What's Up?

Lately I have been making excuses about how busy I've been and how that may be keeping me from updating the blog on a regular basis. While it is a excuse, it is the truth. My job, as I am sure most people's jobs, keeps me rather busy at times. There are some weeks when I may have 2 or 3 meetings that will take me in to the early evening. No complaints - it is just the way of it.

But, there is also something else that keeps me out of my study at home. Here is a hint...

My wife and I will be sailing on the Disney Dream on February 27th as part of the WDW Radio Dream Cruise. Counting down the days actually. But as part of our cruise preparation, my wife and I joined a gym with the intent of trying to get in better shape. Not that we'll ever be the way we were when we were younger, but better than we have been. We've hired a personal trainer, we're exercising and we're on a fairly strict diet, which of course, will go right out the door when we land in Orlando on the 25th. Hey, who is going to pass up an opportunity to have dinner at LeCellier? We may not look a great deal different when we walk across the gang plank, but we will feel a great deal different.

This is all a vast departure for me. I have often said that I felt that health was highly over rated. Ask around. It's true. Seriously, we joined a gym in August '10 and I walked into the gym for the first time in January '11. Health - not a high priority for me. But my mind is changing on this. I can't deny that I am getting older and though I would like to live as thought numbers don't matter, my age, my height, my weight, I know that they really do. If I want to continue loving my wife, playing with my grandchildren, being with friends, and yes, making regular trips to Walt Disney World, then perhaps I had better start being more considerate of my health.

But the cruise is less than two weeks away. What will be my motivation to continue? True, I'll need to work off some of the weight I'll put on during the cruise and the two days before and the two after in the parks. That may take a month or so, but what after that?

Now before I make this next statement, let me say that this is not an official announcement nor should not in any way be construed as a commitment on my part to fulfill this thought. But here is the statement:

I am very seriously considering running the 2011 Walt Disney World Half Marathon!

There I said it. But again, it is only a consideration at this point. And after some of the cardio sessions I've had on the treadmill these past seven to ten days, I am begin to wonder if my senses have totally left me for even having such a thought. Perhaps so. But it doesn't change anything. I am still carefully, and prayerfully, considering this as my motivation to keep on going to the gym long after the Disney Dream has docked.

In my heart I know I really want to do this, but my mind is battling with the notion. So, it is day-to-day, setting small goals. Such as, being about to consisting cover a mile in 16 minutes or less. I have done that once and it was a great night, but it was only over a two mile stretch. Getting to 13.1 is still a ways away.

In the weeks and months to come, I'll keep you posted on this. If you're so inclined, send a thought or two my way every now and then. I really encourage your comments from time-to-time as those will encourage me also. After all, until last month I could actually recall the month, year and location of the last two times I ran. One was in '96 and the other in '05. Nothing to be proud of true, but it is what it is.

Oh, and about those tennis shoes, I suppose I'll be spending more for a really great running shoe in the next week or so. Any suggestions?

More to follow...

The Women In My Life

When I was a child going the movie theater was a big deal. I was seven years old in 1964 and there was a new Disney film out. My dad stayed home with my baby sister and my mom took me to the movie. The movie was Mary Poppins.

I wouldn’t say that I developed a boyhood crush for Mary Poppins, or for Julie Andrews. No, that honor was reserved for Vera Ellen. But the character of Mary Poppins was magical. What child would not want a nanny, or a babysitter, who could take you on adventures through a chalk pavement drawing, or serve tea from a tea setting floating near the ceiling. With her charming, but firm disposition, her practically perfect ways and a spoon full of sugar, she managed to transform the Banks children, the Banks household and finally, Mr. Banks himself.

As for Dame Andrews, Mary Poppins was the first in a long line of film successes. Walt Disney was so taken by her performance as Guinervere in the Lerner and Lowe production of Camelot, that he waited until after the birth of her daughter to begin filming. Her performance earned her the 1964 Academy Award for Best Actress. This was only the second time in Academy history that an actress was awarded for their first motion picture role. It happened previously with Shirley Booth in Come Back Little Sheba. It has occurred since with Barbra Streisand in Funny Girl and Marlee Matlin in Children of a Lesser God.

