Always running behind

Something people forget

2011-10-06T09:54:00.002-04:00

I'm sure that by writing this post, I'm going to make a few people mad. They are going to take it personally or whatever. But, really, in my world, what's new?

I've done a lot of thinking lately about groups and cliques and such. It seems to me that in every group, there is one person who is "the resident bitch". You know who I mean- the one that every loves to roll their eyes at, the one that speaks their mind a little too much, the one that doesn't always play well with others... Well, it dawned on me recently that I am the resident bitch.

I freely admit I don't play with others. Maybe it was because I was an only child and didn't have to. I don't like to put up with other people's drama and antics. I have enough going on in my own life- I don't need that. I speak my mind- call it snarky, sarcastic, bitchy, whatever. I say what I think even when there are times I shouldn't. I don't kiss ass well... never have and probably never will.

So yes, I am the resident bitch. I guess I should embrace it.

But people forget something. Everyone has feelings. Even people like me. And those feelings can get hurt. I try not to let it show- it's just not how I am. But it happens. All the mean things that are whispered behind my back... Yea, I know about them. The little snide comments that are made- my name my not be specifically mentioned, but I know they are about me. When I am ignored and left behind, I notice.

But am I going to say anything to you? No... Because that would just further cement the fact that I am that bitch. And I guess in some ways, not saying anything also makes a bitch. People think it's because I don't care or I'm snotty or whatever. I admit, sometimes that true. But sometimes, it's because it hurts. Will I ever let you know this? No, probably not... but that doesn't make it hurt less.

Will I or Won't I???

2011-09-07T12:39:00.003-04:00

It's that time of year again- the application process for the Disney Mom's Panel is about to begin. I have applied the last several years, and last year's experience left me with a bit of a sour taste in my mouth (see my post here).

I have tried to avoid a lot of conversation or information about the process this year. But I'll be honest, there is a part of me that wonders about applying again. There is also a part of me that says I don't need the stress and the hassle of the process- I have enough going on in life right now.

The question is- will I or won't I apply? I don't know... Well, actually, that's not true. I think I do know what my answer is to that question. But it's MY answer and MY decision. I am the one that needs to be happy with what I decide. I will not be sharing my decision with anyone. If I do decide to apply, I don't want to hear people say how I shouldn't make because I cuss, drink, or anything else that's un-Disneylike. And if I decide not to apply, I don't want to hear people say I should apply because I go so often and I have quite a bit of Disney knowledge.

I will share this- I know many people who would make a fabulous addition to the Mom's Panel. I sincerely hope that Disney has the smarts to pick them.

My adventures with American Airlines

2011-08-16T13:22:00.006-04:00

Pardon the length of this post, but I think this whole story needs to be told.

This last week, I had one of the worst travel experiences I have ever had. I flew on American Airlines from Philadelphia to Tucson through Dallas/Fort-Worth on August 9, and then returned home via the same route on August 15. There was not just one issue- there were many, many issues on these flights. It is doubtful I will ever fly American again.

I was excited about the flight out- Matthew (my seven year old son) and I were scheduled to leave Philly at 6:30 in the morning on flight 2017. Yes, that's a really early time, but I'm a morning person and it wasn't that bad to me. Plus, we had a quick connection in Dallas and would get into Tucson at 9:50 in the morning. That gave us basically the whole extra day for us to visit with my parents. We were suppose to start boarding the plane at 6:00 am. There were quite a few people waiting at the gate, but yet, no gate agents. So we waited. And waited... And waited.

Finally, a gate agent showed up and started the boarding process at 6:20 am. I'm sorry, but there is no way you are going to board a full plane and be ready for take-off in 10 minutes. Sure enough, it took about 20 minutes for everyone to board the plane. After everyone got on the plane, the flight attendant discovered one seat (which had no one in it, by the way) had a broken headrest. At this point, maintenance was called. It took 20 minutes for the maintenance worker to arrive and put a "Do Not Use" sign on the seat. So it is now 7:00 am- 30 minutes after we were suppose to take off.

We had 45 minutes in Dallas to make our connecting flight to Tucson. At this point, I was hoping that the pilot would be able to make up some time in the air. I've flown quite a bit, and that isn't an uncommon occurrence. That hope was dashed pretty quickly when the pilot announced that due to bad weather we were going to be forced to fly south to Atlanta then over to Dallas. It would take longer than the scheduled 3 hours and we would be late arriving at DFW. He mentioned that there were many people on the plane with connections that would be tight or missed and that the flight attendants would help us rebook flights as needed.

As the flight went on, we didn't hear any more about rebooking our flights. Across the aisle from me was a woman who was about 7 months pregnant and also was facing a tight connection in Dallas due to the delays in Philly. As the pilot announced we would be landing about 9:25, I asked the flight attendant what to do about my flight that was leaving at 9:40. She looked at me, and Matthew, and said "I suggest you run like hell." I was FLOORED. I couldn't believe that this is what I was told. The flight attendant then gave the same advice to the pregnant lady. I mean, really? This is acceptable customer service.

When we landed Matthew and I ran our little hearts out, but we didn't make our flight. Neither did any of the other people on our plane that were trying to get to Tucson. All in all, there were about 20 of us that missed the plane by less than 5 minutes. There were 3 other flights to Tucson that afternoon- 12:45, 2:05. and 5:20. Matthew and I were put on the stand-by list (as numbers 6 and 7) for the 12:45 flight and booked tickets on the 5:20 flight. Um- hello... Our original flight was due to leave at 9:40. This was now an 8 hour delay in DFW. And why couldn't we be booked on the earlier flights- this wasn't OUR fault. This was all due to a late gate agent and a maintenance issue. I asked to speak with a supervisor and was told "This is Philadelphia's fault. We can't do anything." I also learned that there is no customer relations at DFW for American.

Well, Matthew and I killed time riding the Skylink and checking out all the different terminals. We went and waited for the 12:45 flight. They had overbooked the flight and were looking for volunteers to bump to the 5:20 flight. People who voluntarily took this bump got a $300 credit for their trouble. Um- excuse me... What about MY trouble? I went up to the desk and pointed out that I was being bumped from flight after flight due to American's problems, had NO choice in the matter, and was getting nothing in return. The gate agent looked at me and said "Yes, that's correct. That's how we do it" All that came of that conversation was Matthew and I got put on stand-by for the 2:05 flight as number 5 and 6. Well, we didn't make that flight either.

Finally, almost 8 hours after our original flight was scheduled, we were got on the 5:20pm flight to Tucson. What should have been a total of 7 hours travel time turned into a horrible 15 1/2 hour travel day. All I can say is thank goodness Matthew is an excellent traveler. Only once did he break down in tears. After we didn't make the 2:05 flight, he sat there and cried for a few minutes because all he wanted to do was see his grandma. That was truly my lowest point too.

Well, I figured that with a travel day like that, I was due for some good travel luck on the way home, right? Not- especially since I was traveling American. We were scheduled to leave Tucson at 1:40 and fly to DFW were we had 90 minutes to make our connection. Well, our plane to take us to DFW didn't show up until 1:50. We finally got boarded and took off at 2:20. 40 minutes late. I've learned that American is not capable of flights taking off less than 30 minutes late.

We arrived at DFW, changed terminals, grabbed dinner and went to our new gate. So far so good. Hey- we even got on the plane on time. Our plane was scheduled to leave at 7:30pm and arrive in Philly at 11:40pm. I was so excited when we pushed back from the gate on time- I just wanted to get home!

Well, we pushed back from the gate and sat on the tarmac. And sat. And then the air turned off. And we sat. And they turned the air back on. And we sat. And- well, you get the idea. Finally after about 20 minutes, the pilot came on the intercom and announced that we had a maintenance issue (SERIOUSLY!?!) and were being pushed back to the gate. Yep... So, we sat there for about 20 minutes getting quite toasty- they had hooked up the gate AC, but a big metal tube in Dallas in the summer with 200 people gets warm- when they announced it would be a while before they could fix the issue and we all needed to deplane. At 8:15 at night, we were now getting OFF the plane. I was ready to curl up in the corner and cry. Turns out the left ignition box wouldn't work so they had to change it out. This took over an hour. We were finally allowed back on the plane at 9:15 pm. Our plane finally took off about 9:40pm- over 2 hours late. There was not one word of apology from the pilot or any of the flight attendants. I will say the gate agents dealing with this delay were by far the BEST American employees I encountered on this trip.

I am so disgusted by how we were treated and the rude customer service we had from almost every American employee. No one seemed to care that American inconvenienced us. I never heard one word of apology. No one ever tried to make anything better.

Now, I have not yet contacted anyone at American about this issue. I don't know how, or even if, they are going to respond. I am going to do is send them an email with a link to this blog. They can decide to ignore me, in which case they will lose me forever as a customer. If American decides to do the right thing, or anything, I will put it here and update this for all to see.

I will simply say this to anyone who is looking to travel- please seriously think twice before you book on American. Let this story be a lesson to you.

UPDATE: I posted this blog originally about 3 pm Eastern time. It's now 6:30 pm Eastern, and I have been contacted by American about the issue. The original tweet that went out about the blog caught their attention and they read the post. It was discussed internally, and then a resolution issued. I spoke with Steph from the customer relations team who offered an apology for the various issues that occurred. She understood that the major issues that I had were the bad customer service and the lack of information. They have made amends for problems. We will be flying American in the future (although hopefully not through Dallas- I am still tired of that airport).

This birthday is gonna hurt

2011-07-27T07:09:00.003-04:00

Lately the thought of my upcoming birthday has been on my mind. And for some reason, the thought of turning 36 (yes, I said my age- GASP!) really kind of bothers me.

I've never been bothered by my age before. I've never lied about it or anything to appear younger. And goodness know, I certainly don't act my age- that concept is way over-rated. So why is this one bothering me? I didn't care when I turned 21- except for being able to drink. 30 was no big deal. Heck, even 35 didn't matter. So why 36? It's such an odd age to be bothered by.

I think it has to do with the fact that I am now closer to 40 than I am 30. Wow, writing that makes it seem even worse. But I get that these are all just numbers and really don't mean much.

As I get older, I learn who I am more. I am more and more comfortable with being me- the good, the bad, and the ugly. When I looked at some pictures from our recent cruise, I noticed a few wrinkles around my eyes when I smiled. Eh- that's life. I know more about what I like and don't like. I've really thought about what I want out of life. I've learned that no one out there is perfect- and often it's those imperfections in people that make them the great person they are. I am more accepting of people than I was before. These are all great things that come with ~gulp~ getting older.

When I look at it this way, I wonder why this birthday bothers me. I still don't know- but for whatever reason, this birthday is gonna hurt. Oh well... Maybe I'll just celebrate it with a couple of drinks like I'm 21 and won't care.

I lived without my phone!!!

2011-07-25T07:19:00.002-04:00

As most of you know, and if you don't know- where have you been?, I just got back from an amazing 10 day Disney vacation. We spent 5 days in the parks and then 5 days on the Disney Dream cruise ship. There will be blog posts about both of those later, have no fear.

But this blog post is focusing on the fact I did something I didn't think I could do. I lived without my phone (and laptop) for 5 days. Yep- I had to turn my phone off and go cold turkey from all forms of social media. If you know me at all, you know I am just a little addicted (stop laughing!) to Twitter and other ways of communication with my friends. Now, I will admit I twitched. A lot. But, it helped that a good friend of mine (Jim) who is equally addicted was on the cruise with us- we suffered together.

Now, the ship did have phones that would work on the ship so you could stay in touch with family members around the ship. They would call and even text. There was just one problem... Jim and I couldn't work them. The phones are very similar to the 'non-smartphone' phones. Which I can't use anymore. I would attempt to text and ended up sending only one letter. Or I would try to text and would make a call instead. I gave up trying to use it and just accepted the fact that I had to go cold turkey.

There were definitely times I wanted my phone. There were so many great things I wanted to be able to tweet or show people. Jim and I would look at each other and just comment how much it hurt not to be able to share whatever idiotic thing he had just done. In fact, we may or may not have pretended to hold our phone in our hands and type and few times. When we were lounging on Castaway Cay on Wednesday and the rest of the world was at work, I so wanted to be able to rub it in to everyone. But I couldn't.

After 5 days, I admit, I didn't want the vacation to end, but I was ready to have my phone back. I know that I can live without and be unplugged for a while. However, I have no problem admitting that I don't like doing it. Yep- I am addicted...

Let's talk tattoos

2011-07-07T08:19:00.003-04:00

As I have said before, this is my blog and I can talk about what I want to. And today, I want to talk about tattoos.

Yes, tattoos. I've had several friends lately who have gotten them. And I want one.

I don't want anything big or fancy or in a very obvious place. Just something small and tasteful.

So what's stopping me? Well, there is a bit of a- hmmmm, how to put this- disagreement in my family about getting one. Yep, I've been told "No." Now, if you know me at all, you know that I don't deal well with being told no. In fact, it's like waving a red flag at a bull. However, I'm not sure that's the best thing to do in this situation.

I mean, this isn't like buying a new pair shoes I really don't need or changing my hair color. This is something permanent (duh).

So... I guess I will continue to want one... And who knows, maybe someday I'll surprise everyone and post a picture of my new tattoo.

10 days and counting!

2011-07-04T07:44:00.005-04:00

10 days from now we will be leaving for our combination Walt Disney World and Disney cruise vacation (on the Disney Dream). We will be going with some wonderful friends of ours and we are beyond excited.

Our vacation buddies!

So, I figured I would a "10-things I am looking forward" post. I know, this concept has been done to death by everyone, but I never claimed that I was original.

1. Staying at the TreeHouse Villas. Our friends are DVC members and were lucky enough to snag a THV for our Disney World stay. I can't wait to see these!

2. Lunch at Kona. I know Kona has good food, but that is not why this one makes the list. This one makes the list because there will around 18 of us at this lunch. This includes some wonderful friends that I have yet to meet in person. I'm pretty sure that by the end of lunch we will kicked out of Kona, but who cares!

3. Taking Matty on the new Star Tours. He is so in love with Star Wars right now that he will go crazy for the new ride.

4. Seeing the amazing Atlantis resort. Our excursion at Nassau is the Atlantis Aquaventure- we get to go play on the water slides and eat lunch at the Atlantis resort.

5. Hanging out in a cabana on Castway Cay. Need I say more?

6. Food, food, and more food.

7. Seeing the Magic, Memories, and You show at the Magic Kingdom. I admit, when I first heard about the show, I thought Disney was making a horrible mistake. But, I was wrong- this has quickly become one of my favorite things to see. And yes, it makes me cry- which considering I am NOT a crier says something.

8. Carrot cake cookie from the Writer's Stop. Yes, I am slightly addicted to them now.

9. Eating breakfast on our verandah on the Dream. Someone bringing me coffee when I wake up and being able to just sit and enjoy it sounds like HEAVEN to me!

10. Being able to just relax and soak in a Disney atmosphere for 10 days. I can't wait!

Now, some of you may notice I didn't say things like the AquaDuck, pools, oceans, etc. Believe me, I am looking forward to all of those, but wanted to add some different things to my list. And no, I haven't started packing yet.

Packing Procrastination

2011-07-02T07:54:00.002-04:00

Wow- it hit me this morning that we leave for our 11 day Disney World and Disney Dream vacation in 12 days. Now, don't get me wrong, I have been counting down the days for weeks (ok, months). But it hit me this morning that 12 days is really not very long.

For normal WDW vacations, it isn't unusual for me to have piles of clothes and other things on the guest room bed weeks ahead. Part of this is because I don't bother unpacking some things out of suitcases- for example, our ponchos live in the suitcases. My Disney backpack hangs out on the guest room bed and I am constantly putting things in there. There have been trips I have had everything ready to pack, or actually packed, two weeks before the trip.

But this isn't a normal vacation. It's 5 days at WDW and then 5 days on the Dream. OK- the packing for WDW part is easy. I can do that in my sleep. And I know that I will have to break one of my cardinal rules of vacation and actually do laundry on this vacation (made easier since we are staying in the Tree House Villas). But it's the packing for the Dream that is giving me fits.

Of course, I am now thinking that I have nothing to wear. And if you have seen my closet (or closets) you know that is not even close to being true. I am panicking about what to wear to the dinners... How many awesome pairs of shoes can I take... Do I have a dress that is dressy enough for our dinner at Remy... I hate my bathing suits- should I get a new one? All sorts of very difficult questions. And yes, I know, whatever I take or wear will be fine- but do you not get that is not the point? It has to be just perfect!

So what do I? Nothing. I delay and procrastinate packing. I refuse think about it. And the more I do this, the closer it gets to the time we leave. And the closer it gets to the time we leave, the more I panic about it all. The more I panic, the more I don't want to think about it. And so the packing procrastination cycle continues.

