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Having Fun at Disney - (Eeyore Encourages Me to Ditch the Plan)

Monday, March 24, 2008

So THE PLAN. First I advise you that to have a terrific trip to Disney World you need to research, develop, feed and nurture your Disney Plan. Then here in this very next section I’m going to tell you to ditch it. Now I don’t mean ditch it Garbage_Pailditch it. Like don’t chuck The Plan in the nearest conveniently placed trash receptacle, no I mean if the kid wants to go on the Dumbo ride twice, go on the Dumbo ride twice. And don’t be Grumpy about it.

If you go on a vacation with the children to Disney then it’s reasonable for me to assume that you like your children. You want them to have fun. You want to have fun with them. That’s where I’m coming from when I go to Disney, I want to have fun with the kids.

Douglas_MacArthurNow some people criticise a Disney vacation as lacking spontaneity. I disagree. Even the most jaded and sarcastic  (me) parent can have a magical moment. But if you are too rigid and adhere to the marching orders of The Plan you could miss the magic moment. As is true in life - if you don’t open yourself to the possibility of a magic moment you’ll miss them. Or worse you’ll march your kids right past them because they’re not a part of The Plan.

One Disney trip after a busy morning in the Magic Kingdom we arrived at the Crystal Palace for a nice buffet lunch. I wrangled my parents and my kids into the glass encased Winnie the Pooh themed venue. I’d budgeted time in The Plan for this experience. We had lunch with the characters, seconds, the ice cream buffet, a potty break and at just under an hour for lunch we were good to go. The Plan was working perfectly. But I was itching to get the army moving again, The Plan called for a hike to The Hall of Presidents. Then I heard, “but mom we haven’t seen Eeyore yet.”Eeyore Attack

At the Crystal Palace the Pooh characters rotate from table to table. We’d seen the biggies Pooh, Roo and even that whack job Tigger. We’d DONE the Crystal Palace. We could check it off The Plan and hustle to the next thing. But then again, “Mom, Eeyore, please.”

I was annoyed, if we stayed any longer The Plan would be shot to heck. My parents offered to wait at the restaurant with the kids if I wanted to get moving. My over-scheduled, not-on- vacation mind thought-yes! I can get to all the rides I need to vis-a-vis The Plan without slowing down for the kids! But wait….

Ooh.. this post is almost 400 words.. too much…this story will be continued… Wednesday where you’ll find out if anyone was injurred in the making of the above picture!

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Advice for a Trip to Disney World-Travel and Lodging

Friday, March 14, 2008

Vacation Fairy GodmotherI am an expert on going to Walt Disney World. There I’ve said it. I know modesty is a good trait but I’m telling you when it comes to going to Walt Disney World I am all that.  Here’s the background Disney owns WTVG so I am a Disney employee. In the interest of full disclosure as a Disney employee I flipping love going to Walt Disney World. On our first trip the kids were toddlers and we still go  there on vacation even now that they’re teenagers. I’ve also traveled to “The World” with retirees, babies, menopausal women, feverish kids, friends, and someone who’d just had an appendix removed.  We’ve had a great time every time. Really if you know anyone planning a trip, send ‘em over.  If you are going to Disney or know someone who is think of me as your electronic Sherpa. This is the experience I’ve garnered over many visits and now at the very least I’ll send people who ask to these pages. It will be an ongoing series of sorts.

Over the years I’ve shared tips with friends, family and co-workers and trust me I always get a Mickey coffe Mug and an “I’m so glad I did what you suggested” as a thank you. One friend even called me their Disney Trip “Fairy Godmother.” This made me so happy! So if you or someone you know is planning a trip put up your bibbidi-bobbidi-boo and read on.

First up plan ahead, a successful trip to the park with your kids or your parents requires thought. There’s so much to see and do it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Buy a guide book and use it. I’m not here to tell you my favorite rides or map your route through the park. (Maybe we’ll talk favorite attractions later.) But I can tell you prioritizing rides and mapping out a plan has worked like crazy for our family. As they say at NASA “work the plan” and you’ll have a Magical Day.

Let’s start with traveling to the park. My family and I aren’t campers. It’s just not one of our hobbies. I think we would like camping but we just never got around to it. What we do instead is drive to Florida. We load up our mini-van and hit I-75. I liken it to camping except for the DVD player and electronic games. Oh and except for the air conditioner. Okay so it’s only like camping because we’re in a small enclosure. But we do like driving down to Florida. We like checking off the states as we pass through, it’s fun to go to the ‘Coon Skin Cap Outlet, and there’s always a thrill when we chance it with the “is this gas station safe” game. Some families have traditions rooted in culture or history our tradition is picking a random highway exit and sampling the Waffle House. Waffle House says to us.. we’re on vacation and we’re lovin’ maple syrup!

