them with my summer students, who always need suggestions as to which books to read. Who knows, your idea just might be THE book that hooks that reluctant reader.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/28/books/bestseller/bestchildren.html?_r=1&ref=books">New York Times Children’s Book List</a></span>Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04065021640116419007noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3100236333839193804.post-14827626058340414522009-06-21T19:21:00.000-05:002009-06-22T16:29:02.685-05:00New Format<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CMel%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> 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mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {mso-style-priority:99; color:blue; mso-themecolor:hyperlink; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; color:purple; mso-themecolor:followedhyperlink; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} .MsoPapDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; margin-bottom:10.0pt; line-height:115%;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;">OK - I really want to be a blogger, but life gets in my way ALOT. Recently took this great online digital course called "Everyone Can Write A Little" which combined social media, scrapbooking and photoshop - simply amazing - taught me loads of things, but most importantly, that you don't have to write "War and Peace" to get your point across.
<br />
<br /></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">So, I'm going to try this. Each day has a different theme based on my interests. I'll post something - not too involved - pertaining to that topic and then, as I try to do in my classroom, be a facilitator and welcome all discussions, opinions and tangents. I do much better with dialogue :) And p.s. I'd love to have guest bloggers. If you see something that interest you - write it up and send it to me. I would love the day off!
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Here is the lineup;</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">
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</w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:1; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-format:other; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:0 0 0 0 0 0;} @font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1073750139 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:10.0pt; margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} .MsoPapDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; margin-bottom:10.0pt; line-height:115%;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Monday - Something about Books.</span> A passion of mine and many of my friends. I read most everything, but definitely have my favs and obsessions. The Summer course that I'm teaching is Oral Interp of Children's Literature, so I may center around that for a bit. Currently reading <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Thieves-Cronus-Chronicles/dp/141690588X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1245633137&sr=8-1">The Shadow Thieves</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tues - Culture/travel.</span> Lots of opportunity here. Live in a very diverse place with lots going on, enjoy traveling and have friends who are always going on wonderful adventures. Look for lots of pics from <a href="http://www.deanamason.com/apr06/travel/index.htm">here</a>.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Wed - Theatre/ Film.</span> Between hubby and I we have five sheepskins on the wall related to this. Surely can come up with something interesting and pithy to say or at least direct you to some wonderful productions and indie films from our friends and colleagues. Next on my list to see - <a href="http://www.fandango.com/theproposal_109504/movieoverview">The Proposal</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Thurs - Shopping.</span> Six words - I Don't Buy at Retail Prices. For example, this week I saved 48% on my grocery bill - I'm just sayin'. I'll let you in on my methods and secret bargain places, both local and online. <a href="http://www.clothescircuit.com/">A favorite haunt</a>.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Fri - As they used to say on the Mickey Mouse Club "it's Anything Can Happen Day!" </span>This is my catch all for anything that doesn't fit in the other pigeon holes. Who knows what may show up here. <a href="http://www.thebiographychannel.co.uk/images/biographies/main/437_bio_homepage_main.jpg">Somezing like zis, maybe?</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sat - Crafts and Home Ec. </span>This is where I get to let out my inner Martha. Look for paper crafting, baking, interior design, antiques, etc. Please note that sometimes I have an <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Peeps-Recipes-Crafts-Favorite-Marshmallow/dp/0811860418/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245635544&sr=8-1">odd</a> sense of humor and taste!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sun - Science.</span> This is where I get to fly my Nerd flag. I love science! Always have (who knew creative types could actually USE that other side of the brain). There might occasionally be a tad be of Science Fiction thrown in here, just for good measure.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">That is my plan. Hopefully, I've archived enough ideas in the past couple of weeks to keep me on top of things and actually keep on track.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">So, without further ado...</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Science Sundays</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Here is something for all you eccentric ecologist and oceanographers.
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1FzBX5Fclf3HMFVdPrcxoArcfiSAVIZApZ0d0I1iIkD0dFGBAcxaWkCWV0oSNiP6bcGw8rNzTsyQdIw8NOAQvJ2zoEXlHGAPxrqmn35EMc3PkFSXy7sGn5Bk_c7sSo3NMY1RFnjKmPSc/s1600-h/n79693305125_2901880_3576389.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 259px; height: 194px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1FzBX5Fclf3HMFVdPrcxoArcfiSAVIZApZ0d0I1iIkD0dFGBAcxaWkCWV0oSNiP6bcGw8rNzTsyQdIw8NOAQvJ2zoEXlHGAPxrqmn35EMc3PkFSXy7sGn5Bk_c7sSo3NMY1RFnjKmPSc/s320/n79693305125_2901880_3576389.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349952744845486722" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/pages/Captain-Clapton/79693305125?ref=ts">
<br /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/pages/Captain-Clapton/79693305125?ref=ts">
<br /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/pages/Captain-Clapton/79693305125?ref=ts">Captain Clapton</a>, the alter ego of university buddy Andrew Wheeler, keeps a rockin’ Facebook page dedicated to news, blogs, politics and any other flotsam and jetsam related to our oceans. Educational and entertaining. Friend him...you know you wanna.
<br /></p> Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04065021640116419007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3100236333839193804.post-61551348943088922102009-01-13T20:33:00.000-06:002009-01-14T08:23:50.657-06:00Our 2009 Disney vacation (NOT)<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" >I’m a Disney planner with a capital D (for “disorder”). We’ve been every year for the last 5 and have had up to 16 other people with us at one time and I love it. Planning is <i>almost</i> as much fun as going. I’ve posted a trip report with several installments of our first trip, so I thought I’d share with you some of my strategies and successes.</span></div><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Here’s the plan from the OCD schedule. </span></p> <p style="text-align: left;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">I also am a firm believer in <a href="http://www.tourguidemike.com/">Tour Guide Mike’s</a> member’s only website. He gives great info that has been very valuable to us in the past</span>.</p><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Arrival Day - Sunday January 11 </span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hotel/Res Animal Kingdom Lodge Reservation ******* </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Breakfast Location - Home </span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Time/Reservation -At the butt crack of dawn </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Morning Event - Take energy bar for plane </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lunch Location - Mara/Lounge - Need a Zebra Dome</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Time/Reservation 2:00 ish </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Afternoon Event - Settled at Resort </span><br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Dinner Location - Rose and Crown, Epcot - Cheese plate and Guinness Stew are favorites</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Time/Reservation 5:30 #****** </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Evening Event Wander around RELAX </span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Take Pal Mickey </span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Epcot Illumiations – 9 pm </span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Watch from traditional place in front of Japan </span><br /> <br />So, fly in on 8:55 am flight (American), pick up rental car (National), check in (concierge level – present from Himself), pick up two cases of water from Bell Services that I had shipped from Costco (this is one of <span style="font-style: italic;">many</span> great ideas from the <a href="http://www.disboards.com/">discussion board</a> I troll about all things Disney). See if we can meet up with WonderBoy (our great friend who has worked at Disney for many years) to deliver the baked goods from Fort Worth’s <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/esperanzas-bakery-and-cafe-fort-worth">Esperanza’s Bakery</a> that he is so fond of. (We had breakfast here last summer when he was in DFW to judge the Miss Teen Texas Pageant and he brought back dozens of pastries to the judge’s lounge – he was very popular!)<p style="text-align: left;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><p></p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">However, reality set in on Saturday – I’d been battling a flair up of an intestinal issue and finally realized that a week in Disney probably wasn’t the smartest thing I could do. So we canceled, Himself and I and a very good friend who was going to pal around with me. Sounds so easy – so not so. Two of our “kids” (former students that are “adopted” and a part of our family), let’s call them…Paco and Helen – primarily because…Paco just fits and Helen... has this strange stalker-like obsession with Helen Reddy - will forge on without us and keep us posted on <span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 51);font-size:100%;" ><b style=""><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";" >The Happiest Place on Earth</span></b><b style=""><span style="line-height: 115%; color: rgb(192, 0, 0);">.</span></b></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><p></p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I’d been planning on blogging about the trip. Well, no whining allowed – we still have the week off – how creative can we be while still taking it easy and de-stressing (which will be a big help to my health)? <span style="font-size:100%;"><p></p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I’ll post what we were supposed to be doing vs. what we actually do. You get to decide how successful our “stay-cation” turns out to be.<span style="font-size:100%;"><p></p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">And now for…Reality Sunday<span style="font-size:100%;"><p></p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Slept until 9 am. <span style="font-size:100%;"><p></p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Hmmm… <span style="font-size:100%;"><p></p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Haven’t done that in months. Usually roll out of bed somewhere between 5:15 and 7 am dependent on the day.<span style="font-size:100%;"><p></p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">All I can say is "wow." That was really nice. And Himself was already up and making scrambled eggs, toast and hot tea for me. <span style="font-size:100%;"><p></p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">So far so good.<span style="font-size:100%;"><p></p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I’d downloaded an audio book for the plane trip, so I though “what the heck – luxuriate a bit more”, so I did and listened to the first chapter (another hour in bed). Well, I’m totally hooked on <i style=""><a href="http://www.guernseyliterary.com/">The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society</a></i> by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. <span style="font-size:100%;"><p></p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Then WonderBoy called in response to my pathetic message on Facebook, moaning about not coming to Florida. We spent almost an hour on the phone catching up, so even if I didn’t get to see him, we at least got to visit.<span style="font-size:100%;"><p></p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Himself and I decided that if I was going to continue my blandish diet; I could at least get some really <span style="font-weight: bold;">fresh</span> bland food, so we took a field trip to <a href="http://www.centralmarket.com/Stores/Fort-Worth.aspx">Central Market</a>. Beautiful fruit and veggies – mmmmm. I could honestly spend hours in the produce section - they have the prettiest and most bizarre things. But I had a mini breakdown in the bakery area because I began to imagine myself sitting in the middle of one of the bins eating an entire loaf of aromatic sourdough and then, oh, <span style=""> </span>the pain that would ensue afterwards. My sweet husband took matters into his own hands and asked one of the foodies if they had a more robust (read twigs and berries) loaf with a sourdough base and Eureka! – they did. A nice 10 grain loaf that still has that slightly sour nose to it. I can actually eat that!<span style="font-size:100%;"><p></p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">We came home and Himself watched uninterrupted football (which he thoroughly enjoyed) and I played on the computer for the rest of the day (which I thoroughly enjoyed). A little solitaire, cleaning out the email box and quite a bit of time lost in the New York Times archives of the 1870’s and 80’s researching an article I’m wanting to write. I honestly can’t remember the last time we’ve had that much time to just goof off.<span style="font-size:100%;"><p></p></span><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The kids called and said the weather was beautiful, they were already pin trading (Paco’s addiction is totally my fault – who knew introducing those shiny cloisonné objects to him would engender a response worse than cocaine, although Helen can spot a lanyard at 50 paces) and they missed us. I miss them, too. I’m still mourning the Concierge Lounge and the thought of having hot tea on my balcony while watching giraffes stroll by, but I do feel good about a decision that is based on taking care of myself, something I’m really good at doing for others, but not so much for myself.<span style="font-size:100%;"><p></p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">So, I must say that sleeping in versus getting to DFW airport at 7 am is a no brainer.<span style="font-size:100%;"><p></p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I did get hot tea, but no giraffes in site.<span style="font-size:100%;"><p></p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I did have a nice dinner (cooked by Himself) with rustic bread and some nice (just a tiny bit) artisan cheese.<span style="font-size:100%;"><p></p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">No fireworks, but here in Texas we’re under a burn ban anyway.<span style="font-size:100%;"><p></p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">AND I did relax…<span style="font-size:100%;"><p></p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">This might not be as horrible as I thought…<span style="font-size:100%;"><p></p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">(…just don’t tell the mouse)<span style="font-size:100%;"><p></p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">P.S. Paco texted and said that the Guinness Stew is no longer on the menu. ‘Tis a good thing Himself wasn’t there, for if he had been “…Will Danaher, not a scorched stone of your fine house would still be standing.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04065021640116419007noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3100236333839193804.post-69453203088588837772008-12-19T06:03:00.000-06:002008-12-23T08:09:01.703-06:002008 Top Ten List<span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >Howdy, y’all and a happy holiday season to all! I've stepped aside from publishing the late, great Mason-Maher Times and assigned Dr. D the task, so here it is...</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /><br /></span><div style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;">DENNIS AND MELANIE’S 2008 TOP TEN<br />(not necessarily in any particular order)<br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >10. <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Dr. D. goes international - LMDA</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-weight: bold; font-family: times new roman;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyhR79_lUNsETlzWL5Udms7QMtdn241nKEUZcrnKfTpvaneEhBVe_FRl7s9lh3XrSyZYmUmU6Pzw8BrfnM_0Dcv2Absy9Hz3Xi0Bv5rK_DSrT7C-GnCb0rWAJ25_s4cgt8LK4JPt-Xs68/s1600-h/lmda.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281901784878045234" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; width: 184px; cursor: pointer; height: 134px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyhR79_lUNsETlzWL5Udms7QMtdn241nKEUZcrnKfTpvaneEhBVe_FRl7s9lh3XrSyZYmUmU6Pzw8BrfnM_0Dcv2Absy9Hz3Xi0Bv5rK_DSrT7C-GnCb0rWAJ25_s4cgt8LK4JPt-Xs68/s400/lmda.gif" border="0" /></a><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >Even though he has been the Dramaturg at UT Arlington for many years, Dr. D joined the Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas, an international organization devoted to excellence in the area of Theatre dramatur</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >gy. He is now the official "International Man of Mystery."</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >9. Buckleys part deux</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >The Mason-Mahers were asked to return as judges for Fort Worth Casa Manana's </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-weight: bold; font-family: times new roman;" href="http://www.casamanana.org/blbawards_new.html">Betty Lynn Buckley Awards </a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >honoring excellence in musical theatre performance in the North Texas area. We are continually amazed at the shows we see - and mostly in a good way!</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >8. IPhones & Ipods away!</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-weight: bold; font-family: times new roman;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAHobS6nhRTGkM4oIq2K5XQome3a1rLu47mtRg41gO9RBSunIx-O55QXf00JmD30QRGXopSalFqLHQyfnlb7bVLHv-jsimLRR0HBpbgyYPqPmajSKRkmmhALaBuyN3efBndoQ4C-K5rxY/s1600-h/iphone-cartoon.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281902618459399858" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; width: 265px; cursor: pointer; height: 325px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAHobS6nhRTGkM4oIq2K5XQome3a1rLu47mtRg41gO9RBSunIx-O55QXf00JmD30QRGXopSalFqLHQyfnlb7bVLHv-jsimLRR0HBpbgyYPqPmajSKRkmmhALaBuyN3efBndoQ4C-K5rxY/s400/iphone-cartoon.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >Mel joined the IPhone revolution with her </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >latest communication gadget, and De</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >nnis followed with his Ipod Touch. Mel is warming to her new toy (but Clarissa had to come </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >home from OU to show her how to work it), while Dennis is </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >seriously considering joining the Luddites.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >7. Theatre Babies</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >On the high school front, Patrick was accepted to Emerson and Ashley has her sites set on UT. Amanda, Jill, O.T., Chase, Genisis, and Roger (who is currently working on a cruise ship) graduated from UTA. Grad school babies - Clarissa is at OU and David and Drew are about to graduate in the spring with MFA's from UW Madsion and Western Illinois respectively. Celi got certified and Anthony is working with <a href="http://www.fourdayweekend.com/">4 Day Weekend</a>. Laura signed with an agent and Kayla just finished an internship with Cirque in Vegas. Eric is engaged and David and Tonya are married...and somewhere along the way we adopted an Hungarian ;). Forgive us if we missed you - comment and help our addled brains!</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >6. Dennis IS an Encyclopedia</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVhIIbst7ImJgC94nm2ZrVZdCYCKPlJaEf6LzwHotd_hi5QgpsSdmSLkFWVhybj4LhmnX_VJu1_ucOuhfeEtld5ftk3CooSro9tGngrq8gg_dliGLwuaYlTNWE5dtqBW8MkNgVuNlXB_M/s1600-h/encyclopedia-volumes.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVhIIbst7ImJgC94nm2ZrVZdCYCKPlJaEf6LzwHotd_hi5QgpsSdmSLkFWVhybj4LhmnX_VJu1_ucOuhfeEtld5ftk3CooSro9tGngrq8gg_dliGLwuaYlTNWE5dtqBW8MkNgVuNlXB_M/s200/encyclopedia-volumes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282986998536803858" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >Dennis was commissioned by the Brown Reference Group of London, UK, to write arti</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >cles f</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >or an encyclopedia, </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >The World and Its Peoples</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >, scheduled to be released to secondary schools and colleges internationally. The Doctor wrote articles about The American Film Industry, Colonial Theatre and Music, Native American Theatre and Music, African-American Theatre and Music, and Nineteenth Century American Theatre and Music. Whew!</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >5. Violet Hour stops time</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-weight: bold;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxKPB-Y7XnT3fTZfTSQKzXzVJFTctT4GhjZAG7yEVktITeXmu2rvjJysVl2x4HCvaCkG2PCRGwY_foiC8QDvGOwWvrzxHHKLx389sdeoF_dOCuhXZERztg-BZxgkgIyZDnt9D6yZd6MyM/s1600-h/n1609611944_49067_9746.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281906635769916322" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; width: 431px; cursor: pointer; height: 287px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxKPB-Y7XnT3fTZfTSQKzXzVJFTctT4GhjZAG7yEVktITeXmu2rvjJysVl2x4HCvaCkG2PCRGwY_foiC8QDvGOwWvrzxHHKLx389sdeoF_dOCuhXZERztg-BZxgkgIyZDnt9D6yZd6MyM/s320/n1609611944_49067_9746.jpg" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >Dennis directed Richard Greenberg’s comedy-drama<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Violet_Hour"><span style="font-style: italic;"> The Violet Hour</span></a> in November, for a change getting to work with a small cast instead of the dr</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >a</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >matic cavalry charges he’s been working on in recent years. It was not only a lovely show, but a lovely experience.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-weight: bold;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY1x71ak03nEqCd7HwMJgKQIasyfmrowW0WXphh9BvNBizUusHgU65ZMq1BqYxQDbZ1d5Jab1oKthKnTfP71v5LpqLwz968uvtFpo-CKQgv_f8dzURnUKKvoc97hq6zX4te1n-n-UpH7E/s1600-h/n1609611944_49081_2998.