Happy Birthday

To our wonderful daughter…

Happy Birthday!

Winter Home…

All I can say is…  Ahhh!!!

F-O-X

Speak to me…

Ring-ding-ding-ding-dingeringeding
Gering-ding-ding-ding-dingeringeding

Wa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa…pow
Wa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa…pow

Hatee-hatee-hatie- ho!
Hatee-hatee-hatie- ho!

Joff – tchoff - tchoff – tchoff – tchoff  
tchoff - tchoff – tchoff – tchoff – tchoff

Jacha – chacha – chacha – chow
chacha - chacha – chacha – chow

Fraka – kaka – kaka – kaka – kow 
kaka – kaka - kaka – kaka - kow

A-hee - ahee – ahee – ha – hee
ahee – ahee – ahee – ha – hee

A – oo – oo – oo – oooo
A – oo – oo – oo – oooo!

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See for yourself…

Just for fun!

 

Travel Update

To all our family and friends that are not on facebook…

We leave Nov 12th for Navarre Beach, Florida for the winter.

 

Winter jobs doing activities, office, and maintenance.

Gotta make some money for luxuries…

like gas, meat, and medical.

( bet ya didn’t know these were luxuries! ) 

Lots of trips to the beach… Ahhh…

Yep… I know… dead end!

Emerald waters and sugar white sand…

And, ya still have to wait for things…

Cool refreshing water…

Favorite chair…

and, ya know… some body’s gotta do it!

Hobbies…

Singing…

But, yall will be in our thoughts…

and if ya want to visit…

we’re right down this road…

PS: I rarely miss the cold, snow, ice, sleet, or freezing rain.

and when I do… I have lots of photos…

go figure!

 

The South Everglades

We ventured into the southern part of the glades. Everglades National Park… just south of the campground where we are staying. The entrance is just west of Florida City, on Rt. 9336. The areas we liked the most were “Royal Palm” and the “Anhinga Trail”, the “Pa-hay-okee” overlook, and the “Pinelands”. We had visited “Shark Valley” a couple of weeks ago and want to see a little more diversity. We were not disappointed. There are vast differences in the park ranging from Royal Palm to the Pa-hay-okee overlook. Our first stop was the Visitor Center, and than onto Royal Palm. This part of the park has a large viewing area along natural waterways, grasslands and larger deeper waterholes that support lots of birds and gators. Having been raised in a more rural area, my knowledge of gators was mostly limited to that wonderful source of information…. Tv & Movies…. once again proving, that the truth and reality are mostly victims when it comes to the “boob-tube”… hence the nick-name. We all no doubt grew up fearing the terribly aggressive alligator… he will chase you… bit you… and at minimum, do you fearful harm, if not kill you! The truth is that alligators could really care less about you… so long as you leave them alone! I was amazed that hundreds of people a day, walk within 20-30 feet of most gators, sometimes as close as 10 feet (15 is recommended), and the gators do not care. They will avoid you as much as possible. They do not want to waste their precious energy on humans that are not considered a food source. They will appear is be aggressive if you do something stupid and bother them. So basically, if you got bit… you really had to do something stupid. No one has ever gotten bit on the trails. They said that a small child, riding a bike accidently went off the paved path, down the grassy slop into the water ( only 6 foot from the path) …. a gator grabbed the child and than let go. Gators taste the prospective prey by lightly holding in their mouth. Having no taste for people, the gator let go and the child and was picked up by the parents. The whole episode took only seconds and the child was unharmed. Since the gators are in a natural habitat that has a well balanced food chain, the gators are really not interested in anything other than their normal food sources…. birds, fish, snakes, and turtles… smaller things they can kill and easily swallow whole. We were told that the only really dangerous gators are those that have gotten out of their natural habitat and wondered into rural areas, via the waterways, do not have the food sources that they had in the wild, get desperate, or have been fed by people, and thus making them aggressive and dangerous to small animals & children. Onto the birds… this eco system supports a wide variety of bird life… with habitat and food sources. The “Anhinga Trail” is a great place to start… especially to see wildlife. Some of the paved trail is right along the waterways and wetlands… some is on raised walkways over the wetlands… and some is raised high over the deeper larger ponds that provide a great gator habitat. You will see lots of fish, birds and gators here… as well as the wide variety of grasses, bushes, trees, wildflowers… all in a natural habitat setting… with little or no barriers (except the raised walkway & deck) between you and the wilderness. There are plenty of things to be watchful for aside from the gators. Poisonous snakes, poisonous plants, poisonous spiders and scorpions, and poisonous trees. The snakes, spiders, and scorpions… well… you will probably never see them… they want to avoid you as much as you want to avoid them. The poisonous plants and trees… well… that’s up to you. Moving on to a different habitat, the water slough areas (pronounced “slew”). The freshwater slough starts 100 miles to the north from Lake Okeechobee. The slough is a shallow sheet of water moving slowly over the grasslands that feeds the glades and goes all the way to the Gulf. The are a variety of habitats in and around the slough. Slightly elevate islands call '”Hardwood Hammocks” that are basically somewhat dry land with hardwood trees and bushes. The freshwater marl prairie that has grassland marshy areas that support tall pine in drier areas and bald cypress trees in wetter areas. Near Pa-hay-okee overlook you get to see the drastic difference within a short walk of 200 feet… here the slough is only 8 miles wide…. upstream it reaches 50 miles wide and is mostly 3-6 inches deep on wet grasslands. One of the high points is Rock Creek Pass… elevation… 3 feet. All along the way you can see out cropping of the great coral limestone slab that under lays the entire area. “Solution Holes” dot the land both under the water, creating deep water areas and on the land creating holes about 3 foot deep and ranging from 1 foot to 10-15 foot craters, usually filled with vegetation and sometimes water. It seems that most of the watery grasslands and the “Hammocks” are just inches about the coral limestone. Everything seems to be mainly growing in 3-6 inches of sandy soil. There is lots of natures beauty to see everywhere, and educational information to satisfy the novelist to the avid environmentalist. Either way, a trip to the everglades is enjoyable and educational. On the downside, human development is increasingly reducing the wildlife and their habitat. One good example is the nesting water birds, which has declined 93% since the 1930’s. What a sight it must have been then! So…. what are you waiting for? See it now… and enjoy it while you can. Enjoy the trip… we certainly did!
[click on any picture to enlarge… than arrow back to blog]

