Tag Archives: Mickey Mouse

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Nice

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I have a confession to make. I am not a nice person. If you currently or have ever lived with me, than you know this to be true. I can be cruel and unsympathetic at times. I can be snarky and jealous and haughty and judgmental and gluttonous and lazy. Not always, but at times. I sometimes succumb to white lies. (They don’t hurt anyone, right? Right???)

Now don’t get me wrong; I am a redeemed woman of God, forgiven by my baptism, my belief/faith in God, and by the fact that Christ’s blood covers my sin. (Thank you, Lord, for building my faith as I pray for more of it!)

Martin Luther once said, “Sin boldly.” At times I have bent his meaning to suit my needs. I believe he meant to live our lives and not walk in fear of condemnation. We will sin, and through confession God will forgive. Praise the Lord!  I, however, have taken that grace for granted. How bad can it really be? Hmm? It’s just a white lie. One more (or ten more) chocolate(s) won’t hurt. Forgive me, Lord, but she really is a nasty piece of work.

I am not a nice person, and yet God loves me unconditionally. I am so grateful!

I know some people who appear to be truly nice. They always speak highly of others. They do charity work. They brighten up a room just by walking into it. They just seem to care about everyone. I hope I can be like that someday. God is still working on me, and I am content for him to do so.

Today I pray that all is well with you, dear readers. If you have troubles, then I pray that God will walk with you through them. If all is well, then I pray that you take some time to thank him.

God is good all the time! Meet you at the Kingdom.

Donna

PS: Hi to my cousin Val. It’s so nice to be back in touch after all this time.

PPS: I still miss Becky, a truly good person. xxoo

PPSS: I’m wearing my Mickey Mouse shirt today. It has a shadow image of him, and inside the image the castle from Walt Disney World shows through. It makes me smile. 🙂

2017 Goals

Being Accountable

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The thing that bothers me about blogs, is that they seem so narcissistic. “This is me. This is what I know. This is what I do. Me, me, me, me, me….blah! I think of that each time I make an entry here. Even I get tired of reading about me, thinking about me, examining me. I am not writing this blog because I NEED an audience. I am writing this blog to keep myself accountable for the choices I am making everyday. Will I really move more? Will I really take control of the portions that I eat? Will I really make better food choices to actually feed my body and not just stuff myself with empty calories? Will I really test my blood glucose every day.  So this is my way of being accountable.

In that vein, let me share that I am having a very good day. Two meals consumed so far, nutritious and appropriately proportioned. Activity? I vacuumed the living room, changed the 4 ink cartridges in the printer, bagged some clothes to give away, worked the cat litter (Ugh!) and I plan to do some laundry today.

Now, why is this still called a Disney blog? Because it is a wonderful motivation for me. We had planned to go and spend four days at Disneyland Paris in the fall of 2018; however for our same amount of DVC (Disney Vacation Club) points, we can spend 8 nights in a Grand Villa at Walt Disney World in Florida. I want to be able to enjoy that time as much as possible. Watching my first grandchild (Ida, sweetest and smartest baby girl!) discover all things Mickey is a very exciting prospect! And sharing that time with the family? The best! I will use some visualization of that reunion when things get tough; it will help me to carry on. It may sound ridiculous, but Old Key West is my “laughing place.” (“Everybody has a laughing place, a laughing place to go-ho-ho.” From the movie Song of the South. Hmmm… no wonder I like Splash Mountain so much.) When I finally get there, I exhale and truly relax.

My latest Disney discovery is a book titled, “the easy guide to your Walt Disney World visit.” I really like it because it is snippets of info, rather than long tomes and epic-sized missives. In the Twitter universe where we want our info fast and short, I find this book very appealing. I highly recommend it; check it out.

Enough for today. Love and peace to you dear readers with prayers for our great country and the world.

Donna

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Tomorrow, Tomorrow…

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Day 429 in finishing the race to meet up with Mickey

Tomorrow, tomorrow I love ya, tomorrow.  You’re only a day away….

Mike and I will be picked up bright and early tomorrow to be delivered to Midway Airport and then to fly to Orlando!  Woo hoo!  We are flying Southwest and their computers went caput yesterday, so please pray for a smooth journey.

On the down side, we just found out that Emi and James have to postpone their trip, so we won’t get to see them in Florida.  They will come to Chicago next month instead.  That is a wonderful thing to look forward to, however, we will miss them in Florida.  That means we have a spare bedroom that sleeps four in the Grand Villa for the next week.  Any family folk interested?  (Date Oct. 13-21 eight nights)

My bag is packed, and I am ready almost ready to go.  I just have to pack the last minute things: meds, phone charger, phone, sunglasses, etc…  My stomach is in pre-travel knots as usual.  🙂  But I am ready for some Florida sunshine and some Mickey face-time!

