Back on November 16, 2007, I wrote THIS:

Okay, it was a short post, so if you don't want to click, here it is again in it's entirety:

A Sign Of The Times

Yup. Christmas is coming, alright.



Now, six years later (holy crap, I just realized it's nearly to the DAY - that's scary), I still get way too many flyers and no newspaper, but to make matters worse, I am getting inundated with an avalanche of EMAIL adverts too....


13 new emails this morning. Only one of which was NOT advertising. I have been hitting the Unsubscribe button on a daily basis. You know, that teenie tiny link sneakily hidden somewhere in a light colour at about point 2 font size like this: unsubscribe

And not only do you have to hit the link, there is always that inevitable questionnaire on how sorry they are to see you go (sob!), and why oh why on earth would you leave us! (simply check off a reason from our handy-dandy list of 30 choices), oh and by the way, it will take at least 10 business days to process your request (insert evil laugh here).

Both my blue bin in the garage and my trash bin on the laptop are filling up fast.

Yup. Christmas is coming, alright.

Oooh. Déjà vu.

While in Florida a few weeks back, I decided that even though I was alone, I had to visit both Disney World and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Since motion-sickness prevents me from trying most of the rides, I still was planning on walking about, picking up a few souvenirs and relaxing on the more docile attractions.

At Disney World, after enjoying a smooth sail on Pirates of the Caribbean, I wandered about Adventureland. I could hear a train whistle in the distance and thought a nice steam locomotive ride would be nice. When I saw there was a line up though, I decided to Fast Pass it and come back later instead of waiting around.

Little did I realize (until it was far too late, stuck sardine-like inside as the crowd inched forward, natch) that "Big Thunder Mountain" is NOT the steam locomotive ride... it was a kerazy roller coaster!

Oh crappity crap crap!

I texted daughter back home panicked that I was about to die. Or be horribly sick. SHE thought it was hilarious.

I however, did not. But I did survive. Barely. And I kept brekkie down. I was, however, nauseous for about two hours.


So you'd think I wouldn't make that mistake again.

Well, you'd be wrong. Very wrong.

For as I was enjoying my visit to Hogsmeade at The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter a few days later, (you can read all about that HERE) I made a stupid decision yet again.

As I was walking up to Hogwart's, I assumed I was heading for the castle tour. When entering the dark interior, the first thing they tell you is that you have to leave all your belongings (including my large camera) in a free locker. Surprised, I did as I was told but was disheartened to learn that I wouldn't be able to take photos of the tour. Oh well, it looked to be awesome anyway.

Because I was alone, they unclipped a barrier and directed me up a corridor away from the 45 minute wait line.

Brilliant! I could hardly believe it!

But before I knew it, I was herded into a seat, locked down with three other people and quickly whisked away sideways.

Holy crap! I was on the RIDE! I knew instantly what a mistake this was; Hermoine waved her wand and we soon were flying up above the castle, led by Harry on a broomstick. Up and down, around and around we went... now I knew why this seat was molded to hold you in tight. I watched for a bit, felt quite green and squeezed my eyes shut as I endured a seemingly endless jostling (it was only about 5 minutes in reality).

I bravely opened my eyes a few times to witness dragons, Aragog (a huge spider), Dementors, the Death Mark over the Quidditch patch and was relieved to finally see the whole gang greeting us on our return to the castle. I did it! I staggered off the ride and welcomed the fresh air outside once more.

At least I can watch what I missed, safely seated in my stationary chair at home:




Hopefully I have now learned my lesson. I just can't be allowed to go to a theme park alone anymore - I need someone to tell me "No Maureen - this isn't for you."

Because I obviously can't seem to handle that responsibility myself.

Since work sent Maureen to Orlando for a medical conference last week, I got to join her on another trip to America!

We weren't going all that way just for business though - we got in two days of good old Florida tourism; joining the crowds at Disney World and Universal Studios.


And boy, were there crowds!

We thought going early on a Monday would be quieter at Disney - um no! But Chip and Dale welcomed me with open arms... I think they liked my USA flag T-shirt.


We said hi to Walt but he was much too tall for me to shake hands.


Mickey was quite dapper in his Halloween outfit.


There were pumpkins and Fall decor everywhere.






Captain Sparrow was a gracious host, entertaining us with a few lines of "Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me".


It was a very hot and humid day for late October...but we rode a Big Thunder Mountain, went Under The Sea with The Little Mermaid,


stepped aboard the Pirates of the Caribbean ride,


rode a steam locomotive, had lunch with Gaston,


enjoyed the People Mover through Tomorrowland, sat in the revolving theater for Walt's classic "Carousel of  Progress",


visited Cinderella's Castle,


 laughed at Melvin, Buff and Max at the Country Bears Jamboree


and rode the Monorail! A lot of fun despite the crowds and crazy heat.

But the bestest thing of all?

I even got a pair of ears just my size!

Although our drive down to Minnesota was mainly a Mother-Daughter shopping trip, we made sure to set aside enough time to visit our friends at the Minneapolis Zoo. We loved seeing old friends and meeting new acquaintances.

The dramatic clouds swirling overhead...

Ominous thunder rumbling louder and louder ...

The sweet smell of the rain...

The hail however,



I can do without.


Yikes.

Something's amiss... I hope.

Last night as the Winnipeg Jets were crushing the Florida Panthers, the Fox TV feed of the Panther's play-by-play near the end of the game was hilarious.... instead of describing the defeat, the two announcers from Florida went into a conversation on the "Fun Facts About Winnipeg". I mean, it had to be more interesting than what their team was doing, no?

Oh yes it was:




And here are even more fun facts about my fine city they didn't mention:


Bob Hope played his first game of golf here.

It's the city Pi's family was headed for in The Life of Pi.

The Harlequin Romance publishing empire began in Winnipeg.

Winnipeg celebrities include Monty Hall, David Steinberg, Terry Fox, Neil Young, The Guess Who, Randy Bachman (BTO) and Oscar Winner Anna Paquin.

The Second World War’s most famous spymaster Sir William Stephenson, the man called Intrepid, was the inspiration for Ian Fleming’s 007. He was born and raised in Winnipeg.

The first movie ever filmed in Canada was in Winnipeg. It was propaganda for the CP railway, singing the praises of Manitoba to entice European farmers and their families to resettle here.

The Pan American Games, which are second in scale only to the summer Olympics, have been held twice in Canada—both times (1967 and 1999) in Winnipeg.

Winnipeg holds the 2008 Guinness World Record for the longest naturally frozen skating trail.

Tommy Douglas— raised in Winnipeg—is recognized as the “Father of Medicare” in this country.

Winnipegger Charles Thorson worked as part of the design team that created Snow White—who incidentally bore a striking resemblance to his Winnipeg girlfriend—during his time at Walt Disney Studio in the 1930s. While at the Warner Brothers Animation “factory,” he created the name and prototype of the infamous cartoon character, Bugs Bunny.

At the time of construction in 1968, the Winnipeg Floodway was the second-largest earth-moving project in the world after the Panama Canal. It has saved the city from flooding many times since it was constructed

In the early 1900s, Sherlock Holmes author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle attended a séance at a Winnipeg physician's home and later declared, “Winnipeg stands very high among the places we have visited for its psychic possibilities.”

Winnipeg National Microbiology Laboratory houses Canada’s only Biological Safety Level 4 containment laboratory, used to test the most deadly human and animal diseases. In 2012, local scientists discovered antibodies to cure Ebola.



Oh, and it's nearly mid-April and it's still snowing.

Yep. I love it here :)