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281906640148407954" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; width: 431px; cursor: pointer; height: 287px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY1x71ak03nEqCd7HwMJgKQIasyfmrowW0WXphh9BvNBizUusHgU65ZMq1BqYxQDbZ1d5Jab1oKthKnTfP71v5LpqLwz968uvtFpo-CKQgv_f8dzURnUKKvoc97hq6zX4te1n-n-UpH7E/s320/n1609611944_49081_2998.jpg" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />4. Little Elementary DI Team goes the distanc</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >e</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-weight: bold;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtAjIUZ-bSrgRvsM4jpiGdipytQ3b_52BpKt1ky-2bDqHN7-4qbzsYSA2QUrnzKEam10qH_FNC7isY59Sa2h0Gpl66l-ykCqZo3cvsEMIiEMYPupVaQzVfgyuNSAWU6omNDqLFmYPtrrs/s1600-h/DI+Girls+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281917382719301586" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 210px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtAjIUZ-bSrgRvsM4jpiGdipytQ3b_52BpKt1ky-2bDqHN7-4qbzsYSA2QUrnzKEam10qH_FNC7isY59Sa2h0Gpl66l-ykCqZo3cvsEMIiEMYPupVaQzVfgyuNSAWU6omNDqLFmYPtrrs/s320/DI+Girls+2.jpg" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-weight: bold;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdyh0W4DMcCgcC0BPGPnuq3qkYQwXDFbjyFW8Bgy6y1bE15SJ4bkSFyV-ZYmlh8YTPLUdQKAFUqAOpxsIKqhFkqh7jeTjF3qYKXpu0JDI_HY1PYKwvbqd3xzZPM0jZU9qaLGjlLiUPEv4/s1600-h/DI+girls.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281918008581420706" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; width: 216px; cursor: pointer; height: 320px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdyh0W4DMcCgcC0BPGPnuq3qkYQwXDFbjyFW8Bgy6y1bE15SJ4bkSFyV-ZYmlh8YTPLUdQKAFUqAOpxsIKqhFkqh7jeTjF3qYKXpu0JDI_HY1PYKwvbqd3xzZPM0jZU9qaLGjlLiUPEv4/s320/DI+girls.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Mel’s fourth graders won at the Regional Competition, also earning a coveted DaVinci Award for Creativity, and advanced to the Texas State Competition for the second year in a row! Bravo, kids!</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br />3. Minister Dennis Marries Deana & Marc</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-weight: bold;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6MP_36E4UisRWjPqFm-5q2qW02bzOeeLGXZxtqHo-K2f4TS5QFH6_uJKjmU7upW7ZP1_eqZhS2JyG8YEfodhaRNa8z4HkT7rhf0oDRauBJmdoBzx_fxOMEKx4Fgxof_yijhL6YeGXcTc/s1600-h/n1430463075_131782_6598.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281911007483187074" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 213px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6MP_36E4UisRWjPqFm-5q2qW02bzOeeLGXZxtqHo-K2f4TS5QFH6_uJKjmU7upW7ZP1_eqZhS2JyG8YEfodhaRNa8z4HkT7rhf0oDRauBJmdoBzx_fxOMEKx4Fgxof_yijhL6YeGXcTc/s320/n1430463075_131782_6598.jpg" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Mel’s sisra Deana is now Deana Mason Tardif—she and new husband Marc were wed at the <a href="http://www.troisestate.net/">Trois Estate</a> outside Fredericksburg, TX—by Ordained Clergy Person Dennis Maher, who got himself ordained especially for the occasion—Dr. Maher is available for your ceremonial needs (email him at www.dmmaher@uta.edu).</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >The wedding was an amazing event, complete with<br /><a href="http://www.guyforsyth.com/">Guy Forsyth</a> as the entertainment for the rehearsal dinner. We are so proud to have Marc (and his family) be part of ours, especially since Mel and Deana also got a great new sister-in-law in the bargain!!</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-weight: bold;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8mEvRvtPpQfC-N-5WhWmeawIwE1PdHO7uBUxDjxWvo_2zPIYGyfuei0ai3HzuFwjaDAOsqYkbFrlGdc0HYj39H7diZ0sr3gjDNNVG-SOYEj4Tp6XFQwEKe0qaxlfYiRwx-bs9jzDtCHM/s1600-h/n1430463075_72660_3400.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281911003108549602" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 213px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8mEvRvtPpQfC-N-5WhWmeawIwE1PdHO7uBUxDjxWvo_2zPIYGyfuei0ai3HzuFwjaDAOsqYkbFrlGdc0HYj39H7diZ0sr3gjDNNVG-SOYEj4Tp6XFQwEKe0qaxlfYiRwx-bs9jzDtCHM/s320/n1430463075_72660_3400.jpg" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />2. Disneyworld en masse/17th Anniversary</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >The Mason-Mahers celebrated their anniversary at Disney World for the fifth time—and this time they brought a small army with them. Sixteen alumni and alumnae and friends invaded the parks and were touched with Disney magic—Mel and Dennis liked staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge so much they’re going back—at the concierge level (would you like some Lesser Kudu with your Kenyan coffee, ma.am?)!</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >1b. Ms. Mel is M.S. Mel!</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-weight: bold;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqPCHQM6wKi7hgXByCmZWkBplkvwXnvGWGrbicd1cBLVYF252iLog15r4N75nWbEZBdxn-RquS3RVcGzKBTAYBxWS4lLq-6QMyZGqoS_6HdcWLRMJ-68pcdFVV2IwWMvDTMiFfF_2QKR4/s1600-h/DSC_0209+copy+%282%29.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281915856855503154" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 214px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqPCHQM6wKi7hgXByCmZWkBplkvwXnvGWGrbicd1cBLVYF252iLog15r4N75nWbEZBdxn-RquS3RVcGzKBTAYBxWS4lLq-6QMyZGqoS_6HdcWLRMJ-68pcdFVV2IwWMvDTMiFfF_2QKR4/s320/DSC_0209+copy+%282%29.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >On December 12th Melanie walked across the stage at the University of North Texas Coliseum in Denton and received her Master of Science in Information Science. With a 4.0 - Phi Kappa Phi. Almost all the coursework was done online! Many, many thanks to everyone who supported both of us during the long haul.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-weight: bold;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzIW093354L8gkO_vmL0GLP3eECb0tIVO481Cd1XKHnp2M3hnzKz57aiq0WSEOXlg-C0ZAEf4nPJ1hX34pRMXr9BubFxel4M9rHQnjP6dVXdGPqxorABkVZqS_x3xApYpdMrT2j0GWA7E/s1600-h/DSC_0252+copy+%282%29.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281917383822095330" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; width: 320px; cursor: pointer; height: 214px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzIW093354L8gkO_vmL0GLP3eECb0tIVO481Cd1XKHnp2M3hnzKz57aiq0WSEOXlg-C0ZAEf4nPJ1hX34pRMXr9BubFxel4M9rHQnjP6dVXdGPqxorABkVZqS_x3xApYpdMrT2j0GWA7E/s320/DSC_0252+copy+%282%29.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />1a. Mel and Dennis go biker</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >Even though Dennis’ middle age craziness has long since passed, he and Mel got full body tattoos and bought a Harley Davidso. . .oh, get real—they dressed up as bikers for Halloween (Dennis taught classes and directed in full gear).</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7_J4VM5l_nMrkT2lFr0jJsO1CqpUrUoBwqI72n1c2CLuPK5YuJdBSGbC57qvbzO0dLHhPIa7VPER2V0GLqEPMCXCalkK3sV-i7w9sGnRPI_ZORP_1xM35l9etr9rt5WZo_cGvDxixpD0/s1600-h/019.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 247px; height: 329px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7_J4VM5l_nMrkT2lFr0jJsO1CqpUrUoBwqI72n1c2CLuPK5YuJdBSGbC57qvbzO0dLHhPIa7VPER2V0GLqEPMCXCalkK3sV-i7w9sGnRPI_ZORP_1xM35l9etr9rt5WZo_cGvDxixpD0/s200/019.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282979229419021186" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >Here’s wishing you and yours a very merry Christmas and a joyous and prosperous 2009!</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><br />Much Love,</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >Dennis & Melanie</span>Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04065021640116419007noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3100236333839193804.post-74222515491783530472008-09-07T09:12:00.000-05:002008-09-07T10:12:04.396-05:00Subzero MGM adventure - '04 WDW Vacation<span style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5COwner%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><link rel="Edit-Time-Data" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5COwner%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_editdata.mso"><!--[if !mso]> <style> v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} .shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);} </style> <![endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceType"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceName"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="date"></o:smarttagtype><span style="font-size:180%;"><st1:date year="2004" day="15" month="12" style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="">Chapter 7.1
<br />12/15/04</span></st1:date></span></span><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--><span style=";font-family:";font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-size:180%;">
<br />
<br />Just to recap –
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<br />We’re at The Studios and…
<br />
<br />IT’S COLD!!!
<br />
<br />…and Deanster, Dr. D and I have decided to tough out the night time temps.
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<br />As the sun was setting we thought we might shop a bit.
<br />
<br />We have a great time at Tatooine Traders. Dr. D eyes the Sith Baseball Jersey with </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >VADER</span><span style="font-size:180%;"> across the back. Long ago in a galaxy far, far away, his nickname at the University was Dr. Death. He has since mellowed – A LOT, but nevertheless, I think it would be terribly funny for him to get it. He starts looking for his size and then notices the price tag - $175. Once I pick him up off the floor and assure him that we can probably find in on Ebay, he feels a little better.</span>
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<br /><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" spt="75" preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"> <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"> <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"> </v:formulas> <v:path extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" connecttype="rect"> <o:lock ext="edit" aspectratio="t"> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_i1025" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style="'width:24pt;"><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--></span><div style="text-align: center;font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmrnWYVYtwgxP91FD2sl8E9L6DEnPii2J_AfFl5-7VatI3T_xY9bNtRtHOmZMhheSItMlg1T0bvAc01lPeFdXjTR5e5A7FM3UcvMdP3nU1aongBuBZxfNxy2tdVeh9jQb-j4k0qEtQ878/s1600-h/DSC_0647+copy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmrnWYVYtwgxP91FD2sl8E9L6DEnPii2J_AfFl5-7VatI3T_xY9bNtRtHOmZMhheSItMlg1T0bvAc01lPeFdXjTR5e5A7FM3UcvMdP3nU1aongBuBZxfNxy2tdVeh9jQb-j4k0qEtQ878/s400/DSC_0647+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243282804158957794" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><!--[endif]--></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >This is the same face he made when he saw the price tag</span><span style="font-size:130%;">
<br /></span></div><span style=";font-family:";font-size:130%;" >
<br /><span style="font-size:180%;">We still have some time to kill, so I take point position and start toward Hollywood Blvd. Fists jammed into pockets, scarf in a noose around my neck, head down and walking fast.
<br />
<br />Dr. D says that I have a super hero attribute of being able to dematerialize at will. He relies on his cell phone at malls, Super Targets and Lowes to locate me on the radar when I do this. I was never aware of my superpower, so obviously I’m not very good at controlling it. It annoys the heck out of him when I disappear.
<br />
<br />On a side note, it annoys the heck out of me when he gets LOST!
<br />
<br />Well, plummeting temperatures seems to make me even more transparent. I swore that one minute I glanced over my shoulder and he and Dean were 5 feet behind me – and the next I looked, they were gone.
<br />
<br />Great – now my plan of ducking into an interesting shop to thaw is now out of the question because then they REALLY couldn’t see me. Dr. D doesn’t have his magic cell phone and Deanster’s roams at about $172 a minute. (We had been warned to use it ONLY in an EMERGENCY! i.e. blood loss, hospitalization or Prince Eric sighting).
<br />
<br />So I stand on the sidewalk and wait….
<br />
<br />and cough….
<br />
<br />and blow my nose…
<br />
<br />(feel sorry for me yet? Yeah, nobody else did either.)
<br />
<br />They finally show up and Dr. D has made a believer out of Deanster as to the validity of my powers.
<br />
<br />I deliver an edict – we HAVE to stay together. I don’t want to wander around in the cold AND the dark looking for them. They vow to stay close and then look at each other and giggle.
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<br />Great.
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<br />They browse, I defrost and all is right with the world.</span>
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<br /><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1026" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style="'width:24pt;height:24pt'/"><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--></span><div style="text-align: center;font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt7kdcLkP01V-STaS0ToCoPxWlFWWGSlmwDCgDGprMQ8GB3Ki7aTJUNB0pOyv8_UMeIepyRzlrQnmdMI_dMwUuyQB2J4dbA73G7VorLoys5UuU1whYwkabybnC4pn612MW5u_Omt_rVQo/s1600-h/DSC_0657+copy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt7kdcLkP01V-STaS0ToCoPxWlFWWGSlmwDCgDGprMQ8GB3Ki7aTJUNB0pOyv8_UMeIepyRzlrQnmdMI_dMwUuyQB2J4dbA73G7VorLoys5UuU1whYwkabybnC4pn612MW5u_Omt_rVQo/s400/DSC_0657+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243283402336047026" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><!--[endif]--></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Deanster in front of her next camera acquisition</span><span style="font-size:130%;">
<br /></span></div><span style=";font-family:";font-size:130%;" >
<br /><span style="font-size:180%;">We decide we should do The <a href="http://www.jenningsosbornefamily.com/christmaslights/">Osborne Family</a> lights as soon as it was turned on. Even though it had been a light attendance day, we could tell more people were arriving in order to see it and <a href="http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/entertainment/entertainmentDetail?id=FantasmicEntertainmentPage">Fantasmic</a>.
<br />
<br />Well, let me just tell you about the pride that swelled in the heart of this native Arkansan. Deanster and I were both born in </span></span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:180%;" ><st1:city><st1:place><span style="">Little Rock</span></st1:place></st1:city></span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-size:180%;"> and there is nothing like a little Hillbilly excess.</span>
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<br /><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1027" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style="'width:24pt;height:24pt'/"><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--></span><div style="text-align: center;font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidxYAK6sMKK8wJYPPWeXjTjCI1wqYv3PrnsE1IX_lxrmu0nY-NO0QDV58DTfl9toLUoQocARGkbOCu76_Fvo3nTbZRG2edp1aNGNvkABuQfoaHWggTHEJzR5K1YFUgWeEr-zdCc0ANAuo/s1600-h/DSC_0693+copy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidxYAK6sMKK8wJYPPWeXjTjCI1wqYv3PrnsE1IX_lxrmu0nY-NO0QDV58DTfl9toLUoQocARGkbOCu76_Fvo3nTbZRG2edp1aNGNvkABuQfoaHWggTHEJzR5K1YFUgWeEr-zdCc0ANAuo/s400/DSC_0693+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243284077281535186" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><!--[endif]--></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Banjo music please</span><span style="font-size:130%;">
<br /></span></div><span style=";font-family:";font-size:130%;" >
<br />
<br /><span style="font-size:180%;">Dr. D is totally impressed. He believes outdoor Christmas lights and frippery to be an art form unto itself. His ultimate dream is to have a manger scene on the front yard with a motion detector that would activate a pop-up baby Jesus that waves at the passing cars.
<br /></span>
<br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="font-family: times new roman;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHsGgSQ2rmryWJlLyzsoSe238lfdbJvw3uxYO4_DVOjIsbUysG07h97TWFbwM5BFL26KToKHgI0_3VPgra-9NEfq88NDXaigXflCXEagWQOa0A3xTyOubkSnqWwKsUOcJVFgrMQL-YHqg/s1600-h/Detail-BlueRing-Baby-Jesus.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHsGgSQ2rmryWJlLyzsoSe238lfdbJvw3uxYO4_DVOjIsbUysG07h97TWFbwM5BFL26KToKHgI0_3VPgra-9NEfq88NDXaigXflCXEagWQOa0A3xTyOubkSnqWwKsUOcJVFgrMQL-YHqg/s400/Detail-BlueRing-Baby-Jesus.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243289654082807586" border="0" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:130%;" >
<br /><span style="font-size:180%;">That’s just the kinda guy he is.
<br />
<br />This is the first and only time that we encounter any kind of crowd. It’s packed. We hug the right hand curb to stay out of the milling throng. Deanster weaves in and out, but does a good job of keeping up with us. (She’s afraid I’ll call her cell phone.) It snows - or rather foams.
<br />
<br />You know, it just doesn’t have the same <b><i>WOW</i></b> impact in weather that is already conducive to that type of precipitation. On second thought, at what temperature does it foam?
<br />
<br />Having had our Griswold Christmas experience fulfilled, we trek back. Deanster has become captivated by Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. She took, hmm… maybe, I dunno, A ZILLION pictures of it throughout the day.</span>
<br />
<br /><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1028" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style="'width:24pt;height:24pt'/"><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--></span><div style="text-align: center;font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIpcAyrPPEJHBSNOYxSJ5ItryhfA14Clek2xAI69hf2j97g-iTozpb-TmJWytdX38642WTB8WrrcqDNmbMSsIuzTgAaKKq-kwWwwe5TOvjjIR9UJCACajmQNdNltIWWk1X9hXdKuv8CWo/s1600-h/DSC_0681+copy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIpcAyrPPEJHBSNOYxSJ5ItryhfA14Clek2xAI69hf2j97g-iTozpb-TmJWytdX38642WTB8WrrcqDNmbMSsIuzTgAaKKq-kwWwwe5TOvjjIR9UJCACajmQNdNltIWWk1X9hXdKuv8CWo/s400/DSC_0681+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243284068313387634" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><!--[endif]--></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >One of my favorites</span><span style="font-size:130%;">
<br /></span></div><span style=";font-family:";font-size:130%;" >
<br /><span style="font-size:180%;">We are excited about seeing Fantasmic after all the hype and publicity. On the way, it’s time for some warm beverages and a little nosh for me. We grab some coffee, hot chocolate and a kid’s meal at one of the counter service areas on Sunset. It hits the spot – Mac and Cheese, coleslaw, grapes and juice for $3.00. Just right for my very non-discerning and cheap palate. Dr. D just shakes his head.
<br />
<br />We do our best cattle impersonation and follow the herd to the theatre. I really didn’t quite know what to expect, but I must say it was worth the cold. Very inventive and imaginative. Can’t you just hear the <a href="http://corporate.disney.go.com/careers/who_imagineering.html">imagineer</a> that first came up with the idea pitching it to his boss?
<br />
<br />“OK – first you build a lagoon that’s big enough for party barges and a steamboat to travel on…then you need, like, a mountain that’s at least 5 stories tall, and then, ok, maybe we can edit all the major Disney movies and project them onto the mountain, nooooo – wait a minute… we spray WATER and show them on that…”</span>
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<br /><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1030" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style="'width:24pt;height:24pt'/"><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="font-family: times new roman;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivE58mlOAnEwdkkBOJcPf0k3e7135q6YMEnju87jCWKqoJELOwQdGXpUxcoJqxWUIm2xxvKznf-ZVV8V1rLq6DvRf-1YAUGqliKwfrrQznOAIeYW4Q5xe-P7aCCGlt2KgZ9nWOLyDBYIE/s1600-h/DSC_0766+copy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivE58mlOAnEwdkkBOJcPf0k3e7135q6YMEnju87jCWKqoJELOwQdGXpUxcoJqxWUIm2xxvKznf-ZVV8V1rLq6DvRf-1YAUGqliKwfrrQznOAIeYW4Q5xe-P7aCCGlt2KgZ9nWOLyDBYIE/s400/DSC_0766+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243284489680275954" border="0" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:130%;" ><!--[endif]-->
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<br />
<br /><span style="font-size:180%;">Dr. D got all analytical and started discussing the acting styles and the historical significance of performing in an amphitheatre.
<br />
<br />I got all schmoopsie when Snow White showed up and they played “</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:180%;" >Someday my Prince Will Come</span><span style="font-size:180%;">.”
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<br />We’ve been married almost 18 years. Go figure.</span>
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<br /><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1031" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style="'width:24pt;height:24pt'/"><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--></span><div style="text-align: center;font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYgKQy67hdLmFYyi53FSa1bVjzUUyoonEdMZWgtFi3YIKbXCxNEvN9CvqcjQOPSxy74Zog4DjYCDI9RACsRkUsvJ5UnL1qM_dvUubmdVoMgFRUziVJNlcwIMf9GuH0MN7hMf5XMzEz4QI/s1600-h/DSC_0666+copy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYgKQy67hdLmFYyi53FSa1bVjzUUyoonEdMZWgtFi3YIKbXCxNEvN9CvqcjQOPSxy74Zog4DjYCDI9RACsRkUsvJ5UnL1qM_dvUubmdVoMgFRUziVJNlcwIMf9GuH0MN7hMf5XMzEz4QI/s400/DSC_0666+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243283406318752418" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><!--[endif]--></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Me and my prince</span><span style="font-size:130%;">
<br /></span></div><span style=";font-family:";font-size:130%;" >
<br /><span style="font-size:180%;">We now do what we have named the exit shuffle – walk until our teeth chatter, duck into a shop, thaw. Walk until I can’t feel my feet, duck into a shop, thaw. This southern girl just doesn’t handle cold well at all.
<br />
<br />The best thing is that the Villains are well represented at MGM. I especially enjoy…</span>
<br />
<br /><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1032" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style="'width:24pt;height:24pt'/"><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--></span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:130%;" ><!--[endif]-->
<br />
<br /><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1033" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style="'width:24pt;height:24pt'/"><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="font-family: times new roman;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuoQWpk7oW6CwPDo_53Jk-3fQZpkAscL2KTGtDzxH8XsfjWWV4fmdmFRi2DCKsU-5PBVSo6kf9ZNA2J1s5cfIKcz4Qj9yY0gMGW1Pyr7e-g_pEP3ikvgpv3LoZUGpEjogtSMGSqYkjoZs/s1600-h/DSC_0807+copy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuoQWpk7oW6CwPDo_53Jk-3fQZpkAscL2KTGtDzxH8XsfjWWV4fmdmFRi2DCKsU-5PBVSo6kf9ZNA2J1s5cfIKcz4Qj9yY0gMGW1Pyr7e-g_pEP3ikvgpv3LoZUGpEjogtSMGSqYkjoZs/s400/DSC_0807+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243284494408792754" border="0" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:130%;" ><!--[endif]-->
<br /><span style="font-size:180%;">This is by far our favorite park. Dr. D is all about the attention to detail at Disney in general, but especially here.</span>
<br />
<br /><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1034" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style="'width:24pt;height:24pt'/"><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="font-family: times new roman;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge91Ls_j5mhL2stsubHcjx1JIxzbwnviuQHkwyqP7oiaYP5ovu7mS8FKTwWE7qC_IGNsuktt86vuwDSM8hKEqzJ6_K4FZlRk3JL8micBMvvvDSVJpbsnoSxhfiXhGvbIODXhxNbC-rISc/s1600-h/DSC_0810+copy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge91Ls_j5mhL2stsubHcjx1JIxzbwnviuQHkwyqP7oiaYP5ovu7mS8FKTwWE7qC_IGNsuktt86vuwDSM8hKEqzJ6_K4FZlRk3JL8micBMvvvDSVJpbsnoSxhfiXhGvbIODXhxNbC-rISc/s400/DSC_0810+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243284934560331298" border="0" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:130%;" ><!--[endif]-->
<br /><span style="font-size:180%;">We are glad that we toughed it out. Fantasmic was great and the park was just beautiful lit up with all the decorations at night. Dr. D and I are looking forward to returning on Friday for our lunch at the Brown Derby with an Imagineer.
