Category Archives: Day to Day… and Off the Subject!

Marriotts Orlando World Center – My 2-Star Review

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2star

Let me start by saying that I recognize that everyone’s experiences are different when they travel and what is important to me in a hotel might not be important to everyone else. Therefore, this review is solely a reflection of my experiences at the Orlando World Center Marriott Resort and not based on anyone else’s opinions.

The following is a list of areas I chose to cover in this review and my thoughts/comments. Why did I select these particular areas? Simple, because these were the things that most impacted my experience during my stay.

  1. General Appearance (5 Stars) – Although I am giving this hotel a 5-Star rating for general appearance I want to remind everyone that appearance is only skin deep. The look of the hotel both outside and inside the main area was wonderful. The grounds are clean with well manicured lawns and the indoor “public” areas are very nicely decorated with new furnishings and a welcoming feel.
  2. Layout / Floor plan (1 Star) – Yes, I gave this a 1-Star rating. The reason is simple – THE SELF-PARKING parking lot has to be at least a half-mile, if not more, from the main lobby. I get that they want everyone to use their over-priced valet parking, but come on – some of us don’t even want to pay the $14.91/day for the self-parking. There is no way I was going to pay double that to do valet parking. Besides my employer was paying for the hotel so… No, they were not going to approve valet parking. I know you think I am kidding, but I’m not. The walk from the self-parking lot was at least a half mile from the main lobby – then you still had to walk another quarter-mile to get to my hotel room… lets just say I got a lot of exercise this trip.
  3. Customer Service (1 Star) – I’m actually not even sure I want to give the hotel a 1-Star rating for this, but I don’t like to give no stars. The thing is this – the service wasn’t all bad – it was just bad where it mattered to me. The first lack of customer service was the total disrespect they showed when assigning me my first room. Okay, I was there for a conference – and therefore my work was paying for the room, but that doesn’t mean you should give me the worst room in the hotel. I brought my family along, and we planned to make the week-long trip a family vacation (as well as a business trip). So, we walk into the room and what do we find? A note taped to the balcony door saying that it has been locked due to construction and that we are not able to use the balcony. When we look out the window there is PVC piping on the railing, and a ladder/ramp along the outside of the balcony. Therefore all the workers can see straight into our room as they work. Yeah, not happening. They should have known better than to assign that room to anyone. It just showed me that they don’t care about their customers. I was a paying customer – give me a good room! Then when I called down to the front desk to request a new room the gentleman said, “You can come down to the desk at one o’clock and maybe we can get you a better room.” Maybe? Maybe, are you kidding me?! When my husband went to the front desk and expressed our frustration – they quickly gave him a new room (a nice one I might add). You might be thinking that this should improve my customer service rating, but it doesn’t. Why? Because it just made me feel that, as a woman, they didn’t want to service me, but as a man my husband was taken seriously. Yeah, I’m not into the whole treat men and women differently thing. Next on the “customer service” rating – the cleaning crew was rude! I asked for some conditioner (BECAUSE THERE WAS NONE!) and what response did I get? “Call the front desk!” then she walked away! Last item on the “customer service” rating – When we returned to the room after a long day at Epcot the door to our room was open. I called the front desk, who quickly sent me to security. They came up and did a “test” on the lock to see whose card had been used in the lock last, and did they bother to tell me? NO! What does that say to me? Well it tells me one of their employees had been in my room, but they didn’t want to tell me that so they just ignored me!
  4. Room – Okay, the first room received a ZERO STAR rating, but the second room I would give 3 Stars. Why a 3-Star rating you ask… Well, the layout was fine, but there was NO VENTILATION! When you took a shower everything in the bathroom was wet with steam. I couldn’t even keep my clean clothing in there to change because they would end up wet by the end of the shower. That meant that when I got out of the shower and dried off I had to step into the sink area (where there was no door for privacy) naked to get dressed. That is not fun with two children running around. The lack of ventilation didn’t contain itself to the bathroom. At night in the room the air was dry and thick with dust from the air conditioner. After the first night I woke up with a sore throat. After the second night I was congested and had a migraine. By the end of our stay I WAS SICK, as in taking Dayquil and Nyquil. Last on this list – I have to mention the cleaning crew again. When I go to a hotel I expect that when I return to my room after say… lunch… that my room will be clean, but NO, they never arrived until after lunch. They must have been understaffed, but come on – if you have a hotel that big HIRE MORE PEOPLE! Oh, wait… I do have one more thing to add… They had candy, water, etc. just sitting out and a refrigerator full of drinks (alcohol included – without a lock on the refrigerator – EASY ACCESS FOR CHILDREN). Anyway, the selection was great, but the prices were obscene! Seriously, who is going to pay $4-$5 for a bottle of water?!?!?! GIVE ME A BREAK!
  5. Food/Restaurants (1 Star) – I have no idea how the food tasted at the hotel because OMG the price was ridicules. We were going to eat breakfast at the hotel, but for two adults and two children it was going to cost us $80 – $90. HELL NO! Come on, look at the government per diem rates for food in your area when planning your menu rates. You are WAY OVER PRICED!!!
  6. Pool (4.5 Stars) – YES THE POOL WAS AMAZING! I should say pools because they had more than one and all of them were wonderful. My only complaint was about the guy manning the water-slide. My husband took my 7 1/2 year-old daughter up to the top of the water-slide and she was so excited… however, the gentleman at the top wouldn’t let her go down because he said that she was one inch to short. Yet, we saw (numerous times) children smaller than her going down the slide throughout our stay. Yeah, he was in a bad mood that day… I mean his job is sitting at the top of a slide all day… I guess I get it, but come on don’t crush a 7 1/2 year olds only wish for the day!
  7. Business Center (1 Star) – I am only giving this a 1-Star rating because they do offer something, but come on this is the first hotel I have stayed at in a very long time that didn’t offer a free business center at least for minor printing needs. No, they offer a FedEx run business center that over charges for internet time and printing. Thank you, but no thank you!
  8. Miscellaneous – These are just a few other issues I had: fruit-flies in the restrooms and lack of afternoon shuttle busses to the Disney parks.

