Snap To It Team Voice...

Yep, we did it too. We started a family membership this afternoon. Yet another option out here on the Snowy Tundra.

Happy New Years Team Voiceketeers,

I just returned from my first "Snap" visit. I believe I am really going to enjoy this. I made use of the elliptical machine and even did a short walk on a treadmill. So here is todays breakdown.

BK: 5 pts. Raisin Bran w/skim milk
LN: 11pts. Grilled chicken sandwich with bean soup.
DN: 9 pts. Taco salad w/lite sour cream
EX: 60 min elliptical. Ramped up resistance to 40% near the end. Loved the burn in my calfs.
Then after cooling off I did a short 20 min walk on the treadmill. I selected a program that was much slower than I am used to. But I just went with it. I will learn more about the preset programs or just skip them in the future.

Lets all keep the ball rolling as we look forward to Jan '09. Judging by the turn out for the marathon events it looks like it would be wise to register and book a room early. We intend to bring the kids down and are trying to decide whether to stay at a value resort or spend a little more and go moderate. Possibly French Quarter. Does anyone know if Disney runs buses to Epcot early in the morning for these events?

I wish you all the best in this coming new year.

Tonights feature was...

First of all let me say congratulations to Jonathan for following through and joining a fitness center with plans to involve a trainer. Jonathan if you are reading this I hope you find new inspiration during this coming year. Work have at it and if your trainer pushes you just grin at his and say "Mainstreet Awaits"

BK: 5 pts. Raisin Bran w/skim milk
LN: 10 pts. Subway footlong turkey on wheat. no cheese or mayo.
DN: 4 pts. SmartOnes. Chick schechwan. (spelled wrong I'm sure)
SN: 6 pts. Cashew snack mix oz.
EX: 5 miles 75 min

Tonights Episode...

I watched another DVD in my Charlie Chan collection tonight. It's interesting to see how the detective genre has changed over the the years. These older films always conclude with all the suspects gathered together in the same room. The detective (Chan in this case) will begin to unravel the mystery by exposing clues that mislead the viewer toward a certain suspect, only to reveal new facts that point to another suspect. At some point there is a confession and often the criminal will make a break for it. It tonights film the murderer confessed and then jumped from a window in an effort to escape. While running into the street he was struck by an automoblie. Ah sweet justice. Parts of these old films are predictable and the jokes are pretty corny, but that makes them even more fun.

BK: 5pts. The usual
LN: 6pts. SmartOnes Tuna something or other. Pretty good.
DN: 3pts. SmartOnes Shrimp Marinara
SN: 6pts. Cashew snack mix. 2 ozs.
EX: 4.82 miles 72 min walking on (as joggerblogger put it) the dreadmill.

Is everyone getting ready to kick off the new year? We all need to make the most of the next 12 months.

To quote Jonathan: Mainstreet Awaits!!!

The Corn Patch Restaurant

Not that I'm admitting anything to Andy, but we do have our share of corn around these parts.

In fact, as you can see we are proud of it. (ok I think some people are, more than others) You got to have a sense of humor though. Especially here on the Tundra.

The Corn Patch Restaurant opened in 1981 and has been keeping the locals well fed ever since.

Included with every meal is their homemade potato soup. This is so tasty that many people will order it to go for special occassions.

So what did this Snowy Tundranian order last night you ask. I had a great meal which used up the bonus points I had for the week.

Potato Soup.

2 slices of fresh homemade bread.

8 0z Filet Mignon w/baked potato and a mix of carrots, brocolli and cauliflower.

BK: 5 pts. Raisin Bran w/skim milk

LN: 6 pts. SmartOnes Swedish Meatballs

DN: 22 pts.

SN: 6 pts, Cashew snack mix 2 oz.

No exercise today being Friday.

Monday I begin my early work week. I plan on stopping into that new Snap Fitness center to check it out. If no one is on staff I will try again Wednesday. According to their website staffing hours change from day to day. Strange.

We are also getting a YMCA later this year. Goodbye cornfields hello progress.

So how many of you have a local favorite dining spot???

Tonight On Treadmill Theater

Besides Disney one of the things I really enjoy are classic movies. Tonight while shopping I came across the third boxed set in the Warner Oland Charlie Chan series. Volume four with Sidney Toler comes out in February.