This is all normal, right?????

Wha?? I don't understand...

2011-06-25T17:40:00.002-04:00

A few weeks ago, we booked a trip to WDW for August. However, there is a catch to this trip. We are going with my in-laws. Now, I'm not even going to start discussing this- they fall squarely in the category of people who "don't get Disney". It will be a very interesting trip.

Today, Mike and I were discussing this upcoming trip and he said something to me that I just don't understand. He said that we really have to do some planning for this trip. HUH? You mean more than just planning what park on what day- and more importantly, where we are going eat? I don't get it. This is a Disney trip. I pride myself on NOT over planning these trips. I mean, I know we only have 5 days to show them OUR Disney, but plan????

As I stared at Mike with a look of utter confusion, he said something else that I still don't understand. He said that he didn't think he was going to have his parents get Park Hopper tickets. HUH?!? You mean I am limited to only one park a day? If we are done at Animal Kingdom, we don't get to go to another park for the rest of the day? I... I... I don't understand. How do I do that? What about Extra Magic Hours at the Magic Kingdom... That only happens if we are AT the Magic Kingdom that day? How am I suppose to do this?

I just don't get it... Planning? No hopping??? I need a beer...

What does being a Disney fan mean?

2011-06-22T15:31:00.002-04:00

Every few months, this discussion seems to come up. It seems there are some people out there that think being a Disney fan means you a squeaky-clean always happy person. I've got news for those people- you're wrong!

Take me for example- I am a HUGE Disney fan (I don't think anyone is really going to argue that point with me). But, I am far from squeaky-clean.

I don't talk about pixie dust and castles and happy endings all the time. As a matter of fact, I curse- a lot! I've been told I don't curse like a sailor... it's more that my language would make a sailor blush. Now, I don't curse (much) when kids are around just because I don't think it's appropriate. But I don't watch what comes out of my mouth and think "Is this Disney-like?"

In my life, there are things that go wrong and make me frustrated. Life is not all pixie-dust and that's OK! I'm a real person and I'm allowed to have bad days. It doesn't make me any less of a Disney fan on those bad than I am on good days.

The Disney community that I am proud to be a part of is made up of a variety of people- There is no stereo-type for Disney fans. Some are single adults, some are married with no kids, some are married with children, and some are older adults whose kids have grown up. We are all different but brought together by our love for Disney.

And if someone out there doesn't like me for how I am, well, that's not very Disney-like of them! I mean, didn't Nemo have a gimpy fin? Wasn't Lightening McQueen in trouble with the law? Didn't Mr. Incredible lie to his family for months?

Disney teaches about embracing differences and that you don't have to be perfect. And that's what being a Disney fan means to me.

How social media helped out run a fire

2011-06-18T06:56:00.006-04:00

Well, this last week has been interesting, to say the least. Most of my on-line attention has been focused on the Monument Fire down by my parent's house in Southern Arizona. Being 2500 miles away makes it hard to get good information, but luckily, I found an AMAZING Facebook page that kept me in the loop. (And here a quick shout out to the administrators of the Monument Fire Az page- they have done a great job keeping the page up to date and minimizing rumors). There was also a Twitter hashtag #monumentfire, but Twitter doesn't appear to be real big in the small town.

My mom has refused to get on Facebook and watch this for herself. She has a Facebook account, but for whatever reason, refuses to use. She was getting emails from friends, but obviously it wasn't as quick and timely as what was occurring on Facebook.

On Thursday, I watched as the fire jumped a main highway and headed for several of my parent's friends homes. I was able to call my mom and let her know that her friends had been evacuated. I was also able to let them know which direction the fire was going and so forth.

Friday rolled around and it was much of the same. As I monitored the fire, it continued moving east, not north toward my parents. This was all good. Some of their friends were in a new pre-evacuation zone, but nothing had really changed. The fire was still concentrated (as much as a 19,000 acre fire can be concentrated) areas where the homes had lots of land- not subdivisions.

About 5pm my time (which is about 2pm for my parents), I was on the phone with my mom and started seeing reports of a new fire that had started on Fort Huachuca. This fire was less than 2 miles from my parents- and it quickly became obvious that it was out of control and moving east straight toward my parent's subdivision. Because my mom was already wound tighter than a high-E string on a violin, I asked to talk to my dad. Well, at that moment he was coming back in from outside and commenting that there was a lot of smoke over to the west. So, I told them about the new fire and that I was waiting for more information.

Well, at this point, the Facebook page started to go crazy. The fire was moving quickly and even though the fire response team was jumping on it, dry grass and high winds meant the fire was growing. Within about 40 minutes of the fire starting, evacuations were starting about 1 mile from my parents house. These people had NO notice and only about 3 minutes to gather everything they wanted to take with them and get out. They were told "Get out. Get out now. We are not kidding. The fire is coming." At this point, my mom called me to say there were attempting to take donations to the fire station, but saw how bad the smoke was and decided to just stay home. I told her at this point where the evacuations were occurring and that they needed to go home and get their stuff together.

I then heard from my mom about 15 minutes later as she called me and asked me if there was anything in particular I wanted them to save from the house. That is not something you ever really want to think about. She said they were loading the car up and getting ready. I couldn't think of anything, but told her to take her iPod and start walking around and videoing the house as documentation.

I continued to watch the Facebook page and the evacuations were growing, as was the fire. The new evacuations included their area- they needed to get out NOW! This was about 6:15pm my time- about 75 minutes after the fire started. There was talk that air tankers were going to be diverted from the main fire to this new fire (called the Antelope Fire) to drop slurry to attempt to save the subdivisions. I called my parent's house and got no answer. So, I tried my mom's cell phone. It went immediately to voice mail. Ok- I started freaking a little bit about now.

I remained GLUED to the Facebook page and saw many people saying that cell service in the area was overloaded and service was also bad due to the heavy smoke in the area. That helped me calm down a little. I also know my father and while he is easily one of the most stubborn people around, he wouldn't take any chance with my mom and their 2 dogs and cat. The Facebook page continued to be updated with new information with people talking about how they had no notice of the evacuation and had to leave everything behind. I was thankful that I knew my parents were able to get some of their things out.

Finally after about 30 minutes my mom called me. I could hear one pissed-off cat in the background. They were out and hanging at the city park with other evacuees. They were going to wait it out there for a while and had a friend's house to go to if needed. They knew nothing and had no way to get information- they were just winging it at this point. I told her I would keep watching online and would pass on information as needed.

Facebook was updating frequently with information on the percent of the fire contained and other information- such as the gas company had shut off all gas to their area. I called her with information as I got it and I could hear her passing it on to everyone else with them. They had no other information coming in. Finally, about 8:20 my time, I saw on Twitter that a news channel had reported the evacuation was lifted. There was actually no way to verify this online (I had tried and was told the only reliable sources were calling the sheriff or police). I called and, sure enough, they could go back home. I called my mom in the park and let her know and she told everyone there. This was the first they had heard the news. Needless to say, there was quite a bit of cheering!

So my parents headed home- and thankfully they had a home to go to. I hate to think how this would have gone without social media. I have no doubt that they would have gotten out of their home- but would they have had the time to be able to pack things or would they also have had those 3 small minutes (180 seconds) to pack up. And what would I have known from 2500 miles away? It's very possible I wouldn't have even know what was going on. And how would they have known that they could go home. I am so thankful for that Facebook page and how it was getting information out to everyone who needed it.

Also, I just wanted to thank everyone who passed along such wonderful words of support to me yesterday- it was a very rough evening and the support of all my friends meant so much to me!

Things that make me happy!

2011-06-07T10:31:00.003-04:00

I am blantantly stealing this idea from my friend who just did a blog post on 30 things that make her happy. I decided to make my own list of things that make me happy- in no particular order.

Disney
Watching my son sleep
Ice cream
My friends
My #peas
The #beans- but don't tell the #beans though!
Potato dumplings- not eating them, just the thought of them
The first sip of a Starbucks coffee with foam
Getting into bed with fresh crisp sheets
The song "Wild at Heart" by Gloriana- Seriously, how can a song with the line "Put your hand into my back pocket, light me up like a bottle rocket" NOT make you happy???
Any song by the Black Eyed Peas- because it always makes me think of my friend who HATES any song by them
Those few seconds on Tower of Terror after your elevator is loaded into the tower, but before it begins going up and down
Text messages from friends
Riding the PeopleMover
Snuggly kittens
Pedicures
Snuggles with Matthew
Nascar date nite
Dancing
New shoes
My pair of jeans that fit just right
Crossing the finish line of a race
A good hair day
Eating frosting right out of the container
Movie theater popcorn with butter
Girl's Night Out
Being under a bunch of warm blankets when it's cold outside
Taylor Lautner's abs
Reading a really good book that you don't want to put down
Laughing so hard I cry

'Ohana means family

2011-06-06T11:00:00.008-04:00

The Disney movie Lilo & Stitch popularized the staying "'Ohana means family." Many of my Disney friends, and myself, use this saying when we are talking about some of our dearest and closest friends. We use it to mean that our friends our like our family. But for me, that's not quite right.

There is another saying "You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family." Think about it- you have that family member (or members) that you really don't like, but you just kinda tolerate. To me, 'Ohana is something so much more than family.

'Ohana doesn't include all photo crashers in the picture though :)

For me, I have a wonderful group of 'Ohana friends. Who are they? Some of them are:

the ones that I ate at Biergarten with- the food was mediocre, but it was hands down the best meal of my life.

Yep- my 'Ohana friends are inappropriate... LOVE THEM!

the ones you see on Main St. and start yelling and going crazy with happiness.

the one I think of every time I go over a particular bump on Space Mountain and remember him commenting when the lap bar met his groin in a rude way.
my #peas- my two friends who are always there for me. And know when they need to give my space.

Yes, I know I just used this pic, but there are no words for how IMPORTANT these two are to me!

the ones that I want to call first when something good happens.
the ones that I tell first when something bad happens.

This picture and the one above are completely interchangeable :)

the ones that tell you to stop being a drama queen and just get over yourself.

the ones that are in all of your pictures with you.

There are just some of my 'Ohana friends- it's not all of them.

'Ohana is those friends who touch your soul. They are the friends that are in so many of your memories- both good and bad because they are there for you no matter what. They are the ones that I think of when I cry happy and sad tears. They are the friends who take a part of you with them when they leave.

I am so thankful for all of my 'Ohana friends. I am not complete without ALL of them. I need them in my life.

And this post is dedicated to my 'Ohana friend who has very recently come back into my life- I didn't realize how much emptier my life was without them in it.

Disney- not a vacation destination

2011-06-01T07:38:00.005-04:00

No, I didn't mis-type something in the title of this post. To me, Disney is not a vacation destination. It is so much more than that.

Yes, I go to Disney on vacation, but it recently occurred to me WHY I always want to go to Disney. It's not because I enjoy the rides and the attractions- although I do enjoy them! It because Disney has such wonderful memories of friends and family.

I love my #peas!!!!

It bring me a sense of happiness and peace. And I will admit, there is a bit of escapism there. Being in the Disney bubble makes all the other problems and stresses of life seem so far away.

Problems? What problems?

Simply put, Disney is the happy place for my soul.

I don't go to Disney for a vacation- I go for a total recharge. To spend time in my happy place and gather more memories to get me through until the next time I can visit.

I know some of you reading this don't understand this. You think that Disney World is simply a place to go every couple of years for vacation. That's OK with me- it keeps the crowds down for all the other times I want to go :)

Our adventures with Lego Pirates of the Caribbean for Wii

2011-05-24T19:42:00.004-04:00

So, like many Disney fans, my family was very excited when it was announced that Disney Interactive Studios would be putting a Lego Wii adventure based on the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. We love the Lego Wii games and couldn't wait to get the game.

Well- consider this your warning. DO NOT BUY THIS GAME!!!

It's a known issue that many of the Lego games have some bugs in them while you play. But this game takes it to a new extreme.

In this game, there are 4 "movies", based on each of the four released Pirates movies (um- duh). Each movie has 5 stories that you play through. Our problems started on Story 1, chapter 2. We got about 75% of the way through the story, and our Wii console froze. It also began emitting a high-pitched sound (which the cat did NOT like). We couldn't get it to do anything for us and we had to turn off the entire console and turn it back on. So we booted the game again, started the story again, and guess what... Yep- it froze in the same exact spot. So, after doing this 3 times, we thought it might be the disc. We took the disc back to Target, explained the issue, and came home with a new disc. And guess what- same thing!!!

At this point, I called the technical support number for Disney Interactive Studios. They said that we had a corrupted save file. We could try playing past with only one person (we had been playing with two people) or breaking less objects, but our best bet was to delete the file and start over. And so we did. We deleted the save file and started the entire game over.

After we did this, we had a couple of other freeze issues, but after restarting the console, we were able to move past the spot without an issue. UNTIL... we got to story 4, chapter 5. Yes- the last story of the game. And guess what- it happened again. The console froze- and even after restarting, three times, the game continued to freeze in the same spot.

So- we placed another call to Disney Interactive Studios. They told us that this is a known issue and there is no current fix other than to delete the save file and start over. We are 40% finished with the game- and with a 7 year old playing, that is no small accomplishment. And now we have to delete the file and start over. They did tell us that if we didn't want to keep the game, we could exchange it for another Disney Wii title.

But that's not what we want. The whole family enjoys playing the Lego Wii games, and we want to be able to play the game. But we can't... So, until Disney fixes the issue, I recommend to everyone that they avoid buying Lego Wii Pirates of the Caribbean. I hate saying this, but there are just too many bugs and glitches in the game right now.

It's my blog, I can say what I want!

2011-05-03T18:41:00.008-04:00

I have so many things I want to say but no clue where to start. So I'm just going to ramble for a bit. And fair warning, this is a bit of a different type of blog post for me- you'll see what I mean...

People never cease to make me shake my head in wonder. And I mean this in both good ways and bad. In the couple of days, I have seen some behavior from people (adults, mind you), that just leaves me speechless. I'm not getting into who did what, but it was classless and tacky. And they then tried to cover up what they did and back pedal.

However, in the last week, I have also seen some amazing friendships that- well, let's be honest- makes me wish I had friends like these friends. The way that people are there for each other and interact with each other is just fun for me to see.

I've also witnessed people who 100% stand by their beliefs, feelings, and convictions. Whether or not I agree with what they say, I applaud them.

In the last couple of weeks, I've come to realize that living in Pennsylvania just isn't where I want to be. For a while, I've wanted to move elsewhere- and I would have settled for just about anywhere. But now, I realize that I absolutely want to be in Florida- specifically Orlando (I know this doesn't come as a shock to many of you) It's not just the weather here in PA that makes me want to move- although I have seen enough snow the last 2 years for a lifetime! It's just that I'm done here. That being said however, I don't see a move to Orlando or any part of Florida, happening anytime in the near (or even kinda near) future. Oh well....

I know this isn't a normal post for me- I usually try not to be such a Debbie-downer. But, I'm just not feeling it right now and decided I didn't want to try to put on a happy face and fake it. I promise, the next post will be much more "me" :)

Wordless Wednesday- Drinking around Epcot

2011-04-27T12:12:00.006-04:00

Classic Margarita from Hacienda de San Angel (Mexico)

Tequila Flight from La Cava del Tequila (Mexico)

Wine Flight from Weinkeller (Germany)

Rosa Regale from Italy

Sake from Sake bar (Japan)

Grand Marnier Orange Slush (France)

Cider and Black from Rose and Crown Pub (UK)

Gray Goose Lemon Slush (France)

Moroccarita (Morocco)

Leaping Leprechaun from Rose and Crown Pub (UK)

A trip of firsts

2011-03-22T13:02:00.005-04:00

Don't fall off your chairs- yes, I am blogging again...

I just got back from a WONDERFUL and exhausting 4 day trip to Disney World by myself. Well, I traveled by myself, but I surprised some friends down there and had a great time with them! The weather was perfect- you really can't beat Orlando in mid-March.

The crowds were busy, but thanks to a variety of insider knowledge and tricks, we minimized our waiting in lines.

When I mention I'm going to Disney World to people who are Disney freaks like myself, I often hear "Again? Haven't you already done everything there?" And while I have done quite a bit at Disney, there is still so much I haven't done- as this last trip proved. I think I did more things for the first time on this trip than any trip in recent memory.

I did my first drawing at the Animation Academy. Ok, so it didn't look exactly like the artist's, but it was still a ton of fun.
I had my first Carrot Cake cookie. YUM!
I had my first Grand Marnier slush. It will not be my last!
I had my first Green Tea Peach Snap at Epcot.

I closed down a park (Magic Kingdom) at 1:00 am. This was the first time I had been at a park this late other than MNSSHP.
I saw the "Kiss GoodNight" as we were leaving the park at 1:00 am.
I stayed off-property.

