Karma

Today marks the three month milestone since the break up of my ex and I. I don't think about him on a daily basis anymore though sometimes he does scratch his way into my consciousness. I have spent more time in the past three months thinking about Karma and why good things happen to bad people and on the flip side why bad things happen to good people?

I realize that nobody is all good nor are they all bad. I'm sure even the fairest of them all has a guilty obsession or a bad thought here or there. It's only natural. But if we really look at the concept of Karma ...

Do people really get what's coming to them? Does what goes around really come around?

The whole idea surrounding karma is that if you live a good life, then your life will be filled with good things. But if you live a life full of bad deeds, then you will have bad things happen to you. In Hinduism and Buddhism, karma is the sum of deeds in this and all previous forms of existence which will decide your fate in future existence's.

So you start to think about karma and you start to look back at the choices you have made in your life. You decide that you ultimately have lived a good life and have ultimately made good choices. You put others first and helped where you could. You volunteered your time and donated money to charity. You compare that to what you really want in your life and you ask yourself, "What the **** did I do in a past life to deserve this?"

Is it really that simple?

Can we chalk all of our missed encounters or the experiences we have in life to fate or destiny?

If that is true then that means that the widowed mother of four whose home went up in flames did something truly awful in her past life. That the homeless man who won the lottery lived a life of quiet servitude in his past life. That the child who grew up in a home of abuse deserved it from a previous life of bad choices?

Is that karma or just luck? A lot of people have a lot of feelings about the validity of karma. I can't exactly say where I stand.

So, what is it?
Is Karma truth?
Does everything we do in this life have a say in our next life?
If we ruin our run as the Prince, do we return as a pauper?
Or is it garbage? Karma isn't real and it is just the luck of the draw?

I guess we'd better make good choices and BE KIND just in case ..

Let's Make a Deal .... Or Not

The whole idea of dating is terrifying. It becomes even more terrifying when you have a blind date with someone you met online. But online or not the whole process of dating someone can be exhilarating, terrifying, exciting, disappointing and all the other -ings you can imagine. But the ultimate goal of dating someone is to find someone to marry, yes?

I mean not if you are going out with Wants-Only-Casual-Dating-Guy or Check-Out-My-Abs-Guy then I guess you just want casual dating, whatever that means. But, for most of us that are playing the dating game ... we are ultimately looking for someone to spend the rest of our lives with. We are desperately looking for our future husband.

(Or wife! sorry if there are any male readers out there! By the way ... are you single?)

That's a huge commitment. Like one of the biggest decisions you'll ever make commitments. (I guess that's why guys are so terrified of commitment.)

When in the dating game, most people have a pre-determined set of "deal-breakers" that they consult before giving the nod of approval to some random dude. I mean he could end up as your future husband so you'd better be okay with all of his habits before you say yes to the dress.

The whole concept of deal breakers is really interesting. They are a set of things that we absolutely-positively-without-a-doubt cannot live with things that we are looking for in a partner. We try not to have a terrible long list of deal breakers because let's face it, nobody is perfect. But there are always things that we cannot live without.

For me, my deal breakers consist of:
(1) not wanting kids - this is not a question for me. I will be mother some day come hell or high water I will make that happen. If you don't want kids or there is even a chance of you not wanting kids, then you need not apply.
(2) political beliefs - this never used to be a deal-breaker for me...but time's have changed and I can't spend the rest of my life with someone who supports a candidate who is working against everything I believe to be right
(3) drugs - of any kind ... this includes illegal drugs as well as nicotine addictions

Of course I have some hopes for a future partner (taller than me please!) but those are my only 3 deal breakers. The whole concept becomes trickier as you get older and the dating pool gets exceptionally smaller.

You join the online dating pool and you look and look and look but don't see much to your liking. Then finally you find someone you think you would like to meet and a big flashing light pops up when you find out they don't want kids. Do you throw out your deal breaker?

