Disney World Again!!!!

We hadn't planned to come back to Disney, but a great opportunity came up. My nephew, Taylor Casey, was going to Disney to audition for a performance role. We decided to take him there in the RV. Sara came along and Keith came down a few days later to meet us. Now here's the good part. It was an open singing audition. About 200 people turned up. Taylor was in a group of about 30 and he was one of three that got the yellow paper. He said he felt like it was American Idol. People kept coming out without the yellow sheet and he was getting very nervous. He was called and sang for them. He sang for them and the head casting director loved him. He asked him to come back March 4th for a second audition. He told him he wanted him to audition for the part of boy one (1st tenor) in High School Musical (which he performed in local theatre). They are emailing him the music and a video of the part they want him to perform for them. They even asked him to sing a second song and videotaped it. When I picked him up from his audition he was beaming! I hate to brag (no I don't) but I've always known he was great! I'm so proud!

Oh yeah, I'm at disney world. I haven't been to any parks and I don't plan to go to any. Sara and I took Taylor to Downtown Disney the night of his audition. He was so tired he slept most of the next day. He had to get up at 6:00 eastern (5 our time, yuck) to get to the audition early. I took him so I had to also. That night we went to the Animal Kingdom Lodge and ate dinner. It was one of the most incredible meals I've ever had. And the atmosphere was fantastic. They specialize in South African wines so I was in heaven with my wine tasting. Then yesterday Sara and Taylor went to the manmade beach in the campground, Steve worked on the RV (one of his favorite pastimes) and I just enjoyed being here.

Today Taylor, Sara, and Keith are going to Magic Kingdom. It's Taylor's first visit to disney so I'm excited for him. I might lounge by the pool, or maybe take a walk to the dog park, or maybe go horseback riding, or maybe fishing, all of that without even leaving the campground. I'm glad we have several days here to enjoy it all.

We're leaving Friday morning for ??????? We'll see where the wind blows us next.

Finally on the road again

A new year, new adventures. The winter was longer than we expected, but it is finally over. We have great plans for 2009. Another year following our hearts and souls. We never know where the wind will take us. We make plans, but sometimes life has its own plan. So we've learned to be flexible. The farther south we get, the more relaxed I become. Is it the warm sun? Or maybe the ocean? Or maybe my soul knows its free again.

Life can be tough. The challenges we face everyday are difficult. Sometimes its good to just step away and re access a situation, to take a deep breath and let life happen. There are so many things we can't control. But, it can be hard to let go. I have to wonder, am I running from or to a better life. I'll never know. What I know is I can move forward. I can live life. Isn't that what we're supposed to do?

I'm blogging again. That means I'm writing again, and that's a good thing. I'm looking forward to writing about the many experiences ahead of me. So, here I go.......

MY DISNEY

The Circle of Life continues



Where dreams come true.



Chinese water lilies



African Safari


Epcot Spaceship Earth




Animal Kingdom


India


India








African Bat with wing span of six feet.




Chinese Story Teller dated from the Ting Dynasty



japanese zen garden with Coy 12 inches long, at least.


Moroccan tile work


Mission: space. Quite a ride


View of Ft. Wilderness from the ferry


Disney World was quite a ride. Going without small children brought a whole new prospective to the theme parks.

Ft. Wilderness campground is relaxing with two pools. We did manage to spend a couple hours by one of them. There are canoes to rent for the river that runs through the campground, horseback riding, carriage rides, none of which we had time (or energy) to do. We did get to the Wilderness Lodge and explored Indian relics and totems. Dinner was appetizers in the bar (be sure you get dinner reservations early at all restaurants in Disney. There are buffalo hoof prints in the cement sidewalks leading to buffalo topiary. There are fossils in the sidewalks around the Lodge and each of the six levels explore the sediments of the levels of the Grand Canyon.

Taking our time through the countries of Epcot gave us the opportunity to see Chinese children acrobats, an old southern choir, The Beatles band, the Canadian band, lunch in morocco and dessert in France with champagne, a tour of the replica of the Chinese tomb warriors, a walk through a Japanese zen garden, Japanese drummers, and dinner in Great Britain on the waters edge watching the firework show. There is also a wine and food festival going on there with several booths for tasting the world.

Magic Kingdom was short and sweet with rides on Pirates of the Caribbean and The haunted mansion. That's all. Then off to dinner at Downtown Disney at Gloria Estafan's Cuban restaurant, Bongos.

It was the first trip to Animal Kingdom for both of us. Since we were able to avoid all roller coasters and kiddie areas, we took our time through the jungles of Asia and Africa. These areas are a zoo of jungle animals and vegetation. The afternoon was topped off with an African safari. We were detained when rhino blocked the road (animals have the right of way). A large truck used its bumper to gently move the rhino from the road. It was pretty entertaining.

