How Walt Disney defined my vision

Dear Walt (as in Disney),

My name is Valerie and I am simple woman from a simple background.

I grew up without the instant availability of french fries, a stoplight, or home delivery of the mail.

We lived in the Great White North, where we didn't lock our doors even when we went on vacation, kids would hold their graduation parties in gravel pits, and the first true crush I even had was a boy in 5th grade named Travis who I actually heard from on the Facebook just this morning.

No Internet.  No computer.  No cable. 

My dad was a working man, my mom a working mom, and often times money was tight.  We didn't get out of Alaska much so when we did, it was really impactful.

 

It is funny that I have ended up in Missouri now.  Your home state.  I have been to your hometown of Marceline (ate some Sonic.)  Stood in your dad's old butcher shop.  I had a job offer from the Art Institute that you briefly studied at.  You and I have ties.   :)

Which leads me to my point of this letter....
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Thank you, Walt.

What is that?  you say.

Let me say it again.  "Thank you, Walt."  From one Missourian to another.

When I was in the fourth grade, my parents pulled me out of school for an extended vacation during the school year.  My dad was a roofer so we were not able to travel in the summer.  That was work season.

So, we tromped around Hawaii and then spent some time in California, in which we got to go to Disneyland.

I remember all of it very clearly, including coveting the Minnie Mouse stuffed animal with the polka dot dress and the big red bow that I wanted sooooo bad but was too scared to tell my grandma when she asked me if I wanted anything. 

There is one ride that just completely bowled me over.

It's A Small World. 

I never knew such a world exsisted.  

I knew the song before I knew it was a ride.  I had the record you know.

It wasn't the ride itself that impacted me.   It was the pictures my mother took during it that so profoundly influenced me---after the ride.

After we got home and she eventually put the pictures of the dolls from the ride in an album.  I looked at them so much growing up that I thought I would look the ink right off the paper.

I wanted to be where those dolls where.  South America.  Asia.  Scandinavia.  See the costumes.  Hear the music.  It spoke to my soul, even as a kid. 

I never forgot that there was a whole world out there, waiting for me to see it. 

So I've gone.  A lot.

A couple weeks ago we went to Disney World for my first time, and we went on the Small World ride. 

And those feelings from 33 years ago came flooding back to me. 

This time, I took my own pictures so I can visit whereever whenever I want to.  :)

Thanks, Walt, for your vision.  It has broadened mine.

Southern Superlatives

When I was in high school, they had goofy awards called "Senior Superlatives."
You know them.....awards voted on by your classmates.  There was"Best Dressed" (I didn't win that--surprised?  :) ), "Best Hair" (I didn't win that either--I mean I should have....I have had the same hair since 3rd grade so it must be working), and "Best Couple" who of course broke up not too long after marriage and have remarried other people.  I did have a serious boyfriend so I technically could have won that one with him, but ends up that he was really gay and it can neither be confirmed that I was his "beard" for the time.  Apparently my classmates knew we weren't the best couple...which a good friend should have pointed it out.  Thanks Sheri.

Man, sure miss high school.  Not.

Mr. Fun should have won "Best 501s" (seriously), and "Best Dressed" but he was beat out by the one dress outfit the winner wore often.  I voted for him in both categories.  He should have won "Smartest" too....I mean after all, he did marry me.  :)  (In case you don't know, we went to high school together which is fun when we hear girly gossip about our hometown we can equally enjoy it).

I did actually win some superlatives.  "Most Spirited," "Everybody's Buddy," and "Most Unforgettable."  Nothing to do with clothing or hair.  :)

So, having just spent basically a month in a moving vehicle, traveling 5,909 miles in the last 30 days, it gives you time to think. 

I noticed that I had an overabundance of leg hair.  Which wasn't my fault since I hadn't had a hot shower in three days in our hotel in Florida. 

I noticed that the back seat is more spacious than the front.

