Madness

You'll have to forgive me if this post starts to ramble or is full of non-sequiturs...it's been one of those days. 

Yesterday I returned home from an amazing and wonderful week at sea with my whole family. We had a great time and ate too much food and visited countries that while beautiful really made you appreciate what you have at home. Driving through Cozumel I was struck by the beauty of the ocean and the bleakness of the interior. Gas was more than $4 a gallon. I saw moms and dads driving really small motorbikes while holding very small kids. We saw ramshackle houses where people clearly lived in poverty. I even said to my husband "this really makes you appreciate what we have at home."

Today I woke up to the news of the mass shooting in Orlando. I saw a post on Facebook first that said 20 people killed at a gay nightclub in Orlando. Then I turned on the news and watched the story  unfold. By early this afternoon that number had risen to 50.

50 people.
Shot dead.
50 people out for a night of fun who will never return home.

The headlines read: Worst Mass Shooting in U.S. History.
There should probably be an asterisk after those words:*Until the next one.

Cynical?
Yes.
Realistic?
Probably.

I have to wonder what the people of those countries we visited - Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico - think when they see the news about today. I bet they appreciate what they have, even if it is just a little slice of paradise dependent on the tourists dumped on their shores by mega ships.

I bet they are thankful that they don't live in a place where 50 innocent people can be murdered by a madman wielding an assault rifle in a nightclub. I bet they are thankful that they don't live in a country where tomorrow the politicians and pundits will once again be debating "the right to bear arms" and arguing how it is a "Constitutional right" to buy an assault rifle. I bet they are thankful for their islands in the sun.

Me? I'm appalled and saddened about what happened in Orlando. I am repulsed by those who continue to argue that everyone should be able to buy guns. I'm sick of turning on the news and hearing about another mass shooting. And I'm quite certain that when the Second Amendment was written it was not meant to be interpreted as giving everyone the right to own an assault rifle because that is PURE INSANITY.

What happened in Orlando (and Sandy Hook, and Aurora, Colorado, and San Bernadino) should not happen. Ever.

It most certainly should not happen in a civilized country.
But there's the rub, isn't it?

I'm beginning to think that our country isn't so civilized after all. The amount of vitriol and hate and anger spouted on a daily basis by the presidential candidate who shall not be named and just about everyone else on the news and social media is astonishing. And sad. And exhausting. And I wonder where it will all end.

Here's hoping for peace, love, and understanding in this mad, mad world.

Not so wordless Wednesday - a small reminder for my readers

Yes, my blogging has been seriously lacking.
I have no excuse.
Other than...I had nothing to say.
Shocking, right?

But...as we get closer to Christmas, I have a reminder for you, my dear readers.

You have three days left to enter the Global Resort Homes giveaway that I'm hosting with my good friends Kristen and Jackie.

We will be choosing the winner on Christmas Day and, well, you can't win if you don't enter.

Click here to go to the original post.

Good luck.

It's the perfect day for some giveaways!

OK, so it's rainy and dreary here (again) .. and in my mind, that makes it a perfect day to enter some giveaways.

For those of you dreading winter (the entire northern half of the US), why not dream about a 7-night getaway in sunny and warm Orlando? Sounds perfect, right? Check out this post - "Global Resort Homes giveaway" - and enter for your chance to win a 7-night stay in a vacation home, courtesy of Global Resort Homes. (I'm co-hosting that giveaway with Kristen and Jackie - be sure to check out their blogs too!)

And, if you're looking for a new, inspirational book to read (or to share with someone else), check out this post - "How can you escape neverland?" - where you can enter to win a digital or print copy of the new book "Overcoming the Nevers" by Teri Johnson. It's a great read and a great way to start the new year.

So there you have it ... just some light reading suggestions for this rainy, dreary Monday afternoon.



A few disclaimers: 
1. Disclaimer: Global Resort Homes is sponsoring my stay in a resort home in February. No other compensation was received for this post.
2. Disclaimer: I was given a free copy of "Overcoming the Nevers" and the chance to participate in her blog tour for the book. I received no other compensation.

Happy Thanksgiving ... and a Global Resort Homes giveaway!

As most of my faithful readers know, my vacation destination of choice is Orlando, Florida. On any given day you can find me on Twitter or Facebook lamenting the fact that I'd rather be at the Walt Disney World Resort or wishing I was moving to Orlando. What can I say? That city feels like "home" to me.

Now, in all the years I've been visiting Walt Disney World and staying overnight, I've always stayed "on property." My "home away from home" has always been at Walt Disney World.

This is going to change in February 2012.

For the first time ever, I'll be staying OFF property, in a Global Resort Homes vacation home!

