Ghosts, Ghouls, and....Hyenas?

The path is dark, filled with patrons as far as the eye can see. Unbeknownst to them, villains lurk along the seemingly unpopulated road ready to take...pictures?

All of this might sound like the beginning of a strange horror-comedy film, unless, that is, you've experienced Disney's Tower of Terror 10-miler.

If you love Disney as much as I do, and you're a casual runner who enjoys fun-runs, then this race/run is for you! The Tower of Terror 10-miler starts just outside of the Hollywood Studios theme park in Disney World, Orlando, Florida, and ends inside of Hollywood Studios. Along the way ghosts, ghouls, and your favorite villainous Disney characters, such as: the hyenas from Lion King, Jafar from Alladin, and others stand by to take a photo with you if you're OK with stopping during your run.

Even if you're not trying to take a picture with your favorite villains, your picture WILL BE TAKEN! Photographers are everywhere, so make sure you put on your best smile as you pass by.

Although the race starts at 10pm, the route couldn't have been more scenic. A turn-around occurs right around Animal Kingdom Lodge, and from there, you venture into Disney's Wide World of Sports, where a part of the race is run inside of the Atlanta Braves spring training stadium! 

The last half-mile is run completely inside Hollywood Studios. There, hundreds of fans cheer you on as you make your way to the home-stretch. One of the neater parts of the race is right before the finish line where commentators, sitting up in a lofted booth, call out your name and where you're from in front of tons of people, so make sure you save just enough in the tank to sprint home (unlike me, who started having leg cramps a couple miles before the end of the race...whoops)! After crossing the finish line there is fruit, water, and Gatorade as far as the eye can see so you can rehydrate right away. There are also trainers by the finish line that will assist you with any pains you might have post-race by applying cooling gel to affected areas!

Now, you might be asking, "What could possibly make this race experience any more awesome?!" Well, that's a great question! The answer: You get to go on as many rides as you want after the race until the park closes at 2am! So, if Hollywood Studios is your favorite Disney World park, and you're not too keen on long lines, then take full advantage of this perk by taking part in the run!

All-in-all, the Tower of Terror 10-miler is a must-do for race aficionados like myself, and it is sure to be one of the most memorable parts of your Disney World vacation. 

As for my number one rule going into this race/run? Just make sure you have fun!

- PatInTheHat

Hank

You've probably noticed that I don't generally talk about work or the people I work with very often. the truth is, even stuff like this, I don't really like talking about, because the tasks I perform would probably bore you to sleep. Also, the people I meet, talk to, befriend, you'll never meet, so what's the point?

Well, I'm breaking that trend today to a degree to talk about a guy I met from Payroll. 

Hank comes across as an average guy. Four years my father's junior, which makes him 53, and he has a personality that is as infectious as anyone you would meet at any age. Very personable, very funny, and since I had a few lunches with him, very NOT average.

Hank always complains about the Phillies. I enjoy his complaints, because it makes me feel less whiney when I complain about Philly sports teams, even if in actuality I'm not.

"I came to this side of the building to find the Phillies' win streak and I can't find it. I'll keep looking!" he'd say in passing. "Leave a light on in the basement, because we're gonna be down there a while."

Some of his silly dad-joke-esque complaints about the Phillies would always put me in a better mood.

At work, we have a system where anyone who is logged on to Business Chat can talk to each other. Needless to say, any time the Phillies were doing well or otherwise I'd message Hank.

"Did you see that win last night, Hank!? KEEP THE BASEMENT DOOR OPEN, BECAUSE WE'RE COMING OUT!" I'd exclaim. And then he'd make some let's-come-back-down-from-that-high remark of, "Well, we're gonna need to break the lock, but it's possible!"

Eventually, I decided we should get some lunch together from the cafe downstairs. His story, for me, is pretty incredible. 

He was in the Gulf War from the 80's to the 90's. He was in some pretty horrific battles, and came out alive! He somehow manages to tell these stories with a grin as if he's completely unscathed mentally by it all. He has a wife that he put through school after they got married to become a biologist, and now she's about to start researching with one of the best cancer researchers in the country! He lives by a rule that encompasses his care for other people before himself. He's a gentleman; a scholar in his own right. And now, after only getting to know him over the last couple months, he's leaving. not for just any silly reason either--he's leaving because his wife needs to move out to Kentucky to do that cancer research I mentioned. His wife is a biproduct of his will to make sure other people felt good around him BECAUSE of him.

Today is his last day, and I can't help but feel a little saddened. I hardly knew the guy in actuality, but there's something about people we meet in our lives that make us feel good in stressful moments that make us hope they'll be around for a long time. I know that sounds a bit selfish, and if you've read this far--a sap story in all--you should also know that I'm really happy for him and I've learned a lot from him in the short time that I knew him.

Enough to write a silly blog, anyway.