It's things like this that make me keep going to back to Disney World time and time again. To have this many "firsts" on my 11th trip in the last three years- there is still so much waiting for me to discover! Now, when can I go back?!?

Nothing to say?!?

2011-02-11T09:49:00.002-05:00

Wow- I haven't blogged much at all this year. To be honest, I just haven't really been feeling it. It's not that I don't have anything to say- I think we all know that's not true! It's just that I haven't really come up with anything good to say in my blog. Also, there hasn't been a whole lot going on around here.

Yes, I took a quick trip Disney, but that's been about it. We've had snow, snow, and more snow. As a matter of fact, this is the first week since Christmas that we have had a week of school not interrupted by weather delays or snow days. Matthew had his first piano recital and did really well! He's only been playing about 4 months, and I was so proud of him! Other than that, it's been the same ol' stuff.

I'm hoping that as soon as the snow melts (we've had snow in our front yard since Christmas) and the temperatures climb out of the bitter Arctic zone, I can get back to my running. I always seem to think of good blog posts when I am out huffing and puffing and trying not die!

So no worries- I'll be back with my long, chatty posts soon!

Not a new post- but one of my favorites

2011-02-01T14:41:00.001-05:00

OK- this is not the first (or even second) time I have posted this post. But I have to say, I think it's one of the best posts I have written, and there are times that it just fits what is going on in life. This is one of those times. So, enjoy!

Real, Virtual or Imaginary

Lately, I have been thinking about friends quite a bit. And as I was thinking, it dawned on me that friends can be divided into three categories- Real, Virtual, and Imaginary. Of course, you're probably wondering what the heck I am talking about. Let me explain--

Real friends- These are people that are a friend through and through. They stick by you when the times are bad, they don't expect you to act perfect, they make sure you're OK when you aren't yourself. Real friends are a true find- when you find one (or many) you need to keep them.

Virtual friends- This is my term for the people that you meet online, that you haven't met in person. Many of us have lots of virtual friends- we know them online, and we may know a lot about them- but chances are, we wouldn't recognize them if they were behind us in a supermarket line.

Imaginary friends- These are people that can be either Real or Virtual friends, but what makes them imaginary is that they disappear. They may disappear from your life after a few days, or a few years. But, when things get tough or change, they don't stick around. You always won't know a friend is Imaginary- sometimes you think they're Real until they're gone.

Over the last couple of weeks, I have learned a lot about friends. I learned that, sometimes, when you meet Virtual friends, they instantly can become Real friends. And, I learned the hard way, that people you think are Real friends, are actually only Imaginary.

I was recently with a group of people who started out as Virtual friends- but what was amazing to me was how quickly we all became Real friends. And I miss each and everyone of them everyday. (And yes, I do think Virtual friends can be Real friends without ever meeting in person...)

Real friends are hard to find- and when you do find a Real friend, make sure that you are a Real friend to them, and that you keep them in your life in whatever way works for you.

Wordless Wednesday- A snowy morning

2011-01-12T07:14:00.002-05:00

Another year gone by

2010-12-30T08:58:00.002-05:00

The end of 2010 is here- and is just me, or does it seem like it still should be about June??? This year has flown by.

When I look back over 2010, there are some things that stand out:

February- SNOW, SNOW, and more SNOW! We had over 70" of snow- much of it at the same time. Luckily, for the second half of this blizzard, I was in sunny (although cold) Florida enjoying the Disney Social Media Moms conference (see my posts on that here, here, and here).

May- We spent a wonderful weekend in New York City.

June- We were busy in June! We went to our first NASCAR race in Pocono and had an amazing experience (check it out here). We then started a two week swing along the West Coast visiting family. Matthew and Mike both had the chance to meet my grandmother who they had never met before. I was especially grateful for this after she had open heart surgery later in the summer that she never recovered from. We spent a couple wonderful days in San Francisco and then Disneyland.

August- We headed to Disney World for 8 wonderful days where we got to meet many of our friends and had a wonderful vacation.

September- We had 20+ people come to our house for a wonderful, relaxing, and fun Labor Day weekend. That weekend holds many great memories!

October- #EpicOctober2010. Need I say more?

December- We took another Disney trip and got to see many of our great friends again. My parents came for a visit over Christmas and we had a great time. Oh, and I won this little contest.

But for me, what stands out the most in 2010 is friendship. I had to say goodbye to some friends, but I gained so many more. I have met so many wonderful people on-line that I am lucky to call my friends. I may not have met these people in person, but that doesn't mean they aren't my friends. We all know that I don't think we have to have met in person to become friends! (see my thoughts on that here!) I thank you all for your friendship.

But, I was truly blessed with several wonderful, special friends. As one of these friends said, these are my pocket friends. These friends don't live near me, but they are always close by my heart. Somehow, we came together and developed a special bond. They are the people that I want to call first when I have good news. And they are the people that I want to call first when I need a shoulder to cry on. They live in my phone, and are never farther apart than a phone call. They are always in my thoughts, and there aren't enough words to truly explain how much they mean to me. I would say thank you to all of you, but it just doesn't seem like enough.

So- as we look forward in 2011, I hope each and everyone of you has a wonderful and magical year. I hope it opens doors that leads you down the path of happiness and contentment.

What a Christmas!

2010-12-25T19:09:00.002-05:00

First and foremost, let me wish you all a very Merry Christmas! I hope that you were able to spend the day with your loved ones and had a wonderful and relaxing day.

I've had quite the Christmas day. We were fortunate enough to have my parents here to celebrate with us. We had a very relaxing and wonderful day opening our presents. I got a great Mickey suitcase and a Disney watch. My dad got an iPad, and both my mom and my son got iTouches. We spent the afternoon giving the technologically challenged (meaning my mother) a lesson in using her iTouch. I spent the afternoon relaxing and chatting with friends on Twitter. And then...

About 2:55 this afternoon, I saw a tweet reminding everyone that Denny Hamlin (a NASCAR driver for all you non-NASCAR people) was doing a Christmas contest giveaway. He would be doing a trivia contest, and the winner would get airfare, 3 nights hotel, and spending money to any destination in the continental United States. All you had to do was be the 11th person with the correct answer. The question he posed was this

"Q: If you received every gift in the song "12 days of Christmas" how many presents would you have????"

I quickly tweeted my answer along with the required hashtag #11in11. I waited a few minutes but then had to go back to my Lego building duties with my son. I came back a few minutes later to see that my Twitter timeline had exploded with tweets to me- I had won the contest! I was floored! I was beyond EXCITED! I couldn't believe that I had won!!!!

My husband and I started talking about where we go. We quickly decided we wanted to go to a NASCAR race. Then, we started discussing which one. We talked about Daytona and the Coke 600. But we are in Florida several times and year, and we could drive to Charlotte. We wanted to really make this a special trip and go somewhere we would't go on our own. So we decided to go to the Brickyard 400 in Indianapolis.

Needless to say, this has been a Christmas that I won't forget. Thank you to my family for the great day and all the wonderful gifts. And thank you to Denny Hamlin for his generosity and the amazing contest.

Oh- and the correct answer was 364 presents :)

Trip report- December 2010

2010-12-21T06:50:00.002-05:00

We've been back from WDW for over a week, and somehow with the hustle and bustle of the jumping into the holiday season, I haven't managed to find the time to do a trip report. So, here's a quick one with some high lights (and a few low lights)

Renting a car was one the smartest things we did. Once again, the monorail went down (how do you run your car into one of the monorail pillars? Seriously people). It was so nice not to worry about leaving extra time to get to places and waiting for busses and such.
Once again, the weather in December was completely unpredictable. We had a few days of wonderful weather, and a few days where it was cool and windy. But, we only had 20 minutes of rain on one day all week, so that was a plus.
Breakfast at Whispering Canyon Cafe is an event. Plan on at least 90 minutes to wait for your food and to eat. However, hearing your friends yell inappropriate things to the kids doing pony rides is a great memory!
Doing Space Mountain 5 times in one day is enough to make anyone a little dizzy. And same with Everest.
I am so glad I didn't take Matthew on his fifth ride of Everest for the day (thank you Cade and Rora!). Someone on the car ahead of them puked- and even though I am a mom and a nurse, I don't do puke.
Journey into Imagination makes me want to poke my eyes out. And so does Circle of Life. And so does the Norway movie. All of which we did on the same day. Low point
Watching Lights, Motor, Action from VIP seating is AWESOME! Matthew loved that show, and watching his face as Herbie split in two was priceless.
The Osbourne Lights are so cool! I never realized it snowed during the show!
Dinner at 1900 Park Fare was great- we walked in not knowing quite what to expect and we were pleasantly surprised. Matthew still doesn't know what to make of the face characters- but us adults had fun interacting with them.
Breakfast at 'Ohana was a fail. It was the same food as Whispering Canyon, but not as good. And it just seemed very rushed and uncoordinated.
Hoop Dee Doo Review is a great show- and the best part is watching Matthew laugh his way through it.
It was wonderful seeing so many friends on this trip. Spending time with them at WDW during the holiday season was a memory I will always love!

OK- there was so much more that happened on this trip, but this will have to do for now!

Goodbye to a Friendship

2010-12-17T06:34:00.004-05:00

I guess it's really over. After you unfriended me on Facebook and gave me a sneer the other day when we saw each other, I guess our friendship is really over.

So how did we get to this point? I know it was a little rocky over the past year, but I hadn't realized the depth of your utter dislike for me. What went wrong?

When you sat in my living room this spring and told me that you valued our friendship, I believed you. When you said you were happy for me finding new interests (social media). But was that true? Or is that you just can't adjust to the fact that my family isn't as dependent on your as we once were?

My little family of 3 is becoming content with who we are and learning to do things on our own. But I can never express to you what you and your family meant to us those first few years we moved here. And I had never really had a friend to go shopping with, to go to lunch with, and just to sit and have talk to. And our husbands enjoyed each others company too. And our kids played so nicely together.

But no more.

Is it because I have new friends? Yes, most of my new friends are "Disney people". But that doesn't mean they aren't snarky and snide. They like to yell inappropriate things in restaurants, make fun of each, and *gasp* they don't think Disney is perfect. You would have liked them. And my being friends with them doesn't mean I couldn't be your friend too.

And you know what else hurts- and yes, this all hurts... That you have taken other friends with you. We used to be a happy group, but now, I never hear from the others. I guess when one person has such close contact to them and one doesn't, it's bound to happen. I'm sure there have been things said about me that are less than flattering. It's apparent that you're mad.

I still held out hope for our friendship. After your vacation, I asked you how it was. When we got home from our trip and got no such note, it hurt. When I got no "Happy Birthday" from you, it hurt again. You knew my grandmother was having open heart surgery- but you never asked once how it went. But then I discovered you had unfriended me on Facebook... I guess that was when I knew it was really over.

So, what I ever I did to make you so mad at me, I'm sorry. And I also just want to thank you for being a friend to me and my family for several years- I have many good memories of that time together. But, I guess it's over.

And so this is goodbye...

We've come so far!

2010-12-03T06:44:00.002-05:00

As I was watching my son at his pre-team swim practice last night, it struck me (again) just how far his swimming has come.

Matthew has always loved water and loved to swim, but swim lessons were a different story. He didn't like being with a group of kids and spending a lot of time waiting. And honestly, the instructors at the Y where he was taking swim lessons left a lot to be desired. Many of them were young teenagers, who really had no idea how to teach kids how to swim, or how to deal with kids. Matthew went through more than one class in tears, but kept getting passed up level. He also would refuse to go in deep water with clinging to someone and freaking out. It got so bad that one day he refused to get in the water. Well, at that point, we pulled him out of swim lessons.

Mike and I both grew up around swimming pools in Arizona, and have a firm belief that you need to know how to swim for safety. While Matthew was always safe in the water (never going where he couldn't touch) and was able to swim, he wasn't a strong swimmer and had no stamina. We knew that had to change.

This summer, Matthew made it his goal to pass the wristband test at our Y, which would enable him to go down the waterslides and swim on his own. Passing the test involved swimming 25 meters free-style (with face in water), treading water for 1 minute, and back floating. Well, we knew the only way he would be able to pass this test was by taking more swim lessons, but we were very reluctant to put him back in group lessons. Finally, we decided to place him in private lessons at the Y. After the first half-hour, I knew this was the best money we ever spent. His instructor, Joyce, pushed him, yet didn't frighten him- she was perfect! His swimming was improving, and better yet- he was no longer afraid of the deep water.

One day Matthew decided he wanted to take the swim test. I didn't think he was ready, but hey- this kid has surprised me more than once- so I let him. I have never seen him work so hard for anything. It was the slowest, ugliest 25m swim ever- there were times I knew he wanted to give, but he never did. And treading water- well, let's just say it's a good thing it wasn't for 61 seconds... So he passed the swim test and continued to do well.

In September, we decided to change the Y location where he was taking lessons- and after talking to the coach, we decided to put him on a pre-swim team. This is a team for kids ages 5-8 (although at almost 7 he is one of the youngest) who aren't quite ready for competition, but ready for more intense swim practice.

Oh my goodness- what an amazing difference! The coaches are all so good with the kids. Some are very fun loving and relaxed, while others are stricter, but you can tell they all love working with the kids. And they push the kids- I would have never thought Matthew could swim for an hour straight, but he does, twice a week! And his skill have taken off- I watched him swim freestyle relays last night, and was amazed. His freestyle is FAST- and he has great strokes, and rotary breathing. And his backstroke is pretty good too (when he goes straight...) Now, they are working with him on his breaststroke and butterfly- but for now, when he does fly, he looks like a worm dangling on a hook.

Watching him yesterday, I would have never believed that this is the same kid that 6 months ago cried about getting in 5 feet of water. He has come so far, and I am so proud of him!

My goals for 2011

2010-11-29T17:37:00.003-05:00

I know- it's not the end of 2010 yet, but I have already decided on some goals for 2011. These aren't New Year's resolutions- they are goals I have set for myself.

Quite simply, I want to run a personal record (PR) in every distance in 2011. I'm not looking to run a PR in every race- I simply want to finish 2011 with better times in every distance than I have in 2010. What really made me want to accomplish this goal is my time in the half-marathon. When I ran my first half, I wasn't sure I would ever want to run another. But within a week, I knew that I didn't want that time to stand as the best I could do in a half-marathon.

Here are my current PR times for the distances I have run-

5K (3.1 miles) - 29:40. Set in April 2010.

8K (5 miles)- 49:50. Set in November 2009.

10 miles- 1:48:49. Set in May 2010 (only 1 race at this distance)

1/2 marathon (13.1 miles)- 2:56:04 (only 1 race at this distance)

So- there you go- by the end of 2011, I want each of these times to be lower than what they are now. I am really going to dedicate myself to my running in 2011, and hope that I am able to meet my goals.

A total fail by Verizon- and how they could make it right

2010-11-22T08:07:00.003-05:00

Back in July, I was beyond excited to have joined the smart phone world- I upgraded my old Motorola Razr to a new HTC Incredible. I had never had any complaints or problems with the phone until about a week ago. Now, thanks to Verizon Wireless, I am going on my 5th day without a phone. Here's what happened---

Last week while traveling, I was prompted to download an update (not the Froyo update- that downloaded with no problem a few months ago) and immediately started receiving an error notification that my application data space was too low. I didn't have many apps on my phone, but I deleted a few that I never used. On Wednesday, I gave the phone to my very tech savvy hubby to look at. He couldn't figure out why I was getting the error message either. In the middle of looking at some apps, my email program on my phone force-closed, and caused a restart of the phone. Well, the phone got stuck in the power-up cycle. It kept going to the screen where it says "DROID" and then would restart. As you can imagine, after the first few times, this got very annoying. Mike took the battery out and tried all sorts of things to reset the phone. None of them worked.

So, Thursday morning I headed down to our local Verizon store. The tech specialist, Ryan, took a look at the phone and had no luck. He then called tech support, who also had no luck. 45 minutes later, Verizon said they would send me out a replacement, factory-restored phone. We picked up the phone from Fed Ex on Saturday and turned it on to make sure it worked. Everything looked ok, so we went and put a ZAGG Invisi-shield on it.

So Sunday, after the 24 hours of waiting for the coating to dry, we attempted to use the phone. And guess what- the phone didn't work. As I said, the phone Verizon sent to replace my 4 month old phone wasn't new- it was a factory-restored/refurbished phone. It was supposed to go through a 100-point checklist before it was sent out. Turns out, the checklist needs item 101- that the phone connects to the Verizon network and can make a call. Yep, the phone wouldn't connect to the network or make a call. So, Mike went BACK down to the Verizon store with both phones (neither of which worked).

