Month: October 2021

DisneyWorld in October

Last week my grandson, Garrett, and I spent two days at DisneyWorld in Orlando. We’d planned to take this trip back in July, but Garrett had an emergency appendectomy and was subsequently diagnosed with a neuroendocrine tumor.

We put the Disney trip on hold while he had surgery and went through the recovery period. Being 18, he bounced back pretty quickly, and we thought that late October would be a perfect time to reschedule. We were right!

On our first day we explored Disney’s Hollywood Studios with the express purpose of doing all the Star Wars stuff, and we were successful. Garrett and I share a love of that far, far away galaxy, and I’d worried that we wouldn’t be able to ride the number one ride, The Rise of the Resistance, but we did. It was as awesome as we’d hoped. No spoilers because you just have to experience it to believe it.

Rey, Chewbacca, and me. I’m the one in the Mickey Mouse t-shirt.
Garrett and a Storm Trooper.
A glimpse of the Millennium Falcon on the Smugglers’ Run ride.
Before our interrogation on Rise of the Resistance.

After our long day at the park we took a few pictures at the Pop Century Resort where we were staying.

Everything is HUGE here!
Gives new meaning to “be the ball”.

On day two we headed to Epcot, my second favorite park at DisneyWorld.

In front of Spaceship Earth. Still one of the best experiences in the park.
Garrett had a lot of help with his lunch.
Me.
Garrett.

I can honestly say that late October is THE perfect time to visit DisneyWorld. The temperatures were lower. Crowd sizes were much smaller. The food and wine festival was in full swing at Epcot and we enjoyed some tasty dishes. I believe I need to make an annual autumn pilgrimage. I might not ever get a better travel buddy though.

Peace, people!

Dune

I’m not sure how long it had been since I sat in a dark theater to watch a movie. Maybe we’d gone early in 2020, but I don’t remember. And I know we hadn’t been in 2021—that is until Thursday evening when Studly Doright, our grandson, Garrett, and I ventured out to see Dune.

We bought popcorn and pretzel bites and horrendously overpriced soft drinks and enjoyed every minute of our evening. I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed the whole experience of going to a movie until the lights went down and the first of several trailers lit up the screen. I love trailers—what we called “previews” back in the day.

And the movie itself was great. I haven’t read Dune, and wasn’t sure what to expect. Well, now it’s on my “to be read list.” Since the film only covers about half of the story I need to see what happens next. Right now. I am not a patient person.

Peace, and popcorn, people!

Oh, the Hilarity

My grandson was full of good jokes this afternoon as we ate dinner on the patio of Disney’s Pop Century Resort in Orlando. I’ll share a few.

Why are there PopTarts, but no MomTarts?

Because of the pastryarchy.

His friend Jack claims he can communicate with vegetables. You see, Jack and the beans talk.

The CEO of IKEA was just elected president of Sweden. His first official duty was to assemble his cabinet.

Why should you never date a tennis player?

Because love means nothing to them.

He had more, but I couldn’t keep up.

Peace, people!

Huey Lewis on Blacklist

Studly Doright and I have been watching Blacklist on Netflix for several weeks now. Studly is way more into the series than I am. Most nights I sit and play Words With Friends while he watches the escapades of Raymond Reddington. Occasionally I’ll comment on something that’s happened on the screen, but for the most part I tune it all out.

But during last night’s viewing Huey Lewis turned up in an episode. I love Huey—his music, his voice, his adorable face, so I watched every second of the episode. It was sweet. I mean really sweet. The episode was a tribute to cast member, Clark Middleton, who passed away in 2020 from West Nile Virus. I had to wonder if Clark, like his character, Glen Carter, was a fan of Huey Lewis.

Rest In Peace, Clark.
Oh, Huey!

I think perhaps he was. A good man with good taste.

Peace, people.

I’m So Confused

Wedding at the Happy Valley Motor Inn and Resort, the sequel to Mayhem at the Happy Valley Motor Inn and Resort, is currently being edited and revised a few chapters at a time. And while nothing is set in stone, I’m fairly sure there will be no major changes in plot or characters as we get ready to publish.

The confusion comes as I work on writing the third book in the series—Reunion at the Happy Valley Motor Inn and Resort. I’ll be in the middle of a scene and think, “Wait! Can this happen? Didn’t they already do something that would negate this action?”

And then I’ll remember that no one but me would know and if I needed to I could change the scene in the book that’s being edited and revised. Of course my editor might want me beheaded depending on what elements changed and while I’m not terribly good looking I’m certain I look better with a head than I would without. Maybe.

One thing I do know is that I really need to come up with shorter titles for my books.

Peace, people!

Postscript: I always underline titles of books in my posts, but the underlining doesn’t appear in the finished product. Why? It’s frustrating. Carry on.

http://Mayhem at the Happy Valley Motor Inn and Resort https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08P76RBRD/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_G0TFEAVPB193Q4H9G902

Made With Love

Life can be so hard. People do bad things out of greed or ignorance. Others judge their fellow humans based on race, religion, skin color, gender identity, and a whole host of other categories. Wars are fought. Innocents die. No one ever really wins.

It’d be so easy to become angry, embittered, jaded.

But then, you have lunch at a vegan place where they know you by name. Where they care about you and are glad to see you. Where they do stuff like this:

My friends at Sweet Pea Cafe did this.

And for a little while, all is right with the world.

Peace, people.

That Feeling

One of the adorable baristas at my favorite coffee shop just said, “Leslie, I bought both of your books. They’re on my kindle.“

I was simultaneously grateful and anxious. I might’ve squeaked. Now I cross my fingers. If she hates them, she might not put honey in my tea anymore.

http://Mayhem at the Happy Valley Motor Inn and Resort https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08P76RBRD/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_KC486S6RQY2ZMK5TGEHW

http://The Cowboy and the Executive: A West Texas Romance https://www.amazon.com/dp/B095F6VW2C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_N4W8TP6B85Q0AR8G05NR

Peace, people!

Heads Up

If anyone in my sphere of acquaintances noticed today that I was wearing just one earring, all I have to say is thanks for not saying anything, because I would’ve freaked thinking that I’d lost one of my favorite pieces of jewelry.

The earring was right where I’d left it, in the little bowl where I keep my go to pieces. Whew!

For future reference, though, had I neglected to put on a blouse or jeans, I’d have appreciated a heads up.

Peace, people.

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