The Mouse

I saw The Mouse a couple of weeks ago. I went with my cousin and her family. It was soo much fun going with my ninja nephew and princess niece. Seeing Disney through their eyes really is magical.

Disney Halloween

I got all caught up in the election, then I caught a cold and next thing I know, it's a week later and I still haven't posted the pics from my Halloween getaway to Disneyland.I've gone to Disney a lot this year, but this was the annual girlfriends trip. We left the bay area early Halloween morning and were in the park by 2pm.

We decided to to go to California Adventures first because it closed at 6pm.
I love how they decorate the parks for Halloween and Christmas. They totally get into the spirit of things!

Before the end of Halloween night, we watched the fireworks and rode on the Haunted Mansion ride that was totally decorated in the Nightmare Before Christmas.


Disneyland even had a section of the park decorated for Dia de los Muertos.


Mickey is dressed in his festive autumn colors as he leads the band down Main Street.

No matter how many times I go to Disneyland, there's always something new to see.
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Everyone hail to the pumpkin song

Boys and girls of every age
Wouldn't you like to see something strange?
Come with us and you will see
This, our town of Halloween
This is Halloween, this is Halloween
Pumpkins scream in the dead of night
This is Halloween, everybody make a scene
Trick or treat till the neighbors gonna die of fright
It's our town, everybody scream
In this town of Halloween
I am the one hiding under your bed
Teeth ground sharp and eyes glowing red
I am the one hiding under your stairs
Fingers like snakes and spiders in my hair
This is Halloween, this is Halloween
Halloween! Halloween! Halloween! Halloween!
In this town we call home
Everyone hail to the pumpkin song
In this town, don't we love it now?
Everybody's waiting for the next surprise
Round that corner, man hiding in the trash can
Something's waiting now to pounce, and how you'll scream
Scream! This is Halloween
Red 'n' black, slimy green
Aren't you scared?
Well, that's just fine
Say it once, say it twice
Take the chance and roll the dice
Ride with the moon in the dead of night
Everybody scream, everybody scream
In our town of Halloween
I am the clown with the tear-away face
Here in a flash and gone without a trace
I am the "who" when you call, "Who's there?"
I am the wind blowing through you hair
I am the shadow on the moon at night
Filling your dreams to the brim with fright
This is Halloween, this is Halloween
Halloween! Halloween! Halloween! Halloween!
Halloween! Halloween!
Tender lumplings everywhere
Life's no fun without a good scare
That's our job, but we're not mean
In our town of Halloween
In this town
Don't we love it now?
Everyone's waiting for the next surprise
Skeleton Jack might catch you in the back
And scream like a banshee
Make you jump out of your skin
This is Halloween, everyone scream
Won't ya please make way for a very special guy
Our man Jack is king of the pumpkin patch
Everyone hail to the Pumpkin King now
This is Halloween, this is Halloween
Halloween! Halloween! Halloween! Halloween!
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Woody Wednesday

Woody: Look, we're all very impressed with Andy's new toy.
Buzz: Toy?
Woody: T-O-Y, toy.
Buzz: Excuse me, I think the word you're searching for is "space ranger".
Woody: The word I'm searching for, I can't say, because there's preschool toys present.
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Tyrannosaurus Tuesday

"What if Andy gets another dinosaur? A mean one? I don't think I can take that kind of rejection." - Rex, Toy Story 1995
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Monster Monday

Sulley and I hope you have a good day.
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Free admission to Disney resorts on your bday!

It's true! Danielle's sister forwarded me this link, and I had to share it. Check it out here if you want to be at the happiest place on earth on your birthday.
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What's up with that? I went to Disneyland almost 2 weeks ago and I haven't blogged about it yet!?!

Ya know that 5k that I didn't do? It was at Disneyland. Since I had all the arrangements planned, I still wanted to go even though I couldn't run. Plus, Danielle's sister ran it and Danielle's daughter was signed up for the 100 yard dash, so I couldn't miss seeing that! Gave me another great weekend with my dear friend and her family.

Besides that, we've had some more work going on at the hideaway. We had 8 tall trees chopped down that were dangerously hanging over the house.
This weekend, we have to reseal the driveway and cul-de-sac. Dirty, icky, back breaking work. I'm wondering if I can use my not-really-sore-anymore foot to get out of the manual labor? Can't I just be the on-site photographer, like Pioneer Woman, and leave the yucky stuff to the others?
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I just can't help myself

I went to Disneyland again! Sure, I just went 6 weeks ago, but when Phin suggested going, I couldn't say no! How can you say no to the Happiest Place On Earth?

