Believe in the Magic Traci Diary

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  • The Broken Phone | Walt Disney College Program Memories

    Back in 1995, you either used the apartment phone for local calls or the pay phone for long distant calls.  There was a pay phone directly outside my apartment.  

    This story is not about the pay phone.  That might be another blog post.

    My apartment had many different dwellers. Because of this, no one knew where our phone originated. It was unclear who bought it or when it was originally bought.  So when it broke, Alessandra, my Italian roommate, decided we need to return it.

    As a reader, you should know Alessandra and I were frenemies, leaning more towards the enemies side.  We really did not get long.  Again that could be another blog post.

    I must have been bored that night because I volunteered to go with her while she tried to return it.  We first went to the local Wal-Mart.  That was a no go.  They would not take the phone back.

    So we continued onto Target.  At that point in my life, I had never experience the wonderful place known as Tar-Get (think the French pronouncation).  I don’t know why they agreed to take the phone back.  I think they traded the phone in.

    As I said, this was probably one of the few times. Alessandra and I got along during my time in Walt Disney World.  

    This is one  of the memories I carry around in my heart.  I wish I had taken more photographs during my time in Disney. I could also have had a vlog to relive these moments.  It’s time I share these memories so I’ll continue to share these memories.

    My First Thanksgiving Meal

    Stay kind!

    Have a magical day,
    Traci

  • Columbus Zoo – October 20, 2018 – Part 5

    Part 4

    After we finished at the educational building, we went to North America and then the Heart of Africa.  We were fortunate the Heart of Africa was open because they are only open in the fall, winter, and spring during better weather.

    The brown bear was up and about pacing around his exhibit.  Since he was on the move, I was unable to get a clear photo of him/her.

    We saw very little of North America since we headed to the Heart of Africa and then onto the shuttle back to the front of the zoo.

    The decorations between the Polar area of North America and Heart of Africa.

    There were so many animals out in Heart of Africa.  The lions, warthogs, cheetahs, and giraffes were all out and about which was cool.

    Hubby offered to pay for me to feed the giraffes so I did that which was neat.

    Here are some photos of the other animals in the Heart of Africa.

    The beautiful foliage and one of the signs in the Heart of Africa.

    After we got done with the Heart of Africa, we went to get the shuttle back to the front of the zoo.  Instead of the typical shuttle, they had a hay ride.  One of the men on the hay ride was loud and very talkative.  We were entertained during out ride back to the front.

    I hope you enjoyed the photos from when we visited the Columbus Zoo in October.  The boys and I went back to the zoo on November 23rd to see the Wildlights.  I have that on my list to share with you.

    Stay kind!

    Have a magical day,
    Traci

  • Columbus Zoo – October 20, 2018 – Part 4

    Part 3

    After we finished with the Islands and Australia, we went to the aquarium.  Since it was Boo at the Zoo, they had skeleton divers which was neat to see.   It was very crowded in the aquarium since everyone wanted to see the diver.

    After we left the aquarium, we hopped over to manatee bay.  

    I love the reflection of me in the door of the aquarium.  Sometimes you have to be creative to get photos of yourself.  Hubby was playing Pokemon Go through out the zoo so that was what he was doing in the photo.

    They are redoing the Sting Ray Bay area of the zoo.  Next summer they should have sea lions in that area.  So right now all of the sting rays are in quarantine in the back of the Manatee Coast exhibit.  The ones they have on exhibit are typically located there.  I love their smiling faces.

    After we got done with the aquarium and manatees, we went back to the education center to look at the sloth.  This time they had a scarlet parrot and armadillo.  So cool.

    We enjoyed seeing the sloth.

    Join me next time for Africa and me feeding a giraffe.

    Stay kind!

    Have a magical day,
    Traci

  • Columbus Zoo – October 20, 2018 – Part 3

    Part 2

    Sorry I’ve been missing.  There is nothing like an elementary teacher tired in December.  I’ve been exhausted.