Epcot Drunks

The Epcot Food and Wine Festival is over for yet another year. So this is my final entry as to the Drinking problems at the Epcot Festival. Don’t get me wrong, there are a lot of great things about the Festival… wholesome family things to see and do. BUT… Disney has promoted and cultivated a huge negative (drinking) that taints everything that is good about Disney. They have tainted the Festival, and the Disney reputation for wholesome family entertainment. We have attended lots of Festivals over he years, and go into Epcot several times during each festival. Each passing year the drinking situation gets worse and more and more out of control. We love all the positive aspects, but truly not sure if we will continue to return, or simply avoid the festival in the future. Disney calls it the “Food & Wine Festival”… and it’s a shame, but it is fast becoming know as the “Beer & Wine Festival”… or worse yet… “The Drunk Fest”.  Disney has done such a over the top promotion of the festival, and every year encourages, in every possible venue, for you to enjoy “Drinking Your Way Around the World”! Given today’s social climate, and the many that are prone to drinking too much, I’m am surprised by Disney at the lack to controls, supervision, monitoring, and better procedures to maintain order and a “family atmosphere” at Epcot. The presence of managers or Disney Security observing the crowds was greatly lacking, and almost non existent. And those that are there, seeing and watching the crowds, need to have better guidelines and latitude as to dealing with those that have drank too much. The current guidelines seem to be too lax, or simply not acted upon.  I’m sure profits from the sale of alcohol is extremely lucrative, BUT is Disney really will to trade reputation for profits? If so, this is truly a shame and a black eye on the entire foundation and philosophy of Disney as wholesome family entertainment.

Nobody does it better… Promoting!!!
(only this is promoting a negative)

Beer, wine, and beer, beer, and more beer!

Using Disney Characters promoting drinking.

Snow White serving beer!

