With Halloween behind us and the holidays before us, I have to ask. . . How do we feel?

The Holidays mean many different things to so many people. I’d like to think that for most of us its a time full of fun parties, baking and gift exchanges with the special people in our lives.

However, for many the holidays can be a time of loneliness, anxiety and downright fear.

Do you light up or cringe when you hear, “Happy Thanksgiving” or “Merry Christmas”? Let me know what the Holidays mean to you in the comments below.

For me the holidays are full of a lot of family indecision. Where will we have our Thanksgiving feast? And where will we do Christmas this year? Every year it’s the same. I feel like the Mayor in The Nightmare Before Christmas, my head spinning around as the family argues on who should host these momentous events.

When the heat gets a bit too hot, as we all try to decide, I escape to Disneyland. I’m not alone as when the going gets tough the smart go to Disneyland. Right?

I’d love to hear your Disneyland escape stories or how Disneyland enhances your Holiday experience. I have to say that the holidays at Disneyland is one of the best reasons to be a pass-holder. You never know when a good dose of Disneyland will be needed and this way you can go just about any time you want.

On the other hand, the Holidays are a joyous time for me as it’s the only time I gather the ingredients to bake my award winning designer cookies. It’s also the time that people seem to be much nicer to each other. Have you noticed that?

Did I ask you to post already? Oh yes, I did.

The reason behind this is because I’d love to hear what interests you and I could use your help on what to write about next. However, the main reason for asking you to post several times already is because gathering and interaction is one of the fun things about the holidays.

So how about making MiceChat our gathering spot through the holidays? I’d love this and I think it could really put us all in the Holiday spirit as we make the food, gifts and to do lists that are sure to come.

We can share gift ideas and favorite recipes. For example, Thanksgiving isn’t Thanksgiving for me unless there’s Pumpkin Pie. I mean it. If there’s no pumpkin pie I have a hole in my holiday that doesn’t go away until its filled. Perhaps someone has that perfect pumpkin pie recipe.

Are there any traditions that you have to do? For me, the one tradition I cannot miss is that on the day after Thanksgiving I have to go to Costco and pick up their annual Christmas cookbook. It has to be the day after because if I wait and go any later then that the cookbooks could be all gone. They are wonderful, colorful volumes of fun things to create. I love to just run in grab the cookbook and run back out. Costco is a zoo after Thanksgiving!

Now, not everything you post has to be positive. I’d rather it not turn into the complaint desk, but if you have a challenge, I know there are plenty of folks out there with kind words of encouragement that can help you feel better.

I remember when I was to be married. We were to get on a plane and fly to the Calistoga wine country to be married in a wine cave. We flew out on Jan 2nd and we were so happy to finally tie the knot, we floated everywhere. Nothing could get us down and we were ecstatic. The crew of Southwest Airlines told us we were a refreshing change from the angry mob they had experienced at Christmas. We made them feel better. We made them feel as happy as we did.

Our posted conversations could be the outlet to enhance or escape or just what you need if you’re not near a Disney Park. However in addition to chatting here you could also pop in your favorite Disney DVD. That always works.

One of my favorite choices would be The Emperor’s New Groove. When you see the scene where our stars are both tied to a log going down the river you’ll be crying with laughter. It keeps life’s little dramas at bay at least for a little while anyway.

I’d love to hear how you celebrate these upcoming holidays and anything you wish to share. I’ll start.

First of all, I get really miffed when I see Christmas decorations and fake trees in October! It seems like every year the retail Christmas pitch seems to happen earlier and earlier, bulldozing over Halloween and Thanksgiving. If this keeps up we’ll be seeing Christmas trees in June.

This makes me crazy and kicks my festive mood right out the window. So….

Off to Disneyland! At Disneyland I can walk the streets and hear the barbershop quartet, or hear a fine tune on the piano at cokes corner.

At Disneyland I can sit on the porch and people-watch as I eat my favorite ice cream.

At Disneyland I can ride Space Mountain faster then a speeding bullet.

