October 1, 2013: CD Player Day, International Day of Older Persons, Model T Day, Happy Birthday Julie Andrews and Walt Disney World.

Today is CD Player Day. CD players are almost a thing of the past. Eight-track tape players, record players, cassette players, all were replaced by the next generation of technology and now, MP3 downloads are replacing the physical discs. Honestly, if I get a CD I usually play it once: when I rip it to iTunes. I hate change and I miss the old formats in addition to Beta video and Laser Disc. At WDW you can buy CD’s of your favorite Disney music. Get it while you can.

Today is the International Day of Older Persons. I used to admire old people then I woke up one day and I was one. You will be too. Respect the wisdom that comes with age and remember, age and wisdom with beat youth and skill in the long haul (at least I keep telling myself that). Take an older person to Walt Disney World with you. You’ll both enjoy it.

Speaking of older, today is Model T Day. For $825, Henry Ford would sell you an automobile in any color you wanted as long as that color was black. Perhaps Ford’s greatest accomplishment was producing a car that the worker who built it could afford. The idea worked well and allowed this nation to be the mobile, well-traveled people that we are. Hopefully Carsland will come to Walt Disney World soon but until it does don’t forget the original cars land, the parking at the Transportation and Ticket Center.

Paul Abraham Dukas was born on this day in 1865 in Paris, France. In 1897 he penned an orchestral piece “L’appenti sorcier” that Walt used for a sequence in Fantasia in 1940. “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” is one of just a few pieces written by Dukas that survive as he was a perfectionist who destroyed mush of his work out of his dissatisfaction with them. Visit Hollywood Studios and enjoy The Great Movie Ride with a sequence from Fantasia.

Jimmy Carter, the thirty-ninth President of the United States was born in Plains, Georgia on this date in 1924. In 1976, Carter delivered a speech, in front of Cinderella Castle, to the International Chamber of Commerce 26^th Conference and Convention. You know what is very near the Castle? That’s right, The Hall of Presidents. Now go, enjoy and get educated.

On this day in 1935, Julie Andrews (Julia Elizabeth Wells) was born in England. She will forever be remembered as Mary Poppins. Mary Poppins is incredibly important in Disney history to the point that a movie is coming out, Saving Mr. Banks, to tell the story of how Walt acquired the rights and made the movie. The profits from the movie were used to develop the MaPo braking system for the monorails, so named from the source of its funding MAry POppins. More recently Andrews starred in The Princess Diaries movies as well as serving as the narrator in Enchanted. Ride the monorail in comfort and safety thanks to Julie Andrews and ride it to EPCOT where you just might meet Mary Poppins.

Last, but not least, on this date in 1971, Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida opened. Thanks Walt, Thanks Roy and Thanks to all the imagineers and cast members who keep it happening every day.

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

September 30, 2013: Ask A Stupid Question Day, Translation Day and Barry Williams.

Today is Ask A Stupid Question Day. I used to say that there are no stupid questions. I have learned otherwise. There are questions that my students ask for no other reason than wasting class time and keeping the class from getting things done. If you really want to know something, there truly cannot be a stupid question, even, “What time is the 3:00 parade?”

Today is International Translation Day. This is celebrated on the feast of St. Jerome, the Bible translator who is considered the patron saint of translators. At Walt Disney World, there are people available to translate between almost any set of languages. Natives of that country populate every country in World Showcase (EPCOT) and there are quite a few bilingual individuals in all the parks. Practice your translation skills.

Barry Williams was born on this day in 1954 in Santa Monica, California. The eldest of the Brady kids, Greg, Barry was a television staple throughout the early seventies. Even though the Brady Bunch never visited Disneyland or Walt Disney World, they did go to Kings Island, a theme park in Cincinnati, Ohio. The episode involved the Dad working on plans for a project in the park and the kids losing those plans. Whatever you do, don’t go to WDW without plans. We like Touring Plans . com. You will too.

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

September 29, 2013: Belle's Chapel's 100th Anniversary and a quick list.