You see people finding love all around you. Engagements, births, new relationships. Hell, even the volcano in a Pixar short finds love against all odds after sinking into the ocean and resurfacing with a lovely she-volcano by its side. Do you throw out your deal breaker?

You think that maybe it would be okay to have someone who supports an opposite political belief than you because there is an overwhelming amount of them ... maybe it isn't a big deal. You just don't talk about politics, right? Do you throw out your deal breaker?

But that's the thing ... they are a deal breaker for a reason. There might be a saying about throwing all caution to the wind ... but maybe in this case you keep the caution tape up and proceed slowly with your life jacket on as you wade through the pool or opportunity.

Disney in a Day

So you have one day set aside for Disney World ... what do you do? Why you do it all, of course! You make that day into a marathon of a day and you do everything you possible can because you can sleep when you are dead!

At least that is what we took that to mean ... On our vacation to Florida this month we were given a one day park-to-park pass for Disney World and we didn't really know what to do. So, we tried to do it all. We started our day at Animal Kingdom, spent our afternoon at Hollywood Studios and then ended our day at the Magic Kingdom. Three parks in One day. It was a whirlwind but it was amazing.

The last time I did the whole Disney experience, I was 7 years old. It was an incredible trip but admittedly I remember most of it through the pictures that my parents took.  At that point in the history of Disney, the Animal Kingdom did not exist yet. Neither did my long term memories, I suppose! Then 5 years ago we did a day pass at the Magic Kingdom and did it up! This trip, I wanted to see everything I could possibly see.

So ... here is how you see three Disney parks in a day!

Morning
Start your morning by heading straight to the Animal Kingdom. The park opens at 9 and I suggest getting there at 8:45 so you can take the tram in from the parking lot, get through security and make the most of your time there. I'm told that Animal Kingdom only takes a few hours and although we didn't do all of the rides, I can see how that is true. Though if you enjoy strolling through animal parks and on trails, this park could take you all day.

Upon arrival in the park head straight back to the Kilimanjaro Safari. This is a safari jeep ride through the animal reserve. The number of animals you will see depends on the time of day and the heat. I suggest going right away because animals are more active in the morning. We were lucky enough to see giraffes (include a baby), elephants, rhino, hippo, and many other animals that you wouldn't see at a normal zoo! Bring your camera and have it ready!

After your Kilimanjaro Safari, you have some options as to where you go next. BUT there are some things that you definitely SHOULD. NOT. MISS.

• Festival of the Lion King - This is an incredible show featuring song, dance, gymnastics and huge animatronics. The music is phenomenal and the show is incredibly entertaining. If we had more time, we would have watched this show again! The show lasts about 30 minutes and it is in the Africa section of the park. 

• Finding Nemo, The Musical - This is my favorite show of the ones we saw at Disney! It was AWESOME. This 40 minute musical is shown in Dinoland USA and is a show that you cannot miss. The musical tells the story of Nemo and has actors holding giant puppets for their characters. They are so effective that you don't notice the actors under the fish. If you have a special part in your heart for the Finding Nemo movie, then definitely make time for this. 

• It's Tough to be a Bug - This 4D show is really entertaining but might be scary to small children. It is in a theater that uses 3D glasses to bring the bugs to life. It would probably help if you have seen the Bug's Life movie, but it is an entertaining and somewhat smelly show...

Afternoon
Time's Up at Animal Kingdom! From here, head to Hollywood Studios! We were lucky enough to be there are on the final Star Wars weekend. Hollywood Studios was a fun park to be at if you have an appreciation for the movies. A couple of rides to hit at this park...

• The Great Movie Ride - This is a really fun ride that takes you through the history of movies. You will see scenes from famous movies made from Audio-Animatronics .
• Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular - This is a great stunt show that demonstrates how stunt doubles work in a movie. It brings the movie to life as they work out some of the stunts Indy uses in the movie. This show also involves audience participation! 
• Voyage of the Little Mermaid - This is a great 15 minute show that quickly runs through the story of the Little Mermaid. Ursula is a little creepy but the show is great! 
• Star Tours the Adventure Continues - This is a great ride if you are a fan of Star Wars! You'll meet R2-D2 and 3CPO as they take you on this ride. This ride has several different scenarios that you could experience so ride this one more than once! You'll have a different adventure every time! 

