The "Block"

Now, I know better than to post pictures of my coworkers without their permission. However, the opportunity was too comical to pass up, so I lopped off their heads to protect the innocent.

Because I was a corporate trainer for over 26 years, I've very conscientious about body language. So take a look as my coworkers struck a pose. Bet you notice it too.

Es Macht Mich Traurig

Ich bin nicht erlaubt um einen Kommentar auf dem deutschen Disney Store Website veröffentlichen. 

Translation: I'm not allowed to leave a comment on the German Disney Store website. :-(

But if you read German, you may want to click on the picture or check out the site!

Don't Rain On My Parade (Or Pee On It)

I have to admit that it was the picture of the article that caught my eye. I was just going to use that on my Facebook page. But then I was intrigued to read the article. I'm glad I did, because it was a great read. I don't want to give any of it away, so to read the entire Star Tribune article, click here.

Keepsake Ornament Fall Debut Weekend

It's that time of the year again. Thankfully the October event doesn't leave me as broke as the July one. But I still had to get up early and be at Hallmark by 8:00 to be one of the first to get the limited edition ornaments. No Star Wars ones this time around, but there were two great Disney ones: Cheshire Cat and Eve.

I have enough ornaments to decorate at least four trees, and at this rate, I can do five soon.

 

Click here to visit the Hallmark Keepsake Ornament site.

Anniversary Weekend

This weekend, I flew out to Colorado to celebrate my Dad's 77th birthday and my parent's 51st anniversary.  It's also another anniversary. On Monday, October 1st, EPCOT will be celebrating its 30th anniversary.  It's wonderful to see Walt's dream come alive and how much it's changed.

The first time I went to EPCOT was in 1986 with a bunch of friends. I was hooked from the moment we arrived, and it remains my favorite Park at Walt Disney World.

Besides everything that World Showcase has to offer, two of the best things to come out of EPCOT are Figment at The Journey Into Imagination pavilion and Kitchen Kabaret at The Land pavilion. If you don't know I'm a huge Figment fan, just check out this earlier blog post. Who couldn't love Figment?

Now if you mention Bonnie Appetite, Mr. Dairy Goods, The Cereal Sisters, Hamm and Eggz, the Colander Combo and the Fiesta Fruit to any fan, they will probably start singing some songs. The one that you will probably hear most often is 'Veggie Veggie Fruit Fruit'.

Courtesy of http://www.omniluxe.net/wyw/kk.htm

Tucked away in my storage unit are some plush toys of the Fiesta Fruit, ceramics of Mr. Dairy Goods and the Cereal Sisters, an apron, pot holder, the above place mat and various post cards. I wish they had done more! (And if Walt Disney Classics Collection is reading this, we must see them in WDCC!) Need proof of the apron? Check out this photo of me back in the '80's! That's back when I had hair and was thinner. I miss the '80's.

So Happy 30th to EPCOT and he's to many, many more years!

The Disney Store blog has a nice little tribute, so be sure to check it out here.

And that's just part of the proof from my shopping extravaganza on that trip.

Happy 51st Anniversary, Mom and Dad!

Today marks my dear parents' 51st anniversary. When I think about their history of immigrating from Indonesia to the Netherlands and then to the United States, it amazes me. Then to raise my sister and me in a country foreign to their own and having to put us with their two 'darling' children...well, to say they are saints is an understatement.

After we went to church today, I took them to the newly opened Bonefish Grill. I've been to locations in Atlanta and Orlando, so I know how good the food tastes.

But today, the service was over-the-top excellent. Amy, our server, caught on that I said it was my parents' anniversary. She congratulated them and served us crab cakes, calamari, shrimp and scallops, and Chilean sea bass.

At the end of our meal, the restaurant manager came by with a lovely surprise for my parents, courtesy of the chef.

My parents were just plain thrilled with the chocolate covered strawberries! (As you can tell. That is a smile for Dad!)

So to my two wonderful parents. Thank you so much for all the sacrifices you made for me, and for being the best parents anyone could have hoped or asked for. I truly am blessed!!!

Anniversaries Abound: 'Fairytale Ending' is Just the Beginning

Why the big grin? Well, I just stopped in to one of the best collectible shops around, the family-run business called 'The Gift House' in Lakewood, Colorado.  If you want to read my glowing review on Yelp, click here.

Febra is one of my main suppliers of my Walt Disney Classics Collection obsession. Her parents, Clyde and Fay, told my parents and me on our last visit to them a few months ago about a local Chinese restaurant and market, and we were hooked. So when I asked my folks if they wanted to go to Denver with me, it was a no-brainer. I was going to take them to lunch at that Chinese restaurant, but my sister made me change our plans. (You can read about our lunch at Tucanos Brazilian Grill on Yelp too)

But I digress. The reason for this visit was not only to pick up one of my layaway WDCC pieces, but I wanted to get Mom a Bambi and Thumper piece for her collection. Dad, well, he wandered off to buy a loaf of bread from Lenny's Sub Shop (don't ask).

Febra knew how much I really wanted to see the new WDCC Fantasia Fairies, so she brought out the box and piece for me to see. Wow is it gorgeous! But I didn't want to carry that fragile piece on the plane with me, so I opted for my other "must have" (of the moment!) piece: Snow White and the Prince.

 

Again, this piece was much larger and more solid than I expected, but this piece really captures so much of the emotion I feel when I see that part of the animated feature. This piece was made in honor of the 75th anniversary of 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs'. So in 2012, I was able to go to the Carthay Circle Restaurant at Disney's California Adventure and pick up this beautiful piece. Like how I tied that together?


And while I didn't really care what number I got, Febra gave me #138 out of 750. And 138 is close to 1937, which is the year 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs' debuted. Okay, that's a bit of a stretch.

But the piece comes with two special backstamps: one for the 75th anniversary and one for the 20th anniversary of the Walt Disney Classics Collection. And tomorrow is my parents' 51st anniversary, so it's anniversary weekend! (Now I'm really out of control!)

To read more about this piece as well as seeing additional angles, check out my friend, The Duckman's Blog, at Snow White and Prince "Fairytale Ending".