California Adventure

Disneyland is more fun with a party of two

Posted on by jasonalanunderwood

I’m usually a very honest person. I have no problem divulging little details about my condition or personal life because to me if anything is relevant to whatever topic I’m on there’s no sense in omitting facts. When you tell any story worth repeating a thousand times over, do you cut out the bad parts and explore the fonder memories? No, because the negative aspects might be considered important stepping stones in the road to happier times. Rarely ever do I make an exception, but recently I had a major falling out with my sister Melanie and if I don’t discuss at least SOME of what happened it’s going to eat me alive.

To keep my moral high ground intact, I’ll only offer up what you need to know. Melanie has been the member of the same Pentecostal church for over 20 years. They don’t operate like most churches of their type do. The atmosphere is more like a cult than anything with strict rules regarding clothes, hair styles, entertainment, and what I can only describe as “outside interference.”

A normal church wouldn’t say “You can’t do that” or “You shouldn’t talk to your family about matters that do not concern them.” Hers apparently does. Not because Becky and I are bad people (we’re not). They just don’t like us very much for a variety of reasons…

1) We don’t go to their cult meetings… I mean, church services.

2) We are individuals, not avid Kool-Aid drinkers.

3) When Melanie and her boys are around us, they have fun.

Case in point, our recent trip to Disneyland as a family. Becky, Melanie, and Daniel worked insanely hard to raise money for the trip. I helped with the yard sales at Mel’s apartment while also selling things on eBay. Unlike previous fundraising attempts, this time seemed to carry a lot more weight. Christopher – the oldest of my sister’s three boys – was graciously being allowed to go on this trip by his legal guardian. Becky and I hadn’t seen him in years, and we were really looking forward to the opportunity. Things actually went pretty well, I thought…

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If you look at those pictures closely though, you can tell that at least some of us weren’t completely happy. Christopher, with the unwarranted dirty looks. Melanie, who can never take a decent picture. Me? Half the time I was either exhausted or in pain. At least I had a legitimate excuse for being grumpy.

On top of all that, for the duration of the 2 days spent between Disneyland and California Adventure, everything felt rushed. It was mostly the Mel & Chris Show, with everyone else lagging behind. Certain desirable areas of the park were overlooked in favor of short cuts to the better rides. Pictures were taken, but for some reason most (if not all) of my sister’s focused on Christopher. To be perfectly honest it was almost as if Melanie didn’t even want to be there despite all the hard work it took. It was a complete disaster.

At present, Melanie has once again severed ties with us, no doubt a request made by her pastor. Their prejudice is hurtful and never-ending.

Following the initial drama with my sister and Mildred’s passing we both felt the overwhelming need to get away. So, Becky and I decided to take a day trip to Disneyland… alone. It was far more entertaining than our last visit.

Our first ever picture with Genie!

Becky and I right after we got on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

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We got to meet Olaf!

Becky was so proud of herself for being able to ride California Screamin’. She had a blast!

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The sunset over Paradise Pier was gorgeous!

Becky and I thought this was adorable.

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The trip wouldn’t be complete without a couple wild life shots.

Finally went on the Finding Nemo ride!

Rocketeer sighting!

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Donald Duck!

You can clearly see the difference between the two trips. Becky and I were much happier during the second. As we speak my wife is already planning a third visit for this year. I am very much looking forward to it!

There simply wasn’t much to say – March 24, 2014

Posted on by jasonalanunderwood

Sometime in between this entry and the last there was a trip to Disneyland and California Adventure for my youngest nephew’s birthday. Unlike before when I offered a detailed account of my time with the family, I chose to sort of keep quiet. I wanted to enjoy this visit more. That meant a tighter focus on quality and a lot less technological reliance.

Based on this vague introduction and how much time has passed, I can’t offer any bit of explicit details. My ability to retain memory isn’t what it used to be. Rides like Pirates and Haunted Mansion were the same. Not much has really changed. Although, I did finally spot the Lego Jack Sparrow figure.

Star Tours was alright. I believe we went on it twice. The second time Darth Vader showed up on the screen. It was bad ass. Talking with Crush had been another high point. Learning how to draw Perry from Phineas & Ferb, also cool. Went on the Matter Horn, never did that before.

Now Becky and I are going back tomorrow, by ourselves. Just for fun.

Disneyland/California Adventure Day 5 – February 16, 2014

Posted on by jasonalanunderwood

7:27 a.m.
I got up before everyone else and I’m only dragging ass because I lost this Goofy pressed penny I found on Grizzly River Run last night. I can buy a new one today, no big deal. Have to get ready.