***DISCLAIMER ALERT***NEVER DRIVE WHILE TIRED***  Now that you’ve read the disclaimer here’s our preferred method for driving to Florida. Convertible Mini-vanWe start in the afternoon and then go straight through. We drive all night. With a small kid this is brilliant because they fall asleep as it gets dark and pretty much STAY ASLEEP until you get through Tennessee. Sure missing Kentucky is disconcerting but only if your small children actually know the states. Don’t encourage them to care about “getting to Kentucky” and you won’t have any disappointment. Maybe if they’re small you could just not mention that there is a Kentucky and then you’re golden. (Nothing against Kentucky mind you we’re just trying to avoid some sort of “why didn’t you wake me up when we hit Kentucky” temper tantrum.) Gettin’ almost to Georgia with sleeping kids is a beautiful thing.

Think of driving at night like a futuristic space travel deal. If astronauts were ever to travel to Mars or something the astronaut would be suspended in some sort of frozen sleep stasis. That way they wouldn’t age during the years it takes to get to the Red Planet. This is scientific fact based on movies I’ve watched. See they go to sleep after blast off and wake up when the little green men stuns them with lasers. Driving to Florida at night is like that. Go to sleep in Ohio wake up in Wake Up EarthlingDixie! Plus there’s the side perk of - you haven’t aged. Sure you still get the “are we there yet” chant at dawn but at least you wont’ have it all night. ***DISCLAIMER ALERT***NEVER DRIVE WITH MARTIANS*** (Oh and I’m usually the one chanting “are we there yet?”)

Whether you drive at night or teleport to Orlando pack light. Pack light enough to bring back all the souvenirs you buy in the parks. Take clothes that you know you can sweat in and feel comfortable. Buy a pair of shoes, break them in with a few nice long walks at home before the trip, and then also a pair of flip-flops with that you’re good to go. Disney is a casual place. Sure you can book a fancy dinner or two when you’re in Orlando but if you are going with kids you need to stock-up on comfortable, wearable, and cool clothing.

Disney accomodations are all top notch. In my experience if you stay “on property” as Disney calls it you can always be assured you’ll have clean and beautiful room with great service. Obviously you can learn about the different levels of accomodations at the Official Walt Disney World Site. Basically there’s overpacked2value, moderate, and delux levels of lodging. There’s also a few options that include kitchenettes. Here’s my tip - split your stay. Go for a few days at a hotel with one theme and then half way through switch to another! We often go for a few days at the hotel and then move to a place with a little kitchen or two rooms. That way just when we’re getting on each other’s nerves in a hotel setting we change the setting. PLUS Disney will move your stuff from one hotel to another. Pack up, head to a park and then check at your new hotel with your bags already in place. Brilliant.

To be continued (with discussion of food, protein spills, hot flashes, strollers and Eyeore pics.)

P.S. So probably if you are one of my ten readers (hi mom) and you aren’t going to Disney this was long and boring and I apologize. I DO plan to sprinkle my advice with charming stories of family disasters that everyone can enjoy regardless of your vacation plans. If that helps. If you ARE goin’ to “The World” stay tuned. I’m going to outline some other super secrets to a great trip to Walt Disney World. Or if you know someone headed there have them head here first.

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Bedford Junior High Career Day Pic

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Bedford Junior High Career Day

 Here are some of the good looking and intelligent 8th grade students who were in my career day sessions. They were all fun and inquisitive. I had a great time. Thank you Bedford Junior High for inviting me again this year.

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Career Day

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

I am speaking at Bedford Junior High School’s Career Day. I’ve done this event  for years because it’s so much fun to talk to the kids. They’re right on the cusp of high school and since they get to choose what careers they’d like to learn about they always participate in the discussion.

Each year I bring my Bedford Bronco Yearbook circa 1982-1984. They usually get a kick out of how dorky we looked back then, okay how dorky I looked back then.

One of my favorite moments during this BJHS career day event was a few years back. An eighth grade student introduced herself as Rebecca. She then said “I was you for Halloween.”

Hunh?

Young Rebecca explained that for Halloween she donned a blazer and fashioned a microphone with a 13ABC mic flag (the things around the mic with station logos on them.) Young Rebecca then created a television out of a card board box by cutting out a “screen.” She walked around  with her head framed in the t.v. and explained that she was Rebecca Regnier, 13 Action News, if anyone didn’t get it.

I am sure she scared quite a few people with this costume.

When I go back to talk to 13 year-olds I try to remember my thoughts as a 13 year-old. They’re about the same except now I can drive.

