Williams Family: I Am a Geography Nerd

I am a Geography nerd. I think it began in 3rd grade when Mrs. Evans was my teacher and we learned what Geography was and had to know how to spell it. She taught us a mnemonic device to remember the letters. G--George E--Evans O--Old G--Grandmother R--Rode A--A P--Pig H--Home Y--Yesterday Got it. George Evans old grandmother rode a pig home yesterday. It worked as I still remember! Anyway, my love of maps, land formations--what they are called and where they are located, and how cultures are impacted by Geography began. Somewhere in 6th/7th grade, our family took a road trip to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to visit a long-time friend of my mothers. Her husband had been relocated for a job and we were off to spend time with her and her family. My parents threw the map to me in the backseat and I navigated our way to Pittsburgh. By the time I was in High School, I was allowed to drive in/around/and out of state. When I was in college, I enrolled in a Geography elective as a night class. I liked to take night classes as there were more non-traditional college students and the competition for grades was fierce. The first night, the instructor gave an oral pre-test. My hand shot up at nearly every question. He told me not to return until the final but to complete the class project. Done. Geography showed up in Science Methods for Elementary Teachers at the University, too. The professor just smiled when I answered questions that seemed to baffle other students--time zones, Earth's axis, etc. As a young adult, I had an Atlas on my bedside table. Reading and studying maps was a soothing pre-sleep activity. Now, knowing Geography helps me connect with others. As a Travel Advisor, it is extremely helpful to have an idea of the world. When I frequent Walt Disney World and ask guests where they are visiting from, i can typically ask a question about their home location based on my knowledge and/or experience. And, I've won a trivia contest or two. When at our community pool and neighbor, who works for Disney Cruise Line, was telling a group of us that she is from Cape Verde. Another neighbor asked if it was a tropical location and she responded with no. I said it is dry, like a desert, as it is located off the West coast of Africa near the Sahara Desert and the Cape Verde is where hurricanes are generated before crossing the Atlantic. The gal from Cape Verde was stunned as no one in our community had known about her home before. A few weeks later, I introduced her to a very well traveled neighbor from Norway who has visited Cape Verde. It can be a small world! Today, during Thanksgiving, my nerdom struck again. Our nephew was watching football and I said, that's Terry Bradshaw. Yep. I went on. . . he played for Pittsburgh, right? Now my nephew is intrigued. I added that I had been in the stadium in Pittsburgh, but to see the Pirates, not the Steelers. Then I asked if he know what rivers gave the stadium its name. He got 2 out of 3 correct! When dining with more people around the table, football came up again. Talk of Fantasy football teams including kickers. I interjected that the Iowa Hawkeyes had won last Saturday against Michigan State due to their kicker. (These folks are from Iowa and Hawkeye fans.) I got bonus points for having that information. But I went on. Both schools are party schools. I added that I had "celebrated" in both Iowa City and East Lansing as a young one. Another guest talked about their time in East Lansing and mentioned another Michigan town. My reply was about how that town was West of Lansing. Surprise on all accounts. Now maps are digital and accessible at one’s fingertips. I am not one who needs to turn the map the direction I am facing; that actually confuses me. I have been told that I have an acute sense of direction and once when I flew into New Orleans after dark, I could tell which direction was North.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!  It is that time of year when we take a moment to count our blessings and there are many.  So what is the Williams Family thankful for?

Health!  The older I get the more I am grateful for, as my insurance man says it, being a healthy person.  That goes for the rest of the clan, too.

Fun!  Add laughter to that, too!  While we have disagreements just like any family, we also have lots of fun and laughter. 

New experiences!  I think it is in my DNA to continually learn and seek out new experiences to try.  This year there have been several opportunities to learn new things in which we are very grateful for.

Friends and family, of course!  These folks are our rocks and soft spots to land.  Thank you for being there for us!

A Disney trip in our future!  You knew I would make the link eventually.  Our family enjoys having something to look forward to and it just so happens that it is a Disney vacation.  We happily plan our next adventure.

It is also the time of year when I remind myself not to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the coming season.  Instead of the “to do” list taking over my life, I remember to relax and enjoy the magic of the season.  Having spent the holidays last year immersed in Disney magic will help me to remember, as there is only a “to be” list, not a “to do” list, while traveling with the mouse. 