<br />
<br />On the way back to Coronado Springs, I start thinking about tomorrow. It’s my big day to do the Dolphin Encounter at the </span></span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:180%;" ><st1:place><st1:placename><span style="">Living</span></st1:placename><span style=""> </span><st1:placetype><span style="">Seas</span></st1:placetype></st1:place></span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:180%;"> in Epcot.</span>
<br />
<br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:180%;">Better take a double dose of Robitussin so I can sleep...</span></span>
<br /></span>Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04065021640116419007noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3100236333839193804.post-24304315869714898122008-08-27T18:20:00.001-05:002008-08-27T21:12:48.842-05:00MGM - The Day of the Ugly Pictures - '04 Disney Vacation<st1:date year="2004" day="15" month="12">Chapter 7 - MGM Subzero Adventure<br /></st1:date><p class="MsoNormal"><st1:date year="2004" day="15" month="12">12/15/04</st1:date><br /><br />Ahhhhh, MGM Studios day. <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">(There has been a name change since - it is now Disney Studios - MGM threatened a lawsuit - who knew?)</span><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">The park that I have most looked forward to visiting. The park that has all the attractions that I think Dr. D will enjoy. The park that is old <st1:city><st1:place>Hollywood</st1:place></st1:city> and can “make me a STAR…” (Perhaps I have seen <st1:street style="font-style: italic;"><st1:address>42nd Street</st1:address></st1:street> one to many times.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRD0sRXdyaCUUrLhlFrBAmwcDv2i4DQr4MiYivFeR72BSPdloZ2wN95dymKscRa-QB5M6eooa4a6kxPGmQFGk17oErPjQcbolEmA48q0eq6iqwgk-Y0cQnWjd236WoAQ-tRjQJhfaXYgA/s1600-h/DSC_0650+copy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRD0sRXdyaCUUrLhlFrBAmwcDv2i4DQr4MiYivFeR72BSPdloZ2wN95dymKscRa-QB5M6eooa4a6kxPGmQFGk17oErPjQcbolEmA48q0eq6iqwgk-Y0cQnWjd236WoAQ-tRjQJhfaXYgA/s400/DSC_0650+copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239343809670549490" border="0" /></a><br />Well, I don’t want to go.<br /><br />I want to take 2 doses of Robitussin, pull the covers over my head and be warm, quiet and still for 24 hours.<br /><br />Dr. D reminds me we are on vacation. I HAVE to get up, get dressed, get on the bus, go to the park, walk around all day (and night) and have FUN!!! He punctuates this by walking out the door to go get breakfast. He also holds the door open for 3.2 seconds longer than he has to for effect.<br /><br />An arctic wind blasts through the room.<br /><br />This is what I’m feeling on the mood barometer.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgamOBInCqKQKlUJhjLVxJ1JxAcznWcO5ZgZoVq7ydy32OIDPfVravaOnN5401IphOuIAknyAcrbTM3HJPrwtK2CMcfQJOxIFrKY3rvNtNHaBErIgSFjVPs1LUQSU0tzbcC6r9sPS7dWtY/s1600-h/Disney+063+copy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgamOBInCqKQKlUJhjLVxJ1JxAcznWcO5ZgZoVq7ydy32OIDPfVravaOnN5401IphOuIAknyAcrbTM3HJPrwtK2CMcfQJOxIFrKY3rvNtNHaBErIgSFjVPs1LUQSU0tzbcC6r9sPS7dWtY/s400/Disney+063+copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239343282336211906" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal">I’m going to need an attitude adjustment. I add my Evil Queen ball cap to my wardrobe for the day. It is probably best for anyone who encounters me to have a visual warning.<br /><br />It is cold (upper 30’s), but at least the sun is shining.<br /><br />We pass through the front gates and it really is beautiful. I just have to stand and look for a minute. I have an affinity for Art Deco anything. We’ve been lucky enough to stay at the Waldorf Astoria and attend galas at <st1:place><st1:placename>Radio</st1:placename> <st1:placetype>City</st1:placetype> <st1:placetype>Music Hall</st1:placetype></st1:place>. Both are palaces devoted to Art Deco. Both are lovingly restored.<br /><br />Both made me cry. (I’m a little overly dramatic and a little overly emotional, even on my best days…)<br /><br /><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" spt="75" preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"> <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"> <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"> </v:formulas> <v:path extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" connecttype="rect"> <o:lock ext="edit" aspectratio="t"> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_i1025" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style="'width:24pt;"><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhghKJZxSB_EbA3ojK0c7kIqF4LfqbtLmPExpZrZ5ZZIYnGS72lsuY-0yEZ3v2CB9fbOWXwQaItVxy_WTYhE4nyFkVM5UtWQdAQEF4Cn7fas3W-skgwSg9Kke6c1BY2u2dDpaxsY_DMYBQ/s1600-h/tony2001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhghKJZxSB_EbA3ojK0c7kIqF4LfqbtLmPExpZrZ5ZZIYnGS72lsuY-0yEZ3v2CB9fbOWXwQaItVxy_WTYhE4nyFkVM5UtWQdAQEF4Cn7fas3W-skgwSg9Kke6c1BY2u2dDpaxsY_DMYBQ/s400/tony2001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239341925507338482" border="0" /></a><!--[endif]--><i>My best friend and I at Radio City</i><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal"><br />Dr. D puts his arm around me. I can tell he’s watching for a reaction – he knows I’m exhausted, sick and on drugs. And now there’s all this ART DECO!!</p><p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">I want to live here! I’m too busy planning my move into a space above one of the shops to cry.</span><br /><br />We stroll down the street. Well, at least we try to stroll down the street. Deanster has noticed my weakness and she has usurped all my tour guide power. She has a PLAN, but we need to HURRY! (Not a word in my vocabulary today!)<br /><br />As we are walking through the large courtyard in front of Sorcerer Mickey’s Hat, I notice something on the ground in front of me. This is a very unusual site – there is NEVER anything on the ground that isn’t supposed to be there. Dr. D has often threatened to throw trash in the street just to time how fast it is disposed of by park personnel.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">I have quietly discouraged this.<br /><br />Upon closer inspection we discover it is a wallet. I look around for the candid camera. This can't be right. There isn’t anyone around me and no one seems to be concerned or looking for anything. I pick it up and Deanster joins me. (She has come to the back of our family convoy to see what the hold up is all about.) We open it up and can tell by the ID that it belongs to an international visitor. We check out his picture to see if he is standing around us somewhere. No such luck.<br /><br />That would suck. You’re in a foreign country and you lose your wallet.<br /><br />I’d have to be sedated.<br /><br />I tell the family to hang here a bit and I’ll take it to lost and found. Someone directs me to Guest Services and I turn it in. Hopefully the guy was reunited with it with quickly. Isn’t it great how doing a little kindness for someone else can make you feel good. And I certainly needed all the “feel good” I could get.<br /><br />As I was getting to where all the family was sitting, the characters made an appearance. I still hadn’t seen my childhood, absolute favorite.<br /><br />THERE HE WAS AND I COULD BE SECOND IN LINE….</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjnJorjOVQEeaAiTsr0U1UvHEgjrbB7IaQ4msMBToFCkdZrBRYQugwxZ0XqGWv3idbN5GZZdHrWNufIhBPN95IU5EaaPbQW7Wzjk2pid3SQSgwoznU40-p5AfhojfS4kwjgieeOHqI6iI/s1600-h/DSC_0595+copy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjnJorjOVQEeaAiTsr0U1UvHEgjrbB7IaQ4msMBToFCkdZrBRYQugwxZ0XqGWv3idbN5GZZdHrWNufIhBPN95IU5EaaPbQW7Wzjk2pid3SQSgwoznU40-p5AfhojfS4kwjgieeOHqI6iI/s400/DSC_0595+copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239342743302259826" border="0" /></a>I was feeling MUCH better. A hug from Tigger is the best medicine of all.<br /><br />We admired Gromann’s Chinese Theatre and rode “The Great Movie Ride.”We loved the attention to detail here. Mini Maureen and I have always been old movie hounds. Watched many, many together growing up. Dr. D did a lot of his Master’s work in Film.<br /><br />This is our kinda place.<br /><br /><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1026" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style="'width:24pt;height:24pt'/"><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrnwecTWCvR6KQp-c-2w6YXnwOvNavLwBwISKmb520bSahN9m43teNlkGwykdyi1vyPRI7-aU7lNCJtkPd3-v4Ueyfi9tyqrpoIOxdH61Kwnex86TvSzdrEUlQRJoj6gXggoGPH-sqZJE/s1600-h/Disney+091+copy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrnwecTWCvR6KQp-c-2w6YXnwOvNavLwBwISKmb520bSahN9m43teNlkGwykdyi1vyPRI7-aU7lNCJtkPd3-v4Ueyfi9tyqrpoIOxdH61Kwnex86TvSzdrEUlQRJoj6gXggoGPH-sqZJE/s400/Disney+091+copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239344489157677906" border="0" /></a><!--[endif]--><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Beloved Mary</span><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1027" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style="'width:24pt;height:24pt'/"><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4d9Ul7c3UGbX3yR5P_zSKlTYz5FxNpXQ03ov1b7HbPz3R82dMbpdsCVWmlvXkkiK30MUZn7Tr6SujfxJgS0CD56NJzhyAEes1uYInU_UzSof0o7HdWvUgl73HmzWStaFnmlrpCtAvVxw/s1600-h/DSC_0602+copy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4d9Ul7c3UGbX3yR5P_zSKlTYz5FxNpXQ03ov1b7HbPz3R82dMbpdsCVWmlvXkkiK30MUZn7Tr6SujfxJgS0CD56NJzhyAEes1uYInU_UzSof0o7HdWvUgl73HmzWStaFnmlrpCtAvVxw/s400/DSC_0602+copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239342748373911826" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><i>The Duke</i></span><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal"><br />We all really enjoyed “Who Wants to Be A Millionaire.” <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">(This attraction is gone now - makes us very sad)</span> Got seated just before it started and once we figured out how everything worked, I made it to Number 2 and Dr. D made it to Number 8 on the top 10 board. (uh…I’m a little competitive, too!)<br /><br />We visit “Walt Disney; One Man’s Dream.” Again, my family gets into the whole educational aspect of Disney. We are museum goers and this attraction really appealed to us. Thought the film was great, too.<br /><br />Deanster has a pilgrimage to make at this park, too. Remember, she is a bit of an Ariel fan. (Well, really she is a Prince Eric fan, but figures if Eric has an available brother, the best way to get to meet him is through Ariel.) We see “Voyage of the Little Mermaid” which is good for all the bells and whistles effects, but really geared for the toddler set.<br /><br />Lunch time is spent at the ABC Commissary. This certainly wasn’t my favorite, but I was thankful to be inside and warm. I was getting cranky again.<br /><br />Dr. D passes me the Robitussin.<br /><br />He says he figures if I’m sleepy, I’ll be more pleasant.<br /><br />I tell him to recall the behavior we’ve noticed of children who need a nap.<br /><br />He puts away the Robitussin and hands me a cough drop instead.<br /><br />I decide that a little “alone time” would be beneficial for all involved so I send everyone else to Beauty and the Beast.<br /><br />What I need is a little distraction. What I <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">need</span> is to go SHOPPING!!!! I’ve read that the shops will send your purchases back to your resort for you. What a convenience! (And what a partner in crime, Dr. D won’t see all the bags of stuff I purchase!) I was on a mission. I put on my best Blues’ Brother’s sun glasses and set off. I pick up some little gifts for friends and HAD THEM ALL SENT TO CORONADO SPRINGS.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">Let’s see, do I choose a little apartment on Sunset or </span><st1:street style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><st1:address>Hollywood Blvd</st1:address></st1:street><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">?</span><br /><br />I run by The Hollywood Brown Derby. Dr. D and I are scheduled to have lunch with an Imagineer on Friday and Dr. D is trying very hard to eat healthier. Because it is a special event, the menu we are served is different from their regular fare and I wanted to get an idea of what was on it. The Maitre d’ summons a chef (WOW) and she and I have a great conversation about the menu and all his options.</p><p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">If I call the movers right now, my furniture could be here by Monday…</span><br /><br />Crankies abated, I rendezvous with the family at The Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqa1q2SkCeiV5c1K_N5PtA9jCsKiKoJ9PXMrL7bajve_-fULQkoh_tiY0jjOAcnpfgzkyYfwod0mR4UXAvMwU1a8ndqfnF9YEFhlwU1dg0eoNo_iEyTxjPI1UHVvrBiyVTvMXnirfOvCk/s1600-h/Disney+080+copy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqa1q2SkCeiV5c1K_N5PtA9jCsKiKoJ9PXMrL7bajve_-fULQkoh_tiY0jjOAcnpfgzkyYfwod0mR4UXAvMwU1a8ndqfnF9YEFhlwU1dg0eoNo_iEyTxjPI1UHVvrBiyVTvMXnirfOvCk/s400/Disney+080+copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239343291684160482" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">Note to self – new MGM apartment must have unobstructed panorama of this sign. Look for listing on amenities noted as “hunkyview”.</span><br /><br />I think it is one of my favorite live attractions. Now, to be fair, I have seen Raiders of the Lost Ark about a bazillion times, can debate the dark aspects of <st1:place><st1:placetype>Temple</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename>Doom</st1:placename></st1:place> with the best of them and have very strong opinions about Mr. Ford’s leading ladies in all three movies. <span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">(Now four!)</span> I thought the whole concept here was just great. Audience participants, incredible sets, good actors, SFX’s. Just fun.<br /><br />By now it’s getting late in the day. The sun is starting to go down, along with the temperature. Deanster has sustained us for a bit with hot chocolate, but baby, it’s cold outside.<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheThS5_-oiLLNqVu8ofzMUPM16Sy1QNV-ZrRjZqM_hd8aNk69p_-vvoIb5pel85zCVukYBY6KaUBOykv9rcdDXj18GVbeXu-tHZb-v4IqXSBgAvRKUUVkn2cBTZ6Mhfwu5hGhZIvVSX-g/s1600-h/DSC_0619+copy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheThS5_-oiLLNqVu8ofzMUPM16Sy1QNV-ZrRjZqM_hd8aNk69p_-vvoIb5pel85zCVukYBY6KaUBOykv9rcdDXj18GVbeXu-tHZb-v4IqXSBgAvRKUUVkn2cBTZ6Mhfwu5hGhZIvVSX-g/s400/DSC_0619+copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239343805547661426" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><i>Deanster doing her JAWA impersonation</i></span><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">We have a quick family conference – <st1:place><st1:city>Big</st1:city> <st1:state>Cal</st1:state></st1:place> and Mini Maureen decide to call it a day. The rest of us think we can last another 2 hours or so and visit the Osborn Family Lights and Fantasmic.<br /><br />We wave bye-bye to the parents and gird our loins, which translated means, I pull out the polar fleece toboggan and lose any chance that I might look cute in any further pictures.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhghEf1v7R-dXmuy-LOelqsB2XY52RPOYciQAV_dcP9aRVDNLNDkEawULxtlHvF5uDmpO2S2fVlqkSYjfL-i-AyObi_51iMbIg9wnasauPnmiZuyLre8YM4AjbcVIaqu7sYTmReapVfAVE/s1600-h/Disney+073+copy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhghEf1v7R-dXmuy-LOelqsB2XY52RPOYciQAV_dcP9aRVDNLNDkEawULxtlHvF5uDmpO2S2fVlqkSYjfL-i-AyObi_51iMbIg9wnasauPnmiZuyLre8YM4AjbcVIaqu7sYTmReapVfAVE/s400/Disney+073+copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239384114980700322" border="0" /></a><br />Next...</p><p class="MsoNormal">Chapter 7.1 - The Subzero MGM Adventure Continues.</p>Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04065021640116419007noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3100236333839193804.post-284552638310214432008-08-22T07:35:00.000-05:002008-08-27T21:17:29.782-05:00Winter in the World Showcase - '04 Walt Disney World ShowcaseOr “Freezing my butt off" in 7 different languages.<br /><br />Chapter 6<br /><br />Family Council -12/13/04<br /><br />The Weather channel (which Mini Maureen and I have a direct uplink to at home – we lived in “Tornado Alley” in North Central Texas for way too long… it scarred us for life) has reported that a big COLD (read ARTIC) front is on its way.<br /><br />This is not the first we have heard of this. It was forecast even before we left home. I encouraged the family to pack a little of everything including clothing that could be layered. We're prepared. We decide to go to EPCOT on Tuesday. More things to do inside.<br /><br />Little has been said to this point about my Robitussin addiction and with good reason. I truly was feeling better, exhausted, but better. I was getting by with a dose before bed and one with breakfast. Couple that with some (sing it with me now) RiiiiccoLAAA cough drops during the day and Dr. D was beginning to think that I really didn’t have tuberculosis.<br /><br />The weather had been so nice….<br /><br />All this was about to change.<br /><br />12/14/04<br /><br />We hit EPCOT right at about 9:30 am. So did the jet stream.<br /><br />If you could find a sunny spot, out of the wind, facing south, with your scarf around your head, it wasn’t too bad.<br /><br />Characters were out in full force at the front. Deanster goes to Pinocchio. I see Gideon. Now for those of you not well versed in your Pinocchio, Gideon is the faithful sidekick to J. Worthington Foulfellow, a.k.a. Honest John. I always empathized with poor little Pinocchio. I would’ve gone with them, too. After all didn’t Honest John say “Come with us, we’ll make you a star!”?<br /><br />Deanster says Gideon is creepy looking.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ofGuP0lqHq-_fBgzryJyd3Yx8Km0i_YYsrJ3i7EJrQRSthIMlOz9fJquACvf7uBuoZ7XcV-VQSo3kr9b3uCOGd8pBnpsKr2LOO6Drzd4HbyexqIuZK3vv40B84kw38nEBYo-k0D1tbo/s1600-h/DSC_0380+copy.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237324795825774002" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ofGuP0lqHq-_fBgzryJyd3Yx8Km0i_YYsrJ3i7EJrQRSthIMlOz9fJquACvf7uBuoZ7XcV-VQSo3kr9b3uCOGd8pBnpsKr2LOO6Drzd4HbyexqIuZK3vv40B84kw38nEBYo-k0D1tbo/s400/DSC_0380+copy.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><i>Hey diddle di dee, an actor’s life for me!</i></span><br /></div><br />We work our way pretty quickly back to the World Showcase. We did stop to check out these guys (and gal) for a bit. They are called <i>Kristos.</i><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9MHVoijsJitRdAtd1FUrKTsxHJbRBWUQTPD1P31Sbcbp2gfRmHMmCLWurY_V2pQyu9g-S_9BkwL-HShgW_3xS5MQ7cuC-A159W805-MbzlfAkObtdOzJmRwTkACoyN-9uWAI50vCBin0/s1600-h/DSC_0402+copy.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237324795165566450" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9MHVoijsJitRdAtd1FUrKTsxHJbRBWUQTPD1P31Sbcbp2gfRmHMmCLWurY_V2pQyu9g-S_9BkwL-HShgW_3xS5MQ7cuC-A159W805-MbzlfAkObtdOzJmRwTkACoyN-9uWAI50vCBin0/s400/DSC_0402+copy.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><i>Amazing!</i></span><br /></div><br />I think it is so cool for EPCOT to have all the different performing artists.<br /><br />We take a left at the lake and start with Mexico. It’s still not quite 11 yet so Deanster and Mini check out some shops to get out of the wind. Dr. D is in heaven, having already shed his windbreaker. He loves the weather.<br /><br />I should clarify that Dr. D lived several years in Wisconsin while attending UW at Madison (or UMAD as he refers to it.) He is part penguin. Has been known to stand outside in a snowstorm and eat ice cream.<br /><br />I think he’s nuts.<br /><br />I walk around our house, October through March, and occasionally in the summer months when he gets ahold of the thermostat, with a blanket wrapped around me. He calls me “Dances with Flannel.” I freeze about 90% of the time. Today is no different.<br /><br />Big Cal and I are admiring the flora. Such an amazing array of plants. Next time I need to send him on one of the horticultural tours. I know he’d love it.<br /><br />Deanster and Mini Mo motor by and we enter the pyramid.<br /><br />Dr. D twitches….<br /><br />“Feliz Na-vi-dad….”<br /><br />Makes me laugh out loud.