We took our time which made it was a wonderful experience.

St. Joseph State Park

St. Joseph State park, Cape San Blas, Pt. St. Joe, Florida. It's not the end of the earth, but it's pretty damn close. They call it the forgotten coast, I forget why. It might have been ok if we didn't have to deal with the bugs. We fought a giant mosquito when it threatened to carry Rollo away. Steve fought a cloud of flies when he went to carry the garbage (I'm not kidding about that one). Nana stayed covered in burrs. We had to take our shoes off at the door so we wouldn't bring them into the RV. We're still picking burrs out of the carpet. The only restaurants were 30 miles away, if you could find one open. And heaven forbid it was after 8pm, nothing was open.

Other than that it was a beautiful beach. One of the prettiest in Florida. And the butterflys were migrating. They were everywhere. Maybe we'll come back one day, NOT.

A Great Time Was Had By All

We are leaving Panama City Beach this morning. Not to worry, we're going to St. Joseph State Park, just down the coast. There is a time limit on staying in state parks, so its time to move on. Our new plan (it changes all of the time) is to spend 10 days in St. Joe, then go to Daytona for another bike week. We've decided not to go too far south, gas prices you know. We're coming home after that, October 20th or about. Unless we change our minds.

What a great time I've had. The final count was 45,000 people for motorcycle week. It was a lot of fun. Everyone is extremely safe and courteous at these rallies. With one exception. A girl picked up a guy and he got on the back of her bike, at two in the morning, both drinking, no helmets, she didn't have a motorcycle license, and they hit a curve at 90 mile an hour. They both died. But to me that's just stupidity.

The atmosphere changed when the bikers left. Now its families with small children. I sat on the beach and watched the children playing in the water. I didn't sit long though, there are biting flys here that are driving everyone crazy. They are even in the campground. But as long as we are moving on our bikes, they don't bother us. So we keep moving. I even had to put gas in my bike the other day! It costs $9. You see I get 90 miles to the gallon and it only holds three gallons. Isn't that great!!!!!

Steve surprised me with a dinner cruise on the Lady Anderson. They had a buffet, a band for dancing, and beautiful views from the top deck. It was very romantic and wonderful.

Occasionally, I'll look up and see a lone dragonfly. One flew across my bike when I was stopped at a light, one flew across me at the beach, there was one at the restaurant we went to last night. This has happened many times. Each time I think about my friends back home and get a bit nostalgic.

I'm posting pictures of some of the second half of Panama City Beach. The view from our motorhome, the beach, the boat ride. Now I'm nastolgic about leaving. This is another one of those places where I could easily live.

Next stop, St. Joseph State Park in Port St. Joe. Missing all of you.

Thunder Beach Motorcycle Rally

Back on the road again. FINALLY!!!!! This is my first motorcycle rally and it's so much fun. Every kind of motorcycle you can imagine is here, Harleys, Honda goldwings, rice rockets, choppers, trikes, scooters (including mine), even some bikes with volkswagon engines. Thursday they said there were about 25,000 motorcycles in panama city beach, and that was before the weekend began. It's a pretty subdued crowd considering all the bikers. But, I am finding out the real definition of "biker". They are anything from blue collar to professional, teenager to retired (we're taking 70's on harleys), men, women, families. I saw a whole family with grown kids and the grandfather had his grandson on the back of his trike.

What is interesting is everyone at the beach in jeans. I see very few people on bikes with shorts on. Although, this is Florida, hardly anyone wheres a helmet. I guess its a personal preference, but I treasure my brain too much to not where one.

The campground where we are staying in beautiful. St. Andrews State Park. I haven't been to the beach yet other than to look at it, and it's gorgeous, white sand and blue water. that's my plan for tomorrow. There are motorcycles in the campground, but this seems to be the quieter of the areas. It shuts down at dark, as do we. We're staying here until Friday. The last day of the rally is tomorrow and the park will be pretty much empty. So will Panama City Beach. If you've never been here, September is the perfect month as far as weather and crowds.

I'll be checking in again in a few days. I'll be resting, sunning, eating seafood, and thinking of every one of you.

diana the biker chick

Mackenzie Turns THREE

Can you believe it? MacKenzie is three. She brings so much joy to my life. She was so fun during her party. I had my family over and cooked burgers. It was so good to see my mother. I've missed her so much. She is doing a great job recovering from her surgery. Sara was able to stay up during the whole party. I know she was pushing herself and I was proud of her.

Steve gave MacKenzie a pink Barbie fishing pole. MacKenzie and I went outside and fished in the pool. Then we climbed up onto the boat and fished from there. She had more fun driving the boat than fishing from it. I gave her a pink princess big wheel. The look on her face was priceless.

She fills me with so much love. What will I do with a second grandchild? I think I'll burst from happiness.