He again dealt with Ryan with no luck. In fact, Verizon said we couldn't have a replacement for the replacement phone because we hadn't sent the first phone back yet. So, Mike came home and called Verizon Customer Service. After 30 minutes and 3 different people, Verizon finally agreed to send out a new phone- to arrive on Tuesday. But really, it's not a new phone- it's another factory restored/refurbished phone. Like the one we got that DOESN'T work.

Needless to say, I am NOT happy with Verizon right now. I am looking at going on almost a full week without a phone. And they have done very little to help. We have had several dealing with Verizon customer service, and have found that they don't care. In fact, when Mike was on the phone with them yesterday, they asked him if sending a replacement phone would make him happy. He told them "No, I want a new phone." Their reply "I'm sorry you're not happy, but this is what we will do. This should make you happy."

So what do I want Verizon to do? It's simple. Send me a NEW phone- not a restored or refurbished phone. It's obvious that the 100-point checklist those phones go through miss some important points. And I want a credit on my account- I am paying for a data plan and minutes that I have not been able to use for a week due to THEIR issues with the phones. That's all- a working, new phone and a credit for the time I haven't been able to use what I am paying for...

Back to the 90's

2010-11-18T10:56:00.003-05:00

EEK! Last night my cell phone died! I thought it was something that could be easily fixed, so I took it down to Verizon. I thought, as a worst case scenario, they would have to wipe my phone and I would be starting over with my contacts.

Well, that's not what happened. My poor little Droid Incredible was so dead there was no fixing it. And, like that wasn't bad enough, there are no Droid Incredibles in the area to replace my phone. So I have to wait for Verizon to send me a new phone. According to Verizon, my new phone should be here by tomorrow. But for today, I am without a phone.

I hate being without a phone- it's a safety net when I leave the house, and I keep things in my phone that I don't keep elsewhere. I don't know my friend's phone numbers- I just have to touch my screen and my phone dials them. I can't just call them when I am out running errands. And this morning, I was out and my husband needed to get in touch with me. He had to call the house and leave a message- just like in the 90's!

Our technology is great, but man, does it stink when we are without it!!!

Behind-the-Scenes experience

2010-11-09T08:46:00.008-05:00

First off, a warning- settle in for a long read. There was no way I could make this post any shorter without taking out some good stuff, so it's long. Deal with it :)

I recently had one of the most amazing experiences I could have ever imagined- a Behind-the-Scenes look of the new Times Square Disney Store! I was able to have this wonderful experience courtesy of the Disney Store President (Jim Fielding) and a contest he had on Twitter. The event was a pre-opening behind-the-scenes look of the new store that included a continental breakfast, remarks by Jim Fielding, and the chance to meet Jodi Benson, the voice of Ariel in The Little Mermaid. It was everything, and more, that you would expect.

I had entered the contest on Twitter, never expecting to win. When I got the Direct Message from Jim Fielding, I literally squealed with delight. I was on the phone with my mom, who doesn’t completely understand my Disney obsession. I replied to the DM with my email address, as requested, so his team could be in contact with me.

Very soon after that, I got the first of several emails. I was surprised, although I shouldn’t have been, at the efficiency of the team. The emails contained information about the event, making me even MORE excited. Then, a little bit later that evening, I got a phone call from Mark congratulating me again and discussing a little bit more about the event. I didn’t know who Mark was, but I assumed he was an administrative assistant or someone along those lines. When I got home, I Googled Mark (oh come on- you would do it too….) and my jaw dropped when I realized he is in charge of Experiential Marketing and Guest Experience at The Disney Store. Wow- Disney does this right!

I couldn’t keep the grin off my face that whole evening. I was so excited I was ready to burst- I finally called up my friend Lea, who I knew would understand and share my level of giddiness.

When it dawned on Mike and I that the NYC Marathon would be going on that Sunday morning, we decided not to hassle with trying to get into the city on Sunday, so we booked a hotel room and went into the city on Saturday (that experience will be a whole other blog post!).

We arrived at The Disney Store about 7:20 in the morning. Check-in started at 7:30- luckily we were able to wait in the small lobby of the store, and not outside. It wasn’t the warmest day in NYC. Promptly at 7:30, they opened the doors and let us in. When I told them my name, the person checking me in exclaimed “Hey- you’re the Twitter winner. Congratulations!” I have to admit- that was pretty cool. We got our wristbands and entered in.

Matthew showing off his wristband

We had about a half hour to explore the lower level of the store. We made a bee-line for the special vinyls- we got the Statue of Liberty 3” vinyl, one 9” Taxi vinyl, and one 9”graffiti vinyl.

What stands out the most about the shopping experience was how helpful the Cast Members were- it was like having a personal shopper in the Disney Store. They were getting merchandise for you, escorting you places, carrying bags… Really- could it get any better than that??? We also picked up one of the limited edition prints of Ariel that were created just for this event.

The Limited Edition Ariel print

Somehow, with all the time and looking around we did on the first floor, we totally missed that they had pins. Mike was bummed when he found out, because they have some really cool NYC pins. They had some new t-shirts and such that were really cool! People who know me, know that I don’t wear much Disney apparel, but even I couldn’t pass up this cool Cinderella shirt!

My Cinderella shirt- the headband is sparkly :)

I believe they let in about 150 people for the event, and seems that they had about 75 Cast Members on hand to help. We felt totally pampered and special!

At 8:00 we were allowed to go upstairs into the “Imagination Park” section of the store. My first thought upon going upstairs was simply “Wow”. There was a ton of merchandise, but the store had a nice wide-open feel. All above were cute murals of various Disney scenes and characters- there was one scene with Peter Pan, Tinkerbell, and the Darling children flying above a London skyline that featured Mary Poppins. There was another section of wall that featured Winnie the Pooh floating above a scene from Alice in Wonderland.

They also have three trees located throughout the second floor- each tree has a Hidden Mickey on it somewhere.

Can you find the Hidden Mickeys?

And no, I never did find any of them. Of course, I didn’t really spend the time to look either- there was just so much going on! I was amazed at all the different merchandise in the store - a whole wall for Tangled, an entire alcove devoted to Marvel Superheroes, and sections for Toy Story, Cars (complete with RideMakerz experience), and even Phineas and Ferb.

Some of the Phineas and Ferb merchandise

A Tor Story plush- where's @JimGarth?

As we walked around the upstairs, I just went around with my mouth open. We grabbed a little bit of breakfast, and grabbed a spot to listen to Jim Fielding say a few words.

I have followed Jim on Twitter for a while (and if you are a Disney fan and not following him at @disneystoreprez- shame on you!!!) and he is an absolute genuine, down-to-earth person. He spoke about the history of the store and what the expectations of the store are. It was really interesting hearing about the back story of the store, why they wanted that particular Times Square space, and what it takes to keep that store going- there are Cast Members working 24 hours a day! He also surprised me when he noticed me standing there and called me out as the winner of his Twitter contest. And even more surprising, he did this unprompted and without having met me in person yet- he really does value his Twitter experience.

After Jim spoke, we were introduced to Jodi Benson- the voice of Ariel. At this point, Mike just glazed over and became focused on meeting her. His favorite princess has always been Ariel (I think it’s because of the sea-shells), and he was so excited to get a chance to meet her and have his picture taken with her.

Meeting Jodi Benson. Notice where Mike is...

She also signed our print that we bought.

After this, we continued to walk around the store and just marvel at everything that was there. One focal point of the second floor of the store is Imagination Theater. This is a small theater section where they have a video screen that plays Disney videos and clips.

Imagination Theater

What makes this different than other Disney stores is that it’s interactive- using a touch screen, you can select what you want to see. Well, every day, they pick a child to “Unlock Imagination” in the morning. One of the Cast Members that we met was Suzanne, the general manager. She asked Matthew if he wanted to be the child who “Unlocked Imagination”. Matthew jumped on this chance and was beyond excited to be able to do this. The employees made a big deal of walking the huge key out to him and then making an announcement for everyone to come and watch.

Unlocking Imagination

After Matthew unlocked Imagination, he was able to go in and pick what he wanted to see on the screen (the “Squirrel in my Pants” music video).

The Cast Members then gave him his own, smaller, replica key.

My son also experienced the RideMakerz car-building experience. He picked out his own car parts and got to put them together.

Picking out parts

He picked out the black Mater (because he looks like we went though a fire- the mind of a 6 year old) and found wheels with his favorite colors.

Putting Mater together

He then put various number decals on him. When he was done making his car, the Cast Member made a big deal about presenting him with the key to his very own car. I don’t think I have ever seen my son with a grin so big!

Getting the key to his car

This was such an unbelievable experience for us all. We were in the store about 2 hours, and barely scratched the surface. The Cast Members are some of the best we have ever met and really represent some of Disney’s best. We came away remembering that Disney is more than just princesses and a castle- it’s something you hold deep inside of you. But I think the whole experience can best be summed up by Matthew’s words as we were leaving- “This was too amazing to be real.”

We're going to WHAT at Disney???

2010-11-02T07:07:00.003-04:00

I feel like I'm about to cheat on Disney. No, I'm not going to Universal or anything that extreme (really, lets not be silly here!). It's just- gulp- when we go to WDW in December, we're going to rent a car...

There- I said it. We're going to use our OWN transportation around Disney World.

Epic October gave me new insight to the joys of having a car at Disney World. There's no waiting for busses. You want to go from one park to another- just hop in your car and go. You don't have to wait. It was so easy and nice. And with the right driver, driving around WDW can be like it's own thrill ride!

I mentioned my thoughts to my hubby when I came back from Epic October, and he just scoffed and said "No- we don't need a car. Their transportation is just fine." Then hubby went for a weekend where he had access to a car. And guess what he said when he came home... Yep- he agreed that having a car would be nice.

Now, I have always been, and still am, a supporter of the Disney transportation system. For someone on their first or second visit, you can't beat the simplicity of the system. From Magical Express, to the busses, to the monorails. It's easy- you just get on the right bus and they will take you there. No worries. But, I have also noticed a decline in Disney transportation over the last few years- the monorail seems to be down more than it runs, the busses come at longer and longer intervals, the busses are always packed, etc. For us, it's time to try something different.

So, in December, we will rent a car and drive ourselves around Disney World. This should be interesting...

Bullies and parents

2010-10-30T09:04:00.004-04:00

Let me preface this post with this disclaimer- these are MY thoughts only. I have NO evidence or experiences to back this up. These are only MY thoughts...

Bullying is a situation that is in the news quite a bit lately. As the mother of a 6 year old, I am very aware of bullying and the consequences it has on children. We have been very lucky so far not to have any bullying issues with my son.

But, a situation occurred to me this week that made think about bullies. I found the following description of bullying, which I think is pretty clear:

Bullying behavior may include name calling, verbal or written abuse, exclusion from activities, exclusion from social situations, physical abuse, or coercion. Bullies may behave this way to be perceived as popular or tough or to get attention. They may bully out of jealousy or be acting out because they themselves are bullied.

When we hear about a bullying situation with children, we tell the kids to tell a parent or a an authority figure, such as a teacher or principal. We then rely on that authority figure to put an end to the bullying. Often that authority figure talks to the parent about the child, and asks the parent to help end the bullying.

But what if the parent themselves is a bully? Yep- there are parents out there who bully, or try to bully, other adults. Usually, parents don't engage in physical bullying like kids do- parents most often engage in verbal, social or cyber bullying. So how do you expect that parent to help stop the behavior of their kids when they are engaging in that same behavior? Of course, I bet most parents who engage in bullying would say that they would NEVER bully anyone and wouldn't condone their kids being a bully. But, actions speak louder than words.

Believe, I am not saying that I am a perfect parent... Hubby and I often say that we aren't putting money in a college fund, it's going into a future therapy fund. These are just some thoughts that occurred to me after what could be perceived as a social and cyber bullying event this week. They are MY thoughts, and MY thoughts only...

Wordless Wednesday- What can make any day better?

2010-10-20T07:17:00.002-04:00

I'm NOT perfect

2010-10-17T18:34:00.002-04:00

Breaking News: I am NOT perfect...

Lately, it seems that because I am a Disney fan, I am expected to be perfect- I shouldn't curse, I should always be overly chipper and unfailingly polite.

Guess what- I fail all three of those criteria. I have been known to curse a little (or sometimes a lot). I try not to do it around children, but it happens. And I think that anyone who knows me will quickly agree that I am more along the lines of sarcastic and snarky than chipper and polite. But this doesn't make me a bad person.

Being a Disney fan doesn't mean you have to be perfect. Yes, Disney has an image of family friendly, but they too have a little bit darker side. They own ABC, which produces shows like Desperate Housewives. They have produced the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, which include drinking and cursing. And even good ol' Walt liked an occasional cigarette and drink. And I'll bet there was some less than 'family friendly' language used in some Disney board meetings.

I have many friends who are Disney fans- and none of them are perfect either. I am a Disney fan- not a Disney employee. I do not represent Disney in any fashion. And being a Disney fan isn't the only thing that defines me. I love NASCAR racing, kickboxing, running, reading, my family... the list goes on. Being a Disney fan is one part of who I am.

It's taken me 35 years to become really happy with who I am- imperfections and all.

No Second Round- Now what?

2010-10-13T07:51:00.003-04:00

Well, for the third year in a row, I didn't make it past the first round of applications for the WDW Moms Panel. This year, it seems very few people made it into the second round. Although everything I know is based on rumors and people self-reporting, it appears that only about 40 people have made it into round 2. This is about 1/5 of the expected 200 people. And I don't know any of the people that made it- even peripherally.

This whole thing strikes me as odd. If Disney truly did go from 20,000 people to less than 50, they missed WAY too many excellent candidates. Before you jump down my throat, I'm not saying that the ones that moved onto Round 2 aren't worthy- just that there are so many others out there too. And I find it odd that I don't know any of them- and my friends don't know any of them either. Between all of us, we know over a thousand on-line Disney fans... It just strikes me as odd...

So, how does that leave me feeling? I'm a little disappointed, but I didn't really expect to make it into Round 2 anyway. I am more disappointed for some of my friends who I believe who have been an AMAZING addition to the panel. And honestly, the way this whole process is playing, leaves me feeling a 'blah' about the whole thing. With so few people appearing to move on to Round 2, there is very little on-line buzz about the panel. I guess we'll all go back to living our lives like we did before we submitted our applications on Sept. 13.

Epic October recap

2010-10-06T12:46:00.004-04:00

Epic October has come and gone, but I will definitely carry the memories from last weekend with me forever. I met so many wonderful people and had so many amazing experiences.

Here are just a few of the many highlights of the weekend.

Crossing two more Disney hotels off my bucket list- I stayed at Old Key West and All-Star Sports for the first time.
Crossing Biergarten, Paradiso 37, and Olivia's off my Disney restaurant bucket list.

Dinner at Paradiso 37

Going to breakfast at a public restaurant in my pajamas.
I will never look at potato dumplings the same again.
All weekend, I was part of a group of "those" people. And being "those" people in the stretching room of the Haunted Mansion- awesome is not a strong enough word.
As much as I love Whispering Canyon Cafe, the service at there was an epic failure. (OK, so this is a low-light, but the service was SO bad it really stands out)
Seeing the Witch from Snow White, the 7 dwarves, and Cinderella's coach at Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party.

Cinderella's Coach at MNSSHP

I was a little underwhelmed with the Food and Wine Festival. The lines at the booths were always so long you couldn't really get any food.
Running in a 5K at WDW through a relatively empty Magic Kingdom.

Getting to meet and talk to Steve Barrett (AKA the Hidden Mickey Guy).
Going three days on just 9 hours of sleep.

I could go on and on and on, but I'll force myself to stop now. And to everyone I met this weekend, thank you for helping make this such an amazing weekend.

And to those special few people, until next time!

Week 3 of first grade

2010-09-28T13:32:00.005-04:00

It's week 3 of first grade, and this is what work has to be done this week-

11 pages of math homework

1 page of writing homework

1 "About Me" poster to be filled out by child

15 minutes of reading out loud to a parent EACH night

Math test on Wednesday

Spelling test on Friday

I think I need to invest in pharmaceuticals. Or a winery. Or both

I have an addiction

2010-09-26T18:35:00.002-04:00

I have an addiction. There, I said. Oh wait... You want to know what my addiction is to...

Well (surprise, surprise) I have an addiction to Twitter. OK, it's not really Twitter. It's all my friends that I have made on Twitter. I take my phone with me everywhere, and I can text, call, and Tweet them at all hours. And I have. I am often tweeting with them before 6am and before I get out of bed. They are the last people I talk and tweet with before I go to sleep. Note- I didn't say before I go to bed, cause I can often be found tweeting in bed.

