a well-informed media, part II

The Weather Channel reporters, bless their hearts, wear their Official Weather Persons Windbreaker with such pride as they brave 140 mph winds and side-ways rainstorms. These are the heroes of the weather persons army.

Here in Southern California, where summer goes on and on and on, and where winter hits us hard on November 17th, and lasts from 3pm til 4:15 pm with temperatures dropping as low as 53 degrees, our weather persons only get to report 4 kinds of weather.
1. Hot. Really really really hot. We refer to this weather as "normal". The senior weather persons are too smart (or highly paid) to leave their air conditioned offices to report on the ridiculous heat, so they send the rookies out to the field, usually Blythe. (Blythe -- Average mean temperature 114 degrees. In the shade. At night. In January. Indoors.) The rookie's job is to report that we all need to flex our power, and turn down the AC and stop watering the lawn. So we go to the nice cool Multiplex and watch hours and hours of disaster movies. If the mercury reaches 110, we might even watch a Pauly Shore film. This is known as a "weather emergency."
2. Fire. This may be God's way of suggesting we not build houses in the Malibu Canyon because it spoils His view. Our weather persons call it "Fire Storm Watch 2008." The graphics and music departments design some very dramatic artwork and stirring music. We are glued to the television watching the tankers dip into the lakes and ocean for water to drop on the flames. Oh, then there are the typical interviews: the crotchety old fogey who refuses to evacuate, because he's lived in this canyon for 75 years, dadgumit, and he's not going anywhere; the rich guy who thinks he can keep the fire from his 8000 square foot home by using the lawn sprinklers and a garden hose; and the lady with her yappy little dog blocking the road with her Toyota Celica so the fire trucks can't navigate.
3. Rain. Our typical 1/4" deluge is known as "Storm Watch 2008". It is the delight of all the weather persons, because they get to put on the Official Weather Persons' Windbreaker and stand in the rain on the edge of the previously burned-out Malibu Canyon to describe the houses sliding down into the ocean. Since these houses are owned by people like Charlie Sheen and Sandra Bullock, we wait hopelessly for a glimpse of a famous person running out of their house in a ratty "I'm with Stupid" t-shirt and a side pony tail.
4. Earthquake. Not really a weather condition, but boy howdy, we really like these. If you just happen to be watching a local news show when an earthquake hits and the newscasters dive under the news desk, it's considered a personal coup. If your TiVo is going, you might score yourself a YouTube exclusive.

a well-informed media

I heard a reporter refer to the Republican nominee as John McClane. Now, he would DEFINITELY get my vote!

How I Spent My Summer Vacation

We probably spent 37% of our cruise either going to eat, thinking about eating, having a snack or meal, talking about what we ate, wishing we hadn't eaten so much, or wondering when we'd eat next. Come along as we are...

...waiting to eat...
...enjoying Animator's Palate
...providing a little dinner music
...checking out the menu
...running out of hands
...grieving over our Mickey Mouse waffles
...discussing the size of the steak
...planning tomorrow's breakfast at Parrot's Cay
...snacking on Pinocchio's Pizza to tide us over between meals
...Cam's rocking the soup
...sharing? There will be no sharing, Aunt Bee!
Sometimes you have to make it yourself
How many desserts did you order?
Golden Mickeys Awards Dinner
Hiding under the table with a hunk of bread
Here's something pretty...maybe a salad?
This is not what s'mores looked like in Girl Scouts
A non-Marie Callender's lemon meringue (good, but ours is better!)
Something with chocolate over chocolate with chocolate syrup
Cheesecake, of course
ummm...your guess is a good as mine
Ryan asked for creme brule and they gave him two! (He ate 'em)
Look at Bethany ordering meat on a bone that wasn't cow. Isn't she big? She even tasted a little bit. Mama's so proud of her!Bethany and I even tasted a bit of Krista's swordfish. Yay, us! (it'll never happen again)
Whew, taking a break between meals

And the winner is...

