Father's Day Poem

Father's Day happened a week ago and I called my dad that day and we talked, but I was at my place because of classes.  Well, I am visiting my parents for a few days and my dad, while looking for something else, happened upon a Father's Day Poem I had written for him, ca. 1997.  It was not just a poem but a whole collage, with the poem on it.  I thought I would share it with y'all because it clearly shows my artistic ability when I younger.  So, without further ado....

 

I'm going to explain everything because some of it is hard to see with this picture.  In the top right corner is my attempt at Mickey Mouse wearing Mickey Ears.  The images are a golfer, a cherry cake, ham, wine on a table, tulips, fireworks, poker cards, etc.  The green thing on top of my amazingly drawn pizza is a pepper.  The hammer looking thing is my beautifully mastered golf club and the words on the left side say "building & fixing", "Favorite Colors, Blue, Red, Purple, Yellow" (which is colored over in purple because yellow crayon does not show up on Yellow paper), also around the poem it say "love is in the air" and "I Love You" (but is depicted as an eyeball, with lashes, a heart and the letter "U").

I'm pretty awesome, right?  Well apparently I'm even more awesome, according to the poem I wrote.  Here is the text, as written on the paper, so you can read for yourself my mad writing skills at the age of 8.

Father's Day Poem

My father is a golfer

He lets me be his tee

He puts his ball upon my 

nose, And hits it right off 

me.  He says that I can 

share the joy of every ball 

he hits.  Oh, ain't it grand 

to have a dad Who spends 

time with his kid!

Like I said, mad skills.  Also, apparently I let my dad use my nose as a tee.  I can tell you right now my father never would have allowed that and I have no recollection of that ever occurring, so why I wrote a poem about it is beyond me.  But I was 8, so who knows what was going through my mind at the time.  We did play golf together, but never in that fashion.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Father's Day and many more with their Dad! 

Post

Life is hard.  I mean life is really really really hard.  No one ever tells you that.  You are never prepared for what life is going to throw at you.  I don't know if anyone ever is.  It's not like life is hard in the same way for any two people, either.  Some people struggle with an illness, others with bad luck.  Some people struggle with who they are, others with never being loved.  Some people struggle because nothing seems to be going right, while others are always struggling with doing what's right.  Life is a struggle and it's hard.  But all you ever hear about in our society is how you are expected to go to college or start out immediately in the work force.  If you take the college path, once you are done then you have your career picked out for you and then you go do that, you get married, settle down and have kids, you become a soccer mom or an office dad.  Everything is expected of you.  Our parents love us, but while they love us, sometimes that love gets misdirected into pushing us to do what they think we should.  They do know better - I should know, I fought my parents every step of the way in life and still do today.  But sometimes they have an idea of what you are supposed to do and when it doesn't work out the way they expected, they tend to freak out a little bit.

Probably what's even worse is that because of the society we live in, and it being in America, it's not like many people can follow their dreams the way they once did.  These days, the people who want to follow their dreams have to add 10 years to their plan because things just aren't working out right.

Add to that, people like me.  We are dreamers and want to follow that dream no matter what and we are stubborn as hell.  Except for an even worse problem - we don't exactly know what we want to do with our lives.  We've been through college, switched majors too many times and have even graduate, only to realise we made a potentially huge mistake.  I am proud of myself for having a degree, but I realised that, the degree I have, may not be what I want to do in life.  I have had so many experiences and so much has happened in less than a quarter of a century that is my life, and yet I have no direction.  I know I want to keep learning and keep experiencing, but that's not a career.  There's no way I can afford that, either.  So what do I do?

Most likely, I will have to put my adventures on hold until I can pay off my student debt.  I can work and do some pretty cool stuff, but not what I want to do.  I know it's not what I want to do because I don't feel excited and get giddy.  I don't even need a degree for my job.  But I do love the company and I know I will enjoy it.  But I know it's not quite what I want to do for the rest of my life.  But when I ask myself what I do want that to be, I come up blank.  I have no idea what I want to do and really, if I'm being honest, I have no idea who I am.  That is the probably the hardest thing to come to terms with in my life, is knowing who I am.

I've been told that everyone is trying to figure that out, but if you knew me, you would realise how much it affects me.  I'm a planner.  I have always had a plan, I have always known what I wanted to do.  I am very ambitious and I am very determined.  When I realised that I had no idea who I was though, that hit me hard.  I didn't cry, but I then realised that I had no idea what kind of emotion you're supposed to feel when you don't know who you are.  Do you cry? Do you laugh? Are you depressed? Are you sad? Are you happy because you get to discover yourself through a journey of crazy trials and temptations?  Or are you supposed to feel blank?

Then I wonder, maybe I am supposed to feel blank because this is where I get to start over.  I get to figure out who I am from the start, feelings and all.  Do I abandon my family and everyone I love in the process?  Maybe.  Maybe I need to, for the time being, so that I can figure out who I am.  Maybe I'm supposed to start all over, sell most of my things, throw a dart at a map and just go!  Be adventurous, be crazy, do stupid things, eat weird foods, make-out with strangers, get lost in crowd, create amazing memories and find myself along the way, even if it is in bits and pieces.  That's what being young is all about, right?  Making mistakes and loving and losing and fighting and just living.