And it gave me time make up my own "senior superlatives."  Southern style.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And the winners are....in no particular order:

~Southern Superlatives~

 

Smelliest state:  Louisana (until the end when it smelled like potato salad with pickles)

Worst city to drive in:  Nashville, Tennessee

Unexpected surprise of beauty:  Eufuana, Alabama

Coolest trees:  a tie     Cemetery in Florida

                                    Driveway of plantation in Charleston, SC

Biggest chain:  Not Wal-Mart.  Cracker Barrel

Prettiest temple grounds:  St. Louis, Missouri

Biggest Sassafras tree:  As the sign said, "probably" Owensboro, Kentucky

Smellest mildew hotel room:  Little Rock, Arkansas

Missed opportunity:  Vicksburg, Louisana

Longest duration we were lost:  Sulphur Well, Kentucky for one hour

Best recycling of a fort:  Fort Moultrie (for five wars) Charleston, SC

I can't stop staring:  Star Wars Convention, Orlando Florida

Something Sheri missed out on:  Willie Nelson Gift Shop, Nashville, TN

Total states driven through:  12

Peaches from the side of the road:  South Carolina

Best chinese food:  Orlando, Florida

Biggest invocation of "white man" guilt:  Slave cabins of Boone Plantation Charleston, SC

What were they thinking?  Stone Mountain  Atlanta, Georgia

Strangest things we heard on the radio:  tie:  gospel tent revivals (Alabama)

                                                                       Kasey Kasem Countdown from 1971 (Florida)

Sisters doing it for themselves:  Sweetgrass baskets of Highway 17, Charleston, SC 

Looks like Missouri:  Northern Arkansas

Worst drought:  Missouri

2nd smelliest state:  Alabama

Coolest "Gone with the Wind" southern staircase:  Bowling Green, Kentucky

Boiled peanuts on the side of the road:  Georgia

Best hosts:  tie  Andersons:  antiquing, Shark Week, fried green tomatos --Georgia

                         Phillips: Cuban, beach, Star Wars Dave--Florida

You might go to jail if you take a rock from the ground:  Fort Sumter, SC

Speedy drivers:  the entire South

No hot water in the hotel:  Orlando, Florida

Best dead ancestors:  Exie, Kentucky

Rudest guests:  tie:  Mammoth Cave, Kentucky

                                Disneyworld, Orlando, Florida

Marketing snafoo:  Hurricane Isaac report followed by the "Come visit the Gulf" campaign

Best Marilyn Monroe impersonation:  The Girl in her Sunday dress in front of the chip delivery guy

Best meditative moment/God is Amazing:  Daytona Beach, Florida at night

Safari vacation location sign:  Peru  Arkansas

Most admired "genuine Mormon":  Daniel Logan

Looking out for my best interest:  John Tesh and his helpful tips Lousiana

Almost vomit your Mexican dinner on the space ride:  Epcot, Orlando Florida

Makes me want to march:  Selma, Alabama

Hooary!:  Boyfriend emails the address Atlanta, Georgia

Darkest black:  Mammoth Cave, Kentucky

Bug Holocaust:  Louisana

You are kidding me: Kingdom City, Missouri (the air conditioning stopped working three hours into the 17 day trip....nice)

Holy Ghost moment:  Charleston, South Carolina

Opps!:  Missed three birthdays

You are kidding me Part 2:  Hurrican Isaac interrupts the convention and no New Orleans on the trip

Nicest homeless man:  Burger King, Daytona Beach, Florida

No hot water in public restrooms:  the entire South

Largest speedway:  Daytona, Florida

Best town name:  Jane, Missouri

Probably not again:  Disneyworld Orlando, Florida

No paper towels in restrooms:  entire South

Eaten alive by mosquitos:  Charleston, South Carolina

Best Henna tattoo:  Epcot Orlando, Florida

Best handbar moustache on a monk:   Mepkin Abbey, Monks Corner, S Carolina

"We almost died":  Freeway, Jacksonville, Florida rush hour in the rainstorm

It is really red dirt like on Tara Plantation:  Georgia

You know you're in the south:  4 windows in a trailer covered with Confederate flags Kentucky

New found loves:  tie--not cooking for 17 days

                                     watching tv in bed

Should have left it at home:  Tolkein book, DAR application

Stangest stowaway in the car:  Dave's church suit

Is there somewhere to pull off for a picture:  the entire South

Irony:  "Trees for the future."  Next to a grove of dead trees  Arkansas

Weird to see:  going to the beach with friends you never seen in swimsuits  Florida

Third smelliest state:  South Carolina

The most argumentative member of our group:  The TomTom (Garmin).  Named Leia.

