A Small Taste of DisneyWorld + a Thank You

When I attended a convention in Orlando in the early 90's, we stayed in the Swan Hotel, on the grounds of Disney World. The Dolphin Hotel is nearby, and I photographed both. I honestly don't know which interior photos are which hotel, as I didn't mark them.

Another view. I was always proud of this photo. All of these were taken with my old 35mm camera.


The Swan. I scanned these photos directly into the computer and I didn't crop or lighten them first, although this one could have benefited from that.


The Dolphin Lobby


A restaurant.

I loved these structural columns made to look like palm trees.

The monkeys are but one example of the whimsical ornamentation and decor found all over Disney World. The attention to detail is astounding.

One wall of the Dolphin, painted with palm fronds. Have you been to Disney World? What is your strongest memory?

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I returned home today at 6:45 pm, having worked since 9 am. I was telling myself how tired I was when I opened the mailbox to a big envelope. The contents made me very happy. I have won some sort of contest over at Travelin Oma's and she sent me a book I can't wait to read, titled:

"No One Cares What You Had for Lunch: 100 Ideas for Your Blog" by Margaret Mason.

Thank you so much, Marty! You are a woman of your word - which I never doubted for a moment. I am really looking forward to reading the book.

Odds and Ends + Quotes of note

You may remember that I sent you here last week to read about 1-800-flowers' lack of respect for their clients. Here's another instance of it. Click to enlarge. This article appears in the latest issue of AARP Magazine, on P. 17.

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In every work of genius we recognize our own rejected thoughts: they come back to us with a certain alienated majesty.

Ralph Waldo Emerson, writer and philosopher (1803-1882)
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Happiness is a fulfillment which cannot be sought as a selfish goal, but comes with the forgetting of self.

and:

Be a factor in the happiness of others. The only true happiness is that which never remains with oneself, but as it is experienced, is passed on to others.

N. Sri Ram, Theosophist, Madras India 1956

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For over a year, we have had a drought, with little to no rain; a deficit of over nine inches. Our lakes and rivers are at nearly all-time lows. But now, it has been raining, and blessedly so, for three days. I hope it continues for a week or more - whatever it takes to get our water levels back to normal or above. We are so grateful for whatever we get.

I Love(d) My Dentist

It's true......I really do love my dentist. We just got a letter saying that he is retiring in early July, and I have dreaded that day for years. My children and I used to tell him that he couldn't retire until after we departed the world. He is almost my age, so I guess we couldn't expect him to practice forever.

We moved to Raleigh in the fall of 1969, and in January, we began a search for a dentist. Mr. kenju found one in his office building, so we tried him out. We immediately felt that we had made a good choice; he was very good at dentistry, he seemed compassionate, and trustworthy. An added plus is that he was easy on the eyes (and remains so). Over the years, our opinion of him has never flagged, and his personality and the way he conducts his business have never changed. (The fees have escalated, darn it!)

Many people have been referred by us to his office throughout the last 38 years, all of whom were really happy to find him. Everyone from my mother-in-law to the small grandchildren of my friends go/have gone to this office with no fear or trepidation. I expect they will be as sad as we are to lose him. I have had a great deal of dental work over the years. Phil is the only dentist who never hurt me (with the possibile exception of novocaine shots - but that was understandable.)

A new dentist is taking over the practice; one I hope will be just like Phil. The new man is retaining all the office staff, from the receptionist to the hygienists, so that is a definite plus.

Phil, we have enjoyed being your patients over the years. We thank you for being the man and the dentist you are, and we wish you and your family many years of peaceful and enjoyable retirement.