I remember being so over “one way halls” and “one way stairs” at the Junior High. I also remember I was allowed to spend a ridiculous amount of time “decorating the showcase.” This was the case at the front of the school and for some reason I got to make a display for it. See, me dorky.

 So what were you thinking in the eighth grade? Were you thinking in eighth grade? Who was President? What was he thinking?

I’ll try to take a few pictures and post them after the big day. And just a side note I realize I used quoatation marks quite a bit today. I don’t know “why.”

Meanwhile… SO SICK OF SNOW! And so is the school district. I talked to several school districts in Michigan and Ohio that are out of calamity time.  So parents if you plan to go out of town for the summer it would be wise to keep in mind the school year might have one or two extra days after the currently posted  last-day-of-school.

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July 1944

Sunday, March 2, 2008

July1944 (2)

According to the handwriting on the back of this photograph it was taken in July of 1944 somewhere in Toledo, Ohio. The beautiful young woman in the photograph is Mrs. Robert L. Gorrell and she is 23 years old. The apple cheeked baby is Robert L. Gorrell, Jr. or Bobby. He is 14 months old. When this photograph was taken Robert L. Gorrell, Sr. was serving in the U.S. Air Force during World War II. He was overseas and I have been told he had a copy of this picture with him.

Mrs. Robert L. Gorrell was the former Ellen Matthews. She was barely five-feet tall but was strong, athletic and agile. Legend has it during pep rallies at Scott High School they’d pick a male student to kick a football the length of the field house. As a joke, the young high school-aged Ellen was selected to kick the ball. Everyone in the crowd expected the tiny brunette to daintily fumble the task. Wrong. Ellen was Irish and fiery and she kicked that ball to the opposite wall. The shocked and delighted crowd in attendance at that long ago 1939 era Scott High School pep rally cheered little Ellen. Later, Ellen would be one of the first women to be offered an athletic scholarship to Toledo University. But of course the war interfered with those plans.

Ellen was my grandmother and Bobby is my father. I don’t look like Ellen, I wish I did. She was the grandmother who would let you do anything you wanted to at her house. She would let me stay up late and watch t.v. in her “rumpus room.” She laughed her head off when, as a 3 year old, I told her Shirley Temple movies bugged me. We watched Johnny Carson instead. Her athletic prowess came into play for me when she taught me how to do a back-bend and come back up. She did not “throw like a girl” and tried to teach me the same.  Alas, I do “throw like a girl.”

If you ever shopped at LaSalle’s (now Elder-Beerman) in Westgate you might have met Ellen. She worked there almost until she died. She passed away in 1992. We’re still expecting her decorated cookies every Christmas and her to answer M’ello when we call on the phone.

But I have a lot of stories about Ellen and Robert L. Gorrell, Sr.  and the whole famdamily as she used to joke. Maybe I’ll tell a few here now again. M’bye for now.

P.S. Over at Befrazzled you can read about the other side of my family, the Polish side. I thought I better start with the Gorrells/Matthews before Robin got the jump on me. :)

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23 Days Until Spring

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

black eyed susan

I took this last year in the front flower bed. It’s hard to remember on a day like today.

Daggett in Snow

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Three Cats

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

billcatsframed

Meet Wink, Maggie and Grace. These three pretty kitties belong to someone you know at 13ABC Action News. Any guesses? And it’s not me or Vickie.

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One of These People is The Godfather of Soul

Thursday, February 14, 2008

James Brown and Rebecca Regnier

And one is not.

I challenge anyone with time to kill to guess the story behind this photo taken on February 1st, 1981.

P.S. I thank you for your patience with me on my infrequent posting. Both the kids are heavy into their extra-curricular stuff. After work I am the driver/concession-stand-worker/photographer/laundress and it would be wrong to blog while driving. I hope you all had a lovely Valentine’s Day.

 

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The Contraption Project

Thursday, February 7, 2008

 contraption2         contraption1

A recent assignment from one of my kid’s science teacher was to build a device. The contraption had to travel 8 feet on its own power, it had to be totally home-made, it had to carry a can of beans, and at some point the thing had to obliterate an egg. The restrictions: Students couldn’t use compressed air to power it nor the Internet to get “ideas.” You had to use RAW MATERIALS and not manufactured parts. Students were permitted to have help from an adult. Unfortunately the only help my poor kid had available was me, as my husband, who usually helps tackle this type of Mission Impossible, was out of town.

I’ve been a mom for a long time. It’s not like I’m a neophyte. We know from projects around here. And I don’t DO the projects but even teachers know that when they assign projects - make no mistake - parents are involved. Even if you don’t lift a marker or scissors someone has to go to the craft store/butcher shop/hardware store and get the stuff. 