9:00 a.m.
I got up at 7 in the morning and we haven’t left yet. Not off to a great start today.

3:03 p.m.
Admittedly I wasn’t in a good mood when we got to California Adventure today. Our arrival had been delayed due to the dryer still being out of order. Becky and Melanie found a laundromat, then grabbed more sandwich meat from a grocery store. Upon our arrival, (as we did yesterday), we rented automatic and manual wheelchairs. I’m in the manual, because my legs are slowly freezing up. Got in line for Radiator Springs. That took almost an hour. The ride itself was awesome. Amazing, life-like details. Fast cars, thrilling turns. I’d definitely go on it again. Luigi’s Flying Tires on the other hand? No. Not a chance in hell. It was too confining in a tire with Melanie and Daniel, plus the damn thing broke down. I was not impressed. I dis get to meet Donald, though. He pointed at my Kingdom Hearts shirt and got even more excited when he saw the Donald hat I was wearing. Truly my favorite part of the night.

11:11 p.m.
The line for Toy Story was longer than I anticipated. To be honest I never knew what the ride actually consisted of. Turned out to be a lot like Astro Blasters. I went into it thinking “Ok, maybe now it will be my turn to beat Daniel at something.” Nope. He won 74,400 to 56,000. One of these days, little dude. One of these days.

11:19 p.m.
Daniel gave us such a hard time at the Ferris Wheel. I understand that he has a terrible fear of heights, but come on. Dirty looks, excessive pouting, refusal to join in on the fun with the rest of the family… it was ridiculous. We get all loaded up in the Pluto cage and before the major swinging can even begin Daniel started screaming and crying like a two year old. He’s thirteen. It was embarrassing. People in the nearest carts could hear him yelling “Let me out” at the top of his lungs. Towards the end Daniel decided to try this weird Native American meditation crap and it worked. He calmed down, and all was right with the world.

11:43 p.m.
The pizza I ate on the boardwalk wasn’t altogether warm, which sucked. Little Mermaid is hands down my favorite Disney film and so it can’t be too surprising that I found the ride to be quite entertaining. We were about to go on Goofy’s Sky School next when the cast members informed us that it was closed. The news was mildly upsetting, but this feeling didn’t last. Soaring Over California more than made up for the disappointment. Melanie screamed her head off the entire time. It was pretty funny. Once that ride was marked off our checklist, Becky took me to do a little last minute shopping. I picked up a Twilight Zone 50th Anniversary novel with nineteen short stories in it. Becky got a new badge holder for her season pass because her old one broke. At the end of the night, there was a quick walk through Cars Land to look at the lights and go on the Mater ride one more time. This was the last day of the Disneyland/California Adventure vacation. Tomorrow is a one day visit to Knott’s Berry Farm. I honestly never had any desire to go there. To me, it’s a day being taken away from a couple parks we were already enjoying. However, I have to be more lenient in regards to what others want out of a family outing. My willingness is irrelevant. If I’m not at least somewhat open-minded, the only thing I’m accomplishing is ruining the fun. I got ready what I could in terms of gathering our stuff for checkout in the morning, but I’m starting to fall asleep. My whole body hurts and I need to rest. I can finish this later.

Disneyland/California Adventure DAY 4 – February 13, 2014

Posted on by jasonalanunderwood

8:52 a.m.
Woke up late again, but thankfully not as late as yesterday morning. Getting ready for another fun-filled visit to Disneyland.

9:10 a.m.
Taped up the battery compartment on my camera, and it worked. Now I have to be careful not to burn out the battery today. I won’t have any tape on hand.

1:46 p.m.
World of Disney was the first stop. Becky, Melanie, Daniel, and Elijah got new Disney hats. I opted not to get anything because I couldn’t make up my mind. Went on Indiana Jones twice, and Pirates once. I got to sit behind the wheel on Indy, that was pretty cool. Melanie couldn’t stop screaming. The best part so far was getting to meet Goofy, Daisy Duck, Captain Hook, and Minnie Mouse all in a row. Hook even chased Goofy around. I laughed so hard. I’m having a blast!

9:01 p.m.
Another round of the teacups went as expected. Lots of spinning and loud screaming. It actually didn’t turn a whole lot this time. Alice in Wonderland was a lot better. Surreal, dark, and highly entertaining. After Alice was Peter Pan. I had only been on this ride once before, and barely remembered it. Earlier, I felt as if everything was new again. Flying in that boat over a three dimensional model of London left me speechless. I wouldn’t mind a return visit, if the line isn’t too long.

