Bees

Bees... Well, let me rephrase that... spawn of the devil yellow jackets. 

Thank goodness bee stings have little effect on me. Usually the arm or leg, perhaps somewhere else on the body... mild annoyance.  But yellow jacks are the absolute worse tempered stinging machines. Usually outside in or near the woods or trees. 
But this time they made a nest in the garage. Eye level on one of the shelves.  I had the misfortune to unknowingly disturbing a new nest... one adult, probably a queen, and a bunch of small newly hatched stingers. So small I thought that they were those little sweet bees... The ones that are not aggressive and don't sting. But in a moments time they swarned in a stinging frenzy. Before I could quickly move away, one of them stung me on my upper eye lid by the eye brow. Had to use tweezers to remove the Stinger. Damn that hurt... really hurt. And continued to hurt, followed by swelling around the eye. I was only moments away from going to the emergency room.  Lots of reasons for concern that close to the eyes.  600 mg of ibuprofen, 100 mg of antihistamine, and a cold compress on and off for several hours. 9 hours later and the pain is gone and the swelling is starting to subside. Figure I got t lucky that that demon from hell didn't sting me directly on the eye ball. Needless to say, most of the demons from hell are dead... one whole can of Raid wasp & hornet killer... and the nest is destroyed.  Destroyed with a vengeance. Yep... It's a guy thing. Die you monkey fellows (to quote John McClain in the clean version of die hard). Hopefully with a good nights sleep,  by morning I'll be right as rain. 
Btw... already ordered 4 more can of Raid from Amazon. Happy hunting.  

$5000 deal

The $5,000 deal of the week. 

kindness

Kindness ... spread it around.

This is Over and above... 

Inner Demons

Inner Demons... voices...

yes, no, yes,  no, yes... no... yes!

How about.... 

or

yes to one... okay.

No spontaneity

The freedom of spontaneity. One of the things we use to love about Disney was the ability to be completely spontaneous, foot loose and free to do whatever, whenever.  The freedom to go into any park on a moments notice and park hop to another park anytime we wanted. 
So many things... everything... it has become almost completely necessary to prearrange every aspect of your Disney visit.  Reservations for where to be and when to be there... strict scheduling. Entrance to the parks and park hopping, lightening lane passes, special packages for preferred seating or viewing of shows,  and dining options. There's not much spontaneity remaining... only reservations and restrictions. No where near the fun it use to be.  It's suppose to be a vacation from reservations and restrictions and time frames of where to be and what to do. The new system is not only restrictive, but cumbersome to plan everything in advance.

Perhaps that's just my perspective given the freedoms of the past. Too many changes.

Now... We pay more for everything.  Everything has an additional charge.  So that we can have less freedoms and cumbersome restrictions. If you never enjoyed the Disney of the past,  you won't know how bad things have gotten.  This was all initiated coming out of covid... but as just about all covid protocols are gone... These restrictions seemingly are for the sole benefit of Disney... And not the park guests. 
But that's just my feelings... You may feel differently... And that's okay. 
I'm not planning any return to Disney... So I don't have to live with all the changes. 

Recent articles....

 

How did we get here?

How did we get here? As in society as a whole.

 
There's facts.... And then there's opinions. 
Facts are facts... They are what they are.  It's your perspective that takes the facts and brings forth feelings and this opinions. And there's nothing wrong with that,  everyone does it... It's a natural process. Everyone is entitled to their own perspective,  their feelings,  and their opinions. And everyone can share or express their thoughts, feelings, and opinions from their perspective. Others can agree, or agree to disagree, let it go, and move on with their lives. 
Well, that's how it used to be. 

So how did we get here today as a society? 
No one can express a thought, feeling, or oponion without someone else openly disagreeing and basically telling them that they don't have the right to their thoughts and feelings. And will at the top of their voice, very aggressive, say that others are not only wrong to feel the way they do,  but should confirm to their opinions. No one can accept that others are entitled to their perspective and feelings. People will argue that their perspective and beliefs are right,  and yours are wrong. Some will even want to force others to conform to their beliefs, and we fight anyone that disagrees. No one can accept others thinking differently. 

Then there's POLITICAL CORRECTNESS. You can't say anything that might offend someone. Kinda had to do when people are offended by everything that's not to their liking.

So how did we get here? 

The Path...

The Path is inner peace. 

Counter move

Move and counter move...

MOVE: Disney decides to permanently eliminate the Luau at the Polynesian. 

Demolishes the entire complex. Just one more thing in the ever growing list of things no longer being offered at Disney. 

COUNTER MOVE: Universal Studios  brings back the Hawaiian Dinner Luau.

Another move ... Disney - zero ... Universal -  +1. 

Lots of work to do.

There's lots of work yet to be done. The process is well underway.

Apparently it's not going to fade away until those involved in the movement achieve their ultimate goals and agendas. 
Anything and everything that has to do with any reference to the Confereracy during the civil war and slavery needs to be eradicated, removed, and destroyed. Roads, schools, public buildings, parks, and military bases need to be renamed and rededicated to remove any reference of the Confederacy. The renaming of counties and towns is being discussed. 
Also being proposed is removing or renaming places that honored people that were slave owners going back to this countries beginnings, including prominent figures and presidents.
Only in this way can those offended can finally feel relief from the stigma of slavery and the war that occurred several generations ago in 1861-1865. Really? 

Trying to understand both sides of the issue, it's still hard to understand how people's lives are going to be better ... today... trying to forget about events that happened 160 years ago. It happened,  you can't change history no matter how much it's put out of sight. Some schools won't even teach anything about the civil war because of how controversial it is. 

