Tangled- Mime

Getting Caught Up in it All

This is my last week and Tuesday was probably the coldest day of the year. I knew that I would not be content without getting dressed up and going for my walk so I decided that since one of my challenges was to be a mime why not get dressed as a mime to do my walk. I went into every downtown store that I had frequented in the past 50 weeks and made sure to bid a fond farewell to all those who supported me on my journey.

I am a terrible mime, first of all, when miming you are supposed to keep your mouth shut, which is rather difficult when you need to explain that this is the last week I am going to be dressing up and gracing your door way. I did manage to walk against the wind, sit in my imaginary chair, get trapped in a box and of course pull myself with a thin air rope. I know cliche but fun none the less.

Finding a new dream, my second challenge was to find a new dream. One of the main things I have learned from living Disney is that when a dream comes true, it is the perfect breading ground for the beginning of a new dream. Living happily ever after isn't about finding the love of your life, its more about finding your own happiness within your life. It is to always maintain at least one dream in your heart, it is those dreams that keep us young.

You may be asking, well what is your new dream? Honestly, my new dream is to be the embodiment of happiness, joy and innovation. To take everything that I have learned, experienced and embarrassed my self with and share it. My dream is to keep on dreaming, to never grow up, to always have a glint of magic in my eye. To be the best me that I can be.

What's next for me? I haven't a clue. But what I do know for sure is that life is an adventure that we write with our thoughts, actions and words. I am living the greatest adventure of my life; Life. So no matter what I do, no matter where I go, much like Peter Pan the greatest adventure is now, in this moment always.

Thank you everyone who has been there on my journey with me, I love you and may you always keep a little bit of Disney spirit in your heart.

Tangled

What's The Story: The long-haired Princess Rapunzel is kidnapped as a small child for the power of her magical hair. She has spent her entire life in a tower, but gets curious about the floating lanterns that fly every year on her birthday. She ventures out with the wanted man, Flynn, to experience the lanterns for herself.

Memorable Quote:
Rapunzel: I've been looking out of a window for eighteen years, dreaming about what I might feel like when those lights rise in the sky. What if it's not everything I dreamed it would be?
Flynn Rider: It will be.
Rapunzel: And what if it is? What do I do then?
Flynn Rider: Well,that's the good part I guess. You get to go find a new dream.

Lessons:
Its good to have a dream
Everyone has dreams
some people will do anything to appear young

Main Challenges:
Be a mime
Sing to my hair

Attitude:
Carefree and controlled, friendly, industrious,

Challenges:
Find a new dream

Digging for Dinosaurs

If you think you know me, this may come as a surprise, just when you thought I couldn't get geekier. I love dinosaurs. One of my dream careers was to become a paleontologist, I squeal when I see a fossil of a dinosaur like most girls do when they see a shoe sale. For a time I even had a collection of fossils dating back to the Devonian period, I know what you're thinking, she's a catch.

Dinosaur is a beautiful movie, I love that it shows the meteor impact, and that they showed a lot of different species of Dinosaurs that normally do not get featured. Honestly, how many times can we watch a T-Rex terrorize unsuspecting

I challenged myself to research Dinosaurs, I know that it sounds a little lame since obviously, I have read a book or two about them, however, what I chose to research was something that often made me scratch my head. How do we know that dinosaurs roar. I have often over the years wondered about this yet not enough to put any real research into it.

Here is the answer as I understand it. Not all dinosaurs made noises, some like the
The way paleontologists figure out if dinos made noises, is the shape of their skulls dinos with large sinuses, much like animals of today tend to be noisy. Some dinos have been found with the hyoid bone in the throat, the bone that allows us, as well as many modern animals, to articulate sounds.

Paleontologists seem to agree that Hollywood makes dinosaurs a little more “Chatty” than what they most likely would have been in real life. Chances are, dinos would have sounded more like moose, elephants, buffalos, not the roaring beasts that we hear on the big screen. It seems silly to think that a dinosaur would have roared to announce that it was hunting, or hiding. Like modern day animals they would have made the call of the wild for more prudent animal reasons like mating, delineating territory, and to give a good old fashioned “Back off!” shout to enemies.

A little note about my walk about. Just so that you know walking around in a big dinosaur costume in the middle of the winter is not as easy as you would think. Sure I was warm enough but I was a little terrified that I would fall on my big dino tail. Image what a spectacle that would have been. I shortened my walk to visit 4 of my regular places.

Dinosaur - pictures

Jungle Book Pictures

Dinosaur

What's The Story:
An orphaned dinosaur is raised by lemurs has to go on a long trek to find a new safe place to live after his island is destroyed by a meteor shower.