The point of this: I think it's important to not take advantage of the little connections that we make in our lives. Over the last few years, introspectively, I believe I've done a much better job at this. And a lot of learning has come of it. I also think it's taught me a lot about how I might come across to people I'm hardly around, which makes it that much more important to give them your best, so that they give their best to others! Perhaps a lynch-pin of global change?

Maybe that's a touch too optimistic. *shrugs* But that won't stop be from trying.

- PatInTheHat

Sports Apathy

Forgive me for sportsing for a moment--I really haven't sportsed on here very often--so if you feel so inclined to not read this because of sportsing, then by all means: Don't.

If you appreciate my opinion on sports, then you'll likely appreciate what I have to say about the NBA finals that are currently taking place between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors. So far, only two games have taken place, but a lot has happened in those two games that is probably making the betting public go insane. That's more of an objective point of view. What you may be seeing on ESPN and other sports avenues is considerably more of a subjective point of view that get people, who probably haven't watched much of the series at all, talking about the series like they know how the game is being played. Before I continue, I want to point out that I have not watched ESPN in a couple years. I got really sick of it. With that said, I became very used to how it tells sports news, so I'm going to do my best at making pretend I know how they construed the games (kinda just like they do). So, without further adieu, let me shed some light on the series to this point, since I have watched all 106 minutes of game play thus far:

1. Game 1: What ESPN (probably) said: A relative back and forth battle. Lebron was terrible down the stretch. If not for that missed shot at the end of the game Kyrie Irving would have never been hurt, and the Cavs would have a chance to win. Curry and Thompson shined in OT, and the Warriors defense shut the Cavs down.

What I'm saying: Lebron James scored 44 pts. Yes, he did miss a buzzer beater at the end of the 4th quarter--the attempt was pretty awful, too--but he actually played pretty great throughout the game. The loss should not be blamed on him. His team could have performed better in front of him. Kyrie Irving getting hurt had little to do with the Cavs losing. The Warriors wanted it more, and the Warriors took it, because they're the Warriors. Overall, great playoff basketball from both teams. The better team won.

2. Game 2 Preview (Days Leading Up): What ESPN (probably) said: There's no way the Cavs win the series now. Without Kyrie Irving, this Cavs team is super vulnerable. Lebron James will have to be stupendous, and his team will have to give the ball to "The King" the whole game, because, well, he's "The King." Oh, and the Warrios will be playing with their whole roster, so they should win. in 4 or 5 games.

What I was saying (in conversation wit my dad):
Me (about our bets we made on Golden State winning in 6 or 7): Well, it's looking like trouble for us. Definitely a catastrophic loss to the Cavs now that they're down Irving.
Dad: Yeah, it's not looking good at all. The good news is that Owners want their teams to keep playing.
Me: What do you mean?
Dad: Well, the more games they play, the more revenue the owners get for their stadiums and teams, and the more jobs they're able to keep on for a little longer.
Me: Hmm, I never thought of it like that. You don't think a team would intentionally throw a game in the finals for those reasons, do you?
Dad: I would hope not, but I really wouldn't put it past them.
Me: Yeah, I see your point. After all, this is the entertainment industry.

3. (Me now watching the pre-game show)
Basically, everyone expects the Golden State Warriors to win this game and for the Cavs to win 1 game at home the rest of the way, with the Warriors eventually winning the series in 5. I agreed with almost all of their analysis from D-Wade to Collins. Barring some crazy injury to the Warriors, the Cavs were done for.

4. Watching game 2: This is the worst professional basketball I have seen in a long time. Golden State doesn't even look like they're trying, and yet they're still in striking distance. I guess they made Clay Thompson the designated scorer for this game. Steph Curry wants to keep throwing up circus shots like this is an And1 tournament. And I know FOR A FACT that is NOT how he has played THIS WHOLE SEASON.

The commentators are constantly talking about Lebron as if he's the next coming of Christ, and yet his team is hanging on by the skin of their teeth. "DID YOU SEE THAT PASS?!" Guys, it was a pass. Let's not forget the 3 pointer that was sunk on the other end of it by Shephard.

Oh, hey, look at that. With 3 minutes left to play in the 4th quarter, the Warriors decided that they all want to play. They storm back from 11 points down--easily, might I add--to send the game into OT. It seems inevitable now that the Cavs lose.

Welp, I'm wrong again, the Warriors come out flat looking like they did in the first half, and lose OT. It got exciting there again with about 2 minutes left in the OT as Thompson for the Warriors sank some m ore 3s. Cavs win. The better team DID NOT win this game. The Warriors GAVE the Cavs that game. Looks like my dad was right about them throwing games.

If you or anyone thinks that Lebron James and the Cavs are going to win this series, then you must also still believe in Fairytales and Santa Claus. You're disillusioned.

That said, it would be great if the Warriors could give the Cavs just one more game. Just one more. Is that so much to ask?

-PatInTheHat