When I went in April, we missed the fireworks show and it's one of the best firework shows I've seen. It's 2nd only to the New York City 4th of July Firework Show that I saw in 1996. But the Disney fireworks show is a theatrical extravaganza. The fireworks and light show are synchronized to the music of the various themed lands, for instance Adventureland, Tomorrowland, and so forth, plus the most popular rides within that land like Space Mountain and Indiana Jones. And keep an eye out for Tinkerbell!! She actually flies in and sprinkles her pixie dust magic over the castle.

Click on pics to enlarge and see Tinkerbell in 2 of 'em.








technical details for those who want it:
Camera: Canon Rebel
Lens: Tamron 28-200 (handheld)
ISO: 1600
shutter speed: 1/15 sec
Aperture: auto but varied from f/4 to f/22
(I admit I'm very happy with how these came out. Probably the best fireworks shots I've taken. I'm most pleased because I used the big lens without a tripod. I think it's because I increased the ISO and found the magic shutter speed to work with where I was standing. None of the photos have been altered aside from straightening.)
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DCA Highlights - Day 2

DCA stands for Disney's California Adventure, Disney's other theme park next to Disneyland. Its theme recreates California landmarks, culture and such. We spent most of the day here, till 8 or 9pm when we went back to Disneyland for a few last rides on the kids favorites.Even Minnie Mouse wears the casual California attire.

These are 3 old friends. We've known each other since the 4th or 5th grade. We weren't just friends in school, we hung out after school and during the long, hot desert summer months. Linda and Loretta were best friends through those formative years and maintained their friendship over the past 20+ since graduation. When Linda and I reconnected last summer, she filled me in on how Loretta's been. She lives with her family in the town where we grew up, which is about 1 1/2 hours from Disneyland. So she and her family spent the day with us at DCA. It was so good to reconnect with her and meet her family. It's just warms my heart that even after 20 years I can reconnect with these wonderful, beautiful women. I know for certain that my friendship with them, especially Linda, will continue, hopefully able to visit ever few years or so. I certainly can't imagine waiting till we're 60 (!) to see each other again. Now that would be a trip!

"J" and "S" posed in front of all of the letters that spell out CALIFORNIA. A few years ago on a Disney trip with Phin and Shan, they posed in front of all the letters with the intent of scrapbooking the photos. So I passed this little tip to Linda because coincidentally, she scrapbooks, too!

Our last ride of the night was on Space Mountain. Linda and J in the front. Loretta and her friend Deloris in the middle, and me and "S" in the 3rd row. All smiles!

Rides: Soarin' Over California, Tower of Terror, Mulholland Madness, California Screamin', Maliboomer, Orange Stinger, Sun Wheel, Tower of Terror. Then Indiana Jones and Space Mountain again at Disneyland. Note to self: Never ever again, ride on that damn ferris wheel. I actually puked a little. Roller coasters, loop de loops, fast drops? Sure, no problem! Just don't talk me into a ferris wheel where the cage freefalls around, please.
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Disneyland highlights - Day 1

I spent 4 days in Southern California with friends from Alaska. Linda, my friend from high school, her son "J", her co-worker and friend Sandy and Sandy's "Little Sister" "S". Linda hadn't been to Disneyland since grad night 22 years ago, and it was the first time for the others.
The four of them in Toontown.

In the Buzz Lightyear ride.

On Splash Mountain.

"J" doing his pirate impression, wearing his pirate Mickey ears.

"J" with Stitch paws and a Jack Skellington hat. They boy cracks me up!

Rode on: Star Wars, Space Mountain, Matterhorn, Roger Rabbit, Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, Splash Mountain, Tarzan's Tree House, Indiana Jones, Jungle Cruise, Big Thunder Mountain.
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Where am I off to next?

Well, this one shouldn't surprise most of you.

I'm going to...
Disneyland!

Some of you may recall that last July when Jimmy and I were in Alaska for my brother-in-law's wedding, I met up with a long lost friend from high school. She has a 10 year old son and he's never been to Disneyland before so she thought this would be a great year to go. Plus, we both turn 40 this year so she thought it'd be a little extra special celebration to feel like a kid again as we head into this landmark birthday. As an added bonus, another friend from high school, who still lives in the high desert where we all grew up, will join us on Thursday. It's like a mini-reunion at the happiest place on earth.
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Back from a Magical Journey

We had another great trip to Anaheim for our annual girl's trip to Disneyland. Here we are at our traditional first photo of the weekend.

For the first time, we decided to go during the spring. Beautiful, yesh? The weather was fantastic, too. Not too hot, but sunny and just warm enough to want to go on the water rides.

The fireworks and light show at the castle are coordinated to music about each of the different lands. It's such an amazing thing to see. Tinkerbell even flies down from the top of the Matterhorn to Sleeping Beauty's castle. It's one of the best fireworks I've ever seen, only topped by Macy's Forth of July fireworks celebration over the East River in NYC in 1996.