    Anyway after we left the Congo area, we went over to Australia and the Islands.  The gibbons were active and outside when we got there.  We especially enjoyed watching the baby gibbon.  He would climb up so far and then fall down.  He kept trying and trying to get the top.  So cute!

    Some of the decorations

    Next up was going to see the komodo dragon.  Hubby refused to smell the komodo dragon’s breath.  If the boys were there, they would have done it.

    The pelican is new to the Islands area of the zoo.  

    The Asian otters were in rare form.  They were running around the exhibit and playing around which was awesome to see.  We don’t usually get to see them be as active as they were.

    More of the gibbons.  

    Most of the kangaroos were hiding in their behind the scenes area.  One kept looking out to the exhibit area and then opted not to come out.  It was in the 50’s so it could have been too cold for them.

    The koala who wanted to hide from us

    Join me next time for the aquarium and manatee bay.

    Stay kind!

    Have a magical day,
    Traci

  • Columbus Zoo – October 20, 2018 – Part 2

    Columbus Zoo – October 20, 2018 – Part 1

    After we finished with watching the penguins, we first went to the food court by the Congo area of the zoo.  Since nothing was open yet, we decided to first visit the Congo area and then eat lunch.

    The black and white colobuses.  I love them.

    The cranes

    The leopard – He was so active which was cool to see.  We don’t always get to see him be so active.

    The gorillas – We got to talk to a volunteer who was watching the adult interactions.  

    The river hogs

    The bonobos

    The mandrill playing with a pumpkin.

    The fall foliage and one of the decorations in the area.

    The okapi – We typically don’t get to see him/ her up close.

    Stay kind!

    Have a magical day,
    Traci

  • My First Thanksgiving Meal | Disney College Program Memories

    I have so many memories of my Disney College Program.  I think I need to start a series with some of the memories so that I can reflect on them when I’m older.

    My Disney College Program was September 5, 1995 until January 7, 1996.  Four months of memories and self discovery.  I worked at Disney-MGM Studios at Soundstage Restaurant and Sunset Ranch Market.

    November 23rd of that year was Thanksgiving.  I was given 4 days off – Wednesday through Saturday.  I debated riding home on a Greyhound bus but opted to stay in Lake Buena Vista.

    The majority of my roommates were International College Program students so they had never had a real U.S. Thanksgiving dinner.  I decided to make dinner on Friday the 24th since Celine, my French roommate, worked on Thanksgiving.  I did not make a turkey.  Instead I made chicken.

    My grandma sent me the recipe for white salad which is a staple at Hudnall family gatherings.  (Hudnall is my mom’s family.)  After I made that white salad, I ate it for weeks afterwards.  

    Grandma also sent me the recipe for her sweet potato casserole so I made that also.  I don’t remember the rest of the meal just those 3 dishes.

    Anyway after I finished the dinner, Celine was supposed to clean the dishes.  The problem though was her boy toy, Brian, was over and they were hanging out/ making out on the couch.  It was an open floor plan so I was uncomfortable staying in the kitchen while they were making out.

    My Italian roommate, Alessandra, was getting ready to move out the next day.  She was going to live with her other Italian roommates.  According to her, I was a lazy American.

    Celine never cleaned up those dishes.  Alessandra got mad at me.  The next day, she yelled at me since the whole apartment was supposed to be clean before she moved out.  It was not my fault.  What happened later that day was a memory I’ll never forget.  I shared it on the white salad blog post.

    The next time I made a Thanksgiving dinner was 20 years later.  

    Stay kind!

    Have a magical day,
    Traci

  • Columbus Zoo – October 20, 2018 – Part 1

    Join me for a five part series about our visit to the Columbus Zoo on October 20.

    The boys were gone for the weekend back packing in Kentucky so I decided to visit my favorite zoo.  The weather was perfect that weekend.  The animals were out and about which always makes the visit to the zoo even better.  It was Boo at the Zoo so a lot of kids were dressed up for Halloween.

