Friday, July 10, 2009

Sounds Like Summer Concerts at Epcot

Last year Norwood and I had a blast at the Sounds Like Summer Concert Series but this year either rain or golf has kept us away. This week was orignally supposed to be Bjorn Again: A Tribute to the Bee Gees but the schedule was changed and now you can see 52nd Street: A Tribute to Billy Joel. In about two weeks my favorite of the entire series will be there.... 2U A Tribute to U2. Neither rain nor golf will keep us away.

July 9 - July 17: 52nd Street, A Tribute to Billy Joel

July 18 - July 26: Sounds of The Supremes, A Tribute to The Supremes

July 27 - August 2: 2U, A Tribute to U2

August 3 - August 9: Petty Theft, A Tribute to Tom Petty

Shows are held at the America Gardens Theatre at the following times...5:45 p.m., 7:00 p.m., and 8:15 p.m.

Labels: , , , , , ,

Sunday, July 05, 2009

Monorail Accident at WDW kills one

This photo is from the article by Fox News about last night's accident at the Ticket and Transportation Center in WDW. One cast member died (the driver of one of the monorails) in the accident. The Pink and Purple monorail were involved. Here is the story from Fox News....

www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,530102,00.html

Here is another link about the story...
www.clickorlando.com/news/19954891/detail.html#

My condolences to the family of the driver who was killed. And I hope those who were injured will recover fully.

Labels: , , , , , , , , , ,

Wednesday, July 01, 2009

Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri

Title: Unaccustomed Earth: Stories (Vintage Contemporaries)

Author: Jhumpa Lahiri

Publisher and Date: Vintage Contemporaries, New York 2008

Summary:
Unaccustomed Earth is a collection of short stories that explore emotions, relationships and Indian culture. There are eight stories in all and at the end of the book there are three that are connected together by characters.

Favorite Quotation from the Book:
“How freeing it was, these days, to travel alone, with only a single suitcase to check.” (from the short story “Unaccustomed Earth”)
“I returned to my existence, the existence I had chosen instead of you.” (from the short story “Going Ashore”)

Review:
3 out of 5

Lahiri wrote a collection of short stories in 1999 called “Interpreter of Maladies” that blew me away. It was emotional... with a range of emotion not just sorrow and heartache, and it was a nice insight into Indian culture. When I saw “Unaccustomed Earth” at the bookstore I picked it up thinking that it too would be a delight to read. In no way is this review going to be a bad review. Lahiri did indeed write a collection that was full of emotion, but this time “Unaccustomed Earth” did not sit within a spectrum of emotion but instead it was full of disappoint, sorrow and heartache. It was hard to read and not become glum. Some of the stories ended with deaths and unrequited love, others ended without hope.

The language, as you would expect from Lahiri was vivid and poignant. Some stories are better written than others. The namesake of the collection is by far my favorite. A father travels to his daughter’s house after many years of not seeing her to tell his daughter of his new relationship. The time they spend together is a relief to the daughter Ruma but the father never tells his daughter what he traveled so far for, instead he spends his time with his grandson. During his visit he writes a postcard to the new love in his life and meant to send it the next day but could not find it again. After he left Ruma finds the postcard written in Bengali. Unsure of whom the woman is and what the card says Ruma contemplates the postcard before putting a stamp on it and placing it in the mailbox. I absolutely loved the ending of this story. When Ruma finds the postcard there is so much confusion and emotion there and the acceptance of her father’s ability to move on after her mother’s death was a beautiful way to end the story.

I gave “Unaccustomed Earth” 3 out of 5 because there were two stories that really moved me in this collection; Unaccustomed Earth and Hema and Kaushik (a collection of three). The others were good but not fantastic. I do recommend it to other readers, but beware it is a collection of gloomy stories.

"To Travel Alone" was inspired by the short story "Unaccustomed Earth." The moments when we hear the thoughts of Ruma's father and what it felt like now to be without his wife and in love with a new woman made me think of this shot where the lonely statue is looking out into a vast sea.



Buy the Book

Labels: , , , ,

Monday, June 29, 2009

Mickey's Golf Cart at Walt Disney World

After a great nine holes on Oak Trail Golf Course this morning Norwood and I decided to head on over to the practice putting green and there it was... Mickey's Golf Cart! I could not resist I ran over and jumped in the passenger seat careful not to get the grass on my shoes inside Mickey's cart. I wonder how far Mickey can drive with that driver?

Here I am in his cart...
www.flickr.com/photos/avisualzen/3671427693/

This photo was on Explore June 29, 2009 Page 3.

