It's All About the Status

If you do any amount of travel, you know how important it is to achieve and maintain your status. Not in society, however that can be argued, but with your frequent flyer program. Mine is with Delta and its SkyMiles Medallion program.

This has happened to me before, so I am used to it. Around mid-December, I was on my last scheduled trip. When I checked my SkyMiles status with Delta, I discovered I was $32 and 2 segments (a round trip) short of reaching my 2017 member status. Crud! So while I was in Colorado Springs, I booked a quick, turn-around trip from MSP to ORD and back.

Now a few years ago when I did this, what started out as a short trip turned into a nightmare due to weather delays. However, I was confident that this time would be different since I knocked on my head for good luck.

So I flew out to Chicago with no problems. I didn't book the immediate return flight just in case of any delays. I tried to catch an earlier flight, but I was too cheap to pay the $50 to fly standby. Instead, I just hung out in the SkyClub Lounge and had coffee and something to eat. They had grits there!

As I was looking out the window, reading my Star Wars Catalyst - A Rogue One book (I highly recommend it!), I glanced out the window and saw a Star Wars BB-8 ANA jet! It was unexpected. And while I wanted to fly and see a C-3PO jet, I was happy to have seen this one. I then hopped on my flight back to MSP and scored my 2017 frequent flyer status. All in all, it was a very successful and fulfilling day. It was a nice way to end 2016.

Star Wars and the Power of Costume

One of my good friends decided to surprise me and treated me to a day that will live on in Galactic history. We went to see the Star Wars and the Power of Costume exhibit at the Denver Art Museum (DAM). It was brilliant! I've gone to other Star Wars exhibits in the past, but there were so many costumes I hadn't seen as well as behind the scenes stories and artwork. It truly was an amazing day.

The collection spanned costumes from Episode I all the way through Episode VI.

We learned about symbols representing Auerbesh and Naboo languages, and saw the different types of fabrics that were used to make the elaborate costumes. They even had some beloved and recognizable characters on display. (Not me).

 

It's one of those exhibits where you can go many times and see something new every time. I sure I can see it again! If you have the chance, add this to you bucket list you must. Yes, mmmm!

To learn more details about the exhibit, click here.

My Favorite Dream

Probably a lesser-known Disney character that is still one I hold dearly is the Golden (or Singing) Harp from Disney's Fun and Fancy Free, the 1947 animation 'package' features, which was a collection of shorts. The big piece of trivia from this movie is it the last time Walt Disney himself would voice Mickey Mouse.

A few years ago, a few dear friends gave me the Walt Disney Classics Collection version of the Golden Harp. I just love her!

A couple of weeks ago, a friend of mine at Disneyland told me about pieces of his artwork that are being sold. When I saw his version of the Golden Harp, I knew I had found the backdrop to match the WDCC piece!

Star Wars Socks

I was at Nordstrom in Chicago when I found these must-have socks! I bought these for me, and a pair of Chewbacca socks for a friend. Now I want the 'location' socks you see in the background!

Click here to go find more socks!

Hot Dog! (Or a Hot Italian Beef)

Anyone who travels to Chicago knows there are many staples you must eat when you're in Chi-Town. One of those is Portillo's. I'm always up for a hot Italian beef. Mmmm.

On this trip as I was driving to our Chicago office, I just about caused a traffic accident when I discovered they opened a Portillo's blocks away from our office! I was more than elated! I'm in heaven!!!

Click here to learn more about Portillo's, and click here to see a menu!

Lost Stars

I just finished reading, 'Lost Stars', by Claudia Gray. Don't let the category of 'Young Adult Novel' scare you away from reading this. It was a great read!

The only downside I had without giving anything away, is I was expecting a cliff-hanger. I wasn't prepared for how much of a cliff-hanger with which I was left. Good thing I'm ready to read the next book! You can find the book here.

Anyway, only the die-hard geeks will understand what I found amusing. Don't worry. There's nothing here that will spoil anything.

 

Friday the 13th

Magic Mirror on the wall. Who's the biggest geek of all?

Back to My Roots

I've been buy way too many t-shirts lately. There are so many good ones! I saw this one today, and I did pass on a Lion King one I wanted. I just don't know if I really 'need' this one. I already know what my friends will say.

Click here to see more.

Separated at Birth?

After being in CO for a few days, I returned to the office today and was greeted by this site. Please note I work in city and not on the farm.

 

It made me wonder. Were they separated at birth? 