Something else forever linked to the success of Mary Poppins, is the musical score. In the years since the film opened, two songs continue to hold a special place in my memory. Feed the Birds is quite simply one of the greatest songs ever written. The Sherman Brothers crafted a song with a simple, yet profound, message. With 146 words they expressed this truth: it doesn’t take much effort to be kind and to genuinely care for another person. Add to that the image of Jane Darwell sitting at the foot of the stairs of the majestic St. Paul’s Cathedral, spreading her love, mixed with a bit of seed, and you have a beautiful moment in film.

The other song is A Man Has Dreams. The opening two lines could very well serve as an anthem to every man who ever dared to dream.

“A man has dreams of walking with giants

To carve his niche in the edifice of time.”

What man hasn’t dreamt of becoming something more than they are. I have dreamed and continue to dream. But I do so with the understanding that it is matters not what I become, if along the way, I lose the one’s I care most about.

I aspired to greatness and found it. It is, for me, to be a good husband and son, a good father and grandfather, a good brother and uncle, a good man. I have had my whole life to understand that this is who I am and to become perfectly content in that understanding. But, looking back over all these years, I can look to a time when I was seven and an English nanny came into my life and taught me a few things about what it means to be good.

Thank you Mary Poppins.

The Incredibles

Another confession:

I was never a fan of having my picture made with characters. I considered the time spent waiting in line to have my photograph taken, to be time I could be riding a ride, seeing a show, taking a photograph, or perhaps, eating. But, that is changing, thanks to my grandchildren.

During our "Papa's Dream Come True" trip in September, I patiently waited in line in the Judge's Tent at Mickey's Toontown Fair, to have my photograph made with Mickey and Minnie and whole Doc fam. And, I confess, I had a little Doc only time with Mickey and Minnie (see my Facebook profile photo). I couldn't help myself. Then, during the "Papa and Devon Back to The World" October outing, Devon taught me that having your picture made with a few characters is not a bad thing. In fact, sometimes it can be quite fun and you may experience at times little to no wait. So, with my grandson leading the way, I dove in and have begun the quest of compiling my collection of character photo ops.

Now yes, I suppose since it was all started by a mouse, I should start my Character Connections with The Mouse himself, but I am going in a little different direction and beginning with The Incredibles. It is an example of how fun some photo ops can be.

It may be easier to seek out these Character Connections when I have a grandchild with me. But I am going to test the envelop in a few weeks when Mrs. Doc visit Walt Disney World for the Candlelight Processional. Then, it will be the ol' Doc, and perhaps Mrs. Doc, waiting in line without a grandchild in sight.

One must do what one must do.

More to follow...

The Poll: Round One

Okay, first things first. I have a confession to make. Here goes,

I have never been to Disneyland.

Okay, there, I said it. Yeah sure, I have been to Walt Disney World many many times and I have been Disneyland Paris twice; once while it was actually called EuroDisney. I have the sweat shirt and guidemap and a few other items to prove it. But to Disneyland, to Walt's park, I have never been. And I call myself a Disney Geek. Yeah, right.

I am planning to correct that oversight sometime in the next 365 days. So, apart from all the advice I am looking forward to receiving from my pals, I thought I would start with a little poll. For this, I need your help.

Help Mrs. Doc and I plan our trip by answering this question. If you only have one day to spend in Disneyland, what are the Top 5 things (in order) that you must do? If you wish to elaborate with why it is on your list, or with other useful tips, please feel free to do so. Once I have a nice selection of replies I'll compile the information and share it here.

Thank you for helping us out. I know it will be helpful, not only in our planning (as we don't really know how long we may have in the area) but with other readers who may be considering a trip to the park that Walt built.

More to follow...