Walmarts on the side of the road:  28 (The Girl had guessed 27)

"You've been talking in your sleep:"  The Girl  entire south

Best religious song I have ever heard:  1st song by the monks

Smoothest reflective water:  Florida

Best car snacks:  melted clumpy snackwells

Favorite t-shirt slogan I saw:  "I had friends on that Death Star."  Florida

Prettiest views:  Arkansas and Tennessee

Best gas station:  White Oak Rogers, Arkansas

Movie star interaction: Seth Green Orlando, Florida

Pharmacy of the South:  Walgreens.  CVS?  Forget about it.  Entire South

Odd couple:  bacon lollipop  Arkansas

Temples seen:  5

Boringest landscape:  Missouri

Best Salad:  Orlando, Florida

Most humbling moment:  Precious treasures of slaves South Carolina

Cheapest Meal:  Rich Hill, Missouri

Most states covered in one day:  6

Best imitation of a baked potato:  Stone Mountain, Georgia

Rick Springfield's "best work":  Jessie's Girl  Arkansas

Most new buildings:  Joplin, Missouri

Best guest driver:  Dave  Florida

Favorite unexpected stop:  the abbey  South Carolina

Party like a rock star:  The Girl....hair stylist, costume mistress, chef, drivers, and handlers

Priceless:  Time with my daughter and great friend Carol :)





"If you are not a Sith Lord, wait to be called."

Tonight ends the fun and games of life in a galaxy far, far away.

Fortunately for you, we had one last day full of trooping, costume handling, and lots of mostly naked women.

In no particular order:
*Aubrey attended some super bash last night and got to meet some famous people I have never heard of.  :)
*48 "Slave Leia" costumed chicks
*12 folks in kilts
*Count Dokou and OB1 Kenobi had to run and catch the bus.  Why didn't they just use the Force to stop us from moving?
*No hot water in our hotel room
*Class called "Ladies of the Legion."j
*The jedis on the bus got so excited to get to the conference that they shoved their way off before everyone else.
*Jesus was there again today.  This time he was in a volunteer shirt and modeling service to others.
*I wore my "It's A Von Trapp" t shirt.
*"I didn't join to be awesome.  It just happened."  Aubrey
*Met a guy named Ted (from Tampa) who hung out with us for a while.
*Stormtroppers had chapped thighs.
*There was a Royal Red Guard Flash Mob with Darth and the Emperor.
*Talk about a photo frenzy.
*"You should put your spanks on before you put on that costume." Ouch.
*"If you are not a Sith Lord, wait to be called."
*"Bounty hunters to the left.  Sith Lords to the right."
*Near fist fight between Padme in her travel outfit and some foreign woman.
*Beaker Stormtrooper checked his head in coat check.
*There was a wedding performed on the stairs after the bad guy photograph.
*We ate lunch with a Jawa.
*One of the Boba Fetts was carrying a cowboy gun and holster.
*A Jedi Robe set costs $800
*Carol and I did a lot of people watching.  And mocking.  Good thing Service Jesus wasn't around us.
*There was a Darth Vadar with a garbage bag cape.
*There was a Han Solo with a pig head.
*T shirt that said "I am kind of a big deal in Wisconsin."
*Grandma with knitted buns for her hair.
*There was a Leia with fishnet stockings.
*Tiny baby Wookee
*Joker was there
*Spare tires on a body are not good.  Spare tires painted blue are even worse.
*There was a sign that said "Jason loves boobies."  Maybe he should meet those Boobie Fetts.
*Last but not least, two Boba Fetts in leisure suits.

This is my second convention. It was fun to be with Aubrey and Carol.  It was fun to have a costumed member of our party so that we can learn the inside secrets of the convention.  I am glad I came.

Pictures today:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151163324690042.493049.532120041&type=1&l=8cf073b1f1

Since the hurricane is coming tomorrow, we are going home a day early.
Hope you have enjoyed the convention.
Valsy

CVI Day 2: "Chewy Envy"

Steller day today.

20 Slave Leias.  One with a Batman tattoo.  Duh.

I went early with the girl to be her handler (translation:  carry her junk around) while she was with the other troopers so regular folks can get their pictures with her.