When I was much younger our local PBS station would run these films on Friday nights after an episode of Dr. Who. For those of you who are familiar with Dr. Who my favorite actor in the role was Tom Baker. (I had a crush on Elisabeth Sladen who played Sarah Jane Smith)

Anyway, I believe the program was called Friday Night Mystery Theater, I could be wrong though. Besides the Chan films they also ran the classic Sherlock Holmes films starring Basil Rathbone. The shows where hosted by a local AM radio personality named Del Monaco. Del presented the shows much like Robert Osborne does on Turner Classics. Each Chan episode runs just over an hour in length. This may be just the thing I need to get me on the treadmill.

Whatever works right?

Meals.

BK: 5 pts Raisin Bran w/skim milk

LN: 6 pts SmartOnes Swedish Meatballs

DN: 7 pts Subway Ham on wheat w/cheese

SN: 6 pts Grilled Cheese sandwich.

EX: 4.7 miles 71 min

Back to basics

For you Jonathan, a giraffe as seen on the Kilamanjaro Safari. We saw five.

Well, I did make it outside for some exercise tonight. Jogging went well considering the sidewalk conditions. I managed 3.1 in 35 minutes followed by a short cool down. I had intented to stay out longer but while I was cooling down I slipped coming off a curb. I didn't fall, but in correcting for it I decided to play it safe and call it a night.

BK: 5 pts Raisin Bran w/skim milk

LN: 6 pts SmartOnes Spagetti

DN: 9 pts. Grilled Cheese burger w/grilled veggies.

SN: 3 cashew snack mix. 1 oz.

EX: 3.41 miles 41 min.

Final trip report.

After breakfast at the World premier cafe we walked around the rest of the property at ALL Star Movies and took some pictures.

Yes!!! It's Herbie.

Soon it was time to prepare to catch Magical Express back to the Airport. I had read the Magic Express instructions to say meet the bus at 10:15am. So I assumed it was ok to bring our luggage down around 9:45. They acted a bit surprised that I had not brought it earlier. As it turned out everything was ok and our bags could still make the correct flight. So next time I will remember to check bags earlier.

Express to MCO was a nice ride and our flight to Atlanta was on time. We had a 2 hour delay boarding our connection to Des Moines. We were told that there had been an issue with the A/C on the plane.

This would be the first time I flew in the dark. I though it was cool. At least as long as I could see the street lights below. I admit to being a little uncomfortable when we went above the clouds and everything went dark.

As we approached DSM we could see all the snow below us. When we left Orlando it had been 80 degrees. We were welcomed back to the snowy tundra with a temp of ...... We had parked in economy because the enclosed parking was full earlier in the week. I had a tricky time getting out of the parking lot. My car kept slidding toward the vehicle next to mine. After getting some help from a parking lot plow driver we managed to get out. (a little sand goes a long way)

Now go back up and look at Herbie again. This picture was taken just hours later in the day.

I can't wait to get back to Orlando. We had a blast and this was the best time of year to come down. Next time I want to bring the whole family. I would really like to bring them all down for Mickey's very merry some year. We'll see. The 09 half comes first. Unless I can pursuade my wife into believing I need to come down early to get acclimated to the weather. (Hey it could happen. It never hurts to dream.)

Catch you all next time...

I am Not a Guitar Hero

So one of the gifts to our Family this morning was Guitar Hero III.
This is an entertaining game, but let me state for the record I stink at it. Even in easy mode. lol.
However, I know that with practice I will get better and the game will become even more fun.

Kind of like how if I reclaim my focus and get back on track, exercising will be fun again and not seem like such a chore.

I am very guilty of not putting the time in these past couple weeks. I just stuggle with getting on that darn treadmill. I just can't stand it. To be outside would be a grand thing.

Tonight my daughter and I did go out for a walk. 2.9 miles in 62 min. A bit slow but we were trying to be cautious with the ice and all. I was surprised to see a guy out jogging with his dog tonight. It got me thinking about how many excuses I have been using to convince myself lately that getting outside this time of year was just not something I felt comfortable doing.

But inside I want to be out there. So what's wrong with me?

Do I want to continue getting in shape? Yes!
Do I want to improve my stamina as Dam to Dam 08 approaches? Yes!
Do I want to keep up the work needed to prepare for the 09 half in WDW? Yes!
Do I want to use this blog for it's original intent? Yes!
Do I want to let those of you who have supported me down? No Way!

I can't undo the past couple weeks. But I can say, that although I am happy the New Year is approaching. I do not have to wait another week to get back on track. That starts right now.
Tomorrow I will return to posting meals. My intent with exercise is at a minimum, to put in an at least a hour a day six days a week. While walking tonight I saw enough clear sidewalks that I could feel comfortable getting out and wogging. So I need to be doing that.

