Santa

"So I am to climb all the way down this thing to give everyone presents?" 

"Giddy up Rudolph!" 

Taylor Swift - The Best Day

Imagine That

As I was writing in the post on Club 33, Upland, California has two sister cities that I now know of. One is Senigallia, Italy and the other one, according to Wikipedia is "Mildura, Victoria, Australia". According to the statue in the city (Upland) it's "Mildura, Australia". According to Wikipedia, another sister city of Upland is "Caborca, Sonora, Mexico" which is listed via Wikipedia as a sister city to Paris, France. I could spend hours looking up information about sister cities to different places but Disneyland, I imagine, has the most. 

Why did I choose Disneyland as my main writing topic? 

It's a center to endless learning, education, imagination and development. I could write about it for the rest of my life because there are so many angles and endless perspectives to view it. There is traveling potential because there is a location in Florida, France, Japan, and one coming soon in China. My focus for now is, of course, California because it's my home. Given the opportunity to adventure and write about other locations as well... imagined reality.

For my readers, it's somewhere I'd invite them to go and explore for themselves. For me, l can bring my baby, my family, my friends to work with me and feel at home. Imagine that. 

Good Day, 

Suzie 

Adele - Take It All (Live) Itunes Festival 2011 HD

Mommy

I spin baby around in my arms waiting in line at Disneyland.
"Who needs Disneyland when Mommy can make baby smile like that?" The Disneyland attendant asked as she watches us intently.
"I think Mommy is the one who needs it." I reply.

Beautiful Soul - Jesse McCartney (Boyce Avenue acoustic cover) on Apple...

Disneyland in China

I told my niece to stare at the goat on Thunder Mountain at Disneyland. Apparently when you stare at it (look for it on the hill with the rattle snakes), it gives you a dizzy feeling that adds to the excitement of the ride. She confirmed that she did feel more dizzy than normal when she stared at the goat.
I know there is actually a petting zoo there but I haven't gone yet. I wonder what it's like and what animals they have there.

We asked for a death certificate in the hallway of the Haunted Mansion and we didn't get one. We were told by the cast member that we would have to actually be deceased. Happy to be alive. He also told us that the Haunted Mansion is the one ride that exists at all of the Disneyland parks.

There are four Disneyland parks. One in Orlando Florida, one in Japan (Tokyo), one in the sunny and beautiful Southern California and one in France (Paris). The great news is that there are about to be five Disneyland parks. The new one will be in China.

I got excited about this and my choice with the consistent writing topic, Disneyland. I started thinking the Disneyland annual pass I have would get me into every park around the world. I just wanted to make sure so I asked at City Hall and they said I'd have to get a different one for every park.

Perhaps there is a way. After all, it is a "Small World".

Suzie Sateri

Two Step - Best Live Version Ever.

Keys

I suppose the time will come when I can ask more specific questions. Like, can I have the keys to the dream suite above Pirates of the Caribbean? And, can I visit the office of Walt Disney? Can I write an entry in there? Maybe a few?
What would you wish for if you could make a wish in the Wish Lounge?
If you had the keys to Disneyland, what would you do with them?
What would our cities be like if we made our Main Streets to be more like the one at Disneyland?

Suzie Sateri

Main Street Businesses

I tried to walk into the dental school on Main Street at Disneyland and the door was locked. A while later I asked in City Hall if the dental school office was a real or fictitious business. The attendant let me know that it's a real business but the Dr. has to be in the office in order to open the door. I asked if all of the businesses on Main Street were real or fictitious and he said that they are all real businesses.

Sometime later I knocked on the dental school door to see if the Dr. was there and would open the door but there was no answer. Maybe it would open up if I really wanted to attend dental school. To be honest I am more interested in asking about the laughing gas.

I read on Wikipedia that "laughing gas", also known as Nitrous oxide, in its early days was referred to as a ""Factitious Air"" that upon inhalation was theorized to potentially treat lung diseases like tuberculosis. I also read via Wikipedia that in childbirth, sometimes Nitrous oxide is used instead of an epidural. I found this and many other facts about the "air" interesting to say the least.

There is a hotel right across the way from the dental school, though if you get a dose of Nitrous oxide at the dentist you are able to safely drive home. The hotel is for "cast members only" but there were quite a few people in there. That door was locked too. Who has all of the keys to Disneyland? That should be my next question.

Suzie Sateri

Best Goal of the Year

Johnny Depp on Pirates

I noticed on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland that the pirate that resembles Johnny Depp's character is in at least three different places. If I were to speak about it I might say, "Johnny Depp is in three different places on the ride Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland.", but that is a stretch. The truth is, I'm not sure any of those characters even have names. 

By the way, the character on Small World got her cheek fixed. 

Suzie Sateri 

Paramore - "Still Into You" cover by: thee acquainted

Disneyland's Soil

As I tour around Disneyland I notice the plants and flowers. Many of them are therapeutic and can be used for medicinal purposes. As I've heard, they're constantly being uprooted and replaced with new ones. It makes sense because everything always looks so nice. I think about how great the soil must be as a result of the many people walking around there on a daily basis.

My son's grandmother got these shoes that have spikes on the bottom of them so she could walk around on the soil in the yard and make holes so water could seep in and keep it fertile. I wonder what the soil around soccer fields are like because of the players running on them with their cleats.

