Had a great 40th birthday!
General | Posted a month agoOctober 29th, 2025 was my 40th birthday, and I spent it at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.
Sunday, October 26 (Arrival and hotel)
I left my house at roughly 3:15 am and drove to Bradley International Airport. Luggage included a large duffel bag that was inside a large suitcase and my backpack. I arrived at the airport and paid for garage parking. My airline was jetBlue out of Gate 3, took off from Runway 33, and flew to Orlando. Throughout the flight, I watched "Sonic the Hedgehog 3" on their screens, after asking for earbuds a few times. Upon arriving at Orlando International Airport, landing on Runway 36R. I grabbed my bag from baggage claim and arrived at the Mears bus terminal, which took me through the "Walt Disney World" sign, and arriving at my hotel, which was the Port Orleans French Quarter. Upon arriving, I was told I'd have to wait a few hours before my room was ready. I gave the hotel my luggage (except my backpack) and ate some Mickey Mouse shaped beignets, chocolate dipping sauce, and a TruMoo chocolate milk. Soon, I got a text saying my room was ready, WAY earlier than I thought! I arrived at my room, which was 6340, and settled in. Once I got my room ready, I walked to the Port Orleans Riverside hotel (right next door) where I met my Floridian relatives, my uncle Michel, my grandmother, and my dad's best friend John (my sister and I call him "Uncle Johnnie"). All four of us ate at Boatright's Dining Hall and enjoyed some delicious Cajun cuisine, while listening to stories of when DisneyWorld was like decades ago. Upon finishing up, we said our good-byes and I headed back to my room. I put on my swim trunks and swam in the pool and relaxed at the hot tub. Then, returning to my room, I set up Disney+ in my room and watched some Disney shows (namely "Behind the Attraction" and "Bluey").
Monday, October 27 (Animal Kingdom)
I woke up, got dressed in long pants (because the forecast said heavy rain) and walked to Sassagoula for a Mickey Mouse shaped cinnamon roll and a TruMoo chocolate milk for breakfast. Then I took the bus which took me to Animal Kingdom! I wandered around for a bit taking pictures. I entered in Discovery Trading Company and bought some souvenirs: two Mickey and Minnie coffee mugs, a photo album (tradition), an autograph book (which I learned wasn't), and a pen. Heading outside, I saw a flock of parrots fly around. Next I saw some otters at Otter Grotto, entered into Africa, and walked through the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail. Then I went into Asia for the Maharajah Jungle Trek (one of my favorite parts of Animal Kingdom because I get to see bats). Then, I went on my favorite ride in Animal Kingdom, Expedition Everest! After that, I was hungry for a second breakfast, so I bought a yogurt parfait and orange juice. After that, I went to Discovery Island where I did a meet-and-greet with Safari Mickey and Minnie! Afterwards, I bought a Mickey Mouse ice cream bar and went to Pandora. I went on the Na'vi River Journey, and then I went to the Avatar Flight of Passage (first time) and it was AMAZING! Afterwards, I had lunch at Pizzafari where I ordered a cheese pizza and orange soda. Next I went to Dinoland U.S.A. where I went on the famous Dinosaur Ride. After that, I went on the Kilimanjaro Safaris (had to stop at one point because of a stubborn ostrich). After that, I bought more souvenirs, a mom and dad coffee mugs, coffee, cocoa, animal coffee mug, and water bottle. Next, I went to the Festival of the Lion King. After the show, I bought a huge stuffed Simba plush. Next, I went to Tiffins Restaurant and had an amazing dining experience. I ordered a Kanonkop red wine, Tiffins Signature Bread Service, the Surf and Turf, and Hazelnut Entremet for dessert with green tea. Upon leaving Tiffins, it started to heavily downpour! Luckily I brought my work rain jacket with me. I slipped it on and headed back to the bus terminal, which took me back to Port Orleans French Quarter hotel. Back at the hotel, I took a shower and watched the EPCOT episode of "Behind the Attraction" before falling asleep.
Tuesday, October 28 (EPCOT)
I woke up, went to Sassagoula for a chocolate croissant and TruMoo chocolate milk for breakfast. Took the bus to EPCOT and, since I was a Disney guest, I got early access, so I went to Test Track (pretending I was driving a truck). After test Track I went to the Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind. After that I bought a Spider-man hoodie for my nephew, got a breakfast sandwich with an orange juice before getting an EPCOT shirt. After walking by the Walt Disney statue, I went to see Mickey & Friends where I met Mickey, Goofy, and Minnie. Next, I went to The Land where I went on the Living with the Land ride, and later the Soarin' ride. After that I watched Awesome Planet, and left. I started heading to the World showcase. First, I had lunch eating Fish & Chips. Next I doubled-back and went to Journey into Imagination with Figment. After that, I went on my FAVORITE ride, Spaceship Earth! After the ride, I bought a 2025 coffee mug and a 2025 picture frame. Next, I went to the French part of World Showcase where I waited for the Ratatouille ride (last time I was there in 2021, it was so jam packed that they weren't accepting any other riders). After the ride, I bought a Mickey Mouse ice cream sandwich. Next, I went to the Japan pavilion and bought a kimono with tigers on it, among other things! The staff there were so impressed with my Japanese that we talked in Japanese for a bit. Next, I went to Norway where I met Elsa and Anna, and went on the Frozen Ever After ride. Once done, I quickly headed to The American Adventure, one of my favorite shows. The sun was setting and I went to Teppan Edo for dinner. Unfortunately... here's where it went downhill... I was feeling sick to my stomach. I tried to put on a smiling face, but I couldn't finish my dinner, so I took it to go... and left without seeing the fireworks show. I had to quickly get back to my hotel, took the bus, returned to my room, and tried to sleep to feel better.