<br /><br />We are some of the first to ride El Rio Del Tiempo. Mini Mo thinks this is cool – loves all things Aztec, Inca, etc. Since “It’s a Small World” is closed for refurbishment, I figure this ride is a good replacement.<br /><br />Decide to grab some coffee in Norway. Dr. D begins a clandestine affair with one of the blonde, blue-eyed Cast Memeber lovelies in the bakery while Deanster and I ride Maelstrom and take pictures. Norway has become his FAVORITE country!!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitjAnQigqSXyxgmQk7OffcyaBMPRcaNd6oFUNYMK5qjInnVZ7e8q5gGqCYEHwsgaw0RQop-jFS7VOxasDI36UNiazIL_9BCQE4ZALFk-eb-y0kTNnalwzOH2wegHKiNWffBl7jUGIwzZg/s1600-h/DSC_0415+copy.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237325234296314370" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitjAnQigqSXyxgmQk7OffcyaBMPRcaNd6oFUNYMK5qjInnVZ7e8q5gGqCYEHwsgaw0RQop-jFS7VOxasDI36UNiazIL_9BCQE4ZALFk-eb-y0kTNnalwzOH2wegHKiNWffBl7jUGIwzZg/s400/DSC_0415+copy.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Germany is lovely. Tons of poinsettias.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibhRl1OGMnWaE0BAJBJdnGF-12PuDOd1jLhl4nXOTHd1yM3-4mKzDdVh7RHje3YvUco0MC-6cl8i8ZnliUJRof204H3m4jvaon69JGPwplVReYddV_pErE8tENp81mOs-4kAY-5Hs7cMQ/s1600-h/DSC_0427+copy.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237325232907491858" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibhRl1OGMnWaE0BAJBJdnGF-12PuDOd1jLhl4nXOTHd1yM3-4mKzDdVh7RHje3YvUco0MC-6cl8i8ZnliUJRof204H3m4jvaon69JGPwplVReYddV_pErE8tENp81mOs-4kAY-5Hs7cMQ/s400/DSC_0427+copy.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><i>Mini Maureen cheating by standing on the curb!</i></span><br /></div><br />Our stomach clocks go off right about Italy. Dr. D and I decide to have lunch at Alfredo’s. Truthfully, I’m just looking for any port in the storm. I am COLD and my ears are beginning to hurt a bit from the wind. I can tell a case of the “crankies” are not too far behind if I don’t sit some place warm for a while and have some food.<br /><br />We couldn’t have picked a better place. Cozy, warm, great food and a sweet, sweet waitress named Rosa Maria. Dr. D gets the Trittico di Pasta which is their sampler of Lasagna, Fettuccine Alfredo and Gnocchi Pomodoro and I get Spaghetti al Fiocco di Pomodoro Saraceno. Soooo good and perfectly “al dente.” We have a great little place by us at home that is run by an Italian family from Brooklyn. They have taught me the correct way to eat pasta and now I can hardly stand it if it is overcooked and mushy.<br /><br />We get a Cast Member to take a picture of us in the lobby.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfyuAAmnQ8NdL8hIVh7KLagWGEA6Lx1QRe1vRHpc2DQVkDBLCq8r-QdeEvOwU948DOH-z0_UuJR6z0DCTqCasoZIyVd6ibcCMpffXKs35if7MEijx97ck2CT0mH7SH7URNL8bW679gJlU/s1600-h/Disney+038+copy.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237324128164023234" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfyuAAmnQ8NdL8hIVh7KLagWGEA6Lx1QRe1vRHpc2DQVkDBLCq8r-QdeEvOwU948DOH-z0_UuJR6z0DCTqCasoZIyVd6ibcCMpffXKs35if7MEijx97ck2CT0mH7SH7URNL8bW679gJlU/s400/Disney+038+copy.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><i>No Grumpy shirt today!</i></span><br /></div><br />She is nearly 6 ft. tall, blond, blue-eyed and beautiful. <i><b>ITALY</b></i> is now Dr. D’s favorite country.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51); font-style: italic;">(Sadly, Alfredo's is now gone from Epcot - but here is a great </span><a style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51); font-style: italic;" href="http://www.mouseplanet.com/articles.php?art=eo060331bb">website</a><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0); font-style: italic;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);"> about the Italian section of Epcot, including pics of the restaurant. We mourn the loss of one of our favorite places to go into a food coma!)</span><br /><br /></span>As we are leaving, La Befana, the good witch who brings gifts to kiddos on the eve of Epiphany is storytelling. I’ve rarely seen kids sit that still. She was wonderful. Then we duck into a shop that has a mask maker – OMYWORD! Some of the most beautiful work I’ve ever seen. I will have one, one of these days.<br /><br />We promised to meet the rest of the family in the UK at 2:30 for the “The British Invasion” concert.<br /><br /><br />We’ve dallied so long over lunch, it’s almost that time. We race through the US and France and find the parents already parked in a choice spot. Dr. D and I pull up some curb, when Deanster explodes out of a shop across the square and the hand signals start.<br /><br />Camera in one hand, the other over her head making long, fluid “get your freezing butt over here now” gestures. I give Dr. D all travel paraphernalia and bolt.<br /><br />I get about half way there and she mouths <i>“MA – RY – POP – PINS!”</i> She mouths it because there are very few people outside the shop that are aware of this news.<br /><br />I hurdle a Japanese family.<br /><br />I am the biggest Julie Andrews fan that ever lived.<br /><br />Julie Andrews<br />Katharine Hepburn<br />Carol Burnett<br />Maureen O’Hara<br /><br />My fantasy dinner party – girl’s night out – me and the other red heads.<br /><br />I digress.<br /><br />I want to be Mary Poppins. (I want to PLAY the Evil Queen, Maleficent and possibly Peter Pan, but I want to BE Mary Poppins.) Deanster knows this and lovingly has found her for me.<br />I’m tempted to ask her to say supercalifragilisticexpialidociuos backwards, but I don’t. (But I bet she could've.)<br /><br />Pooh is also there, silly ole bear.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglulQFtjF-klBCgLbxhrzJcTC1IpD-xCgtYpTaEz2vyqYUrTKq5-yKkQDc42G1kyBi9h_dlGVt-0v-N0W5b3KbvV_pFKWreybTLDKh6YRTO1RE569GwO1fRoMTQlaCKPqbagllFxWtyfA/s1600-h/DSC_0458+copy.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237325888086283298" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglulQFtjF-klBCgLbxhrzJcTC1IpD-xCgtYpTaEz2vyqYUrTKq5-yKkQDc42G1kyBi9h_dlGVt-0v-N0W5b3KbvV_pFKWreybTLDKh6YRTO1RE569GwO1fRoMTQlaCKPqbagllFxWtyfA/s400/DSC_0458+copy.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><i>Notice we have our coats on inside the building</i></span><br /></div><br />We walk outside and there is a 3 year old having a NUCLEAR melt down. Her mother is trying her best to calm her down. Deanster goes over and quietly tells the Mom that “Pooh is right inside.” The Mom looks at her and says is an incredulous voice “God must have sent you!”<br /><br />Ah well, just spreading pixie dust however she can.<br /><br />We listen to The Fab Four – WOW! All of us are singing along – what fun. Makes you just want to go out and get a bowl hair cut!<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/IVcyWC7Bfzw&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/IVcyWC7Bfzw&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />We all go back to France and catch "Impressions de France." Deanster tells Big Cal it’s a “200 degree airborne French travelogue set to classical music.” (She reads it out of the Passporter) I didn’t think I’d enjoy it that much, but it is very compelling and beautiful – you really feel like you are flying – Big C and Mini Maureen were still seated on their ECV’s and Big C kept trying to change course by moving his handle bars. I never realized scooters could fly!<br /><br />We wander around France a bit and get to meet Aurora and Belle. Aurora starts to have a very serious talk with Dr. D about the Maleficent pin on his lanyard. He hastily explains that that particular lanyard belongs to me –so I get the lecture. (Thanks!)<br /><br />I’m so impressed with these actors. They are so well versed in their characters and excellent in their improv skills. They are heroes to me, doing that job everyday (or whatever their shift is) and entertaining so many people, especially children. My hat goes off to them.<br /><br />As we are walking out of France, <i>MoRockin’</i> is performing in Morroco (get it?) and we go listen for a while. Dr. D and Big C are particularly intrigued by the belly dancer. I just kept thinking about how cold she must be.<br /><br />Get to hear a bit of <i>Off Kilter</i> in Canada before we do a little of the Land and Living Seas Pavilions. It’s getting close to dinner time and we’re pooped. AND the temperature is steadily dropping. We ride SpaceShip Earth as a finale and then send the parents back to the buses.<br /><br />Deanster has decided to stay solo and catch Illumniations and get some good night and fireworks shots.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-T7O5Ii-h7cPrgPhVCHGgwivpSqG6nxiFAv_N7I71qn9dypSQy5FHpPaKzLb6EU9FOMMbZxS6gR5jnl8RN7KdrpMPW1xnzueh7clV6_dfGpor0e6u5D8u_nGu-fsuy2wCEqvmgPnetu4/s1600-h/DSC_0494+copy.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237325895580131762" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-T7O5Ii-h7cPrgPhVCHGgwivpSqG6nxiFAv_N7I71qn9dypSQy5FHpPaKzLb6EU9FOMMbZxS6gR5jnl8RN7KdrpMPW1xnzueh7clV6_dfGpor0e6u5D8u_nGu-fsuy2wCEqvmgPnetu4/s400/DSC_0494+copy.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Dr. D and I are meeting Wonder Boy at Wolfgang Pucks.<br /><br />We shop for a bit and I get my black baseball cap with “Queen” embroidered on it and start for DownTown Disney.<br /><br />We decide we’d like to see what the Saratoga Springs Resort looks like, so we hop a bus going there. We figure there should be a bus from there to DownTown Disney pretty quickly because it’s located so near by.<br /><br />Boy, was I wrong. We sat in front of that Resort for 35 minutes in the freezing cold (temperature is now in the upper 30’s with winds of 15 – 20 mph) watching bus after bus go by. Well, at least Dr. D and I were out of the wind (mostly) and got to cuddle.<br /><br />We finally get to Wolfgang Puck’s. I can’t begin to tell you how miserable I was (Dr. D was just mildly uncomfortable in his windbreaker.) We meet the guys, get seated and my tuberculosis reappears.<br /><br />I impolitely drink everyone’s water at the table.<br /><br />There was much laughter and great food. It is so nice to get to spend uninterrupted time with friends. Especially those you don’t get to see often.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAIaDu74SSUMpfiUi-79tp6mONjnmqlfZTyAXUoQzQxKXdpkSRuPrJVpe4zf1o87aIHairDaAz1j3UMQAZiIMx9Akvmg5r89H4hyphenhyphengTsJOLz49c1X9HD5Pba8XjGWEh0d5zy__olEFeNnc/s1600-h/Disney+049+copy.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237324130900552786" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; cursor: pointer; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAIaDu74SSUMpfiUi-79tp6mONjnmqlfZTyAXUoQzQxKXdpkSRuPrJVpe4zf1o87aIHairDaAz1j3UMQAZiIMx9Akvmg5r89H4hyphenhyphengTsJOLz49c1X9HD5Pba8XjGWEh0d5zy__olEFeNnc/s400/Disney+049+copy.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><i>"Uh-huh, I'm all choked up"</i></span><br /></div><br />After we say our goodbyes, Dr. D and I start back towards the buses in a zigzag pattern. This isn’t difficult in that there is basically no one outside to get in our way. We run from one store front to another, warming up enough to brave the bitter cold for the next few feet. I’m trying to gauge just how long I’ll be able to wait outside for a bus before I come down with pneumonia. I figure about…mmmm…three minutes. And then I see it.<br /><br />A yellow taxi.<br /><br />Remember, we quite frequently vacation in Manhattan and I’m well versed in hand signals. There is however, only one cab.<br /><br />Please, please God. Let us get that cab.<br /><br />(You know I’m gonna run, don’t you….)<br /><br />…Dr. D closes the door behind him and says “Coronado Springs, please.”<br /><br />At this point I didn’t care where we went or how long it took us to get there. Just as long as the heater was working, I was doing just fine.<br /><br />I tipped the cabbie $10 after Dr. D paid him. It was all I had. Good thing I didn’t have a $100. I just might have given it to him.<br /><br />We stop at the gift shop and purchase Dr. D an honest-to-God coat to replace his windbreaker for the next day. It cost us $65 (which at Disney is a STEAL), but is a great quilted varsity jacket style. Even Doc thinks it has gotten chilly and is a good idea. I say another prayer of thanks that our room isn’t to far from the main building. I don’t become too much of a popsicle on the way there. Dr D. gets me settled, checked for frostbite and dosed with Robitussin. He then goes back to the Pepper Market for a Mug ‘o Coffee. Says he wants to break in his new coat. (I told you he was nuts!)<br /><br />When he returns, he tells me of his encounter with the grounds crew.<br /><br />Somewhere I saw that during the holidays Disney sets out over 40,000 poinsettias. I wouldn’t doubt it. They were all over our resort and the parks. And of course there are all the beautiful tropical plants and topiaries.<br /><br />I had checked the weather channel when we got in and the temp was 34 degrees, with wind at 20 mph. (I don’t think we’re in Florida anymore, Toto.)<br /><br />He said there was a mad dash happening outside to remove or cover all tender vegetation. Golf Carts whizzing by in all different directions. I’m sure that was happening all over Disney property.<br /><br />We do a quick phone check to make sure Deanster hadn’t frozen to death. She was back safe and sound. I put head to pillow and slept the sleep of the drugged.<br /><br />Tomorrow…<br /><br />Chapter 7 - MGM and the day of the “ugly pictures.”Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04065021640116419007noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3100236333839193804.post-86912053078036168292008-08-21T09:13:00.000-05:002008-08-27T21:21:24.064-05:00With apologies to Rudyard Kipling - '04 WDW VacationChapter 5.1<br /><br />Remember where we are – Animal Kingdom, just off Safari…<br /><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEunjW0UeW8Q6isdnDnjxIYsKpMIsOYnqP7Xgvyc8YRwXhe7ZmZsHLykPJJg_tuD59vTGzUkHiSW9HHi4v_yTMVSloTScEsA0S5P3Zi3Yfar4cpjWrFS3DlmtcFZcTMBgqHxekRLL70tQ/s1600-h/DSC_0360+copy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEunjW0UeW8Q6isdnDnjxIYsKpMIsOYnqP7Xgvyc8YRwXhe7ZmZsHLykPJJg_tuD59vTGzUkHiSW9HHi4v_yTMVSloTScEsA0S5P3Zi3Yfar4cpjWrFS3DlmtcFZcTMBgqHxekRLL70tQ/s400/DSC_0360+copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236976398309340930" border="0" /></a><br />We walk through the Pangani Forest Exploration trail and enjoy the flora and fauna, especially the Gorillas. While in the aviary my cell phone rings.<br /><br />It’s WONDER BOY!<br /><br />We have a wonderful friend who is one of the vocalists in the TARZAN ROCKS show. We’ve known him since he was 18 and fresh out of the high school for the performing arts. We’ve been able to follow his career from Six Flags over <st1:state><st1:place>Texas</st1:place></st1:state> to cruise lines to “Starlight Express” in Vegas to Disney. It’s been tremendous to watch him become the professional performer and incredible human being that he is…<br /><br />I’m a little proud of him.<br /><br />He’s doing the <st1:time minute="0" hour="15">3 o’clock</st1:time> show and will be at the park early so he and I can catch up a bit before we all see him in the show. Woo-hoo! I’m so excited.<br /><br />We continue our stroll and turn a corner and there stands Baloo…(you know I’m gonna run don’t you.)<br /><br /><i>Jungle Book </i>is one of my earliest Disney memories. Baloo is just so big and BLUE and cuddly. It makes me smile just to think about him. So I make a wild gyrating motion as I sprint towards Baloo. This should communicate to Doc and Deanster to get the cameras ready so they don’t miss capturing this VERY IMPORTANT moment.<br /><br />Once I hip check a couple of smaller kids just to establish my place in line, I look around to find both scooters <b>ABANDONED</b> in the middle of the walkway. Pal Mickey, jackets, camera bags… all hanging out with a “free to a good home” look about them, and no one related to any of the above mentioned merchandise in site.<br /><br />There is no sign of our parents.<br /><br />I make the clenched teeth, tight necked, frowny “do something!” face at Deanster.<br /><br />She makes the “what the heck do you want me to do? Take your picture or rescue our stuff and by the way, why am I in charge of the parents?!” face right back at me.<br /><br />Isn’t it amazing the non-verbal communication one can have with a sibling?<br /><br />We then locate <st1:place><st1:city>Big</st1:city> <st1:state>Cal</st1:state></st1:place> and <st1:place><st1:city>Mini</st1:city> <st1:state>Mo.</st1:state></st1:place><br /><br /><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" spt="75" preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"> <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"> <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"> </v:formulas> <v:path extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" connecttype="rect"> <o:lock ext="edit" aspectratio="t"> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_i1025" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style="'width:24pt;"><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsfYqV244SGsVhtmm6xonohOocgXDxQb1UCWHy7k-5JK0a4Xsc7vuDLS5duyVjaW85HOZ0QYyjDQJ8Me6ZyCRxvg79wSRqHxaEe9CtmEoRQxT3T7OeP1faZrBwiXiXLQDdKBHtBLVyPxw/s1600-h/DSC_0466+copy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsfYqV244SGsVhtmm6xonohOocgXDxQb1UCWHy7k-5JK0a4Xsc7vuDLS5duyVjaW85HOZ0QYyjDQJ8Me6ZyCRxvg79wSRqHxaEe9CtmEoRQxT3T7OeP1faZrBwiXiXLQDdKBHtBLVyPxw/s400/DSC_0466+copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236975601572000418" border="0" /></a><!--[endif]--><br /><br /><br />I go into airport ground controller mode. Through a short series of hand signals, I position Dr. D at the scooters, get Deanster to snap some shots of Big C and Mini Maureen, just in time to get her back to me and Baloo.<br /><br /><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1026" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style="'width:24pt;height:24pt'/"><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRuLAt2x85Tth0RC8p8huAY_BigVuBiEQG5Rwz2fTEw471Cr8uNlYmg0o7zpjb8Fu5Q1UZQvZ3D6M8tiTynAkEedT6GCSHVVZoattJKcEU8LK6RHXBrIiOf-zya5KUypa6NS3uwigXA0g/s1600-h/DSC_0213+copy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRuLAt2x85Tth0RC8p8huAY_BigVuBiEQG5Rwz2fTEw471Cr8uNlYmg0o7zpjb8Fu5Q1UZQvZ3D6M8tiTynAkEedT6GCSHVVZoattJKcEU8LK6RHXBrIiOf-zya5KUypa6NS3uwigXA0g/s400/DSC_0213+copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236978296231853714" border="0" /></a><!--[endif]--><br /><br />I notice several parents moving their children slowly away from me.<br /><br />I no doubt believe they think I have Turrets syndrome.<br /><br />We ride out to Rafiki’s Conservation Station and back. Time for lunch. We decided on Flame Tree BBQ and were not disappointed. Found a lovely table by a fountain where we could see the lake and the construction on the new <st1:place><st1:placetype>Mt.</st1:placetype> <st1:placename>Everest</st1:placename></st1:place> attraction.<br /><br />The party barge goes by playing "Felize Navidad." Dr. D twitches a little.<br /><br />"What's up?"<br /><br />"That's got to be the 147th time I've heard that song today," he replies.<br /><br />Oh, great...that means now it's stuck in his head. This could be a problem of Pavlovian proportion. He claims his sister played "Rock A-Hula" from Blue Hawaii so much when they were young, that if he ever hears it again, he can't be responsible for his actions.<br /><br />I make a mental note to keep him away The Polynesian Resort and <st1:country-region><st1:place>Mexico</st1:place></st1:country-region> in Epcot.<br /><br />Deanster and the parents decide to go to the Maharajah Jungle Trek.<br /><br /><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1027" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style="'width:24pt;height:24pt'/"><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixWzhD_6PjTYwKydVt_62bryqTFMXwzts9BwMGywiRRu-5VJtcQV84Mb39Y_M51V-8UBvxpsepwCHxCPKNnqARgRPvQ8_4J7l3eDkn64oaXX2agdm94tN3o7uAEQIt9Yy1HWuQfGQvhZM/s1600-h/DSC_0250+copy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixWzhD_6PjTYwKydVt_62bryqTFMXwzts9BwMGywiRRu-5VJtcQV84Mb39Y_M51V-8UBvxpsepwCHxCPKNnqARgRPvQ8_4J7l3eDkn64oaXX2agdm94tN3o7uAEQIt9Yy1HWuQfGQvhZM/s400/DSC_0250+copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236977813193920610" border="0" /></a><!