10:03 p.m.
There wasn’t a ton of rides left to go on at Disneyland, and the heat today was becoming unbearable. We mutually agreed to head for California Adventure, and Grizzly River Run. On the way there we ran into Chip n Dale. Twice. On the second occasion we got their signatures and pictures taken with them. Stopped at the Monsters Inc section of the park. Met Sully, and went on the ride. It was cute, but not one I would consider going back to. Next up was Mickey Mouse ice cream bars before walking through Off the Page. Daniel and I got bookmarks. Becky got stickers for the car and a cookie cutter (though those might have been bought at World of Disney, my memory’s a bit foggy at this point). Overall, I’d say that we were in serious need of some out of the box thinking for our next activity. The day was just moving way too slow.

10:47 p.m.
Remember earlier how I mentioned that I normally don’t go on water rides? Well, because the weather got up to the early 80’s today (everybody was beyond miserable), it was decided that we should go on Grizzly River Run. Yesterday Becky only went on it once while Melanie, Daniel, Elijah, and I went on it three times. Three, in that particular moment, seemed like more than enough. Today we were only going to brave the roaring rapids once and move on to the Ferris Wheel. Daniel has a thing about heights and so the adults in the group bribed him with five turns on Grizzly River Run if he went on the wheel. He caved. After we finished the first three turns, everyone was ready to give up. Then we heard one of the cast members say the most he’d ever seen a party go in a row was twelve times. Immediately I jumped in and suggested that we break the record. It took a LOT of convincing. Eventually Becky said it was alright. Later we discovered that the record was in fact fifty six consecutive turns. For us that was completely out of the question. We compromised, and settled on ten turns instead. That would give Melanie, Daniel, Elijah, and I thirteen total. Becky would have eleven – her lucky number. It was quite honestly the most fun I’ve had on this trip so far. Loud, borderline obnoxious laughter shared by all. Constant guessing as to who was going to get most of the water. Crude behavior and humor that was absolutely hilarious. The highlight of this little adventure? Becky’s new hat flew off before one of the drops and landed in the water behind our boat. It then followed us down the stream until the last checkpoint. There was a brief opportunity to grab the hat, and that’s when Daniel sprang into action. He unbuckled (a huge no-no) and practically dove over the side. Becky and Melanie held onto his pants. He successfully retrieved the hat and gave it back to Becky. When she put it on, the people in the other boats up ahead were cheering. I bet none of them had ever seen anything like it. We knew the cast member in the tower saw us. None of the workers complained. We got lucky, in more ways than one. This is a memory that I think we’ll cherish for many years to come.

10:58 p.m.
It goes without saying that all of our clothes are soaked. Daniel doesn’t have clean underwear, and I don’t have clean pants or shoes. I took the dirty stuff to the laundry room at our hotel. Roughly three hours later and the dryer broke. There’s nothing that can be done to fix the machine after hours so we’re screwed. We’re going to eat at Denny’s and then find a laundromat that is (hopefully) still open. So aggravating.

11:03 p.m.
We left the park earlier than usual, for obvious reasons. It was hectic trying to figure out how to ride in the car back to our room without running the leather seats. Thankfully a retail cast member was kind enough to give us plastic bags to sit on. That helped a lot. With the dryer breaking down, that sort of defeats the purpose a little. Wet clothes, plus no more plastic, equals a potentially stressful situation. Hell, it already is one. Nothing we can really do but try to move forward. Can’t let this ruin our night.

11:09 p.m.
The inserts came loose from my shoes between the water and the broken dryer. It’s an inconvenience for sure, but nothing I can’t handle. I’m wearing them as we speak and they’re not that uncomfortable to wear. Perhaps next month I’ll buy new inserts. More cushiony ones.

11:18 p.m.
I am incredibly grateful that my wife took money out of her pocket to give my sister, her boys, and I this time to get reacquainted. She’s spending a lot of money and sacrificing more than just monetary gain to make us happy. I can’t stop thinking about it like this. Melanie and I haven’t been to Disneyland since I was three years old. We have NEVER been to California Adventure together. The boys haven’t been to either park in eight years. If Becky hadn’t done this, we wouldn’t be getting this close so fast. I’m loving how selfless she is, and I’ll won’t soon forget it.