The Future Has Arrived

In the 501 days since The Disney Obsession began, if I have learned anything at all, it is that writing a blog is not an easy task! This spoken by someone who posts with no regularity whatsoever. But it isn't; easy that is. I am continually faced with the question of what to write and will it be worthwhile. After all, writing and maintaining a blog is an investment in time and energy.

This then begs the question. With so many excellent blogs available that cover almost every conceivable aspect of Disney, why another? Well really that question has been answered in that I did start TDO. So perhaps the question should be, should I continue working on the blog? Do I need to continue agonizing over what to write or whether or not it is being read? Are there other things that would be a better use of my time? I could draw or paint, or perhaps start writing my memoirs.

If this sounds like a familiar question, it is because I have asked it before. Only this time I have come surprisingly close to packing it in, shutting it down, shipping it off, and so forth.

Just the other day someone asked me to describe The Disney Obsession. Wow. I was stumped! I couldn't articulate what it is I am doing here. I could perhaps give an object lesson on how not to go about writing a blog, and live with the associated anxiety of trying to. Um. Maybe that should be my next blog. But I could not sum up in two or three sentences what this is. Not and make it sound interesting to my mind.

So.

I began to think seriously about what it is I have been doing here and what I would like to do. What I have been doing is writing about my relationship with Disney; pretty much how and what I feel. I try to explore the emotions I associate with not only being in the parks, but with being a fan away from the parks. Yes, I throw in the assorted photos from time to time and ask you to guess where it is. Yes, there is some exposure to my attempts to capture the parks at night. But there can be so much more. True, I have more to write concerning my feeling on Disney. But there are other things I want to share about life in general.

That is my answer! How do I describe my blog? It is about my passion for Disney and for life! I don't want to limit myself to trying to come up with something about Disney all the time. No, I want to share some of the wonders of life that I enjoy. My family, music, the odd film here and there. Basically just about anything that I feel like sharing. After all, this is my blog right?

Yes, you can look for be a nice piece ( a series actually) about Illuminations; say something about the composers. Or perhaps we'll address the fact that Doc once had long hair (the Belle photo). We may explore the when and where of my falling in love with the parks. But too, we may take a look at The Beatles (remember, I am a pre-Shea Stadium baby). Maybe some reflections from when I lived in Europe, or playing with Legos with my grandchildren.

There is a great big beautiful tomorrow and yes, it is filled with things other than Disney. And truth be told, I am rather obsessed with those things too; my family, my friends. I am also happy with all the adventures I have had, and more importantly, those adventures that are yet to come.

I suppose we can call this my New Years resolution for The Disney Obsession, or "Doc's Decision". From here on, The Disney Obsession isn't just about Disney anymore. It is about life...with a generous dose of Disney of course.

For those of you who have been following this blog, I hope that you'll stick around. It is not that I have changed - I am just taking the blinders off. To me a blog is simply another way to share our lives with our family and friends (yes, my family reads this). It is because I blog that my circle of friends has expanded beyond what I would have imagined. And this is great. Mind you, I so much appreciate my old friends as well. So again, I hope you stick around as the ol' Doc tries out a few new things.

Oh, and you can look forward to my posting with the same degree of irregularity that you have come to know and respect from The Disney Obsession. If you wonder what is happening during those gaps, well, I may be drawing or reading a book, I may be in Disney World, or fishing on a lake in Michigan. It could be that I am riding bikes with my grandchildren or taking a walk with the love of life, Mrs. Doc. In short, I'll be out living and loving life.

I'll get back to the office every so often. But right now, I am going to read Inkheart.

Photo Credit: Cropped Screen Shot from Meet the Robinsons Disney Pictures website.

One Hundred + 1

Whew, I just made it. I thought that the combination of my work schedule, celebrating my mother's birthday, and simply the general level of tiredness that I have just now would prevent me from settling down to write. Honestly, I would much rather be in bed allowing the background music loop from Innoventions lull me to sleep. But, that I can not do just yet.

