Friday, December 31, 2010

I'm performing a wedding ceremony tonight...

... to celebrate New Year's Eve.  My friends Maria and Rich asked me a month ago; what a great surprise!  It's going to be a lovely, cozy ceremony at their home.  I'm about to get ready for it.

It was a good surprise in more ways than one: I hate New Year's.  This gave me something positive to think about.

Congratulations, Maria and Rich!

Saturday, December 25, 2010

I'm spending Christmas morning in an appropriate place:

at a stable with the kind of faces that watched over an infant Jesus on his first morning.

Santa has been here with apples and carrots for the horses, lunch meat for the cats and dogs, tortilla chips for Forest and Chloe, and rich, creamy HOT chocolate for the humans.  Waiting for Santa Smiley

So from all of us at Oasis animal farm - the horses, the cats and dogs, Chloe the pygmy goat, Forest the pot belly pig, the humans, and even the wild turkeys calling out in the cold morning - Merry Christmas!

Smiley from millan.net Smiley from millan.net Smiley from millan.net Smiley from millan.net Smiley from millan.net Smiley from millan.net Smiley from millan.net

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

We're home! I can't wait

We're home! I can't wait to get in the door and see those pups! John's pulled over saying the car broke down etc. to torture me!

We're just left the train.


We're just left the train., originally uploaded by eblackwell.

To our friends still in Florida upset that it'll be 50 degrees, it's 27 here. :) It was a smooth ride on the train and we met nice people, including a couple right out of Neil Simon's "Brighton Beach Memoirs"!

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Just boarded the Auto Train!


Just boarded the Auto Train!, originally uploaded by eblackwell.

We're getting comfortable in our room and are SO glad that we're taking this way home. It's much more relaxing and gives us a fun experience to enjoy at the end of our vacation.

Meeting friends!


Meeting friends!, originally uploaded by eblackwell.

Enjoying one more piece magic: breakfast with friends at Kona!

Monday, December 6, 2010

Our last night


Our last night, originally uploaded by eblackwell.

World Showcase, Mickey, and a margarita. That's a good night.

La Hacienda


La Hacienda, originally uploaded by eblackwell.

Beautiful. And that's not just the margarita talking.

Epcot for our last nightm


Epcot for our last nightm, originally uploaded by eblackwell.

We're going to La Hacienda for dinner and Illuminations. The end of vacation is so tough. :(

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Pal Mickey got a friend!


Pal Mickey got a friend!, originally uploaded by eblackwell.

A Disney Bear purse. Since my Disney bear backpack is named Kalua (bcuz he's sweet, brown, and calms me), this little guy is Baileys!

Christmas shopping!


Christmas shopping!, originally uploaded by eblackwell.

We went off our schedule: we slept in a bit, had breakfast at Earl of Sandwich, and did Christms shopping at World of Disney with a coupon from the parks. Now we'll head for a day in Epcot with the All Ears party tonight.

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Now they surprised us with Toy Story Mania!

Unbelievable!

We're in VIP seating for

We're in VIP seating for Fantasmic! I can't believe this! John just brought me cocoa and Masayo & I jumping up & down!

Gathering to party!


Gathering to party!, originally uploaded by eblackwell.

Great news: I just found out we're doing Fantasmic too! I can't believe it!

Back at Studios!


Back at Studios!, originally uploaded by eblackwell.

We're going to DEsserts andDElights: a party inside the Animation building and then a private showing of Osbourne Lights with a new Phineas and Ferb segment!

The housekeeper must've figured out I was taking the Disney soaps and shampoos.

So she left me this wonderful surprise!

I got a tat!


I got a tat!, originally uploaded by eblackwell.

Cutie Pluto!

Happy Birthday to Carol J

Happy Birthday to Carol J from both Eeyore and me!

Just finished the All Ears Start the day meet.

We were so thrilled because people LOVED the trading cards and new lanyards. So many people came and were excited to see Deb and the team. It was perfect. We ended up staying longer than planned and enjoyed catching each other up.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Look at my Christmas Toy Soldier!

He's released for the Christmas party. Isn't he great?!

Liberty Belle Riverboat PhotoWalk

What a great idea!

Dole Whip meet!


Dole Whip meet!, originally uploaded by eblackwell.

Meeting friends we haven't seen in a year.

One of my favorite places!


One of my favorite places!, originally uploaded by eblackwell.

The Eggroll Cart!

Alladin and Jasmine


Alladin and Jasmine, originally uploaded by eblackwell.

waiting for parade filming

Push the talking trashcan


Push the talking trashcan, originally uploaded by eblackwell.

John was That Guy


John was That Guy, originally uploaded by eblackwell.

at the Laugh Floor!

Christmas Parade Castle


Christmas Parade Castle, originally uploaded by eblackwell.

So pretty to see it like this.

Christmas stage Castle!


Christmas stage Castle!, originally uploaded by eblackwell.

