My First Trip to Disney

My name is Sara. I'm 29 years old. And I've finally been to Disneyland. (!)

I've been incommunicado the past week mainly because I was traveling four days for business. Unfortunately for me, I had to leave Chicago for warm, sunny Anaheim, where I observed an award judging for work. I left knowing I'd be in a conference room from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at best, with evening activities to boot. I didn't plan on going to the park (and didn't see how I could do it with 3 hours of free time), even though I'd never been, and even though it was walking distance away. I credit my ambivalence with not being a "Disney kid," and therefore not being a Disney adult. My favorite Disney movies were Lady and the Tramp and The Little Mermaid, and I did fancy Snow White and Cinderella. But Bambi scared me, I thought Beauty and the Beast was lame, Fantasia -- my aunt's favorite -- put me to sleep, and I as I grew up, I just didn't follow all things Disney. My parents didn't pump me with Disney memorabilia either. 

So when my plane touched down and I found myself in Anaheim, I was more interested in finding a few moments to walk outside in the sun (didn't happen) than score a few hours in a park that would cost a shitload of money ($72).

But you can't stay at Disneyland -- we were at the outdated but still phenomenally run Paradise Pier -- and not want to load up on Mickey, Minnie and whomever those other animal characters are ("I saw Lylo -- or is it pronounced LeeeLo??"). The toiletries have Mickey Mouse ears on them, and and the room service menu featured the iconic Mickey-Mouse-shaped Waffle. I don't order room service, and I don't order waffles. But by golly, I put Mickey-Mouse-waffles on my to-do list.

That was Day 1. Day 2 I couldn't resist and bought a Twilight Pass for business travelers with a few hours to spare and took off solo. 

I loved Disneyland. You can see it in my face here, on Pirates of the Caribbean Ride:

My 3.5 hours in the park -- at night no less -- were magical. Maybe they were more magical at night -- I'm told you can see how outdated and run-down looking the park looks during the day, and I probably would have nit-picked things. But at night, all you can see are twinkly lights, and all you can hear is old-fashioned music that takes you back to being a kid ("It's a small world" and the like). I think I also liked it because I went mid-week, in the fall, and in the evening, so fewer families were around to get annoying.

I can't say that it was all I thought it would be, because I never really wanted to go. Yet within moments of crossing the front gate, I was struck with a pang of sadness when I realized all I'd missed out on as a kid. There was a year or two when I really wanted to go to Disneyland or Disneyworld, around fourth grade. I had asked about it previously because my friends talked about it, and I remember my mom talking about how expensive it was -- too expensive for us. After all, we took road trips to Michigan and used a friend's house for vacation.

I didn't argue, and didn't feel bad about it. But I did bring it up in fourth grade after my parents received a settlement from a car accident we were in. I remember they got about $3,000, which I realized was nearly enough to pay for a trip for our family to go on the Big Red Boat -- I figured it was better than my mom's having to walk around a theme park, which was another reason we couldn't go (she's disabled). I did all the research and presented my case to my parents, but I was rejected. I can't remember what we did with the money, but everything seemed to go toward bills. I forgot about it and moved on to wanting something else, like New Kids on the Block concert tickets (didn't go either).

So this pang of sadness that hit me: it made me tear up. I didn't feel sorry for myself, I just regretted missing out as a kid. Every kid was soo happy. And the few that started to have a meltdown were easily distracted by the next cool thing that was around the corner.

Of course, it's easy to bribe a kid to be quiet when all you have to do is reach for the magic wand they want to buy or buy some Mickey Mouse ears to keep 'em quiet. I went to Disney because I had the time and the finances -- I even got a discount to boot. I can see why my parents didn't take me; the place sucks you dry. Nothing's cheap. And who goes to Disney and doesn't get a souvenier? I came away with Christmas ornaments and Pirate scopes for Brian's nephews. I can only imagine how much parents have to buy.

I also came away with a greater appreciation for Walt Disney. His parks run seamlessly, and even staying at Paradise Pier I had the staff at my hands. I couldn't get my Mickey Waffle because I had to leave before room service began. But I've been told that that particular hotel even would make it happen. Also impressive: there were healthy food options at every food kiosk I saw -- even vendors devoted to selling fruits and other healthy snacks. It's a small detail that I imagine goes far with concerned parents.

So my trip to Disney really was special. In my 3.5 hours I rode Indiana Jones' adventure, Space Mountain (my favorite), the Alice in Wonderland ride, Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean and some London streetcar thing. The hot dog and hamburger I had (can you tell I bypassed the healthy food?) were actually really good. I got a glimpse of Mickey during the Fantasia or Fantasma or whatever it's called show, too, and saw the fireworks. Good times.

I don't hate my parents for not taking me, but I was happy to be able to go. Now I just have to get back.

***
All the food I had -- at the hotel for the business meeting, in the theme parks, and at a formal dinner -- was good. Damn, Disney. You don't disappoint.