Labels: , ,

Sunday, June 28, 2009

JPG Magazine: Wonderful Blur

Wonderful Blur Version 2
JPG Magazine: Wonderful Blur

Posted using ShareThis

Labels:

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Click Here to Save on Cell Phone Service

For years Amanda and I paid nearly 90 dollars a month for cell service that we rarely used. Finally I became tired of just wasting money and started researching Net 10 or net10 cell service. I really did not believe the service could be that good considering the 10 cents a minute and carry over minutes sounded too good to be true. Well after trying it for two months I was hooked. With the economy the way it is net 10 cell phone service could save one over 800 a year. also don’t forget the nearly 20% in tax and fees you pay to contract companies. Really its ridiculous. Start saving today click here www.net10discount.com. Net Ten is flat rate and if you buy on line you can avoid the high tax. I started a little resale store last years to help people save money on their Net 10 service. please take a look and notice that when the discount cards are out which happens frequently do to lots of interest. I keep the best coupons and discounts on the page as a back up just click one of the links to save a 20 % or more on net 10. www.net10discount.com

Labels: , , , , , ,

Friday, June 19, 2009

Deer Creek RV and Golf Resort- Davenport Florida

For many Thousand Trails members where to spend their week out is often on their minds. Many full timers who spend the winters or summers in Florida will often travel between the two Thousand Trails parks Orlando and Peace River. But there are other options available depending on where in Florida you want to be. RPI or Resort Parks International is often an addition many Thousand Trails members will add so they can have other resort options for their week out. Norwood and I stayed at our first RPI park a few weeks ago, Deer Creek RV and Golf Resort.

About Deer Creek:
Deer Creek is located in Davenport Florida is about 20 minutes (12 miles) from Thousand Trails Orlando. The address is:

Deer Creek Resort
42749 US Hwy 27 North
Davenport, FL 33837
863-424-2839

Deer Creek is not one large community where all guests have access to all areas. It is in fact several little communities all under the umbrella of Deer Creek. There are six communities in the Deer Creek area but only the Regal Ridge Community is available to RPI members. Tent camping is not allowed in any of the Deer Creek Communities. It is a mixed community with both manufactured homes and RVs. All the communities are based around the 18 hole public golf course.

How many RPI spots does Deer Creek have?
For RPI members there are only 10 spaces available and Deer Creek will not take reservations. You are encouraged to call on the day you wish to visit to see if they have spaces available for RPI members.

How much does a night cost at Deer Creek for RPI?
RPI members will pay $10 ($12 for 50 amp) per night with a valid membership. It is common that RPI parks will have additional fees on top of the $10 per night. For example at Deer Creek they charge an automatic $7.00 for cable regardless of whether or not you use it. Also unlike Thousand Trails guests are required to have a key to access the club house (they call it wash room) for their community (all communities have their own little club houses and you will only have access to the clubhouse in your community). If you would like a key to the club house for the Regal Ridge Community you need to put down a $5 deposit with the ranger upon check-in.

What amenities does Deer Creek offer?
There is a main clubhouse for all communities (the photo you will see on their website). Inside the main clubhouse are a large area where dancing or tables can be set up and a restaurant which is only open in the winter. Downstairs in the main clubhouse is the pro shop and a pool. The community clubhouses are all different but the one you will have access to as an RPI member contains showers, washers and dryers, a small lounge area, a bookshelf and a pool. There are no tennis courts or shuffle board courts in the Regal Ridge area. Deer Creek also offers a Public 18 hole golf course. Green fees are $15.00 plus $5.00 for cart in the summer (4/16-9/31). For a review of the Deer Creek Golf Course please see Ladies Green.

Review Deer Creek RV and Golf Resort:
If I had to rate this park on a scale of 1 to 5, 5 being the best, I would give Deer Creek a 3. Although this resort beats any public RV campground there is nothing spectacular about it. It is clean and quite in the summer. The spaces are paved but some feel very small compared to the Orlando Thousand Trails sites. Many in this section are on a hill so backing up can be somewhat of a problem for heavy rigs.
If you like a clubhouse to hang out in you may be disappointed, there is not much of one in either the small community clubhouse or the main clubhouse. The extra fees are a bit of a pain but that is the case with many RPI parks.

On a positive note the folks are friendly, they pick up your trash right from your site and if you golf there is a nice driving range and a small 18 hole course.

Labels: , , , , , ,

Dirty Little Angels- Chris Tusa

Title: Dirty Little Angels
Author: Chris Tusa

Publisher and Date: Livingston Press (AL) (March 2009)

Summary:
Hailey Trosclair has lived a painful life for only being sixteen. Her hardships turn her to god but finds that her prayers are not answered and her family continues to suffer in New Orleans. Needing a person to keep her faith she turns to Moses Watkins. As it turns out her life was better before she met Moses.

Favorite Quotation from the Book:
“I began to think about the dirty little angels Chloe told me about, how they have to eat your soul before you can get into Heaven, and for a minute, as I listened to the crackle of dead leaves outside my window, I couldn’t help but imagine the glorious sound of angels’ teeth chewing through my tiny black soul.”


Review:
4 out of 5
I had always thought that I could read anything… but then I read Chris Tusa’s book “Dirty Little Angels”. I knew what the book was about from the summary and the sample chapter that Chris sent me but I honestly did not expect it to be quite so raw. It was an emotional and uncomfortable read perhaps bordering on too realistic at times. It took me a long time to read this short novel only because the emotional state of Hailey and the trails she had to endure were hard to stomach. It has been a long time since I was so disturbed by a novel. The fact that the events of Hailey’s grim life disturbed me to the point where I had to set the book aside speaks volumes for the writing ability of Chris Tusa. It is vivid, dark and utterly real.

I gave this book a four out of five because the writing was raw and believable but I have to say that I will not be able to read this novel again, it was too disturbing.

Labels: , ,