Another quick one for today, I promise a return to normal for tomorrow. Yesterday was the marching band competition at Powell County High School. We made it home really late and I crashed without posting. Today is the 100^th anniversary of Belle’s Chapel Free Will Baptist Church, come join us, 15 miles south of Louisa, Kentucky on U.S. 23.

Here are some excuses that you can modify to suit your needs:

            Gold Star Mother’s Day

            National Attend Your Grandchild’s Birth Day (Note: the actual birth)

            International Coffee Day

            VFW Day

1890: The first professional baseball game in which the New York Metropolitans beat the Washington Nationals 4 – 2 in 5 innings at the Polo Grounds in New York City.

1906: Charles Wolcott, musical director, composer, orchestrator and conductor. Wolcott’s credits include: Bambi, The Three Caballeros, Make Mine Music, Song of the South and Fun and Fancy Free.

1942: Ian McShane, Blackbeard in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.

1973: Brad Kane, the singing voice of Aladdin.

1980: Zachary Levi, the voice of Flynn Rider in Tangled.

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

September 28, 2013: A quick list to get you going.

This weekend is crazy. We have homecoming all weekend long at Belle’s Chapel Free Will Baptist. Church last night, tonight and tomorrow morning at 10:30 AM, Marching Band Competition tomorrow at Powell County, and the normal things that have to be done. Therefore this is a super quick list. You can take it from there. Good luck.

Family Health and Fitness Day USA

Fish Tank Floorshow Night

Fish Amnesty Day



Kids Day (Kiwanis Clubs)

National Hunting and Fishing Day


National Good Neighbor Day


National Museum Day


National Public Lands Day


R.E.A.D. in America Day

World Heart Day

1987: Hillary Duff, born in Houston, Texas

1974: Mick Ronson joins Mott the Hoople

1926: Jerry Clower born in Amite County, Mississippi

1967: Moon Unit Zappa born to Frank Zappa

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

September 27, 2013: Ancestor Appreciation Day, Happy Birthday Google, Hug A Vegetarian, World Tourism, Sam Adams, Meat Loaf and Gwyneth Paltrow.

Today is Ancestor Appreciation Day. It seems that Asians have a greater appreciation for their elders and ancestors than the rest of us so when I stumbled upon this event I automatically thought of my Chinese and Japanese friends reverence for their ancestors. I have no idea of where this holiday originated but I greatly appreciate the intention of the day and I hope that when I am someone’s far removed ancestor that they will think of me as I think of my own predecessors. To celebrate this day go to EPCOT, visit the British Pavilion and explore your family name / coat of arms. They have a small shop dedicated to just that purpose.

Today is Google’s birthday, for now. It seems that the year and exact date of the establishment of Google is always in flux. At one point a Google employee stated,  “Google’s birthday is what ever day that everyone wants to eat cake.” It seems that, at least for now, that is September 27^th. To those who are a Walt Disney World, have a piece of cake and celebrate with Google. It’s not hard to find cake at WDW, trust me.

Let them eat cake.

 Today is Hug a Vegetarian Day. I was a vegetarian for six months. Then, I woke up one morning and said, “Today I eat steak.” I am not a vegetarian today but you could also hug a former vegetarian. We all need a little love. If your taste run toward the veggies, WDW can meet you need to eat from the seed. Just ask the dining people and they can satisfy whatever hunger you have.

Vegetarians eat popcorn don't they?

 This is World Tourism Day. You can tour the world at World Showcase at EPCOT. You can get a good taste of eleven different countries and maybe you might want to travel to the actual country.

Samuel Adams was born on this day in 1722. Sam was a revolutionary rabble-rouser and the Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts. Thank God for Sam and all those like him. Let’s visit Liberty Square in their honor.

Meat Loaf was born on this day in 1947 in Dallas, Texas. The dramatic rocker has been one of my favorites since “Bat Out of Hell” came out in the late 70’s. It just seems that The Haunted Mansion would be a fitting tribute to Marvin Lee Aday.

Ride the monorail today in honor of Gwyneth Paltrow, 1972, from Los Angeles, California. Paltrow, prominent actress, and, in our corner of the world, Tony Stark’s girlfriend, would fit in perfectly on the Ironmanorail. I doubt it’s still running so just jump on the monorail and pretend.

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