Please everyone hold me to this. If you happen to be following my blog and would like offer any comments but perhaps you don't have a goggle account. Please feel free to e-mail me directly at caballerofan@mchsi.com If you are new to this blog please say hello. Also be sure to stop by the blogs of my friends listed in the right hand column and say hello there too.

Merry Christmas Everyone

Twas harvest before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a field mouse.
The corn cribs were stuffed by the farmers with care,
In hopes that corn futures would prove more than fair.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of popcorn danced in their heads.
And ma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter’s nap.

When out on the tunda there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon glowing off the new-fallen snow
gave the luster of mid-day to objects below.
When, what did my wondering eyes bestow,
but a bright shiny combine, and eight reindeer cows.

With a little old driver, dressed lively in red,
I knew in a moment it must be our neighbor, Fred.
More rapid than the Duke boys, they came,
whistling and shouting he called them by name!

"Now Elsie! now, Bossie! now, Patches and Rusty!
On, Snowflake! On, Daisy! on, Darcy and Trusty!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the stall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the combine full of Toys, and Old Fred too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney Fred came, with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his coveralls were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, I think he’d had a bit too much sherry!
His John Deere hat was pulled way down low,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his cap,
gave me a nod, and was gone, just like that!

He sprang to his combine, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew down the tundra, fast as a missle,
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
"Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"

204.4

Today I am happy to be back at my pre MouseFest weight, which is not bad considering how much less exercise I have been putting in this month due to MouseFest and the holiday season. Don’t misunderstand me, I enjoy the holidays, but I can’t wait for January to get here and make a more solid effort to get below 200.
I have investigated the cost of the new Snap Fitness going in down the street. It looks like the best deal would be to get a family membership. So once it opens we will go up and check it out and make a decision. Personally I think it will offer a nice way to alternate some core training with jogging every other day.
Earlier this year my friend and co-worker Larry and I discussed the idea of meeting up on Saturdays and working on our long runs together as we prepare for the next Dam to Dam 20k on May 30th. So hopefully once the “Snowy Tundra” thaws out this spring he and I can make that a regular routine.

Meals.
BK: 5pts. Raisin Bran w/skim milk.
LN: 10pts. Chicken sub loaded with veggies and NO MAYO.
DN: 6pts. SmartOnes Lasanga Florintine.
SN: 3pts. Apple Cider Beer
EX: None.

Trip Report # 6

This was our final day in the parks so I had not planned any meets. After a quick counter service at the World Premier Café we boarded Disney transportation and headed over to Animal Kingdom for a couple of quick rides on Expedition Everest.
Shortly after entering the park I noticed Jonathan and Amber. Jon was dancing to the beat of the African background music. I quickly followed suit in an attempt to show him I was digging the music and getting into the true Disney experience too.
We spoke for a few minutes and then this is where we actually said our goodbyes and our we’ll see you again in 09’. Next we continued on our way toward Asia and ran into Bryan. He mentioned that he would be at the 10 am showing of Finding Nemo so we made plans to attend the same showing. Before the show we managed to ride Everest, Primeval Whirl, and Dinosaur. One observation about Chester and Hester land. Although I have never been to DCA this might be the closest thing to it. The lack of themeing here was sad. Being able to see the concrete underneath the rides in this area was well…..to put it kindly it was……I don’t have the words. Disney certainly could improve this area, hopefully they will.
The Nemo show was great. At first I was concerned that the puppeteers might be a large distraction to enjoying the show. Instead I came to realize that much of the emotion throughout the show was actually driven by the energy and expression the performers themselves put into it. After the show we hung back to catch Bryan and get his impressions of the show. I am sure he and Jonathan will go into detail on the podcast so I will leave it to you to listen in and hear their impressions of the show for yourselves. We said goodbye to Bryan and left it up in the air as to if we would run into each other again. After another ride on Everest we went over to the Magic Kingdom and had lunch at Tony’s on MainStreet. I had a very tasty Chicken Parmesan. Everything was very good.
After a little more time in the park we hopped on the ferry to the TTC and then over to MGM via bus to make use of the passes we had received for Rock n’ Rollercoaster. We finally took in Muppets and Star Wars.
We caught the 6:30 showing of Fantasmic and after shopping our way out of the park, we headed back to the Magic Kingdom for Extra Magic hours. While we were shopping Bryan called and said he was heading back home but wanted to take a moment to thank us for coming down and supporting AATM and everything. My wife and I both thought how nice it was of him to give us a call before leaving. Bryan you're a great guy and I look forward to seeing you again someday. (Kungaloosh)After reaching the Magic Kingdom we hit Buzz Lightyear and the Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor. Followed by a late night ride on Haunted Mansion. I was a little disappointed that a number of counter service locations had apparently closed with the standard park closing time. But Cosmic Rays and Pecos Bills where still open. After a meal we did some shopping on Mainstreet and stopped in the bakery for a treat.
It was great to be here on a trip alone with just my wife. Yet, we did miss the kids back home. Especially during the last couple days.