Today has a small degree of significance. It is the 100th post on The Disney Obsession. It is also the one year anniversary of this experiment. It was a little over one year ago that Mrs. Doc recommended that I start blogging about my passion for Disney. And after having read a few blogs I felt that I may be able to add something to the general dialogue that takes place within the Disney online community. I fear though, that I may have been wrong in my thinking.

For you see, I have discovered that there are many in our circle of friends who know much more about the parks than I (not that I ever proclaimed a vast knowledge). Within the world of Disney there are many subject matters and these are discussed via a number of excellent blogs and podcasts. I appreciate each blog that I read and each podcast that I listen too. I feel both humbled and honored that I can count many of these writers and podcasters as my friends; both the ones I've met and those I have yet to meet.

But I must be honest here. I have struggled to find a voice for this experiment. I struggle with the notion of posting something that would be considered interesting to those few who visit this blog. I struggle with the idea that if I don't post daily or every other day, then somehow, what I have to say is not relevant. Perhaps I am not too far from the truth with these thoughts.

Then a friend of mine said to me recently that mine is one of most emotional Disney blogs that he has read. With that comment he confirmed something that I have been thinking of for sometime (while I struggle with content). And that is, for me, that Disney is an emotion! Yes, it is a place, a film, a passage of music, a book, a character and more. But most importantly (for me anyway), it is an emotion. It is the emotion that swells up inside of me whenever I set foot on Main Street U.S.A. or fly over the City of London. It is a memory of my grandmother whenever I emerge from clouds at the opening of Soarin'. It is knowing that no matter how difficult life gets, there is a happy thought just a second away whenever I think of Tinkerbell flying through the air as Wishes! begins or as my heart pounds during the finale of Illuminations: Reflections of Earth. It is the dream of someday walking down Main Street U.S.A. with my grandchildren. Whatever it is, there is something there and it impacts my life in ways that can, at times, be difficult to explain and even harder to understand.

That is it! Disney is an emotion! It is what it does to each one of us that makes it special. And I feel that this will become the voice of The Disney Obsession. Yes, I want to continue to share my attempts at nighttime photography. And there will still be those challenges that some of you have come to enjoy in Where In The World. Who knows, I may even share the odd piece of riveting information about some subject or another (there are still a few ideas of this nature scribbled on paper in my office here). But moving forward I think I would like to share more about how Disney impacts our (my) emotions.

Is this okay?

So, let's recap. One hundred posts in 366 days. That is what, one post every 3.66 days. Is Doc going to posts more frequently? Probably not. Hey, I have five grandchildren and a four year old nephew that need their time with Papa. But I will continue to press on with this experiment, meeting and making new friends, taking pictures, visiting the parks (as often as possible), creating new memories, and sharing what Disney means to me.

Oh, and if Disney makes you emotional, that's okay. I know I am not alone in this; or at least I hope i'm not. It is okay to share. To me that is what makes it all real.

More to follow...
Doc

P.s. No pictures tonight. I am tired.

Disney World After Dark: Mad Tea Party

Alright, it is time for another true confession. I have never been on this ride. There, I said it. I just don't see the attraction. Now. Yes, it is cute. But I am not the type of person who will knowingly (in most cases) go on a ride that could possibly make me sick. Now. And, there has never been enough pressure, peer or otherwise, placed on me to ride it.

Once upon a time, when I was younger and somewhat more bold than I am now, I would ride something that would spin me both clockwise and counter-clockwise concurrently. There was once a music themed park where I live that was called Opryland U.S.A. and in it was a Mad Tea Party type ride called the Little Deuce Coupe. Like I said, it was a music themed park. Many times my friends and I would stumble off that ride dizzy, disoriented and on some occasions rather sick. It was fun...at the time.

But now is not then. Thankfully, I have lived to grow older and hopefully a little wiser. Now I am content to watch others try to out-do each other in this ritualistic test of intestinal fortitude, knowing that one day, they too will be where I am at; on the outside looking in, with the same slight knowing smile on their face.

And now, you can look in too.

The Mad Tea Party, spinning since October 1, 1971.