Memorable Quote:

Lessons:
its not about fate its about choices we make
a heard is only as good as the weakest link
learn to share
you should help others
if you have the same goals you should work together

Main Challenges:
Research Dinosaurs
Help someone

Attitude:
Helpful, loyal, friendly

Challenges:
Work together with someone on something

The Bare Necessities

While calculating my year I neglected to think through the fact that having a jungle themed movie in the middle of January was not such a hot idea, in fact, it was quite a cold idea. I thought about dressing as Baloo the Bear, however, I realized that I would have to do this week using the mentality of Baloo, following the path of least resistance.

Yes, I was a bit of a lazy bear this week, but give me a break I've been at this for 48 weeks. I didn't go for my walk as I just couldn't find the time while working a new job, juggling family and trying to embody the essence of the Jungle. Quite frankly it was too darn cold to go in the costume that I had. I suppose that I was embodying the rules of the jungle by first making sure that all my work was done before play.

What I know for sure is that as I take my last steps in Disney character I realize that each bit of the Characters that I have loved are in essence a part of who I am, I am the carefree Baloo but I am also the orderly Bagheera, a little overconfident like Mowgli. When I take a good long look at myself, as I have over this past year, I realize that I am a lot more complex then I like to believe. I don't fit into one box, in a lot of ways, I fit into a whole slew of boxes all at the same time and often contradictory to one another. I wonder, if you were to look at yourself, how many boxes would you fit into?

The Jungle Book

What's The Story:
Bagheera the Panther and Baloo the Bear have a difficult time trying to convince a boy who was raised by wolves, to leave the jungle for human civilization.

Memorable Quote:

Lessons:
the bare necessities of life will come to you
Some people have blind hatred for things they do not understand and fear
Sometimes whats best for you is not what you want
(Some people feel that they shouldn't get involved in things because it doesn't effect them personally) We should have compassion for other peoples problems and try to help when we can.
Trust your instincts not what someone says to you, especially when they say “trust me”
Everyone's got to have friends
Sometimes people feel betrayed when you do what's best for them

Main Challenges:
March military style
Learn about hypnotism

Attitude:
Curious, playful, brave, adventurous, instinctual, overconfident

Challenges:
Use a tree to scratch myself?

Saludos Amigos picture (goofy)

Saludos Amigos- Welcome Friends

Saludos Amigos – Hello Friends

A mouse with a different name. Here's how some of the other countries say the name of my favourite mouse!

English -Mickey Mouse
Arabic -Mickey
Bulgarian -Miki Maus
Czech -Mickey Mouse
Danish -Mickey Mouse
German -Micky Maus
Greek -Mikki Maous
Spanish (in Spain) -El Ratón Mickey / Mickey Mouse
Estonian -Miki Hiir
Finnish -Mikki Hiiri
Faeroese -Mikkjal Mus
French -Mickey
Hungarian -Miki Egér
Indonesian -Miki Tikus
Icelandic -Mikki Mús
Italian -Topolino
Flemish -Mickey Mouse
Dutch -Mickey Mouse
Norwegian -Mikke Mus
Polish -Myszka Mikey | Miki
Portuguese -Mickey Mouse
Russian -Mikki Maus
Serbo-Croatian -Miki Maus
Slovak -Mysiak Mickey | My`'sjak Miky
Swedish -Musse Pigg
Turkish -Miki
Chinese -Mi Lao Shu

This week I have been so swamped with work that my walk was much shorter than anticipated, it happens. I can always find time however to dance. The problem with me is that the moment you put steps into something I get all tripped up. I started to try to dance the Samba its easy to get your hips swinging to the groove however the foot work is a whole other story.

So lets just say, I will not be dancing the Samba professionally any time soon but the important part is that I can feel the rhythm and move accordingly.

Saludos Amigos

What's The Story:
A traveling animated look at South America
*Walt Disney was asked to go on a good will tour of South America in effort to get support as allies. Many South American countries were undecided when it came to which side they were on in WW2.

Memorable Quote:
Narrator: I'll bet his mother and dad will be proud of him. Just a natural born flier.
(Pedro then starts showing off, including flying upside-down, all while holding onto the mail)
Hmm... Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned it.

Lessons:
The world around us is fascinating and should be explored and experienced
There are a lot of similarities between cultures
Its good to celebrate life

Main Challenges:
Play some instruments
Dance the Samba

Attitude:
Friendly, adventurous, playful,

Challenges:
Try to learn a few words in another language

Hunchback of Notre Dame Pictures

My Aching Back

Note to self if I ever think its a good idea to walk around hunched over, don't do it, it hurts.