Okay, overall I have to say that I was VERY DISAPPOINTED with my experience. The only saving grace – my company paid, and they had a Starbucks in the lobby!

So, my final rating is… 2 Stars

Six Things I’ve Learned In Six Years Of Marriage

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I read this and had to share it. I’ve been married longer than 6 years and have learned a lot… maybe I will put together a list one day.

2013 New Year’s Resolutions

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Okay, we are 8 days into the new year and I have finally decided what I want my New Year’s Resolutions to be! NO IT IS NOT TO LATE. Actually I believe that it is never to late to come up with a New Year’s Resolution. The thing is, if I had just made some up on New Years Eve just so that I could start them on January 1st I would never have kept them. I would have picked things like…

  1. Give up Chocolate – GIVE ME A BREAK! There is no way in HELL that would have stuck more than a few hours.
  2. Workout Daily – HELLO? Who has time for a daily workout, unless you count the constant back and forth walking while working.

So, now that we are eight (8) days into the New Year I have come up with a list of resolutions that actually mean something to me, and because of that I think that I will be able to keep them.

  1. Love my husband better!
  2. Spend more one on one time with my children!
  3. Learn to cook – I am taking a once a week cooking lesson with my mother-in-law
  4. Join Hot Yoga! I loved yoga back in college – I’m not going to mention how long ago that was, but I am hoping to enjoy it again.
  5. Read more, just for fun!
  6. Get back into Theatre! I have my first audition (IN YEARS) on January 20th and 21st!
  7. Produce a show – Theatre of course! I have a meeting next week to discuss doing this in the next 6 months at the local university.
  8. WRITE WRITE WRITE! I want to finish book two (2) of the Blood Angel series – If I ever get it back from the editor.
  9. Produce a film – My husband is an AMAZING author, and he wrote this short film… years ago… and I would love to help him tweak it and put it together… maybe get a few hits online…. We shall see.

Okay, that is a pretty long list, and it really is more of a list of goals but I think that is okay. These are my goals/resolutions for 2013. Some are short-term but most of them are long-term.

So, what are your 2013 New Year’s Resolutions/Goals? If you didn’t make any why not do it now?!