Disneyland/California Adventure DAY 3 – February 12, 2014

Posted on by jasonalanunderwood

10:31 a.m.
We slept in later than intended. Yesterday was extraordinarily rough on our bodies. Daniel and Elijah had fallen asleep almost instantly. Melanie wasn’t far behind them. Poor Becky wound up getting blisters on her feet after a little over nine hours of walking. Me, I was the last to nod off. It’s not like I was overly excited about the next day, I just had a lot of fun and wanted to relax before I actually went to bed. At the moment everyone’s busy getting ready. I’m almost done. All I have left to do is figure out what else is going in the bag. I’m not bringing my Donald Duck Through The Years hat. I paid almost $20 for it, and I don’t want it to fly off my head when I go on California Screamin’. Looking forward to seeing Daniel and Elijah’s reactions to that ride. I’m getting goosebumps just thinking about it.

1:04 p.m.
Entering California Adventure was business as usual. Very little pictures were taken, if any. We headed straight for Cars Land, and went on the Mater ride. Daniel looked miserable the entire time while everybody else was having fun. Melanie and I were screaming, but not nearly as much as Becky and Elijah. At least one of my nephews thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Shortly after that we met Lightning McQueen. Ran into a fellow Ravens fan while waiting in line. Then, we sat down for our first break at Cozy Cone. Becky, Daniel, and Elijah had Chile Con Quesos while Melanie and I were eating ice cream. As Becky pointed out, I just had to get the biggest cone that I could – a large Vanilla/Chocolate Twist. That thing was melting all over my hand and making a giant mess. I didn’t care. Daniel ran to get me a cup and spoon, as well as some napkins. When I finished I washed my hands. Easy fix. So far, this day has been great.

1:26 p.m. The Ladybug ride didn’t go as fast as it did last time I went to California Adventure. Probably a good thing.

2:18 p.m.
Bugs Land is always kind of underwhelming. I attribute this to the fact that A Bug’s Life was only the second Pixar film released. A lot of Disney fans were still high on Toy Story at the time and when they saw this new animated feature, people generally didn’t know what to think. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still cool in its own way. I just feel as if this section of California Adventure could be a lot better.

2:20 p.m.
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is hands down my favorite ride in this park. It’s wicked and dark, like the Haunted Mansion, but infinitely more thrilling. Plus, it was fun to see Daniel screaming like a little girl during the free fall.

3:56 p.m.
Took in two shows back to back – Muppet 3D Vision and Disney Junior. The bright lights and colors kinda gave me a headache. It happens on occasion because of my seizure disorder. No worries, though. Nothing majorly bad occurred so it’s all good. Currently stopped for a bathroom break and then we’ll be on our way.

11:12 p.m.
So, I decided to do something completely out of character. I’m always so afraid of going on water rides because I don’t overly enjoy getting soaked – partly due to MS (extreme cold hurts like hell) but also due to the fact that it would take forever to dry off. Rather than succumb to irrationality, I just went for it. We got on Grizzly River Run, following a fast-moving line that could have gone a lot slower. Becky got hit by most of the water, while the rest of us still got fairly drenched. By the time we got off the ride, my poor wife said not again. Melanie, Daniel, and Elijah were eager to go right back. I went along while Becky stayed behind. As fate would have it, I was the one getting hit by the waves more than the other people in the boat. A few minutes later, we brave four snuck back around for a third ride. I use the term snuck loosely. Melanie, Elijah, and I went the normal route while Daniel hopped a gate. What started in nobility ended in foolishness as I was still kinda soaked at the end of the night. Oh well, at least I conquered my fear.

11:33 p.m.
Just before dark, I dropped my camera. I didn’t realize there had been any damage sustained until I attempted to close the battery compartment while waiting for the Play Parade to start. It wouldn’t shut. One little piece had broken off. I’m going to have to use tape to keep it closed until I can afford to buy a new camera. It’s alright. It sucks of course, but there’s not much I can do to fix the problem. The parade itself was cool, but definitely one of those things that could have been better. Case in point, the Monsters University float. Mike’s eye was broken and none of the cast members seemed to notice. I also feel bad for those poor women being forced to dance around in skimpy outfits when it’s freezing cold outside. This lackluster viewing would soon be balanced out by a much grander experience. Melanie refused to go on California Screamin’ and Daniel chickened out. I got on with only Elijah in tow. He screamed half the time, but I was laughing my ass off. I couldn’t help it. The thrill of not being in control of the speed or direction of the coaster was exhilarating. My fear of heights? Gone. Elijah’s? Not so much. He emphatically stated that he’s never going on it again. This is ironic because I said the same thing about the Zephyr on a prior visit to California Adventure, and there I was riding it not once but twice with the rest of the family tonight.