When dressing to be a hunchback it is a little humbling as you try to make yourself out to look as ugly as possible. As I painted my face to look droopy on one side I realized that it seems odd for a woman to be trying to make herself look as unattractive as possible.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame is one of those movies that is so chalked full of lessons that its hard to know where to begin. The one that most leaps out at me is that things and people are not always what they appear. Just because someone comes in a pretty package doesn't mean that they are nice or kind, but to assume the opposite that all pretty packages have ugly insides is also often a mistake. Sometimes people in life assume a label, boss, priest, good (insert religion here) all mean that a person will behave by the standard that they are wearing.

A suit can mean a professional, but it could also mean a swindler. Each candy coating that we silly humans wear can hide within them a dark purpose or a good one. I think we all have been fooled by a nice suit and by a dirty one. It is sometimes the lowest looking person that can have the kindest soul.

Challenge:

My challenge was to have a Topsy Turvey day. A day when I tried to see things from a different angle to see things from new eyes. Personal note- for three months I have been working at a popular coffee place, a sort of fast food of the coffee world. I have learned through this job that looks can be deceiving some of the most kind people are wrapped in the most unlikely packages.

Being that I have experienced so many angles throughout this year it is difficult for me to say what is Topsy Turvy. Most days have been down instead of up and up instead of down. What I can say is that every person has their story, a reason why they are the way they are. I am the way I am because of my upbringing, my experiences and the limitations and gifts that I was born with. I have faith in possibilities because life has shown me how limitless the possibilities are.

I have learned that monsters are often people, and they tend to be people who are ignorant to the fact that they are being monsters. Most monsters feel that what they are doing is right or justified, and how often in your life have you felt that your unscrupulous actions were right or justified? Each one of us has the potential to be a monster, or a princess/ prince, the point is, we need to choose. When we wake up in the morning and face our mirror, pretty or ugly, we have a choice, will I be the villain or will I be the hero.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

What's The Story:
A deformed bell ringer is looking for freedom from the vicious government minister who begrudgingly raised him in order to help his friend, an outcast gypsy dancing girl.

Memorable Quote:
Laverne: Quasi, take it from an old spectator. Life's not a spectator sport. If watchin' is all you're gonna do, then you're gonna watch your life go by without ya


Lessons:
Life's meant to be experienced
don't prejudge someone based on their race or culture
it can take just one person to start a revolution of kindness
love yourself

Main Challenges:
Walk around with a hunch
have a topsy turvy day


Attitude:
friendly, protective, kind shy, nature loving, humble, imaginative , selfless bold, radical

Challenges:
find a secret hiding place and make a map of it

Brother Bear pictures

Seeing through Bear Goggles

Perhaps being dressed as a bear didn't really give me perspective, but this past year has given me plenty. I see now through different eyes what potential life has to offer. I have been a magician's assistant, a dog, chicken, duck and a whole host of Princesses, I have challenged my sense of modesty and have gone WAY outside my comfort zone. This year, not just this week has been about perspective.

In Brother Bear, Kenai must walk a mile and more in a bear's skin, he learns about the nature of the beast and about his own ignorance and arrogance. Often in life we are not afforded the luxury of walking even a few steps in another's position.

This year, I have done my best to try to experience life from as broad a view as possible. I see now that each one of us, no matter what our status in life has our own crosses to bear. Each one of us has the potential to be a monster or a great spirit, the point is what to choose.

Each and every moment of our lives we choose, though I have often heard people saying that they had no choice, the truth is there is always a choice. As an example, I, the Disney girl lost my cool, and I chose to act inappropriately and display a digit that says two words without having to say a word. I CHOSE to behave in that way, yes I was stressed and brought to my breaking point, however, it was a choice I made.

Once I calmed down I realized that in a normal situation, I would have never (knowing what I know now about how important it is to always do my best) been so vile to a stranger, no matter how rude they were to me. Sometimes you just can't undo the past, but what you can do is reaffirm, your values today, right now. I am not an angry, vile person who intentionally tries to hurt people, Yes sometimes even I can be a monster, we all can be, but at the heart of who I am, I love people, and I often feel sorry for those who are unable to truly enjoy life.

The smile on my face is one that many have said that they would like to wipe off of it. I suppose, if you were miserable, my smile may be the equivalent to a bear's bared teeth. But should I stop smiling? I don't think so because I have faith that those miserable people will someday learn the beauty of Life. Life is beautiful.

To all my fan's out there, Happy New Year, May it be magical and filled with transforming winds, pixy dust and the wonder of childhood!