Epcot Food & Wine Festival

Cranberry Bog

Although we have been living here for a couple years now we didn’t get around to the food & wine festival till this year. It has been running for something like 17 years and is a fun opportunity to taste different foods in small portions while wandering around in the sunshine.

Mom is visiting from Ireland this month, the weather is glorious so we decided it was the perfect time to eat and drink our way around the world. Epcot is a fun park – not a lot of thrill rides but when you are eating and drinking every couple steps that is probably a good thing!

Mom and Jon Spaceship Earth

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We started out on Spaceship Earth which is an animatronic trip through history – much more fun than it sounds believe me – narrated by Judi Dench there is a fun little animation created for you at the end that you can send to your email afterwards – naturally we made sure Granny Anna was in a starring role.

After we picked up our festival passports that you get stamped at every stop along the way, we headed to the coke tasting area – they have all sorts of sodas from international markets to try – the one from Israel is my fav – my teen likes the watermelon one from China – the tasting is free and always a big hit when we go.

Since we had five people in our group we decided to stop at as many places as possible and share so we could try as many different things as possible – each stop from a different country has several items all between $3 – 8 so we got a couple things and all had a bite or two

Silly hat time

I think my favorite was probably the lamb dish from Australia although mostly everyone else seemed to prefer the pork dish from Mexico. Of course we did the cheesy Three Cabelleros ride and tried on sombreros – wouldn’t you? LOL

Family fun in the sun

As is tradition when we go to Epcot – I always go to France for a Grey Goose Slushie – Yum – makes fighting through the tourists so much better. We also got to try escargot for the first time – yummy garlicky snails – even my teen tried them!

Eric played in the dancing water fountain area, inspiring lots of kids to get soaking wet – I am sure the parents were delighted

yum – bite sized dessert trio

We ended the day with some great desserts and champagne before heading home – full and happy even though we did not manage to eat at every stop.

DC round 2 – with palatial upgrade

After my last trip to DC was cut short due to hurricane Sandy – the meeting was rescheduled and I did a quick overnight trip recently

It was one of those frustrating travel experiences – overbooked flight – many screaming babies – forced to check my tiny bag – barely enough room for pajamas and a toothbrush but I was in zone 4 so I was SOL by the time I got on. Of course this adds about 30 minutes to your trip since you have to hit the baggage carousel. I travel so much that I never check bags – I generally have work travel down to a fine art like George Clooney in “Up in the Air” On top of that I got a crappy cab driver who wouldn’t take credit cards so had to switch to one that would – all in all nothing was going my way…

By the time I got to the hotel I was in a foul mood. However, I guess I hit a sweet spot in my Hilton Honors points and the desk told me they were going to upgrade me to a suite and give me free wifi. I said thanks so much and expected to get a couch and a coffee table in addition to the usual bed – no big deal

I took the elevator up and had to use my key card to access the executive level – maybe a little nicer than I thought? Perhaps a couch and a chair?

I found my suite – The Harry Truman Suite – cute – political references in DC  Then the door swung open and my jaw hit the floor – sprawling out ahead of me was a hallway alone bigger than my usual hotel room!

Harry Truman Suite

Letting the door swing shut behind me I explored – not only did I have a separate master suite, but a had a living room, conference room that seated 12, a second bathroom, and a grand piano!!!! This place was bigger than the house I am renting right now.

My conference room

Naturally I phoned home immediatley to tell them how the other half lived and bemoan the fact we didn’t get that upgrade last time LOL

Piano

I high tailed it down to the exec lounge for as many complimentary hors d’oeuvres as possible before they realized their mistake. I then took a shower lounged in every room in my fluffy robe and played chopsticks on the piano – which by the way was played by Harry Truman when he entertained people in that suite!

I guess I need an entourage next time LOL

Planes, Trains & Automobiles

Reflecting Pool

My work travel is normally a fairly solitary thing. I fly in, meet with clients and fly back out but recently the stars seemed to align and I was able to tack some family fun onto a work trip to DC.

My husband and youngest son flew up with me the weekend before the meeting and we flew our oldest in from Chicago to meet us – what could possibly go wrong?