Mickey promoting mixed drinks…

Drink you way around Epcot…

who’s having a party time…

woohoo… it’s a party…cheers!

and who’s suffering for their drunken party!

No shortage of alcohol around the world of Epcot

some in multiple doses!

Wine, mixed drinks, straight liquor, and

beer, beer, and more beer!  

Anything you want… as much as you want…

Multiple drinks to ensure your drinking pleasure

PROMOTION !!!

Try then all… be a world class beer connoisseur…

Cheers!! You’ll never run out of new things to try.

While you conquer the world… drinking!

Big time promoting of what makes big profits!

and give then as much as they want. 

Here’s what others are saying…

so don’t just take my opinion about it…

The check list!
(try them all)

 They don’t want you to miss anything.

---------------------

Many have voiced their concerns about the drinking at the festival.

This year, last year, and in several years past.

Drinking Your Way Around the World

is promoted more then ever… Why?

I agree with many others, this kind of drinking has a place…

and I don’t view it as being wholesome family entertainment

when multiple groups of those that have drank too much…

roam around Epcot… shouting at the top of their lungs…

WooHoo… Hey, it’s a party… Cheers!

Being rude, disruptive, and using foul language and behavior.

If I want to put up with this behavior I’ll go to a bar!

and NOT pay good money to endure this a Disney.

You may say it’s all a point of perspective.

Some may say they have never seen a problem.
(this doesn’t mean there isn’t one)
(plus, are you blind, drunk or got your head in the sand)

Some people drink responsibly
(and that’s okay)

Many view drinking to excess as being misplaced at Disney
(and rightfully so)

Some drink too much to see anything
(so they think everything is fine)

Some think non drinkers are just prejudice
(not against drinkers… just drunks)

So, it is all about your perspective…

and what you consider appropriate…

especially as to the place and time.

And that decision is up to you!

-----------------------

I voiced my concerns at guest relations as we left the park earlier then we planned. They encouraged me to put it in writing and send to Guest Communications Services. It sounded like they too have heard too many guests complaints about the drinking and drunkenness. Here’s a copy of the letter.