Mayonnaise Jar & Two Beers…

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Okay, I didn’t write this and I don’t know who did, but whoever did – thank you. My mom sent this to me and I couldn’t agree with its message any more than I do. I hope anyone now reading it can appreciate it asynchronous as I do!

Mayonnaise Jar & Two Beers…

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle; when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the Mayonnaise Jar and the 2 Beers.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him.

When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with
golf balls.

He then asked the students if the jar was full.

They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly.

The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the
golf balls.

He then asked the students again if the jar was full.

They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar.

Of course, the sand filled up everything else.

He asked once more if the jar was full?

The students responded with a unanimous ‘yes.’

The professor then produced two real beers (not Bud or Miller) from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand.

The students laughed!

‘Now,’ said the professor as the laughter subsided, ‘I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life.

The golf balls are the important things—your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions—and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car..

The sand is everything else—the small stuff.

‘If you put the sand into the jar first,’ he continued, ‘there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls.

The same goes for life.

If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.

Spend time with your children.

Spend time with your parents,
brothers and sisters.

Visit with grandparents.

Take your spouse out to dinner.

Play another 18 holes of golf.

There will always be time to clean the house, fix the disposal or deal with things from your job.

Take care of the golf balls first—the things that really matter.

Set your priorities.

The rest is just sand.

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the beer represented.

The professor smiled and said, ‘I’m glad you asked.’

The beer just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there’s always room for a couple of beers with a friend!

Dear Grandpa,

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I always regretted that I was so far away when you passed. I never got to say goodbye, and still today that hurts. I wish I had visited more when I had the chance. I wish I had called, just to talk. Just to tell you I love you! Because I did, and I still do.

There hasn’t been a holiday, important moment or event in my life, or just a day that has gone by that you haven’t been with me in my heart. You’re my guardian angel that I talk to when I need guidance and somehow you always help me find the answers.

Last night, for the first time in years I couldn’t shut my eyes without seeing your face. I wish I could say that seeing you in my dreams made me smile, but it didn’t. I ended up quietly crying myself to sleep. No matter how close you got I couldn’t get my arms around you. I couldn’t hug you. You were always just out of reach.

Grandma was there too. Hand-in-hand you both looked just like I remembered you. I know that you’re together now, and happy again after so many years of being apart when she died, but even knowing that you’re happy doesn’t make the pain of missing you both any easier. I’m sorry if that sounds selfish, but you’re my grandpa and grandma and I feel like I can be a little selfish in my feels about you both being gone.

When you were finally close enough that I could reach you, you held out your hand to me. But when I tried to go to you a hand on my shoulder stopped me. “They’re not here for you. They’re here for me.” It was your son, my Uncle. You know he hasn’t been well, not for the last few years. He is back in the hospital again, and he isn’t doing well. Lets just say he is stubborn, like you always were! Like my dad. Like me! Well, honestly I don’t think there is anyone in our family that isn’t at least a little stubborn. I don’t think stubbornness is always a bad thing – it can be a strength, and I thank you for that. However in this case it is a bad thing. He is choosing to be stubborn instead of going to the doctor when he needs to, instead of listening to his doctor’s advice, and instead of eating right and taking care of himself.

His stubbornness is digging his early grave, and Grandpa, I’m not ready to lose him yet. I don’t feel like I’ve had time to say goodbye yet, or to tell him that I love him and always will. Even being home for the holidays wasn’t enough. he seemed so fragile and I was afraid to touch him because I didn’t want to hurt him. it’s silly I know. I should have just taken him in my arms and hugged him, cried, told him he I will always love him, screamed at him to fight to live if not for him but for me – for all of his nieces and nephews that love him.

I guess I’m just asking for a little more time. Instead of taking him home with you, please just be his guardian angel and help him push through this, like you do for me whenever I need help.

I love you grandpa, and I miss you every day. Give grandma a big hug for me and tell her I love and miss her too.

Nina

November 2012 – 30 Days of Thankfulness

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So, like so many other people out there I gave thanks throughout the month of November. 30 days of thankfulness to be exact. Now looking back on the long month of giving thanks I wanted to reflect on everything I was and still am thankful for… to remember it for all time. Who knows, maybe next year my list will be the same – maybe not.

