It's a very hot Saturday afternoon, May 9, 2009 to be exact. In two days, we will be in Walt Disney World celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary. We will be staying at the Wilderness Lodge for 3 nights. We have dining reservations at a number of restaurants.

Monday we will have lunch at the Brown Derby in the Hollywood Studios. This is a replica of the place in Hollywood of the same name. Cobb salad is their specialty but I am toying with the idea of ordering something else. I am avoiding bringing up the menus online as I want to have some surprises when we get there.

Tuesday, we have ressies for the New England Clambake at the Cape May Café. This is a buffet dinner we have enjoyed on many occasions. All you can eat seafood and prime rib (also side dishes and desserts). My mouth is watering already!

Wednesday is Les Chefs de France in The World Showcase in Epcot. This is the one I am really looking forward to! An audio-animatronic version of Remy from the movie Ratatouille is supposed to make frequent appearances at guests' tables. Remy is a rat who longs to be a chef. I don't know how Mickey takes having a rat in his kingdom but it seems to be okay so far!

Finally, Thursday we have breakfast ressies at Kona Café. This is a small restaurant in the Polynesian Resort. Their specialty is Tonga Toast (banana stuffed French toast).

There are a few attractions we haven't seen in the years since we last had resident passes for WDW. After we are back, I will post about them (if I make it back here, LOL).

It's a cool, late winter evening after a relatively warm day. I've had to shut the windows as the temperatures drop quite quickly once the sun goes down at this time of year.

My mother came for a 3 week visit (she left on Sunday)and we ate so well while she was here! She took us and me out to eat quite frequently during her stay. I have to say, the soft-shell crab sandwich was my favorite meal. Then, again, there was Afternoon Tea with its scones, clotted cream, lemon curd, tea sandwiches, fruit and tiny sweets. The pot of Earl Grey was the perfect accompaniment.

Next week, we are expecting 3 more house guests. Two miniatures and a regular sized one. The food will be different. More home cooking and more pedestrian fare. There will be a quick trip to Walt Disney World squeezed in but I am uncharacteristically sanguine about it.

My stupid head pain was in full force while my Mom was here. It has been pretty subdued this week, thankfully. I have managed some time on the treadmill (major for me, a pittance to anyone else). I have to figure out a way to handle all the walking in Disney.

The economy is the big news in the blogosphere. Dems are spending and Reps are sounding the alarms. Something has to be done. I am more confident in Barack Obama manning this ship. I wish him lots of success.

I must go make dinner....well, we're having breakfast for dinner....

What a day! My country elected and has now sworn in President Barack Obama. I feel like a heavy weight was lifted from my shoulders. Not that I have any responsibilities but just because I feel my country's long nightmare is now beginning to go away.

If you know me, you know I am no fan of the previous administration. It was an instantaneous dislike from the beginning. From the first impression throughout the horrific actions taken, I have been so unhappy with my country.

I wish our new president continued strength, capacity of empathy and remarkable intelligence as he guides this mighty ship we call the United States of America.

My heart is smiling today.

Again, it's been a long, long time since I've stepped foot in here. My impetus now is the election of our new president.

To those who know me, it is no surprise that I cannot wait for the current administration to vacate Washington. I am completely ashamed of them. It boggled my mind in 2004. Now, with the 2008 election fast approaching, I am hoping with all my heart, that my fellow countrymen have wised up.

I don't pretend to understand the intricacies of government perfectly. What I know is based on information I receive and the judgement I hold.

I've been mighty impressed with Barack Obama ever since I first noticed him at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. Yes, he's an extraordinary speaker. That alone begins his distinction with our current president. Yet, that is not where he begins and ends.

If you've listened to Senator Obama's speeches, you can't help but notice the intelligence and command he has of the complications of political wrangling and government machinations.

President Bush is not running against Sen. Obama, though. Senator McCain is. This is the man who has been known to go against his party in order to do things his way. Then why did his party choose him as their presidential candidate?

The Republicans know the damage GWB has inflicted upon our nation and the ruination of our standing in the world. They want a change. So they figure the man who didn't quite fit perfectly into the Republican suit could be that change for them.

Yet, we have video of Sen. McCain admitting he voted with our president 90% of the time. We also have video of him boasting of how hard he campaigned to get President Bush elected. You can't be change and be in the hip pocket of the one you are so different from, all at the same time.

Then there's the new addition to the political family, Sarah Palin. She sure is pretty. She even sounds like she might know what she's talking about, that is, until you hear the same speech told over and over and over again. Does she have a cord at the back of her head that's pulled right before she sidles up to the microphone?

When is she going to do a press conference? Today she's in Manhattan to meet with a couple of foreign leaders. We're not going to know what they discussed. You see, the media (the big, bad, liberal media) is not allowed near her unless she's making one of her oft repeated speeches, thanks, but no thanks...

