January catch up: Walking around Disney World with my folks. I love this walk. 

January catch up: Mid-January at EPCOT!

Christmas Eve at Hollywood Studios, Walt Disney World. 

My parents' Mickey Mouse car antenna thingy is missing an ear. Last Thursday we parked next to their car's soulmate: another vehicle with a one-eared Mickey. Look closely.

The Catch Up pt. 2: Spent a beautiful day with my folks in Mexico, Florida. 

The Animal Kingdom

That's all.

leave the light on Charles

So, I think I've fallen in love with Disney's Boardwalk. We're due to check out any minute now and I'm feeling nostalgic. Here's a pic of Boardwalk from the other side of the lake, taken on our morning walk.

donald's brother charles

And while on the patio, I was approached by this charming fellow. He was handsome, but not as handsome as a certain dachshund I know.

bright lights faux city

And here's what EPCOT's fireworks looked like from my patio. To the left, you'll notice Spaceship Earth.

sitting in my hotel room

I'm in Florida visiting my folks, which means there is an obligatory trip to WDW. Tonight, my folks got us a suite at the Boardwalk resort and made a point to get a room facing the boardwalk itself. I'm there now, and it's beautiful. This is what the view from my bed looked like a couple hours ago. On the right side is the Disney Vacation Club sign where the nice guy from Erie, PA works and offered to let us use as a shortcut coming in and out of the building.

with love

Well, there are only hours left for 2008. The general sentiment of the people I love is relief and high hopes for 2009. There are so many people--and a dog--I love, and I'm praying and wishing 2009 finds them safe, happy, peaceful, healthy, and a part of my life. xoxo

a merry little Christmas

Today was another beautiful Christmas day. I'm in Florida visiting my folks, and the day started with excellent homemade french toast. Then we spent the bulk of the day talking and listening to Christmas music until late afternoon when we went to EPCOT to meet up with their friends Barry and Kristine. We went to the candlelight processional, then had an extraordinary dinner at the Rose & Crown where Barry got us a special table on the lake so we could watch the fireworks while we ate. It was a very special Christmas. Now we're driving home and all is well. :)

Kalkaska Florida

Twenty years ago, my parents, grandparents, brother and I went to Disney World for one of those big, special, Thanksgiving family vacations. Being Jon, I'm all nostalgic about it this holiday, and as a curiosity, my folks and I went for a walk through the trails at Fort Wilderness to see the campgrounds where we stayed in 1988. It made me even more nostalgic, only for the upper part of Michigan's lower peninsula, thanks to the pines and ferns. I'm thinking it's time to get back to Kalkaska. The walk was beautiful, I got chills seeing things I'd long forgotten, and I'm thankful my folks were up for the adventure.

people moving

My parents and I went to the totally futuristic EPCOT center this evening for a little Disney action. We walked around the world showcase, saw the Ventures play "Walk Don't Run" in the American Pavilion, and rode the wild waters of Mexico. It was a good time. The flower and garden thingy was going on, so there were lots of cool topiaries shaped like Disney characters and a butterfly house. No butterflies landed on me, but I understand. I was sweating a lot and I wouldn't have landed on me, either. This morning we went to Downtown Disney for some souvenir shopping and food consuming. We ate a volcano. I love walking around Disney with my folks. This picture was taken while walking back to the car from EPCOT. We parked really far away. It was great. <3

there's always tomorrow for dreams to come true

I'm currently sitting at the airport, waiting for my flight home. I'm feeling awfully sentimental and nostalgic now that I've said goodbye to my folks and my vacation is more or less over. We've had a great week and they were wonderful hosts who took very good care of me. We haven't been to Disney in a few days, but I thought this picture of Cinderella's castle during Monday night's fireworks was a fitting picture to cap the entire experience. Can't wait until I return. I seriously don't think I'm misspeaking when I refer to visiting my folks as going home. Aww.

strange faces make the most beautiful lights

No sooner than we were let into our rooms to unload our luggage, we turned around and went back out to wander around Downtown Disney. We ate dinner on the patio of the Rainforest Cafe, then spent the rest of the night exploring. This is from my walk back to my room toward the end of the night. That's what the marketplace at Downtown Disney looks like from the other side of the lake.

sitting not waiting

We had a little time to kill while we waited for them to prepare our villa, so my folks and I spent a bit of it on a bench in the shade. This was my view as I made calls and sent text messages. That sidewalk winds around the lake and ultimately leads to Downtown Disney.

where the natives go

So my parents surprised me with a night's stay at the Saratoga Springs resort at WDW. They got a really fancy Vacation Club villa that's sort of like a condo, split up with their half and my half. I'm there now, and I quite like it. Anyhow, just outside of my room is a little trail that leads off to a gazebo looking out over the lake at the Cirque du Soleil building. Next to the gazebo is a little river that seems quite untouched compared to the rest of the Disney environment. It was fun standing there watching the critters go about their lives on the riverbank.

sometimes nick looks like a little bunny

This isn't Nick. But sometimes Nick resembles a bunny. I'm at EPCOT with my folks, walking around the World Showcase, and we stumbled upon this cute little guy. He wasn't even phased by our presence. He was having too much fun eating grass. He is a cool guy.

it's a small mexican world.

They reopened the boat ride in EPCOT's Mexico, and now it's a sort of Mexico-centric version of It's A Small World mixed with travel films and the characters from The Three Caballeros. It's really quite cool. This picture doesn't do it justice.