A Virtual Turkey Day...

If they only knew then... What Turkey day would bring... Not only is it Turkey & Dressing and Travel to be with family... but it now means Facebook and Twitter too!

Yes, I'm thankful for two more ways to stay connected in this hectic world of ours. An online way to stay connected to friends that have moved away and those we've only recently connected with (and maybe haven't even met in person, yet!).

People that we are thankful to have in our lives, but just can't be with on a special day...For those in our lives where distance is an obstacle, to you, I raise my virtual fork, to share the spirit of the Day of the Turkey - not only will I be there in my thoughts, but also on my computer ...

(Salt Lake Telegram 11-20-1911)

Its times like these that a cartoon celebrating the tongue-in-cheek view of Thanksgiving can make me smile, and imagine what the next cartoon panel could be... A virtual Turkey on a computer screen.. People across the country, and world, sitting down together to raise that virtual fork and share a special day...

Happy Thanksgiving to all ... and to all.. a great day!

The more things change, the more they stay the same...

(Perry Republican, OK 11-25-1920)

My excitement is building for a great day of family, friends and feasting. But, really, its more than just a day, Thanksgiving kicks off the official holiday season - a season of Thankfulness, family memories - new and old, festive decorations, good will and (of course) Santa!

Its a time to smile a little more,  a time for small, unexpected surprises for friends and family, and a time to spread some holiday cheer...

I wish all you a Happy Thanksgiving, and Safe Journeys today and throughout the Holidays!

Happy Thanksgiving!! Well, almost...

Seriously. Today could have been Thanksgiving. The turkey could be roasting right now. Mashed potatoes... and No Work! Yup, that could be today if this idea had been embraced...

(Daily Herald, Biloxi, MS 10/27/1909)

Who couldn't use a Monday off.. I know I could. BUT, I guess, I don't really want to trade days. I mean, "Black Tuesday" just doesn't have the same ring to it. That mass of holiday weekend shopping just wouldn't be the same if it was on a Tuesday...

Black Friday. Two wonderful words... every year there seems to be a great reason to brave the darkness and head out before the family awakens. Reading sale papers while eating holiday leftovers is a tradition... looking for a deal, drooling over things we might wishing for, polishing off the maple pecan pie...  Last year, it was a lighted Christmas tree deal at Home Depot that had me in line at 4:30am. That was the perfect surprise for my parents as they celebrated their first Christmas in a new home...

Although, to be honest, I may just sleep in this Black Friday. I can't think of anything that will lure me out this year. Thanks to Amazon, most of our shopping is already done. And, a thanks to Heather, our Christmas cards are designed & ordered - for just $3 this year (you can get yours free, check her blog out!).  Its just too easy to order online and have it appear on my doorstep. No crowds, no traffic... and hey, I can shop in my pj's. It really doesn't get better than that!

Besides, I've already gotten the best gift I could have wished for:  a healthy family and wonderful friends. And, this year, I'm also thankful for becoming part of the 2010 Disney Moms Panel. I'll be starting my Moms Panel journey in only 10 days. Maybe this Black Friday will find me packing for my Dream trip.....after some Pumpkin cake and coffee for breakfast of course !

That was stupid...

In honor of all those things that make you wonder... That make you stop and think "Doh!"... I am starting a new type of post: "That was stupid..."

Just quick little blurbs, captured for all time in print and now digital...

(Dallas Morning News 3-24-1964)

And, remember, I'm not laughing at them... I'm laughing with them... Yeah, right, who am I kidding !!!

Happy Birthday to you!

Ever have one of those days, you know, you can't remember you name... you forget your coffee on the counter before heading out to work... maybe you can't even remember which day you were born on...

It could be that its one of THOSE weeks, you know, big project at work, two sports practice schedules to keep straight, company coming, a holiday or two around the corner, barely time to cook and fold laundry before collapsing, only to rise and shine and do it all over again the next day...

Thanksgiving is right around the corner. A yummy holiday if there ever was one! But, that means a few extra shopping trips, some extra cleaning, family you haven't seen in well, just way too long!

So, you forget a few things... hopefully nothing too important.. but if you've been a bit stressed and forgetful, its OK. You've got company - REALLY great company. I mean, if someone as famous as Mickey himself has had his birthday celebrated on the wrong day year after year... well, the rest of us shouldn't worry quite so much, right?

(click image to enlarge)

(Augusta Chronicle 9/10/1978)

But, it really doesn't matter which day it is, does it? Any day can be a "Very Merry Un-Birthday!" -- a great day to give a hug, to remember to tell someone you love them, or to just have a few quiet moments with your child.