In a related note, we had dinner at the Napa Rose restaurant, which I recommend if you're looking for fine dining in Anaheim. I had scallops in a lobsert bisque for an appetizer and pheasant with fall lentils and shmears (don't remember what was in it -- too busy talking to digest the menu!) for my main.The execution was spot on, and the staff really attentive. Someone did order the venison, which they were out of. And how do they tell you this? "The Mouse has spoken, and we're unfortunately out of the venison." I'll have to use that line sometime.

And in the midst of tragedy, triumph

So this week our boss was fired. And then I got sick. And then I had to wrap my head around big changes. It's been a tough week.

But then this morning I found out my team won a national Gold Award -- top honor -- for Digital Magazine-General Excellence in the first-ever Digital "Azbees" from the American Society of Business Publication Editors. I had to email everyone who worked on it at their personal address because I'm the only one who still works there. It's weird, but it doesn't take away my pride in our team's winning this award. It was a short-lived project, but the digital magazine concept was brand-new to the industry.

When we started, the few digital magazines around were exact replicas of their print editions with a few links added in at most. But having a cool page flip (see examples below this post) doesn't cut it. They were hard to read because of the lack of design -- print size fonts and design don't translate well to the screen -- and, without including links, audio and video, didn't give you any reason to read a digital magazine other than that it's being online. We redesigned our product for use on a computer and to make the most of digital technology, allowing readers to have direct links to more information and first-hand interviews and other sources of information via audio and video.

And we succeeded, at least in the execution. Housing Giants' hey day came when the industry crashed, advertising dried up and the folks who were advertising didn't want to risk the few dollars they had left on a new concept. Hence, no more Housing Giants.

To win these awards, we had to present two consecutive issues of the magazine that showed, in addition to solid reporting and writing, that we made effective use of digital media in our storytelling as journalists. Feel free to check out the issues we submitted, below. The features really showcase the multimedia technology. There were opportunities to include more A/V, but we had to choose wisely what to include based on time and quality.

March 15, 2009: The 2009 National Sales and Marketing Awards Coverage
March 1, 2009: Profile on Dave Kosco, Bassenian/Lagoni Architects

Food We Eat at Home

Here's a recap of some recent favorites we've made from scratch (well, except for the pasta):

BRUSSELS SPROUTS!

I took a very simple recipe for Golden-Crusted Brussels Sprouts from the 101 Cookbooks blog that calls for the sprouts, olive oil and salt and pepper. I used thyme- and rosemary-infused olive oil we keep on hand for extra flavor. Perfection. What I love about this recipe is that it's very simple, and the directions tell you exactly how to deal with brussels sprouts, i.e. don't boil them.

Pasta with Italian-style turkey sausage (sweet), spinach, garlic, onion and olive oil

Notice a trend with us? It's amazing how different some of the same basic ingredients can taste with one alteration -- in this case, the turkey sausage. This dish is soooo simple and tasty, I'm sure we'll make it again. I was trying to duplicate a dish we had at Volare, but we didn't do it: I think at Volare they boil the sausage or cook it in a simple butter, because it didn't have an oily or sauteed feel to it, which I liked. We do a lot of that, and it's time to mix it up. I want to try again.

Did I write about this one already?

Breakfast at Dinner: boiled red new potatoes cut up and sauteed with peppers, onions and tomatoes with cumin. Really good.

The Comfort of Food (and a great boyfriend)

I just came home sick. I stuck through the day OK, then 4 p.m. hit and I progressively got worse. I'm supposed to be in ad class but called my partner to see if he can present for both of us. My nice instructor was really cool about it, which makes missing class easier, because I feel like shit.

I'm about to go lie down, but before I do so, I wanted to tell you what a wonderful boyfriend I have, because recounting how much I appreciate him reminds me that, even when I feel like crap -- because of a cold, because of craziness at work or for whatever reason -- I have Brian by my side.

As I wrote, yesterday was a horrible day at work. I called Brian at lunch time to tell him what was going on, and by the time I touched base with him at the end of the day, he had a "special dinner treat" started. All I had to do was pick up rosemary.

This is what was cooking (and sadly, my timing and camera quality does not capture it well): 

A fall risotto, comprising rosemary, mushrooms, roasted squash and a bunch of other stuff I can't remember because my head's fuzzy. I do know olive oil, butter and some type of special broth were involved. I asked him what recipe he based it off of, and he literally just glanced at a few risottos and whipped it up -- and cooked it perfectly! He knows I love risotto, squash and mushrooms. It couldn't have been better.

That's also a glass of Old Charter bourbon and Coke. I needed to take the edge off - a perfect pairing.

[Update: I did not lie down. I worked. However, it was truly advancing the "next big thing." Gotta invest to get where you want, right?]

A 5k Should Be Easier Without the Swim and Bike, Right?

Before the heat of the moment passes, I wanted to tell you about this Sunday's Run for Chocolate, which is by far one of the best races I've done in a while because of the location, organization, route, and perfect amount of chocolate. It was my first 5k since October 2006 because of the strain running has put on my knees and having to essentially ditch running. I stopped signing up for 5ks to instead "conserve" my knees for the 5ks in triathlons.

So I wasn't sure what to expect from Sunday's run. I went in realizing I didn't care about time. As we lined up, I loved not having the pressure to gut it out. I was calm and relaxed.