Wednesday, October 29 (Magic Kingdom)
It was the big day, my 40th birthday!!! I started my breakfast with a Mickey Mouse rice crispies treat and a bottle of ginger ale just in case I got sick again. I was feeling a bit better. Took the bus to Magic Kingdom and went into Tomorrowland. First thing I did was ride Space Mountain. After the ride, I went to my favorite attraction at Magic Kingdom, the Carousel of Progress. Next, I went on Tomorrowland Speedway, which was kind of slow. Next, I went on the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (my first time), and it was fun! After that, I saw PhilharMagic, and the bought two shirts at the gift shop. Next, the ride I love so much, the Haunted Mansion... however, by the time I got to the end of the line, the ride closed! So, I went to the Colombia Harbour House for shrimp and fries. Next I went to the Hall of Presidents, and then saw the Haunted Mansion was open again. During the ride, it stopped for a few minutes right when I was over the ballroom. After the ride, I went to Frontierland (Big Thunder Mountain Railroad was closed) and into the Enchanted Tiki Room. After the show, I walked to the Aloha Isle Refreshments where I bought and tried, for the VERY FIRST TIME, a Dole Whip!!! It was SO GOOD! Then, I passed by a part selling churros... again, I never had a churro before... it was AMAZING! I turned around and headed to Tiana's Bayou Adventure (last time I was there, it was called Splash Mountain). It was fun! At the gift shop I bought a bottle of Tiana's hot sauce and milk chocolate bar. The sad part was Pirates of the Caribbean was closed! Instead, I went to the Jungle Cruise Expedition. It was always fun going on that ride. I missed the parade, but that's okay, I walked around the castle and found the famous Roy and Minnie statue. I then walked into the Town Square Theater and then to the "it's a small world" ride. After that, the sun was setting, so I went to the Be Our Guest Restaurant. I told the staff it was my 40th birthday and they tried to get me a great seat. After taking pictures, they served my a baguette with butter, water, and a white wine. I started off my birthday dinner with escargot, and enjoyed a filet mignon with mashed potatoes and green beans. For dessert, I had a red rose "Grey Stuff" along with a Mickey Mouse birthday cake (that I pre-ordered when making my reservation). Before taking a bite, the restaurant's manager told me the Beast was going to walk through the restaurant and asked me to stand in a spot. I GOT TO MEET THE BEAST! I told him it was my 40th birthday and he was happy for me! I took my cake (didn't eat it) as I left the restaurant just in time to see the fireworks show! It felt magical! My 40th birthday was amazing! After the show, I took the bus back to the hotel, and there I bought a mug that said French Quarter on it (it's my tradition to buy a coffee mug that has the hotel's label on it!) What an amazing birthday!
Thursday, October 30 (Hollywood Studios)
I got up, took the bus, and went to Hollywood Studios! I have NEVER been there before! Upon arrival, the Cast Members suggested I go to the Star Wars Rise of the Resistance ride for early access. I went on it, it was amazing! Next, I walked into Toy Story Land where I went on the Slinky Dog Dash roller coaster. After I got off the ride, a bunch of Cast Members, dressed like green army soldiers, marched through the street beating drums. I then got a Mickey Mouse Ice Cream sandwich and a Coke. Next, I went on Toy Story Mania which was fun! After that, I walked through to a showing of Walt Disney One Man's Dream. I think that was my favorite part of Hollywood Studios. Next, I went to Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway! Wow! That ride was GREAT! Once I got off the ride, I bought two shirts. Hungry, I went to the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater restaurant. I got LUCKY! I was told it would be a 20-minute wait and I'd get a circular table... instead, it was a 20-second wait and I got a car table! It was fun, eating a milkshake, mini corn dogs, with a pulled-pork burger and fries. Once I was a full belly, I went to Star Tours, which was fun. Next... I went on... the famous... scary... and world-known... TOWER OF TERROR!!! My review... it... was... WILD! The build-up was more terrifying than the ride itself. After that I went of the Aerosmith Rocking Rollercoaster! AWESOME! Next I went to the Villains Unfairly Ever After show, which was okay, not great, but okay. After that I went to the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, which was pretty good but I wouldn't say great. The next show I saw was the Frozen Sing-Along Celebration, which was funny but I wouldn't say great. The sun was setting so I went to The Hollywood Brown Derby for dinner. There, I had a shrimp cocktail, bread, pork tenderloin, and creme brule for dessert. Once I finished eating, I hurriedly ran to Fantasmic for an epic show to end my day! I got on the bus back to the hotel, put on my swim trunks, and swam in the pool and relaxed in the hot tub. I got got and headed to my room. You remember I mentioned that I put my duffel bag in my suitcase? That's because my bag was full of my clothes and essentials, whereas the suitcase holds all my souvenirs! I packed up, took a shower, and plomped into bed.
Friday, October 31 (Departure)
I got out of bed, dressed, left a tip for the hotel, and exited my room, 6340. First, I headed to the Scat Cat's Club Cafe for beignets and orange juice for breakfast. Once I checked out, I waited outside for a Mears van to arrive, and the diver (a Massachusetts native like me) took me straight to Orlando International Airport. I got my two bags tagged, boarding pass printed, through security, and to the gate... then to ANOTHER gate because my flight was delayed. While waiting, I went to Desano Pizzaria at the airport for a pizza, cookie, and a ginger ale. Once we boarded, I used the same ear buds I used from the earlier flight and watched "Sonic the Hedgehog 3" on the screen. We took off from Runway 35L. and over two hours later landed at Bradley International Airport landing on Runway 33 and arriving at Gate 5. Once I got my luggage from baggage claim, I headed back to my red pickup truck, loaded my luggage, paid for parking at the booth, and drove back home.
And THAT was my 40th birthday at DisneyWorld! I'm sure I left stuff out, but overall it was an amazing birthday! I can't wait to go back.
Sunday, October 26 (Arrival and hotel)
I left my house at roughly 3:15 am and drove to Bradley International Airport. Luggage included a large duffel bag that was inside a large suitcase and my backpack. I arrived at the airport and paid for garage parking. My airline was jetBlue out of Gate 3, took off from Runway 33, and flew to Orlando. Throughout the flight, I watched "Sonic the Hedgehog 3" on their screens, after asking for earbuds a few times. Upon arriving at Orlando International Airport, landing on Runway 36R. I grabbed my bag from baggage claim and arrived at the Mears bus terminal, which took me through the "Walt Disney World" sign, and arriving at my hotel, which was the Port Orleans French Quarter. Upon arriving, I was told I'd have to wait a few hours before my room was ready. I gave the hotel my luggage (except my backpack) and ate some Mickey Mouse shaped beignets, chocolate dipping sauce, and a TruMoo chocolate milk. Soon, I got a text saying my room was ready, WAY earlier than I thought! I arrived at my room, which was 6340, and settled in. Once I got my room ready, I walked to the Port Orleans Riverside hotel (right next door) where I met my Floridian relatives, my uncle Michel, my grandmother, and my dad's best friend John (my sister and I call him "Uncle Johnnie"). All four of us ate at Boatright's Dining Hall and enjoyed some delicious Cajun cuisine, while listening to stories of when DisneyWorld was like decades ago. Upon finishing up, we said our good-byes and I headed back to my room. I put on my swim trunks and swam in the pool and relaxed at the hot tub. Then, returning to my room, I set up Disney+ in my room and watched some Disney shows (namely "Behind the Attraction" and "Bluey").