Evening
You only have the afternoon at Hollywood Studios so make sure that you head to the Magic Kingdom for the evening. The Magic Kingdom is open until midnight or 1 am depending on when you go so get ready to stay up late! We didn't do a TON of rides here since we had been to this park in the semi-recent past but be sure to hit the classics. 

• Haunted Mansion
• It's a Small World - Okay, so I know the song is annoying and I certainly don't need to ride this one more than once ... but come on! You have to do it! 
• Under the Sea - Journey of the Little Mermaid - this is a newer ride in the new and improved Fantasy Land and we were really impressed! 
• Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin - Help Buzz Lightyear capture Zurg as you try to shoot aliens!
• Electric Lights Parade - be sure to take a break and watch the Electric Lights Parade! It is a really fun parade with great music and lots of Disney characters making appearances! 

All in all, enjoy your day(s) at Disney! We were exhausted after leaving the park at midnight but it was well worth it! Show your Disney side! 

Universal Studios Tips and Tricks

Our trip to Universal was a whirlwind ... but I did learn a few things during the 2 1/2 days we spent there. So ... here are my tips and tricks to make your trip as fun as it can be!

• Buy your tickets online. They are cheaper online than they are at the gate. Look around for discounts - different groups may offer corporate discounts or loyalty programs.
• Bring water bottles and snacks. Universal is great in the way that it allows you to bring in your own water bottles, granola bars, fruit or vegetables. They will search your bags but they allowed us to bring in cliff bars and water bottles for lunch. 
• Download the Universal Wait Time app if you have a a smart phone. This saved us and allowed us to do everything we wanted to do at the best time. 
• Enjoy the wait ... Universal does a really great job with entertaining guests while waiting in the lines. The lines cycle through sets where you can feel that you are part of the action and brings the movies to life.
• If you are going in the summer ... dress cool! It gets pretty darn warm and humid. A lot of the line are covered ... but not all. Bring sun glasses, hats, water and wear shorts. 
• There are Starbucks on property and they will accept a Starbucks gift card if you have them. It is a great place to get a cold drink on a hot afternoon.

Then there are the rides ... there were several rides that we didn't have strong feelings about riding, but it turns out they were some of the best rides there!

• Despicable Me Minion Mayhem - I really wanted to ride this one but the lines were always huge. My tip is to go to this ride right at park opening. The wait time will be shortest at this point. It is a really fun ride and the best I can compare it to is the game Minion Rush. It is a really fun 3D ride where you feel as if you are actually on a roller coaster! It was a really fun ride, but over quickly. If you appreciate minion humor, then it is a must see.
  

• Poseidon's Fury - This isn't a ride so much as an interactive show. You take a tour of Poseidon's ancient temple led by a "local archeologist" who does a STELLAR job. We were really impressed with the actor who led our tour but figure he must be exhausted by the end of the day! The line can be long on this way but it is also a great option if it is raining outside. I give this ride two thumbs up.
  
• The Amazing Adventure of Spider-Man - This ride was spectacular. I have seen the Spiderman movies but have never had strong feelings either way about riding the superhero rides. But we decided to go for it on this one because it wasn't a loop-de-loop roller coaster but it was AH-MAZING. This is definitely a ride not to be missed. If we had another day we probably would have ridden this one again!

• Harry Potter Escape from Gringotts  - This ride was awesome and again the wait time isn't bad if you go right away in the morning. Universal creates the world of Gringotts for you to explore as you wait in line.
  
• Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey - This ride is incredible but may leave you feeling a little nauseous. It is more on the side of a roller coaster than a basic ride but it is well worth the feeling! You will feel like you are flying over Hogwarts castle as you follow Harry and Ron on their broomsticks.
  