--[endif]--><br /><br /><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1028" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style="'width:24pt;height:24pt'/"><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwWjPx52JQy-kp-3MAkNaAOS_wotW5aRjEyD14xZGYBxBPvK4uA3qZ2U64-GunUOC1QryCgeznmxroctpnT0xo5tZ40H9bPv3-qhCm5cWDYNMrO1FDT63aJy8EJU1hx5VWkUnejKrGHJ4/s1600-h/DSC_0248+copy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwWjPx52JQy-kp-3MAkNaAOS_wotW5aRjEyD14xZGYBxBPvK4uA3qZ2U64-GunUOC1QryCgeznmxroctpnT0xo5tZ40H9bPv3-qhCm5cWDYNMrO1FDT63aJy8EJU1hx5VWkUnejKrGHJ4/s400/DSC_0248+copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236977822055986882" border="0" /></a><!--[endif]--><br /><br />Dr. D checks out <st1:city><st1:place>Chester</st1:place></st1:city> and Hester’s Dino-Rama.<br /><br />I go and sit by “Petrifries...from the McDon of Time” to wait for WONDER BOY. (McDonald's sponsors that section of the park!) Those french fries smelled sooooo good.<br /><br />I’m really proud that I don’t make too much of a scene when I see him. (What that means is that I don't tackle him to the ground.) We have enough time to find a shady spot to laugh and talk in. He is so happy at Disney.<br /><br />Does my heart good.<br /><br />After a bit, he has to run to get ready for the show. I round up the family and we find the venue. WONDER BOY has arranged for us to sit in the VIP section which is center just behind the tech booth. I sit, video taping, with a big goofy grin on my face, watching him interact with the audience, using that fabulous voice and truly loving his job.<br /><br /><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1029" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style="'width:24pt;height:24pt'/"><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjybH1-tzADKYxXyOCeFQa8ldU-I-JzkWUfR32Z85aFjt2Al1ENYUVQeuuGgSfDngn4kohGvdSAHWierpp9TshbvQ2wcs3QrVT-Sl4JMr4vJUcFCicxlHSELb9LnYDV0XXpyqqodUl_E6Y/s1600-h/DSC_0314.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjybH1-tzADKYxXyOCeFQa8ldU-I-JzkWUfR32Z85aFjt2Al1ENYUVQeuuGgSfDngn4kohGvdSAHWierpp9TshbvQ2wcs3QrVT-Sl4JMr4vJUcFCicxlHSELb9LnYDV0XXpyqqodUl_E6Y/s400/DSC_0314.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236976978635058610" border="0" /></a><!--[endif]--><br /><br />The show is great. Amazing stunts, great rockin' band and vocals – everything I expect from a Disney produced show.<br /><br />And after seeing Tarzan, well, shall we just say “hubba, hubba!”<br /><br /><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1030" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style="'width:24pt;height:24pt'/"><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4aenZOW1_nUYfyxMB07ymy-fU7KbnjHbkGJsbVM3V4dTp4jQ0BBF995FksuO93MeiOt7DmVHh6unqHvJV0gC-EFqmyuCbM3UXsEGIbAYXZNh6Jvww9RQHcf_VXwSbifZb9Y6jZh-EVm4/s1600-h/DSC_0297+copy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4aenZOW1_nUYfyxMB07ymy-fU7KbnjHbkGJsbVM3V4dTp4jQ0BBF995FksuO93MeiOt7DmVHh6unqHvJV0gC-EFqmyuCbM3UXsEGIbAYXZNh6Jvww9RQHcf_VXwSbifZb9Y6jZh-EVm4/s400/DSC_0297+copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236976980006446978" border="0" /></a><!--[endif]--><br /><br />We get to chat just a bit more with Wonder Boy after the show and make plans to meet for dinner the next night. Deanster and parents want to see “Lion King’ so they head towards <st1:place><st1:placetype>Camp</st1:placetype> <st1:placename>Minnie-Mickey</st1:placename></st1:place>.<br /><br />Dr. D and I take a side trip through the Dino-Rama. He thinks it is the cleverest thing he’s ever seen! Loves the “kitschy-ness” of it. Has to show it to me.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">(Side note – for a current discussion of the values of kitsch go <a href="http://lisasretrostyle.blogspot.com/2008/08/is-kitsch-bad-thing.html">here</a>)<br /><br />It makes him laugh out loud.<br /><br />Dr. D does not often laugh out loud. He’ll smile. He might let out with a quiet “ha” but a belly laugh is usually reserved for George Carlin or something inept that a Dallas Cowboy football player is apt to do.<br /><br />He poses for pictures.<br /><br /><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1031" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style="'width:24pt;height:24pt'/"><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp63dErNRNZxSO7A_VljbgOwDpXkRpKxP-IfXyb73q3bVj2cwF-KaCeaQJEPRfKGZM7y3-SSI5fjQ_2CY68PhV-X6iLt2OsG1JE5kOJvVWzjb4cx3q2ap5Re4Z1M5CHuYc5181DYCsvS8/s1600-h/Disney+031+copy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp63dErNRNZxSO7A_VljbgOwDpXkRpKxP-IfXyb73q3bVj2cwF-KaCeaQJEPRfKGZM7y3-SSI5fjQ_2CY68PhV-X6iLt2OsG1JE5kOJvVWzjb4cx3q2ap5Re4Z1M5CHuYc5181DYCsvS8/s400/Disney+031+copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236978817940937298" border="0" /></a><!--[endif]--><br /><br />He makes funny faces.<br /><br /><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1032" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style="'width:24pt;height:24pt'/"><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoqa5_JSILPXJXAvb__p5HX8avr180w4mfoQrBXjvKc_HcihQJIWwzybu3h9ms7IBr8lqPtUAAs1zsr5Vzb7j28ZUFW3cauSYDv4ghGMJLEKmGL34wpESYjdskEytEP_HvHA3YW0hUNmg/s1600-h/Disney+025+copy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoqa5_JSILPXJXAvb__p5HX8avr180w4mfoQrBXjvKc_HcihQJIWwzybu3h9ms7IBr8lqPtUAAs1zsr5Vzb7j28ZUFW3cauSYDv4ghGMJLEKmGL34wpESYjdskEytEP_HvHA3YW0hUNmg/s400/Disney+025+copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236978294665928562" border="0" /></a><!--[endif]--><br /><br />It’s official. He’s been DISNEYFIED!!!!<br /><br />We make it into Lion King just as the doors are closing. Lovely show – fabulous performers – visually stunning.<br /><br />As we leave <st1:place><st1:city>Big</st1:city> <st1:state>Cal</st1:state></st1:place> say’s “What’s next?”<br /><br />I explain that Animal Kingdom closes earlier than the other parks and we’ve pretty much done what we’d come to do. He looks slightly disappointed. I think about the old theatre saying “always leave them wanting more.”<br /><br />We take our time going back to the gates. Shop a little. Just enjoy being together.<br /><br />As we leave some of the Fab 5 (Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy and Pluto) are at the front in all their holiday finery. Deanster has made it a personal mission to have her photo taken with Minnie. See, when she was 6, her entire birthday party was themed around Minnie, down to Deanster’s green and white plaid overalls with the Minnie face appliquéd on the bib. Mini Maureen even drew a huge Minnie face on a piece of poster board and the girls played “pin the nose” on Minnie. (I also get a lot of my creativity from my mother!)<br /><br />Deanster and Minnie are reunited.<br /><br /><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1033" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style="'width:24pt;height:24pt'/"><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc8j7nt07QOIUkJ5PPrN9OsfPfqejuDIWuam6m-iif-fkcYoDGExcZFRN13jOViylbxfXEbmsIl_oFBdfotVm6FqYmonVeG-MHpvoPrbS-duexLHFRZP4LHAZVsltTgzVzVVnJe5F7JIY/s1600-h/DSC_0369+copy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc8j7nt07QOIUkJ5PPrN9OsfPfqejuDIWuam6m-iif-fkcYoDGExcZFRN13jOViylbxfXEbmsIl_oFBdfotVm6FqYmonVeG-MHpvoPrbS-duexLHFRZP4LHAZVsltTgzVzVVnJe5F7JIY/s400/DSC_0369+copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236975611851871154" border="0" /></a><!--[endif]--><br /><br />We bid a fond farwell to Animal Kingdom.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibl9sz1TF0lLlswm7VfsqxFIcmfoaW1splbOlosAqVE93gcREb_kzDMnMz-dNKKn9EqPey889plqmthf_FT6qb359lw-UVA4lw3s044oOQiIMsJ61AsMK1I_8g_CQYccyhGXQMnMWQxws/s1600-h/Disney+032+copy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibl9sz1TF0lLlswm7VfsqxFIcmfoaW1splbOlosAqVE93gcREb_kzDMnMz-dNKKn9EqPey889plqmthf_FT6qb359lw-UVA4lw3s044oOQiIMsJ61AsMK1I_8g_CQYccyhGXQMnMWQxws/s400/Disney+032+copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236978818356206674" border="0" /></a><br /><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1034" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style="'width:24pt;height:24pt'/"><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><br />Definitely a wonderful way to start our park experience.<br /><br />Evening is spent relaxing and gearing up for tomorrow ‘cause….<br /><br />…thar’s a blue northern a'comin!</p><p class="MsoNormal">Next - Chapter 6 - Winter in the World Showcase<br /></p>Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04065021640116419007noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3100236333839193804.post-33120764917456264852008-08-17T09:38:00.000-05:002008-08-20T09:39:27.204-05:00The Call of the Wild - '04 WDW VacationChapter 5<br /><br />6:30 AM – Phone rings… Stitch yells “GET MOVING!”<br /><p class="MsoNormal">How crazy is that? We are on vacation, why are we getting up at this ungodly hour?<br /><br />Why, because we want to…..<br /><br />M…O…U…S…EEEEEEE.<br /><br />You know, it really is easier for us to get going earlier – have some leisurely getting ready time, enjoy our morning coffee, hot tea and breakfast du jour instead of flying out the door with our shirt tails hanging out.<br /><br />This also gives Dr. D a chance to pull out the lap top and see what’s up in the ether world. His class has been able to access the dedicated web pages but assignments officially start today. Online classes are fabulous.<br /><br />We are to meet the rest of the group at their room and be crossing the parking lot to the bus stop at 9 am.<br /><br />I drink my hot tea and watch the sun come up over Lago Dorado.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdEoadnNQ41J6cMxRWFdlI96zWmX9B7-y05dr754KfScP-bZXYsI5EUPACqMbvVNatKZwFrUMeD5AFlzRHNSpBOx9ng15MysXiGaxLzXTQYFxayokPVYyhJSTfooaUQyFS0hWmbJld18M/s1600-h/Disney+118+copy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdEoadnNQ41J6cMxRWFdlI96zWmX9B7-y05dr754KfScP-bZXYsI5EUPACqMbvVNatKZwFrUMeD5AFlzRHNSpBOx9ng15MysXiGaxLzXTQYFxayokPVYyhJSTfooaUQyFS0hWmbJld18M/s400/Disney+118+copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236607833146016354" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">looking from the Casitas towards the marina</span></i></span><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br />I cannot begin to describe how peaceful the resort is. I realize that the week we are here is considered to be a lower attendance time and there are no major conventions in-house presently. I know there is great potential for this place to be absolutely packed and crazy, but at the moment we feel as if we have the place to ourselves. It is so QUIET. I understand there are a lot of people who do not prefer the Coronado Springs, but it has suited us beautifully and we would not hesitate to stay here again.<br /><br />I pull out the battle plan for today and review. One of the things I promised myself as coordinator of this group was that I would always remember we were on VACATION. I would do the research, make some preliminary logistical decisions but always be open to the magic of the moment. Today would be the day to see if this would work.<br /><br />Deanster was to instruct Big Cal and Mini Maureen in all things ECV. Big C had taken to his immediately. In fact, as I was gazing out my window around 7am, I see him zip (and I mean ZIP) by on his way to get morning coffee.<br /><br />He has a big grin on his face.<br /><br />Mini Maureen has used hers as a coat rack.<br /><br />I was a bit concerned about our first encounter with Disney Transportation and the scooters. I knew that each bus was equipped to handle two ECV’s at a time. I hoped it would not be difficult or time consuming to load them. I didn’t want the parents to think it was bothersome to anyone to use them.<br /><br />It was a little chilly, so we bundle up Mini Maureen with an extra scarf and set off to the bus stop. Very few people waiting. AK bus arrives and Deanster jumps into action. After a quick conversation with the Driver, amazing things begin to happen to the bus. It actually tips to the side and lowers a multi-jointed ramp. We are instructed to back the ECVs, one at a time onto the ramp. Mini Maureen decides that Deanster needs to be in charge of hers as that she hasn’t had a lot of practice going backwards yet (we hope she never does!) Truth be told, she hasn’t had a lot of practice going forwards yet. We are loaded and on our way in less than 8 minutes.<br /><br />A big, big thank you to the Drivers of Disney Transportation. They did a lot to make our stay successful.<br /><br />We unload and make our way to the gates. Have a last minute instruction session with group about how our room key is also our park tickets, etc. Have to stop and take a couple of pictures of the beautiful Christmas tree.<br /><br /><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1026" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style="'width:24pt;height:24pt'/"><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9IA3wE27o071Yx2bqixgYmbE83_pIx3nz0u0rNdjFm36fy2pPpZGQYh9c1eOV1sRpioy8bGuAhF4OS7NnEl5jPmo9tPaDtYf6PG00itk8NCKItweWNlL6QGMDQLdMecxbIWm2ceRvmOY/s1600-h/DSC_0146+copy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9IA3wE27o071Yx2bqixgYmbE83_pIx3nz0u0rNdjFm36fy2pPpZGQYh9c1eOV1sRpioy8bGuAhF4OS7NnEl5jPmo9tPaDtYf6PG00itk8NCKItweWNlL6QGMDQLdMecxbIWm2ceRvmOY/s400/DSC_0146+copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236607337189159346" border="0" /></a><!--[endif]--><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">Animal Kingdom</span></i></span><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1027" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style="'width:24pt;height:24pt'/"><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2OJdyt2mwLZPSDP5572Vb7076roFrqkYCLlYZmGXEwV9kJXYzjDwOy3oUYh-f1VBHHJd4dsjIGdIVKaaweJ3bv2HtGZTKib8P2UnNAvSbW85TBzFeTjTlylYQJ-KcuXZS234n6_d1Wmc/s1600-h/DSC_0149+copy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2OJdyt2mwLZPSDP5572Vb7076roFrqkYCLlYZmGXEwV9kJXYzjDwOy3oUYh-f1VBHHJd4dsjIGdIVKaaweJ3bv2HtGZTKib8P2UnNAvSbW85TBzFeTjTlylYQJ-KcuXZS234n6_d1Wmc/s400/DSC_0149+copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236599857360110002" border="0" /></a><!--[endif]--><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">Mini Mo and Big C on the ECVs (note Pal Mickey hitching a ride)</span></i></span><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal"><br />It has warmed up, so Deanster and I get a locker and store our jackets and we are set loose in Animal Kingdom.<br /><br />We are animal people. Have always had multiple pets. Love going to zoos. I am glad that we decided to start here. We feel at home. Everything is so lush and beautiful.<br /><br />Crowds are light and we just take our time on our way to the Kilamajaro Safari. Hang out at the tree of life. We are all amazed. Deanster has the big camera and lets the shutter fly.<br /><br /><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1028" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style="'width:24pt;height:24pt'/"><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGTZJkimhg_BUKH8rpM7I_7Wopx8W32L4QzXwYEyQucdyyIxu9uDe61MEGoN_L5rM2OIulgqYuMfEzRkP4gAIe0zmEItokGUo6W_GumQgdWUvFcUaWEKMWvpI8qwcIZe9q16JMzX-ds3U/s1600-h/DSC_0170+copy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGTZJkimhg_BUKH8rpM7I_7Wopx8W32L4QzXwYEyQucdyyIxu9uDe61MEGoN_L5rM2OIulgqYuMfEzRkP4gAIe0zmEItokGUo6W_GumQgdWUvFcUaWEKMWvpI8qwcIZe9q16JMzX-ds3U/s400/DSC_0170+copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236600748821871842" border="0" /></a><!--[endif]--><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuEb5XwQltLxtmzB_qa6lI-9LGukQt8P54FgwwWZO7VOSZhuzJ02Fu0rDe2xHA1h8yHKnc6G1WGI5lNqY836xtEXVnf1RyFeJtr9KeDWMiGlGKshxXS7vD1ugpYP_duPts3-8f3VbJP_o/s1600-h/DSC_0169+copy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuEb5XwQltLxtmzB_qa6lI-9LGukQt8P54FgwwWZO7VOSZhuzJ02Fu0rDe2xHA1h8yHKnc6G1WGI5lNqY836xtEXVnf1RyFeJtr9KeDWMiGlGKshxXS7vD1ugpYP_duPts3-8f3VbJP_o/s400/DSC_0169+copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236600739950663538" border="0" /></a><br /><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1029" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style="'width:24pt;height:24pt'/"><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">Hope you brought some sunscreen for your head Dr. D!</span></i></span><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal"><br />We listen to a musical group on the way. Shop a bit. Very relaxing and wonderful. On to the Safari. Our first ride. Here we learn the in’s and out’s (and back and forth’s and back and forth’s) of queue travel, scooter navigation and protocol. I am just stunned at the accessibility and ease we have. Our party of 5 is always allowed to board together and is never rushed. This is truly a wonderful thing for us because of Dr. D’s balance issues and Big C’s hip problems. We are never made to feel “different” than any other park guest. I know that our group’s special needs are very small compared to others. This was our first foray in which accessibility demanded our attention. It will not, however, be our last and I am just thankful that it was with an organization that puts forth this kind of effort. I hope those with more serious issues are able to feel the same.<br /><br />Big C and Dr. D’s comfort have been our big concern, however Deanster takes this opportunity to tell Mini Maureen that she is NOT to FALL DOWN under any circumstances. You see, Mini is sometimes (not often) prone to what I like to call “gravity gusts.” Once or twice a year (for as long as I can remember) she finds herself in much closer proximity to the ground than she was just moments before. We do not believe that there is any medical issues related to this – we just think she gets preoccupied (you know…shopping, reading, shopping, looking, shopping, shopping, shopping) and doesn’t look where she is going. Luckily, she has only injured herself badly once and we think this to be a fluke because there was a rather large pot hole involved. Normally these incidents occur on level ground with only one, maybe two obstacles in sight. (We trust she has some Tigger ancestry somewhere because of her bouncy nature.) Deanster is thinking that there will be plenty of distractions on this vacation and that her warning is warranted.<br /><br />Mini Maureen is not amused.<br /><br />We think it’s a riot.<br /><br />I am happy to report that Mini Maureen did not have one gravity gust the entire trip.<br /><br />The Safari is great. All the animals enjoying the temperate weather just as we were.<br /><br /><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1030" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style="'width:24pt;height:24pt'/"><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheLrDwzUl7V9yOjtqjrca23d3Vw241-xoYlWu-FrH2XPviKTkBcJEGGIIJBD31S9OADzZ3X93KiEW7oHJ0PiftO8lkq7j81NQpxhdMOiXBsYbuVZAN0eZlJIJviI1mPL9VApPJxOu9avU/s1600-h/DSC_0206+copy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheLrDwzUl7V9yOjtqjrca23d3Vw241-xoYlWu-FrH2XPviKTkBcJEGGIIJBD31S9OADzZ3X93KiEW7oHJ0PiftO8lkq7j81NQpxhdMOiXBsYbuVZAN0eZlJIJviI1mPL9VApPJxOu9avU/s400/DSC_0206+copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236605888324887954" border="0" /></a><!--[endif]--><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">Deanster and Big C</span></i></span><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1031" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style="'width:24pt;height:24pt'/"><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhon3s0nbdOsJXwDE5NCnpTXX66mrDG055_i5mDEVJ3wDuYuL2HvxoXhEUYi_ZzEumgOW86GV_-9clLDjvyC-NtN39uykZmcsG0hQqkp8tKsJnOy6Emr6o5EtGRWUi4UC_xjKxYuwPLWqQ/s1600-h/DSC_0193+copy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhon3s0nbdOsJXwDE5NCnpTXX66mrDG055_i5mDEVJ3wDuYuL2HvxoXhEUYi_ZzEumgOW86GV_-9clLDjvyC-NtN39uykZmcsG0hQqkp8tKsJnOy6Emr6o5EtGRWUi4UC_xjKxYuwPLWqQ/s400/DSC_0193+copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236602663056297682" border="0" /></a><!--[endif]--><br /><br /><br /><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1032" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style="'width:24pt;height:24pt'/"><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH5G_FwVcL1CziUWS3zsScRB5oTaYRSGAW8f9eAP2Cx2ugVikhyphenhyphenQP-cvEat62DeomyhGVBQLUl5h4RORjSOCD35FNjjAUAdou-z_1vOTZtpzfKMOQEZs61YZPtywZe3S-2DCr03aiUdFo/s1600-h/DSC_0197+copy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH5G_FwVcL1CziUWS3zsScRB5oTaYRSGAW8f9eAP2Cx2ugVikhyphenhyphenQP-cvEat62DeomyhGVBQLUl5h4RORjSOCD35FNjjAUAdou-z_1vOTZtpzfKMOQEZs61YZPtywZe3S-2DCr03aiUdFo/s400/DSC_0197+copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236605895695852610" border="0" /></a><!