These people are my peas, my early morning crew, my snarky tiara queens, my morons and others. I love them like they are family! Well, actually, I love them more than family :)

Now, I know I am not the only one with this addiction. In fact, I could name several people out there with this addiction. But, for tonight, the only finger I am pointing is at myself. So- I stand up loud and proud and say it again- I AM ADDICTED TO MY FRIENDS!

My First Half-Marathon

2010-09-19T18:05:00.003-04:00

I did it- I ran my first half-marathon this morning in Philly. What remains to be seen is will it be my last half?

I haven't been training for this race like I should have been. Ok, honestly, I haven't run more than 5 miles in quite a while. So, knowing that, I decided to take it nice and slow. I planned on walk-run intervals to help me get through the whole thing. My goal time was 2:30:00, but I just didn't quite make it. I was doing OK through the first 8 miles, but at mile 9, my legs just went dead. And then, to add insult to it all, my iPod went dead at mile 10. I was still maintaining my walk-run intervals, but at mile 11, my I couldn't run anymore. My legs hurt so bad and were just done. There were times on mile 12 I thought I would have to sit down for a little bit, but I didn't. I keep on walking and made it. I did manage to run the last 0.1 mi (through the finish line) and even got another lady to stop walking and run through the finish line, too. My final time was 2:56:something.

It was great seeing Mike and Matthew at the finish line. I went though the finisher's corral and got my food, and then staggered out to find my family.

Doing a half-marathon was a great experience- once I realized I wouldn't die! I'm not happy with my time, which leads me to think that I may do another half after I seriously train to try to better my time.

A few random thoughts-

I was in corral 18- that was a long walk from the starting line.
The way the course wound around the city, mile 4 was right back at the start line. It was very depressing waiting in the corral to start and seeing the leaders pass us... 18 minutes in, they were through 4 miles.
Running through Philadelphia, you encounter many smells. Some good, many sewer-like.
Why do people stand as a spectator of a RUNNING race and smoke a cigarette or cigar?
It would've been nice if someone had gone through the course on race morning and removed the dead animals from the road- I had a really close encounter with a dead raccoon.
ING runs a very organized race.
I was very glad we stayed the night before in Philly. It was nice not having to drive downtown and mess with crowds in the early morning, and it was great to be able to have Mike drive me home.

I LOVE Southwest Air

2010-09-16T07:43:00.005-04:00

OK- this is a little different blog post, but I just have to say it-

I LOVE Southwest Airlines...

As many of you know, I am going to WDW to run the Food and Wine 5K in October. I had originally made my plane reservations to leave Friday and come home Monday. Since I am leaving both my hubby and my son behind, I didn't think I would be able to eek any more solo time out of the trip. And I was ok with that...

But then I discovered more and more of my favorite people were arriving on Thursday (I know, not all of them, but many- JIM!). So, I hopped on line to Southwest.com and did a little researching. I found that I could save $50 by flying out on Thursday. And Southwest, being the WONDERFUL airline they are, allowed me to change my flights with NO charge, and I even got a credit for the difference in price. Also, I get to take a bag without paying luggage fees and they have some of the nicest (and funniest) attendants around!

Now, I get to leave on a better flight (12:00 instead of 7:00am), and I get in to see my friends a day earlier. I get to eat at restaurant I've never tried at WDW, and I have time to do some Vinyl shopping. And, thanks to one of my bestest friends, I don't even have to get a hotel room that night- she has offered me her extra sofa bed in her 1BR villa!

So Southwest Airlines, I just wanted to say THANK YOU!!! You have totally made my week!

WDW Mom's Panel- Third Times a Charm???

2010-09-12T16:01:00.002-04:00

Well, it's that time of year... No, I'm not talking back to school time or NFL time. It's time to apply to the Walt Disney World Mom's Panel. (If you don't know what the Mom's Panel is, it's a huge honor for any Disney fan. Click here for more info.) Twitter, Facebook, and various Disney boards become obsessed with who has applied, how people answered questions, and when to start expecting emails if you've made it to the next round.

The Mom's Panel caps applications at 20,000. For approximately 10-20 spots. That's a 1 in 1,000 chance of being picked. YIKES!

I have applied the last two years and haven't made it past round one. For some things, that may have soured me on the process and made me not want to apply this year. But nothing could be further from the truth. Over the last year, I have had the privilege of getting to know some of the Moms (and Dads), and they are wonderful people who are truly deserving of being on the panel.

So, tomorrow morning at 9am applications start being accepted by the 2011 WDW Mom's Panel. I'm a bit irritated that I have a work meeting from 9:30-12:00 tomorrow, so I won't be able to get my application in until the afternoon. And then, I will join all my friends in the anxious waiting process!

Wordless Wednesday- First day of First Grade

2010-09-08T12:24:00.001-04:00

Kid Tips for Walt Disney World- a review

2010-09-07T14:00:00.004-04:00

I recently had the pleasure of getting a copy of Kid Tips for Walt Disney World: Touring Advice by Kids for Kids from the author.

I was excited to get a copy of this book and read it, wondering if there were any tips for my son. What I didn't expect was the great tips I got out of the book.

This book is the brainchild of Tracie Cook- when she put the call out for tips, she never imagined she would receive over 8,000 tips in just 2 weeks. Luckily, Tracie ready each and every tip submitted and pulled out the best tips from kids ages 7 to 15 for this book.

The book is broken down into sections that deal with each major park and the rides and food in those parks. The resorts also have their own section. There is an area that focuses on the two waterpark, DownTown Disney, and the holidays. The back of the book has a planning section that is made for kids. This is great for discovering what your kids want to do and what is important to them.

I sat down to read this book shortly after returning from our recent WDW trip. My first thought was "Wow- I wish I had read this BEFORE out trip!" I learned so many neat things from this book. Some of the great tips I like include:

Tell your parents you want to ride Dumbo during the fireworks. It's way better than watching them from the ground

There are some cool acrobats that perform in front of the bar near the Harmabe entrance. They can do some really cool and interesting things.

After I went through the book, I sat with my son, who is 6, and went through some of the book with him. My son is a pro at touring WDW- he has been 6 times in the last 2 1/2 years. I got a kick out of some of the things he enjoyed from the book (and his comments).

Don't miss Club Cool. You get to drink free soda from around the world. Trick your parents into drinking Beverly- it's awful. (I like this one Mom, I like the sodas. But you made me drink that soda and it was icky)

Be sure to meet PUSH while you're at the Magic Kingdom. He's usually in Tomorrowland rolling around. (Remember when I gave him trash. Why didn't you find PUSH on our last trip?)

My son's one complaint was that the pictures weren't in color. But really, he loved the book, and so did I! This is a great read for kids and kids at heart! The book is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and for the Kindle. Pick one up before your next trip to WDW- you will definitely learn something new!

What I want to be...

2010-09-03T07:09:00.002-04:00

I've been thinking about what I want this blog to be and where it had been going and why I was having so much trouble writing... And yes, it hurt to think that much.

I feel like I had pigeon-holed myself and had to keep my entries to running, Disney, or something similar. I didn't feel like I could just put a short little entry about life up there, and that is what was bothering me.

So, start now, you may notice a little different direction for this blog. In fact, it may often appear it doesn't have a direction. And that's OK with me. I will still write about running, and Disney, and NASCAR, and so on... But I may also have days where I just write about what happened that day or something on my mind.

So there you have it- what I want to be when I become a blogger.

P.S.- you may also notice the design and layout of the blog changing. I'm trying to come up with something a little more fun and whimsical. At some point I'll stick with one :)

Identity Crisis

2010-08-31T07:17:00.002-04:00

All right- time to be honest. I've been neglecting my poor little blog here because I don't know what to do with it. Yes, I know, you type things and publish it. That's not what I mean. I mean, my blog is having a bit of an identity crisis. I'm not sure which direction I want to take it and my focus for the blog- let's just say there really isn't one right now. So, hopefully in the next day or so, I will be reworking this blog a little bit and coming up with a direction and focus!

Wordless Wednesday- August 25

2010-08-25T07:59:00.002-04:00

Best. Day. Ever

Mouse of Zen

2010-08-17T15:42:00.006-04:00

As many of you know, I like to put Disney with things that you don't normally think it belongs with- such as Nascar. Turns out, I'm not the only person who does this!

Brad Conway is a police officer with a love of Disney. While this isn't unusual, it's how he expresses this love that is different: he writes haiku. (Note: haiku is a form of Japanese poetry usually written in three lines. The first and third line have five syllables, while the middle line has seven syllables.) In fact, Brad has written a whole book of haiku poems dedicated to Disney. The title of the book is, fittingly, Mouse of Zen. There are 351 haiku in this first edition (the second edition is already well under way).

Cover design copyright J.B. Conway and Knell Studio Works

While reading the book, there were several poems that made me just stop in my tracks. For example, this haiku utterly and completely sums up my feelings about Disney World

a place heaven sent

day or night, rain or sunshine

world that never sleeps

And having just returned from a very hot and humid summer visit to Disney World, I find this one very appropriate:

humid afternoon

refreshing treasure unwrapped

chocolate lips licked

There are also poems that remind me of friends and times shared at Disney World

early a.m. sounds

over coffee and pastry

main street crescendo

Every person with a love of Disney, be it Disney World, Disneyland, or Walt Disney himself, will find something in this book that speaks to them. Also, even when the poem doesn't speak to you, because let's face it- they don't all hit home, it's still fun trying to figure out what part of Disney Brad was using as his muse. To sum it up, this book is a must-own for any true Disney fan.

To order Mouse of Zen, click here. Also, be sure to follow Mouse of Zen on Twitter.

All poetry in this post © J.B. Conway

San Francisco- trip report

2010-07-22T07:21:00.005-04:00

While on our recent West Coast vacation, we spent a jam-packed day and a half in San Francisco. We had a wonderful time!

As we drove into San Francisco, we planned our route so we would be sure to drive over the Golden Gate Bridge (thank goodness for GPS!).

Driving over the Golden Gate

After arriving at the hotel, we took a cable car down to Fisherman's Wharf for lunch and sight-seeing.

View from the cable car

We at lunch at the wonderful Boudin's Bakery.

Making bread at Boudin's

Both Mike and I had a bread bowl filled with soup and Matthew had a pizza. Then Matthew had some of the tops of both Mike and I's bread bowls. The kid LOVED sourdough bread.

Matthew and sourdough bread

We continued our stroll along the Wharf and bought boat tickets for a boat tour through the bay. As soon as we bought the tickets, Matthew commented that he didn't feel so good. Turns out, he had a little too much sourdough bread. Let's just say, we now call it "Fisherman's Barf"... Luckily after that little episode he was fine.

We took a great boat ride through the bay and got to see the Golden Gate and Alcatraz.

Alcatraz from the Bay

View of the Golden Gate Bridge from the boat

After this, we walked around Pier 33 and did a little shopping. We then headed for dinner down at Ghiradelli Square and finished the night off with ice cream at Ghiradelli's.

The next morning, we walked down from our hotel and had a great breakfast. We then headed to Union Square on a cable car, and back to Lombard Street- the crookedest street in the country. It is a very crooked street, with some gorgeous views!

Lombard Street

After this, we went down to Pier 1 to check out their amazing Farmer's Market. We picked up cheese and bread for lunch and ate it while overlooking the bay.

We decided to take a bike ride from Fisherman's Wharf to the Golden Gate Bridge. It didn't look that far... Well, it is that far (about 3.5 miles each way!) and uphill on the way to the bridge. But that wasn't the worst part- crossing the bridge was COLD, windy, and foggy.

The view from ON the Golden Gate Bridge

After we crossed the bridge to the Sausalito side, we could either choose to continue into Sausalito and take a ferry back, or just bike back across the bridge and back to the Wharf. We opted to bike back across the bridge.

On the Sausalito side- warming up before crossing back to San Fran

We then returned the bikes and went for a yummy seafood dinner at Scoma's before calling it a night.

All in all, it was a great time in San Francisco...

Our West Coast Trip- the down and dirty

2010-07-03T17:31:00.003-04:00

Well, we survived our 13 day, 1200+ mile trek down the West Coast. A full trip report will be coming later, but I just wanted to share a few of the highlights of the trip...

Seeing my husband's family and Matthew getting to know his cousins. They quickly became the best of friends.

Watching the changing landscape as we drove from Portland, Or. to Anaheim, Ca. We saw desert, mountains, cliffs, etc. It was quite impressive.

Spending time with my grandmother, who I hadn't seen in 20 years and who had never met Matthew or Mike. I also got to see aunts and cousins I hadn't seen in many, many years.

Our weekend in San Francisco: Thanks to Matthew we now refer to it as Fisherman's Barf, and we also biked across the (cold and windy) Golden Gate Bridge.

Exploring Disneyland and California Adventure- and being lucky enough to see World of Color twice!

All in all it was a great trip!

Friends, revisted

2010-06-22T21:27:00.003-04:00

A few months ago, I posted a blog post about the types of friends in this world, as I see it. Recently, the issue of friends has once again been weighing on mind for various reaason. Now, when I posted this originally in Feburary, there were some unforeseen repercussions. I know that I very well risk repercussions again after this post, I think this is important enough to repost. I ask that as you read this, please think not about your friends, but yourself, and the type of friend you are.

Lately, I have been thinking about friends quite a bit. And as I was thinking, it dawned on me that friends can be divided into three categories- Real, Virtual, and Imaginary. Of course, you're probably wondering what the heck I am talking about. Let me explain--

Real friends- These are people that are a friend through and through. They stick by you when the times are bad, they don't expect you to act perfect, they make sure you're OK when you aren't yourself. Real friends are a true find- when you find one (or many) you need to keep them.

Virtual friends- This is my term for the people that you meet online, that you haven't met in person. Many of us have lots of virtual friends- we know them online, and we may know a lot about them- but chances are, we wouldn't recognize them if they were behind us in a supermarket line.

Imaginary friends- These are people that can be either Real or Virtual friends, but what makes them imaginary is that they disappear. They may disappear from your life after a few days, or a few years. But, when things get tough or change, they don't stick around. You always won't know a friend is Imaginary- sometimes you think they're Real until they're gone.

Over the last couple of weeks, I have learned a lot about friends. I learned that, sometimes, when you meet Virtual friends, they instantly can become Real friends. And, I learned the hard way, that people you think are Real friends, are actually only Imaginary.

I was recently with a group of people who started out as Virtual friends- but what was amazing to me was how quickly we all became Real friends. And I miss each and everyone of them everyday. (And yes, I do think Virtual friends can be Real friends without ever meeting in person...)

Real friends are hard to find- and when you do find a Real friend, make sure that you are a Real friend to them, and that you keep them in your life in whatever way works for you.

The people make the difference

2010-06-08T17:23:00.008-04:00

This past weekend, the family and I went to our first NASCAR race. Having never been to a race, I didn't really know what to expect. Well, I can easily and honestly say- it was one of the best weekends I've ever had. I think it's the only experience I've had that even comes close to the excellence of a Disney vacation.

What made the weekend so great was the way that the NASCAR crews and employees interacted with the fans- specifically my son. When we arrived at our hotel on Friday night, we immediately discovered (to my squeals of delight) that several crews were also staying at the hotel. I was able to meet one of the Crew Chiefs that I follow on Twitter, and he was so nice to both me and Matthew. When we went down to breakfast on Saturday morning, the entire area was filled with crew members- our little table of 3 was the only non-crew table. Matthew was in HEAVEN!

After we arrived at the track, we had passes that allowed us to walk around the garage area- well, see part of the garage area behind a fence. Several crew members (thank you #6 and #12 cars) came over and gave my son lug nuts. They became his most treasured possession.

Crew members of the #6 UPS Roush-Fenway Ford

Back at the hotel that night, we saw the crew member of the #6 who had given Matthew the lug nut. He looked at Matthew and remembered him and then told Matthew "Come see me tomorrow and I'll give you a hat." Well, needless to say, Matthew was on Cloud 9. He woke me up at 3am (yes, 3am!) telling me how he was going to get a hat from the guy...

Sunday morning continued the Swag fest for Matthew. At breakfast that morning, we saw a member of the Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing team, who came up to Matthew and asked him if he liked matchbox cars. He came back with two Limited Edition Matchbox Cars for Matthew.

We arrived at the track and started walking along pit road (our passes allowed us onto pit road Sunday morning) as crew members we setting up the pit boxes. All the crew members were so nice- they answered questions that asked them, and never acted as if we were imposing. Of course, they recognized who the most important person in the family was- the 6 year old!

Patrick of the #11 Fed Ex Toyota

Several crew members stopped and took pictures with Matthew, and also gave him more lug nuts! Some of them (again, kudos to the #6) put him up on the wall in their pits for pictures. But the best was yet to come!