• Dr. Seuss Land Caro-Seuss-el - Yes, it is a carousel that you might attribute to a children's ride ... but who doesn't love to go round and round on one of Dr. Seuss' magical creations? To top it off ... this ride books it. It isn't the typical slow moving carousel, you better buckle up, hold on and enjoy the ride! 

All in all, enjoy your trip to Universal! 

Harry Potter: Hogsmeade

After your adventure in Diagon Alley be sure to travel in style to Hogsmeade just as the average witch or wizard does on their way to school. Hop aboard the Hogwarts Express! Be sure you have your wand and all wizarding supplies before you head to school!

The Hogwarts Express ride is unique depending on which way you travel so be sure to ride it in both directions. Be sure to pay attention to both the windows and the doors as the adventure is shown on both directions. The train is built to look just like the Hogwarts Express and it is a very comfortable ride between parks. If you get on the train from King's Cross Station you will get to walk through Platform 9 and 10 to enter 9 3/4. Make sure someone in your party stays a few steps behind to capture your movement through the wall.

It does require a park to park ticket to ride so make sure you get one before you go!

Once you finish your ride on the train, head straight to the castle and get in line for this ride. Once again, we only waited about 45 minutes but the line can take several hours. This ride though, is incredibly worth the wait. There is SO much to see and take in throughout the ride. You get a full tour of the castle and the grounds. Take a peek into Dumbledore's office, the herbology classrooms and much, much more!

This ride is REALLY fun but also a bit more like a roller coaster. I feel a little queasy after riding this one, but it is SO. MUCH. FUN. This is another 3D ride and is a twirling, whirling, screaming and screeching kind of ride. Definitely brace your stomach and do the ride even if you don't have rock hard nerves. 

The Flight of the Hippogriff is also a really fun ride. Take a peek at Hagrid's Hunt and meet Buckbeak the Hippogriff on this low stress roller coaster. Fun for the whole family! 

Both parks have a lot of fun live performances, so be sure to check the schedule and take in a few of them! Diagon Alley has more live shows than Hogsmeade but take in the shows in both parks. Don't forget to grab another Butterbeer to enjoy with the show! 

Harry Potter: Diagon Alley

The newest park at Universal Studios is Diagon Alley. Diagon Alley is Harry Potter's first glimpse into the Wizarding World. It is where Hagrid brings him to buy his school books and where he finally deposits Harry at King's Cross Station.

The entrance to Diagon Alley isn't exactly visible from the road, but if you see the purple Knight Bus and look to the left you should see the entrance - or at least park of it. We can't let the Muggles in! And when you do and you walk through the brick entrance ... be prepared to be amazed! My breath caught in my throat and I barely held myself together as I felt as if I was truly walking into the magical marketplace where you can find your share of cauldrons, wands, robes, and other magical menageries.

The first thing you should do is high tail it back to Gringotts and hop in line for this ride. We got lucky and only had to wait about 45 minutes but the wait can be up to several hours. If you ride in the afternoon (think nap time) that is your best bet for short lines. They do a good job keeping you entertained in line with Gringott's advertisements and signs. Once you enter the bank itself, there is plenty to see. You will feel as if you are actually entering the Wizarding bank. The goblins are exceptionally real and look you in the eye as you walk deeper and deeper into the vault. The ride itself is amazing. (We did ride it twice since the first time it broke down on us. But they gave us a free express ticket to return.) It is 3D (4D maybe? You can feel the wind and the heat as you ride) and truly makes you feel as if you are on a cart escaping from Gringotts. 

After this, make sure to grab a Butterbeer (frozen or regular) and explore the many shops of Diagon Alley. Hop in line at Ollivander's and watch the Wand Chooses the Wizard ceremony. Then BUY YOUR WAND. 

I don't care how old you are. BUY A WAND. It is worth the money. The wands are interactive and all over both parks you can cast a spell and watch magic happen. Embrace your inner child and let the magic come alive. Trust me, you'll be glad that you did it. Plus - you have a really cool souvenir to bring home with you! 