--[endif]--><br /><br /><br /><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1033" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style="'width:24pt;height:24pt'/"><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcrcIHIuTD0UbmD_Z3QTWrHsi-Zn4VTKNZh457pZPkejsNMiDc3rJFhbMvVjmCt16R760zq7hmLhdlV0mPhbh8ly1vMO0WnYKGgRaGyj3QTvXcRGKkz1MEbXAxKVG71ejMSHA2vPHeg2k/s1600-h/DSC_0203+copy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcrcIHIuTD0UbmD_Z3QTWrHsi-Zn4VTKNZh457pZPkejsNMiDc3rJFhbMvVjmCt16R760zq7hmLhdlV0mPhbh8ly1vMO0WnYKGgRaGyj3QTvXcRGKkz1MEbXAxKVG71ejMSHA2vPHeg2k/s400/DSC_0203+copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236602673076383442" border="0" /></a><!--[endif]--><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">Hakuna Matada</span></i></span><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal"><br />Next....<br /><br />Chapter 5.1 - With Apologies to Rudyard Kipling</p>Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04065021640116419007noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3100236333839193804.post-9042314817847219842008-08-13T09:45:00.000-05:002008-08-20T10:10:52.362-05:00Together at Last - '04 WDW VacationChapter 4<br /><br />Phone Rings<br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="">Wake up call from Mickey (and Stitch – “No Sleeping…GET MOVING!”)<br /><br />We do get moving – Dr. D goes to Pepper Market to fill his <span style="font-style: italic;">UNLIMITED REFILL</span> mug with coffee (which he thinks is a GLORIOUS thing) and bring back a little nosh. Deanster and I pack up just in case we have to vacate this particular room when we do the “check out – recheck in” hokey pokey today for our Dream Maker Package. (We had decided to come a day early just to get settled before the parents got there)<br /><br />The Plan is to eat, get the room situation handled, meet Randy’s Mobility in the lobby at 9 to pick up Big Cal and Mini Maureen’s ECV’s (Electric Convenience Vehicle), take the rental car to the Car Care Center then take the shuttle back to Coronado Springs, where, hopefully the parents have arrived.<br /><br />Head to lobby for the ECV’s.<br /><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPOeNJHtRcuHCYsSyu-YB8GIu50C98wkp59ovKdGeG1zpX5R6eGe3dWRJkuQ3f_lKrXw2swV_kbhUTIXVwYrLvo2QvmdMYUvTErz1xCBXE9HO07BTi3CuyQOC_uRco8gWb2X6tseGiE4w/s1600-h/csr2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPOeNJHtRcuHCYsSyu-YB8GIu50C98wkp59ovKdGeG1zpX5R6eGe3dWRJkuQ3f_lKrXw2swV_kbhUTIXVwYrLvo2QvmdMYUvTErz1xCBXE9HO07BTi3CuyQOC_uRco8gWb2X6tseGiE4w/s400/csr2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234760785484313682" border="0" /></a><i>Christmas Tree in Registration Area</i></div><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij2ftKXJXRxd6Cz95hjbDH4NmoNEOEFgOKtphCY4A587iFJmh09fh-1QSPL3_Jqz84jv8ZQa0C9UOHM5cI9tIiiuWVQaCmCayRPeb1Di2N0ic6TzeptihDl_kTkrJhyiJjk5897kyV5es/s1600-h/csr1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij2ftKXJXRxd6Cz95hjbDH4NmoNEOEFgOKtphCY4A587iFJmh09fh-1QSPL3_Jqz84jv8ZQa0C9UOHM5cI9tIiiuWVQaCmCayRPeb1Di2N0ic6TzeptihDl_kTkrJhyiJjk5897kyV5es/s320/csr1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234757861601544610" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Doc and me at the fountain</span><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1027" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style="'width:24pt;height:24pt'/"><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY0YRdQG8aHTBPlX3isCVX-PFXNmMYD25vBZo1VuL3yGlip_yHDQIvMELX20lwiE5GVG0IAt3J5f8-zOcOB3RGWVWn_1kpu-ntKsh5Ou6UGFn1DetEP1hFW13JyyiNqPKQrS8hudd3cO0/s1600-h/csr5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY0YRdQG8aHTBPlX3isCVX-PFXNmMYD25vBZo1VuL3yGlip_yHDQIvMELX20lwiE5GVG0IAt3J5f8-zOcOB3RGWVWn_1kpu-ntKsh5Ou6UGFn1DetEP1hFW13JyyiNqPKQrS8hudd3cO0/s400/csr5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234762996062310130" border="0" /></a><i>Ceiling above </i><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><br />The scooters arrive on time and are really cool. I had spoken to Randy on the phone and had made a big point of making sure that Big Cal’s could accommodate someone who is 6’5”. The last thing I wanted was for his first experience with one of these to be uncomfortable. Walking for any distance has become problematic for him. This really hacks him off. I thought that this would be a great chance to try one out and see if it would be something he might want to get for himself someday.<br /><br />Big <st1:state><st1:place>Cal</st1:place></st1:state>’s is a bigger model than <st1:place><st1:city>Mini</st1:city> <st1:state>Mo</st1:state></st1:place>’s. Hooray! And they are red! Oooooh – sporty!<br /><br />And what a service from Randy’s Mobility. Cheaper than getting them at the parks, you can rent them for your entire stay so you have them 24/7 (especially great for this particular resort – Coronado Springs is BIG!) and they have drop off and pick up service.<br /><br />After a quick lesson in all things ECV, Deanster, Dr. D and I head back to park them in the room. Dr. D’s job is to walk point position and provide verbal cues as to when the resort’s stretch golf carts come barreling around a corner.<br /><br />It goes something like this.<br /><br />Deanster and I are chatting, driving and looking at the beautiful scenery. Dr. D is ahead of us.<br /><br />Suddenly, he stops and does his best meerkat impersonation. Then he yells…<br /><br />“HERE THEY COME…get over….get OVER”<br /><br />A word about these golf carts…they are used as an internal transportation system. There are different kinds of carts – ones outfitted for Bellmen to carry luggage on, ones for groundskeepers and those for transporting guests.<br /><br />I am quite positive that the Cast Memebers who are assigned to operate said golf carts are trained extensively…at the Richard Petty Driving Experience. Thankfully, Dr. D and I have knowledge of crossing streets and dodging taxis in large metropolitan areas.<br /><br />It came in handy.<br /><br />Besides, we are from <st1:state><st1:place>Texas</st1:place></st1:state>. NASCAR doesn’t scare us.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="">Much.<br /><br />We get the ECV’s back to the room without either of us ending up in the beautiful Lago Dorado or roadkill under the wheels of a golf cart. I take this as a good sign.<br /><br />Deanster calls front desk and is informed we are keeping the room that we are currently in. This is in some ways a relief – don’t have to move, store luggage and 2 ECV’s until other rooms are ready, but also a bit of a disappointment in that we had requested a king for Dr. D and I when Deanster moved in with the parents. Oh well, no biggie.<br /><br />Back to lobby to do the paperwork thing for our package deal. Checked in with Cast Member Mike, who got us acclimated and educated. We found out he had his Ph.D. in education and he and Dr. D enjoyed chatting. Dr. Mike was working here for a few months on his way to being part of the college program. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><br />Get the Pimp Mobile and set off to return it. Here is where Deanster announces her plan while hanging over the front seat between me and Dr. D.<br /><br />“The parents are still 150 miles away. We will be RIGHT BY the <st1:place><st1:placename>Magic</st1:placename> <st1:placetype>Kingdom</st1:placetype></st1:place> when we drop off the car. Why don’t we just have the <st1:place>Alamo</st1:place> shuttle take us there and hang out on Main Street USA?”<br /><br />She bats her eyelashes.<br /><br />I had been suspicious of her bringing the camera bag. For some reason it had become essential that Deanster see the Castle up close and personal at the earliest possible moment.<br /><br />Fine by us. Shuttle takes us to the transportation center to catch monorail. Dr. D looks impressed. His only other Disney experience was at <st1:place><st1:placename>Disney</st1:placename> <st1:placetype>Land</st1:placetype></st1:place> when he was 12. That was 1962. Things have changed a bit.<br /><br />It’s a little elbow to elbow, but nothing major.<br /><br />Deanster RUNS to the Castle.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheJRY7s8nGWl1nUl3lSwWXcOdziHMahx35xNtOSaioOH_-l8_h1MAv8b42mixsj74afDIWkakLUiUAUDosqnU0sOlyRwOMH9yJs4WyUJ1LR4NzQUR3x7NQlz4daR-9XWIaTetk9ut-2zY/s1600-h/Castle.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheJRY7s8nGWl1nUl3lSwWXcOdziHMahx35xNtOSaioOH_-l8_h1MAv8b42mixsj74afDIWkakLUiUAUDosqnU0sOlyRwOMH9yJs4WyUJ1LR4NzQUR3x7NQlz4daR-9XWIaTetk9ut-2zY/s320/Castle.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234019493600351026" border="0" /></a><br />I’m beginning to think it has become some sort of religious pilgrimage for her.<br /><br />Dr. D and I get some coffee and hot tea at the Main Street Bakery. I was so excited to find hot tea! We people watch and stroll. Dr. D gets a big kick out of reading the names on the windows above the shops, honoring some of their legends.<br /><br />Deanster returns and we wander back towards the entrance knowing that we have to get back to Coronado Springs pretty soon.<br /><br />And then it happens…<br /><br />Our first character encounter. And it’s CRUELLA!!!!!<br /><br />I have a secret obsession with the villains.<br /><br />My dream job would be to play the Evil Queen for a day at the Park. (Deanster says I’d be a natural – I laughed… then I pulled her hair.)<br /><br />I have a BFA in Theater Performance and a specialty in Children’s theater and try to do at least one show a year that plays to or involves kids. I have always been a character actor, playing the mom or the crazy neighbor next door, etc. But my most FUN roles have been the characters that complicate things. Played the Cheshire Cat in <st1:city><st1:place>Alice</st1:place></st1:city> in Wonderland, Lucy in You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, you know that kind of thing.<br /><br />Now it’s my turn to run…<br /><br />She puts her arms around us and purrs in that low Cruella voice “Everyone say… PUPPIES!”<br /><br /><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1028" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style="'width:24pt;height:24pt'/"><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoKe6VYq1fs-v2aptyyAYEHiLhskjF8YI5m-hWwFdHyKxJegBTmRTEaCrOVHIdXt1wmZ6-Jcjl0QEkwUhPuU7A6IYCVy9SVY4bYEYveNj2nV1atHcvy0gfOY4jaIuJ5f79dA3lDgDsamw/s1600-h/Disney+011.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoKe6VYq1fs-v2aptyyAYEHiLhskjF8YI5m-hWwFdHyKxJegBTmRTEaCrOVHIdXt1wmZ6-Jcjl0QEkwUhPuU7A6IYCVy9SVY4bYEYveNj2nV1atHcvy0gfOY4jaIuJ5f79dA3lDgDsamw/s320/Disney+011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234015164068846482" border="0" /></a><!--[endif]--><i>(okay...where is her right leg?!?)</i><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><br />Deanster sees Aladdin, we get her pic with him, too. He said it had been a long time since a grown up red-head threw her arms around him. (Deanster hugged him tighter)<br /><br />Cell phone rings.<br /><br />Big Cal and <st1:place><st1:city>Mini</st1:city> <st1:state>Mo</st1:state></st1:place> have arrived at Resort. We say hang tight in the lobby and we’ll be there shortly.<br /><br />We got back in less than 20 minutes. Love those Disney buses.<br /><br />Bail out at the bus stop by lobby and are walking across porte corchere when we see Big Cal. Deanster and I become 5 and 10 years old respectively and run across 4 lanes of cars yelling “DADDY”<br /><br />One of the Bellmen who looks to be around my dad’s age gets all verklempt and pats Big Cal on the back when we pass. “We always want to hear that, no matter how old they get, don’t we?” he says. Big <st1:state><st1:place>Cal</st1:place></st1:state> agrees.<br /><br />We find <st1:place><st1:city>Mini</st1:city> <st1:state>Mo</st1:state></st1:place> in the lobby. Deanster has called whilst on the bus back to the resort to see if their room is ready. It is not. Big <st1:state><st1:place>Cal</st1:place></st1:state> has had bellmen (note the plural) unload giant Rubbermaid containers, et al and store. We pile into the F150 intent on exploring and a little lunch.<br /><br />Decide to go to Grand Floridian. Deanster and <st1:place><st1:city>Big</st1:city> <st1:state>Cal</st1:state></st1:place> dump rest of us out and they wait to valet the truck. As we are walking towards lobby I think “Hmmm…that’s a familiar aroma.” Ah-ha! Roasting chestnuts – streets of NYC, open fire, Christmas…this is gonna be a great vacation. A very dapper gentleman dishes us up some and we snack until the other two join us. Big <st1:state><st1:place>Cal</st1:place></st1:state> is impressed that Valet is complimentary for those with handicapped tags. I am impressed at how well Disney is taking care of my parents.<br /><br />The Grand Floridian is beautiful.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG_Ek1JId_YgJNQbAyFI6L9l1u1f3ovYWEuxqwIcC_MNiTxIiQ8a4W1tOrSWa3UJiV30oH3BaIIWu6gQ6zCRLUP-pgWSL9kopsORHi-2F7ZAcUQd6uIzBPV4rygxX891IJ7uyEJldUjiw/s1600-h/csr8.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG_Ek1JId_YgJNQbAyFI6L9l1u1f3ovYWEuxqwIcC_MNiTxIiQ8a4W1tOrSWa3UJiV30oH3BaIIWu6gQ6zCRLUP-pgWSL9kopsORHi-2F7ZAcUQd6uIzBPV4rygxX891IJ7uyEJldUjiw/s320/csr8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234759607156301810" border="0" /></a><br />We have a quick lunch at the counter service there - The Gasparilla Grill. I hadn’t realized that there were video games actually IN the seating area, so it was pretty loud, but all in all a good experience.<br /><br />We toured the lobby a bit...<br /><br /><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1030" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style="'width:24pt;height:24pt'/"><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWAtcKyBseAeJICiJstvfDaZ5uf5w_Ddiyk4S8dZVZ0xOEDWK1NtT9cAs_vihhQWkCzMrlQMJeaA00DYXuDGWn_FolDW_3A8kkioNMErQUvpq1gFwm6hhryRVL5B8E1WXVegxge_-5gYg/s1600-h/csr6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWAtcKyBseAeJICiJstvfDaZ5uf5w_Ddiyk4S8dZVZ0xOEDWK1NtT9cAs_vihhQWkCzMrlQMJeaA00DYXuDGWn_FolDW_3A8kkioNMErQUvpq1gFwm6hhryRVL5B8E1WXVegxge_-5gYg/s320/csr6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234759189720894354" border="0" /></a><!--[endif]--><i>Me and Doc in front of the Gingerbread House in GF Lobby</i><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><br /><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1031" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style="'width:24pt;height:24pt'/"><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJNTqcRMQAT9lOOS7ghq62l_Rbx5Vh3zcdqbZBeGrCInOdSCEAw3dLtveG6-Qf-ALhtLU87fjO8-oaokq6o9ShRJIWd_jrGHLu_5eVLNLehYdlFQgtf-Q2KKx8VgPEGveAa8OfQ3ByVGM/s1600-h/csr9.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJNTqcRMQAT9lOOS7ghq62l_Rbx5Vh3zcdqbZBeGrCInOdSCEAw3dLtveG6-Qf-ALhtLU87fjO8-oaokq6o9ShRJIWd_jrGHLu_5eVLNLehYdlFQgtf-Q2KKx8VgPEGveAa8OfQ3ByVGM/s320/csr9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234760067532210066" border="0" /></a><!--[endif]--><st1:place><st1:city><i>Big</i></st1:city><i> </i><st1:state><i>Cal</i></st1:state></st1:place><i> and Mini Maureen in front of the Lobby Tree</i><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><br />...and then decided to take <st1:place><st1:city>Big</st1:city> <st1:state>Cal</st1:state></st1:place> on the Resort monorail loop. He, like Dr. D., thought that was pretty neat. I told Deanster that it was probably going to be his favorite ride of the entire trip.<br /><br />Everybody is a little tuckered and our other room is ready so we high tail it back to Coronado Springs. Big Cal and <st1:place><st1:city>Mini</st1:city> <st1:state>Mo</st1:state></st1:place> have a primo corner, first floor room with a water view from the front window and a quiet pool view from the side. We bring the ECV’s and Deanster’s luggage down. <st1:place><st1:city>Mini</st1:city> <st1:state>Mo</st1:state></st1:place> is enjoying the décor (we think somewhere she has Native American ancestry because of her love of the Southwest). Deanster and <st1:place><st1:city>Big</st1:city> <st1:state>Cal</st1:state></st1:place> take the ECV’s on a spin around the resort. Everyone relaxes for a bit.<br /><br />F150 provisions and luggage is delivered by lone bellman. It is his first day.<br /><br />Poor, poor kid.<br /><br /><span style=""> </span>Dr. D and I plan to go over to the Boardwalk Resort, find some dinner somewhere and explore. Deanster and <st1:place><st1:city>Mini</st1:city> <st1:state>Mo</st1:state></st1:place> will drive over later and meet us. After driving from <st1:state><st1:place>Texas</st1:place></st1:state> to <st1:state><st1:place>Florida</st1:place></st1:state> the past few days, Big C is gonna hang out at the home resort.<br /><br />The Doc and I go to the bus stop. First bus that rolls up is going to EPCOT. We figure, why not? We’ll go there and get a bus to the Boardwalk. Driver is so nice and we get to chatting. I tell him what we’re doing. He informs me that my plan is not the most expedient way and what to do next time. Then he say’s “Watch this.” (Mind you, Dr. D and I are the only two passengers on the bus). He changes his marquee from EPCOT to SPECIAL and takes us directly to the Boardwalk.<br /><br />We FEEL special. We disembark; waving and thanking our coachman, gently wiping the pixie dust from our shoulders and enter the Boardwalk lobby.<br /><br />Okay, I love this resort – feels so homey and comfy. And something about the seahorse chandelier in the lobby appeals to the Pisces in me.<br /><br /><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1032" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style="'width:24pt;height:24pt'/"><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGLppHprawlK8hNXITCWStuivsW8GgReg_MENnX3KoPgqRMH2UE9nMhlE2-aLbGSld6DNDCcRwXAjnWBb14UFa4nWYG3fWFal1UFMgQCsQZzFm7Xz7n2S2Qt9YiQ7c90aAkIfYGEaP4Rs/s1600-h/Disney+002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGLppHprawlK8hNXITCWStuivsW8GgReg_MENnX3KoPgqRMH2UE9nMhlE2-aLbGSld6DNDCcRwXAjnWBb14UFa4nWYG3fWFal1UFMgQCsQZzFm7Xz7n2S2Qt9YiQ7c90aAkIfYGEaP4Rs/s320/Disney+002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234014331953415810" border="0" /></a><!--[endif]--><br /><br />We check out the restaurants and decide on Big River Grille and Brewing Works. We walk up behind a party of 10 who can’t decide if they all want to sit together, or separate, or put the kids at one table…yada, yada, yada. The host must have seen my eyes start to roll back into my head. Perhaps he thought I was about to have a hypoglycemic attack. Whatever it was, it worked. He handed off the logistical nightmare group to another host and took us (“party of 2, your table is ready”) right in.<br /><br />I hugged him.<br /><br /><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1033" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style="'width:24pt;height:24pt'/"><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrguP5R3IvK5XxaFgsNfTsB4wSeAbTRz7lzS4Fdz5aTOltA-MYwKzpUku7KNn1yQaa_Ra68Oh7h90X5UbVbLO__UvIRGm4FCoSxKa7z8j4_-iTMQgvkOFn8m2cNTFrRv9KjwIiBMu5LNA/s1600-h/Disney+007.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrguP5R3IvK5XxaFgsNfTsB4wSeAbTRz7lzS4Fdz5aTOltA-MYwKzpUku7KNn1yQaa_Ra68Oh7h90X5UbVbLO__UvIRGm4FCoSxKa7z8j4_-iTMQgvkOFn8m2cNTFrRv9KjwIiBMu5LNA/s320/Disney+007.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234014728384375314" border="0" /></a><!--[endif]--><i>Me with my eyes rolled back in my head</i><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><br />I get quesadillas and Doc gets the Meatloaf special. We aren’t beer drinkers but Dr. D is somewhat of a Root Beer connoisseur, which is also brewed there. Very enjoyable. Our first evening just the two of us. Did I mention that we will be celebrating our 14th anniversary January 19th? We hold hands through dinner. (This is a great advantage to marrying a left handed person! We can both eat and hold hands at the same time. – I know, you’re getting a cavity just reading this! So, sue me.)<br /><br />After dinner we find the girls. I can tell, however, that my group is winding down and ready to “go t’da house.”<br /><br />Our "girls" picture in Boardwalk lobby.