Wishing you and yours the happiest and safest Thanksgiving!

Pilgrims and a Disney Cruise--Yes, There is a Connection

“My teacher knows I go on cruises, Mom.”

“How does your teacher know that?”

“I don’t know.”

“Well, what did she say that let you know that?”

What followed was very interesting.  Seems that the boy’s class was learning about the Pilgrims and their voyage to America on not one ship, but two.  Excellent timing for this learning as it was about to be Thanksgiving and all.  The teacher wanted the students to make the connection about what it was like to be on a ship in the middle of the ocean.  So, I asked, “what is it like to be on a ship in the middle of the ocean?”

“Peaceful,” was the boy’s reply.

He then went on to tell me that the Pilgrims had it pretty tough on their voyage.  He told me that they could only drink beer and ate stale bread and had to be careful not to start a fire on the ship.

We chatted a bit, comparing our recent Disney cruise with the voyage the Pilgrims made.  The boy was quick to point out that we really didn’t have any hardships on our journey, which gave him even more empathy for what the Pilgrims experienced while sailing.  And, reasons to be grateful. . . for our freedoms;  our luxuries.

The connection between the Pilgrims’ voyage and cruising with Disney is solidified in the boy’s mind and now in mine.  And, once again, Disney has crept in and will be a part of our Thanksgiving Celebration.

‘Tis the season for giving thanks.  We have much to be grateful for.

Over the River and Through the Woods to Uncle John's House We Did Go

Happy Thanksgiving!  It is that time of year when we give pause and reflect.  We have much to be grateful for. . . family, friends, fulfilling work, good health, creativity, playful spirit, dreams, and a life that is hard only sometimes.

We had Chinese the other night for dinner and the fortune in my fortune cookie read:  "Great minds talk of ideas.  Small minds talk of things.  Average minds talk of people."  For some reason this stayed with me over the last few days, but especially during our two hour drive to Uncle John's house to celebrate Thanksgiving.  You see, while the husband and boy were snugly nestled in the back of the van, comfortably watching a movie on the DVD player, Grandma Carol and I manned the front seat with me at the wheel.  We visited about the recent election--the ideas, propaganda, and beliefs behind the election campaigns and advertising.  On the way home, we visited about how socialism has recently popped up on the media and what was potentially driving this, especially the inaccurate links to the Pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving.  I just kept thinking. . . here's a lady with a "great mind!"  Let's add that to this list of what we have to be thankful for!

Anyway, we had a grand feast, thanks to Uncle John and Aunt Diane.  Yummy!

 Here's Uncle John with the bird.  He had cooked it on the grill and tended to it regularly since early that morning.  Moist and tasty!

 Yep, that's me, taking a moment while the bird "rested" before cutting. 

 Here's cousin Eric anxiously waiting the feast.  He was preparing for his long work day on Friday in the retail market.

 Here's the buffet table with all the traditional Thanksgiving fare. . . potatoes, gravy, stuffing, green beans, rolls, deviled eggs, cranberry jelly, etc.  Diane out did herself!  Something else to be grateful for!

 The boy snagged the turkey leg.  That and Aunt Diane's pumpkin bread were his favorites!

 Ah, the post meal nap.  That's the husband enjoying a snooze in a comfy chair.  Something else to be grateful for--naps!

Grandma Carol joined in the napping, too.  What's Thanksgiving without afternoon naps!  I learned from Uncle John that it is a family gift to be able to fall asleep at anytime, anywhere.  Let's add that to our list of things to be grateful for!

 Here's the boy working on his Wii skills.  Uncle John has different Wii games than we do, so it was fun to play something different.

The adults got out the deck of cards for a friendly, but competitive game of Spades.  Yeah, Diane and I creamed them!  We then played a 5 person round of Hearts!  Diane won that game, too!

We headed back home in the late afternoon with PLENTY of leftovers in the car.  Thanks, Diane!

And, while we were there, George, the cat, watched quietly from a distance.

Now, another Thanksgiving has come and gone.  Grandma Carol mentioned in the car that it is now "legal" to put up holiday decorations.

Let the countdown begin!