No need to wait for the "official" day - in fact some of the greatest gifts I've gotten this year haven't been on my actual birthday: a husband who is now a running partner as well as my best friend; a daughter who became my yoga buddy; a son who has grown to love Mickey as much as I do;  a great new friendship with an instructor at the local gym; and the friendship of a couple of "rejects" who will be sharing an amazing Dream with me this next year... All gifts of 2009, none on my birthday.. but still, the best presents I could ever ask for!

And Mickey, I'll be seeing you real-l-l-l soon! Lets celebrate some more then! I may be a little late, a few weeks past your birthday.. but hopefully you'll forgive me!

Nope, still sky high!

Its been a week. Yup - A full week since I got the phone call. The special call, that turned dreams into reality...  I can't believe the time has flown by so quickly!

A week ago, seeing that special phone number on caller id, I was afraid to answer the phone, I was afraid not to... Would it be good news this time? Would I be a member of the 2010 Disney Mom's Panel? Or would it be a sad call?

Thankfully, the only tears I cried were tears of joy. Yes, I cried. On the phone call. After the phone call. Then, when the tears finally dried up,  I had a smile that lasted for days!

And... my feet still haven't touched the ground...

Details of our training trip are starting to emerge. Our group of 2010 Moms (and Dads!), along with some of the current panelists, will be staying at the Contemporary Resort. Yes, you know it, the fabulous piece of architecture with the Monorail running right through the building...

I'll be flying off December 4th.. so of course that means Holiday decorations! Christmas at Disney World is indescribable. Sure, there are lights, wreaths, ornaments, hot cocoa and cookies. But, as always, its the extra touches that just bring the Magic to life... take for example, a Christmas Tree in the Contemporary... what else could it be but a Magical Monorail Tree??

That's about all the details I know right now... more will be coming soon...

But before I sign off for the day, just one last thing I need to mention - the amazing 2010 panelists! Online, I've met nearly all the Moms and Dads for 2010 (and from 2008 & 2009). Every single one of them have been friendly, amazing, and supportive. Its a bit hard to believe that I am now one of them... but I am. And, because of that, I'm still flying high!!

Yup, that's me... your personal tour guide...

So, my non-Disney Geek friends and relatives... you've been asking:

"Just what is this Disney Moms Panel thing anyways??!?"

 Well, let me try to explain...

In today's world, with so little time to spend dedicated to being a family, those two weeks of vacation time per year are priceless - you really want to seize the opportunity to make it the best it can be! Not only that, but any vacation is a big investment of time and money (at least it is in our house)!

So, what do you do? You've decided you want to go to Disney World to experience a little of that special Magic. Well, if you're like me, you start to plan. Where to stay? Where to eat? How do we get from the airport to the hotel?? The list goes on ... and on...

Guide books are great. They give you a wonderful overview of what rides are in each park, what resorts are available to you. In fact, they've been around since just a few years after Disney World opened...

(Dallas Morning News 7/9/1978)

Disney World guidebooks still exist today. In fact, if you do a search on Amazon, you'll be able to choose from 27 different 2010 books. But, as great as those books are, sometimes they just aren't personalized enough. Maybe they don't answer the questions you have...

Maybe you need to know how to get around - I mean, the sheer size of WDW can be daunting! Its bigger than Manhattan, nearly 47 acres, 20+ hotel choices, and I'm not even going to attempt to count all the places to eat!

Speaking of eating, maybe you are a vegetarian, and need to know where to grab a snack or light meal in the Magic Kingdom - sure, you could scour the books, hoping to find out where to go or what to look for ... But, in this online world of ours.. there is an easier way. Yup, you guessed it! Thats where the Disney World Moms Panel comes in.

At www.disneyworldmoms.com you can submit your question and an amazing group of Moms & Dads will answer it. Specific advice given to you and your situation. They've been there. They've done it.

AND they are free to give you their best advice - honest advice. You see, the answers aren't required to give you a company line or to push you to spend more money. In fact, the Moms & Dads aren't employed by Disney. They are volunteers of sorts... sure they may get a reward for helping out... maybe a Trip to WDW or something similar.. but that's it.  So, if they don't think that a resort or restaurant fits your family - they'll tell you. Yup. Seriously.

So, next year that will be me! That's what I'll be doing... I'll be helping real folks, with real questions... giving real answers... Sort of a personal guide to the place I love so much...

A dream come true....

I don't have quite enough time to express the excitement and happiness I feel, but, I wanted to jot a quick note to let you all know... My dream has come true...

I am not a Disney employee. The postings here are my own and do not represent the positions or opinions of the Disney Company.

I received a magical call yesterday... a surreal experience: seeing a Disney phone number on my  caller id, hearing the welcoming voices, hearing "We'd like you to be a part of the 2010 Disney Mom's Panel!" -- OK, honestly, I don't know if those are the EXACT words.. it was a whirlwind! I laughed. I cried. I couldn't wait to tell everyone! Family, Friends! And later, Facebook, Twitter, the Dis!!!