<br /><br /><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1034" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style="'width:24pt;height:24pt'/"><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA7mjDCFhaRKFnbT7vjF-uRDP5yHLn2K_oPCO2ivYaVNdTX2Z-sAOPQKdquCK8fllaBVuoAJB9XbzN7bjPhgjCC4PWvaDF2b61VE6jmRER7yVS9YJ7wuNZt4UybPZlZX4oY_P-Q4WU2jY/s1600-h/Disney+003.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA7mjDCFhaRKFnbT7vjF-uRDP5yHLn2K_oPCO2ivYaVNdTX2Z-sAOPQKdquCK8fllaBVuoAJB9XbzN7bjPhgjCC4PWvaDF2b61VE6jmRER7yVS9YJ7wuNZt4UybPZlZX4oY_P-Q4WU2jY/s320/Disney+003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234014331682944354" border="0" /></a><!--[endif]--><i>“…one day, I mixed marshmallows with spit and made sauce”</i><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Edith Ann</i><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><br />Tomorrow…. Our first park, Animal Kingdom!<br /><br />And the first day on the scooters….</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="">Next chapter - <span style="font-style: italic;">The Call of the Wild</span><br /><o:p></o:p></p>Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04065021640116419007noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3100236333839193804.post-45069654108501344702008-08-12T10:41:00.000-05:002008-08-20T10:10:28.176-05:003,2,1...we have ignition! '04 WDW Vacation<span style=";font-family:Arial;color:black;" >Chapter 3<br /><br />Alarm goes off at </span><st1:time minute="45" hour="5"><span style=";font-family:Arial;color:black;" >5:45 am</span></st1:time>.<br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style=";font-family:Arial;color:black;" >Two dogs and The Dr. half open their eyes and look at me like I’m nuts. It’s Saturday – the world does not start until, at the <i>absolute</i> earliest, </span><st1:time minute="0" hour="10"><span style=";font-family:Arial;color:black;" >9 am</span></st1:time><span style=";font-family:Arial;color:black;" > on Saturday.<br /><br />But this isn’t any ordinary Saturday. It is the Saturday we go to Walt Disney World!!<br /><br />I remind them all of this and blow my nose for punctuation.<br /><br />They look dubious, especially the Jack Russell.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbKN9CAPo1yHKFao-STVV1g1kHxHzPm-Yl9OGwqjKCoEL8SyEPPJXVRRHgQF_TYSCL4PGknBOc2so88NLy84NRBlKXD2uH-Bqq9iNRoi-x_MAm-tBVqim8PTiMp4u94aXWqMoibO000tM/s1600-h/DCP_0654.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbKN9CAPo1yHKFao-STVV1g1kHxHzPm-Yl9OGwqjKCoEL8SyEPPJXVRRHgQF_TYSCL4PGknBOc2so88NLy84NRBlKXD2uH-Bqq9iNRoi-x_MAm-tBVqim8PTiMp4u94aXWqMoibO000tM/s320/DCP_0654.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233657729039152338" border="0" /></a><br /><span style=";font-family:Arial;color:black;" ><br />Max became part of the family in February, ’04 when <span style="font-style: italic;">he</span> chose us by sitting in my front yard with no collar, a cocked head and a “you need me” kind of look on his face. He is a terrier through and through – and also has a tendency to have separation anxiety. Which is why we kennel him if we are going to be gone. Would hate for Pag to walk into the house and Max to have chewed through the leather sofas. He loves the vet where we go, and they have yet to call us and demand that we come and get him, so all is good.<br /><br />I walk to the living room to find the cat sitting in an open suitcase.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSa4huzb3qCADiHOVviHbhhPz_meUI1HOupG-xbF8RT4WKgBhLO_YdFpal7gbDNMfQ2ohWynON7116ddUtdUwDtrqHLGD0AzLLzI543TmI7Dfvgci30vNNsAyGAV5H7HOzwqfbRCgff7Y/s1600-h/lilac.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSa4huzb3qCADiHOVviHbhhPz_meUI1HOupG-xbF8RT4WKgBhLO_YdFpal7gbDNMfQ2ohWynON7116ddUtdUwDtrqHLGD0AzLLzI543TmI7Dfvgci30vNNsAyGAV5H7HOzwqfbRCgff7Y/s320/lilac.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233657140876808754" border="0" /></a><br /><span style=";font-family:Arial;color:black;" >She is not amused. She is a mixed Lavender Point Siamese. She is rarely amused.<br /><br />She is also kinda purple…like a </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style=";font-family:Arial;color:black;" >Cheshire</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style=";font-family:Arial;color:black;" >. She is very much MY cat. Siamese tend to be that way. Lilac tells me, rather loudly, that she is unhappy that we are leaving for such a significant amount of time and that as punishment she will be a total bother to Pag.<br /><br />That is an exact quote.<br /><br /></span><st1:time minute="2" hour="6"><span style=";font-family:Arial;color:black;" >6:02 am</span></st1:time><span style=";font-family:Arial;color:black;" >. Phone rings. I see by the caller ID it is the Deanster. Must be on her way, it’s her cell phone.<br /><br />“Let me in,” says she in her tiniest, sleepiest, COLDEST voice.<br /><br />“Where are you?”<br /><br />“I’m in the driveway”<br /><br />Seems she was up until 3 am getting orders finished for clients that needed photos for Christmas and packing, etc. She knew if she went to sleep she’d never get up on time, so she decided to run by the 24 Hour post office to mail some things (at 4 in the morning, in the rape and murder district of Dallas – did I mention that she should have been a character in “The Incredibles?” She could have been Invincible Girl) and then drove 40 minutes to my house and slept in her car until she saw a light go on.<br /><br />I bundle her in and got things going. Dr. D was out the door at 7 to take Max to the kennel. (I distinctly saw Lilac blow him a raspberry as he was lead out the door.) I called Pag to make sure he was awake and on his way over and did a last minute check of all bags.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style=";font-family:Arial;color:black;" >The Lab-spaniel mix<br /><br /><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1026" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style="'width:24pt;height:24pt'/"><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGJ0VYnGNDy-2eOnbq7MDfYYnntzZJQD0ya44ChVBZS28VEIcRVv14Zn9liruKaJpYNikF3dMHBnUATuQO6g_27QWTiZwZCf1AuGUFhOw5nPtK4obo-ZuQeV6dw1caunYrFy2370R_zt4/s1600-h/DCP_0432.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGJ0VYnGNDy-2eOnbq7MDfYYnntzZJQD0ya44ChVBZS28VEIcRVv14Zn9liruKaJpYNikF3dMHBnUATuQO6g_27QWTiZwZCf1AuGUFhOw5nPtK4obo-ZuQeV6dw1caunYrFy2370R_zt4/s320/DCP_0432.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233657607651119922" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:Arial;color:black;" ><!--[endif]--><br /><br />(who has disturbing tendencies towards cocker spanielism) has had her allergies flare up and I’ve had to get out her med’s for Pag to administer, but things were still going well.<br /><br />We would be ready to leave for the airport at 8:00 am. I was sure of it.<br /><br />8:10 – Pag squeals in on two wheels, takes one look at all the luggage and mutters something under his breath. I believe it is some primordial male code. Dr. D subconsciously picks up on it and they begin grunting in early morning pre-coffee vernacular while looking at Pag’s trunk like apes contemplating the monolith.<br /><br />I should have thought about this – Pag’s trunk isn’t big enough and I hadn’t cleaned out the trunk of our Sedan.<br /><br />Just a quick sidebar on what I envision a trunk’s function to be. 1.) a mobile closet and/or 2.) a mobile storage unit. And since the acquisition of the Miata and the subsequent diminished capacity of my own trunk space, I have usurped space in DH’s sedan.<br /><br />I have the trunk cleaned out in record time, mainly due to the fact that everything is thrown into the garage (hopefully not in any configuration that will become a fire hazard, but hey, that’s why Pag is there.) and by 8:20 we are on our way.<br /><br />Have printed our boarding passes so we can curbside check our luggage, hug the Pag goodbye and proceed upstairs to security.<br /><br />Poor Dr. D – he fits some profile and gets pulled out of line or makes the machine go off 9 out of 10 times. We also travel with his CPAP, which is a breathing apparatus that he wears at night for his sleep apnea. It is a gift from above as far as snore control goes, however it does tend to freak security out. We carry the instructions with it so we can prove what it is.<br /><br />I turn around and see Dr. D turning into the much maligned superhero “Naked Man.” He has on no shoes, has turned everything out of his pockets, taken off his belt, his glasses AND his wedding ring – and I am too far away to stop him if he begins to disrobe.<br /><br />The cost of this trip – you don’t even want to know.<br /><br />Seeing Dr. D breeze through security complete with small end zone celebration dance –<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">priceless</span>.<br /><br />We hit McDonalds for coffee and small breakfast goodies and I take more Robitussin.<br />I blow my nose and cough as an added ploy for sympathy.<br /><br />We board and get on our way on time and are told we’ll get in ahead of schedule. Fabulous.<br /><br />Just as drinks are being served the turbulence starts – flight attendants hurry to finish and return to their seats. Captain tells us that he’ll change altitude and try to get us out of this REALLY choppy air. I know he did everything he could – we went up and down several times, but we pulled a Tigger all the way to Orlando.<br /><br />Bouncy, Trouncy, Flouncy, Pouncy<br />Fun! Fun! Fun! Fun! Fun!<br /><br />Now, I am not a particularly calm flyer, but I have discovered that Robitussin makes me just drowsy enough to not truly care about turbulence. <span style="font-style: italic;">Must remember this for future flights</span>.<br /><br />Arrive ahead of schedule, just as predicted. MCO airport is bustling, but not too bad. Festive decorations are up. We get our bags pretty quickly and head to Alamo. I read somewhere that you could rent a car quite inexpensively for a day and return it on Disney property. Looked into doing same thing in reverse for going home, but rates were much higher because of the start of Christmas week and could do car service for about the same price.*<br /><br />Got checked in at Alamo and directed to parking garage. Deanster was now fully awake and excited to be there – she forged ahead with instructions to pick a car in the intermediate row that was NOT white. Dr. D and I are moseying along letting Deanster get ahead. We begin to notice the Deanster pick up her pace – there is another family headed with her to the intermediate row – AND THERE ARE ONLY TWO CARS LEFT.<br /><br />One of them is white.<br /><br />Deanster beats them to the other car and flings her body and luggage across the trunk.<br /><br />This car is metallic gold.<br /><br />Now to be fair, it is a MUTED metallic gold, but it is gold nonetheless. Deanster loads up, quite happy with having chosen what we have now dubbed “The Pimp Mobile.” Dr. D (his name is Dennis) now believes that he is the new rapper “P.Denny” with his all girl band.<br /><br />We head to the Coronado Springs Resort with Big Cal’s carefully printed and very accurate GPS directions. Weather is great. Resort is beautiful. Room is where we requested it to be. All is right with the world.<br /><br />We are starving so head to <a href="http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/resorts/cs-dining.htm">Pepper Market</a>. Deanster and I split chicken fajitas and Dr. D. has a Chinese dish. Both are great. We jump back in the “Pimp Mobile” and head to Downtown Disney. Stroll around and marvel at the marketing that is Disney. We listen to a high school band that performs Christmas carols. We make mental notes as to what we might want to take back as gifts and souvenirs. Deanster gets hot chocolate at Ghiradelli’s. I just enjoy the night, hanging out with sis and hubby.<br /><br />And then…(insert scary suspenseful minor chords here) we discover the pin trader.<br /><br />Dr. D gets a certain look in his eye that worries me. He is by trade an historian, by nature a collector. These two things could be just the powder keg that sets off an obsession. We chat with Cast Memeber’s to get the skinny on how all this works. Dr. D is aloof…nonchalant, but I know he is absorbing every word. He's a secret superhero, remember.<br /><br /><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1027" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style="'width:24pt;height:24pt'/"><![endif]-->I had thought that Deanster and I might enjoy pin trading. We were getting lanyards with our Dream Maker package. I had purchased about 15 pins in a lot off of ebay so that we had some to trade. Now I wished I had bought some for Dr. D. He was still noncommittal. But I had a feeling.<br /><br />It begins to get chilly and we are exhausted, so back to the resort.<br /><br />Big day tomorrow – Big Cal and Mini Maureen arrive.<br /><br />And Deanster has a secret plan…</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">* this was in the days before the Disney Express Bus service!</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">Next chapter - Together at last!<br /><span style=";font-family:Arial;color:black;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04065021640116419007noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3100236333839193804.post-56046182988207860892008-08-11T11:28:00.000-05:002008-08-20T10:10:05.843-05:00T minus 48 hours (and counting) '04 WDW Vacation<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Chapter 2<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">I had been perfectly well all semester UNTIL the Sunday before we left.<br /><br />Figures.<br /><br />Got a bad cold. No fever, no infection but enough congestion to choke a horse and bad enough that over the counter stuff just wasn’t cutting it. Went to physician on Tuesday, he confirmed my diagnosis of a cold – gave me higher powered OTC stuff and said I’d be fine by Saturday.<br /><br />And I believed him.<br /><br />Well, Dr. D and I gave our finals, turned in our grades, packed our suitcases and waited. It was Thursday the 9th. Our flight was at 10:15 on Saturday the 11th.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> Later that evening we journeyed over to Big Cal’s and Mini Maureen’s to take them a piece of luggage that they were schlepping down there for us. You see, they had decided to road trip it in the new big F150 extended cab pickup. I didn’t worry too much. They enjoyed car travel, could see a part of the country that they hadn’t been too in a while, and more importantly, HAUL LUGGAGE. I was good. I only took them a large duffle that had a video camera and Christmas goodies in it. Deanster asked them to take a tripod and some additional camera equipment.<br /><br />Big C took us out to the garage to show us the truck. The bed housed exactly 3 items – which completely filled it.<br /><br />“This” said Big Cal, pointing to giant lidded Rubbermaid container “is full of groceries.”<br /><br />I looked at Dr. D who was smiling and nodding in appreciation and understanding at my father. I was confused.<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">First, Mini Maureen does not often choose to cook. Don’t get me wrong, when she does it is wonderful, but it just isn’t something she enjoys. Second, Mini Maureen does not camp. An exceptionally nice Ramada Inn is about as low on the hotel chain ladder as she is want to go. Third, my parents do not have any special dietary needs I am aware of that would cause them to buy out the local Tom Thumb before they left.<br /><br />Now, I’m panicky and paranoid…is there another hurricane predicted? Are there no local WalMarts to go to in Orlando for last minute necessities? So I ask, “What kind of groceries, Dad?” “Oh, you know, stuff I like… peanut butter and crackers, ‘squirt cheese,’ pecan sandies cookies.”<br /><br />Well, I hate that I had to out you on the net, but Big C, you are a junk food junkie! For those of you who don’t understand the term ‘squirt cheese,’ it is a processed cheese food (food may be a strong word here) housed in an aerosol can.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.thelastminuteblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/10/easy-cheese.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://www.thelastminuteblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/10/easy-cheese.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">You know… he’s made it this far…we think it is because he has ingested so many preservatives.<br /><br />“Okay,” I say, “What’s in this?” I point to <span style="font-weight: bold;">second </span>giant lidded Rubbermaid container which is wedged between the <span style="font-weight: bold;">first</span> giant lidded Rubbermaid container and the industrial sized ice chest.<br /><br />“Socks and underwear.”<br /><br />Big C had all of their non-sockandunderware clothing hanging from a rack across the back seat of the extended cab.<br /><br />“Daddy,” I said, “Are you ever coming back?”<br /><br />He really got into this aspect of their trip. He has a laptop (that he built a special custom platform for so that it sits level and at the correct height in the truck) and a GPS program so that he can continually monitor their progress and exactly pinpoint where they are. He has been retired for about 2 years and has really gotten into technology and computer skills.<br /><br />Hugs all around and we tell them not to hit warp speed and get to Orlando before Sunday because they don’t have reservations until then.<br /><br />(T Minus 24 hours) Friday, Dec 10th.<br /><br />Phone rings at 8 am. It’s Big C…<br /><br />“I’m on my way to Florida and you're not, nyah, nyah, nyah!”<br /><br />I think he is excited.<br /><br />Phone rings at 11 am. It’s Mini…<br /><br />“Had coffee with your Aunt and Uncle earlier in Bossier City. Headed south.<br /><br />Phone rings at 5:30 pm. It’s Mini…<br /><br />“Guess where I am?”<br /><br />I’m thinking somewhere in Louisiana, right?<br /><br />“I’m in the floorboard.”<br /><br />“Mother, why are you in the floorboard?”<br /><br />“Well, we are on the bridge at New Orleans crossing the Mississippi.”</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.murdoconline.net/2007/lpd18-thumb.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://www.murdoconline.net/2007/lpd18-thumb.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Okay, I totally understand. I, too, have a phobia that borders on hysteria about high bridges. If Dr. D and I cross the mighty Mississippi at Memphis, he MUST drive. I can do it at St. Louis, (not Eads Bridge, but the other one) but not Memphis. The thought of the bridge at New Orleans makes me want to hurl.<br /><br />“You’ll be over soon,” I say sympathetically.<br /><br />“Nope, we are stuck – some big fire…”<br /><br />Did she say fire??? On the bridge??? My parents are STUCK on a bridge over the Mississippi and something is on FIRE. Wait…I should keep listening…<br /><br />“…it’s on the shore line, Dad can see it. We just aren’t moving, except when big boats go under and it vibrates a little. That’s why I’m in the floorboard.” She giggles. It’s a nervous little giggle but I can tell she’s fine and enjoying the drama of it all.<br /><br />I continue to get reports until they settle for the night somewhere in Mississippi.<br /><br />I blow my nose, take more Robitussin and try to sleep until morning.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">Next chapter - 3, 2, 1 - we have ignition!!<br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04065021640116419007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3100236333839193804.post-32294632598664175662008-08-09T11:01:00.000-05:002008-08-09T11:28:47.301-05:00Virtual Disney Vacation<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:130%;color:black;" >Wow - where did the week go? For that matter where did the summer go? One more good week of summer before the countdown begins for the Fall semester. I need a vacation. Don't have the time or funds to make that a reality right at the moment so I'm gonna live vicariously through a trip report I did for a discussion board for the Disney Obsessed. This was our first trip (been back every year since!) and some things have changed, so just keep in mind that it was written in '04.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">So...join me now for the first chapter - The Prequel.