Vietnam Memorial

The first day was a blast – we walked miles taking in the monuments on a glorious fall day. Proper fall is a rare treat for us – in Florida you just have an endless summer (not that I am complaining) Seattle and Ireland were both so rainy that the leaves just ended up sticking to the pavement and getting gooey and slippery – Yuck! So walking through crisp golden leaves in the sunshine was wonderful

White House

Thanks to Senator Bill Nelson I scored a White House tour – so very cool. I planned to prank my mom who was watching our dogs by buying a gag gift from the airport and telling I had stolen her a hand towel from the president for her as a souvenir LOL

City at Night

My guys were so enthusiastic they even went out again at night to see the monuments lit up – feeling old and decrepit I stayed behind in the hotel and rested my aching legs. They came stumbling back to the hotel, completely exhausted, several hours later but with some great photos to share

Capitol Building

Sunday was a little grayer and we started the day with a visit to the Holocaust Museum. Emotionally draining, wrenching and haunting – but a very necessary reminder to never be a silent bystander in the face of such evil.

I have no adequate words so I will just post this

First they came for the socialists,
and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a Jew.

Then they came for me,
and there was no one left to speak for me.

View from Old Post Office Tower

Later we visited the Ford Theatre were Lincoln was shot and also the Old Post Office Tower which is the second highest point in DC and with the Washington Monument still closed after the earthquake, the only place to get 360 degree views of the city. It’s a beautiful old building and well worth a visit.

Box number 8

However our weekend was about to change dramatically – with Hurricane Sandy on her way my meetings were cancelled and they started to shut down the city. Our oldest got out on one of the last flights Sunday night before they shut down the airport but the rest of us were stuck.

National Archives

Don’t get me wrong there are much worse places to weather a storm than a Hilton Hotel and we were extremely fortunate, unlike so many friends and co-workers in New York. Our power stayed on and we had internet and salty snacks – so we battened down the hatches and waited for the worst to pass.

The next day we woke to find the city and airport still shut down and after long conversations with the airlines we realized that if we wanted to get out that week it was not going to be by plane – that just left trains or automobiles….

So we rented a car and headed due south – I think it was South Carolina before we got out of the bands of driving wind and rain – it was so good to see a glimmer of blue sky.

Our plan was to cross three states and at least make Savannah Georgia that first day – taking it in shifts we did just that. I have always wanted to see Savannah so we stayed in a hotel in the Historic District – might as well make the most of the situation right?

We had a late dinner in Belford’s in the City Market before getting some rest. I had Fried Green Tomatoes for the first time which were great!

Honestly, I have tried grits a few times in the past and always hated them – but amazingly enough the shrimp with grit cakes I had at Belford’s were pretty damn good –  I guess I just needed to go to the right place

Savannah Steet

The next morning we were up at sunrise, determined to see a little of the city before jumping in the car again. Savannah is a city built around squares most of which have been restored so we dashed around the streets taking in as much as we could in 90 minutes

Beautiful architecture and homes around every corner – I even found The Armstrong House – I was about to knock on the door and tell people I was home now and they should move out asap but there was nowhere to keep my horse so I decided against it

Forsyth Square

We will definitely have to come back soon and explore properly but the road was calling our names, so we jumped back in the car and headed home, making it just in time to hand out Halloween candy to the trick or treaters

900 miles and 5 states in a day and half was not exactly how we planned to spend our time but we certainly wont forget it in a hurry and it was so good to get home

Early Halloween Fun

Please don’t eat me zombie child

I have always loved Halloween it is one of my favorite holidays  - I love to get dressed up and celebrate – throw a costume party – watch at least a month’s worth of scary movies – turn the front yard into a spooky graveyard for the trick or treaters – whats not to love?

I have been a horror movie buff since I was about 10 years old. I would sit up and watch the Hammer Horror Double bill on Sat nights back in Ireland. I watched all the old B movies and Twilight Zones known to mankind and don’t get me started on zombie movies – I am ready to do a zombie movie marathon anytime. In fact when my husband and I were on a second or third date he asked if I had ever heard of Dawn of the Dead and when I said “Of course I love George Romero movies” his jaw dropped and he told me I was the perfect woman LOL

So finally after two years of living in Florida, we finally went to Halloween Horror Nights at Universal last night. As annual pass holders we could take advantage of getting in an hour early last night and beat some of the crowds. Well worth doing since the lines got completely crazy later.

Much to my shame, the dubious honor of first scream went to me before we even got into the park….. We had to pick up wristbands before we went in and a stilt walker (no scary costume – just a regular guy on stilts) jumped out from behind a palm tree at me and yelled “BOO!”  Oh for shame – at least my husband and teenager had a good laugh at my expense.

