Please please please please

Disney-to-beach transit gets funds
OCTA awards a grant to study building a transit line
from Surf City to Disneyland.
By JENNIFER MUIR
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

An idea to build a transit line stretching from
Disneyland to Huntington Beach got a $250,000 boost
Monday from the Orange County Transportation
Authority.

The OCTA board unanimously approved doling out grants
to several cities to find ways to connect with
existing Metrolink lines, including a total of
$250,000 to study the possibility of building a
transit service connecting the two tourist
destinations along a transportation corridor that cuts
through Garden Grove, Stanton, Westminster and
Anaheim.

Huntington Beach will head the study, which will
include evaluating the possibility of a transit line
along 18 miles of Union Pacific Railroad tracks
stretching from the Metrolink station in Anaheim to
the intersection of Ellis Avenue and Gothard Street in
Huntington Beach. It will evaluate ways to move people
to the beach and into the Disneyland resort area and
also will review other possible transportation routes.

The type of transportation -- such as light rail,
monorail, bus – also has not been determined. The
study could take up to a year and a half to complete.

The proposal is among those submitted by 18 cities
vying for a share of grant money from OCTA's Go Local
program. Each of Orange County's 34 cities was
eligible for $100,000 grants, offered to encourage
cities to think of ways to connect to Metrolink lines.

The best plans will qualify for cash to fund further
study. In all, $30 million is set aside.

News of the idea has angered some residents living
near the railroad corridor in Huntington Beach, who
fear building a transit line there will decrease their
property values.

Big Big SKy

Today,
driving home,
the sky
looked so big,
HUGE fluffy clouds
storm clouds,
rain clouds,
HUGE,
disorienting,
cloud
patches,
and yet there was still
so much sky.

Grey,
not much color,
you could touch them
crisp,
clear,
sharper than HD,
plucked
into the sky
huge,
disorienting,
in so much sky.

Hot drinks...

I am drinking hot chocolate right now. I have this weird thing with hot drinks. They have to be the perfect temperature. So, I have to wait until the drink cools enough so that it is comfortable to drink. Then I have a very short window where I can gobble down the rest before it gets too cold.

I've seen people drink cups of coffee for long periods of time - but I can't do that, even in those insulated sup thingies. blech...

Great Moments

Last night was our school's "Great moments" program. I think this is such a neat thing that we do, and I was so glad that my class participated this year.

Great Moments is based off of Laguna Beach's Pageant of the Masters. Each class that participates chooses a painting and recreates it as a "living picture" live on stage.

Our class did the painting George Washington Crossing the Delaware by Emanuele Leutze.

Here are the results!




The evening was fabulous - my kids did such a good job! I was very proud of them. Props also go out to my dad and Delaine for helping to create the boats and water effects. Also, thanks to Rob for helping me pick out the music - we used the last part of the fourth movement of "Pines of Rome."

Disney Cruise Line

Finally! Disney has announced that they are building two new ships! I am so excited! They will be about a third bigger then the current sister ships, the Magic and Wonder, as well as two decks taller, however they will follow the same classic ship design, the same Mickey Mouse color scheme, and the same elegant decor. The ships are scheduled to debut in 2011 and 2012.

I know, I know,

I know it has been a while... but you know if you've read my blog for a while that I go through dry spells every once in a while. I'm still here my faithful friends.

God... Jack Bauer is a bad ass...

I digress. Its hard to type and watch 24 at the same time. Did I mention my heart rate while watching this show? buh bump buh bump...

SO - this weekend Grant and I saw Music and Lyrics. I love Hugh Grant, and I love Drew Barrymore. So cool to see them in a romantic comedy together. (peaking of which, how do you like the new look of the IMDB?

We also went to a Korean/Japanese BBQ called Gyu Kaku in Huntington Beach. SO GOOD!!! I mean delicious.

Then, on Sunday, we went to Sea World with Angie, Drew, and Cori. I love that place - it is really cool there. Except - if anyone tells you that you only get a little bit wet on "Journey to Atlantis," don't believe them. I got soaked. drenched. and I am not exaggerating.

ok - more to come.

Entertainment Lately

I am so over Rob and Amber. I am not happy with this season of The Amazing Race. My game is going to work in reverse this time - I am going to be rooting for teams to lose each week - starting with my most hated, (Rob and Amber...) sigh.

Survivor is interesting so far. It always takes me a long time to really see who everyone is and decide who I like.

Also - loving Joan of Arcadia - I've been watching it on DVD.

Saw Little Miss Sunshine. It is okay - not sure what they hype is about. I am not in the love it or hate it camp.

Finally - I'm on Season 4 of 24. I have such a love hate relationship with this show. I consider is aerobic activity to watch it since it raises my heart rate so much!

July 21

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows, the seventh and final ::sniff:: Harry Potter book in the series, will be released on July 21!

Amy

A little girl
with so much strength
with so much love.
let her find peace,
let her find rest.
let her be not afraid.

Disney Cruise

We booked a Disney Cruise for Aug. 2008! Disney cruise is coming out to the west coast to do 12 Mexican Riviera cruises.

Then, a fifteen night repositioning cruise on the Disney Magic from LA to Florida through the Panama Canal. Way cool. A repo cruise in August - one that I can actually go on!

Grant woke up at 5:00 am (8 eastern time - when the Mexico cruises went on sale,) on January 31, and booked two connecting balcony cabins for Grant and I and Mom and Bobby. Yipee!!!

Good thing, too, because we just went online and checked and currently the cruise is completely booked!