Please go take a look at Thumbtack! A great website providing for a wide variety of services!
We’re a part of Thumbtack Now!
Reply
Thankful for Time, bombs bursting, and a moocher named Minnie
How many of us thought that several years down the line that March 3rd, of all days, would have so much importance in history? But more importantly how it affected our countrymen’s freedom and how it played a part in ‘Time’? March 3rd marks the anniversary for the ‘Star Spangled Banner’, our nation’s anthem and ‘Time’ magazine’s first published issue. Not to mention a moocher named Minnie….
The first issue of the weekly periodical, “TIME” appeared on newsstands featuring Joseph Gurney Cannon, grand old man of Congress on March 3rd, 1923. If it weren’t for the real life reporters who placed together ‘Time’ magazine to give the reality to their audience about what was realistically happening in the world, how many of us would be current in world history? ‘Time’ magazine has become a historical essence to the world today sharing the knowledge and information of all sorts of categories from politics, to war, to the animal kingdom. It gives us culture and understanding of what is happening around us without being physically present.
If ‘Time’ magazine was around on March 3rd, 1931, the main story might read something like: “Oh, say can you see the rockets’ red glare?” With a patriotic flag painted on the main cover with minutemen carrying the motherland’s flag proudly as they marched through the streets aiming and hoping for freedom and a better future for their fellow Americans. The song hits every American’s soul and feeds its heart to beat to the sound of sheer constitutional freedom. Little do most know that it was poem written on papyrus by a soldier, Francis Scott Key , sitting in the glooms of a dungeon awaiting his fate. The poem was written on September 14, 1814, yet became noticed and recognized as our national anthem on March 3rd, 19321. Key observed the British invasion of Fort Mc Henry, a war zone located in Maryland, USA. “The Star-Spangled Banner” composition was inspired by a flag that remained standing, even after several hundred bombings occurred.
With a national anthem being born on March 3rd, 1931, another important song took the radio waves with much recognition. “Minnie the Moocher”, was recorded by Cab Calloway. It was the first jazz album to sell over a million copies and still to this day proves to be a popular album. During the 1939’s times were rough. We were just pulling out of a deep depression and the country didn’t know what lied ahead of another World War bubbling under the seams ready to burst us right back into another war. Many Americans were turning to something to show their nation’s pride along with being able to place them in a peaceful set of mind. Both were highly successful.
I sincerely hope that you can now look at March 3rd with some more importance to the date and not just a day to mark things up in your day planner of things-to-do. Be thankful towards those whom gave us history to remember. History in which marked our American Pride, creativity and soul. At least I know that after today whenever I see a ‘Time’ magazine while passing a newspaper stand or hear someone whistling “Minnie the Moocher” as they walk down the street, and I will forever remember March 3rd for giving us the spirit of being an American with a “For the Land of the FREE and the Home of the Brave!”
-Written by Crystal Warner
Passion: It’s True Calling
Love comes in many different languages, shapes, and sizes. Where would we all be if it weren’t for the meaning and thrive for the ‘love’ of something? We all have something that we are passionate about in life other than the romanticism of a significant other. A hobby? Your dream job? Helping others? New car?
On Valentine’s Day most people are talking about flowers, candy, romantic things to do for your significant other, husband, wife, boyfriend or girlfriend. I’m more interested in knowing what makes us tick for the other things in our lives we all seem so passionate about. So today, I’m going to share with you some of my passions that I have in my life.
Since I was little, I have had a love for animals. I began horseback riding at the age of seven and rode for 14 years. When I was in high school my love for animals continued to grow as I was a part of the equine science team, took marine biology as an extra credit, and was a part of the agriculture department on campus. I loved simply being around animals. They brought a happiness about me, as I knew my company pleased them, as well. I even went as far as I wanting to become an animal trainer at Sea World during my high school years and then quickly realized that it was a job you did for the love of it not for the money.
With being an animal trainer at Sea World out of the line of being a career, I searched everything else that I loved and enjoyed doing in life. Bringing me back to horses. I continued to train with my horsemanship skills and went to many competitions, won, and moved on to the next one. Until, a certain competition changed the course of my life. I was thrown from my horse while in mid-competition as the horse put the brakes on, I went flying over it’s head and landing on the other side with a much worse situation. I had my left clavicle fractures, my left shoulder dislocated, and along with both of my knees dislocated. For most teenagers this would seem like the end of EVERYTHING. Not me. It was just the beginning.
After several of treatments to my knees, I was able to be active again with walking and doing some physical activities once more. Re-evaluating everything once again, I feel into a newer and deeper passion of mine: Acting. Being able to play the part of someone else and to bring a character to life in whom someone invented was a thrill to me. I took acting and advanced acting in high school, along with trying out to be a Thespian. I graduated in honors with Thespians. I learned a lot from my theater career. I had this thriving itch to want to be in musical theater. Which satisfied another passion of mine, Singing. So, it was a win-win situation. Right?