Monday, October 27 (Animal Kingdom)
I woke up, got dressed in long pants (because the forecast said heavy rain) and walked to Sassagoula for a Mickey Mouse shaped cinnamon roll and a TruMoo chocolate milk for breakfast. Then I took the bus which took me to Animal Kingdom! I wandered around for a bit taking pictures. I entered in Discovery Trading Company and bought some souvenirs: two Mickey and Minnie coffee mugs, a photo album (tradition), an autograph book (which I learned wasn't), and a pen. Heading outside, I saw a flock of parrots fly around. Next I saw some otters at Otter Grotto, entered into Africa, and walked through the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail. Then I went into Asia for the Maharajah Jungle Trek (one of my favorite parts of Animal Kingdom because I get to see bats). Then, I went on my favorite ride in Animal Kingdom, Expedition Everest! After that, I was hungry for a second breakfast, so I bought a yogurt parfait and orange juice. After that, I went to Discovery Island where I did a meet-and-greet with Safari Mickey and Minnie! Afterwards, I bought a Mickey Mouse ice cream bar and went to Pandora. I went on the Na'vi River Journey, and then I went to the Avatar Flight of Passage (first time) and it was AMAZING! Afterwards, I had lunch at Pizzafari where I ordered a cheese pizza and orange soda. Next I went to Dinoland U.S.A. where I went on the famous Dinosaur Ride. After that, I went on the Kilimanjaro Safaris (had to stop at one point because of a stubborn ostrich). After that, I bought more souvenirs, a mom and dad coffee mugs, coffee, cocoa, animal coffee mug, and water bottle. Next, I went to the Festival of the Lion King. After the show, I bought a huge stuffed Simba plush. Next, I went to Tiffins Restaurant and had an amazing dining experience. I ordered a Kanonkop red wine, Tiffins Signature Bread Service, the Surf and Turf, and Hazelnut Entremet for dessert with green tea. Upon leaving Tiffins, it started to heavily downpour! Luckily I brought my work rain jacket with me. I slipped it on and headed back to the bus terminal, which took me back to Port Orleans French Quarter hotel. Back at the hotel, I took a shower and watched the EPCOT episode of "Behind the Attraction" before falling asleep.
Tuesday, October 28 (EPCOT)
I woke up, went to Sassagoula for a chocolate croissant and TruMoo chocolate milk for breakfast. Took the bus to EPCOT and, since I was a Disney guest, I got early access, so I went to Test Track (pretending I was driving a truck). After test Track I went to the Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind. After that I bought a Spider-man hoodie for my nephew, got a breakfast sandwich with an orange juice before getting an EPCOT shirt. After walking by the Walt Disney statue, I went to see Mickey & Friends where I met Mickey, Goofy, and Minnie. Next, I went to The Land where I went on the Living with the Land ride, and later the Soarin' ride. After that I watched Awesome Planet, and left. I started heading to the World showcase. First, I had lunch eating Fish & Chips. Next I doubled-back and went to Journey into Imagination with Figment. After that, I went on my FAVORITE ride, Spaceship Earth! After the ride, I bought a 2025 coffee mug and a 2025 picture frame. Next, I went to the French part of World Showcase where I waited for the Ratatouille ride (last time I was there in 2021, it was so jam packed that they weren't accepting any other riders). After the ride, I bought a Mickey Mouse ice cream sandwich. Next, I went to the Japan pavilion and bought a kimono with tigers on it, among other things! The staff there were so impressed with my Japanese that we talked in Japanese for a bit. Next, I went to Norway where I met Elsa and Anna, and went on the Frozen Ever After ride. Once done, I quickly headed to The American Adventure, one of my favorite shows. The sun was setting and I went to Teppan Edo for dinner. Unfortunately... here's where it went downhill... I was feeling sick to my stomach. I tried to put on a smiling face, but I couldn't finish my dinner, so I took it to go... and left without seeing the fireworks show. I had to quickly get back to my hotel, took the bus, returned to my room, and tried to sleep to feel better.
Wednesday, October 29 (Magic Kingdom)
It was the big day, my 40th birthday!!! I started my breakfast with a Mickey Mouse rice crispies treat and a bottle of ginger ale just in case I got sick again. I was feeling a bit better. Took the bus to Magic Kingdom and went into Tomorrowland. First thing I did was ride Space Mountain. After the ride, I went to my favorite attraction at Magic Kingdom, the Carousel of Progress. Next, I went on Tomorrowland Speedway, which was kind of slow. Next, I went on the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (my first time), and it was fun! After that, I saw PhilharMagic, and the bought two shirts at the gift shop. Next, the ride I love so much, the Haunted Mansion... however, by the time I got to the end of the line, the ride closed! So, I went to the Colombia Harbour House for shrimp and fries. Next I went to the Hall of Presidents, and then saw the Haunted Mansion was open again. During the ride, it stopped for a few minutes right when I was over the ballroom. After the ride, I went to Frontierland (Big Thunder Mountain Railroad was closed) and into the Enchanted Tiki Room. After the show, I walked to the Aloha Isle Refreshments where I bought and tried, for the VERY FIRST TIME, a Dole Whip!!! It was SO GOOD! Then, I passed by a part selling churros... again, I never had a churro before... it was AMAZING! I turned around and headed to Tiana's Bayou Adventure (last time I was there, it was called Splash Mountain). It was fun! At the gift shop I bought a bottle of Tiana's hot sauce and milk chocolate bar. The sad part was Pirates of the Caribbean was closed! Instead, I went to the Jungle Cruise Expedition. It was always fun going on that ride. I missed the parade, but that's okay, I walked around the castle and found the famous Roy and Minnie statue. I then walked into the Town Square Theater and then to the "it's a small world" ride. After that, the sun was setting, so I went to the Be Our Guest Restaurant. I told the staff it was my 40th birthday and they tried to get me a great seat. After taking pictures, they served my a baguette with butter, water, and a white wine. I started off my birthday dinner with escargot, and enjoyed a filet mignon with mashed potatoes and green beans. For dessert, I had a red rose "Grey Stuff" along with a Mickey Mouse birthday cake (that I pre-ordered when making my reservation). Before taking a bite, the restaurant's manager told me the Beast was going to walk through the restaurant and asked me to stand in a spot. I GOT TO MEET THE BEAST! I told him it was my 40th birthday and he was happy for me! I took my cake (didn't eat it) as I left the restaurant just in time to see the fireworks show! It felt magical! My 40th birthday was amazing! After the show, I took the bus back to the hotel, and there I bought a mug that said French Quarter on it (it's my tradition to buy a coffee mug that has the hotel's label on it!) What an amazing birthday!