More great crew guys of #6 UPS Ford

Matthew started out the morning wearing his Denny Hamlin #11 t-shirt and his Lowe's #48 hat. He went to the #20 Home Depot (Joey Logano) pit box and was seen by one of the pit crew. The pit crew immediately commented on Matthew's hat, and told him it was not appropriate for Matthew to be wearing that hat. The crew guy told Matthew to take off his #48 hat and give it to him. Matthew did, looking slightly confused. Well, the pit guy took the hat (as in NEVER gave it back!) and came back from around the pit box with a signed Joey Logano #20 Home Depot hat. Yes- an autographed hat! I was floored, as was Matthew.

The guy on the pit box is the one who 'traded' hats with Matthew

Of course, after this, we went back over to the garage, where Matthew saw his new friend in the #6 stall, who immediately recognized Matthew and presented him with a hat from the #6 UPS car.

Yes- there was a race, and Matthew was excited that Denny Hamlin won... But what I will always remember about the weekend was how the crew members and everyone at the race really made the difference and made it THE perfect weekend.

The perfect weekend

2010-06-01T20:47:00.004-04:00

Anyone that knows me will tell you that I am a very planned person. I have the big "Mommy" calendar on the fridge and I know what I am doing when. Not that I'm not spontaneous, but I don't usually do big things spur-of-the-moment.

Well, over Memorial Day weekend, the family and I did something spontaneous- and it was great! Friday night, we booked a two night stay in NYC for Saturday and Sunday nights. We had no plans at the time. All I knew is that I wanted to see Central Park. Other than that, the plan was just to walk around NYC.

Well, we got to see quite a bit of Central Park on Sunday. We discovered a great little playground there that had a wonderful stone slide. We explored the zoo. We rode the carousel. We went rowing on the lake. We played on the 3 acre playground.

Then, Sunday night, we met a Twitter friend (@JimGarth) and his family for dinner. They rearranged some of their plans to meet us in NYC and introduced us to a wonderful pizza place called John's Pizzeria.

Over all, I wouldn't change one single thing about the weekend. It was the perfect weekend.

Social Media Swag

2010-05-25T13:17:00.006-04:00

In the last hour, I have really scored in the swag department, all thanks to Social Media. First came the Fed Ex envelope that held a HUGE surprise- I had won a bike from the Ellen Show. This was from an Earth Day contest she had. Honestly, I had forgotten all about it until I opened the envelope.

Then- the doorbell rang again, and it was my Rayovac and Disney gift card swag from Disney and Rayovac.

Really- I think I need to just go to bed right now, because this day has been so great, it can only go downhill from here...

Wordless Wednesday- May 19

2010-05-19T15:04:00.001-04:00

Hidden Mickey Shirt

Ever wish you had Magic Wand?

2010-05-14T15:07:00.004-04:00

Have you ever wished that you had a Magic Wand? Rayovac Batteries knows that feeling- and they are doing something about it.

Take a moment and think of what you and Rayovac batteries could accomplish if you had a Magic Wand. Then watch the video to the left that shows what happens when a little girl gets the chance to spread some magic around Disney World with her Magic Wand.

Then, go to www.rayovac.com/disneyvacation and enter for a chance to win in the Rayovac Magic Wand Sweepstakes. The grand prize is a trip for 4 to either Disneyland Resort or Walt Disney World. And really, who doesn't want to win that???

Also, join Rayovac and MomSelect for a Twitter Event to support the exciting Rayovac Powers Your Vacation-Magic Wand Sweepstakes. The evening will feature more than 20 fun giveaways from Rayovac ranging from a summer supply of Rayovac Batteries to Disney Gift Cards.

Rayovac Powers Your Vacation Sweepstakes
Date: Wednesday, May 19th
Time: 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. CST
Location: #rayovac
Follow: @Rayovac_Battery, @MomTalkRadi o, @CirclePRMary

Taking a Break

2010-05-14T11:04:00.003-04:00

Well, as of today, it has officially been a week since I last went on a run. After the Broad Street Run, I ran another 15 miles last week. I think my body is rebelling...

I ran last Friday with a severe head cold and I was miserable. So, I decided to take a couple of days off from running.

As I went to my kickboxing classes this week, not only was I still feeling the effects of the head cold, but I noticed I was dragging during class and after class I HURT! My legs hurt more than they should after those workouts. Not that they were easy (they never are) but they weren't worse than normal. Oh, and there's the little matter of the fact I hurt my back playing with Matthew.

So, I figured my body is telling me to take a break from doing any strenuous exercise for a couple of days. I feel so lazy not doing anything, but I figure this is the price I have to pay to be ready to go all out 110% starting next week. After all, I will be wearing a bathing suit at WDW in August and I want to ROCK it! :)

Bad blogger

2010-05-09T16:10:00.002-04:00

Oops. It's been a week since I posted last. I have no excuse. It's just that the time went by very quickly, and before I knew it- bam- a week...

There hasn't been much of anything exciting going on- just recovering from the Broad Street Run, trying to increase my running mileage, and lots and lots of baseball games.

My family went to the Phillies afternoon game last Thursday, Matthew had a baseball game Friday night and Saturday morning, and then we went to the Reading Phillies baseball game Saturday night.

I know- those aren't really excuses of why I haven't posted anything. Maybe this week will be better...

Two new things...

2010-05-02T16:51:00.004-04:00

Today I did two things I have never before done. The first was run (and complete) a 10 mile race. I ran in the Broad Street Run, a 10 mi race in Philly that goes from North Philly all the way to the Philadelphia Naval Yard.

Today was the hottest (and most humid) day in Philly so far this year. Actually, we have set a record (or were about to) for the hottest May 2 in history. That made the race MISERABLE! It was hot, horribly hot. But, this leads to the second thing I have never done before- I ran through open city fire hydrants. Because of the heat and humidity, the city had opened the fire hydrants along the race course for us to run through... That was fun!

My goal was to run the whole race and average under 10 minutes/mi. Well, I didn't make that. I ended up having to really scale back my pace to deal with the heat. I have run several races before this (up to 5 miles) and have never needed to take the water at the water stations. I took the water (and Gatorade at a few) at every station. I also purposely scaled back my pace for the last part of the race. My legs were TOAST! Miles 1-3 went pretty well, but I hit a wall about mile 4. I struggled, I mean really struggled miles 4-7. Once I hit mile 7, it was better. Not great, but better.

Overall, my time was 1:48:38. My pace came in at just under 11 min/mi. Out of the 30,00+ people that entered the race, 25,594 finished. I came in at 17,293 (and 8,345 out of 14,149 females). I am quite happy with how I did. I like to think that my time would have been better in nicer weather, but-- I did the 10 miles and finished.

A little bit of a rant

2010-04-27T16:27:00.003-04:00

Little bit of a rant today. Something happened recently that I just feel like going off about...

Because of the format of Twitter, it is very easy to see conversations (or Twittervations as they are known on Twitter) of other people. Now, most of the time, it's easy to just let most of the Twittervations go right by and not pay much attention to them. Every now and then, someone tweets something that catches your eye and you start to pay attention to the thread. This is fine.

A problem comes in when you jump into the middle of a thread without really knowing what the history of that thread is. Chances are, you are going to misinterpret something that was said. In some cases, this can turn to out to be quite amusing. In other instances, you will end up looking like an idiot.

If you are thinking of jumping into a thread or just reading a thread to mention to people later, make sure you really know what the people are talking. You know the saying... "What happens when you assume?" It's very true!

(OK- rant over)

My poor, neglected blog

2010-04-23T20:08:00.003-04:00

Well, lately I have been feeling a little guilty about not posting more often to my poor neglected little blog. Somehow, between my freelance work, increasing my running mileage, kickboxing class, enjoying the outdoors with Matthew, volunteering at Matthew's school, and baseball season- well... You get the idea. I don't have a lot of time left for other things.

(Just a quick note- I have really managed to increase my running mileage. I have logged almost 25 miles so far this week, with one more day to go. I am really feeling good about the Broad Street Run next weekend!)

So- I apologize to you my poor little blog. I know you're kinda neglected right now. But give me time and I'll be back. I have good intentions. I really do...

Wordless Wednesday- April 21

2010-04-21T05:54:00.004-04:00

It's Hump Day

Wow that sucked!

2010-04-18T12:17:00.004-04:00

OK- I finished the Revolutionary Road 5 mile run this morning. And man, did it suck! I had never seen the course before, but knew it contained many hills. I thought the hills would be throughout the course, and big- I was wrong.

The first 2 1/2 miles had two KILLER hills. And I mean KILLER. I tried to go to my happy place, but it didn't happen. I was making my way up the hill, and tried to think about the Castle and running in the Magic Kingdom, but all I could think was "There are no hills like this in WDW".

But, I finished, and my time was too bad, either.

And another plus- I didn't get Meganed. What's that? I have a friend who I run with- ok rephase... I have a friend who I go to races with. She runs much faster than I do, and has, on occasion, been known to finish a race and then run back to where I am and 'encourage' me as I go. (I have an evil goal of doing this to some of the lushcrew in October at the Food and Wine 5K.)

So- this race is done. Now, the next big race is the Broad Street Run in two weeks (May 2). That one is a 10-miler, but it's mostly flat (YEAH!)...

All those hills!

2010-04-15T07:42:00.002-04:00

I hate running hills. I mean, I HATE it! Downhills are okay, but uphills just make me want to stop! The area that I live has lots of hills, so I get lots of practice running hills on a daily basis.

So why the HECK did I sign up to run a 5 mile race in Valley Forge National Park. It's 5 miles of hills. And not gentle sloping hills. I mean big, serious uphills. I signed up months ago and it sorta seemed like a good idea. Now, it's three days away and it seems like a seriously bad idea!

UGH!!!!

Oh well- I'm obviously not going to be running this with any hope of a decent time- my goal is just to get through the race!

On the brighter side, I will be running a 5K at Disney World this October. Disney is hosting the first annual Food and Wine 5K, and I (amazingly) convinced hubby to let me run it! There are so many great this about this race- it's at Disney, it includes a ticket to Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, and most of all, many of my friends from all over the country will be there, too!

So I guess as I run this Sunday, I should just imagine myself running up Main Street toward Cinderella's Castle- go to my happy place!

Eating at Disneyland

2010-04-12T07:30:00.002-04:00

Well, I despite the fact that eating at Disneyland overwhelms and scares me, my 60-day ADR date is rapidly approaching. So, I guess I should start figuring our where my family is going to eat.

This is what I have figured out so far--

Monday (arrival day)

Dinner- Somewhere in Downtown Disney

Tuesday-

Breakfast- quick something at the hotel or nearby

Lunch- Blue Bayou (this is Matthew's one request- to eat at the restaurant inside POTC)

Dinner- Golden Horseshoe

Wednesday

Breakfast- quick something at the hotel or nearby

Lunch- Cocina Cucamonga

Dinner- Celebration Round-up (since Matthew's favorite character is Woody and there is no character dining with them at WDW)

Thursday-

Breakfast- quick something at the hotel or nearby

Lunch- Wine Country Trattoria

Dinner- NO CLUE!

We will be staying nearby at the Howard Johnson's Anaheim. I got amazing prices for our room, which includes a Theme Park view (thanks to Mousesavers.com for the special discount code!) I figure grabbing a quick breakfast there or on the way to the parks will be easy, and much cheaper!

Now, I know everyone out there has opinions on food- so let me hear it! Are any of these places really bad? Am I missing something I shouldn't pass up? Thanks!!!

Wordless Wednesday- April 7

2010-04-07T08:00:00.003-04:00

Yes- I have an addiction to shoes. These are just my Havaiana flip flops... I love my Havaiana's...

Happy Easter

2010-04-04T08:28:00.004-04:00

No, it's not Wordless Wednesday. But on this beautiful Easter Sunday, there is nothing that really needs to be said.

When a Man Meets Tazer

2010-04-01T14:15:00.002-04:00

I saw this story and thought it was too good to pass up! Enjoy

Pocket Tazer Stun Gun, a great gift for the wife. A guy who purchased his lovely wife a pocket Tazer for their anniversary submitted this:

Last weekend I saw something at Larry's Pistol & Pawn Shop that sparked my interest.

The occasion was our 15th anniversary and I was looking for a little something extra for my wife Julie. What I came across was a 100,000-volt, pocket/purse- sized tazer.

The effects of the tazer were supposed to be short lived, with no long-term adverse affect on your assailant, allowing her adequate time to retreat to safety....??
WAY TOO COOL! Long story short, I bought the device and brought it home. I loaded two AAA batteries in the darn thing and pushed the button...Nothing! I was disappointed. I learned, however, that if I pushed the button and pressed it against a metal surface at the same time, I'd get the blue arc of electricity darting back and forth between the prongs.
AWESOME!!!

Unfortunately, I have yet to explain to Julie what that burn spot is on the face of her microwave.

Okay, so I was home alone with this new toy, thinking to myself that it couldn't be all that bad with only two AAA batteries, right? There I sat in my recliner, my cat Gracie looking on intently (trusting little soul) while I was reading the directions and thinking that I really needed to try this thing out on a flesh & blood moving target.

I must admit I thought about zapping Gracie (for a fraction of a second) and then thought better of it. She is such a sweet cat. But, if I was going to give this thing to my wife to protect herself against a mugger, I did want some assurance that it would work as advertised. Am I wrong?

So, there I sat in a pair of shorts and a tank top with my reading glasses perched delicately on the bridge of my nose, directions in one hand, and tazer in another.
The directions said that a one-second burst would shock and disorient your assailant; a two-second burst was supposed to cause muscle spasms and a major loss of bodily control; and a three-second burst would purportedly make your assailant flop on the ground like a fish out of water. Any burst longer than three seconds would be wasting thebatteries.

All the while I'm looking at this little device measuring about 5" long, less than 3/4 inch in circumference (loaded with two itsy, bitsy AAA batteries); pretty cute really, and thinking to myself, 'no possible way!' What happened next is almost beyond description, but I'll do my best ...

I'm sitting there alone, Gracie looking on with her head cocked to one side so as to say, 'Don't do it stupid,' reasoning that a one second burst from such a tiny lil ole thing couldn't hurt all that bad. I decided to give myself a one second burst just for heck of it. I touched the prongs to my naked thigh, pushed the button, and ...

HOLY MOTHER OF GOD... WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTIONâ€&brkbar; WHAT THE hell!!!

I'm pretty sure Hulk Hogan ran in through the side door, picked me up in the recliner, and then body slammed us both on the carpet, over and over and over again. I vaguely recall waking up on my side in the fetal position, with tears in my eyes, body soaking wet, both nipples on fire, testicles nowhere to be found, with my left arm tucked undermy body in the oddest position, and tingling in my legs!

The cat was making meowing sounds I had never heard before, clinging to a picture frame hanging above the fireplace, obviously in an attempt to avoid getting slammed by my body flopping all over the living room.

Note: If you ever feel compelled to 'mug' yourself with a tazer, one note of caution: there is NO such thing as a one second burst when you zap yourself! You will not let go of that thing until it is dislodged from your hand by a violent thrashing about on the floor! A three second burst would be considered conservative!

A minute or so later (I can't be sure, as time was a relative thing at that point), I collected my wits (what little I had left), sat up and surveyed the landscape. My bent reading glasses were on the mantel of the fireplace. The recliner was upside down and about 8 feet or so from where it originally was. My triceps, right thigh and both nipples were still twitching. My face felt like it had been shot up with Novocain, and my bottom lip weighed 88 lbs. I had no control over the drooling.

Apparently I had pooped in my shorts, but was too numb to know for sure, and my sense of smell was gone. I saw a faint smoke cloud above my head, which I believe came from my hair. I'm still looking for my testicles and I'm offering a significant reward for their safe return!

Not another book report

2010-03-30T13:14:00.006-04:00

I love to read. I would be completely happy in life if I could sit on the couch and read a book all day. My favorite types of books are fiction, specifically mystery and thrillers. Some of my favorite authors include John Sandford, Lee Childs, and James Patterson.

A few weeks ago, I picked up a book that is completely different from most of the books that I read. It took me a week or so to really start reading and getting into the book, but once I did, I couldn't put it down. The book is the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrow.

Without getting into details or writing a book report, let me just say I loved this book. I picked up on a recommendation from a friend and wasn't really sure I would enjoy it. After the first few pages, I was hooked. The entire book is written as letters between the characters. As the characters in the book get to know each other and become part of each others lives through the letters, it struck me how this mirrors life today. The characters in the book used letters the same way social media impacts our lives today. Even though they had never met, the characters formed a bond of friendship through their letters, much as we do through Facebook and Twitter. For some reason, that really struck a chord with me.

If you are looking for a good book to read, I highly recommend this book. It doesn't take a long time to read and is very enjoyable. I hope you check it out and enjoy it as much as I did.