Of course, I spoke too soon. Brian and I took off, and I felt my adrenaline and the energy from the crowd of 12,000 people all moving down the same path propel me. I decided to push myself and not hold back -- I always have to hold back b/c of my knees, and did I really know how far I could take it? Besides, I figured, wouldn't it be a helluva lot easier to push the limits not having swam and biked first?

The good news is that I have a new personal best time for myself, 3.1 miles in 27:27, which is I think an 8:51 pace. I really pushed it toward the end, too! And it felt great. Bonus: amazing hot chocolate and the perfect portion of chocolate fondue (pictured) post-race. [Update: Not everyone had it so lucky -- especially if you ran the 15k. Read Flour Girl's account here.]

The bad news is my right knee is killing me. It's two days later, and in the pool this morning -- the three laps I did -- my knee hurt while I was swimming. It's as if all I built up -- being able to run sporadically -- has crumbled and my workout routines now affected, all because of my stupid knees. I think I do better at triathlon 5ks because my joints and muscles are completely warmed up by the time I get to the run and, at that point, I don't have it in me to go all-out, which is bad for me knees. I do the light jogs my joints will allow, and it seems to work well.

I need to rest and lay off the workout for another day, which does NOT make me happy but at least allows me the opportunity to work on all the other stuff (resume, homework, my own Web site, getting enough sleep, etc.) I need to accomplish. But it sucks to do so well and then get taken right back to injury.

I did schedule that appointment with Coach Leach I mentioned earlier, btw, and meet with him in two weeks. I wonder where I'll be then?

Survival Mode

It's 6:03 a.m., and I should be in the pool.

I'm drained and need to stay well. I have a scratch in my throat (allergies?). Heck, I should also be in bed.

Instead, 2 min. 54 seconds into my workout I left the gym this morning to work on my resume (gotta be prepared for the unexpected), or my ad assignment that's due tonight that I have yet to come up with, or leave early for work to get an issue off to the printer. I'm choosing to blog for therapeutic reasons first.

Yesterday was a hard day at work. Our office rock, my boss, was fired. I don't want to compromise my job and will not go into specifics. But yesterday's kick in the gut will be hard to recover from. Cumulative bruising does that to you.

I wanted to stay in bed this morning, but I went to the gym to relieve stress. Maintaining my workout routine is really important to me when I'm the most stressed. But being at the gym in itself was stressful because my body was tired, and my mind angry, and my lats and knees sore from this weekend's 5k (see next post).

I realized when I got home from the gym this morning I didn't know where to start. So I'm blogging to focus.

It's 6:09, and that was probably the best six minutes of "work" I spent in 24 hours.

Please keep me in your thoughts.

Tuesday Night Review ... Time for A Running Coach?

Note: As I'm writing this, I'm eating Zataraine's jambalaya mix. Do I like it? Eh, not so much. The red beans and rice package is good though ...

Here's an update: for Tuesday (Wednesday) night, Brian and I went to a long-standing "English" pub, The Grafton, not to be confused with an Irish pub (no gaelic, less green, etc.). I give it 2 of 5 Zs.

Ouch! I know, I know. Why the low rating? The food really wasn't that good. My burger was blah, and the cole slaw proved that it is possible to have a dish that uses mayonaise and tastes just as bland as ... cold, chopped cabbage. Brian's cajun chicken sandwich seemed to comprise schnitzel-esque chicken (pounded meat). My mashed potatoes were good, but it's pretty hard to screw up mashed potatoes.

Here's where The Grafton wins: The atmosphere. The staff. Both are charming. If I were judging it by a pint and a good time, it'd be 4 of 5 Zs. But if you go there hungry, you might be taking your chances (after all, my experience was one night, right?).

Ideas for next Tuesday (Wednesday): The Fantastic Crepe (so new I couldn't find a Web site) or a Korean place.  Stay tuned.

***

So this running thing, yeah ... I've gotta get into a rhythm, and I'm scared. I'm scared of making my knees worse, and I'm scared of being in pain from the more frequent runs and then having my other workouts suffer. But I don't want to say "I can't," and I do want to continue to build strength and push myself.

That's why Brian is pushing for me to see Bill Leach, a well-known running coach (at least on the Northside) in Chicago who analyzes gait  along with training runners. I'm interested in finding out if how I run is the correct way. Believe it or not, you really can have a messed up stride or technique, and that can aggravate current problems or trigger new ones. Brian, for example, has completed several 1/2 Ironmans and a ton of Olympic distance triathlons to find, after nine months off a lot of pain once he resumed his workouts, that all these years he's been compensating for poor running technique and thus has more knee and leg pain than he should.

I'm also considering returning to PT, but I want to see "Coach Leach" first. I've actually watched him work with people while I took PT at Accelarated in Lincoln Park. He was focused and definitely coach-like. But that's what I need.

Yeah, I'm in pain. It's not a lot and definitelly something I can deal with, but I don't want it to escalate and genuinely want to understand how my body performs -- and what I can do to help it. Some people are natural athletes and can crank out ultramarathons (please excuse the Wikipedia reference there) without woes. I am not one of those people. But that doesn't mean I'll sit on the sidelines.