I guess she is all about change, too. Social Conservatives believe in traditional family values. That means dad goes to work and mom stays home and raises the kids. Mom could have a job during the day while the kiddies are at school but she's the one who's there when they get home.

So, Ms Change Palin is a working woman. She has a son in the military (and I salute his bravery and courage to be put in harm's way, no matter what I think of his parents' political views). She also has a 17 year old daughter. There's two more younger children in there (school age) and the fifth child is an infant with Downs Syndrome.

I found it difficult to manage a home, a part time job and 2 school age boys and their extra-curricular activities. I am impressed that Governor Palin manages her family and her very important job. What I don't understand is how this jives with Social Conservatism.

The Palin's older son, from what I have garnered on the web, was involved in some mischief involving school buses a couple of years ago. I don't know if this has anything to do with it but he supposedly spent his senior year in Michigan (huh?). Their 2nd child, is expecting a baby. This happens in the best of families. She is keeping the baby and planning on marrying her boyfriend.

Either Gov. Palin's husband is taking over the traditional role of parenting that socially conservative women do or they have lots of help from extended family and/or paid help. That's great but just don't tell me she's a social conservative.

Religion is not my strong suit. What I do know (not believe, but know) is this planet is more than 6,000 years old. I know evolution is the method in which the diversity of life came about. Some people can hold these beliefs and a belief in a supreme being simultaneously. I cannot. Neither can Gov. Palin. She believes in the inerrant nature of the Bible. Gov. Palin (as shown in her testimony on video) has credited a visiting pastor from a church in Africa with success in intervening with God to have her win the election, which put her in the Governor's seat in Alaska.

This pastor professed another one of his successes to be ridding a small African town of its witch. The witch was responsible for the crime and vehicular accidents in this community. She was given a chance to convert to Christianity or leave town (maybe by sundown...like the cowboys used to do it). She opted to leave after this pastor managed to get a large group of people to harass her over the course of a few months. Yes, this pastor believes in witchcraft. He told this story to Gov. Palin's church congregation and she still sought his blessing and intervention for her political campaign.

Let's not get into speaking in tongues and thinking the "end times" are near. Aren't they always? I just want to know why approximately ½ of the voting public wants Senator McCain and Governor Palin in charge of the most powerful country (that is, if it still is the most powerful) in the world.

Before I end, I realize I didn't mention Senator Joseph Biden. Yes, he has his faults but really, can anyone compare Palin to Biden with a straight face?

Barack Obama is relatively new to national politics. We've had the old guard running things (into the ground, I might add, considering the $700 million bailout we are expected to pay). Obama is thoughtful, intelligent, educated, and I believe genuinely the right person for the right time.

All I ask my fellow citizens to do is think about it. If you can come to the conclusion, honestly, that McCain is the right person for our country, then vote for him. I believe most thoughtful people will make the right choice. I just hope there are enough thoughtful people.

We're back, safe and sound in our little piece of paradise. I spent 2 weeks with my sister and mother. I spent 4 days with my son (#2 son) which I let fill me up as I don't know when it will happen again. Then hubby and I reunited and ventured north.

We did the tourist type stuff in PA (Gettysburg and Hershey) then visited his daughters and their families. We did have lunch at my cousin's house. It's quite convenient for her to live near my step-children.

The migraine situation is still there. I wasn't expecting it to leave; I just thought I'd mention it. I am grateful to have medications to address it. I have accepted my disability. I will always have the pain. I feel better knowing the ER isn't my only option.

The Daily Show is coming on. Time to go. Bye for now.

Yeah I know, long time, no see. I haven't been in the mood to post lately. \

We have a big trip planned. My husband is going to a class out of state for 2 weeks and I am going to spend that time at my sister's house. My mom lives with her and she is going to have a mastectomy on Friday. This will allow me to help out a bit during her recovery. There's a definite possibility that my younger son will be able to fly down and spend some time with us while I am there.

After those 2 weeks, hubby and I will drive up to NY to visit his family. We plan on spending Memorial Day weekend with them. Then, it's that long, long trip back to the tropics.

The kitty cats are going to stay home. I have an appointment to meet with a pet sitter tomorrow. This is less expensive than boarding and will be much more comfortable for the cats.

My migraine situation is about the same. I have pain every day. I have horrid pain a few times a week. I also seem to get an extremely sleepy time in the afternoon. It is all I can do to avoid giving into it.

Actually, the pain is about a 5 right now. It is on the move up unfortunately. Hubby is on-call so maybe I don't have to concern myself with dinner tonight. That's the only good thing about this on-call duty.

That's all for now. Who knows if I'll be back with any regularity. I hope so. I think getting things out there is good for me. I'm just not a consistent person.