A few of our highlights and points to remember:

-On the drive down to Anaheim, eat breakfast and lunch in the car. It'll save 2 hours and get you to the park sooner, allowing for a more relaxed Saturday at the park.
-We spotted Elvis in New Orleans Square eating breakfast. No, he wasn't part of Disneyland, he was visiting, just like us.
-Space Mountain and California Screaming blasted the Red Hot Chili Peppers during the ride. Freaking AWESOME!!
-the Nemo ride doesn't open till summer.
-They make crocs with Disney head icons.
-I'm not a fan of croc clogs but I did buy a pair of the croc flip flops and have to admit they are like walking on clouds. I wore them all day Friday and Saturday and nary a problem.
-Southern Californian's love them their designer handbags. Especially Coach. Just about every other woman/teenager over the age of 12 (some younger. Really.) carried a designer bag. It's no wonder I formed my obsession of them when I lived there! ;-)
-You really get a chance to see what everyone's wearing when you're standing in line next to them for 1/2 and hour to an hour, criss-crossing back and forth. Gives you a good opportunity to see which handbag or shoes you want next.
-The Star Wars Jedi Training Academy was way more exciting than I expected. I also didn't know that Jedi masters were so comedic. I was laughing so hard I was crying nearly the whole time.
-Mickey Mouse climbed the Matterhorn.
-They really are making an effort to provide healthier choice options for dining. Yay.
-The power of suggestion is strong. If you're a cast member of the Star Tours ride, don't mention that "someone just got sick and I have to clean it up" to the next victims, I mean, riders of a very motion oriented ride.
-It's very easy to get caught up in the Disney merchandising. Every. Single. Year.

Goin' to Disneyland

Tomorrow morning the 3 of us are off on our annual trip to Disneyland. This time we're going in the spring instead of fall. Should be fun! Might be able to do some of those water rides. :)

My niece's joke

"Why couldn't the 10 year old go to see the Pirate movie?"

because...

It was rated "Argh!"

Thankful for Family and Disneyland

Friday we went to Disneyland and hung out with the nephews and nieces and our brothers and sisters. Unfortunately, one niece wasn't feeling well so she went home with her dad along with her uncle and her littlest cousin. But 8 of us, 5 adults and 3 kids age 9, 5 and 3 had a lot of fun at the Happiest Place On Earth.Family in the teacup with the flower. Never did like this ride much, but this time had a blast. Probably because I was concentrating on taking photos rather than my stomach being turned upside down.

Me and 5yo nephew on the Dumbo ride.

Jimmy and 3yo nephew on the Buzz Lightyear ride.

The kids on Dumbo.

Madretz, you just finished your first race. What are you going to do now?

"I'm going to...
Disneyland???"

hahahaha!
Whooo Hooo!!! Here I am, post race, with my supportive coach doing a celebration pose on the Mickey head icon.

I DID IT!!!

It was hard, I wish I was conditioned better, but it was so awesome running through Disneyland and having all the characters cheering us on.

What? I have a bib number on my t-shirt?? Are you serious?? ME??? Never in my lifetime would I have imagined this sight. And how cool is this...the 5k theme was Pirates of the Caribbean. Yes, that's Captain Jack Sparrow running my my chest. Phin took this photo of me at 5:48am, right before we walked over to the starting line.

2,999 other runners waiting for the race to begin.

Mickey, Minnie and their pirate pal cheered us on as we approached the starting line.
Whoo hoo! Crossing the starting line, just 3.1 more miles to go.

Running down Main Street. Actually, walking quickly down Main Street. As you can see, there are a lot of people. It was easier (and a good excuse) to walk with them rather than navigate around them. The good thing about walking was that you could take a tiny bit more time to take in the experience. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

We ran through Adventureland and guess who was cheering us on??
Captain Jack Sparrow himself!! Verry close, but not quite Johnny Depp. Sheesh, I certainly would have passed out if it were. Talk about being breathless.

Running through the castle!! Cinderella, Prince Charming and the Fairy Godmother's all cheering us on.

Running through California Adventures. These wide open spaces is where a lot of the runners left me in the dust. We ran our last mile in DCA and Phin and I crossed the finish line...eh...approximately 45 minutes after we crossed the starting line. In all of the pre-race literature, they specifically said that to receive a medal you had to complete the race with a 15 minute per mile pace and that all runners who didn't finish within that time would be picked up and brought to the finish line but I don't think they did because there were still a few hundred runners behind me.

The coveted Disneyland 5k Fun Run Medal and commemorative Pirates of the Caribbean t-shirt! These, along with my memories and the photos Phin took during the race are cherished.