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

January catch up: Mid-January at EPCOT!

Inverness had a ton of Spanish moss. How southern gothic. Very Carson McCullers or Truman Capote.

When we first drove into Inverness, I fell in love with this peninsula cooter turtle sculpture between Cooter Lake and the Citrus County Sherriff's Office. Smart looking fellows.

I made my parents pull over so we could check out Cooter Lake. Cooter Lake! There are alligators and turtles in there!

We drove to Inverness Wednesday afternoon to find my grandparents' old home that I haven't seen since Autumn 1994. Here's the street right in front of their home on Dawson Drive.

This Florida Sandhills Crane came to visit my parents' place Wednesday morning.

December 26 was a lazy day, and I spent a good chunk of the afternoon engrossed in the new Jeffrey Eugenides novel, The Marriage Plot. I got to a point in the book where I was quite choked up by the love and humanity and loss in the novel, and I realized the room had grown dark. I looked outside and saw this. It fit perfectly.

The Christmas come down. Kevin and Steve left midday, and the afternoon was spent running around with my parents, trying to find an elusive Christmas ornament. When the hunt was over, we stopped for food in Kissimmee and saw this on the side of the road. Life is a limited run; don't forget to pump the brakes and appreciate what you got, while it's there. I love you folks, and it's not even Christmas.

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. 

EPCOT flowers from my trip to Florida at the end of April. Purdy. 

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. :)

the great summit

I'm in Florida, visiting my folks for Christmas, and it's gorgeous outside--especially after a stressful week of blizzards in Michigan. We went to my favorite Mexican restaurant for lunch, and when we got back to my parents' place, my mom wanted to show me the azalea bush she got from my grandma's memorial service. It was equally gorgeous. And being Jon, it got me all sentimental thinking about my grandma, hearing Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong's goosebump-inducing version of "Azalea" running through my head. It was a moment.