Thursday, October 30 (Hollywood Studios)
I got up, took the bus, and went to Hollywood Studios! I have NEVER been there before! Upon arrival, the Cast Members suggested I go to the Star Wars Rise of the Resistance ride for early access. I went on it, it was amazing! Next, I walked into Toy Story Land where I went on the Slinky Dog Dash roller coaster. After I got off the ride, a bunch of Cast Members, dressed like green army soldiers, marched through the street beating drums. I then got a Mickey Mouse Ice Cream sandwich and a Coke. Next, I went on Toy Story Mania which was fun! After that, I walked through to a showing of Walt Disney One Man's Dream. I think that was my favorite part of Hollywood Studios. Next, I went to Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway! Wow! That ride was GREAT! Once I got off the ride, I bought two shirts. Hungry, I went to the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater restaurant. I got LUCKY! I was told it would be a 20-minute wait and I'd get a circular table... instead, it was a 20-second wait and I got a car table! It was fun, eating a milkshake, mini corn dogs, with a pulled-pork burger and fries. Once I was a full belly, I went to Star Tours, which was fun. Next... I went on... the famous... scary... and world-known... TOWER OF TERROR!!! My review... it... was... WILD! The build-up was more terrifying than the ride itself. After that I went of the Aerosmith Rocking Rollercoaster! AWESOME! Next I went to the Villains Unfairly Ever After show, which was okay, not great, but okay. After that I went to the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, which was pretty good but I wouldn't say great. The next show I saw was the Frozen Sing-Along Celebration, which was funny but I wouldn't say great. The sun was setting so I went to The Hollywood Brown Derby for dinner. There, I had a shrimp cocktail, bread, pork tenderloin, and creme brule for dessert. Once I finished eating, I hurriedly ran to Fantasmic for an epic show to end my day! I got on the bus back to the hotel, put on my swim trunks, and swam in the pool and relaxed in the hot tub. I got got and headed to my room. You remember I mentioned that I put my duffel bag in my suitcase? That's because my bag was full of my clothes and essentials, whereas the suitcase holds all my souvenirs! I packed up, took a shower, and plomped into bed.
Friday, October 31 (Departure)
I got out of bed, dressed, left a tip for the hotel, and exited my room, 6340. First, I headed to the Scat Cat's Club Cafe for beignets and orange juice for breakfast. Once I checked out, I waited outside for a Mears van to arrive, and the diver (a Massachusetts native like me) took me straight to Orlando International Airport. I got my two bags tagged, boarding pass printed, through security, and to the gate... then to ANOTHER gate because my flight was delayed. While waiting, I went to Desano Pizzaria at the airport for a pizza, cookie, and a ginger ale. Once we boarded, I used the same ear buds I used from the earlier flight and watched "Sonic the Hedgehog 3" on the screen. We took off from Runway 35L. and over two hours later landed at Bradley International Airport landing on Runway 33 and arriving at Gate 5. Once I got my luggage from baggage claim, I headed back to my red pickup truck, loaded my luggage, paid for parking at the booth, and drove back home.
And THAT was my 40th birthday at DisneyWorld! I'm sure I left stuff out, but overall it was an amazing birthday! I can't wait to go back.
I don't get it
General | Posted 2 years agoWhy are people so obsessed and praising "Sonic Frontiers" so much? And what's the deal with this "Final Horizon" thing? Why do people love this game so much? Sorry, but I just don't get it.
What PAW Patrol means to me
General | Posted 2 years agoTen years ago, a cartoon premiered on Nickelodeon. August of 2013 gave us the show "PAW Patrol" created by Keith Chapman (famous for creating "Bob the Builder") starring six puppies and their ten-year-old tech-savy boy named Ryder.
Where was I at the time? At the time I was unemployed (five months away from employment actually) and my mom was running an in-home daycare. In addition, at the time I also had a 33-month-old nephew named Nick. Before he was born, I was excited but also nervous about becoming an uncle, with my biggest fear being "Will he like me? I know he will love me, but will he like my company?" Despite being nervous around babies, I tried to bond with him so I needed a trigger. That trigger came in August of 2013.
That month premiered the show "PAW Patrol" on Nickelodeon. It turns out to have all the traits I love in a show. Unlike shows made for adults and mature audiences, kids shows don't have too much (or in some cases, overdo) emotional drama and tensions between characters or many real-world situations. It was a nice break to get away from such drama in shows like "S.W.A.T." and "SEAL Team" both of which are good shows, but are starting to become too dramatic, unlike "PAW Patrol" which makes the show more enjoyable. Other reasons I love "PAW Patrol" is that it stars dogs (because I love dogs) the animals can talk, the dogs represent real-world first-responders (Police, Fire/EMT, underwater, aviation, construction, waste management, etc.) so the situations can be relatable and teaches kids what to do in such situations, and it focuses on a TEAM instead of a solo hero which is what I personally prefer (I prefer teams as opposed to one hero).
Around the time of the premiere, I sat down and watched the show with my nephew Nick, who was still wearing diapers at the time. Despite being 33-months-old that show brought us together. I finally found my trigger. Since then, he and I became very close. Of course over the years he grew into other things, such as Marvel super heroes, Harry Potter, Sonic the Hedgehog (thanks to me) and I did my best to catch up. Still, the "damage" was done and he and I managed to find our bond and stay together.