----------------------

First off... We love everything Disney, save one thing that seems to be an ever increasing problem. Epcot “Beer & Wine” Festival. Disney calls it the Food & Wine Festival... but the actual emphasis truly seems to be on the beer consumption and those that overly indulge, and drink their way around the world... or more accurately get drunk around the world. Over the years, Disney promotions have been very effective in promoting “drinking your way around the world”. Some would say that the alcohol is not the problem in itself, it’s those that lack self control, and over indulgence. Realistically, there are many that don’t drink, and many that drink but do not get drunk. BUT, there are some, a small percentage in comparison to the total attendance, that drink to excess, get drunk, act rude, get loud, disruptive, and in general, taint the entire Disney Epcot experience. You really can not go far around World Showcase before running into them, time and time again, especially in the later hours, when they have been drinking since 11am. Generally we tell friends to leave Epcot before 4pm to avoid the drunks. Our most recent visit to Epcot was Saturday, November 9th, the last weekend of the Festival. We went mainly to see Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, and planned to enjoy the evening at Epcot. The mix of being the weekend, plus the last weekend of the festival, plus the marathon, proved to a recipe for huge crowds... and also a greater number of drinkers. As I sat waiting to see the concert, I closely observed the crowds walking by. Did you know that 3 of every 10 groups of people were carrying a beer... wow, that’s 30%. Disney has done too good a job of promoting beer sales! Somewhere admits the drinkers, more and more drunks emerged as the evening progressed. Now, long lines and large crowds are one thing to deal with, but groups of folks that have had too much to drink, everywhere, well, it’s a bit too much, and not expected at Disney. We have been to this years festival several times, for all the wholesome aspects of the Food Festival, the Eat to the Beat Concerts, and the Epcot experience. It’s one of our favorite parks. Each time we have seen an ever increasing number of folks that have had too much too drink. Perhaps we have the wrong impression, but we have always thought of Disney, and all the parks as wholesome family entertainment. Epcot is getting more and more away from those family values that seemed to be the foundation set forth by Walt Disney himself. We truly could not walk more then 50 feet with out running into, sometimes literally, running into those that have had too much to drink. Aside from NOT being family oriented... loud, rude, and disruptive is not conducive to anyone except drunks. So why would I want to be there, or bring my family or grandkids to witness such negative behavior? Getting to specifics... walking from the American Pavilion, around past Canada, and to the World Showcase entrance, I was looking for managers. None were anywhere to be found, except for one past Canada. With all these crowds, the the mass consumption of beer, and the known potential for drunken behavior... why were there no managers “policing” the areas. Either they were occupied with business responsibilities, hiding, or grossly understaffed... or perhaps a mixture of all these. Either way, there was no supervision or control of disruptive guests that have had too much to drink. For my perspective, it’s like taking a bad situation of huge crowds, mixing it with excessive drinking, and neglecting to monitor or control any situations that get out of hand. And that’s exactly what happened... pretty much the worst case scenario short of physical fighting breaking out. On an earlier visit, which was not as bad as the last weekend, we observed a group of drinkers that had obliviously had too much, and needed to be cut off. Loud, vocal, disruptive, and using foul language. Three managers walked by... I stopped them to convey my concerns (complain if you will) about them. The managers said they would watch them... and they did... watched them shout out “WooHoo... Hey, it‘s a Party! ”... being loud and disruptive, to guests passing by... then watched them go right over to get more beer to advance their drunken behavior. Maybe the managers need tighter guidelines to follow to control this issue. Perhaps I should explain my point of perception... but I consider them drunk when they get loud, rude, and disruptive to other guests. They party in their drunkenness, walk into you, line jump, and exhibit behavior more suited for a bar... which many feel should have no place at Disney, and rightfully so. I have looked at the negative posts on the internet, and I’m sure you have too. I’m also certain that as managers you have seen this first hand, heard of this, and know that this it is a problem. Drinkers going from one location to another, as they go around World Showcase, are essentially bar hopping. The primary goal of the cast members at the stands is to move guests through the lines as quickly as possible. In a normal drinking environment, the server of alcohol can observe the guests, and slow down the ones that are drinking too much, too fast... at Epcot Beer Fest, this control is negated by guests going from one stand to another. Plus, I observed one guest, the purchaser, giving their beer purchase to another in their party. I didn’t see anyone underage drinking, but with lack of control and supervision, it would easily be possible. Has alcohol become this important to the bottom line at Disney that wholesome family values are being tossed to the wind? We went to sit in one of our favorite places, on the water front behind Fish n Chips. Again, tainted by a group of drunks that were loud and using bad language. After I had had enough of every other sentence using the “F” word, and no managers to monitor of control the madness, I asked the guests to please watch their language, children were  nearby, and I really didn’t want to hear it myself. Two wanted to be argumentative, and one tried to control their friends and spoke as if they were a cast member and didn’t want to get in trouble and loose their job. REALLY !!! ??? As I said, we love everything Disney, but the availability of alcohol at Epcot, the lack of controls, monitoring and supervision, and the ever increasing amount of drunks with their apprehensible behavior... well... it has gone beyond getting out of hand. Bar room and saloon behavior have a place, and it shouldn’t be at Disney!... or perhaps that is an opinion shared by a minority. Perhaps with the advent of electronics, each person wishing to drink could have a card limiting them to no more then 5 drinks for the day... something... anything... to control the drinkers self abusive nature, and ensure that guests looking for Disney Family Entertainment and enjoyment can once again enjoy the Epcot Festivals. I might would normally ask for a reply, but a standard “PR” response stating that my concerns have been passed to the appropriate department... well... again, this would only prove to add insult to injury. The best response would be to make positive changes so that the festivals are once again family oriented. It is certainly a true shame that a letter of this nature would be necessary at Disney. Are alcohol profits worth The Disney Family reputation? If so, perhaps they need to promote “drunk” nights on selected days... then the rest of us will know to stay away. Truly a real shame.   
                                   

                                                                                                                                                  A long time Disney Park Fan... looking for a resolution.