So, until next time--

Epic Disney Day!!!!

Is no longer going to be happening.  However, there is a stipulation to that sentence, being that it will no longer be happening while I have my Disney Annual Pass.  You may be saying to yourself, well, why is that, wise old Cookie Monster?!  Well, there is a very very VERY good reason for it.  Except I can't tell you quite just yet.  However, I will definitely be visiting Disney once more before my pass expires, most likely to hit up the Magic Kingdom.  All will be explained soon, my dear readers (all 2 of you), so just wait and enjoy this fabulous blog that I discovered....

http://blogs.disney.com/oh-my-disney/

It is fabulous things about Disney, from Disney.  Including old photos, cute stories and photos and so much Disney love.

What 'Harry Potter' and my glasses have in common

I imagine that you have heard about the 'Harry Potter' series at this point in your life.  If you have not, you have seriously, truly lived under a rock, or you are still a toddler and are not that advanced in reading yet.  Regardless, you should have heard about 'Harry Potter' by now.  It first was published 15 years ago  That's right! 15 years ago! (Well, the U.S., that is.)  Makes you feel old, doesn't it?!  Well, it makes me feel old, anyways.  I digress.  Although, not really because what 'Harry Potter' and my glasses have in common did indeed start 15 years ago....

I was in the 4th grade and had been having trouble seeing the board in class.  But I always read when I was supposed to be doing math or science or anything else in class.  I also read when I finished my work early.  (I've always been a nerd.)  My teacher was Mrs. B and to this day is still my most favourite teacher ever.  I do have a few other favourites, but she changed my life forever.  She actually changed my life for the better.  She was the one who realized that I needed glasses and told my parents to get me checked.  I needed them badly.  This is back in 1998.  That means I've had glasses for 15 years as well.  Starting to get the correlation a bit?  Well, there's more to it. 

Not too long after I got my glasses, Mrs. B realized that I was being bullied for having them.  It was the 90s, and well, kids have always been cruel.  So, she introduced me to book.  A book about a little boy, who was not too much older than I was, who had glasses and wait for it.... was bullied.  Although, his bully was a Dark Lord and this little boy got to use magic.  He was also know around the world.  Well, at least the wizarding world.  If you haven't quite caught on yet, that little boy was Harry Potter.

Not only did my life change in 1998, it changed in a way that still affects me today, almost 15 years later.  But the way that my life changed, has ultimately been for the better.  It has shaped who I am and how I act.  I am seem crazy for being obsessed with Harry Potter, even now, 2 years after the last film was released, but the truth is, there are so many people out there like me.  But also, I really don't care if people think I'm crazy.  I got to not only grow up with the book Harry, Ron, Hermione, Draco, Neville, Luna, Ginny, Snape and McGonagall and every other character in the series, I was even luckier, I got to grow up with the actors of those characters.  Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Tom Felton, Matthew Lewis, Evanna Lynch, Bonnie Wright, Alan Rickman and Maggie Smith.  I love all of them and don't even mind seeing them in other productions.  In fact, it has helped me to watch other films and plays I would not have normally watched.

So, that's it.  That is what 'Harry Potter' and my glasses have in common.  1998 and Mrs. B.  Two simple things.  But at the same time, it is so much more than that.  More than I can put into words, so you will just have to take me word for it.  Even though it may not have seemed like it at the time, I have come to realize that getting glasses and then being swallowed into the 'Harry Potter' fandom, those two events in my life were probably the best things to ever happen to me.

Has anything changed your life that you will never forget?  Do you have something in your life with an odd connection like mine?

Waiting on hold

What is is with automated messages and systems when trying to call a doctor's office, a university, customer service or other such places?  I understand WHY they are there - there is not enough man power to answer the phones and even if there was, the chances that every single one of those people being able to answer just about any question that someone can ask is very small.
However, I have noticed that almost every time I call a company and have to go through one of the automated systems, I get put on hold (at some point during the call) for at LEAST 10 consecutive minutes.  For example, right now, I am trying to get a hold of my university and was on hold for precisely 19 minutes and 36 seconds before I got to speak to an actual person.
Why is it that companies and businesses let this kind of thing happen?  If you just need someone to answer the phone to lead to happier customers, patients, whoever, then why not hired 1 or 2 people JUST to answer the phones?  I know that may seem like a lot of people when you consider how many companies should do that but hey, it might fix the unemployment problem, right? Especially in areas like Tampa, where a university alone would have to hire probably close to 100 people to fix just that problem. Just imagine! But I digress.
My phone call lasted exact 24 minutes.  So, let's do the math, shall we? Out of 24 minutes, 19 and half were on hold, not even talking to someone.  Probably 30 seconds of that was pushing buttons so that I could get to the right avenue.  That means that for only 4 and a half minutes I was talking to someone.  In what world is that okay?
Okay, so maybe I'm being a brat about it, but it's just very obnoxious and when this kind of situation happens after an incident where you are furious about a service or product, it can seriously get on your nerves!  At least, it gets on mine.  Like when the gas company was taking double payment and no one bothered to fix it until I called them up.  And even then after that, I had to call back another time to make sure they were following up.  I remember that day I was on hold for about 10 minutes and my nerves were very thin.  Everything worked out with that and with today's call.  But, is it really necessary? Are offices really that busy on a Friday afternoon? I'm pretty sure most people who work in an office, by the time 2:00 PM hits, they just mess around until they can clock out.
Anyone else have any fun stories to share about being put on hold?