Day one (1) – I’m thankful for my beautiful children and their contagious laughter that always makes me smile. I don’t ever think a day goes by that I am not thankful for this!

Day two (2) – I’m thankful for my husband who works so hard to provide for our family.

Day three (3) – I’m thankful for The Little Gym and how much fun my kids have during gymnastics! They have both really taken to it, and the amount of confidence it gives them is inspiring.

Day four (4) – I’m thankful for Starbucks coffee, which got me through my day. More than just that day – but many others.

Day five (5) – I’m thankful for the ablation that has allowed me to be period/PMS free for the last 4.5 year! I think this one speaks for itself.

Day six (6) – I’m thankful to be alive. Today I am filled with sadness and loss but I am still thankful for life.

Day seven (7) – I’m thankful for the quiet time I get when I close my eyes at night and shut out the world and all my stress.

Day eight (8) – I’m thankful for hugs, big and small.

Day nine (9) – I’m thankful for… Yeah I can’t think of anything. To tired I guess, I’ll try again later. This was a bad day.

Day nine (9) – Take Two – I’m thankful for mommy timeout! Not for the kids but for me to think about me and only me.

Day ten (10) – I’m thankful for Big Time Rush which provides me with a half hour of quiet time on Saturday morning!

Day eleven (11) – I’m thankful for Sci-Quest hands on science fun, and a day of kid friendly fun.

Day twelve (12) – I’m thankful for my dad, a veteran who proudly served his country! I love you daddy.

Day thirteen (13) – I’m thankful for the hour of silence I got while getting my nails done. I needed and deserved it – Even if only I think so. 🙂

Day fourteen (14) – I’m thankful that I was raised knowing how to ask for help when I need it and give it when others need it.

Day fifteen (15) – I’m thankful that my contract audit only happens once every few years.

Day sixteen (16) – I’m thankful that tomorrow is Saturday and I get time with my babies.

Day sixteen (16) – AGAIN – I’m thankful to be a woman! We can be strong and independent and yet pretty, soft, and full of emotions too.

Day seventeen (17) and eighteen (18) – I just don’t know, I guess I’m thankful for good intentions.

Day nineteen (19) – I’m thankful that I have a job and an income that can help my family not only live but enjoy life.

Day twenty (20) – I’m thankful for the beautiful amazing sweet baby boy God gave me 5 years ago today!

Day twenty-one (21) – I’m thankful for a day of holiday baking with my mom and daughter. It was just as good as when I was little.

Day twenty-two (22) – I’m thankful for my friends and family and to have them around for the holidays.

Day twenty-three (23) – I’m thankful for leftover pie after a long day of shopping.

Day twenty-four (24) – I’m thankful that my children love me unconditionally and forgive my poor cooking skills.

Day twenty-five (25) – I’m thankful for quiet Sundays with my family.

Day twenty-six (26) – I’m thankful to be celebrating my 37th birthday because the alternative would not be as good.

Day twenty-seven (27) – I’m thankful for the living-room tables that were finally delivered today after 4 months of waiting.

Day twenty-eight (28) – I’m thankful for RELAX Riesling Wine!

Day twenty-nine (29) – I’m thankful to be able to work from home so I can volunteer at my kids’ school from time to time.

Day thirty (30) – I’m thankful for family. Mine is very supportive and encouraging of everything I do even my crazy ambitions.

 

So, that was my month of thankfulness. I could probably do a year – because I give thanks every morning and every evening – but, I won’t bore you with all of that.

I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and that your December holidays (which ever you celebrate) are full of family, fun, food, and friends!

 

Happy Holidays to All!

Five Lessons About How We Treat People

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Okay, I don’t normally enjoy the forwarded email that seems to come through my account on a regular basis, but this one really touched me. Maybe I’m just emotional today – or most days lately – who knows, but I read it and cried. I think we can all learn a little something from these five little lessons about how we treat people, or rather how we should treat people.

Five lessons about how we treat people.

1 – First Important Lesson – Cleaning Lady.

During my second month of college, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions until I read the last one: “What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?” Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50’s, but how would I know her name?

I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade.

“Absolutely, ” said the professor.. “In your careers, you will meet many people. All are significant.. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say “hello..”