I took notes for you, "non geeks" as I learned I was today so you could enjoy the day, too.

In no particular order:
*Everyone went through a weapons check today.  Apparently others thought they should be checking the plastics guns yesterday too.
*A little Darth Vader was told by his mom today when he was by R2D2 that he should have "nice touches" on the robot.
*It is amazing the impromptu photo shoots that go on here.
*When the Slave Leias showed up at the photo shoot, one guy said to his buddy "I must have."
* There was a very "interested" Tuskin Raider.  He had no camera.  Took his helmet off.  Obviously taking pictures with his heart.  Duh.
*Men ran up to see the Leias.  "That is a SWEEET line up.  Delicious!"
*Saw 13 kilters today
*Bigger Boobie Fett today (I don't name them)
*"I had to put my hand in my pee."
*Daniel Logan, the little boy who was Boba Fett:  genuine Mormon!
*Love was in the air at the "Plan your Star Wars wedding" class.
*Miss Australian United Nations, fully in sash and crown, was at the celebration.  ?
*"Mixed fan-dom marriages can work." (translation:  star wars fan/lord of the rings)
*www.whengeekswed.com
*www.thinkgeek.com
*"those people"....(regular non star wars fans) (us)
*I gave away a free dinner coupon to a nerdy man that came to the conference alone.
*"It's raining men" sung by a man in a bowling shirt
*A little happy surprise: hotel shuttle to the center
*"My high heels make me tall and awesome."
*A Chewbacca guy we were with said he had "Chewy envy" because he had left his chewy stilts at home in Wisconsin and the other Chewys had theirs here.  Epic fail.

Pictures:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151161372160042.492850.532120041&type=1&l=bb58993798 

CVI Day One: "The Dark Side of Sushi"

I didn't know.

And I bet you didn't either....that Sushi had a "dark side."  But it is true.

How do I know?  Learned it in Star Wars Japanese Vegetable Carving Class today. :)

As you can imagine, the day was filled with such delicious little morsels of fun that I kept notes just to share with you.  Why?   Because I love you...just like Mr. Rogers.

And in no particular order:
* I felt snobby, being the owner of a four day pass compared to those losers with just a single day.
*We saw that person of short stature that played the main Ewok, Wicket.  He was also in Willow.  He was riding a segway while we were walking our almost 12,000 steps today.  Learned his name is Warwick Davis.
*There is some serious fictional world cross pollination.  For example, the Burger King king was wearing storm trooper costume.  And doing naughty things with his hips and plastic hamburger.
*We saw seven "Slave Leias."  And a "Boobie Fett."
*The Dark Side has it's own clubhouse.
*I saw a 70 year old grandma dressed in matching Jedi robes with her tiny grandson.
*There was a woman who shaved her head.
*In the conference brochure, after the question if flash photography was allowed, was the burning question on whether the Death Star could be destroyed by one single ship.  It was funny.
*Lots and lots of little girls.  Move over Disney Princesses, Amidala in the house.
*There were fake guns everywhere and not a single screening machine.  At least we were hoping they were fake.
*Saw 8 men in kilts.
*There were Sith cheerleaders.  Aubrey says it is so they have an excuse to dress like "skanks."
*Jack Sparrow was dressed in some storm trooper pieces with his pirate costume.
*We went to the "Fettastic" class about the actors who played Boba Fett.
*Boba Fett was married.
*There was some crazy groupie girl at the Fett lecture.  For real.   And she had some panties to fling up to the stage.  For reals.
*Carol said the groupie was certainly "determined" to get the attention of the Boba buddies.  True that.
*There was a bald man wearing Princess Leia bun hair.
*The Japanese vegetable carver was a humble kind man, who also does samurai Jedi meditation.
*We saw Jesus in a Dark Side bowling shirt.  He had a girlfriend and a tattoo.
*Cool t-shirt that says "I am the rebel spy"
*Carol almost won a free t-shirt that was thrown into the crowd, but some grabby woman behind ripped it out of her hands, causing us to find a chiropractor for her dislocated back (jk--mostly).
*A wookie puppet cat-called Aubrey.

Here are the pictures from today.
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151159294530042.492592.532120041&type=1&l=b9a03c695b