    I got a lot of great photos while we were there.  I hope you enjoy them.

    The Columbus Zoo is located near Dublin, Ohio.  There is a lot of construction going on in Dublin.  I loved the flag on the crane as we were driving through the town.

    Some of the decorations around the zoo

    Since it was Boo at the Zoo, they had characters at the front of the zoo.  Even though I never went over to the characters, I made sure to take photos of the characters in between the costumed children.

    The first exhibit we went to was the flamingos.  We got to talk to of the volunteers while we were watching the flamingos.

    As always, click on the photos for a zoomed in photo.

    Then we went to see the penguins. They were so active which was so cool.  One of them kept swimming fast through the water and jumping out because they were that fast.  So neat!  Hubby was so delighted.

    Join me next time for the photos from the Congo area of the Columbus Zoo.

    Stay kind!

    Have a magical day,
    Traci

  • Don’t be thankful just on Thanksgiving

    16 Rejoice Always,
    17 Pray continually,
    18 Give thanks in all circumstances; 
    for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
    1 Thessalonians 5

    Happy Thanksgiving! Today is a day to give thanks.  It’s a day to remember all those who are no longer with us as we sit down as friends and family around the dinner table.

    However we  need to continuously give thanks to God daily not just one day out of the year.

    At church this past Sunday, my pastor talked about being in two ruts.  One rut is always complaining and never seeing the good in anything.  While the other is seeing the glimpse of goodness in everything even it is mundane or something we don’t particularly enjoy.

    We need to have a heart of gratitude.  

    Two years ago at the age of 41, I lost my sister, Tanya. It was such a hard and trying time in my life.  Although I could have given up on life because of my grief, there was some goodness that happened during that time period.  My mom and I really never spent any time together while I was an adult.  Since that fateful day, Mom moved to my town and we have spent more time together.  We even went on a trip together and a day trip.  

    This Thanksgiving give thanks for everything.  However, live your life with gratitude.

    That alarm reminds you that you are alive.  Sometimes traffic reminds us to slow down.  If you can while you are in traffic, look around if it’s safe enough.  You might discover something you may have not realized was there.  Then show gratitude to God for giving you that time to look around.

    Sunrises and sunsets remind me to be grateful.  Sunrises show me the promise of a new day provided by God.  Sunsets reminds me that there is beauty in everything.

    So on this Thanksgiving, let us be thankful for all.  On the other 364 days of the year, show gratitude towards God and all he has done for you.  Find goodness in all aspects of your life.  

    May your Thanksgiving be blessed!

    Stay kind!

    Have a magical day,
    Traci

  • The Clock Tower Inn – Berne, Indiana

    Swiss Heritage Center – Part 4

    We stayed at the Clock Tower Inn while in Berne.  I loved the Amish furniture so I took a lot of photos of that Amish furniture.  I hope you enjoy the photos of the furniture.

    If you want to see a zoomed in version of each of these photo collages, please click on each collage.

    I loved that rocking chair.  So beautiful!

    I hope you enjoyed our quick trip to see Fort Wayne and Berne, Indiana.

    Stay kind!

    Have a magical day,
    Traci

  • Swiss Heritage Center – Berne, Indiana – Part 4

    Swiss Heritage Center – Part 3

    Random shots of grounds – I wish it wasn’t raining and cold so we could walk around more.

    More photos of the grounds – I love the fall colors.

    The restrooms in the inside portion of the Heritage Center.

    Some of the displays in the museum – I love the Swiss chalet doll house  

    The coolest item in the museum was the display about the guy who won the Nobel Peace Prize in chemistry in I think in 2005.  So interesting.

    More of the displays in the museum.

    I hope you enjoyed the photos from the Swiss Heritage Center.  If you have time to visit, I would highly encourage it.

    The address to the Swiss Heritage Center is 1200 Swissway Rd, Berne, IN 46711.

    Join me next time for photos of the Inn we stayed in while in Berne.

    Stay kind!

    Have a magical day,
    Traci