Till next post…

Blogging and the Holidays

I have given up on posting each day. At least that is, until the first of the year. We simply have too much going on. So I will post as often as possible. Tonight I decided that the weather was decent enough to at least walk outside. 19 degrees and no wind. I quickly confirmed that, yes indeed many people have not cleared their sidewalks. Our city is guilty too. I managed to be cautious and keep an average pace around 16.

Yesterdays meals.
BK: 5 pts. Same thing different day. I know I’m boring.
LN: 9 pts. Subway 6” Turkey on wheat. All the veggies w/mustard. Sun Chips
DN: 6 pts. SmartOnes. Brocolli w/cheesy potatos.
SN: 4 pts. Almonds single serve package.
EX: None

Today
BK: 5 pts. Yep, you guessed it. But it’s a daily staple.
LN: 8 pts. Blackened chicken sandwich.
DN: 6 pts. SmartOnes Brocolli Chicken with pasta
3pts. SmartOnes Shrimp with pasta. (I was still hungry and its better than eating fudge)

Yeah I know, I'd rather have the fudge too.
EX: 4.88 miles 78 min

Trip report # 5

Breakfast was at the Grand Floridian Café and was very good. Oh and I have to mention the Gingerbread house in the lobby. This was huge. It was actually a working store at which you could purchase your own ginger bread treats. After we returned home I learned on the Food Channel that some of the gingerbread for the house had been baked as early as August. After enjoying the smell we eventually boarded the Monorail and headed over to the Magic Kingdom and began hitting the attractions again. We started in Adventureland and ran into these rascally characters.

Then we headed over to Frontierland. While there Rae called and we met up with her and E. They had another surprise for me. A Herbie the Love Bug pin. I had missed a chance at purchasing one earlier in the park. Rae made a trade (with a castmember I believe) and found a different version of the pin. This one has a more nostalgic look and is really cool. Herbie was the first Disney film I ever saw in a theater. My Grandparents took me to see it. I can still picture sitting with them in the theater.
So Rae, this pin is special to me because I will not only be thinking about this trip when I look at it, I will also think about my Grandparents too. So cool, Thank you.

E and I grabbed a Dole Whip in Adventureland and then we began walking over to Lou Mongello’s TrivaFest meet. Lou is an amazingly nice guy and he has a wonderful sense of humor about him. He led a few games of Disney Trivia and gave out some prizes.
Byron was the first winner and won an Ipod. Congratulations Byron nicely done.
Jonathan even won a round of trivia as well. So cool to see fellow bloggers do so well.

After this, Rae and E were heading home so we said our goodbyes (and our we’ll see you in 09’s) My wife and I hit Tomorrowland where I failed to redeem myself at Buzz Lightyears Astro Blasters. Then we took in Stitches Great Escape. I am not certain why so many people give this attraction such a bad rap. I thought it was much more fun than Alien Encounter. Perhaps it simply comes down to the fact that a Disney character is a better fit than a scary alien running loose and frightening children. Even with Stitch, when the room went dark, many kids were crying. And would somebody give Stitch a breath mint, please?

After this we headed over to Epcot. We wanted to catch Steven Curtis Chapman and the Candlelight Processional.
We arrived at Epcot and found that Spaceship Earth was once again open so of course we had to ride it again. We then enjoyed some of WorldShowcase and lined up for the show.
We just missed getting into the first of three performances. But that was ok because with it being darker during our show the candles stood out more.

The show has a full orchestra and has choir members from not only local schools and churches but from around the country too.
The auditorium is an outdoor amphitheater and seats over a thousand people. The show runs from the day after Thanksgiving through Christmas. With three shows daily over 90,000 people will see this performance and hear the Christmas story. Every few days a new celebrity reader headlines the event.

Afterward we visited Norway and rode Maelstrom. It was closed during our last visit so I wanted to ride it. We felt this ride was a bit lame. Some animatronics where not working properly and even if they had been “Lesters Possum Park” would have been more fun. (if you’ve seen A Goofy Movie you’ll get the joke).
Next we hopped over to MGM because they had late hours. This was somewhat of a bust because after waiting in line for RnRC the attraction broke down just as we were next to board. (glad this did not happen to Jonathan the other day).