11:46 p.m.
We capped off the night with The World of Color. You know how they say if you’re standing in the Wet Zone, you’ll get wet? Well, there we were all lined up for the show and when it started there was barely any sprinkles. However, the pillars of water did go pretty high and at the end the condensation amounted to my entire group being very uncomfortable. As a matter of fact, I got back to the room over two hours ago and my clothes are still wet. Despite the drenching, the show as great. My favorite part was the Pirates segment towards the finale, with the towers of flame going as high as the water did. Simply fantastic. The perfect end to another awesome day.

Disneyland/California Adventure DAY 2 – February 12, 2014

Posted on by jasonalanunderwood

9:25 a.m.
Rode the tram to the park. There was absolutely no elbow room. Now waiting in line to get pass cards for Daniel and Elijah. They are going to have so much fun.

9:29 a.m.
The knot in my throat was really bothering me this morning. Hopefully I don’t get sick while I’m here.

9:30 a.m.
Almost there! This line is packed.

9:32 a.m.
At the window. Looks like they’re going to give us a hard time about the passes being printed on both sides of one paper.

11:21 a.m.
The boys loved Pirates. Got momentarily got detained on Haunted Mansion. Met Tigger, Eeyore, and Pooh. It was the first time that I’ve been on the Pooh ride. Now in line for Astral Orbiter in Tomorrowland. Daniel is refusing to go on Space Mountain with me. It’s hilarious.

1:07 p.m.
Daniel beat me at Astro Blasters 111,000 to 5,800. Everyone loved Star Tours. The best part was when someone randomly yelled “it’s a trap” after Leia said “you’re my only hope.”

2:10 p.m.
The entire group got to meet Thor. It was amazing! Now on our way to Toon Town via the tram.

3:28 p.m.
Saw Pluto. Had him sign my book. All of the kids were crowding him though, it was insane. The line for Mickey wasn’t that bad. About to go on the Roger Rabbit ride.

4:58 p.m.
Roger Rabbit was dizzyingly fun, thanks to Melanie turning the wheel the entire time. Went on Pinocchio. The long line for Dumbo is finally coming to an end.

6:46 p.m.
Jungle Cruise was alright, but honestly I’m woefully exhausted at this point. Though I probably didn’t take that many pictures in comparison to previous trips to Disneyland, we are here for four days. There will be plenty of opportunity for me to go on more rides and fill up my autograph book.

11:08 p.m.
It’s pretty much the end of the night for us. Quite a few things happened at Disneyland that I couldn’t cram into a paragraph for obvious reasons. Like how at the entrance I overheard a park employee saying that a CSI team was there. I have no idea what for, and I’m not sure I want to know. When I had Winnie the Pooh sign my book, he did so while spinning around in a circle. It was awesome. Daniel and Elijah had a lot of fun on the teacups. It was so dark during the parade that I had to shoot a video instead of take pictures. Blame that on the poor lighting. Everyone went on Pirates a second time. Becky, Daniel, and Elijah got wet in the front row. Before the Carousel, a little boy kept pushing on my ass telling me to go while in line. Afterward, my nephews and I took turns trying to pull Excalibur from the stone. Now we’re laughing and having fun before bed.

Disneyland/California Adventure DAY 1 – February 12, 2014

Posted on by jasonalanunderwood

11:15 a.m.
The car is all loaded up for Disneyland. Mentally checked and double checked the list of stuff we’re bringing. I’d hate to be halfway there and realize I accidentally left something important behind. To top off the car ride, I’m bringing my copy of The Sword in the Stone to read. Magic Kingdom, here we come.

11:27 a.m.
It’s pretty cramped in the car. Imagine squeezing four or five days worth of luggage in the trunk of a PT Cruiser and STILL needing to cram about ten bags in the back seat. Not exactly comfortable, but manageable.

11:41 a.m.
The last trip to Disneyland my wife and I went on had been rough after a little while. Becky kept asking me if I needed to sit down. I always said no, because I wanted to prove that I could do it. I want to be seen as someone that’s brave and strong, not burdensome and weak. At some point I did have to sit down, though. Typically I can stay on my feet for two straight hours before I feel any pain. If I need to I can push it another three, but anything past that is the danger zone. It’s kinda like when the gas light comes on in your car and you ignore it thinking you have enough fuel to get you where you’re going. I purposely overlooked the warning signs for about well over five hours seeing as how I just wanted to enjoy myself without MS ruining the day. The instant I ran out of energy, I rested. Smartest decision I made at that moment.