Over the years my kids have been assigned some of the following school projects: 

Fill a can with objects that describe you
Fill a shoebox that embodies “Greece”
Create a prairie habitat diorama complete with predators, prey and weather system
Create a video extolling the benefits of hockey, a poster about the benefits of calcium, and countless representations of why drugs are bad.
Illustrate each chapter of a novel and bind it with lunch bags and tape.

I can not draw and my crafting skills hover at about a 4th grade level. My children have inherited my art impairment. Projects involving any artistic skill at all make us break out in a cold sweat. But we forge ahead and they always learn something. Of course often times it’s not exactly what the teacher intended. (The box representing “Greece” included a lesson about what happens to garlic stuffed olives inside an eleven year-old’s backpack.) But this project was WAY beyond my advisory capabilities.

So again, you’ve got to get something to GO on its own. While it’s going it has to hold a can of beans and then break an egg. Huh? Seeing as you were allowed help from an adult my child did as I advised and called my dad. Bob’s a mechanical engineer by education, he then called my Uncle Tom, who most recently worked at Ford Maumee Stamping. I left my child and the two retirees to their own devices to come up with a device.

The picture above is the result. A string lifts the bean can.. then gravity brings down the can which propels the wheels, then the can smashes the egg. It’s genius. The kid and the retirees produced something unique and something I couldn’t have even imagined.

From all accounts the students did great on this project. I’ve heard some kids used mouse traps as an energy source and sling shots to catapult the egg. Cool. And as always my kid learned quite a lot from this assignment such as:

Mom panics when the words “raw materials” are bandied about
Retired men are the PERFECT people to ask when you’ve got invent a device
Uncle Tom is a genius
Gravity is a source of stored energy
Mom knows who to call in a jam
You break a lot of eggs while innovating

So it’s probably not exactly what the science teacher had in mind but the kid did learn.

(oh and the photos were taken with a camera phone despite my recent pledge to take nicer photos - it just seemed like a project)

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39

Thursday, January 31, 2008

I turn 39 tomorrow. Which I hadn’t worried about too much, until coincidentally this study came out this week. Essentially it says that people in their 40s are depressed. And it’s not just people in the U.S., researchers studied people in the 40s across the globe and found pretty much they’re in a funk. Great.

 Why? One theory is that by the time you’re 40 you realize that perhaps you are not going to be an astronaut, or win a Tony or intercept a comet hurling toward Earth thereby ensuring that the WHOLE WORLD totally owes you. Somehow we deluded people in our 30s still think we’re going to accomplish these things. And according to scientists I’m going to continue to believe my Oscar’s a-coming just around the corner for twelve more months. Next year at this time I’ll come crashing down and realize I’m washed up. Thank you scientists, for that warning.

 Except…

When I was in the 8th grade I wrote an essay about why I wanted to be a broadcast journalist. Sure winning an Oscar sounds like fun, but I have nothin’ to complain about career-wise. I envisioned this career when I was a kid.  I’ve had several dreams fulfilled actually. In the first grade the nuns asked us to draw a picture of what we wanted to be when we grew up. All the girls at the Catholic school drew pictures of teachers or nuns. I drew a pictures of me as a cocktail waitress. Yes - this was my goal in the first grade. And if you frequented the bar of Ahmed’s Family Cafe circa 1991..  you’ll have seen me living out that dream. You also would have been waiting and waiting for me to get back with your mixed up drink order but really, hey you , get off of my cloud.

So instead of worrying that I didn’t accomplish some world changing solution for shower curtain mildew I’ve got a plan to head off the depression that scientists assure is a-coming just around the corner. 

The late Erma Bombeck showed me the way. In 1976 she wrote a column called “I Was 37 Years Old at The Time.” She pointed out that Margaret Mitchell won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for Gone With the Wind at age 37, that Margaret Chase Smith was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1948 at age 49, Ruth Gordon won her first Oscar at 72, Golda Meir was elected prime minister of Israel at 71. She went on to point out that she herself, Erma Bombeck, was 37 when she decided to begin her amazing career as a columnist.  More recently I read Paula Deen’s autobiography. She opened her catering business at 42. Carol Gardner adopted Zelda and started a multi million dollar business at age 52.

I could go on. There are countless examples of amazing adventures had by those past 40.. 50… oh and look up how old recent award winner Ruby Dee is.

So what with 40 being the new 20 I’m thinking I can sit around for at least another 20 years until I get cracking on that astronaut training!

The study also found that once you hit 50 you snap the heck out of it. So if you’re younger than me, don’t worry, getting past 30 is no big deal. And if you’re older than me get this… the number one T.V. show in 1969? Laugh-In! I think it’s a sign.

P.S. I showed this blog to my dh, he reviewed this entry of mine as pitiable. He’s 40.

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