They're taping the parade today so the castle is set for a performance. Looks beautiful!

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Wrapping up Wednesday

We had so much fun at dinner, then meeting up with Marcus, Karen, Amy, and her mom. We had so many laughs -- and what that mural is about in the men's room will just stay a secret.... it won't even make the book we're going to published of all the outrageous stories we had about Disney World.

Then John surprised me with a sleigh/carriage ride around Fort Wilderness. It was wonderful. I highly recommend Star as a carriage driver; she loves her work, even does the Magic Kingdom Christmas parade, and enjoys sharing Fort Wilderness with people. She played carols throughout the ride to add an extra touch to the experience. We enjoyed the ride so much.

But then we had a problem: John had money fall out of his pocket and no one would be a decent human being and turn it in. He felt so soured by the experience, we came back to our room instead of doing the Photowalk around the Fort Wilderness decorations.

The day started on a sour note. Our Mobile Hotspot will not stay stable enough for the webcam through Ustream.tv (it barely holds it together for this and email; it already shut off 2 times) and Verizon doesn't offer the tether connection through my phone anymore. I got a migraine this afternoon and had to come back here to rest before dinner. Now the money thing happened.

John stopped at the food court and I came to the room to finish our window decorations:

Right after I took this picture, the lights came crashing down.... for the 3rd time.  I had it.

But then John came in the room with another surprise: a Pluto Pook-a-Looz for me!  I had told him that I was drawn to these plushes even though they're so odd looking.  And he knew how much I missed the pups, so he picked out this little guy for me!

It made me so happy!  We fixed the lights, we're going to start over tomorrow with a lot of fun plans including a Crystal Plaza breakfast before Magic Kingdom is open to the public, and ending with a ton of meets and Mickey's Christmas party.  So I'm getting into pjs, watching Mickey's  Once Upon a Christmas and remembering all the good things that happened today.  Most especially: here we are on vacation!

Good night all!

Hanging out at Trails End!


Hanging out at Trails End!, originally uploaded by eblackwell.

We're having such a ball!

At last we're 'home'!


At last we're 'home'!, originally uploaded by eblackwell.

We have 2 meets here tonight: dinner with friends and a photo walk around the decorations. It feels so good and weird to be here when we're not staying here. We miss it.

Look it's Towel Puppy!


Look it's Towel Puppy!, originally uploaded by eblackwell.

Waiting for us when we got back!

Stopped to hear a rock band


Stopped to hear a rock band, originally uploaded by eblackwell.

on Streets of America

See my loving husband?


See my loving husband?, originally uploaded by eblackwell.

Now you know how it's possible that he made me NUTS this morning!

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

The ever beautiful Animal Kingdom Lodge

with its Christmas tree.

Enjoying the convertible


Enjoying the convertible, originally uploaded by eblackwell.

as we head to Boma in Animal Kingdom Lodge

John on Ak tram.


John on Ak tram., originally uploaded by eblackwell.

Our car is close to entrance but John insisted on the tram "just to check out the new doors". Not to avoid walking, of course.

Dinosaur!


Dinosaur!, originally uploaded by eblackwell.

I like not holding on and letting the seatbelt do the job. It makes for a more wild, fun ride!

Beautiful Animal Kingdom


Beautiful Animal Kingdom, originally uploaded by eblackwell.

Perfect moment for a break.

Rafiki!


Rafiki!, originally uploaded by eblackwell.

Beautiful day so we're taking the walk and enjoying the train!

This guy is picking people for Animal Kingdom parade.

I tried so hard to show I'd be good for it - it's a dream of mine! But I didn't get in. :(

John's ready to start his Disney day!

Disney transportation went to a new level!

Monday, November 29, 2010

John in Italy


John in Italy, originally uploaded by eblackwell.

"in the land of his people"!

Via Napoli!


Via Napoli!, originally uploaded by eblackwell.

Another new experience. Like the food especially the 4 cheese pizza.

The Wold Showcase Lagoon in Epcot!



We stopped to have a snack from the French bakery after seeing the pavilion's film. Thought I'd show the atmosphere.

'ullo guv!


'ullo guv!, originally uploaded by eblackwell.

Spot o' Woodpecker Cider? Cool your thirst while you wait for World Showclase Players!

A message outside Test Track.


A message outside Test Track., originally uploaded by eblackwell.

John thinks it's the squirrels trying to tell us something.

But some effects were like

But some effects were like Gumby; bad guys foreshadowed the Borg; and the end I called the USS Skittles: fly the rainbow!

We saw "Captain EO", or

We saw "Captain EO", or as John called it during the opening bit "Honey, I shrunk the meteor". It was fun to see for nostalgia.

Headed for Epcot!


Headed for Epcot!, originally uploaded by eblackwell.

So John has a smile on his face even though we just found out the dogs spent the first night howling for us and John left his cell phone charger in the hotel Saturday night. Luckily mine works for his too. Epcot, here we come!