As for me, I kept going with my own love of "PAW Patrol" as the years went by. The show gained many new settings and characters. The first one being Everest the Siberian Husky doing snow rescues, then we got Tracker the first bilingual pup, Rex the first pup with a physical disability, the twins Tuck and Ella, and even a group of cats (despite me being a dog-person, I have a soft-spot for our feline friends too). Not only that, we also got many different kinds of mini-series episodes, such as the Mighty Pups, Mission PAW, Sea Patrol, Ultimate Rescues, Dino-Rescues, Moto-Pups, Rescue Knights, Big Truck Pups, Aqua Pups, and more. I have purchased and watched every episode on Amazon Prime. In addition, I also attended the "PAW Patrol Live!" shows "The Great Pirate Adventure" and "Heroes Unite" both of which are good. And, of course, we got the movie, with another one coming next month.
As you can see, "PAW Patrol" means a lot to me. It helped me bond with my nephew, it was a show that combined many of my interests together, and it relaxed my mind from the harshness of the world. I was also surprised to learn that there are many other people in the world, people my age, who are also fans of the show like me, so I shouldn't be afraid to express it. Thank you Keith Chapman, Spin Master, and Nickelodeon for creating a wonderful franchise for all of us. Here's to the past ten years and to another ten more in the future!
Oh, and in case anyone is wondering... my favorite pup is Zuma.
Where was I at the time? At the time I was unemployed (five months away from employment actually) and my mom was running an in-home daycare. In addition, at the time I also had a 33-month-old nephew named Nick. Before he was born, I was excited but also nervous about becoming an uncle, with my biggest fear being "Will he like me? I know he will love me, but will he like my company?" Despite being nervous around babies, I tried to bond with him so I needed a trigger. That trigger came in August of 2013.
That month premiered the show "PAW Patrol" on Nickelodeon. It turns out to have all the traits I love in a show. Unlike shows made for adults and mature audiences, kids shows don't have too much (or in some cases, overdo) emotional drama and tensions between characters or many real-world situations. It was a nice break to get away from such drama in shows like "S.W.A.T." and "SEAL Team" both of which are good shows, but are starting to become too dramatic, unlike "PAW Patrol" which makes the show more enjoyable. Other reasons I love "PAW Patrol" is that it stars dogs (because I love dogs) the animals can talk, the dogs represent real-world first-responders (Police, Fire/EMT, underwater, aviation, construction, waste management, etc.) so the situations can be relatable and teaches kids what to do in such situations, and it focuses on a TEAM instead of a solo hero which is what I personally prefer (I prefer teams as opposed to one hero).
Around the time of the premiere, I sat down and watched the show with my nephew Nick, who was still wearing diapers at the time. Despite being 33-months-old that show brought us together. I finally found my trigger. Since then, he and I became very close. Of course over the years he grew into other things, such as Marvel super heroes, Harry Potter, Sonic the Hedgehog (thanks to me) and I did my best to catch up. Still, the "damage" was done and he and I managed to find our bond and stay together.
As for me, I kept going with my own love of "PAW Patrol" as the years went by. The show gained many new settings and characters. The first one being Everest the Siberian Husky doing snow rescues, then we got Tracker the first bilingual pup, Rex the first pup with a physical disability, the twins Tuck and Ella, and even a group of cats (despite me being a dog-person, I have a soft-spot for our feline friends too). Not only that, we also got many different kinds of mini-series episodes, such as the Mighty Pups, Mission PAW, Sea Patrol, Ultimate Rescues, Dino-Rescues, Moto-Pups, Rescue Knights, Big Truck Pups, Aqua Pups, and more. I have purchased and watched every episode on Amazon Prime. In addition, I also attended the "PAW Patrol Live!" shows "The Great Pirate Adventure" and "Heroes Unite" both of which are good. And, of course, we got the movie, with another one coming next month.
As you can see, "PAW Patrol" means a lot to me. It helped me bond with my nephew, it was a show that combined many of my interests together, and it relaxed my mind from the harshness of the world. I was also surprised to learn that there are many other people in the world, people my age, who are also fans of the show like me, so I shouldn't be afraid to express it. Thank you Keith Chapman, Spin Master, and Nickelodeon for creating a wonderful franchise for all of us. Here's to the past ten years and to another ten more in the future!
Oh, and in case anyone is wondering... my favorite pup is Zuma.
UPDATE: Why I'm NOT excited for Sonic Frontiers
General | Posted 3 years agoUPDATE: Last night took a load off my shoulders. I had a chat with the guy I mentioned last night, said what was needed, apologies were made, and now I feel comfortable to play Sonic Frontiers without feeling anger or resentment.
---
Believe it or not, I am actually NOT... NOT... repeat, NOT excited for "Sonic Frontiers" coming soon!!!
Why? My reason is personal and I'm angry about it! Get ready for a rant coming.
Before the title was called Frontiers, the previous title for the game was called "Sonic Rangers" and I personally liked that title. Mainly because anybody who knows me knows how very pro-military I am. I instantly thought of the 75th Rangers as a funny inside joke on my part. But that's just me. I have NOTHING against the Frontiers title, I was a little upset they got rid of Rangers, but I just shrugged my shoulders and let it be.
There's no shame in my belief saying "My heroes don't wear capes, they wear dog tags!"
What does this have to do with Sonic Frontiers?
It all started when I was chatting with someone (I wont mention his name) and I mentioned that I liked the previous title Rangers... and my exact words were "because, well, it's me."
And then... he went FULL-BLOWN RAGE ON ME! I mean, we're talking BALLISTIC!!! He yelled at me for liking Rangers over Frontiers among other things. And then he went into "rage-mode" and angrily started ranting about my personality and flaws! I mean, this guy really TORE ME APART!
And it really hurt!
This guy really hurt me badly. All within several minutes.
And it all started when I said I liked Rangers.
Now, whenever I think of Frontiers, I think of him and the nasty rant he yelled at me. Of course, this happened after I per-ordered my copy and I'll still get it since I paid for it, but I wont be able to enjoy it.
Now you all know.
---
Believe it or not, I am actually NOT... NOT... repeat, NOT excited for "Sonic Frontiers" coming soon!!!