Eventually they handed out Re-Entry Passes which could be used for a later date.

After exiting we had just enough time to ride Tower Of Terror which was fun to do at night. After riding it once, the park was closing and the Hollywood Tower Hotel had closed it's gates.

One more day to go. Post soon…

Treadmill Theater Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure

After no exercise yesterday and some snacking that was, let's say emotionally driven. Today I had to get back on track. So with the cold weather and all, I hit the Treadmill once again. I would prefer to exercise outside but with the icy sidewalks and trails I need to play it safe.

I am not going to post yesterdays meals because with all the snacking I did it's a wash. But today was better.

BK: 11 pts. Egg Sausage Toast OJ

LN: 8 pts. Chicken Strips, two hush puppies

DN: 9 pts. Chili

EX: 6.03 miles 91 min Bill & Ted actually have some pretty good music to keep you moving.

Trip Report #4

12/8/07

This day was one I had been looking forward to ever since I was able to confirm that I was coming to MouseFest. This morning started off with the first ever "Team Voice" walk/jog meet.

Rae and E picked me up perfectly on time at Movies and we traveled over to Boardwalk and met up with Jonathan, Bryan, Kate, and Deb. This was finally a chance to hang out with new friends (outside of the Disney meets) and support one another by exercising together. It was great to spend this time together and get to know each other beyond the world of internet blogging. Although the time seemed brief it really ment alot to me. Thank you everyone for agreeing to take the time to do this.

Following this gathering Rae and E dropped me back off at Movies. After getting cleaned up, my wife and I headed over to Epcot. We entered through the main gates and walked back through the World Showcase gate and went over to the All About The Mouse Beaches and Cream Meet.

The guys had a really good turn out which is a testiment to the popularity of the podcast. (They do such a great job) Pictured above is what is known as a Kitchen Sink. Bryan and Jonathan ordered 5 of these plus a couple No Way Jose's. They had some prize drawings and it was a great time. Rae surprised Jonathan with a donation to the Dream Team which will go to help a pediatric cancer patient and their family visit Disney World.

Rae and E also surprised some of us with unexpected gifts. I really love the Mickey ornament. Now I have a wonderful keepsake to enjoy, and remember my new friends by. Thank you so much Rae and E. After this meet we went over to the MegaMouse meet. Which was basically a convention hall location where you could meet and great other podcasters, Disney web designers, Travel book authors, and many other fans who support Disney in one fashion or another. We left the meet and spent the rest of the day at Epcot. We noticed a line forming at Spaceship Earth and decided to check it out. There was much speculation as to if the attraction would open up for a ride preview. Just as we were about to give up Kate came walking by and chatted with us for a little bit. While we were talking they opened the gates to let people on the attraction. So thank you Kate, we might have left the line and missed the chance to check it out. Dinner was at the San Angel Inn. The appetizers where better than the meal here. Service was a bit slow. But they did serve a tasty top shelf margarita.

Hathaway Browne & Fletcher Hodges (or is it Otis T. Wren) of the Adventurers Club.

After Dinner we went back to our room for a bit and then went over to Pleasure Island. We met up with Bryan and his wife Amy and caught the last couple of acts at the Adventurers Clubs. The comedy got just slightly blue but not over the top. I thought it was alot of fun and would like to stop again on another trip and catch each act.

Well that wraps this days report.

Till next time, Be excellent to each other and.....Party on dudes.

Catching Up

Ok so with tonights post I am finally catching up. I have been doing so many things over the past couple of days. I am soooo ready for a vacation. haha.

Meals.
BK: 5 pts Rasin Bran w/skim milk
LN: 9 pts Jalapeno Chicken griller.
DN: 14 pts. Pizza two slices.
SN: 4 pts. Almond granola bar.
EX: 5.4 miles in 74 min

On to trip report # 3

With most of the Mousefesters heading over to the Animal Kingdom this morning we decided to spend the entire day at MGM.

Tower of terror twice back to back. During our first ride the Disney Dream team showed up in the library room and gave all of us Dream Fastpasses. This was really cool, although with the light crowds we never actually had to use them. We then headed over to the Beauty and the Beast stage show. This was a very nice show and it was also the moment when my wife turned to me and said that the show really put her in the Disney spirit of things. Cool.

Following the show we visited the Walt Disney exhibit and also dropped into the Animation studio. The animation studio has changed drastically. Hello Disney, I miss Robin Williams and Walter Cronkite here. But mostly I miss seeing the animators here. This used to be a place where you could get a sneak peak on an upcoming release. Perhaps even something that was a couple years from hitting the screen even. But sadly no more. Upon exiting the Animation studio we ran into this incredible duo.