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:130%;color:black;" ><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-size:130%;color:black;" >Dec. 11 – 17, 2004<br /><br />Cast –<br /><br />Melvis (a.k.a Mel) – Me (39 – dangerously close to 40th birthday, which may have something to do with buying the Mazda Miata convertible and convincing all immediate family that we needed to spend an early holiday with The Mouse.)<br /><br />Dr. D – my dear husband (54); purports to be “Grumpy” by wearing considerable items of clothing bearing said image, however, by nature, much more like “Doc.” University Professor, who taught a Winter Session class WHILE we were on vacation. Online classes and high speed internet are glorious things. (And yes, there is a 15 year age difference and all I have to say is “Viva l’difference!”)<br /><br />Deanster – younger sister (34) – total princess with an amazing, creative brain – secretly wishes to be Ariel if only to find her Prince Eric. Professional independent photographer. Between the two of us, we, this is NO LIE, took over 1, 000 pics during this trip. Our mutual scrapbooking habit is currently on overload.<br /><br />Big Cal – my daddy (64) – absolute salt of the earth. Would go anywhere, do anything just to please his wife and daughters (and to get them to be quiet!). Is used to being out numbered – even all family pets have been female. Has great empathy for Dr. D being married to me for nearly 14 years. Big Cal is 6’ 5” by the way. This will be important information later.<br /><br />Mini Maureen – my mother (NOT 64! Mysteriously as I get older, she gets younger – we have suspicions that she is perhaps an alien – this has been somewhat substantiated by her obsession with Elvis.) I have acquired my best queenly skills by watching her all my life. Best thing she makes for dinner is reservations. She is 5’ 1” by the way. Ibid.<br /><br />Crew –<br /><br />Pag – (pronounced with a long “a” as in short for “The Pagan Baby”) (25) Long story here about how he got his name, but suffice it to say that he belongs to a select group of university students who have deemed themselves “adopted” by The Dr. and me and is part of our family. He is the resident house sitter, limo driver to the airport, cat and dog feeder and all around cool guy. He, in essence, makes our vacations much more relaxing by knowing that all things are being taken care of at home.<br /><br />The Prequel –<br /><br />I had my reservations about venturing on an Adults only trip to THE WORLD. I had been 20 years earlier with my second to last husband on our honeymoon. Only MK and Epcot then. To be absolutely honest with you, didn’t remember much.<br /><br />Must have blocked it…<br /><br />I, however, truly wanted to return with current (and last) husband and thought that a family trip would be fun. I hadn’t traveled with my sister and parents in decades. DH and I travel quite frequently, but mostly to NYC to do the theatre thing. Would be nice to do something at least in theory, a little less hectic than Manhattan.<br /><br />December 2003, Dr. D's mother passed away. I thought maybe a diversion would be good for all of us.<br /><br />Now, we had some logistical problems to overcome. Big Cal broke a hip in his 40’s while chasing a cousin with a water pistol…in Louisiana…150 miles from any surgical facilities…ANYway, he has several VERY long metal rods that hold his leg on his body (ewwww) and make all sorts of bells and whistles go off when he goes to the airport.<br /><br />It pains him when it rains.<br /><br />I knew that hiking around all the parks would not be feasible for him and probably really exhausting for Mini (not to mention the rest of us) so I began my quest for solutions. Here is where my Disney Internet Discussion Boards obsession began. Because of incredibly knowledgeable, kind and fun people, I found <a href="http://www.randysmobility.com/Welcome.html">Randy’s Mobility</a> who could set me up with some really nifty scooters. The hard part would be convincing Big Cal to ride one. He surprisingly was all for it and even lobbied Mini into liking the idea for herself. One problem (quite probably two) solved.<br /><br />#2 – As I said above, The Dr. would be “on the clock” as it were while we were gone. What he really needed to do was to be able to check emails and moderate discussion boards for about an hour a day, as it was the first week of his class and students would be getting acclimated to the Web environment, etc. We used a wonderful travel agent – she suggested the <a href="http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/resorts/resortLanding?id=CoronadoSpringsResortLandingPage">Coronado Springs Resort</a> because they cater to a business clientèle and had high speed internet available in the rooms and WiFi at certain locations. I was a bit concerned because I had read about how BIG this resort was, but being from Texas and putting in some very well worded requests about wanting to be near the main building, I figured this would be “no hill for a stepper” as my grandmother used to say.<br /><br />#3 – Back to medical issues. I was in an automobile accident many, many moons ago and suffered really bad neck and back injuries (whiplashed so hard, I tore my carotid artery – lucky to be alive). Soooooo, no thrill rides for me. Dr. D is a stroke survivor; little hearing loss, little balance problems occasionally- tiny annoyances in the grand scheme of things – again, lucky to be alive - no thrill rides for him, either. Big Cal and Mini Mo aren’t interested in Space Mountain either (could wreck Mini’s hairdo)…how to convince them that there will be enough to entertain and thrill them for a week? Quick trip to the <a href="http://www.disboards.com/">boards</a>, <a href="http://www.passporter.com/">Passporter</a> loaned to the parents…(and just for my sanity’s sake, a look at the WDW website to learn which rides did what and how to get on them, etc – WOW, what a help!) Everyone’s excited and all say “if you plan it, we will come…”<br /><br />So, booked the vacation in October and started the trip counter to go off on December 11th!</span></p><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >Next - Chapter 2 - T minus 48 Hours</span><br /><p class="MsoNormal"></p>Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04065021640116419007noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3100236333839193804.post-16167575155542732802008-08-04T09:22:00.000-05:002008-08-06T19:11:57.538-05:00I heart Tex-Mex and Old New York - call me eclectic!Good Monday Morning! <p class="MsoNormal">Last week was a busy one with lots of fodder for blogging. I think I’ll start with culinary. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Tex-Mex is my favorite cuisine of all time. Must not go without it – which sometimes proves problematic on vacations. NYC used to be an issue, but thankfully we’ve found a couple of places now. Still, most times after a get-away, our feet hit the tarmac and we drive straight to where the fajitas live. Dennis is just as bad as I am. He is often want to say that “there is too much blood in my queso system!</p> <p class="MsoNormal">My dear friend from high school is in town with her kiddos for a bit of r & r. Well, as much r & r as you can get in 106° weather. Her family has a big tradition with a local Tex-Mex mecca by the name of<span style=""> </span><a href="http://www.joets.com/">Joe T. Garcia’s</a>. This place is legendary, having been est. in 1935 with only 16 tables.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWAYMS8hIUuxikbgoQlzJh3ov1nGVleTQJfQjjbsYIhbmkr98WxZj0mggVPliVcW_hMEiYWwVgA9fuZ_jzC7Kj2Yt_RQdcYvUbKZwUWL0XX9SzFDiSPiakmwpfSWD9Zd9cA9cqeFcWgVA/s1600-h/100_0898.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWAYMS8hIUuxikbgoQlzJh3ov1nGVleTQJfQjjbsYIhbmkr98WxZj0mggVPliVcW_hMEiYWwVgA9fuZ_jzC7Kj2Yt_RQdcYvUbKZwUWL0XX9SzFDiSPiakmwpfSWD9Zd9cA9cqeFcWgVA/s320/100_0898.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230675752536497394" border="0" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">The original restaurant -it leans a little :)<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Because of its popularity, it was gradually expanded and now can seat over 1000! She introduced me to Joe T.’s a couple of decades ago. Her mother was a TCU alum and had been frequenting the place long before that. We had a great meal and took a quick (and I mean quick – it was already freaking HOT) stroll around the patio and garden areas. I was simply amazed that people were actually sitting outside to eat – unbelievable. How many beers or margaritas must one have to make that decision??</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU2htDN27BZT1PNQ3V_x1JUgH11wyj-LOyvmgxkOaOmTN3ENhgOCBFD45STxLw43PCAyvuI_RmCvvj_dYnbeQS9A-ReUL0FyMFJMDwmR8ZJ8DNqQLnhxDlhI-f-AUBpVfXN_YkqElaNVg/s1600-h/100_0886.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU2htDN27BZT1PNQ3V_x1JUgH11wyj-LOyvmgxkOaOmTN3ENhgOCBFD45STxLw43PCAyvuI_RmCvvj_dYnbeQS9A-ReUL0FyMFJMDwmR8ZJ8DNqQLnhxDlhI-f-AUBpVfXN_YkqElaNVg/s320/100_0886.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230675209657397602" border="0" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">One of the patio areas<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPjejio9rjs-ei1kpFBq7CO4q9Y0cKeUDgvNRrtWtM4hOexLsfPzmmwwI4_u8648XSyl4oIvHT4az88TeipFzSGY73mkytFUlm6MOfJmiB7KlcfvPV-kZUBnImsgfREQ9vDISisNIxwfE/s1600-h/100_0891.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPjejio9rjs-ei1kpFBq7CO4q9Y0cKeUDgvNRrtWtM4hOexLsfPzmmwwI4_u8648XSyl4oIvHT4az88TeipFzSGY73mkytFUlm6MOfJmiB7KlcfvPV-kZUBnImsgfREQ9vDISisNIxwfE/s320/100_0891.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230676462421423650" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS4qVD7BUlU59Cu_JyFFahHqDDY78ZVWN5QEtd7rwC7opPAJhkccyezExybwBw7LsmXE8FpoHUcc8KL8obubz_dcPwzXfav8hbs-hniSjJFtVMurgNi5CIJSb62MAvi-9jwN2TZ6xUv6g/s1600-h/100_0890.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS4qVD7BUlU59Cu_JyFFahHqDDY78ZVWN5QEtd7rwC7opPAJhkccyezExybwBw7LsmXE8FpoHUcc8KL8obubz_dcPwzXfav8hbs-hniSjJFtVMurgNi5CIJSb62MAvi-9jwN2TZ6xUv6g/s320/100_0890.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230675982991604226" border="0" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">Beautiful landscaping!<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">If you are ever in the Fort Worth area, you MUST make the pilgrimage to Joe T.’s </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVyaGRjSaffr-9zL-aARvt4GcObIupSwP5_Ur4fU5HKYXkwDjBvcdpjP9rogjN7spmGQhe_W5Q325o52p82g-toyjChabt_143WU8VoNXR8M7R9ZGO23BV3tJcelVr2cDZcBNbHPq4hyphenhyphen8/s1600-h/MIMMon.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVyaGRjSaffr-9zL-aARvt4GcObIupSwP5_Ur4fU5HKYXkwDjBvcdpjP9rogjN7spmGQhe_W5Q325o52p82g-toyjChabt_143WU8VoNXR8M7R9ZGO23BV3tJcelVr2cDZcBNbHPq4hyphenhyphen8/s320/MIMMon.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230677469532368610" border="0" /></a>Now for MITTM.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>Update from last week. We have managed to purge about 10 boxes from the garage. Found some things we’d thought were lost and took a bunch to Goodwill, some towels and sheets to the Vet and a small amount was delegated to appropriate rooms around the house. It looks like a small nuclear device has gone off in our library. So this week (really today and tomorrow) is all about finding a space for the things I’ve kept.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">BUT I got something AWESOME on ebay.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6aJlvYP5wdw9mfIE1I2ofuE3MtHmr4ehRkPXaNKVK5ujkYNV8NQrFOszU48PSatx8HKtsnfetFz1WBq52esmVjerfc8ueJzXKHif74SzUcQ3ZmfJmXmQLn8K6jVC-sP6WBU2waBT8yp8/s1600-h/Casino.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6aJlvYP5wdw9mfIE1I2ofuE3MtHmr4ehRkPXaNKVK5ujkYNV8NQrFOszU48PSatx8HKtsnfetFz1WBq52esmVjerfc8ueJzXKHif74SzUcQ3ZmfJmXmQLn8K6jVC-sP6WBU2waBT8yp8/s320/Casino.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230671046142759522" border="0" /></a> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYzKzX3HlLyuYko5PBM59xgReZjLrTJnsFQf2HjGH8iTjA8j2JvpSqYml_PdWz9SZ_OZ82IbfJ4RYQFi4XOz4OSB9mXSOrkAmQ5N8foo16AIM09NDjMAOLKlM4dQmOROrPht5nXgZShtM/s1600-h/Lyric.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYzKzX3HlLyuYko5PBM59xgReZjLrTJnsFQf2HjGH8iTjA8j2JvpSqYml_PdWz9SZ_OZ82IbfJ4RYQFi4XOz4OSB9mXSOrkAmQ5N8foo16AIM09NDjMAOLKlM4dQmOROrPht5nXgZShtM/s320/Lyric.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230672324982008226" border="0" /></a><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCw9GVOB12_Y1KwxrdpZa9e_rwSFu8NKkEPPFKNS0oAjsULr2Y8d67xV-Pf4o93SnWM9EFbX61ZmYztlSWuqeYMkhY489XlGDlyZNy8sKw-rcxvp8pcSqeWlOz1GirClSFpTiLuyVOZxo/s1600-h/Cohan.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCw9GVOB12_Y1KwxrdpZa9e_rwSFu8NKkEPPFKNS0oAjsULr2Y8d67xV-Pf4o93SnWM9EFbX61ZmYztlSWuqeYMkhY489XlGDlyZNy8sKw-rcxvp8pcSqeWlOz1GirClSFpTiLuyVOZxo/s320/Cohan.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230673195451846290" border="0" /></a>A lot of 12 gorgeous antique Broadway programs. Those are just 3 of my favorites! They are all from the teen’s and are filled with amazing advertisements (i.e. "Don't let your corset vex you!"), show details and just plain good stuff. They are in beautiful condition. Let’s see – did I mention that I’m married to a Ph.d in Theatre History and that we have all kinds of this stuff around our house?</p> <p class="MsoNormal">These are getting scanned and framed and hung in our formal living room where I’m trying desperately to evoke the feel of the <a href="http://www.algonquinhotel.com/pop_photo_tour.html?photo=hpic_alg_lobby_new.jpg">Algonquin Hotel Lobby</a>/<a href="http://www.sardis.com/htmldocs/cms/restaurant.htm">Sardi’s</a>/<a href="http://www.tavernonthegreen.com/virtualtours.asp?headinfo=view&subhead=virtual_tour">Tavern on the Green</a>. Maybe also a little bit of <a href="http://www.studioscentral.com/food/brownderby.html">The Brown Derby</a>. All vintage style of course. We love all of those places and if I had a "way-back" machine, you'd find me making the rounds of each in their "hey days." I'm sad that the Derby is disneyfied, but better that than gone forever.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">So that’s my project – scan, print, frame, hang – and take pictures all along the way.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Jeez - now I'm jonesin' for a Cobb Salad.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04065021640116419007noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3100236333839193804.post-15201830998676616222008-07-29T08:39:00.000-05:002008-07-29T09:50:04.038-05:00Sisra's Hill Country WeddingThis April my sister had a BEAUTIFUL wedding to her sweet man in the Texas Hill Country.<br /><br />She is by trade a <a href="http://www.deanamason.com/">professional photographer</a>, photographing her fair share of weddings. She has been at ground zero when Bridezillas have been on the prowl. She didn't want to be like that so she set out to have as much of a stress free, fun, romantic destination wedding as possible. And she succeeded.<br /><br />It was a lovely "off-the-grid" weekend for about 50 of their family and close friends.<br /><br />They chose <a href="http://www.troisestate.net/">Trois Estates</a> which is right outside of <a href="http://www.fredericksburg-texas.com/">Fredericksburg</a>. Gorgeous!<br /><br />Today is the first time I've had time to do anything with the pics so I thought I'd share some with you.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Me lacing up her dress.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghlvjarJaL3kS-LzEXAyx36lu_XWlRTLO-M-w7j5foGGPXdmqS7tU4m7PaPicekP3CqXAyqN05ellTi7XRvtAlzCX__KOoUVV2Ur6einsSuCkMID0hjmoqcUrcaEZVe-EVHGpup1VwmCs/s1600-h/DSC_1565+copy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghlvjarJaL3kS-LzEXAyx36lu_XWlRTLO-M-w7j5foGGPXdmqS7tU4m7PaPicekP3CqXAyqN05ellTi7XRvtAlzCX__KOoUVV2Ur6einsSuCkMID0hjmoqcUrcaEZVe-EVHGpup1VwmCs/s320/DSC_1565+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228435463270229906" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Just about ready!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI_jE92XwvNdfvuVsvmGLQm7_pml3tbUmcooVq_WMstZyI6puR8ATB25CzRgJurNGLfGimGwIH835GVXYMB3CxzPjDU3S4_CHvImteDperzCB-JiyE6nwvepdbqAm1DKfj5VJS3lH0gcw/s1600-h/DSC_1955+copy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI_jE92XwvNdfvuVsvmGLQm7_pml3tbUmcooVq_WMstZyI6puR8ATB25CzRgJurNGLfGimGwIH835GVXYMB3CxzPjDU3S4_CHvImteDperzCB-JiyE6nwvepdbqAm1DKfj5VJS3lH0gcw/s320/DSC_1955+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228438280610470946" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Her bouquet with our Ge's (Grandmother) broach and earring attached.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7LitcFZ5YS8OddyxDYiiy1dCmw6eiGmV8OXg6Iqd_FvbGwUM8UCLZppQgy4A2OUvWzHFaITVJHIid53cRXPVajyDScQxHTAlF0jaqHqj2hrJACpDenUaiYUxvREPEeiAluOFWEe6Z6VE/s1600-h/DSC_2293+copy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7LitcFZ5YS8OddyxDYiiy1dCmw6eiGmV8OXg6Iqd_FvbGwUM8UCLZppQgy4A2OUvWzHFaITVJHIid53cRXPVajyDScQxHTAlF0jaqHqj2hrJACpDenUaiYUxvREPEeiAluOFWEe6Z6VE/s320/DSC_2293+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228443047715014898" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The Newly-Weds<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK_og4IDrnLqR0PoFpHmD3wPbtY4JKzrfvAHhhMx2MVvfRhJ_PYITOD_fL6JLRIsDEBTQOgtZ0DpsMmshSuRnSga2w01VKukIff1ioLjubDiqULZt_RDpe4OB53KYCTKkXLGXz7urorok/s1600-h/DSC_1934+copy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK_og4IDrnLqR0PoFpHmD3wPbtY4JKzrfvAHhhMx2MVvfRhJ_PYITOD_fL6JLRIsDEBTQOgtZ0DpsMmshSuRnSga2w01VKukIff1ioLjubDiqULZt_RDpe4OB53KYCTKkXLGXz7urorok/s320/DSC_1934+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228436578130768690" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The Sisras<br /></div> <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy54oqTbA1RwvAzR69yHoqJ6TNRTtRUP9ppCFP4Q1df2s_lnqXD7WM1cq_F511Iac-0SDSoM3STBX8hgdKxKqs5tJkK_2YEKEHjwLb4fAls1wqy4r1j4MfISifgM-j_7iF1nWYltEr4F4/s1600-h/DSC_1971+copy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy54oqTbA1RwvAzR69yHoqJ6TNRTtRUP9ppCFP4Q1df2s_lnqXD7WM1cq_F511Iac-0SDSoM3STBX8hgdKxKqs5tJkK_2YEKEHjwLb4fAls1wqy4r1j4MfISifgM-j_7iF1nWYltEr4F4/s320/DSC_1971+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228439855445493202" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The wedding party - <a href="http://denmaher.blogspot.com">Husband</a> (who got ordained so he could officiate) Me, Sis, New Brother, New Sis and New Niece.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv8KJ8h1BQDHZ6XWblvzc1LT9LEt0VrtH5rotvtnrmzWb3Ju2W8YYr3RM2gij0aqbwWfv4C_l7tnF5e-po5EOpV7fOgJsOHh89G6bm0ivZp8buPUh2NFdUhtMBV-G422E8Zd9pLdzpQU8/s1600-h/DSC_1983+copy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv8KJ8h1BQDHZ6XWblvzc1LT9LEt0VrtH5rotvtnrmzWb3Ju2W8YYr3RM2gij0aqbwWfv4C_l7tnF5e-po5EOpV7fOgJsOHh89G6bm0ivZp8buPUh2NFdUhtMBV-G422E8Zd9pLdzpQU8/s320/DSC_1983+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228446043612299426" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Their Cake<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZrnrAUZOasl0djtnxApe34ZqoZPWEOvOVD68hDBMkoxZLmXic5P0Q7NvpmcsM1avRQngtDORUiqHfY2-o29MonYG8SLn8B8hKJw77CzuJ3pZtvbmubHCOH3d7osu01Ost41K8CpCowoE/s1600-h/DSC_1477+copy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZrnrAUZOasl0djtnxApe34ZqoZPWEOvOVD68hDBMkoxZLmXic5P0Q7NvpmcsM1avRQngtDORUiqHfY2-o29MonYG8SLn8B8hKJw77CzuJ3pZtvbmubHCOH3d7osu01Ost41K8CpCowoE/s320/DSC_1477+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228434962408756898" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Happy!</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ1a6d9-D4_f02yPvZ9HzDiPFfpMawUAHk7V764q7mLxiRTk7LcHMjrw9TjnL3-DX-ymzxlIFkvyj1TacV5dpjy4BG51GdBPDsPN3v5OXQhqRFrUwbLKxPeZNwE-olU9C0BcgFVY2GbkA/s1600-h/DSC_2095+copy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ1a6d9-D4_f02yPvZ9HzDiPFfpMawUAHk7V764q7mLxiRTk7LcHMjrw9TjnL3-DX-ymzxlIFkvyj1TacV5dpjy4BG51GdBPDsPN3v5OXQhqRFrUwbLKxPeZNwE-olU9C0BcgFVY2GbkA/s320/DSC_2095+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228447127181338882" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Tomorrow I'll post some of the Rehearsal Dinner with <a href="http://www.guyforsyth.com/">Guy Forsyth</a>.<br /><br />Must go because Den has dragged not one, not two, but THREE boxes in from garage. He's worse than a kid on Christmas eve.Melhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04065021640116419007noreply@blogger.com7