At Disneyland all I have to do is walk through the front gate and all the angers of the day fall off me like water off a duck.

At Disneyland I can get a heart felt cuddle from Tigger, my favorite Disney Character.

At Disneyland I’m always running into friends.

How about you?

Disneyland always has lots of fun planned to enjoy. Like the giant larger-then-life Christmas tree.
Disneyland is the only place that Halloween stretches into January with the Nightmare Before Christmas Haunted Mansion overlay. Disneyland also has Candlelight, which for many this is a very big deal. There’s always a celebrity who hosts this event filled with song and music and sparkle in a way only Disneyland can do.

This excites me because I get the chance to meet up with friends and fans from all over the world and at the end of the night . . . it snows on Main Street.

Not to mention that right across the way you can vist California Adventure. You can go soarin’, or racing, or dancing. You can even see how cars celebrate Christmas. This is such an exciting time, I can’t wait to go!

Oh boy, I have to come down to earth for a moment and let you know that when I say Disneyland, I mean all the Disney parks. It’s my shorthand way of describing the joy all the Disney Parks bring. I’m just working to save you a little reading time even though you may find that hard to believe.

I also want to make it clear that I’m using the word “Christmas” in a general way. I mean no disrespect to the other Holidays like Hanukah and the other Holidays that surround November and December..

I look forward to hearing and sharing with you. Let’s help each other with the holidays and come up with great ideas for everything from clever gift ideas and delicious recipes to how to deal with relatives and great conversation starters.

FEEDBACK

If this article seems different from my story-telling columns I’ve posted so far, this is because I had a lot of life hit me in October. It was a challenging time for me as I was forced to juggle my business and my life as one often finds themselves having to do.

Because of this challenge, it made me reflect and I needed to hear and share with you. I promise to tell stories again next time. Please let me know what you’d like to hear about.

Okay, enough of that stuff.  I see that we had a few comments on my last article and one question stood out.

SxcyMike wanted to know why I gave up being an Imagineer.

As in any job, there can come a time when the work is no longer available and one is asked to move on. I was an Imagineer for over 10 years, and when the projects were all done, I had the chance to move on. I went on to work for Walt Disney Pictures doing films like Muppet 3D Theatre and Captain EO.

This happened at a time when many were being laid off.  I got this opportunity and took it. This is how it often works in the Entertainment Industry.

A great question to put to me indeed.

I also heard from Scarfan that the IT industry is quite the same as I described, but as I learned from rstar, the cosmetic industry is very much one of collaboration.

Thanks to the both of you for taking the time to post and share this with me.

I hope you all will continue as I really enjoy reading your feedback. You’ve become an important part of my life and it means so much to me to know what you think.

UPDATE

Halloween has come to a close. Here’s hoping you had a great month. I found that October left me a little tired and I ended up catching up on some much needed rest on November 1st.

The latter half of the month was spent mostly at McGrath’s Street Pumpkin Patch with friends and students. This was delightful.

Frozen is #1 even at Halloween. Olaf dominated the pumpkin patch as many of my alumni sculptors took a crack at sculpting him.

Every Olaf was a work of art, thus making me take a crack at Elsa and Anna instead, just for a little change. All were met with squeals of delight from the many Frozen princesses who peppered the patch on Oct. 31st.

Do you have a Halloween story. I’d love to hear it. How about posting it here?

I hope you’ll consider joining us at the patch next year or organize a sculpting class and I’ll come teach in your location.

COMING UP:

Besides the obvious Thanksgiving, there’s….

Nov. 7th I’ll be at Disneyland riding rides and celebrating my big cousin Tim’s birthday. His favorite place is Disneyland. Surprise, Right?

Nov. 9th Speaking before the Canoga Park Women’s Club. Encino
Nov. 14-16 The amazing inaugural Avengers Race at Disneyland Event. Yes, I’ll be running both the 5k and the half-Marathon. I’m so excited.

That’s what’s up with me. What’s up with you?