End your day by eating at the Leaky Cauldron. The british pub fare is incredible. I enjoyed the Fish and Chips and they were probably the best french fries I've ever had. My mom had the pie sampler (cottage pie and meat pie I believe) and she said that was really good as well. The food is well worth the money and the atmosphere is spot on. It looks just like the Leaky Cauldron as described in the book and depicted in the movie. 

Tomorrow we explore the world of Hogsmeade! Potter on! 

The Harry Potter Experience

To say that I am a Harry Potter fanatic is an understatement. Like a dementor sized understatement.

I completely believe the magic is real and have since I was 10 years old when the first book was released and made its way into my hands. I don't know what it was that originally drew me into the Harry Potter books ... perhaps it was my avid reading or the cover looked interesting ... whatever it was, I was stuck for good.

So, when I learned that Universal Studios opened a SECOND Harry Potter area at their parks in Florida I knew I had to go. The question no longer was how can I make that happen but WHEN can I make that happen? And make it happen, we did. We took a trip to Universal Studios in June and spent 2 1/2 days at the parks.

I walked into the park bouncing like a little girl. I had a huge smile on my face and couldn't contain my excitement as I approached King's Cross Station and Diagon Alley. It didn't matter that I had been awake since 3 am after sleeping for 3 hours ... It was 2 pm and I was FULL of energy. I didn't even know what to do with myself as I saw the Knight Bus parked right outside. There isn't much better than seeing the world you spent so much time in come to life, and better yet? You get to be a part of it.

Was it as cool as I imagined it to be? Better. It was 100% better. Universal did an exceptional job bringing this world to life. It was real and authentic in every way. I can't even begin to describe what it is like to see hundreds of people wandering around in Wizard robes waving their magical wands.

So, how do you make the most of your trip to Universal?

Stay tuned, Potterheads, Stay tuned. 

For The Times They Are A-Changin

They say change is a good thing. They say that everything must change and evolve. They say that the only thing constant is change. They say that time changes things.  They say that change is inevitable. They say, they say, they say.

I know it is an age old question, but who the hell is "they" and what do they actually know?!?!

This week the school year ends. In less than 42 hours my fourth year teaching fourth grade will be over. This year was the first year of Educator Effectiveness. It was the first year we had to prove our worth to the state, to prove that we were effective. It was the first year that our state made the move to not require educators to hold a bachelor's degree in an education related field.
Change.

Typically, I spend the last week of school packing up my classroom for summer and packing up my life as I prepared to move to Colorado for 2 1/2 months. This year, I am not going to Colorado. I am only packing up my classroom with an uneasy feeling deep in my soul, like I am waiting for the other shoe to drop with a massively loud clang as it bounces down a flight of stairs.
Change.

Just over two months ago, I was in a committed relationship that I thought was going all the way. I thought that I would have an incredibly busy summer spent hanging out with said man. We are no longer together and I head into summer without a lot of day to day plans and without the mountains to soothe my soul.
Change.

This year I will watch my twin brother getting married. I watch as he plans his wedding with his wonderful fiance. I look at how much he has grown up and swell with pride that my "baby" brother's life is falling into place exactly where it should be. I move towards the feeling that I will be the only single adult in our immediate family. No more buddy system for us single folks!
Change.

So, maybe what "they say" is true. Chang is inevitable. But the real question is what do YOU say?

To quote Avenue Q, "except for death and paying taxes everything in life is only for now." Change may be the only constant thing in life, this is true. The changes in life aren't going anywhere and there isn't anything we can do about it no matter how much we fight, scream, kick, and claw away from it. So, we should have something to say about the change. How we react. How we feel. What we say in the heat of the change - be it good or be it bad. Maybe that should be our goal ... to react to change with poise, elegance and hope and see how it goes down the road.

If that doesn't work ... then bite, kick, scream, and claw your way through life until you find peace because the truth of the matter is that we don't have any control and life will be better once we accept that. :)

(Now if you figure out that acceptance ... please guest author!)