February 10, 2013: Singing in the Rain

When I was a kid we would rush home every day to watch Mr. Cartoon. Jule Huffman at WSAZ TV-3 in Huntington, WV played Mr. Cartoon and, at 4:00 each day, played the only cartoons you would see anywhere on the three stations we could get. Mr. Cartoon ran through a host of cartoons, Looney Tunes, Tom & Jerry, Marvel Superheroes, whatever was out there probably ran on Mr. Cartoon at one time or another. Mr. Cartoon ended every show with the magic words: please, thank you, you’re welcome and excuse me but on Friday he added this additional phrase, “Go to the church or synagogue of your choice.” I haven’t offered such a bromide on this blog before and, since it is Sunday, worship where and how you see fit. Don’t keep anyone in this great country from worshipping what / whom they want, the way they want. Okay? Okay.

On this day in 1951, Robert A. Iger was born on Long Island, New York. Iger started out at ABC and on February 25, 1999 Disney named Iger president of Walt Disney International. Presently, he is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Walt Disney Company. Let’s face it; anything you do at Walt Disney World is a tribute to Bob Iger and a credit to his leadership over the last 14 years. Go forth and enjoy.

Today is Umbrella Day. There are days that umbrellas are handy and there are days when umbrellas are useless. If you are at WDW and a hurricane is throwing rain at you, an umbrella is useless, ponchos are next to useless and socks are a burden (try walking with two pounds of wet sock on each foot. That being said, if you buy an umbrella or poncho at Walt Disney World and it tears up on property, the will give you a new one. We have swapped ponchos and umbrellas a number of times. We have even swapped ponchos we bought years before, no questions asked. Try to stay dry but don’t get depressed when you can’t. Remember, I have never eaten a Chef Mickey’s that I was not soaked. It’s true. Hey, this is one you might overlook. At Hollywood studios, back in the Avenues of America area, there is an umbrella attached to a light pole. Water will spray on you while you are under the umbrella and you can recreate the famous scene from Singing in the Rain. So put on your best Gene Kelly and belt it out.

Remember, your best excuse is always: waiting for your dreams to come true.