Next was lunch at the 50's Primetime cafe. Here, we were reunited with our long lost Brother Robert and our cousin Ted. Strange how my wife and I have the same relations...
This was quite possible my favorite meal on property. I had the Roast Beef Platter. Two thumbs up!
Following lunch we headed off toward the Lights, Motor, Action Extreme Stunt show. On the way there we ran into Rae and E. They were heading toward podfest. We went ahead and followed them and got to visit with them a little bit and listen to Lou introduce many of the podcasters in attendance. I finally got to see Earl from "Trapped on Vacation" Now Earl's show is a little different while his does quite a bit of binaural Disney audio he also records at other Florida locations. His sense of humor is a little different from some of the other podcasters as well. I think he is a lot of fun to listen to. After a little while I spoke with Rae and said we would meet up again at the Rockin Mouse Meet. We then when back to the Stunt show.
Wow what a show! This was a clear example of how Disney shines with a well produced show. Lots of great action and the show that went along with it was nicely done too.
There was even a special appearance from Herbie the Love Bug. Herbie has been a favorite of mine since childhood. It was the first movie I ever saw in a theater. My Grandparents took me to it. Ahh memories...

Now it was time to head over to the big event the Rockin Mouse Meet over at Aerosmiths Rockin Rollercoaster. This would be Jonathans (and our) first ride on this attraction. Jonathan really hammed it up all the way through the queue. Even now I am uncertain how nervous he truely was and how much of it was for show. (Care to comment Jonathan?) Anyway he kept us all entertained before and after the ride. The ride itself was awesome. The ride photo of Bryan and Jonathan was priceless. I am sure Bryan will post it in the All About the Mouse show notes soon. It would not surprise me if Jonathan posted it on his blog either.

Following this Rockin meets we all headed over to see the Osbourne Family Specticle of Holiday Lights. Again another thing at Disney that just blew me away. Especially when music such as the Trans Siberian Orchestra would come on and the lights would move to the music.

Finally the evening had to come to a close. I spoke with Rae and E about the "Team Voice" meet the next day. They had very kindly offered to pick me up from my resort so that we could all get a walk or jog in together during this trip. This was planned to help support each other as we look forward to reaching health goals and participating in the 09' half marathon here at Walt Disney World.

More on that in the next report...

Disney At Christmas

You really have to be here to enjoy this view.

Meals.
Breakfast: 5 pts. Raisin Bran w/skim milk
Lunch:
Dinner: 9 pts. Grilled burger with loads of veggies.
Exercise: More work on the driveway and sidewalks today. Fun, Fun, Fun

Trip Report 2

Headed out to Animal Kingdom to catch Expedition Everest. We rode it twice in a row.
My wife really enjoyed this ride. She was giggling like a little kid. That was so cool.
Next we did the Kilaminjaro Safari. Lots of Animals out on this mornings trip.
After a little shopping we hopped on the bus to eat lunch at the Whispering Canyon Cafe over at Wilderness Lodge.
This place was a lot of fun and the food was good. Our server MT was a real hoot. She and another server really had a wonderful time picking on the couple next to us. It seems that the gal sitting at that table was Disney cast member and they kept trying to make her sing for all of us.
After we got home I realized MT's name was a joke when I looked closer at the receipt. Our servers name was MT Wallet. haha.
Following lunch we took the time to explore the lodge and then we decided to take the ferry over to the Magic Kingdom.

The ferry ride was nice. We had never used Disney's water transportation before. Upon arriving at the Magic Kingdom we rode Pirates of the Carribean. It was here that I bought my first Disney lanyard pins. Next we checked out the Haunted Mansion. The renovations here we really neat. Unfortunitly the ride stopped twice while we were on it. (Those darn playful spooks)

Then it was time for Doc Scopa's Magical Elixer Meet. While walking up to Aloha Isle I spotted Jonathan and Amber right away. After ordering a Dole Whip Float I went over and finally introduced myself to Jonathan. It was nice to finally meet him. This is were I first met Meg and Lou too. After chatting for a bit the Dole whip crowd began to disperse and we all went off in different directions to enjoy the day with friends and spouses.

We grabbed fast passes to Splash Mountain and then crossed the park to do Space Mountain and Buzz Lightyear. My wife totally crushed my score as she took down the evil emporer Zurg.

We tried Haunted again and it broke down right after we exited the streaching room. We decided to hit Splash Mountain. It's funny I don't remember getting wet on this ride before. We got soaked. Happily we had some additional clothes in our backpack.