To say I'm excited would be a bit of an understatement. I'll be sharing the space with two very dear friends Kristen, a.k.a. @DVCMom (The DVC Mom), and Jackie, a.k.a. @jjzmgailey (Jackie's Magical Moments)- and we're going to be running (a.k.a. WALKING) the Royal Family 5K during the Walt Disney World Princess Half-Marathon weekend!

Whew.
I'm tired just from writing that paragraph.

Back to Global Resort Homes. You really need to check out their website to see the amazing townhomes, condos, and vacation homes that could be your "home away from home" during a trip to Orlando.

Your choices range from two-bedroom upscale condos to seven-bedroom luxury homes! And, there are nine distinctive resort communities to choose from when you stay in a Global Resort Home - all conveniently located close to Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, Sea World, and the Orlando Convention Center. Each home is maintained and managed by Global's staff - and there is on-site personnel in the communities, to assist you with any needs you might have while in your vacation home.

And, just to entice you a little more: "Unlike traditional hotel rooms and Orlando hotel properties that offer minimal accommodations and amenities, vacation homes in Orlando offer the added space and functionality that can make all the difference in the world. Numerous bathrooms, fully-furnished kitchens, spacious living areas complete with large screen TVs, game rooms and private screened-in pools and spas all promise to enhance your Orlando vacation." (from the Global Resort Homes website)

Now, here's the really, really exciting part of this blog post.

Kristen, Jackie, and I are thrilled to announce that we are hosting a contest over our three blogs for a 7 NIGHT STAY in a four bedroom or larger vacation home, with a pool!

Yes.
You did read that right.
You could win a seven night stay.
In a luxury vacation home.
In Orlando.

Are you excited yet?
(I know you are!)

There are a few rules you must read, before entering the contest:
1. Not available to anyone who has won a prize with Global in the past 6 months, active/inactive Global staff, or affiliated companies.
2. Prizes are not transferable.
3. Entrants MUST be 25 years of age or older.
4. Black out dates apply - March, April, June, July of 2012, and December 20, 2012-January 4, 2013.
5. Valid for stays completed by December 20, 2012.
6. Prize is valid for a 7 night stay in a Global Resort Home, 4 bedroom or larger, with a pool, based on availability.
7. Actual property will not be guaranteed until 2 weeks prior to travel; however, once dates are chosen, winners WILL be guaranteed a home.

And now for the RULES!

You must enter using the Rafflecopter form below. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. (Be sure to click "read more" below to find the Rafflecopter entry form!!!).

This contest runs from November 24 through December 24. Winner will be announced on December 25! What a great Christmas gift!

You can find Global Resort Homes on Twitter and Facebook.

Disclaimer: Global Resort Homes is sponsoring our stay in February. No other compensation was received for this post. All opinions are mine.

Five Question Friday!

OK...this "five question Friday" originates over at My Little Life (and I found it via Mama of all Trades).

Here we go!

1. Have you worn the same outfit more than one day in a row?
Um, yes. I'm quite certain that I have done this. I know there have been days where I wake up and decide "I'm not getting out of my pajamas today" even though I've been in them since mid-afternoon the day before. I have two kids. Sometimes I don't want to make the effort. Sue me.

2. If you had to choose any LARGE city to live in, which would it be?
At one point in time I might have answered Chicago. But now I have one answer...just one. Orlando. Yeah, I'm pretty sure that shocks no one. Why? Florida. No snow. No ice. Palm trees. And, of course, Disney. (My second choice? Tampa.)

3. Fly or drive with the kids on vacation?
We've done both successfully since the girls were "younger." Emma's first plane trip was at 8 months old. Olivia was 3 at the time. Last spring we drove to Disney - and while the drive down to Florida is OK, the drive home is always exhausting. It's fun to take road trips - there's a sense of adventure in packing up the car with suitcases, snacks, coolers, toys, pillows and blankets. And then by day two on the road you just WANT TO GET THERE NOW! So...if I had to choose, I'd say fly. For now.

4. What is your idea of "spring cleaning"?
Cleaning every room of the house top to bottom. Washing all floor rugs, shampooing the carpet, washing the hardwood floors, scrubbing with the strongest cleaner I can find, opening all the windows and getting rid of every single stubborn winter germ. Oh, and cleaning out closets, cupboards AND the basement and putting all the junk at the curb for our "unlimited trash" day in April. It should be noted that I cannot wait for spring cleaning this year.

5. What is the best book you have ever read?
Wow. This is a tough question. I have so many "favorite" books, but to determine THE BEST? I'll try....the best "fiction" would likely be Spring Moon by Bette Bao Lord. I read it in high school and fell in love - I have read it several times again since. The best "horror" book would be The Stand by Stephen King. (I almost said IT by Stephen King only because when I finished that book I actually slept with the lights on for two weeks). For the record, my favorite book is Gone with the Wind. I've read it 10 times. At least.

OK...there you have it.
Happy Friday!