No more betting for me!

I already know what my new year's resolution for 2026 will be. And it's something I should have abandoned decades ago.

Stop betting, for it's hazardous to my pocket.

You see,  I have forever had this bad habit of betting on my assumptions instead on verified facts, despite knowing that "to assume means to make an ass of you and me."

My latest expensive gaffe? Betting my daughter that Florida is sunnier than Colorado and ignoring the fact that she has lived in the latter state for some 25 years!

Part of my reckless bet this time arose from the fact that I was disappointed that I had lugged my winter gear across the continent, looking forward to a white Christmas but ended up with Florida-like weather.

 (https://joan-myviews.blogspot.com/2025/12/climate-change.html?m=1.)

Further, every time I looked up at the ever- visible, snow-capped Rocky Mountain range, I see the sparkling snow.

However, I should have learned from seeing the fabulous snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania years ago, that just became some mountains are snow capped, it does not follow that the surrounding areas have snow!

 Duh.

Well, according to the experts ;

"On average, there are 233 sunny days per year in Miami while Denver averages 245 sunny days per year. The US average is 205 sunny days."

Yup,  it cost me money to remember that as I revelled in the beautiful snow that greeted us on December 28, which true to form, almost all melted by 3pm, due to the boiling sun!

Yup. The hot sun quickly melted the snow but it's still cold!

Tek sleep mark death.

No more assumptions for me in 2026.

I ❤️ Madame Tussauds

 Wherever I go, I always visit the Madam Tussauds Museum to see which of my favorites have been added.

My only disappointment in Orlando was that there was no Chad Boseman😡, although there was a Narvel section.

Anyway there were some nice replicas of some of the people I admire.

The Rock 😍

It's the car I love😁

They even got his eyes😊

My boy dis

Naturally the new US president was there. But I wouldn't be seen dead with him.😡

There was an aquarium next door and although it didn't have much. I learned a lot. Especially about the octopus which is so intelligent that one was even said to know how to do the rubix cube!

There was one in England too that predicted elections, but I believe it died 

Octopi like shadows, so as this trainer moves out of the light it follows!

This turtle and stingray are friends

A strange looking shark

As Ripley's Believe it or not was nearby at Icon Park, we took it in too.

Always strange things to take in there too.

Icon park and it's surroundings in Orlando is really a great place to hang out.

Museum of Illusions

 This is one cool place.

Omg. My head on a platter?😭

When you come to Orlando you automatically think of Disney, but Icon Park is a wonderful place to relax and take the kids, as it has a lot of really great stuff.

They even have early Christmas.

And looks what's beside it!

That is where Madame Tussauds is too and there are lots of food and souvenir places. But my favorite place is the Museum of Illusions.

We sure had fun there.

At some angles you see a face

Yup. Enjoying my  second childhood.😁

Return to Epcot

The first time I went to Disney's Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, (Epcot), I think it was the one in California, was probably more than 35 years ago, but I had always wanted to go back. The problem was, each time I went to a Disney theme park, it was always with kids who loved superheroes, exciting rides, princesses, and cartoon characters. No one wanted to go to the Epcot theme park as either they complained they did not have enough time, they were tired or it just was not exciting enough. So it was always a Disney vacation minus Epcot. 

Well out of evil cometh good, for as I saw that they had a soft opening in Orlando after the long lock-down due to coronavirus, I thought I should take it in before it became too crowded. And it wasn't in September 2020.

When my granddaughter informed me that she wanted to visit me in December and go to Disney, I knew I had to move up my decision for I knew once we got there, Epcot would be out. To avoid any crowd, I decided to go right after the schools opened in Florida. It was the perfect decision and I am so happy I returned,  for it is really a fascinating and educational experience, far better than I remembered. 

Every attraction was a slam dunk except when I went to do the ride through the Alps to see the set of 'Frozen.' Then there was quite a line. It wasn't all that long but you have to remember the 6 feet apart system. So it wasn't that long a line, but it took the longest to get it.  It was worth the wait though, as was every exhibit in fact. Luckily I had checked the weather before I drove up to Orlando and took my plastic mac in my backpack, so when the heavy showers came down, I just strolled in the rain, feeling like a kid again. 

As there was a celebration of wine and food that week, many countries participated showcasing the best of their foods and attractions. I liked the China and Canadian displays the best and loved the Mexican mariachi band. I was fascinated by the exhibit on our relationship with the land, scientific advances in agriculture, soaring through the world, (a bit scary at first), spaceship earth, and in fact, just everything. It was so fascinating and interesting, that only when I was leaving that I realized I had been there from 11 am to 5pm.

As usual, I forgot where I parked and it was a bit scary for a while as I kept going around in circles for about 20 minutes before finding my car.😓

Leaving, I wondered how I had stayed away so long and resolved to go back again soon.

                                                OTHER PHOTOS FROM EPCOT

                            Elsa from Frozen rides in her carriage