Why? My reason is personal and I'm angry about it! Get ready for a rant coming.
Before the title was called Frontiers, the previous title for the game was called "Sonic Rangers" and I personally liked that title. Mainly because anybody who knows me knows how very pro-military I am. I instantly thought of the 75th Rangers as a funny inside joke on my part. But that's just me. I have NOTHING against the Frontiers title, I was a little upset they got rid of Rangers, but I just shrugged my shoulders and let it be.
There's no shame in my belief saying "My heroes don't wear capes, they wear dog tags!"
What does this have to do with Sonic Frontiers?
It all started when I was chatting with someone (I wont mention his name) and I mentioned that I liked the previous title Rangers... and my exact words were "because, well, it's me."
And then... he went FULL-BLOWN RAGE ON ME! I mean, we're talking BALLISTIC!!! He yelled at me for liking Rangers over Frontiers among other things. And then he went into "rage-mode" and angrily started ranting about my personality and flaws! I mean, this guy really TORE ME APART!
And it really hurt!
This guy really hurt me badly. All within several minutes.
And it all started when I said I liked Rangers.
Now, whenever I think of Frontiers, I think of him and the nasty rant he yelled at me. Of course, this happened after I per-ordered my copy and I'll still get it since I paid for it, but I wont be able to enjoy it.
Now you all know.
Outlived Marcus
General | Posted 3 years agoTo those who know, we lost the wonderful MTH001 back in 2020. He was born 19/1/1984 and passed 12/8/2020 (that military dating format) He lived for exactly 17,474 days.
My birthday is 29/10/1985, so that means today I've been alive for 17,475 days. I just surpassed Marcus.
I miss you so much, buddy.
My birthday is 29/10/1985, so that means today I've been alive for 17,475 days. I just surpassed Marcus.
I miss you so much, buddy.
I'm back but not at 100% yet
General | Posted 3 years agoAfter three weeks, I've decided to return online. I needed that break to overcome huge issues in my life. Some are resolved... but not ALL.
The issues I've been having at home mostly resolved themselves. My pickup truck's door was repaired easily. However, recently one of my tires was leaking air due to a screw, so I got that repaired. My truck is working fine and in good condition, I was just annoyed by the fact that I needed a tire repair.
So far at Krav Maga... no change, I still suck at sparring despite my instructor saying I'm getting better.
Work... is getting worse. I was training a new hire to hopefully be my new jumper. However, he was recently fired (for a simple no call no show) just as soon as he was ready to go live and I was about to get my many days off again. Now I'm back to fucking square one!
However, I realize that getting all this out of me was what I needed and I can't hide much longer. I'm coming back, but I won't be at 100% yet. I still got many problems to resolve.
The issues I've been having at home mostly resolved themselves. My pickup truck's door was repaired easily. However, recently one of my tires was leaking air due to a screw, so I got that repaired. My truck is working fine and in good condition, I was just annoyed by the fact that I needed a tire repair.
So far at Krav Maga... no change, I still suck at sparring despite my instructor saying I'm getting better.
Work... is getting worse. I was training a new hire to hopefully be my new jumper. However, he was recently fired (for a simple no call no show) just as soon as he was ready to go live and I was about to get my many days off again. Now I'm back to fucking square one!
However, I realize that getting all this out of me was what I needed and I can't hide much longer. I'm coming back, but I won't be at 100% yet. I still got many problems to resolve.
Taking a break
General | Posted 3 years agoI need to take a break for a while. The past several weeks to few months have had a plethora of stressful events in my life. These events range from home life, work life, and social Internet life. Some such events are good and others extremely bad. I have hit my breaking point and decided that I need to take a breather for a while from the Internet.
My home life has been rife with good and bad things. Last year, I bought a house! As of late, I finally had a gas fireplace installed, but the problem was I trusted my dad to call his plumber and electrician to get it prepared, but it took him half a year to do that! I wanted it to be done BEFORE winter! To this day I’m still angry at him for that. As of late, I have also been preparing the living room for a remodel, including painting the walls and getting carpet installed as well as furniture. All sounds good, but it’s a hefty price on my bank account.
Work came with a series of problems too. I have been without a jumper (a driver who fills in on other driver’s days off) for nearly eight months now. I have been working overtime for eight months and it has been taking a physical and mental toll on me. To make matters worse, our company has been hit with a cyber-attack, thus we had to make deliveries the hard old-fashioned way with paper. My days have been longer due to that and most of my customers have been yelling at me. I’m almost ready to snap!
Another thing I want to point out is that I have been taking Krav Maga for almost two years. Not bad, even got my Yellow Belt, but the second level involves a lot of sparring and boxing, which I have quickly learned I suck BADLY at! After almost a year of boxing, I believe I still haven’t got any better. Just recently, we started having a special seminar called Escape and Evasion. One part of the seminar involve gun disarms. It’s a high-level advanced technique and I did very poor on it. Boxing and gun disarming combined makes me feel like a failure, despite my instructor saying I’m doing well, but I don’t believe him.
My pickup truck is having issues as well. Last week, my driver’s side suicide door got jammed for some reason. I made an appointment at an auto-body shop to get it repaired, but they said they needed to hold it all day to fix it. After realizing that was impossible, I just simply drove away. I will eventually get it fixed, but it’s more money and time down the drain.
I have also been having difficulty with my social life on the Internet as well. Even though I don’t want to get into it, something has happened which has put me down and made me feel very low. It doesn’t help when I feel like nobody seems to care. I won’t go into details, but I’m having mixed emotions that’s driving me crazy and not in a good way.
So, there you have it. Home-related issue combined with money issues, a cyber-attack at work making it difficult with almost-endless overtime, feeling like a failure at Krav Maga, and social problems on the Internet all created a combination of extreme stress and anxiety that my mind can’t take. Therefore, I have decided to take a long-winded break from the Internet and keep to myself for the next few weeks. I’m sorry to all those who like to talk to me, but I need to do this. I’ll respond if it’s an emergency, but other than that, I need to keep to myself and be alone for the next few weeks. Hopefully, when I come back, I’ll be fully refreshed and renewed, and most of my problems will probably be going away.
Thank you all for your understanding.
TL; DR: I’ll be taking a long break from the Internet and social interactions for a while.