I couldn't contain myself! I even tried to dance on the front lawn... but for some odd, strange reason my son quickly shoved me into the house. Huh. Go figure!

I'll be posting more later, I promise!

Ready, set....

Well, its almost time. The search for the 2010 Mom's Panel is almost over. We will probably know in less than 24 hours...

For 10 of us, it may just change our lives.. some changes may be small, some may be big. It may be as small as a new routine, a new outlet for the passion we all feel for the Mouse... Or it could be as large as gaining a new best friend ( or two or nine... ).

Am I ready? Oh yea, I think so. Because, you see, that sharing, that friendship has already started - no matter what happens, I've made some friendships that will stick around for quite a while...  the whole selection process, while nerve-wracking and exciting...  has also brought out a sense of camaraderie - people cheering on those who are reaching for their dreams...

So, as I sit here (not so) patiently waiting and driving the family crazy with ideas of what could be, of what might not be... I wonder, did anyone have an idea of how big, how altering, Walt's World would be on Florida... on the community around it.. 

(click image to enlarge)

Even back in 1971, days before Walt Disney World had opened... there was a love of the Mouse, and excitement... and worries of how things might change... crowds & traffic... just to name a few...

And, yes, I have those same feelings. I'm worried... What if I make the panel? What if I don't? I can't answer those questions (yet) but, I'm taking a chance...  I've already "felt the impact of Walt Disney World"... WOW!

What not to wear!

Hey Minnie! Will you share? I think I'm in some desperate need of some fashion over here! One the one hand, that's a good thing - I'm getting healthy and losing some weight. On the other hand, that means... no clothes. Nothing fits - I don't even have that one dress that Minnie has...  Not that I'm complaining mind you, its a good problem to have...

(click image to enlarge)

(Dallas Morning News, 12/10/1972)

And, to be fair, I think Minnie must need those clothes more than I do. She is wayyyy more in the public eye than I am. She is one hard working gal. Public appearances. Halloween Parties. And now Christmas Parties are ready to start! There are always a new occasions to dress for at the World.

I guess I'll need to follow Minnie's example soon. The holidays are coming. Christmas parties. Places to go and people to visit... I wonder if she'll lend out her fashion consultant... I mean, I'd look good in polka-dots, wouldn't I???

Look Mom!

Today in History... 50 years ago a small Disney crew did something pretty amazing. I'm sure they were nervous, had some fear, and maybe a whole lot of excitement.

 

(Trenton Evening Times 11/4/1959)

Flash forward to 2009... Today is my chance to experience those same emotions: nervousness, fear and a whole monorail full of excitement. You see, today is my second chance - my second interview for the Disney Mom's Panel.

I'm hoping that maybe I can make a little of my own "Disney History"... sure, it will be a little more personal, a little closer to my heart... But maybe, just maybe, a little Pixie Dust will float my way today.  And maybe, sometime soon, this will be me...

 Keep your fingers, toes... and eyes crossed for me ... I'll keep you posted...

Donald! How dare you!

Donald Duck. You know him, everyone knows him: Quick Temper. Big heart. But how about a racy trouble maker? Do you know that side of Donald?

(Dallas Morning News, 01/15/1978)

HMMM, it "shows many nude ducks". Um, lets be honest here - I haven't seen too many fully clothed ducks in real life. I've found it quite difficult to get them to adhere to a dress code of any sort... Frankly, I'm lucky to get my kids up, showered and fully dressed in the morning - never mind the neighborhood ducks!  (And yes, I know that was a tongue-in-cheek comment, but I just couldn't resist!)

But, it does make me think - how times have changed. These days, we're more open and quite a bit more understanding of non-traditional families. Heck, I've been one of those non-traditional folks, and let me tell you that I don't regret it, don't think of myself as abnormal... I just had a different path to take.  And I wouldn't trade where it has lead me for anything!

Tis the season...

Dear Santa,

I've been very good this year. Please, please, please send this my way....

(Trenton Evening Times, 12-06-1978)

From,
Me

Its about that time, my iBook has seen better days. It may only be 4 years old, but in computer years, that's nearly 80 yrs old... OK, I don't know if that's quite the right math but it sure seems like it.

But, its so painful to shell out a thousand bucks or more for a new machine... especially with Windows 7 machines starting at $300! And, I know I can "trust" Microsoft to have fixed the bugs. This time. Really...

So what's a girl to do? Windows really isn't that viable of an option... I'm already forced to use a Windows box for work. I just can't imagine voluntarily bringing a Windows machine into a house of 4 iPhones and 3 Mac's. It would feel so bad, be such an outcast. Poor Windows...

We've been kicking around the idea of a Hackintosh... but I don't know... I can't imagine not having a true Mac, so I guess I'll just limp along with this poor old' iBook until I can get myself over to the Apple Store... someday soon... Christmas is coming after all...