We're going to Disneyland

2010-03-27T07:32:00.005-04:00

I am a Disney fanatic- I don't think this is news to anyone reading this. I have been to Walt Disney World numerous times (5 trips in 22 months and 8 trips in 10 years). I know where to eat, where the rides are, walkways, paths- I can do it without a map... I recently booked a week at WDW and my dining reservations for that trip in 20 minutes. It's almost second nature, it seems...

This June, my family is going to Disneyland for four days. We have family on the West Coast and are making a trip out to see them. We then figured that this was the perfect time to take Matthew to Disneyland and experience the difference. Of course, I was placed in charge of planning our time at Disneyland. There's only one problem...

DISNEYLAND SCARES ME!

I don't mean the rides or anything like that. I have visited Disneyland a few times in the past, and as recently as 2007. I am familiar with the basic layout and rides. It's the dining situation that intimidates me to the point of inaction. For my family, part of a Disney trip is experiencing the different restaurants and counter-service options available. I know NONE of this for Disneyland. The only thing I do know is that Matthew wants to eat at the Blue Bayou- the restaurant inside Pirates of the Caribbean. Other than that, I have no idea what to do... I have to Unofficial Guide to Disneyland and have read it, but it isn't sinking in! It's like it just goes in one ear and out the other!

Should we do a character meal; do I really need ADRs; are there restaurants to avoid; any places we really SHOULD eat??? I just don't know!!!

Luckily, the window for making ADRs at Disneyland is 60 days. That means I have about another month to panic and avoid the situation! I know I will get it all pulled together and planned out, but it just feels so weird NOT having it planned out months before I have to!

Stay tuned to find out what I decide...

A night in Cougarville (or my night at a Bon Jovi concert)

2010-03-24T20:51:00.011-04:00

All three of us in my family are Bon Jovi fans- when Matthew and I are in the car together, it isn't unusual to see the two of singing and rocking out to Bon Jovi songs. So, when I found out Bon Jovi was going to be in concert in Philly, I had to get tickets. So last night, Mike and I headed out to the Wachovia Center for the concert. (No, we didn't take Matthew, and yes, he cried about that fact-LOL!)

Now, this was not the first Bon Jovi concert we have been to. We saw them in Nov. 2007 in New Jersey. What I remember about that crowd was the "Jersey hair" and that we saw many moms and daughters together. This was a slightly different crowd.

The first thing I noticed when we got to the venue was there were a lot of middle-age couples (and by that I mean in their 40's and 50's!). Bon Jovi has obviously kept many of their fans throughout the years.

The second I thing I notice is- DANG- there are a lot of 30- and 40- something women who are looking for someone to go home with! I mean, there is a heavy display of tight jeans, high heels, and surgically enhanced body parts (specifically UPPER body parts). These ladies are definitely looking to not go home alone. Now, I gotta be honest- unless they were all hoping to go home with the various members of the band- I don't know who they were hoping to go home with. A Bon Jovi concert isn't exactly the place to find lots of young (20ish) guys. Actually, there really weren't ANY single guys of any age that I recall seeing.

The opening band was Dashboard Confessional. The only song they sang that I recognized was Summer of '69 which isn't even one of their songs- it's an old Bryan Adams song. Luckily, they only played for about 30 minutes. After a short break, Bon Jovi came out for their set.

If you have never seen Bon Jovi in concert, I HIGHLY suggest you go. They put on an AMAZING show. I just about fell over when Jon Bon Jovi mentioned that Runaway came out 28 years ago. It's hard to believe they have been around that long. Watching them perform, it is obvious they are still having a blast being on stage. And gals- I could sit and look at Jon all day long- and I don't just mean his face :)

The energy and enthusiasm of the show made the time fly by. They performed many old favorites (It's My Life, Shot Through the Heart) as well as several songs off their new CD (Superman Tonight, Love is All you Need). We also got to hear Richie Sambora (who plays a MEAN guitar) sing Lay Your Hands on Me. They played for well over 2 hours. The last song they did performed was Livin' on a Prayer. The audience singing in the arena was so loud that you couldn't even hear the band.

I can hardly wait for the next time Bon Jovi goes on tour. You can bet that we will be at that concert- and we will be taking Matthew with us!

I gotta slow down!

2010-03-22T09:47:00.002-04:00

I have struggled mightily during my last two runs. My legs are tired, sore, and don't want to go. I've discovered why- I'm running way too fast!

My run on Friday was just over 5 miles, and my run today was my typical 3.4 miles. They aren't new routes- they are the same routes I frequently run. So why I am going so fast?

My natural pace is right about a 10 minute mile. My pace for my 5 mile run on Friday was 9:30/mile and today it was 9:23/mile. What the heck? Where did this speed (for me) come from? I don't feel like I am going any faster- in fact, I've tried not to go fast and just have a nice leisurely run. I don't look at my watch (or iPod) while I run, so I don't monitor my pace as I go. I just go.

All I know is there is no way I can run 5 miles of hills at Valley Forge at this pace. Nor can I keep this pace up for 10 miles at Broad Street, even if it is flat! I guess we'll see what the next couple of runs brings...

Say-it-all Saturday

2010-03-20T06:55:00.004-04:00

Another Saturday is here, and I find myself with very little to say this morning. As anyone who knows me can attest to, that is a very rare occurrence. So, I have just a few short rambling thoughts I will share on this Say-it-all Saturday...

1. I love, love, love this weather we are having right now. It is perfect spring weather, and after the winter we had here in PA, we've earned it. It's perfect weather for a morning run and then playing outside until dark. If it stayed like this all year long, I would be happy.

2. I have the most wonderful son in the world! We spent several hours in the Emergency Room with him yesterday (smashed fingers in the car door while rollerblading) and he was sooo good. Actually, he was good through the whole ordeal. I am so proud of him.

One of my favorite pictures of Matthew

3. This wonderful weather makes me wish I was at Disney World. I have never been this time of year, but this just seems like perfect Disney weather.

4. I am glad there is NASCAR racing again this weekend. I missed racing last weekend.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Wordless Wednesday- March 17

2010-03-17T07:47:00.003-04:00

Just a warning- this Wordless Wednesday post probably isn't what you were expecting.

(photo from Olive Garden)