I will try to blog from Florida, but I’m not taking my laptop, just my phone.  Love to you all, dear readers!  Meet you at the Kingdom!

 

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The Two Day Shuffle

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Day 428 in last minute packing to meet Mickey

2 days, People, we go in just 2 days!  I FaceTimed with my daughter Emi today, and both of us kept getting so excited, that we could hardly contain ourselves.

Today I shopped for those last minute essentials that were not yet in place, so my goal for today is to have everything as packed and ready as possible.  Then tomorrow I can throw myself into work and hopefully the day will pass quickly.  I will skip out at lunchtime tomorrow to get a new battery in my Mickey watch.  Then I will be good to go!

Honestly I’m so excited now that every so often I feel my heart racing, and all the thoughts in my head are of Mickey and the Gang and the most magical place on earth.  Soon, my Friends, I will meet you (and Mickey) at the Kingdom!

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What to Pack So that I Don’t Overpack

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Day 427 in flipping out on my way to seeing Mickey

Three days to go!!!!  Today I’ve been digging through closets, finishing up laundry, checking and rechecking suggestions online for packing for Disney World (Thank you to wdwprepschool.com!), chasing down luggage tags, making a list of what I need to pick up from the store tomorrow and adding things to my suitcase.  What an exciting and nerve-wracking day this has been!  What goes into my checked luggage?  What do I need to fit in my carry on?  What will fit in my purse?

Carry on: , swimsuit, extra underwear (always, in case my checked luggage goes missing), meds and vitamins, book for the airplane, laptop and charger, itinerary

Purse: wallet, MagicBands, all Disney cards (Disney Vacation Club Membership, Disney PhotoPass, 5-day Park Hoppers, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween), photo ID, cell phone and charger, insurance cards, taxi confirmation to the airport

Checked luggage: everything else…clothes, sunscreen, vegetarian chili, aloe, toiletries, laundry detergent, dryer sheets, taxi confirmation from the airport, day-by-day planner, pain medicine, blister pads, wet wipes

And on and on and on…  I will see my beautiful children and their beautiful spouses AND my beautiful spouse all in the same room in just three days.  And Daniel C. will join us at the table for dinner that first evening at Olivia’s Cafe as we celebrated our Unbirthdays together.  What a blessing that will be!

Readers, thank you so-o-o-o much for following me on this journey.  Meet you at the Kingdom!

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Four Days!

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Day 426 in getting closer to meeting up with Mickey

Well, I must be getting close, because I went and had my vacation mani/pedi today.  I got Mickey Mouse Red on my fingernails and on my toenails.  It’s actually called Red Hot Rio, but close enough.  🙂

Hair color and cut…check!

Nails done with no-chip polish…check!

Chin waxed (don’t ask!)…check!

OMGoodness, we are four days away!

Tonight we are treating ourselves to salads from Potbelly for dinner.  Instead of taking time to cook, I am putting my efforts toward laundry and PACKING!  And I’ll try on my swimsuits tonight and decide which one makes the cut.  We are looking at highs in the 80’s and lows in the 60’s in Lake Buena Vista next week.  Bring it on!

I can hardly hold another thought in my head,  I’m so excited!  Meet you at the Kingdom!

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Fastpass+ Frustration!

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Day 424  in my fuming frustration on the way to meeting Mickey (6 days to go)

OK, so here’s the deal.  I got online at 11:00 pm last night (midnight EST) and attempted to select my FastPass+ choices for our December trip to Walt Disney World.  We are staying at Disney’s All Star Sports Resort for three nights.  Now the Disney spiel says that if you are staying on property, then you can book your FastPass+ choices 60 days in advance of your check-in date.  Since today is 60 days from our check-in I went for it.  It would only let me select Fastpass+ choices for two days, instead of three.  Man!  I was so frustrated!  So I called Disney today, and I was told that I had to purchase park tickets in order to book FassPass+.  And the nice lady that I spoke with said, “Im surprised it let you book any days without purchasing tickets!”  Now that is not at all clear on the Disney website.

Here’s what undercovertourist.com has to say about it: “FastPass+ is Disney’s reservation system that allows guests to book advance reservations for experiences and attractions in the park. Guests staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel can make FastPass+ reservations up to 60 days in advance of check-in for their entire length of stay, while guests staying offsite can make reservations up to 30 days in advance of each day of their theme park visit. “

See? It says nothing about it being tied to ticket purchase.  Sheesh!