My home life has been rife with good and bad things. Last year, I bought a house! As of late, I finally had a gas fireplace installed, but the problem was I trusted my dad to call his plumber and electrician to get it prepared, but it took him half a year to do that! I wanted it to be done BEFORE winter! To this day I’m still angry at him for that. As of late, I have also been preparing the living room for a remodel, including painting the walls and getting carpet installed as well as furniture. All sounds good, but it’s a hefty price on my bank account.
Work came with a series of problems too. I have been without a jumper (a driver who fills in on other driver’s days off) for nearly eight months now. I have been working overtime for eight months and it has been taking a physical and mental toll on me. To make matters worse, our company has been hit with a cyber-attack, thus we had to make deliveries the hard old-fashioned way with paper. My days have been longer due to that and most of my customers have been yelling at me. I’m almost ready to snap!
Another thing I want to point out is that I have been taking Krav Maga for almost two years. Not bad, even got my Yellow Belt, but the second level involves a lot of sparring and boxing, which I have quickly learned I suck BADLY at! After almost a year of boxing, I believe I still haven’t got any better. Just recently, we started having a special seminar called Escape and Evasion. One part of the seminar involve gun disarms. It’s a high-level advanced technique and I did very poor on it. Boxing and gun disarming combined makes me feel like a failure, despite my instructor saying I’m doing well, but I don’t believe him.
My pickup truck is having issues as well. Last week, my driver’s side suicide door got jammed for some reason. I made an appointment at an auto-body shop to get it repaired, but they said they needed to hold it all day to fix it. After realizing that was impossible, I just simply drove away. I will eventually get it fixed, but it’s more money and time down the drain.
I have also been having difficulty with my social life on the Internet as well. Even though I don’t want to get into it, something has happened which has put me down and made me feel very low. It doesn’t help when I feel like nobody seems to care. I won’t go into details, but I’m having mixed emotions that’s driving me crazy and not in a good way.
So, there you have it. Home-related issue combined with money issues, a cyber-attack at work making it difficult with almost-endless overtime, feeling like a failure at Krav Maga, and social problems on the Internet all created a combination of extreme stress and anxiety that my mind can’t take. Therefore, I have decided to take a long-winded break from the Internet and keep to myself for the next few weeks. I’m sorry to all those who like to talk to me, but I need to do this. I’ll respond if it’s an emergency, but other than that, I need to keep to myself and be alone for the next few weeks. Hopefully, when I come back, I’ll be fully refreshed and renewed, and most of my problems will probably be going away.
Thank you all for your understanding.
TL; DR: I’ll be taking a long break from the Internet and social interactions for a while.
I think I found out why I'm nervous
General | Posted 3 years agoI think I found out why I'm skeptical and pessimistic about the upcoming Sonic movie.
Marcus.
Let me explain. Under normal circumstances like this, Marcus would not only be talking about the upcoming movie, but he would draw medium with his friends. I used to do that a lot, I would draw my friends and I in media (and more often than not I'd get backlashed for that).
Example, if Marcus were alive today, he would have drawn a picture of him as a hedgehog and me in my old echidna look, snowboarding, and calling me "the winter soldier" like in the movie. I would love it every time he would do that.
But now I won't be getting that. And this movie will be the very first upcoming Sonic medium WITHOUT Marcus! I still miss him badly!
Now, I'm surrounded by people who treat me like garbage. Normally, Marcus would defend me and come to my aid, but he can't anymore.
I honestly can't say I'm happy. That's why I've been a Debbie Downer lately.
Marcus.
Let me explain. Under normal circumstances like this, Marcus would not only be talking about the upcoming movie, but he would draw medium with his friends. I used to do that a lot, I would draw my friends and I in media (and more often than not I'd get backlashed for that).
Example, if Marcus were alive today, he would have drawn a picture of him as a hedgehog and me in my old echidna look, snowboarding, and calling me "the winter soldier" like in the movie. I would love it every time he would do that.
But now I won't be getting that. And this movie will be the very first upcoming Sonic medium WITHOUT Marcus! I still miss him badly!
Now, I'm surrounded by people who treat me like garbage. Normally, Marcus would defend me and come to my aid, but he can't anymore.
I honestly can't say I'm happy. That's why I've been a Debbie Downer lately.
My skepticism on the upcoming Sonic movie
General | Posted 3 years agoI'm going to be upfront and honest here. I'm actually getting kind of sick and tired of "new trailers" and "news" regarding the upcoming Sonic 2 movie!
Really! I am! Instead of being excited for the movie, I'm dreading it, and I'm scared it's going to be bad! Rant over!
Really! I am! Instead of being excited for the movie, I'm dreading it, and I'm scared it's going to be bad! Rant over!
Going to DisneyWorld
General | Posted 4 years agoYou heard it right, I'm going back to DisneyWorld on October 18th!
Happy Birthday, Marcus
General | Posted 5 years agoYou would've been 37 years old today.
I will never forget you. I shouldn't be crying because you're gone, I should be happy because I had the chance to know you. The last 17 years of my life were great years and I owe a giant chunk of it to you. I went through so much in the past decade and a half and you were there for it all.
While others thought I was weird with my interests, you were by my side.
I wish I could say more about our history together, but I would choke up typing it. I promise I'll write a full history one of these days, soon.
But for now... happy birthday, buddy.
I will never forget you. I shouldn't be crying because you're gone, I should be happy because I had the chance to know you. The last 17 years of my life were great years and I owe a giant chunk of it to you. I went through so much in the past decade and a half and you were there for it all.
While others thought I was weird with my interests, you were by my side.
I wish I could say more about our history together, but I would choke up typing it. I promise I'll write a full history one of these days, soon.
But for now... happy birthday, buddy.
My best friend is gone
General | Posted 5 years agoNo, he didn't pass away.
I've met Matt back in roughly 1991 or 1992, can't remember which. We were in the same classes in school together all the way up to high school.
After high school, we went in different directions. He didn't go to college, he started a career in sports photography and journalism. I myself chose college. I went to a community college, and then I went to the Art Institutes. I graduated in 2011 and Matt came to my party.
That was the LAST time I saw him!
I was recently browsing Facebook and I found Matt's page. I sent him a Friend Request, but all I got back was "Please leave me alone."
His next message was telling me that he doesn't want to be friends with me anymore. I understand why. My situation was in flux at the time.