All the problems in today's society,  all the race issues,  and all the crime and destruction in their own communities,  isn't going to change by renaming everything to remove references to the Confederacy. 

The objectives: 

Open your mind

Open your mind and your heart...

Truth

Truth is a funny thing. 
What was true yesterday,  may not be exactly the same truth today... At least not in todays context. Misleading asumptions? 

Posted yesterday... a nice disney post about Minnie leaving her house to have a good time on Main Street USA. Nice thought! 

Except that Minnies house, as well as Mickeys house was demolished more than 6 years ago when Fantasyland was expanded in Magic Kingdom. 

Unknowingly misleading? Questionable.

Or just a moment in a past time?

Logical

A logical conclusion.

It's funny how that when a couple have been together for years,  they seem to develop a mental connection when one person thoughts becomes the same thought of the other.  For us it happens quite frequently, usually once or twice a day. Kind of neat if not uncanny.
So... follow that concept.

My wife and daughter went shopping yesterday... I stayed home not feeling too good. (sinus infection) 
They get home from shopping and I see a bouquet of flowers sitting on the table. Making a joke, I mention to my wife that I saw the flowers... If they were for me,  I'm not dead yet (being sick). 
She laughed and said that she thought they were pretty and bought them for herself.  Never missing an opportunity...  that pesky subconscious mind, quick thinking said... "you know how we share the same thought a lot if times? ... I was thinking about getting you flowers... And that thought, telepathically popped into your thoughts and you bought the flowers. So in reality, its like I bought your the flowers."

She laughed. And I thought... That was easy.  Then I got "the look". That look when I realize that if I'm smart,  I should stop taking. 
Altering the direction of the conservation I asked how the shopping trip went.  (strike two).

Using better judgment,  I excused myself to check on something outside. No need to take another swing for strike there. 
A mans logic is no match for ... " the look".  Go figure. 
Note: the flowers were pretty. ...  clearly Women are not as logical as men. 

Looks Innocent

Looks Innocent enough.

It's well into springtime and nature has greened up everywhere.  Trees, grasses, plants, and weeds. This is an especially bad year for poison hemlock. Merely brushing it, and coming in touch with it can result in blistering rashes. Some people even mistake it for another medicinal plant have some medical benefits and ingest the parts of the plant. The poison can be fatal and there is no antidote. So unless you are positive you know the difference is best to stay clear of this plant. 

 

Feel good foods

Feel good foods... Anything with Crystal Hot Sauce from Louisiana. 
The perfect mix of heat and flavor.  I'm hooked...

Hot sauce... It's healthy?  Right? 

Freedom

The country was founded on Freedom of Religion.

Clearly there was no promise of Freedom from Religion.

The Constitution says that Government shall not interfere with Religion.

BUT... The are no provisions to prevent Religion from influencing Government. 

No one should tell religion how to live their life... That's guaranteed. 

So why do we accept religion telling... dictating to others how to live their lives?

Were we all under the impression that of all the teachings of religion that should live and let live apply both ways? Clearly this is a misconception. Religions have always...  ALWAYS... not only told it's followers how to live, but always seeked to tell others how to live. Forcing their beliefs in any means possible upon every one. Killing millions in the past if they did not conform to their beliefs... Today,  influencing government to enact laws to forward and force their beliefs on every one. 

No wonder so many people resent religion. 

Today's issue... abortion.

Blog writers

Blog Writers.

The Original Google Blogger is lacking in features.

So I started using Blogger Pro app... more features and user friendy.

Now... Blogger Pro wants access to my Google account information. 
In this day and age,  security risks being what they are...

I deleted Blogger Pro.

Back to using Google Blogger

No thrills, no features. 
Not user friendly 

Whats next? Idoeno.

Now and Then... Disney

Now and Then... Disney World... 

It is what it is... And the past is gone. 

Crowds and Prices 

Some say the crowds are low right now... Some say the crowds are terrible. Guess it depends on the month, days, and times. But I see more reports of excessive overcrowding. Plus the heat of summer.   Long wait times. 

Current photos of crowds...

This is what we were used to on a normal basis... Those days are gone...

Everything changes over time. Prices...

We could buy a 7 day ticket for $247 or $35 per day. A mere 10 years ago.

All this begs the question... is Disney still worth going to. Depends on past experience and your perspective. If you have never been there before or is been a long time and only a few times... You will still possibility enjoy the visit.  Given our perspective from years of extensive enjoyment (2004-2011) it would be disappointing to return. Despite the new attractions.... Prices, crowds, all the changes in ticketing and park reservations,  changes to dining reservations,  changes to fast passes ( the new lightening lanes) once free and easily available now being sold, VIP packages being sold for preferred seating to shows, parades, and fireworks. Add to this all the things that are deminished or have been eliminated.  All the construction and things that are torn up to build a better tomorrow.  Epcot is a mess. 
Too many attractions are shut down without notice.   Too many attractions go down to mechanical issues. And then there's the ongoing power failures that shut down attractions. 
Too many issues recently that change or spoil your plans.  
The biggest complaint I see is... THE DISNEY MAGIC IS GONE. THERE IS NO FREEDOM OF SPONTANEITY... If you want to see and do as much as possible everything has to be prescheduled and regiment within time frames. Otherwise you get what you get.  And what's the fun in that? 

But that's just my perspective.  Just not worth it any more or at least right now.