Anyway today I ordered our park tickets and now we have Fastpass+ in place for three days.  Here’s what we got:

  1. December 6–Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!, Voyage of the Little Mermaid, Fantasmic!
  2. December 7–Living with the Land, Spaceship Earth, Journey Into Imagination with Figment
  3. December 8–The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Mickey’s PhilharMagic, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

Whew! Mischief managed.  Meet you at the Kingdom!

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December Disney Duties

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Day 423 in planning my way to meeting up with Mickey (7 days to go!!!!!!!)

Today there are two December Disney-trip related duties.

  1. I made a reservation for Mike and I to have breakfast at Boma which is located at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. Here’s what DIS Dining has to say about it: “Boma – Flavors of Africa is one of the more unique dining experiences found in Walt Disney World, where the spirit of Africa comes alive. It is an open and natural space surrounded by a kraal-style fence made of sticks. This Boma provides a safe and sheltered area in the bush….The focus is on fresh ingredients with an extensive selection of items influenced by the cuisine of over 50 African countries. The wood-burning grill and rotisserie add to the tantalizing aroma. You’ll dine under thatched roofs while viewing the talented chefs in the open kitchen. Spacious and lively, Boma has become one of the more popular resort dining venues. Anticipate the best in African hospitality.”
    We have never been to Animal Kingdom Lodge, but from photos I’ve seen it looks absolutely beautiful.  Since we aren’t going into a park until at least 4:00 pm (Magic Kingdom for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party) one day, we will meander over for breakfast and snoop around the place.  Here’s the breakfast menu: “Breakfast Buffet – Fresh Fruit, African Pastries, Corned Beef Hash, Omelets, Pancakes, French Toast, Bread Pudding, Pap and Chakalaka, Turkey Bobotie, Hand-carved Breakfast Ham, Hand-carved Turkey, Hand-carved Corned Beef.”  Yum!I  have no idea whatsoever what they are, but I absolutely have to try Pap and Chakalaka and Turkey Bobotie.  🙂
  2. Tonight at 11:01 pm I will go online and book our FastPass+ picks for the December trip. Here’s what I hope to get. Day 1: Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, The Great Movie Ride and Fantasmic!  Day 2: Living with the Land, Spaceship Earth and Journey Into Imagination with Figment.  Day 3: Mickey’s PhilharMagic, Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas Parade and Holiday Wishes: Celebrate the Spirit of the Season.

So that’s my scoop for today.  Thanks for reading.  Meet you at the Kingdom!

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Packing (NOT Puking)

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Day 421 in trying to keep my stomach settled on my way to meeting Mickey

Nine days, People!  In nine days I go to Walt Disney World!  I Facetimed with Emi today and we just kept getting more and more excited.  A week from Tuesday, Lord willing and the creek don’t rise, I will be sitting in a room with Mike, Jake, Eliza, Emi and James.  That is as good as it gets!  We will be having our Unbirthday Dinner at Olivia’s Cafe at Disney’s Old Key West Resort.

I’ve reached the phase in vacation planning where I just can’t think about it anymore.  It’s time to start doing.  I will get my suitcase out and start packing for the trip today.  I need to find my Disney bag which becomes my purse for the vacation.  I need to think about what I want to pack in my Disney bag and what will be relegated to the suitcase.

And I need to begin this without thinking about the trip too much.  Because I’m also at the phase where I’m so excited about the trip that I feel sick to my stomach.  I always have been that way.  My parents had to stop telling me about trips in advance, because I would get so excited that I got sick.

So, as you can see, I am scattered.  But it’s still coming soon…Meet you at the Kingdom!

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The Final Countdown Begins

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Day 420 in my meandering my way to Mickey

Today I received and email from Disney Destinations.  It is titled, “About your Disney Resort hotel arrival!” Woop woop!  It contains:

  1. Info about the 3-bedroom grand villa that we are staying in at Disney’s Old Key West Resort.
  2. A recreation calendar during our time there.
  3. Info on turning our vacation into a celebration at the resort.
  4. A couple warnings (the monorail is being worked on, Downtown Disney has construction going on)
  5. A reminder about Disney Vacation Club Member perks.
  6. And some transportation reminders.

Gosh, it’s so-o-o-o close now.  A mere 10 days away.  I started planning my packing today.  I’ve put some things aside, so I can find them when I pack in earnest next weekend.  I am so pumped that we will all be there soon!

Meet you at the Kingdom!

Shout out to Trudy, who had a birthday yesterday!  Love you, Sister!  AND Shout out to Emi, who became a British citizen this week.  Congratulations, dear daughter!  Poppa and I couldn’t be more happy for you!