Monthly Archives: February 2010

For many years I’ve volunteered, even joined a volunteer organization to lead and train volunteers. At one point I was managing 14 projects, each with a project manager, every month. I couldn’t go to all my events each month but picked good people and they ran with it.

There’s a wonderful ad on television with Miss Piggy dreaming of a date with this hottie and instead of getting dinner, she gets plopped into a scene where she has to use hammer and nails to build a home and the reward for her volunteering is a day at a Disney theme park.

Congratulations, Disney. I’m one person spreading the word but you’re a huge corporation that has once again, thought outside the box. Giving a volunteer one day at a theme park is money in the bank for you, because they’ll buy another and flight/hotel and meals and pins and character breakfasts. More important, it’s teaching young people and their families that volunteering is important.

People who can/cannot afford the daily rate to one of Disney’s theme parks get to go. They each get a pin stating that they’re a VoluntEAR. I’m not sure but I think they get to walk in the parade or are saluted at the parade for their community efforts. What a great way to let people know that there are those less fortunate our there that need our help! Congratulations.

It seems you have to go to a theme park to see the rewards of this newfound volunteerism. In line to see the popular Nemo submarine ride, we ran into grandparents, their adult child and two gorgeous young girls on a family reunion. The grands worked at a shelter, and the young family helped plant a community garden, then the entire family got together at Disneyland. This makes “Have a magical day” a mantra, not a simple slogan.

Steamboat Willie/Mickey Mouse’s creator was an innovator and entrepreneur. I think he would be justifiably proud of the recent volunteer initiative.

I don’t know if the organization I volunteered for even exists now, but it catered to busy people who want to commit a few hours per week/month and made it easy to do for a first-time volunteer. For example, spend a Saturday morning with fellow volunteers planting 150 trees. Read to youngsters at a local library. Your time and effort will help someone, and you’ll feel good volunteering for your community.

Help another, volunteer! Cheers, Dee

We went back to Disneyland after nearly ten years. How did we feel after a day’s touring? Old, tired and sore. We spent three nights and Jim slept through the fireworks twice. I did once. My ankles swelled and we found muscles we didn’t even know we had got sore from bracing against twists and turns in the nearly faultless capsules we inhabited.

Yes, the Caribbean was in my thoughts the last post but it was Pirates, that now has new features with a Johnny Depp-like figure in the picture. Nemo was cool, especially for youngsters. Space Mountain is way better than it was before re-vamping. It was the coolest ride in the place.

Yes, we did ride the Thunder Mountain RR three times in three days. I love that one. Splash mountain took its toll on me. I was in the front on this log ride and got absolutely soaked shortly after 8:00 am so had several layers that had to dry out.

We got stuck several times on a very popular, long wait-time ride, but we had fast tix to it so at least didn’t wait to get in. It was like going to a large grocery store with a laser gun. Except you were stuck in the beans and peas aisle. Then in the pasta and tomato sauce aisle. I can do this stuff faster at home in my local grocery!

The weather was gorgeous, 78 today which was 40 degrees higher than what we have at home. Our home and dog are safe and sound. We’re tired, sore and have been traveling. I had to do something for dinner tonight so purchased and cooked a fresh pasta and bottled sauce. After a long weekend we’re already tired of restaurant meals but I don’t feel like doing anything that requires significant effort right now.

It’s back to Dee’s cooking! And I didn’t take my laptop and blog for a reason. I was on vacation. Hope you missed me at least a little bit. And I’ve tips on touring Disney. Luckily I put my brand new Roots leather purse in the room safe and got a small bag for cash, card, phone, tix because I got soaked…

Tales may be told, but only to my mates. Sitting out by the pool I thought our trajectory might propel us further west to live, hopefully so. After several years, Jim actually took a day off work for this trip. Let’s hope the trend continues. My favored destinations always include art, architecture and food. These will require more than one day off work.

Sleep well, Beauty. To the universe, and beyond! After a good night’s sleep, I’m back. Cheers. Dee

It’s 2:00 a.m. My husband finished travel plans a few hours ago for a long weekend trip that brings us to warm climes and memories of when we first met. I’m also awaiting a delivery of organic foodstuffs that usually comes in about 2-3 a.m.

Where we live is gorgeous but taking a short weekend break is necessary to re-charge and get a new perspective on life. When I was young and single I’d go to Italy and Greece to do that, but we have to settle for a brief flight and weekend, first time in over a year, so I must set up the house tomorrow and go to the cleaners, grocery, do laundry and figure out what to pack et al.

It’ll be nice to get away as we’ll appreciate our surroundings so much more when we return. We’ve a great house/dog sitter coming in to take care of our Zoe and just want to relax and enjoy a couple of days without work or dog duties. Sleeping in past 7:00 in the morning is foreign to me.

We’ll have much to do, and many characters to keep us company. The Caribbean awaits, but let’s hope we aren’t shipwrecked like last time. More later, night owls. Cheers, Dee