Once inside we had early access to a couple of the haunted houses – Universal’s House of Horrors and Alice Cooper’s Welcome to my Nightmare.

Bloody Nurses selling blood bag jello shots

I have to admit this was, surprisingly given my halloween fan status, my first ever haunted house experience. Thinking back, I don’t know that they had haunted houses in Ireland when I was growing up – I remember a couple funhouse or house of mirrors things but that is not really the same at all. Then of course when you have kids you start doing all the family friendly Halloween activities – visits to the pumpkin patch, corn mazes etc

So I was looking forward to this – fully expecting I would scream just like I do on the roller coasters – but knowing they are not supposed to touch you and are just people in costume – how bad could it be?

Well the first one we tried was House of Horrors and although there were plenty of screams it was really more laughter – the house was pitch black and people jumped out at you around each corner. Yes we jumped but it is kind of a cheap scare – no real terror involved. Fun, but no big deal.

Next up was Alice Cooper – this one really freaked me out! Very dark and the characters and tableaus inside were much more twisted and frightening – or at least they hit on my personal scare triggers. I was suddenly wondering why I had willingly put myself in this situation. I was holding onto my teenagers shirt as we went through and I think I just about strangled him a couple times LOL

Jon doing his best nerd face before we head into New(KD) Vegas

We hit Pen & Teller’s NewKD Vegas next and mercifully this one incorporated a little humor – good scary fun – Toxic vegas showgirls and Elvis jumped out at me and the 3D effects were a different take on just using darkness to disorient everyone. However, just as we were about to safely exit, one last character leapt out at me…..

Of course – it had to be a freaking clown! I hate clowns! I had a recurring nightmare as a child about an evil clown that sat on the foot of my bed –  long before Pennywise the Clown existed (thanks for cementing that fear firmly in my brain later in life Stephen King LOL) I even cringe a little at the ad for the Post Office shipping boxes that features the creepy clown doll.

So I went running out of that place like…well…. like a scary demonic clown was after me! My teenager pretty much laughed his ass off at me. Whatever – I wont be shamed – it was a freaking clown, people! Running away was the only smart thing to do!

Dutch courage?

After a break for some food and of course a blood bag jello shot purchased from a bloody nurse – much needed after surviving a walk though a shambling horde of hungry zombies in the street – we headed to Walking Dead.

I loved this one – I watch the show religiously. It was not super dark so you get see the zombies reaching for you though fences and shambling after you trying to eat your brain. It was really scary and fun for a zombie fan.

The last house we went through was Dead End – this was also awesome – they built a full on haunted house, exterior and all,  filled with all sorts or scary creatures – more traditional ghosts, ghouls and freaky spirits. I loved it! There was a couple really scary moments for me – one when a faceless woman came after me  - she was so creepy I just about ran up my teen’s back in an effort to get away LOL The second was when a Grudge style woman in white with long black hair jumped out at me. Those Japanese horror movies are another scare trigger for me – they frequent my nightmares anyway so I just about had a heart attack!

this poor woman in the glass coffin had live rats crawling over her

After that the lines were so long we decided to call it a night. Frankly all those constant adrenaline spikes are completely exhausting – After 5 haunted houses I don’t think I could have handled another one…

There are two houses left that we didn’t go through – Gothic and the big draw – Silent Hill. I played those games and they are the scariest video games I have ever played… If Pyramid Head jumped out at me I would likely drop dead from fear!

The good news is I survived and didn’t pee my pants  - the bad news is, I just need to work up the courage to go back – or maybe not…

Flea Market Finds

My perfect find!

Today we drove out to Renninger’s a huge flea and antique market near us – it’s been a while since we have been but since it was the first day of fall and and a good 10 -15 degrees coolers than it has been in months (okay 86 isn’t exactly cool to most people but Florida summers are hot hot hot)

new orchid additions

I usually pick up a couple of cheap orchids and today was no exception We bought some fresh produce and saw a dog just like Gizmo – a real first since she is a Chorkie and we thought pretty unique looking in her own scrappy way… but apparently she has a little twin called Koda running around the market.

I saw the weirdest chickens I have ever seen in my life – they look like Fraggles – according to the owner they are “silkies” Once we have our house with acreage I may need to get some for the sheer comedic value of having these fuzz balls wandering around LOL

 

My men geeked out and found a bunch of old school games for the original xbox and the Nintendo 64. I am such a packrat and still have all my old game systems –  so they have spent the last half hour dragging them all out and setting them up – there goes the rest of saturday afternoon. Now if we could only find some Dreamcast games…..

