Where dreams come true...

Magnet #709 - ACRL Seattle

A librarian friend of mine brought this magnet back for me from a trade show/conference in CA, a couple of years ago. Funnily enough, it's one of the same friends who was down here in Orlando with us for SuperSoap Weekend a few years ago.

Now I'm back in town for a 3-day long client event, and am not participating any down time or character seeing while we're here at the Disney Yacht Club & Resort. It's actually kind of funny how I'm now back here for work.

Even funnier that in my head DisneyWorld has become more associated with ABC's soapstars than Disney's characters, but there you have it.

I'm kind of sad, because I'm fairly sure that this client thing will host no panel with hot boys from any of my previous soaps. All day long, I've been catching myself giggling whenever I pass anything that has to do with that last trip - from the bathroom where I got stuck waiting beside Trevor St. John for his family, to the hotel where they housed all the VIPs, and even seeing the fun ferries around the boardwalk.

Honestly, it's just so weird to be here and not see any people wearing soap star paraphernalia.

Oh, well. Time to get ready for the big kickoff party...that I'm fairly sure won't involve a parade of convertibles with pretty people waving, and women of all ages screaming their lungs off and stepping on my toes. Literally.

Though, I really need to speak to a weatherman about the weather. I haven't seen the sun once, and dang, it's freakin' cold down here. I'm really glad I didn't pack at all appropriately. Once again, it's because I missed Dave Price's weather. Sigh.

As real as it gets

Magnet #532 - Sea World

Love. This magnet is sooooo pretty. It's a 2-D jobbie, and I just love how Shamu the Killer Whale jumps off the water and magnet surface.

A friend brought it back for me from her trip to Florida - thanks! She's the one who found out her daughter had sadly outgrown the Disney Princesses. Dudes, I actually think she had a better time at Sea World than at Disney.

I'm not entirely sure how that happens - but from what I've heard and seen, Sea World has rides now! Dudes, not just rides, but additional experiences as well. A waterpark? Swimming with dolphins? Whoa.

I went when I was little, but unless my parents hid them from me (totally, entirely possible), I just remember the hot sun, and alllll the walking we had to do to get from venue to venue to see yet another show, another tank, another tidal pool with another talk about the sea creatures inside.

I did like those shows though - from the ski shows to the swimming with Shamu, they were fabulous shows. Fabulous stunts - I blame those stunts for my parents not allowing us to waterski down at the lake.

Oh! Ya'll have to read Shamu's wiki - I had no idea that first, she's been around since like the early 70s, and second that Shamu's a stage name. Well, I mean, I sorta knew - otherwise, she'd be the oldest thing in the world, but dudes, three parks (San Diego, Orlando, San Antonio), over 30 years - that's a boatload of Shamus!

Still, I didn't realize how many different orcas they have in captivity. It'd be here that I'd rail against the captivity of killer whales for human entertainment purposes, but this is a magnet blog. Anyway, I'm sure that Sea World treats their creatures well.

Of course, now having visited the website, and been serenaded by their ballady themesong for the past several minutes, I'm mentally planning when I'll be able to get to one. I'm thinking SD ComicCon next year. Hmmmm.

Happy 45th anniversary, General Hospital!

Magnet #40 - Luke & Laura's 25th Anniversary

Ok. I'm just gonna come out and say it. I watch soap operas. Just not gonna make any excuses for that.

And, while I'm in this confessional, you should also know that a couple of years ago, I managed to con two of my friends to head down to SuperSoapWeekend in Orlando. If you haven't heard of SSW, it's where ABC Daytime sends several of their soap stars down to Disney, and basically throws them to the fans - cast interviews, parades, weird game shows, etc.

It was a fun experience, but one that I'd not repeat again. Without getting on my soapbox (/pun intended), I can't believe the access that daytime fans have to the talent. It's no wonder the lines blur so easily.

Anyway - we waited in line for about an hour for this jobbie. That year's SSW was the 25th anniversary of Luke & Laura, the superest supercouple to ever come out of Daytime. So, they took our little group photo (sans the Groucho Marx masks, obvi), and photoshopped us right into L&L's wedding picture.

I chose this as today's magnet, because yesterday, General Hospital celebrated it's 45th anniversary on air.

Whoa. That's almost half a century of love in the afternoon.