It's a picture of pasta, for crying out loud. But let me explain- I have been so hungry for Fettuccine Alfredo lately. I even made a lighter version at home the other week, but it just didn't taste the same. I want the kind made with heavy cream, butter, and lots and lots of cheese. The kind that's dripping in sauce. The kind that's a clogged artery waiting to happen.

~~~SIGH~~~

At this point, I'm just settling for staring (and drooling at the picture). But, I think a trip to an Italian restaurant may be in my future soon.

Can I have my hour back?

2010-03-15T08:52:00.003-04:00

I am one of those eternally obnoxious people who can wake up at 5:30 am without an alarm and be happy, awake, and cheerful. I always have been a morning person, and I probably always will be. (Note: my son is just like me, while my poor husband would be happy if the day started at noon.) Now- I will admit that one of the first things I do is have a cup (or two) of coffee in the morning, but that's more because I like it, not to wake me up. I like getting up early and having some time to myself before everyone else is up.

However, this morning is Monday and it's the day after we changed to Daylight Savings Time. It was so hard to drag myself out of bed this morning. It was dark, it was rainy, and it felt like it was 4:30 am. All I wanted to do was go back to sleep...

I want my hour back. I don't like Daylight Savings Time. I know, it's supposed to save energy and everything good like that. But if I have to use my lights in the morning because it's dark (instead of at night when it's light) how is that saving anything? And really, at the beginning of March, it's too cold to send my son outside to play after dinner when it is light. So that hour in the evening is kinda wasted.

There's one other personal reason I want my hour back. My parents live in Arizona. Arizona is one of the few states (along with Hawaii and Indiana) that doesn't follow Daylight Savings. So, my parents have gone from being 2 hours behind us in time, to being 3 hours behind. For some reason, that extra hour makes them feel much farther away. I don't like it. Silly, yes, but true.

So all that being said, can I please have my hour back- now, not in November? Ok, thanks!

Say-it-all Saturday

2010-03-13T07:04:00.005-05:00

As I've started to pay more attention to the world of blogging, I've noticed that there are certain things that some people post on certain days- such as Wordless Wednesday, Thankful Thursday, etc. Being the kind of person I am, I decided to do my own- Say-it-all Saturday... So here goes.

1. Well, I did it. I signed up for a half-marathon. I have been debating whether or not I wanted to attempt this for a couple of months now. I am doing the Broad Street Run in May, and that's 10 miles- I figured, what's another 3 miles??? So, I am officially registered for the ING Rock-and-Roll Half Marathon in Philly in September. It seems like a good idea right now- we'll see if I'm singing the same tune in September!

2. This week, Disney announced that they have created a Premium Passport. This is an annual pass for both Disneyland and Disney World. (You can find details about what is included here.)

When I heard this, my first thought was WOO HOO!!! We currently have a 3 day trip scheduled to Disneyland this summer, and two separate 6 day trips to Disney World this year. So, I did a little looking into this passport. Disney- you screwed this one up! The cost for this Premium Passport is $700 per person. Adult AND child. There is NO discount for kids. I've priced this out and it is still cheaper to buy separate tickets for everything than to buy the Premium Passport. I'm curious to know how Disney can up with this pricing, because it seems to me that they really missed the mark on this one.

3. I look out my window and I don't see any snow piles. After more than a month of having piles of snow still over 3 ft high, this is a reason to celebrate! Although we may still have some cooler temperatures that come along, I think we have turned to corner into spring!

4. Thanks to everyone who told me about Site Meter for tracking visits to my blog! I was able to figure it out and install it!

Ok- that's about all the unrelated thoughts I have for this morning. Off to make pancakes for breakfast!

Catching on to this Social Media thing

2010-03-10T21:27:00.004-05:00

One of my first posts on this blog was discussing how I didn't quite get Social Media, but I was in for a quick lesson...

Well, fast forward about 6 weeks later, and while I am by no means a social media queen, I have a much better understanding and respect for it. It has changed my life in ways that I would have never thought.

One of the first things is that I started, and have stuck with, this blog. It gives me a place to put my thoughts down in writing. And even more surprising- there are some people who read it! (And note to blogger- I would like it if I could track my page views...). It's really kinda fun- at least it is once I have decided on what my next post is going to be. I use social media to help me with my blog by following other blogs and absorbing the good from them.

I have met people who have amazing Disney websites that I love (like http://www.disneyeveryday.com/). I look at how they network and use social media and I learn from them. I also learn things about Disney from people who are in the know (such as #wdwmoms). Social media has also brought in contact with people in other countries who share some of my same passions. For example, I regularly correspond with a friend on Twitter who is an up-and-coming NASCAR reporter- in the Phillipines! One thing that both of these people do, that I am trying to watch and learn, is effectively network using Twitter and Facebook. They develop contacts and put their name out there using social media. It's all really very cool.

One thing about social media that surprises me is how it is really starting to invade our society. On Twitter, you have many big, popular NASCAR drivers (@kylebusch, @dennyhamlin, @mw55) who will hold Q&A sessions with their fans. This brings the fans closer to the sport, and increases exposure. There are many large companies- such as Harrah's, Kellogg, and HP- who are hiring corporate social media directors. They are learning that social media is here to stay and they want to know how to use it.

Before I went to the Disney Social Media Moms conference, I had a little (emphasis on little) idea of what social media was and how it worked. Now, I have more of an idea of how to effectively use social media- not that I have it all down yet, or that I am doing it... But, I think it's safe to say I have a little more of a clue than I did when I started this journey!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-03-10T12:40:00.003-05:00

For this Wordless Wednesday, I decided to post a picture of one of my favorite sights at the Magic Kingdom. I love seeing the confetti Mickey ears in front of the display as you enter the gates. To me, it represents the possibilities of the day ahead. Rides, shows, parades, food...

I hope this picture bring as many smiles and happy memories as it does me!

Disney and NASCAR

2010-03-08T10:03:00.001-05:00

While I was out for my run this morning, I was trying to think of what my next blog post would be. (Now, this was kind of difficult because my legs were DEAD and I really just wanted stop and walk...) I really like the idea that several of my fellow bloggers have done recently (shout out to Rora and Kristin), which is post a list of questions and answer them. But, I didn't want to seem like too much of a copy-cat. So, I thought a little but more about what I could say about me and decided to expand on two of my favorite things.

There are four things in life that I love:
1. My family and friends
2. Food and eating food
3. Disney
4. NASCAR

Now- the first two of those probably make sense to most people. They seem to go together fairly well. It's the last two that tend to make people do a bit of a double take.

Throw Disney in the mix, and things still make sense to most people. After all, Disney is very family friendly, "The Happiest Place on Earth", etc. People look at me and thing- OK, I can see that she loves Disney. She certainly goes there enough... I can talk Disney with anybody and I will. I've had conversations with strangers about where to stay and where to eat.

The last one, NASCAR, tends to throw people for a loop. I have watched NASCAR for about 10 years now. And I love it. I like the personalities, the drivers (most of them), and I like the fans. I love to talk about NASCAR. The only problem is, it seems there are a lot less people willing to talk NASCAR than Disney. Since the start of this NASCAR season, I have heard several times from my friends "I can't believe you like NASCAR" or similar statements. This doesn't bother me, I just say "Yep" and go on.

Now, Disney and NASCAR may seem to be completely different interests that really don't mesh. This may be true, but yet they do have a few things in common. They both have fans that are very vocal. The online Disney and online NASCAR communities are both full of people who are very knowledgeable and eager to share their knowledge with you. You can strike up a 30 minute conversation with any Disney fan by simply asking "What's your favorite ride." Ask a NASCAR fan "Who's your favorite driver" (or this week- "What do you think about Carl?") and the conversation flows.

So- now you know a little more about me. And hopefully all my Disney friends on Twitter will be a little more understanding when all the #NASCAR tweet fly, and all my NASCAR friends will understand why I have all the #Disney tweets. And for those you that like both (SISTER!)- enjoy all the tweets!!!

A little distracted

2010-03-06T07:37:00.000-05:00

I know, I know. I haven't posted much this week. But I have a really good reason for it. There's this bright yellow thing in the sky- and it's making the temperature get above freezing, and all the white stuff on the ground is going away.

I sit down at my kitchen table to write something, I look out the window- and then... I just keep staring. I feel more than a little like Dug from the movie UP. Whatever he may be doing, he sees something move and "Squirrel", he's distracted. I look out and see the sun, and just start thinking and daydreaming about spring, warm weather, and well, just seeing grass again.

So- pardon me while I'm a distraced. I'm sure that we haven't seen our last cold spell, and when it comes, you'll find me back at my computer. But for now-- "SUN!"

Wordless Wednesday- Well, at least I'm wordless

2010-03-03T06:00:00.000-05:00

For this wordless Wednesday post, I thought I would let Maya Angelou do the talking. A friend recently sent this to me, and the truth of it struck me.

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ... enough money within her control to move out and rent a place of her own, even if she never wants to or needs to...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...... something perfect to wear if the employer, or date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ... a youth she's content to leave behind....

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .... a past juicy enough that she's looking forward to retelling it in her old age....

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...... a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ..... one friend who always makes her laugh... and one who lets her cry...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ..... a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .... eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems, and a recipe for a meal, that will make her guests feel honored... A

WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ... a feeling of control over her destiny...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... how to fall in love without losing herself..

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... how to quit a job, break up with a lover, and confront a friend without; ruining the friendship....

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW.... when to try harder... and WHEN TO WALK AWAY...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... that she can't change the length of her calves, the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... that her childhood may not have been perfect...but it's over...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... what she would and wouldn't do for love or more...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... how to live alone... even if she doesn't like it...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW. . whom she can trust, whom she can't, and why she shouldn't take it personally...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... where to go... be it to her best friend's kitchen table.. or a charming Inn in the woods... when her soul needs soothing...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... What she can and can't accomplish in a day... a month...and a year...

It's March?!?

2010-03-01T16:24:00.000-05:00

Ok- wait a minute. Is it really March 1. What happened to January and February? I mean, I know we had some snow (ok- a lot of snow), and I was kinda busy, but still. How is it March already???

The problem with it being March is that I only have 2 months to get ready to run the Broad Street Run in Philly on May 2. That's a 10 mile race. The longest race I have run up to this point is 5 miles. I have to go DOUBLE that- soon!

I know that some people train and know if they can run 8 miles, they can do 10 miles on race day. I can't do that. For me, I have to know that I have done 10 miles before and can make it. Yes, it's a mental thing- but that's how it works for me.

So- maybe now that it's March, Mother Nature will get her act together and stop messing with our weather. I run at the Y, but there are only so many times I can go in a circle around the track. I need to get outside and pound the pavement. And apparently, I need to do it soon!!!

Real, Virtual or Imaginary

2010-02-25T14:22:00.000-05:00

Real friends are hard to find- and when you do find a Real friend, make sure that you are a Real friend to them, and that you keep them in your life in whatever way works for you.

STUCK!

2010-02-21T20:54:00.000-05:00

Space Mountain. A ride that all Disney fans know, but few have seen in the light. As I recently discovered, you really don't want to see this ride in the light- especially from the top of the ride!

One night at the Social Media Moms conference, a friend and I decided to skip the Joe Jonas and Demi Lovato concert and dash over to the Magic Kingdom to ride Space Mountain a few times before the park closed.

We were minding our own business, riding the ride, screaming away, when all of the sudden the car came to a complete stop. Ok- I've been on stopped rides before and know it's no big deal. But, this ride is in the dark. You have to hope and assume that all the other cars have stopped. And it didn't help that the track was vibrating every so often- like cars were still running. Slight panic setting in...

After about 5 minutes, the lights came on. Of course, the first thing you want to do is look around. BAD IDEA! There was only one track higher than we were. We were almost at the top of Space Mountain. To the left side was a drop about 30 feet to a platform- which was about 40 feet. To the right side was a walkway that ended at the beginning of my train car and became a set of stairs. As I was looking around the inside of the ride, what struck me most was how gray everything was- the tracks, the rails, the stairs, the ground (far, far away)... I also never knew that there is an elevator in the middle of the ride to the top of the tracks.

Several cast members made their way to all the cars on the ride and let all the people off- except for my friend and myself. Why- well, because of those stairs, we would have a large step down, which they wouldn't let us do. It wouldn't look good if we fell trying to get off... So, after several minutes, it was decided they would call the Fire Department to come get us off the ride. And yes, I am serious. While we were waiting, we both got our cameras out and started taking pictures. Unfortunately, it still wasn't light enough for my camera to take great pictures.

When the Fire Department arrived, we were both slightly disappointed- we had asked for cute firefighters and Disney didn't deliver. Oh well. In a somewhat anticlimatic rescue, we slipped a strap under our arms and, uneventfully, climbed out of the car. We walked ALL the way down the many, many steps and left the ride.

The best part of the evening- other than just getting off the ride- was being able to walk out of the Magic Kingdom a half-hour after closing. It was great to see Cinderella's Castle and Main Street without the throngs of people that are normally there. That being said, however, that wasn't an experience I wish to repeat.

Oh- and if I ever retell this story, don't be surprised if all of the sudden the fireman are hunks and they had to bring in the hook and ladder to get us down. A story always gets better with retelling :)

Disney Social Media Moms conference Post #3- Friday

2010-02-18T16:38:00.000-05:00

Friday was an amazing day at the Disney Social Media Moms conference.

We knew it was going to be a great day when we walked into the conference room and saw each a Build-A-Bear on each table dressed as a different Disney Princess (we hadPrincess Tiana). Our first speaker of the day was Maxine Clark- Chief Executive Bear at Build-A-Bear. Maxine told us about how she grew her company and how she keeps it personal using social media. Maxine is a wonderful person, and her love for her company comes through everything she does.

Following Maxine Clark was Marissa J Winokur, best known for her role in Hairspray and Dancing with the Stars. Marissa talked about how she uses social media in her career and getting her name out and into the public. Marissa is as bubbly in person as she appears on screen.

After lunch, we had a surprise speaker- Kathy Ireland. Kathy shared with us what it was like for her getting her business off the ground and still being an involved mother. What impressed me most was during the question and answer session, Kathy was very honest and open with her answers- she wasn't handing out stock "feel-good" answers.

Our last speaker of the day was Chris Brogan, author of Trust Agents. Chris is a social media guru, and really believes in what he talks about.

At the end of the session, we got to enjoy the comedy of Mary Ellen Hooper. Mary Ellen had us all rolling on the floor with laughter. It was a great way to end the session.

That evening, we were treated to a dinner and dance party in Studio Catering Company in the closed-to-the-public Hollywood Studios. As we ate and danced the night away, we got to mingle with Mickey and Minnie.

Then, after dinner, we had an AMAZING treat- Disney opened Toy Story Mania for us to ride. Being able to just walk onto this ride and play was amazing. At one point, I was able to ride twice in a row without having to get off. After five rides, though, my arm was tired and I had to call it a night.

Overall, the conference was just amazing, and I haven't done it justice. I am so new to everything with social media, and I was just a sponge those 3 days. I learned so much. I thank Disney and http://www.5minutesformom/ for putting on this conference, and look forward to going again next year (hoping Disney does it again!)

Disney Social Media Moms conference Post #2- Thursday

2010-02-16T14:53:00.000-05:00

After resting up for the evening at Disney's wonderful Polynesian resort, we were up and ready to begin our adventure on Thursday at 7 am. The first part of our morning was a talk at Epcot's American Adventure Pavillion. We got to enter Epcot via the back entrance. This was both exciting and depressing; I'm still trying to block out seeing the "behind-the-scenes" details of Epcot in order to keep the magic alive. :)

Our speaker for the morning was Guy Kawasaki- founder of Alltop. Guy Kawasaki is a fabulous speaker. He spoke to us about how to effectively use Twitter to promote you and your business. And of course, like everything Disney does, the breakfast was amazing (even if we did only get one cup of coffee all morning).

After breakfast, we went to a special celebration for Disney volunt'ears' and a special announcement. At the announcement, we saw several celebrities, including Carter Osterhouse (SWOON!).

Disney had built the world's largest canned good structure, as certified by the Guinness Book of World Records. The big reveal was done by none other than Ty Pennington.

After the big reveal, we were on our own in Epcot for a few hours. We got enjoy some of the rides and then a wonderful meal at Le Cellier.

In the afternoon, we joined up with Lou Mongello of WDW Radio. Lou taped a live podcast with nine of us Disney bloggers at the conference (see the names, Twitter handles, and blog links below). It was an experience we will never forget!

That evening, we were treated to a dinner prepared by Robert Irvine from Dinner Possible and a private concert by Joe Jonas and Demi Lovato.

It was another AMAZING day by Disney, who proves they completely understand social media, and also that they know how to treat their guests!

And yes- this is the evening that I got stuck on Space Mountain. That's a separate post coming soon! :)

And here is the wonderful group of Disney friends that participated in the podcast with me. If you don't already follow them- DO IT!

@TraciLeigh The View From My Fishbowl

@AmandaTinney Disney Everyday

@jjzmgailey Mickey's Magical Trip Tips

@Lynne_from_Texa Wondering What's Next

@NDM_1 Disney Driven Life

@RoraBorieAlice Tales of a Frumpy Mocha Princess

@dcanoli Debbie's a Day Late and A Dollar Short

@heavensent30 Adventures with the Mouse

Disney Social Media Moms conference Post #1

2010-02-14T14:36:00.000-05:00

Oh- my- goodness!!!

I arrived home yesterday from the most amazing three days I think I have ever spent at Walt Disney World. And believe me, I have spent lots of amazing days there! The Disney Social Media Moms conference was more amazing than I could ever have imagined! Of course, it didn't hurt that I missed the "Blizzard of 2010" while I was gone :)

I learned far too much at this conference to put it into one blog post. So, I will be splitting into several posts over the next few days. And yes, I will devote an entire post to being stuck on Space Mountain and the rescue by the Fire Department :)

The first day of the conference was Wednesday. After checking into the Polynesian and getting the AWESOME swag bag prepared for us, I met up with several other Disney bloggers, including Jackie Gailey, Traci Curth, and J.L. Knopp.

We puttered around the Magic Kingdom for a little while before we headed back to get ready for the evening's fesitivities at ESPN Wide World of Sports.

We were treated to a presentation by Meg Crofton and several other high-level WDW executives who went into details about "What's Next, What's New". The biggest excitment was generated by the annoucement that the Electric Light Parade would be making a comeback this summer at the Magic Kingdom. It will have both familiar floats, as well as some new favorites. There will also be a new drop sequence for the Hollywood Hotel Tower of Terror and a new summer fireworks show at the Magic Kingdom.

After the annoucement, we were treated to an amazing party. There was TONS of amazing food, character greetings, and dancing. I got to meet many of my personal celebrities, including Laura Spencer, Leanne, and Lou Mongello.

Let me tell you- Disney sure knows how to throw a party! We partied and ate until we were ready to go back to the (amazing) Polynesian resort and rest up for the next day of the conference.

What a weekend!

2010-02-07T15:32:00.000-05:00

Wow- this last week has been something for the record books- literally! We had the second-largest snowfall EVER in the Philly area on Friday and Saturday night. We topped out at the house at just over 20". Let me tell you- shoveling 20" of snow off the driveway, walkway and cars is a workout in itself! Not to mention the walking up and down sledding hills in that much snow. Matthew loved the snow- me, I was pretty anxious about it for a while.

Normally, I love snow as much as anybody else, and flight cancellations and delays don't cause me much panic. However, the Disney Social Media Moms conference is scheduled to start on Wednesday, and my mom is scheduled to fly into Philly on Monday to watch Matthew for the week. So- I was carefully watching the weather and the flights and panicking. Luckily, after the snow (finally) stopped, the sun came out and flights started moving in and out of Philly. Ok- it looks like that crisis has been averted.

So, at this point, it sounds like all is good- right? HAH! Looking at the extended weather forecast, it showed ANOTHER snowstorm coming into the area on Wednesday (the day I'm suppose to fly out). There is nothing that will keep me from this conference, so I started looking at options. Luckily, USAirways was fabulous! I called them and told them where I was flying out of and when, and they switched my flights so I can fly out on Tuesday- with no hassle and no charge! All it took then was a quick hop on Expedia to book a night at Disney's Pop Century Resort and I am good to go.

So- in two days time, I will be arriving in Orlando for the Disney Social Media Moms conference. I am so excited about this, and can't wait to start sharing what I have learned!

I'm so clueless!

2010-01-31T11:11:00.000-05:00

Ok- so the title of this post could be taken many different ways. And most of them would be correct. However, this time, I am referring to how clueless I am about how to effectively blog and position myself to get my name out there.

Before I started blogging, I thought all you did was post a blog and then let people find you. Now, I hadn't really thought about HOW those people would find you- I just assumed they would. Now I am learning about all the different ways you should be blogging in order to get your name and information find.

Of course, there is Twitter and Facebook, but there are also sites and blogs dedicated to helping you make the most out of your blog. This is one good site that was passed on to me by a fellow Disney Dream Depot member and a roomie of mine for the Disney Social Media Moms conference coming up.
http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/up-the-ante-by-taking-bold-actions/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+smartpassiveincome+%28Smart+Passive+Income%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher
Also, Chris Brogan is has written several books that are considered near bibles for social media.

Now- I have to admit, I haven't done any of the things recommended in website above, nor have I read any of Chris Brogan's books. But, at least now, I'm starting to have a clue about everything I don't know. I'm still not sure if that's a good thing or not. In some ways, it's so much easier to just be clueless...

What's in a name

2010-01-22T12:01:00.000-05:00

Recently, my husband asked me why I decided to name my blog "Always Running Behind". Now, the logical answer would be because I am always running behind and late for things, but that isn't true. I am one of those people who can't be late for anything. Seriously, if I think I'm going to be late, I start twitching and shaking and I can't deal with it. As my friend says, I am annoyingly prompt.

However, if you have ever seen me out running, you know why I named the blog as such. As I mentioned earlier, running isn't something that comes easily to me. When I run, I don't run for speed. I run because it's hard. I finally decided I was tired of saying "I can't run" or "I'm not a runner". I decided to get out there and do it. But, I'm not fast and when it comes to running in a group, I am ALWAYS RUNNING BEHIND. Now, I may not be fast, but I am steady. It may take me longer than some (but not all), but I will get there. When I enter a race, I have two simple goals: run the whole thing, and not finish last. So far, I have been able to accomplish both of these goal in all 3 races I've been in.

One other reason I chose the name I did- because it seems when it comes to things like blogging, Twitter, etc., I'm one of the last people I know to get involved in it. Again- I'm always running behind! :)

Surfing the social media wave

2010-01-16T20:10:00.000-05:00

I'm so excited! There has been so much going on in the last week related to both this website and my "tribe" www.disneydreamdepot.com. It's been a social media explosion in my house!
(To learn what the heck I mean by tribe, see http://www.tribebuilding.com/2008/10/what-is-a-tribe.html)

First, obviously, I started this blog. Then, I got an invite to the Disney Social Media Moms conference in Walt Disney World next month. This is a BIG, BIG deal. This is a huge conference co-hosted by Disney World and www.5minutesformom.com. There will be many special events hosted by Disney, as well as many internationally known speakers on social media. The opportunities for learning about how to effectively use social media- such as blogs, facebook, twitter, and the internet in general- to get your name and concepts out there and known. I am a complete newbie at all of this, and I can't wait for the chance to learn from not only the speakers, but many of my fellow attendees at the conference.

The other big thing with social media this week is the official launch of our Disney Dream Depot website. We have been working on ways to differentiate ourselves from the plethora of other Disney planning websites that are available, and we have hit an amazing solution. Starting this Thursday, and every Thursday after, we will be hosting a live Q&A chat. There will two members of the Dream Team broadcasting live audio to answer questions from people in the chat room regarding planning a trip to Disney World. This is such an exciting, new opportunity. So, I've been learning about using TinyChat, audio, video, and running chat rooms. Come check us out!

So, as you can tell, I've completely immersed myself in social media. Nothing like jumping in with both feet! I am so excited about where all of this is going and the potential it has. As my husband said I'm "Surfing the social media wave."

Can I run farther?

2010-01-12T15:10:00.001-05:00

One thing I have determined since I started running, is that it is very hard to build up stamina. I get to a certain point in my run, and all I want to do is stop. And try as I may, that point tends to stay at about the same distance in my run. Now, I know- you have to push through it and then it gets better. Easier said than run... But, I came across a great article from active.com about how to build up stamina when running.

http://www.active.com/running/Articles/Steps_for_building_running_stamina.htm?act=AFC-SocialMedia&Property=Active&Sport=Running&PageType=Content_Articles&Emp=TO&PostType=Micro_blogging&Site=Crtwitter&Dy=01_12_10&Note=Steps_for_building_running_stamina

What I like about this article is it puts things simply. Run, run faster, walk. Run faster, walk. It's easy. It also incorporates weight training, which provides a nice change of routine. Not to mention, it gives you fabulous looking arms! Of course, I like using my kickboxing class as part of the weight training, as well as cross-training. The only drawback to that is when I can barely lift my arms from all the "training" I've done!

As I stated before, my goal is to increase my weekly distance to up to 30 miles a week. Seeing as how I'm currently at about 15 miles, on a good week, I have a ways to go. Now, I'm a pretty impatient person, and want to hit that goal NOW. But, I know that it will take a while. So, for this week, I'm at a whopping 4 miles. I'm hoping to get a couple of miles in tonight while Matthew is in class at the Y. I think the hardest part of all this is going to be finding the time to run with everything else going on. It's not going to be easy, but I really want to be a "runner" and not just someone who runs.

Let the blogging begin

2010-01-10T18:14:00.000-05:00

Almost three years ago, I decided I need to get into shape before it got too late. At that point, I changed my eating habits and began going to exercise classes at our local YMCA. As time passed, I got bored with what I was doing, and both my eating and exercise habits declined. Last summer, faced with bathing suit season, I decided to try something new. So, I turned to running.
I can’t say that I LOVE running, but I do enjoy it. Well, at least I enjoy it when I’m done with it… Running is not something that comes easily to me.I ran two 5k’s last year and an 8k. My goal this year is to run the Broad Street Run, a 10 mile race in Philly in early May. I am still debating whether or not I want to run a half-marathon. I think I’ll continue to mull that one over.
Along with running, I discovered a kickboxing class at the Y. I love, and I mean LOVE, this class. The instructor is a no-nonense, kick your butt type. I know that when I go to that class, I will be giving it my all for that hour. I leave that class exhausted, sweaty, and on a total endorphin high!
So- by now you are probably wondering “Why is this person doing a blog?” I have to be honest- I’m not 100% sure I know the answer to that question. I have toyed with the idea of doing a blog for a while. I also have toyed with the idea of seriously increasing my running and exercising to see if I can get into amazing shape. So, I am merging the two ideas. This blog will be about my running, my exercising, and just telling you about my life.
My goal is to run 30 miles a week (that is something I will have to work up to), as well as do 2 to 4 hours of kickboxing at the Y each week. I know this is ambitious, but if I put my mind- or really, my body- to it, I think I can do. Whether or not I will be able to get out of bed each morning without assistance remains to be seen
So, sit back and let’s see with this goes. Please feel free to leave me comments and let me know what you think!