You looking at me?

We also picked up some delicious cinnamon glazed pecans that are completely addictive – once you start you cant stop. We have gotten them at a number of festivals or shows since we have been in Florida so everytime we see them we have to stop for some

Then just as we we thinking of leaving I spied some iron horse heads with rings in their mouths – all rusted up but so cool –  in a old junk stall. The lady wanted $100 for the pair but I haggled her down to $75 which I think is a good deal –  but then what the hell do I know?

She said they are old hitching posts and they do look like they would fit on top of fence posts – I just knew I had to have them so they came home with me and are awaiting their new home in the barn I plan to have sometime soon…

We made out like bandits – everyone came away with something to make them happy and I managed to resist bringing and new puppies home which is a feat unto itself

Renewing the promise

Pegasus – sweetest horse evah!

Life has a way of becoming crazed – despite our best intentions sometimes we find ourselves running full speed ahead from place to place, forgetting to live in the moment, taking no time out for the things that make us happy…

This is a constant struggle for me – there are only so many hours in the day and so many things that need to be done and like many working wives and mothers the first things to go by the wayside are the very things that keep me sane!

Like most little girls, I had always loved horses – or rather the idea of them –  growing up in a flat in Belfast meant I rarely saw grass, never mind any actual animals. My family drove me out to the country every so often, so I did see farm animals close up occasionally – was led around on the obligatory donkey on the beach etc.

One memorable occasion, a old farmer tried to get my grandfather to buy me a donkey – I must have been around 6 years old. When asked where we were supposed to keep it – the old man said “the kitchen” LOL  Given the fact that my mom wouldn’t let me have a dog or cat growing up I don’t think a donkey in our 4th floor concrete jungle’s kitchen was ever going to happen…besides I didn’t want a “donkey” I wanted a Palomino! Not that I had ever seen a real live Palomino – but I thought they were the most beautiful horses….

Fast forward many, many years, my husband and I were figuring out the family vacation for the year – wanting to show the boys the beauty of our National Parks we chose to go to Glacier and found an awesome place with cabins in the woods near Whitefish, Montana –  Gaynor’s Ranch.

On a whim, to indulge my childhood fantasy, I made my men a deal – if we were staying on a ranch then they had to go on a trail ride with me! When the time came to make good on their end of the bargain, they were somewhat reluctant but dutifully came with me. The grizzled ranch hand looked us over a little mournfully when we admitted that none of us had any experience – I am quite sure he rolled his eyes and wondered how he had drawn the short straw again that morning.

He brought out 4 half dead asleep trail horses and showed us how to get on, get them to start and stop – pretty much unnecessary since these guys just followed the horse in front and had taken this same trail a bazillion times and really needed no directional assistance from us. But I didn’t care I was on a real live horse, riding a Montana trail and I was thrilled!

Our trail guide, who kept calling me “Sherry” had a steady stream of conversation going – eventually I gave up trying to correct him and just listened to his stories while enjoying the ride. Over the course of the 2 hour ride he started looking at me a little weird – I thought I must be doing something wrong…. Finally he asked me if I had a hobby back in Washington? Sure, I responded – waiting for the punch line.

“Well whatever it is, give it up and get yourself a horse – you are a natural” I  think my jaw must have hit the trail floor – he then spent the rest of the ride telling me what sort of horse I should be on the lookout for when I got home as if this was all a done deal.

Afterwords, the kids kept asking if we were getting a horse now. “Of course not” I said but we went back the next day for a second longer trail ride…

Back in Washington, I came to the realization that I didn’t have to go all the way to Montana to ride a horse and despite being in my late 30′s there was no reason why I couldn’t learn a new trick and do something I really enjoyed. So I looked for a barn near my home that would give lessons. But no way I was buying a horse! That was crazy talk!

So every Wed night I went to the barn and rode a variety of horses – all beautiful, though none of them were a Palomino Over time I decided that perhaps I should go ahead and lease a horse – that way I could ride much more often….. and so the slippery slope began. It wasn’t that long before I ended up buying a beautiful 4 year old  3/4 Arabian mare, chestnut with a long flaxen mane – not quite a Palomino but so much better because she was mine and the sweetest horse evah!

