Okieatheart

Happy birthday!  Have a great day!

I agree.  You should go for it again!

Our biggest "problem" is that Texas is do dang big and we live right smack in the middle, so it is really a 5-8 hour drive to just get out of the darn state! It really limits weekend getaways.

That's the truth!  It takes us and hour and a half to get to the outskirts of Houston.

Oh, shoot!  I really liked the fife and drum corps - a really neat piece of Americana.  But, then again, I love the Main Street Philharmonic and the Dapper Dans in MK.  

And I'll bet that is just what Disney did!

Sorry for hijacking this thread for so long, but I really enjoyed the conversation!

That sounds like awfully good news to me!  BTW, how to you watch a dog for high blood pressure?

Hmmm. . . a little conflict of interest at play here?  But, in truth, it would be a little hard to get board members who aren't affiliated with Disney since all members must be residents of the district - or at least land owners.  

Oh, wait.  I see what you are saying.  Yes, I agree there's probably some under-the-table business going on; but, like you said, it's Disney's fault for setting up the district that way in the first place - and the state's for approving it.  

 

 

As for the critics, I'm not surprised they have pounced on Disney.  There are critics and haters out there everywhere; it seems the media love to demonize successful, profitable companies.  But if Disney's engineers and lawyers follow state, county and even federal laws, the critics have no viable platform.  They're just spewing hatred and mess. What's annoying is that Disney/RCID does what it's supposed to do, but also caves into the critics and then it's PC run amuck.  Oh, boy!  You've opened up a whole other can of worms on that one!  

 

 

 

That happens all too often in local Governments all over. I put up with it for 23 years, I've now served for 24 years."The law says this, but we can't make a taxpayer un-happy. How do we get around it?". That's where you get into trouble.  I've spent my entire life trying to keep my name from being a blazing banner headline in the local newspaper.  My position on the board is to make sure we follow the law by paying attention to our lawyers and other consultants.  True, I only have one vote and one voice, but that voice can get pretty loud.  Dealing with taxpayers and their money is sticky business.  After all, I'm a taxpayer, too.   Idiot administrators and elected officials. I'm not going to take that personally.  Luckily 99% of the time the attorneys agreed with me and said "don't do it".  

 

I realize I'm sounding like Dolly Do Gooder, and I don't mean to preach - and I'm really not all that good - but in an elected office, one must follow the law.  Luckily, our board doesn't have to make PC decisions.  Basically, it comes down to can we provide available water for this endeavor or not, are Monday and Thursday good trash days, what water and sewer lines do we need to replace, and do we really need that brand new ambulance - not really earth-shattering decisions.     

I don't know whether you can draw or not, but you certainly can paint!!!  Well done!  I love it!!!

I'm sure that's the case, and with all due respect due to your involvement in such matters Jean Ann, but I'm of the opinion that RCID is different from other similar districts simply because it's Disney.

 

Is there another district that is under scrutiny by politicians and the national media like Disney? National? No.  Local? Yes.  Are there any other districts that have such a close connection to an American corporate icon?  I am not aware of any.

 

There was so much resentment from the rest of the state when Disney got this deal that you'd think the other counties were going to secede from the state, if they could. There are books written about how evil Disney was. There was a lot of bad press and bitterness. That resentment hasn't subsided in the least. It continues, especially in the local and national media.

 

When something happens at WDW which also happens regularly elsewhere, it's blown out of proportion only because it's big bad corporate Disney. It's a unique situation in that regard.

I'm not really sure how to answer you on this.  You know the difference between RCID and Disney, and I understand how closely tied they are.  All I was saying is that RCID can't really refuse a Disney project on Disney land unless they cannot provide the services - the water, the sewer, and fire protection.  Everything else - by law - is out of RCID's hands.  

I really have no business debating this with you.  You live there and I don't.  The laws regarding utility districts in Florida (which, according to a list of utility districts in the US, RCID is) may differ from the laws here.

As for the critics, I'm not surprised they have pounced on Disney.  There are critics and haters out there everywhere; it seems the media love to demonize successful, profitable companies.  But if Disney's engineers and lawyers follow state, county and even federal laws, the critics have no viable platform.  They're just spewing hatred and mess.

That sounds like good news!  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that there are no side effects!

 

WDW is located in two towns, Lake Buena Vista and Bay Lake. They in turn make up the "Reedy Creek Improvement District", RCID, which is the taxing agent for the two towns in the District. The RCID is managed by a board of supervisors made up of senior Disney CMs who reside in the District. In effect Disney has control, but they are subject to everything that any other county in Florida is. If anything, because they are under a microscope, they have to cross every "T" and dot every "I" because everyone is watching. 

 

 

It seems to me that if Disney does, in fact, own the land around Bay Lake, then RCID can only deny the development because of water or sewer issues.  Environmental concerns would fall under the state of Florida mandates with which Disney's engineers must deal. 