Solo Theme Park Visits

I LOVE theme parks.  I don't just like them, I LOVE them.  If I could afford it, I would have annual passes to every single park in the state of Florida.  Why? Well, because I live near-by and it would be easy to visit, but also because, like I said, I LOVE THEME PARKS!!!!

So, last summer, I got a Disney Annual Pass, along with the boyfriend.  We went to all of the Disney Parks way too many times.  We went enough times to pay for like, 4 or 5 Annual Passes.  Those things are NOT cheap and neither is a single day visit.  But it works out to be much cheaper when you get the Annual Pass.  For example, right now, Disney ticket's cost $90 a day.  When we got the Annual Passes, it was a little over $400 for the entire year.  That means in 5 days of visiting the parks (we had access to all 4), we got our money's worth.  But of course we went even more that those 5 days! In fact, by September we had already been at least 5 times.  Plus the multiple days that we went with my Sister and her kids.  So already, we got more than our money-worth.  Not to mention the benefits of merchandise discounts, getting into parks early or staying late and of course getting to see the New Fantasyland before it was even open to the public and other special events.  Definitely worth the $400.

But every time I have ever gone to a theme park, I always people watch, because it's fun and interesting.  I would always notice the people who were by themselves, though.  I used to feel sorry for them.  I thought about how sad it must be, to be at the park, which-ever one we were at, the most magical place in the world, alone.  I felt bad for those people, until finally, today.  Today, I visited Animal Kingdom AND Hollywood Studios by myself, and can I just say.... I now feel bad for the people who are NOT alone!

When you have your kids, or nieces/nephews, cousins, parents, spouse, whoever, anyone with you, it is actually kind of a drag.  Not that I don't love my family and friends and that you should not.  However, when you are at a theme park with someone, you have to consider someone else's opinion on what rides to go on, which shows to see, how fast you are walking, how to avoid the crowds, keeping track of everyone, etc.  But when you are by yourself, you are FREEEE!!!!! You can make your own schedule, it's easy to side-step the hundreds of strollers, you can go as fast (or slow if you're well, not me) as you want and you don't have to worry about decisions.  They can be changed on a fly, all you have to do is well, do it.

There is a sad part about going to a theme park alone - you don't have anyone to share the magic and memories with, you don't have someone to take pictures with and you can't banter with someone about what is going on.  Sure, you can talk to other random people who are at the park, but it is definitely beneficial to have someone with you.  It is also just plain nice.

That being said, I'm not sure which I prefer.  I love being by myself because it makes the visit easier and you can get places quicker.  Especially if your companions are children.  Unfortunately, children make every task more difficult and slower.  But, it is really nice to create memories with your friends and family.  Especially at Disney - seriously, how much more magical can they make that place?  Apparently a LOT more, because after all, they are!

However, I will enjoy the last day of my Disney Annual Pass.  Maybe more than any other day that I ever visited a Disney Theme Park.  I think the day I got to go to Fantasyland before it opened was the best day ever because let's face it - Belle is my favourite princess and I not only got to be in the Enchanted Tales with her, but I also got to eat in the 'Be Our Guest' restaurant.  I don't think anyone will ever be able to make a reservation there - it is always PACKED and every reservation is always taken.  I've been trying since they allowed you to even START making reservations, which was 180 days (that's 5 MONTHS) before they even officially OPENED that part of the park! But I digress.

What I am most excited for is.....
MY EPIC DISNEY DAY!!!!
That's right, I said Epic and Disney in the same sentence.  Pretty obviously usually, but I mean this is going to be a SUPER DUPER EPIC DISNEY DAY! Why, you may ask? Well, I will be going to not 1, not 2, not even 3 of the parks.  I will be going to ALL FOUR WALT DISNEY WORLD PARKS IN A SINGLE DAY!

It sounds INSANE, I know! But I have always wanted to park hop, my pass is expiring and I will have 13 hours where my puppy is going to be taken care of in order to do it.  Granted, 2 of those hours will be just driving to and from the Disney property.  That means I will have approximately 2 1/2 hours in each park to do the things I want to do.  While I have had a year to do every single thing in every single park, the absolutely CRAZIEST thing is, I actually HAVEN'T!  But, that's the beauty of being a Disney fan.  I will have to share my Epic Disney Day with you all when it happens.  I will also be posting, once my Annual Pass has officially expired, a synopsis of my year at Disney.  The good, the bad, and the ugly.  It will be a long, albeit, enjoyable post.

Anyone else have any thoughts on solo theme park visits? Do you think I'm absolutely insane for going to all 4 parks in an 11 hours period? (I'm already predicting the answer is going to be yes.)