Thanksgiving Travels

The husband has already made travel plans for Thanksgiving.  Wow!  He's never done that before, but he has had some experiences that have led up to this.  The boy was asked at school about his family's traditions on Thanksgiving.  His answer. . . traveling.  Yep, that's our family tradition.

For several years, we traveled to Houston, Texas, for Thanksgiving.  We have family there and would fly on Wednesday and return on Sunday--the busiest travel day of the year!  Our plans changed when my step-mother's school vacation time changed.  Now we go to Houston at other times of the year.

Thanksgiving, 2006, was our first trip to the Walt Disney World Resort.  The photo above was taken on Thanksgiving Day!  We were at EPCOT that day and ate at the Garden Grill.  I remember we had turkey, stuffing, and even cranberry sauce.  Dining with characters on Thanksgiving Day!  I also remember listening to other guests at our resort talking about their plans for the Thanksgiving meal.  Disney makes sure you are well taken care of.  And, Thanksgiving is a high attendance day at the World.  I can also recall sitting next to a lady from Canada on the bus to Downtown Disney.  She was telling me how surprised she was at the crowds.  I told her it was Thanksgiving.  She had a light bulb moment, as it wasn't Thanksgiving in Canada.  Thanksgiving is an American holiday.

In November of 2007, we stayed a bit closer to home and traveled to the Amanda Colonies.  We had rooms booked at the Holiday Inn with the Wasserbaun Indoor Water park.

On Thanksgiving Day, we swam, changed our clothes and ate a traditional Thanksgiving meal in the restaurant at the hotel.  Uncle John, Aunt Diane, and Cousin Eric joined us for the meal.  Grandma Carol was already with us.  Then after we ate a great meal, it was back to playing.

Our family from Houston flew in and stayed with us.  It was actually a great place for family to gather and the boy had loads of fun.

There were many other families who had also gathered at the hotel and indoor water park.  I overheard ladies in the hot tub talking about their shopping plans for "Black Friday" at the nearby Williamsburg outlet mall.  They were going to shop while the dads watched the kids at the water park.

Thanksgiving 2008 we took the train to Omaha and stayed at the Holiday Inn with the CoCo Key indoor water park.  The train ride was a highlight as we ate dinner in the dining car.  We went to the dining car and sitting at the table across the aisle was a person I work with and her children.  Small World!  Grandma Carol rode the train with us as she went on to stay in Sioux City.

One of the favorites of CoCo Key was the indoor/outdoor hot tub.  There was a door the went up and down on top of the water and you swam under to find yourself outside.  It gave the adults a headache--the change in the temperature, but the boy loved it!

We had a traditional Thanksgiving meal in the restaurant at the hotel and then went back to swimming.  One thing CoCo Key had that Wasserbaun didn't have were TVs for the ballgames.  TVs were located in multiple spots throughout the water park.  The kiddie section had a large pirate ship with slides.  TV was projected onto the huge sail at the top of the pirate ship, so parents could watch their child and keep up with the latest game.

CoCo Key had a large lazy river that encircled most of the water park, plenty of restaurants including a Pizza Hut located inside the water park, and an arcade.  In fact, getting to and from our room was a cinch as the elevator was located in the arcade.  Up we went to our floor. . . no walking through lobbies or lots of hallways.

Thanksgiving 2009 we headed to Kansas City to stay at Great Wolf Lodge--click here to read more.  Great Wolf Lodge also has an indoor water park.  I know. . . there seems to be a theme.

We enjoyed most of the amenities, especially the nightly kids activities around the clock tower.  The water park had many slides--and I understand another slide has been added. 

One of the favorite activities was MagiQuest--an interactive quest that takes guests around the resort using a magic wand.  It is cool!  We still have the magic wand so it can be activated should we return.

We ate a traditional Thanksgiving meal at the restaurant at the lodge.  It was quite busy.  Many locals were making a day of eating and playing at the water park.

Yes, traveling is our family Thanksgiving tradition.  Creating memories and having shared experiences make the holiday for us.  And, we have discovered that we are not alone.  Many other families do the same, annually.  And, since the husband is taking care of the plans this year, all he needs to do now is figure out what to do with the cat and dog.