I’ve never forgotten that lesson.. I also learned her name was Dorothy.

2 – Second Important Lesson – Pickup in the Rain

One night, at 11:30 p.m., an older African-American woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway trying to endure a lashing rain storm. Her car had broken down and she desperately needed a ride.

Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car. A young white man stopped to help her, generally unheard of in those conflict-filled 1960’s. The man took her to safety, helped her get assistance and put her into a taxicab.

She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote down his address and thanked him. Seven days went by and a knock came on the man’s door. To his surprise, a giant console color TV was delivered to his home. A special note was attached. It read: “Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway the other night. The rain drenched not only my clothes, but also my spirits. Then you came along.
Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying husband’s’ bedside just before he passed away… God Bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving others.”
Sincerely,
Mrs. Nat King Cole.

3 – Third Important Lesson – Always remember those who serve.

In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10-year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him. “How much is an ice cream sundae?” he asked.
“Fifty cents,” replied the waitress. The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and Studied the coins in it.

“Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?” he inquired. By now more people were waiting for a table and the waitress was growing impatient..
“Thirty-five cents,” she brusquely replied.

The little boy again counted his coins. “I’ll have the plain ice cream,” he said. The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on
The table and walked away The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and left.. When the waitress came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the table. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two nickels and five pennies. You see, he couldn’t have the sundae, because he had to have enough left to leave her a tip.

4 – Fourth Important Lesson. – The obstacle in Our Path.

In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the King’s’ wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it.. Many loudly blamed the King for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way.

Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note
from the King indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many of us never understand!

Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition.

5 – Fifth Important Lesson – Giving When it Counts… This was the one that really got me!
Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liz who was suffering from a rare & serious disease. Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her 5-year old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness. The doctor explained the situation to her
little brother, and asked the little boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister.

I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, “Yes I’ll do it if it will save her.” As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning to her cheek. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded.

He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, “Will I start to die right away”.

Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his sister all of his blood in order to save her.

Most importantly…. “Live with no regrets, Treat people the way you want to be treated, Work like you don’t need the money, Love like you’ve never been hurt, and Dance like you do when nobody’s watching.”

“Never got to be angry or sad” Sometimes easier said than done, but always sound advice.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2012

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Since October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I was looking for ways to showing my support. If you are too, but you don’t have a lot of money to donate – then keep reading.

Does $3.99 sound like to much? No? Then you have come to the right place!

In the spirit of breast cancer awareness month – I will be donating the profits from the October sales of my book AWAKEN to team STEP BY STEP who will be walking in the 2013 Susan G. Komen 3-day For The Cure. These amazing women (Nicole Smith and Clara Tapaninen) will be walking the 60 mile 3-day walk for the third year in a row, and although I would love to walk with them… other commitments stand in the way. Therefore, I will find other ways to participate and so can YOU!

My book AWAKEN is only $3.99 online NOW and available for download to your Kindle, Nook, iPad, etc…. Just follow one of the links below and get your copy today. The Bonus – You can feel good about your purchase because the profits will go toward finding a cure for Breast Cancer! Who can say no to that?

GET YOUR COPY TODAY:

BookTango – Amazon – Barnes & Noble – Books on Board – Kobo – Sony

Follow me to learn more and find out exciting new updates as I complete BEGINNINGS book 2 of the Blood Angel series:

Blog – Twitter – Facebook

I Want A Vacation!

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Yeah, yeah, I know – everyone needs a vacation. But, did I say I NEED a vacation? No I didn’t. I said I want a vacation. There is a big difference. I don’t need a vacation – which implies that I’m over worked, tired, or just plain need a break away from the day-to-day life that is working full-time. In all honesty my job ROCKS! I love what I do. Every day is a new adventure and I get to learn new things and face new challenges all that time. So, I don’t need a break away from it.

More to my point – I want a vacation. I want a couple of weeks, a week, or even just a weekend with just my husband and my kids. We could go to the beach and chill, hit the high traffic pavement of Disney, or just stay home with the phones and internet turned off as we play board games and eat my husbands famous guacamole. Avocado is a “smart” food after all. 🙂

So, what would my dream vacation be? I’m not really sure. It would have to have something for everyone. That would mean – a golf course for my husband (and my kids since they love to go to the driving range), a pool for me (because I prefer the pool to the ocean), the beach for my kids (because they love to make sand castles), an outlet mall for well – all of us (because we do love to shop), and some great local restaurants, because while I’m on vacation I don’t like eating at the same restaurants I could eat at back home!