At seven it was time to see "Mickeys Twas the Night Before Christmas" This was a lot of fun and it was the first time I got to see the new Mickey mask with the moving mouth and eyes. Then it was off to Fantasyland for Philarmagic and Peter Pan. Then off to Frontierland were we rode Big Thunder twice without leaving the train. Next we watched Holiday Wishes. Following wishes we walked toward Tomorrowland as I was hoping to spot Bryan and his wife Amy in MouseFest crowd that was gathered near there. We actually saw them coming up the pathway as we approached. We joined them in watching a stage show over at Cinderellas castle and then we all went over to meet Jonathan and Amber to watch the Christmas Parade. After the parade we hung out a bit longer. Around 11:15 my wife and I said goodniight to everyone and attemped the Haunted Mansion one more time. Yea!! no break downs. To finish the evening we listened to some carolers in Liberty Square and then slowly made our way towards the front gates.

Next Post Disney MGM...

207.6

Wednesday was a beast of a day.

Hello everyone. Well as you can see I did put on three pounds during the trip.

But I am home now, focused, and determined to push that number in the right direction.

We spent Wednesday scraping 2" to 3" of ice off the driveway. It took over two hours and I still need to take care of the sidewalks. I told myself it was alternative exercise.

Fatigue really krept in so no treadmill. But I should be able to get some time on it tomorrow.

Meals:

Breakfast. 5 pts Raisin bran w/skim milk

Lunch. 7 pts 1 taco

Dinner. 12 pts Beef and cheese nachos.

Exercise. Driveway.

Trip report 1:

We departed the Snowy Tundra on 12/5/07 (Walt's Birthday) and arrived in Orlando on time at 6:05 pm. We had to claim our own luggage because our Magical express tags had not arrive with our trip vouchers. This cost us about 30 min.

We then checked in at the Magic Express counter. They confirmed our return flight information and explained how to proceed to the bus that would take us to All Star Movies.

We were escorted to the bus right away and we waited for additional passengers. The bus ride itself was nice except for one women sitting near me who made three calls on her cell phone during the ride. She could have talked softer (or not at all) and not been a bother. Some people just are not considerate of others.

The hotel check-in went smooth. We dropped our luggage in the room and headed out to the bus area to catch a ride to the Magic Kingdom. We had hoped to be on the beach at Poly to watch wishes before dining at Ohanas. As our bus pulled up Wishes was already in progress, we headed up the ramp to catch the resort monorail. While waiting for our dinner seating I enjoyed a Lapu Lapu. This was a drink that Bryan suggested I try. Basically, it is a rum drink served in a hollowed out pineapple. It was very good but very strong. One was enough. We enjoyed Christmas songs in the lobby area sung by a gentleman named Kaleo.

We used the Disney dining plan for this trip. Let me say you get a lot of food. Too much in some places. Ohanas was one of those places. We really liked most of the offerings here but they brought out enough food for four people. Although we sampled everything, a lot of food was wasted because of the vast volume of it. Have I mentioned it was a lot of food?

It actually took me two days to recover from eating so much food. I was not accustomed to it.

After dinner we just explored the resort for a bit and then when back to our room.

More to come Thursday...

A Fine Welcome Home

Hi gang, We have returned safely to the Snowy Tundra.

As you can see we had outside parking at the Des Moines airport.

It looks like the treadmill may become my best pal for awhile.

It was wonderful meeting so many of you this past week in Orlando.

I will post something more in depth soon. I just could not resist posting these pictures right away.

More tomorrow...

204.2

Be sure to look closely at my custom jet. Traveling in style.

Ok, this is the third week I have been at 204. Why is that?

I know why. The past two days have been poor on food.

Yesterday, I could not stay out of the Cashews and Almonds. Trying to pass the time faster yesterday I guess. Anyway a major mistake and I know it.

Plus nursing the foot for two days. It feels much better today.

Ok, here are a couple comments before signing off till 12/12.

First: Rae, I agree lets all strive to maintain this month. I know where you are coming from.

So during December, Maintain-Don't Gain-Work through the Pain. (Don't risk injury though)

Second: Bryan, Congratulations on a wonderful 13 mile run with a great pace of 2hr 7min.

That's awesome and inspiring. Keep at it.

Third: Jonathan, Dude you invaded my dreams this morning. It was actually funny. We meet for the first time and decided to head over to a McDonalds. We ordered combo meals then sat down and had a nice talk while enjoy our diet cokes. Then we threw away the fries and sandwiches and hit the parks.