I didn't reply to Matt though. Doing so would probably just cause problems, arguments, and heartbreaks, for both of us.
So, there you have it. Almost 30 years of friendship is gone.
The only plus side is that we haven't talked to or seen each other since 2011, mainly because we both became adults and went on to doing different things. He followed his own path, I followed mine. It's best to just leave it at that.
If Matt doesn't want to be friends with me anymore, then the best thing I can do is just move on. I'll still miss those days and I'll miss him.
I still have all of you though. No matter what happens, I know I won't be alone.
I've met Matt back in roughly 1991 or 1992, can't remember which. We were in the same classes in school together all the way up to high school.
After high school, we went in different directions. He didn't go to college, he started a career in sports photography and journalism. I myself chose college. I went to a community college, and then I went to the Art Institutes. I graduated in 2011 and Matt came to my party.
That was the LAST time I saw him!
I was recently browsing Facebook and I found Matt's page. I sent him a Friend Request, but all I got back was "Please leave me alone."
His next message was telling me that he doesn't want to be friends with me anymore. I understand why. My situation was in flux at the time.
I didn't reply to Matt though. Doing so would probably just cause problems, arguments, and heartbreaks, for both of us.
So, there you have it. Almost 30 years of friendship is gone.
The only plus side is that we haven't talked to or seen each other since 2011, mainly because we both became adults and went on to doing different things. He followed his own path, I followed mine. It's best to just leave it at that.
If Matt doesn't want to be friends with me anymore, then the best thing I can do is just move on. I'll still miss those days and I'll miss him.
I still have all of you though. No matter what happens, I know I won't be alone.
New chapter in my life
General | Posted 5 years agoTo all my friends who probably already know, I got my Class A CDL and got hired for a truck company. I quit my last job (my last night was last Thursday) and I start my new job on Monday the 20th. I'm moving on up in my life. I just hope I'm making a smart move here.
I need help
General | Posted 7 years agoLately, I have been experiencing extreme bouts of depression. Let me start from the beginning.
Last July I got a new job working for a warehouse that's owned by a Teamsters Union. The place is 23 miles from my home. At first, everybody there was busting my balls and whatnot, but I personally took it as abuse. Not to mention a lot of them prefer to stay there for as long as possible, as long as 12 to 14 hours a night for five nights! Because of their decision, I suffer staying in a place where I'm far away from home and I feel like I'm being abused. The abuse has softened down quickly though, but still. I work nights between Sundays and Thursdays. I tried to ask for a day-shift but they said that shift is earned, and most have to wait over 15 years to earn a day-shift position.
The job is high-paying with great benefits including a pension and free insurance. Because of that, I was able to purchase a used truck, but I totaled it within a few months. I eventually got a new one months later and I'm paying it off. I also got a credit card and it's been saving me a bit. However, I'm paying way over the minimum balance on my bills, sometimes three times as much. Is that a bad thing?
Also, I'm spending too much time away from my home. I spend at leased between 60 to 70 hours outside my house a week, which is actually a bad thing considering I have a minor case of Agoraphobia. Not extremely major but enough to drive me crazy. I really do not want to quit my job because I'm getting used to the layout of the work and it's a great money-making opportunity. On the other hand, I have very little time to go to the movies, work on my projects, see my family, etc.
I'm not asking for a pity-party, I'm asking for advice on what I should do to calm myself out of my deep depression. I've never been this upset about my life this much. Any advice would be appreciated. I could really use help. Thank you.
Last July I got a new job working for a warehouse that's owned by a Teamsters Union. The place is 23 miles from my home. At first, everybody there was busting my balls and whatnot, but I personally took it as abuse. Not to mention a lot of them prefer to stay there for as long as possible, as long as 12 to 14 hours a night for five nights! Because of their decision, I suffer staying in a place where I'm far away from home and I feel like I'm being abused. The abuse has softened down quickly though, but still. I work nights between Sundays and Thursdays. I tried to ask for a day-shift but they said that shift is earned, and most have to wait over 15 years to earn a day-shift position.
The job is high-paying with great benefits including a pension and free insurance. Because of that, I was able to purchase a used truck, but I totaled it within a few months. I eventually got a new one months later and I'm paying it off. I also got a credit card and it's been saving me a bit. However, I'm paying way over the minimum balance on my bills, sometimes three times as much. Is that a bad thing?
Also, I'm spending too much time away from my home. I spend at leased between 60 to 70 hours outside my house a week, which is actually a bad thing considering I have a minor case of Agoraphobia. Not extremely major but enough to drive me crazy. I really do not want to quit my job because I'm getting used to the layout of the work and it's a great money-making opportunity. On the other hand, I have very little time to go to the movies, work on my projects, see my family, etc.
I'm not asking for a pity-party, I'm asking for advice on what I should do to calm myself out of my deep depression. I've never been this upset about my life this much. Any advice would be appreciated. I could really use help. Thank you.
Will be coming back to upload images!
General | Posted 10 years agoHey guys, it's me.
I'm here to letchya know that, heads up, I'll be posting images here on my lonely and dust-collecting FA page. The reason I didn't in the past was because I was paranoid and worried that my furry works would appear in Google image searches. Most of my "mature" works from my deviantArt page appeared in Google and it made me look bad (and it was kind of the reason why I had a difficult time landing a job for years).
As soon as I was slightly convinced that FA is safe from "outside eyes" I'll be uploading my images here. As soon as I realize it's not, I'll be taking them all down lickedy-split. So, let's hope all goes well for me here. Hope you guys enjoy my works here on FA. Any comments, leave them below, I'd love to hear all of your inputs.
I'm here to letchya know that, heads up, I'll be posting images here on my lonely and dust-collecting FA page. The reason I didn't in the past was because I was paranoid and worried that my furry works would appear in Google image searches. Most of my "mature" works from my deviantArt page appeared in Google and it made me look bad (and it was kind of the reason why I had a difficult time landing a job for years).
As soon as I was slightly convinced that FA is safe from "outside eyes" I'll be uploading my images here. As soon as I realize it's not, I'll be taking them all down lickedy-split. So, let's hope all goes well for me here. Hope you guys enjoy my works here on FA. Any comments, leave them below, I'd love to hear all of your inputs.
FA+