So I guess if they get enough complaints… the voice of the guests might over rule the motive to have ever increasing profits from alcohol… and the resulting drunken party goers at the Beer Festival. Or at least effect changes to result in better controls, monitoring, and having security remove those that are getting rude, loud, and disruptive from the park. Perhaps if you had a negative experience at the festival, you should make your concerns know… ya never know… it just might change things for the better.
There’s a few links to my previous posts:
“The Good and the Bad”
http://www.rvkamping.blogspot.com/2013/10/epcot-food-wine.html
“The First sign of trouble, again”
http://www.rvkamping.blogspot.com/2013/10/epcot-alcohol.html
Enlightening, disheartening, and a real shame. But perhaps information you’d like to know. There are many good family aspects to the festivals… Disney just needs to control and eject those that drink too much and are disruptive to other guests. Or just plainly bill the particular evenings as “Adult Drinking Party Time”… so the rest of us know to stay away! … and we don’t waste our time, our money, and be disappointed by the rude party atmosphere.
We love Disney, and would actively promote the great experiences that Disney has there… but, the problems at the Beer & Wine Festival is completely contrary to anything near a wholesome family entertainment experience. We can, and have defended Disney on everything that may not have gone completely right… BUT the roaming drunk party around the world showcase is not excusable in any context. Despite the huge crowds of a weekend, plus it’s the last weekend of the festival, plus crowds attracted to the Concert series, plus the marathon weekend… then add that there were very few managers or security to control all the potential problems… disaster!
Just as stated above by  Theme Park Insider…. Theme Parks + Alcohol = TROUBLE!
Upset? … Yes! But, I call them as I experience them… It is what it is… a bad experience! Which should be under control, but isn’t…. despite years of knowing the potential problems… and not taking steps to control them.  

Today’s Thoughts

Sometimes, the world, and day to day life moves too fast, things slip away quickly in this busy world. The realization comes later, after reflecting on the past, and what you have missed. Sometimes it's like looking at a slow motion movie... the past, the present, and the future that repeats its self, somehow seemingly out of your control. Having lots of time to reflect and think lends it's self to an ever increasing relating or devotional study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence it's self. Quite enlightening! Have a Great Day... and go for the Hugs! Make the most of Family and Friends… before time slips away!

Voices

 