Fast forward a little more –  several years of Natural Horsemanship at barn close to home in Washington, then a cross country move to Florida later – Pegasus (or Honey) has settled in beautifully at a fantastic barn – just not as close as I would like – where no one does that whole “natural thing” Other horse owners there look at me with kindly bemusement….

The goal is to buy a home with acreage so I can have her on the property and have tons more horse time. Horse time is different – things slow down – you have to be completely present and in the moment – there is no room for other thoughts and distractions. All the work or life stresses and politics melt away… Horses have no ulterior motive or agendas…they just want your love and leadership and maybe some of those yummy treats they know you keep in your pocket LOL

This week I finally spent some much needed time with my horse and even though it had been too long – she was happy to see me and was the perfect partner – calm, trusting and steady. So even though it is tough to find the time, I renewed the promise to her and myself…

I will make the time to do what I love and work on my relationship with my horse. It is an investment that pays dividends and one I can’t afford to ignore.

Simple Wins

Unsurprisingly, trying to change your life is not as easy as flicking a switch – deciding to simplify is one thing – doing it is altogether another.

Last weekend, tropical storm Debby dumped rain on us incessantly which should have made it the perfect time to start decluttering and getting rid of all the unnecessary stuff just like I planned – but my best intentions hit a roadblock when I tried tackling my shoe collection…..

One of my objects of desire – Shoe Rehab time?

I love shoes! I have way too many of them – they fill most of an entire closet and yet I keep getting more. Different colors, different heights, Seattle shoes, Florida shoes, casual shoes, dressy shoes, serious shoes, fun shoes….. There always seems to be a reason to buy more – these ones are on sale… I am actually saving money… it would be silly not to get them… they go with the new purse or that one dress…I don’t have that color yet ….I do have that color, but not in a wedge….

*Sigh*

I am ruthless when it comes to purging and getting rid of stuff most of the time - I am a firm believer in the idea that if you haven’t looked at something or used it in a year – then you won’t miss it if you get rid of it!  But, I live in a family of pack rats (myself included) and we have accumulated a lot of stuff that I would prefer not to move to another house –  no more moving unopened boxes to take up space in another garage!

I had hoped to lead by example and pare down my obsessive shoe collection. Why then, garbage bag in hand, did I become completely paralyzed when faced with getting rid of shoes that I rarely, if ever wear?

Three or four times over the course of that rainy Saturday, I opened up the closet and stared at the shoes before wandering off to clean out a drawer or some pile of papers on my desk instead. I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. Strengthening my resolve, I pulled out a pair that I know I have not worn in over a year –  but I ended up trying them on instead of tossing them in the bag…. Hanging my head in shame, I put them back on the shelf, closed the door again and walked away.

My husband kept telling me I didn’t have to get rid of them – I should keep them or box them up in case I wanted to wear them later – but this was not going to help my effort to declutter. What about simplifying my life? Where was my willpower?

It took a couple days of berating myself before I managed to put it in proper perspective.

At the same time, I had been researching new cars  - gearing myself up for this major purchase.  I have driven my current car for 8 or more years and it was definitely time to get a new one. I planned to save the environment and buy a new Nissan Leaf – completely electric – no gas –  totally green. I researched the charging station locations and distances this snazzy new car could travel. Couldn’t wait to download the app for my iphone to monitor and control my new shiny toy – I absolutley deserved this and it was a such a smart decision, right?

Wrong! I took a moment to think about what this purchase would really mean. Did I need it or just want it? How many hours of my life would be spent working to pay for it? Would it increase my quality of life? Granted, my current car is 8 years old – but it has next to no miles on it because I have either worked from home or close to my place of work for many years on purpose.  And, I absolutely love my car – it is a VW Beetle convertible and it makes me happy to drive it – it is reliable and gets me where I need to go – it has a bud vase on the dash that makes me irrationally happy. There is a little silk flower topped pen in it that my son made me years ago that spins when the air is on. On top of that, the car has no giant monthly loan payment – What on earth was I thinking?

Simple pleasure of driving with the top down – Baby you can drive my car and baby I love you….

Yes, I have too many shoes – I really do enjoy my retail therapy – but being mindful of my goals to simplify my life, work less someday and buy a horse property in the near future –  I managed to talk myself out of that unnecessary  $35,000 of new car debt

GO ME!!!! Way to make smarter, more conscious decisions – time to celebrate the small victories and not beat myself up too much about the stumbles along the way.

Besides, I absolutley will tackle and master that shoe closet …. just not today