Is the over-abundance of online reviews taking the joy out of exploring and trying new things?

Can’t remember the last time I just stopped at a place because it looked interesting. Now I have to google it first and read the top and bottom reviews and see if it’s worth it. And I’ve been some places people gave 5 star reviews to that sucked moose wang, and some places that people hated that I loved.

Maybe someday I’ll just go on a vacation and not research anything ahead of time and be, like, spontaneous and stuff. I can quit researching anytime I want. Yep.

Just not this year.

I ran into people talking about gutta percha three times in the last week. I’d never heard of it before.

I got invited to join the honors society at school.

I also submitted a paper about Disney’s parks and how they relate to Fisher’s Narrative Theory for presentation at SOURCE, my school’s annual conference, and it was accepted. I’ll be presenting it on April 11.

I submitted my application for graduate school and, once I get my degree plan signed, should be accepted with no problem. I also heard back from the new person assigned to evaluate my portfolio for Emerging Technologies and she said to expect to see that on my transcript sometime next week (I submitted the damned thing in November!).

I’m all registered for SXSWi, which ITVS was kind enough to do since World Without Oil is a finalist in the Web Awards. Don’t forget that you can vote EVERY DAY for WWO in the People’s Choice awards. It just takes one click a day.

We made reservations for a return trip to Disney World this August. This year we’re going to try The Polynesian Resort. Staying at the Villas at Wilderness Lodge was just heavenly last year, what with the full size fridge, washer/dryer, and separate living/sleeping areas, but the big drawback was that it wasn’t on the monorail. I think we can sacrifice a lot for that convenience. We’ll see if we end up speaking to each other when it’s all over.

Last, I’ve been bleaching my teeth for the last 9 days and haven’t had one stinking cup of coffee or tea since I started and I’m damned grouchy.

Ok, sorry, that wasn’t last; this is: we finally got an XBox 360 and picked up Rock Band and Guitar Hero III. I can’t remember the last time I had this much fun.

We’re back from Disney World, btw. It was exhausting, but fun. 11 nights on the road and in Orlando. I heart my Camelbak. Perhaps I’ll do a more detailed write-up; perhaps not. Won’t be today, anyway.

So, remember when I went all SQUEE about the movie adaptation of The Dark is Rising? Yeah, turns out, not so much. Bah. I have been reading Phillip Pullman’s “His Dark Materials” series lately (on book two now) and enjoying the bejeebers out of it, though.

School starts tomorrow, for me and for the kiddos. I got into the “Lying and Deception” class that I’ve been wanting to take – the longer I’m at St. Ed’s, the more I’m noticing a sort of class division between the traditional college and New College, which (I’m extrapolating) is resulting in things like courses that my Portfolio prof thought I could place out of won’t count, and therefore I need to take more courses to graduate… and even though I was told that someone from the department would try to send me a note “just like I would send my traditional students,” that didn’t happen. Luckily I am aged and crafty and hit refresh a lot and have had tons of practice mashing buttons in Wootoffs.

Anyway, I had planned on taking one other prerequisite and my Capstone course (in which I produce a 20-30 page paper), then graduating this December, but due to the hoop-jumping, I think I’m going to drop Capstone and take it next semester along with something else in the Communication department. So hopefully I’ll graduate next May, which might be nice since it’s the larger ceremony then.

When I was a kid there used to be these comic books impregnated with ink that you could brush with a damp paintbrush and the page would magically spring into color. Do they still make those?

3 more sleeps until we leave for Disney World. The girls are struggling to clean up their acts so that they might be included in the trip.

We’re planning the big Family Vacation this summer and I’m trying to absorb everything there is to know about Disney World. I came across this video of the Kiss Goodnight they play after the park closes and I got a little teary at the beginning, then just about lost it when they started singing, “Like a bolt out of the blue…”

I choked up last time we were there, and I’m sure that seeing the kids have a good time is going to make it just that much worse this time. Oh lord, I’m weepy just anticipating it. This is not good.

Only in LV can they implode buildings with such panache. Farewell, Stardust. I’ve stayed there and played there, and it had character.

I’m wondering if the horrible situation in New Orleans is going to be the first news event that Jo remembers. She and Caroline have been talking about it a lot – asking what a hurricane is, what’s going to happen to all the houses under water, what would happen if a hurricane comes here. She’s been adding the Gulf Coast to her prayers at night, too.

As for me, I’m numb. We were just there three months ago. Now I’m wondering if there will be a New Orleans to go back to.

New Orleans photo album, May 2005.

I told someone earlier that I felt like I was at a bedside vigil with a very sick friend, watching all the New Orleans coverage. Y’all stay safe, and I’m praying for you.