Burbank Didn't See the Same Vision as Disney

Fearing traffic and crowds, "Beautiful Downtown Burbank, CA," wanted nothing to do with Walt Disney's dream.

One Burbank lawmaker proclaimed, "We don't want the carny atmosphere in Burbank! We don't want people falling in the river, or merry-go-rounds squawking all day long."

The protest proved to be in favor of Walt because his dream expanded beyond the few acres he originally wanted.

Walt Disney paid the Stanford Research Group a quarter a million dollars to research the best place on which he could construct, on his natural stage, storybook versions of lakes, rivers, and mountains. They recommended a then little-known town of Anaheim.

A known fact: Disneyland is the only place that bears Walt's footprint.

Experiencing Red Moon

I, like many of you experienced a phenomenon last night. I had to walk across the street in order to see the eclipsed moon. I videoed a little of it then went to my son's room, on the third floor and watched the eclipse even more.

What I enjoyed was watching the moon from around the world via Periscope. I saw the eclipse from England, Holland, East and West Coast and many places in between. I viewed it through telescopes and the naked eye, all while interacting with the operator. It made the world seem less small.

Buffalo Roundup and Funny Story

In Custer South Dakota, a crowd watched a herd of about 1,300 bison thunder across the prairie during the 50th annual Buffalo Roundup in Custer State Park.

"The spectacle of it, to see this huge, majestic things in the meadows by themselves, or to see them charging, it just makes you go, 'Wow,'' Fred Kush, a Lacrosse former history teacher said.

One couple went via jeep to get a close-up look at the animals. " They're huge, but calm, majestic animals," Harow said.

We've visited Custer State Park and have great memories. When my older kids were toddlers, we had a funny thing happen. With the window down a donkey leaned into the car and sneezed. I don't need to describe what we had to clean up

Reconnection with Brother Sparks Memories of Foster Care

An article in the Argus leader by Rusty Brevik caught my attention: 

Here is one line I especially love:

“Feelings were replaced by a gradual acceptance that nothing I could do would change my outcome and realization that I would never be going home. Those feelings grew into inner strength, determination and quiet confidence.” (It happened because of the people around him.)

Rusty describes a time when he was in foster care. The shock of being taken out of his home and placed into another home, all while being led to believe it would be a couple days, versus a lifetime.

We have had many foster children into our home. Many have no immediate crisis of emotion, some have. The ones who come into our house and feel at home, concern me. Why? Because it could be because of lack of attachment. The few that have grieved over been in a strange home have returned quickly to their own home.

We have loved foster care. In fact, we’ve adopted 8 children, our youngest now is 2-years-old.

Son Makes Perilous Trek Through War-torn South Sudan

Ruey & Michaela Dei spent 11 days traveling in Africa--by plane, bus, car, boat and on foot. They trekked many miles through the savanna wilderness of South Sudan, a country embroiled in intertribal war. Feet were bleeding, the temperature was triple-digit hot and their muddy water they had to drink was running out.

 He knew he would have to do it alone, without the support of the government. But when things became desperate, and death loomed, Michaela called the American Embassy. "No, we're not sending a helicopter to swoop you up." The couple felt alone.

But Ruey, who felt pulled to rescue his mother, pressed on. When he was five he was separated from his mother in 1992.  Rescue came in another form. A cousin had heard the couple was out of water, walked to them and brought them something to drink.

They eventually made it to Motot, where Ruey's mother had come to meet them. His mother screamed when she saw him. For many years, she didn't know the fate of her son. The time Ruey spent with his mother had to be shortened to a week, instead of a couple of months as they originally planned. (War)

Michaela says, "You can't unsee what you've seen."
Tuey says, "You can't unknow what you know."

2nd Debate - The Comedy Side

I'm looking forward to seeing Jimmy Kimmel's take on the debates. If I was his writer, I would suggest he do the many sides of Donald Trump. The Donald can sure make some funny faces. Speaking of Trump, he in an awkward conciliatory way, I think he apologized.

We saw a few jokes. Jeb's Secret Service name is "Everlasting" because he has energy. (Saying this while looking at Donald.)

CNN tried to set each candidate against each other. Carson did a wonderful job, not allowing the media giant to do that.

Journey to the North Pole

"This is fantastic," says Donelly as the 318-passenger ship he's on smashes into a car-length ice chunk along a few hundred miles from the North Pole. A shudder goes through the vessel. "In all my dreams, I never thought I would make it to the edge of the North Pole."

Just outside Ny-Alsund, they come across polar bears. The ship circles clockwise around an island looking for other wildlife. Equipped with rubber boats the passenger disembark the ship, exploring more of the frozen island.

This far up in the Arctic, the sun stays up for nearly the entire summer, one day even brings a 2 a.m. passing of a blue whale.

Would you travel to the North Pole, given the opportunity?