Disney (Not So) Infinity

It's like I've been sucker-punched in the stomach. I thought I hadn't read it correctly. I had trouble finding an original article or announcement, but with each article I skimmed, the reality sunk in: Disney has discontinued Disney Infinity.

My first reaction was, "What am I going to do? All the hours I've been playing, and money invested. All for not?" Then another reality quickly settled in: 300 people are going to lose their jobs.

Disney blamed failing earnings and sales in the game not being where they were. But I think, as many other people do, this is just another blow to the franchise from the poorly managed budget for Shanghai Disneyland.

I honestly am numb. I'm on the road and away from my PS3 and PS4, so I can't even play a game just to console myself. No pun intended. I'm one of the biggest Disney supporters out there (Yes, we all say that). But I truly am disappointed in Disney this time around. This reminds me of some things from the past when I worked for Disney where certain people got greedy, they spread the Company too thinly, and they didn't learn from the past. It's such a shame. Disney Infinity was a good revenue stream for the Company. I don't have children, so as an 'adult' over 50, this one way to get my Disney fix since I'm landlocked in the Midwest (for now) and can't go to the Parks like other people on a regular basis.

The first sentence by John Blackburn assumes we 'may' have heard the news, and as a writer, one should never make that assumption. Especially when the news is not good news.

Here is the link to the "official" announcement. At least we can continue to play and replay the game for now. I guess I'll have to switch over to another game to consume my free time. I haven't really given Star Wars Battlefront the full attention I need. Now I can.

Star Wars Geeki Tikis

We all know there's a lot of Star Wars stuff going on today. On one of my favorite merch sites, ThinkGeek, they are coming out that blends two things I really enjoy. I think they might be must-haves!

To purchase, click here.

May The 4th Be With You

Once again, I have too much time on my hands and had to make some pictures for today's celebration.

Enjoy.

Time for Brackets

March Madness means a lot to some sports fans. I always lose at the traditional brackets, so I'm glad I've found two that I understand. Not that it helps me to win. Click on the links for the corresponding bracket to create your own. Disney will be releasing related branded merchandise soon!

 

Click here to view Disney March Magic Bracket information. 

Click here to view 'This Is Madness' Bracket information.

What a Bargain!

All I have to say is that must be some darn good chicken.

It's Not Carbonite, But It Works

I've finally reached my limit with the refrigerator at my workplace. Some of my coworkers must have housekeepers, because they have no concept of cleaning up after themselves. It's bad enough I have to run the dishwasher and put away the dishes with minimal help. There are times when I'm not at work and come back the next day to find the dishwasher and sink full of dirty dishes and no one has stepped in to help out.

But I digress. People take turns bringing in treats for our location on Fridays, and today was my turn. Well, I had trouble putting the orange juice, fruit and cream cheese away, not to mention finding moldy containers of expired food. This is why I never partake in potlucks. If they can't even keep a common work-space clean, imagine how their kitchens and houses must look like!

Desperate times call for desperate measures. I finally decided to buy a mini-cooler for my office where I could put my lunch away without fear of germs and heaven knows what else. It arrived today. What do you think?

It holds a six-pack of drinks or, as you can see, my lunch, with spare room. This can be set to keep food cool or hot. I thought my coworkers had issues. Check out the reviews on this mini-cooler. People are stupid. Were they expecting a real Han Solo in Carbonite?

Click here to read the reviews on Amazon.

Clouds

I typically prefer an aisle seat when flying, but the window seat in the exit row is okay. The clouds were pretty and had interesting patterns.

And of course I started daydreaming, like any good Star Wars fan would...

Disney Sketchbook Ornament Collection

Sit down for this long show-and-tell. Disney has been releasing limited ornaments; one ornament per month. There are some I've waited for and missed, like last month's Dopey and Sneezy. It's so frustrating when they sell out right away.

Last week when I was at an obscure outlet in WI, what do I find on the shelves? Last month's limited release, sold out ornament. The Cast Member says in a syrupy Disney voice, "I don't know how or why we got them!" I am happy that I was able to get one, but that's not the point. They shouldn't have been at the outlet in the first place. 

I've been checking every day, at least a couple of times per day, for February's ornament. Finally today, it opened up and I jumped on it. So I'm two for two in 2016. Now I have to make sure I score the Humphrey the Bear and Louis ornaments.

Story time is over. ‪#‎firstworldproblems‬

It's Like Disney's Animal Kingdom...Sort Of

I'm at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells for an annual seminar we host for work. I looked out of my balcony and thought this doesn't even come close to Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge in FL.