Every taxing board is under a microscope these days.  Not too long ago, several board members in a Houston district were given prison sentences for misuse of public funds; it wasn't pretty and really scared other board members all around the city.  We ALL "cross every T and dot every i" because we are using people's money, and there are very strict laws on what we can and can't do with that money.  

Oh, gosh.  I wish you the best at the vet's.  My bichon will be 15 on Oct. 15, and she is also developing problems.  Several years ago she had bladder surgery which seemed to correct her constant infection problems.  But she is now having trouble with her back legs.  We are increasingly having to lift her up on the bed and onto her chair, which just a few months ago she could handle easily.  

It seems our vet visits are becoming more frequent, and each time I'm scared to death that he will tell me he can't do anything for her.  

But please have faith!  If they still have the energy to bounce around, then that is a good sign!  Abby is sleeping more also, but, heck, if I were 98 (dog years) I'd sleep a lot, too!  

I'll say a prayer for your girls and you, and think positive thoughts.  

That $79 throw would fit perfectly in my MH.  But that is SO expensive!  Oh, well, I've got three months to rationalize the cost in my mind - and to justify it to my husband!

My dear friend from high school and her husband spent Christmas with us last year.  As a hostess gift, she gave us a personalized dog placemat for our Abby.  They flew in from Virginia and it fit perfectly in her luggage, didn't weigh much, and didn't take up any room.   She got it on Amazon, and I just love it!  It was the perfect gift for us.

We also live south of Houston proper, and depending on the time we leave. we have made several first night stops.  In Biloxi, we have stayed at Mazalea RV Park at Exit 41 at Woolmarket.  It's not really nice, but it has blacktopped pads, long pull throughs and very little sand.  The facilities are old but clean, the people in charge were really nice, and it's a quick on/off to I-10.  

We've also stayed at Gulfport at Hollywood Casino - for free, if you play a little in their casino.  It's a little longer drive because it's south of the freeway, but it was a really nice place to stay.  Great hookups, concrete pads, and not crowded.

When we've gotten a late start, we stay either at Lafayette (Scott, LA) at the KOA there or at Baton Rouge (Denham Springs) at the KOA there.  Both are pretty nice and easy on/off.

We don't like to drive past Biloxi on our first night.

The second night is a problem.  We've also stayed at the KOA in Milton (just outside of Pensacola), and we like it - along with Avalon RV Landing, also in Milton.  But if you stay in Biloxi the first night, then Milton is really too close.  

We have found NOTHING suitable other than Milton in the Florida panhandle.  I think there is a Jellystone Park somewhere around there, but we've never stayed at that park.

For a couple of years, our second stop was in White Springs at Kelly's RV park - about 12 miles from I-10 where in intersects 75.  This was a nice stop, as it was only 3 hours the next day to WDW and we liked that.  But the place isn't wonderful.  No cable TV, packed gravel sites, lots of long-termers, etc.  

Once we made the ghastly mistake of stopping near Ocala at Silver Springs - about 26 miles off 75 - at Wilderness RV Resort.  It was really nice, but the streets and sites were so narrow that we had to drive on grass, dodging tricycles, bicycles, motorcycles, and parked cars.  Big mistake.

Well, there you have it - my life's story!  Have a great trip - and if you find any place that you really like in the panhandle of Florida - that's easy on/off and is a nice place - please let me know!

And Welcome! to Fort Fiends. 

And his fate is still unlearned (poor ol' Charlie).

We haven't tried Chuy's either.  Thanks for the recommendation; we will try it!

Actually there used to be an ashtray at the entrance to the area with chairs and tables to the left of the Marina, but it has been removed.  In the past, I've seen lots of people smoking there.  

There also used to be a smoking area at Trail's End near the Arcade, but that ashtray has also been removed.  

In March, the only smoking area I saw was on the Settlement porch around the corner, near the side entrance.

WOW!  I would say you certainly DID MK - and on free tickets, too!  Way to go, Lonestar!  

The air conditioning business would have made me furious!  Florida, middle of summer, no air for 2 hours - hot room - uh, no thanks!  But I'm glad everything worked out so beautifully for you.

Great report, Gwen!  So glad you, David, and Kassie survived!

Fabulous!  Those voices are beautiful!  Thanks for posting!

I like it, too, Gwen, Jason, and Lou.  A former student of mine who is a record executive in Los Angeles (I taught him in 1974-1975) sent it to me.

I think if I were still teaching, I would play this every day at the beginning of each class.  Heck, we might even have a sing-along!  I was big on singing in class when I taught grammar; we sang helping verbs, linking verbs, subordinate conjunctions, adverbs - anything I needed the kids to remember.  We even sang the OU fight song!

Okay, I'm a little goofy, but one does what one must do to entertain oneself - and her class!

I agree with Gwen.  I thought the food was less than mediocre and the atmosphere was like a poor imitation of TGIFridays.  The tables were very close together.  Last November they didn't take reservations, as such, but they promise to seat you first when the have an open table if you call the restaurant and reserve a time slot.

Not going to make that mistake again.