This new passion lead me to auditions after auditions of musicals all over the united states. I have been in several musicals with the leading role such as “Grease”, “Guys and Dolls”, “Sound of Music”, “bye, Bye Birdie” and many more. Yet, after all my experiences of auditioning and performing on stage would never in life have prepared me for the opportunity that came my way in 2006. Currently, I had been working at “The Happiest Place on Earth” Disneyland and I was Ariel in a stage show called “Animazement” in which I performed with the very talented and skilled actress and singer, Eden Espinosa. Who later on went on to getting the big break she deserved in a show called “Brooklyn”. That opportunity lead her to the role in which everyone knows her for as Elpheba in “Wicked”. Who knew that this too was my calling? I went to an audition for “Wicked” in 2006 for the role of ‘Galinda’. Funny thing. When I got called back for another audition, it wasn’t for Galinda, it was for Elpheba. When I arrived to the callback audition, it made perfect sense. I was too tall for Galinda!
Auditioning for “Wicked” several times, made the show an obsession for me. I practically became the understudy for Eden. Yet, after being the entertainment industry through all my auditions, hoping for my big break, I realized, I did not want anything to do with it. It was a passion of mine, but not a ‘true love’. I had my ‘time’ on the stage and screen with being a regular on several tv shows like “Suite Life of Zack and Cody”, “Suite Life on Deck”, “Shark”, “CSI: NY”, and “24”. I feel like I lived the dream, so many out there longed for more deeply than I did. Why would I want to take someone’s chance away from their passion? I felt good about my experiences.
Many ask me why I simply walked away from something I was good at and obviously enjoyed doing. I suppose it all comes back to something that someone once said to me: “Find something you truly love doing, and then everything else will follow and fall into place.” To this day, I couldn’t agree with that bit of advice more. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for that simple statement. Married to the most amazing man, have support from my family and friends, and owning my own business in the tourism industry. I learned that through all of this, my true passion is sharing my knowledge, skills and enthusiasm with others. Making others have the most truly amazing time of their lives every day. And, in giving them those ‘Memories of a Lifetime”, places a smile along my lips. Happiness in knowing that you have all the passions of your life surrounding you….Always. Trust me, I know.
New Daily Blogs
There is a new daily blog series that “It’s All About Tours” will be distributing to update the surrounding community about Southern California and its’ theme parks, history and local sites and attractions. The line up of the new daily blog for the week includes:
- Mystery Mondays
- Timeline Tuesdays
- Wishful Wednesdays
- Tribute Thursdays
- Freebie Fridays
- Savvy Saturdays; and
- ‘Sign-off’ Sundays
For the following week, we will give a short description of what to expect from each daily blog and we do look forward to all of our readers returning to read forth about the new and exciting daily news.
Hopefully, this will add an interesting and creative touch to our blog which will therefore inspire you to return for more. Of course, with our new daily blog we will love to hear from all of our readers on what they think about our new concept. If you think that there is anything that you could contribute to our blog to improve and help grow our knowledge, we would greatly appreciate the help.
We also want our readers to be aware of whom we are. Please feel free to browse our website, follow us on Twitter, or become a Fan on Facebook. We look forward to hearing from you and build a growing relationship will all of you!
Walt Disney World’s ‘Largest expansion in Magic Kingdom history’
Disney’s plans call for a second Dumbo ride, a new indoor roller coaster, and an overall expansion and revamped design that will nearly double the size of the Orlando theme park’s Fantasyland section.
Earlier this week, Disney announced it was tweaking the Magic Kingdom renovation first made public in the fall of 2009. To make room for the new features, the Mickey’s Toontown Fair attraction will close in early February, and the Snow White’s Scary Adventures ride will also shut down, though no announcements have been made as to when.
Disney enthusiasts are known to dislike change — especially when the changes involve their favorite rides — and from a glance of the comments at the Disney blog, many park-goers are sad to see Snow White get the boot. As BT’s article featuring two expert “Disney Dweebs” noted, however, Fantasyland and all the Disney theme parks have always been works in progress:
Fantasyland in Orlando has changed over the years as well. The Snow White ride originally had no Snow White–you were supposed to experience the story from her perspective. Not everyone appreciated the concept, and the Imagineers eventually placed a Snow White figure in the opening scene. Fans of Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride wrote letters, held “toad-in” protest rallies, and wore green T-shirts saying Ask Me Why Mickey Is Killing Mr. Toad, but that didn’t stop the ride from closing in 1998 to make way for The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. There are tributes to Toad inside the new ride: As you’re cruising along in a “hunny pot” through Owl’s house, look for two paintings. There’s one of Toad handing over the deed to Owl, and another of Winnie standing next to Toad’s friend Mole.
It’s unlikely there will be Mr. Toad-type protests in the near future, especially because Snow White isn’t being entirely killed off. The new Fantasyland roller coaster has a Snow White theme, though it’s White’s friends who are the center of attention. The ride is called The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, and the Disney blog states:
The coaster will feature a first-of-its kind ride system with a train of ride vehicles that swing back and forth as they whisk along the track. The journey will be accompanied by music from the classic Disney film and animated figures of Snow White and the Dwarfs.
Another big change is the introduction of a second Dumbo the Flying Elephant ride. This old-school ride, which isn’t much different from simple carousel-type rides in small-town fairs, only kids sit in Dumbo rather than rocket ships or helicopters, always seems to have huge lines, so a second carousel will hopefully ease wait times.
Other plans include an indoor Little Mermaid ride, the Beast castle, which will house the Be Our Guest Restaurant, a new look for the Goofy Barnstormer roller coaster, and of course some new retail areas. Construction will occur in phases, and most if not all of the projects should be ready for guests to enjoy by 2013.
Written by: Brad Tuttle