Our cruise took place during an interesting week. Lots of things happening in the world. We certainly had access to the news. Because Disney owns ABC, we weren't able to watch the Olympics on NBC. (we substituted the Wii Olympics...still lots of fun & it came with hot wings and nachos, but no opening ceremonies) We followed the sudden death of Bernie Mac, the invasion of Georgia, and John Edward's "mistake."* Another interesting aspect of that week was that nearly all of the summer reality shows had their finales. Before we left, I made sure the TiVo would record all those finales, then I carefully avoided any news report that might refer to the winners. Imagine my surprise when I learned that the media considers a war to be more pressing news than the Next HGTV Design Star!

By the way, may God bless and keep the inventor of TiVo, and may he and his descendants live long and prosper. Also, the fellow who came up with the oscillating fan. Love you, man,

Anyway, Monday morning I arose very early, and began watching the finales. Oh, yes; and God bless the inventor of the fast forward button.

Design Star: Loved them both. Thrilled that she won. But I would have TiVo'd his shows.

America's Best Dance Crew: semi-finals. Can I really stand one more week of Li'l Mama and her outlandish grammar? Oh, I do love the fast forward button!

Nashville Star: YES! Melissa rocks. I've already downloaded her single.

So You Think You Can Dance: Once Will was eliminated, I didn't really care who won. LOVED Katee, but I'm happy with adorable Joshua.

The Mole: My first year to watch this show, and I was confused a LOT. But I had Craig pegged as The Mole from week 3. I'm glad Mark won because he's a caring husband & father, and had expressed that his desire was for his wife to be a stay-at-home mom to their 4 kids. Awww...

Shear Genius: hasn't ended yet. Kinda too bad. What a bunch of divas.

Project Runway: just barely started. Yay! What a bunch of divas.

Oh, reality television...I confess I missed you more than my dog. You entertain me, you challenge me, you are ever interesting. Plus you don't shed on the furniture.



*Dear Mr. Edwards, A "mistake" is when you mismatch your socks or forget to add salt to the potato salad. Your actions were premeditated, selfish, sneaky, and purposeful. Shame on you.

Once Upon a Dream

We just got home from our 7-night vacation aboard the Disney Magic. We cruised the Mexican coast, and visited Cabo, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallerta. Here are a few of the hundreds of photos we took.Isn't she a beauty? When she pulls out of port, her horn blasts the first seven notes of "When You Wish Upon A Star."

Greeted by Minnie at the Port of Los Angeles. Hey, we aren't even on board yet...has anyone seen Cameron?I teared up a little when they announced over the loudspeaker, "Disney Magic, welcome the Lopez Family!" It was Ryan's first cruise. It won't be his last.Lifeboat drills really take it out of me. Well, aren't we supposed to relax on this cruise? I'll wake up in time for dinner...maybe.

Robbie and Cam hit the pools before we had set the luggage down. And they stayed in one or the other of the pools for most of the trip. They are very clean...and wrinkly.Live theater included original musicals, magicians, and comedians. We also saw Wall-E in the Buena Vista Theater. And they premiered Swing Vote.Here's Bethany reading her book. I think she finished 3 or 4 entire pages before the book was stuck back in the bag and Bethany decided she could read at home.
Hanging out on the deck. We're all red and crispy today.Cam is watching pods of whales and flying fish.

Chef Robs made salsa. Is it bueno, Robs?
Look at Ryan parasailing! Without a hard hat!
We snorkled...
...and went "cow-wacking" (thanks, Cam; that is now and forever part of the family's lexicon!)
We hiked to a waterfall with Yelapa nationals. (I didn't go; instead I slipped getting into the water taxi and broke several toes. I didn't take a picture of my black/blue/purple foot. You're welcome.
We had a few "sea days" to just relax and hang out.
Oh, yes; we ate.
And we ate.
And ate some more.
And just to be safe, we ate a little bit more.

Thanks, Disney Magic. We had a wonderful vacation.
See You Real Soon!