The Grand Hotel and Spa at Disneyland

We celebrated my wife’s birthday in style this year at Disneyland.  We decided to spend the night at a hotel near Disneyland and stayed at the Grand Hotel and Spa.

I can tell you that this is a very impressive hotel to stay at.  The six-story foyer is truly grand and lives up to its name.  The walnut stairs will take from the first floor all the way up to the top with a magnificent view of the hotel.

We are planning to go back and stay a few nights to have mini-vacations this year since we both have busy work schedules.

Regardless of if I participate in the 2009 Candlelight Processional this year (12/5 – 12/6/2009), we are spending the weekend there.

Disneyland Candlelight Processional 2009

Jim Wilber mentioned to me today that the 2009 Disneyland Candlelight Processional is December 5th and 6th.  I don’t believe that we’re going to audition this year, but I believe that George Swanson’s Camarillo SDA church may audition.

If that’s the case — and we’re accepted — we’ll be singing on Sunday the 6th.  We’ll know sometime in October if we’re going back.

The amazing thing is that I was listening to the arrangements today and I can still sing the Tenor part.

H1N1 “Swine Flu” hits Newbury Park HS

Even though “they” say the H1N1 “Swine Flu” is dissipating and moderate, you get an eerie feeling when it’s in your neighborhood.  Yesterday, Newbury Park High School was closed down for a single case of a student with a cold.  It was not confirmed that it was the Swine Flu virus, but the Principal was 95% certain.

I would not have known that it was so close to home except that I briefly surfed by Fox News at 10 and recognized a woman from Church who was giving an interview that caught my attention.

Most parents were relieved that the school closed for a week except that one parent though they were overly cautious without confirmation of the “Swine Flue” virus.

Newbury Park HS, closed until 5/12/2009 for the 5th reported H1N1 case in Ventura County, CA.

Scariest Ride at Disneyland

Without a doubt, the scariest ride at Disneyland is the Mickey & Friends Parking Structure escalator.  When you first step onto the escalator, you’re looking down a steep 5 stories starting at the Donald parking level.

If you’re afraid of heights, it’s a the point where you know if you fall, you’re going to split open like a watermelon and die.

The first time I rode the scariest ride at Disneyland, I had an uneasy feeling that if this escalator stopped suddenly, everyone would take a terrible tumble down to the bottom.

I had this same uneasy feeling as my wife and I started downwards to the waiting trams at noon on 3/20. Without warning, the terrifying feeling manifested when the escalator malfunctioned and jolted to a complete stop. Hundreds of passengers surged forward flying downward into the guest in front of them.

The screams of terror were deafening as I landed feet first on the next step below.  My one handed grip on the rail saved me from what would have ruined the near perfect day at Disneyland.

The scariest ride at Disney is indeed the Mickey & Friends Escalator.

Dachshunds | 3 Doxies

My trick to getting Chloe to eat and Odie healthy again…

We switched our dachshunds over to a new homemade pumpkin and chicken dog food recipe. Chloe – who is very finicky – just loves it.Dachshunds | 3 Doxies, Feb 2009

You should read the whole article.

QOTD – Have You Noticed the Price of Paper Towels?

Has anyone noticed that the price of paper towels have nearly doubled in the last 6 months?  I would buy 12 rolls at Costco for around $10, now they’re over $17.

Does Anyone Still Play CIV III?

CIV III is a really big time killer for me.  I just love the game and go through periods where I have to uninstall the game to get any work done.  I re-installed the game this morning and actually only played 30 minutes instead of the usual 2 or 3 hour stretch.

Does anyone out there still play CIV III?

Question of the Day: Can You Live Without SpongeBob?

Viacom and Time Warner Cable came to terms  for programming agreement that will continue bringing MTV, Comedy Central and SpongeBob to your tube.  Do you think Time Warner should have signed with Viacom?  That is could you live without SpongeBob SquarePants?

Question of the Day: Are You Long or Short in 2009?

Without a doubt, 2008 was a terrible year for investments.  Trillions of dollars evaporated into thin air if you were long like most investors.   Even if you were prudent, you may have lost money in your money market accounts like we did.

But if you were short, you made out like a bandit.

For 2009, which direction do you think the market is heading?

New Years Day Sales

Happy New Year!  January 1, 2009 is the start of the new years day sales that will go on for the rest of 2009 and well into 2010.

My resolution today is to buy only things on sale and the rest of the year.  If it’s full price, no deal.  Sorry, we’re in a credit crunch, a deflationary cycle, and your price just has to come down if you want me to buy it.

Plus, I’m tired of the overpriced useless garbage that we import only to get a short-term satisfaction that  ends piled up in corners of our three-car garage.

Yes we need a new years day sales to clear out the garbage in our life and focus what is most important to us: our family, friends and neighbors.