It may put everyone off a bit to think about it. You’ve seen it as a theme in movies and television… but have you ever seen or had visions of dead people? Have you ever heard the voices of the dead?  I mean like walking and talking people that have been gone for years. Funny to think about it, perhaps even to some ridicules, perhaps to others viewed from an slightly open mind, entirely possible…. and maybe not considered probable, but remotely possible.  Now, I’m kinda open to possibilities, and while not sold on the idea of everyday supernatural happenings, I don’t rule it out completely. After all, there are always possibilities, no matter how remote they might seem from a reality standpoint. And after all, isn’t reality merely a point of perspective based on what we believe to be true, or what we have been taught to believe. Doesn’t much of the worlds people believe in something that in scientific terms, can not be proven… but never the less believed to be 100 factual. Like religions… 100% beliefs, 0% tangible scientific proof. Of course there’s the writings and accounts from every religion, that in ancient times, wondrous miracles of Gods that descended from the heavens. Of course these accounts of which many are proven to have some basic in facts are subject to one’s perspective, beliefs, and what you were taught to believe. Given that believing in something, even if from a different perspective, doesn’t make it real or, or does it… can it be true?… in part or in whole?  To believe in what is socially acceptable, like religions, without scientific provable facts… well, that’s okay… it’s socially acceptable from that perspective. To believe in the possibility of something that is not deemed society unacceptable… well, that’s a bit more then thinking outside the box. Easily dismissed or condemned. We all want to be socially acceptable to everyone, so our thinking and point of views are shaped by society. Anything on the fringe of what is accepted and taught is more or less a taboo. But what if ? There are many things beyond mankind’s understanding which is every bit as factual and true as those things that can be scientifically proven. There in lies the lines between what is considered normal, and what is considered insane and ludicrous. No one wants to be labeled insane or ludicrous… so that which is on the fringe of our normal reality and beliefs… “those things we should not speak of”… and exist on the fringe of socially accepted teachings… well, they are generally the stuff that science fiction is made of, and easily dismissed as mere folly or entertainment, and not to be taken serious. For if you take these things serious, you certainly will not be. I guess scientists fall into this category… they go beyond what is believed by mainstream society to discover new knowledge that ultimately changes our beliefs and perspectives. So what are the possibilities for things that we do not currently have knowledge of. What in reality exists beyond our knowledge that’s only believed to be flights of fantasy and imagination. Who’s knows for sure? But one thing has always come into the light of reality… what was once considered ludicrous, and against all knowledge and beliefs and teachings… has come to pass. Each century brings new knowledge, new discoveries, and new abilities, and rewrites into fact, what was once mere fantasy or imagination. Think of all the things that at the birth of this country, would have been considered impossible, insane, and blasphemy to all religious teachings. Mans ability to fly, going to the moon, talking into a tiny box (phone) with someone on the other side of the world… data, pictures, thoughts and ideas traveling through thin air. Medical scanners that could see inside the body. Thoughts of electricity running machines… all flights of fancy, and from a religious perspective… blasphemy… socially unacceptable… and punishable by burning at the stake. Wow, the times sure have changed… but not as much as they someday will. Even the catholic church now admits the probability of intelligent life on other planets. What shall be revealed as factual and true in the future? … that will change everything? What current perspectives, and what we are taught to believe, will change drastically as new knowledge is revealed? Who knows. The only thing that is for sure, is that it will change, and the history books will be rewritten… changing everything. So what do you believe? Exclusively everything you were taught, and nothing more? Everything that is socially and religiously acceptable, and nothing more? This too will be changed, if not for you, but for your great grandkids and beyond. What was once impossible, has come to pass, time and time again over the centuries. What we were taught to believe will be challenged time and time again as knowledge progresses and our perspective changes to accept what was once impossible, or at least unknown. It can easily be said that if not for those that thought of the possibilities, against all religious and social teachings and beliefs, that we would still be living in the “dark ages”. Thinking “inside the box”, and only considering teachings and beliefs that have been passed down, we would not have achieved anything that was once considered fantasy to say the least, and to say the most, heresy by religious teachings. Teachings which have shaped every aspect of religious and social life… often times, holding humanity back. Thank goodness visionaries, scientists, and inventors have, and continue to think, beyond the possible, beyond what is socially acceptable, beyond beliefs… and make the impossible, now possible. What will the future bring? Changes that will forever alter past beliefs. So, as with all things, this is something to either consider, or merely dismiss… it’s all in what you believe, and what possibilities you are open to.

Getting back to seeing and hearing dead people… well while most might consider this to be a remote possibility… the fact is… I experience this almost everyday. Yep… a almost daily occurrence.

And here’s the proof. (movies)

Of course I jest. But on a serious note… what things could be possible… beyond the summit of our current knowledge? It all depends on your perspective. Just something to reflect on in the quiet of the evening, when you are alone with your thoughts… and consider things beyond what you were taught to believe.

Early Christmas

Halloween is just over...
Thanksgiving is just starting to be planned...
but Christmas is already here...
at least at Disney.

 

Signs of Common Sense ?

Take a moment… look around… there are signs everywhere… Signs of Common Sense. They emphasize a particular thought… an important message… a shift in priorities… or simply expressing a bit of Common Sense that others may not be aware of at that crucial moment. I liked this one I liked… if you can’t give me your full attention… why should I give you mine? Okay!

Than there’s the others assorted signs that could make you think twice about things… or just simply come back later.

Ever wonder about that sign that use to be there and now it’s gone… wonder no more!

Are you sure that you know exactly what you are doing while driving down the road… this should help keep you straight.

Indecisive… don’t know which way to turn at the end of the road… I wonder why? Two “One Way “ signs. Just turn around and go back where you came from? Might be a good idea since that looks like a tornado type funnel in the background. Not a bad idea!

Now here’s an important sign that address two issues… the sign itself is sharp and the sign maker doesn’t want to assume any liability. CAUTION… Sharp Edges… oh, and by the way… the Bridge is out Ahead. So what’s the most important to you… but please!
Signs of Common Sense are everywhere… you just may have look hard time finding them among the rest. In fact… it may take you days of searching. Good Hunting!