12:15 p.m.
This headache is interfering in my desire to read or write. I’m going to give it an hour and then I’ll try again.

2:08 p.m.
Just finished reading the first chapter of The Sword in the Stone. I must say, I feel bad for young Arthur. Always bullied by Kay, and treated unfairly by his adopted father. Yet, he doesn’t allow anything negative to drag him down. He completes his work, and when it’s time for play – despite Kay thinking him to be inferior – Arthur still invites the bully to have fun with him. So incredible noble and inspirational this kid is.

8:43 p.m.
Had a pretty large dinner. Pizza, spaghetti, and garlic bread. It filled me up pretty good. Then we all went to the hot tub once our stomachs settled. The warm water felt really nice, and helped my legs to not ache so much. Skipped out on The Walking Dead to go check out Phat Collectibles. I was kind of overwhelmed by all the comics and figures they had. Couldn’t make up my mind as to what I wanted to buy. It came down to the first New 52 Justice League trade paperback or a Deadpool/Wolverine t-shirt. I went with the shirt. Now waiting on a balcony at Eden Roc for the fireworks at Disneyland to start. Yes, we could have gone to the park for the show but the end of the night crowds are horrible. People constantly bumping into each other and not even bothering to say they’re sorry. Oh, nice. It’s starting!

9:04 p.m.
Heading back to the room now. Might eat something, and then I’m probably going to bed. Then we have an early start tomorrow.

Disneyland/California Adventure DAY 0 – February 9, 2014

Posted on by jasonalanunderwood

9:07 a.m.
Woke up this morning so nervous I thought I was going to barf. It’s going to be a long day. Relay Committee Training, Bark for Life meeting, and later the last minute packing before tomorrow.

11:31 a.m.
A little ways into the meeting I started to feel worse. I did my best to focus on what was being said, rather than take notes. That seemed to help as I didn’t feel so distracted. Not long after, I was asked to take pictures of stuff around the room. I am definitely loving being Photography Chair.

11:40 a.m.
I got into this purely by accident. Last year during a bake sale for Becky’s relay team I asked about volunteering at Bark for Life, because I love working with animals. Somehow that lead to me taking ALL of the pictures at key Relay events. The committee made me the go-to guy in terms of on-site photography. I find it immensely ironic, seeing as how I never took a single relevant class in high school. I bought a $20 digital camera in 2001, and have been thoroughly enjoying the experience of being a photographer ever since.

11:48 a.m.
I’m noticing that I – both physically and emotionally – feel better when I contribute charitable actions towards a noble cause. Devoting your time to something bigger than yourself is a great way to take control of your own condition. Putting others first in this manner is you telling your body that YOU are in the driver’s seat, not the other way around.

1:08 p.m.
At the Bark for Life meeting now. Petting and loving on a dog belonging to one of the committee leaders kinda makes me wish I had my own.

1:26 p.m.
I used to only take sunset pictures, for fun. Don’t know why exactly, I just always thought they were pretty. Eventually I broadened my horizons to include animal portraits, both wild and domestic. In addition to Relay events, I’ve also been to Long Beach Comic-Con on two separate occasions. The first visit I didn’t take that many “decent” shots, but the second I took a lot more. Meeting a bunch of new and interesting people, finding out that celebrities are pretty much like everyone else, it’s quite a trip. Off the top of my head? Jim Lee (X-Men, Wild C.A.T.S., Batman) complimented me on how nice my camera was. Mark Waid, whom I’ve met a few times, inspired me to write my own comic. A lot of these creators, actors, and actresses were more than happy to pose for a few brief seconds. Honestly, being a photographer with a wide range of skill, it’s as if I’ve found something truly special. If I can lend this gift to a worthy cause, even better.

11:59 p.m.
The day’s almost over. In the morning I’ll be getting up early to get ready for the long car ride to Anaheim. Shower, shave, and shove off. Loading up the car proved to be a colossal pain, but despite the hectic packing I think it will be a fun trip. I’ve never been to Disneyland with Daniel and Elijah. Furthermore, I haven’t been there with my sister Melanie since I was three years old. Though I’ve gone to the Magic Kingdom a few times in the past year or two, this particular vacation is going to feel like a completely different adventure.