Over the past three summers we have: (1) Rented a house on the beach, (2) Did the Disney thing, and (3) Took the ocean by storm on a Royal Caribbean Cruise to the Bahamas.

Although I enjoyed all of the trips I think Disney was my favorite. Why? Well, for starters my kids. I loved watching their faces light up every time a new princess walked by, or when Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck gave them hugs. There is just nothing like seeing your child meet their favorite Disney characters to make your heart melt.

Don’t get me wrong the beach had its advantages too. For starters the beach was the most relaxing of the three vacations – and for that I will go back (sooner rather than later). DISNEY IS NOT RELAXING!!! Don’t let anyone tell you that it is. You walk all day and end up carrying your sleeping children the last mile to make it back to the hotel shuttle at the end of the night.

At the beach you chill all day, take a stroll on the beach, and eat light healthy meals. At Disney although you get all the exercise you need to work off your food, the food you do get is greasy mass-produced Buffett style food that tastes like it was cooked two hours before you ordered. Plus – there isn’t a lot of variety when dining at Disney.

Wait, I didn’t mention the Cruise did I? Well, you see – that is because although I did enjoy myself (a lot) I don’t plan to go back. I get motion sickness (ALL THE TIME). Put me in a car for longer than thirty minutes and I feel sick. So, being on a cruise ship in the middle of the ocean for five days (four nights) I literally wanted to throw up 90% of the time, even after taking medications to prevent motion sickness, wearing the silly looking sea bands around my wrists, and chewing ginger gum! Yes, I did it all. And did I manage to not throw up? NO! I threw up two out of the four nights. So, for that reason alone, and I think it’s a good one, I don’t plan to return to the ship!

Well, those are my thoughts on vacationing – What are yours? Where have you been lately or where are you planning to go? Share your vacation stories here, because if who else wants to hear them?!

Have a creative day 🙂

Giving Back

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Okay, this is off the subject of publishing, writing, etc… As you know I do that from time to time (OFTEN). I want to talk about the importance of giving back – donating – making a sacrifice that could help save lives.

There are people in this world that strive to serve others, help, make a difference – for no other reason then that they care. I know two women very close to my heart (my mother and my sister) who fall into that category that can only be described as extraordinary. This is the second year that they have made the commitment to walk in the Susan G. Komen 3-day. Now if you don’t know what the 3-day is let me explain: thousands of women, men, even children gather together to walk sixty (60) miles in three days. Why? Just to show their support and love for those suffering with, surviving, and even those that passed away from breast cancer. In order to participate in the walk they have to raise something like $2300 each ($4600 as a team). That money goes toward finding a cure for breast cancer! Can you think of a better way to help someone?

Well my mother and sister have been training since last fall for this years walk. They are just five (5) short weeks away and they still need to raise more than half of the money needed to be able to walk.  With that said – I am asking for your help.  Together they still have to raise $2,802.00 in the next five (5) weeks.  I know that seems like a lot, and I’m not asking any one person to make such a huge donation, but even a $5 donation will help get them to their goal.

Please consider making a donation.

The American Cancer Society’s most recent estimates for breast cancer in the United States for 2012:

  • About 226,870 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women.
  • About 63,300 new cases of carcinoma in situ (CIS) will be diagnosed (CIS is non-invasive and is the earliest form of breast cancer).
  • About 39,510 women will die from breast cancer

With numbers as shocking as that how can you not want to give?

So, thank you for taking the time to consider this issue and if you are gracious enough to open your wallet or even your change purse to donation $1, $5, $20 or any amount you feel comfortable giving my heart goes out to you.

LINKS TO DONATE:

Click here to view the team page for Step by Step If the text below does not appear as a clickable link, you can cut and past the web address into your browser: http://www.the3day.org/site/TR?team_id=195040&pg=team&fr_id=1765&et=RSy2-w3szXc2EEg8n2D5aA&s_tafId=478169