Well I'm going to finish packing now. See many of you soon.

Mainstreet and MouseFest Await...

It's Getting Closer

"Hey Jonathan! I'm going to Disney World!"

Yes, in just two days I will leave the Snowy Tundra and wing my way down to Florida and the Wonderful World Of Disney. Yeeeeeeee Haaaaaaaaaaaaw!

I am looking forward to making new memories during this trip. I get to spend a number of days in one of my favorite places with my wife. No kids this trip. I know what your thinking 'those poor kids, mom and dad are not taking them'.
I'm thinking about how nice it will be to spend time with my wife. We have never taken a trip away like this before. We are going to miss them. To be truthful I am already thinking about it.
Not only do I get to spend time with my wife, I get to meet new friends during this trip. I can't wait. Friends who have been an encouragement to me this past year and whom hopefully I have been able to encourage back. I am looking forward to seeing you all very soon.

Now on a personal note. Today I did poorly with food. I wanted to get out of the office so I went out to lunch. To make dinner simple tonight we went out to Village Inn. I have used my weight watchers food companion to best figure my points. My snack today was something I had at work before I went to lunch. I know better than that because I have done this before. I should have waited until evening and then looked at points before considering a snack.

Another thing that is going to hurt me tonight is that I am not going to exercise. All day I have had a hot spot on the bottom of my right heel. I believe it was caused by the way my heel strikes the treadmill as I walk. I have never had any problems with my shoes. So I really believe it has something to do with adding longer miles on a surface that I previously had only been doing 4 miles at a time on.

So at least for today I am listening to my body and giving my feet a break. I don't want to, but my head is saying it's the smarter thing to do.

Breakfast: 5 pts. Raisin Bran w/skim milk
Lunch: 14 pts. Chicken and Broccoli pasta, with garlic sticks.
Dinner: 11 pts. Patty Melt at village inn. no fries. no pie.
Snack: 6 pts. Cashew snack mix 2 oz.

Till next time...

"Casablanca" a bygone era of film making.

Humphrey Bogart has been my favorite actor for many years. He, like his films has stood the test of time. The films made during his era are very different from what we see on the silver screen today. Many things in these older films were implied rather than shown.
For example, in Casablanca there is a scene were a drunken bar fly asks Rick (Bogart) "Where were you last night?" His response, "That's so long ago I can't remember."
In just two lines we know that these two characters have a past. We also learn that Rick has no plans of pursuing anything further with her.
Hollywood of today would most likely put us through watching the scene that led up to this verbal exchange in graphic detail. And it really would add nothing to the plot.
Give me a good old western with John Wayne. No need here for graphic scenes. People get shot, sometimes there is blood, and sometimes someone may just grab their chest and fall over. You get the point and know what happened to the character without a lot of excessive violence.
This thought even occured to me last night when watching Die Another Day. In the early Bond films if Connery or Moore were to take a woman back to their room we might see some kissing and then one of them would reach for the lamp on the nightstand. Fade to black cut to the next scene.
Perhaps I am venting here a little, but I truthfully feel movies are much better when certain scenes are left off screen and instead are left to our imagination.

Breakfast: 5 pts. Raisin Bran w/skim milk
Lunch: 10 pts. Turkey Brats w/onions and hot peppers
Dinner: 15 pts. Potato Soup with little BBQ smokies.
Other: 3 pts. Apple Spiced Cider
Exercise: 6.8 miles 103 min

Slush and Treadmill Theater

Slush on the Tundra.

Our weather today included about 6 hours of freezing sleet followed by a light rain shower.
I cleared about an inch of this heavy wintery mix off our driveway and sidewalks. Big Fun.
I kept thinking about how one week from today, I'll be in Florida and enjoying a Kitchen Sink, at Beaches and Cream with new friends. And let's not forget the early morning Team Voice walk/jog meet as well.

We leave here mid day next Wednesday with a predicted temp of 26 degrees.

I considered going outside for exercise tonight, but decided it was not worth risking injury. So onto the treadmill instead. About the only way I can make the treadmill bearable is to watch a DVD at the same time. Usually something with action.
Tonights movie selection was "Die Another Day" Pierce Brosnans last appearance as Bond... James Bond. I walked during the entire thing. 2hr 10min.

Breakfast: 5 pts. Raisin Bran w/skim milk
Lunch: 6 pts. McGrill Chicken Sandwich without mayo.
Dinner: 11pts. Homemade Cicken and Noodles with mashed potatos. And yes, this time I added up the points instead of posting the infamous question mark.

Exercise: 8.7 miles 130 min.

Till next time...