It's sort of like the concept of a volcano eruption. The hot lava flows all across the land and creates the best possible soil to grow things on. So if there are so many people walking around main areas in Disneyland, it's just asking the core of the earth to respond to all of the movement with heat. The soil around it is bound to become fertile.

Suzie Sateri

Club 33

I sat on Pirates of the Caribbean and for anyone who is familiar with the ride, after we passed through the boats shooting at each other I noticed a passage on the left hand side. The ride is dark the whole way through but there was a tunnel that looked like it had tracks for boats to ride on. I wondered if there were any boats that still venture that way, though it is the path less traveled, so to speak.

Club 33 at Disneyland is known as one of the "most exclusive clubs in the world". Do you think it's access leads to a bunch of hidden passage ways throughout the park? I thought, what if there were passage ways like that located in each city, leading to sister cities (also known as twin cities)?

In Upland, our sister city is Senigallia, Italy. Some places, like Long Beach and Bakersfield have several sister cities. Imagine how many Disneyland has. What does Club 33 have to do with it? Hopefully my time and blessing in this universe show me to tell.

Suzie Sateri

Android: 100 Billion Words

Disneyland Main Street

I was walking down Main Street at Disneyland and observing all of the shops beckoning people to come in. They are so inviting and filled with both charm and wonder. When you walk in one of them, you're bound to want to buy something. It is the main area upon entering the park. Most of the time on Main Street you can observe characters or watch a band playing songs etc. You can usually tell when a band is enjoying what they're playing because the music enters your senses and evokes some kind of emotion. It can make you want to dance, laugh, smile, cry...

On the Small World ride I can't help but notice this one character at the end of the ride on the right hand side.. her mouth has a tear in the side of it and when she sings it opens and closes. I wonder how many people have noticed. Should I let someone in guest services know?

These things I am happy to think about as other topics in life can get heavy like my son is becoming. I carry him anyway. When I carry him into the Baby Care Center at Disneyland I think about how much Walt Disney meant the park to be catered to children his age. There is a microwave to heat food, high chairs to feed the babies, a nursing station to breast feed and a changing area with little toilets for young children as well. Caring for the baby in there makes me feel like I'm back in time. I love it.

I observed a lady with short brown hair and I'm tempted to cut mine in a short, fashionable bob again. That's how Walt Disney's wife had her hair when she was around. I wonder what it must have felt like to be her. Her husband's imagination was beyond unique. I wonder what hers was like. I imagine she was a great woman as her husband was a fabulous man.

Anyway, back to Main Street. I thought of the Main Street in my small town and I imagine it transforming into something wonderful like Disneyland's. Why not? We have a band and theater at the High School, the Grove Theater to start... Perhaps if each city made their Main Street so attractive people would appreciate.

Suzie Sateri

The Story Book

It goes something like this... "There are certain limitations when it comes to magic, but with true love, there are none." -The Storybook ride at Disneyland with tour guide Paul 

Saving Mr. Banks (2013) Scene: "Welcome to the Magic Kingdom:)"

Consistent Topic

Disneyland. The magical world where all of your dreams can come true if you wish upon a star. Well, I saw David and Victoria Beckham with their family there today and to be honest, I don't know what to wish for anymore. Perhaps I should wish for my medical credentials or to get married or to move into a beautiful, exclusive home with my son and his father. Maybe I should wish for a new car, van or station wagon so I have enough room to drive small groups of awesome people from place to place comfortably. Instead, I feel happy where I am and that feels good.

I am enjoying motherhood to the fullest and am beginning to allow myself to experience the greatness that comes with being a mom. This greatness for me includes the ability to go to Disneyland on a frequent basis. I've been blessed with the opportunity to write about what I learn and that excites me. I just finished writing a children's story about a kid having conversations with the moon, perhaps I should wish for blessed publications with that. I'm trying to figure out who likes to go to Disneyland more, me, or my son. Only time will tell and we will learn as we go.

Speaking of learning, I found out there is a place called club 33 at Disneyland that is quite exclusive. There is a door outside of the Pirates of the Caribbean exit that apparently only lets people in of their name is on the list. Supposedly the list includes about 400 people and is known to be "the most" exclusive club there is. A friend of my niece said she knocked on the door and the person who answered just gave her a dirty look and closed the door.

We (Ellington and I) enter through at the hands of "the great one". I notice some employees scanning their cards to gain access into a door next to the entrance. I wonder what's behind it. We walk through the entrance and I look to the left at Walt Disney's office above the fire station with the lamp on. We walk further and I admire the diamonds that currently dazzle the Castle's entrance, thinking of a ring I tried on. We stand around the golden spike placed inside the entrance of the castle, marking the center of Disneyland (a total of 160 acres). I am filled with wonder.

Let the adventures continue, even if the weather might be a bit "temperamental". Suzie Sateri

"RISE UP" SPECIAL OLYMPICS WORLD GAMES CLOSING CEREMONY FILM

Sweet Light

Rare bird fly Basque in moments of laughter Ride the waves with wide wings Spread your toes out in the sand Love the light all you can Soak up the good life Feel freedom in your bones like a skeleton brought to life Suzie Sateri

Golden Ear Rings

When you've hurt the people you love.. That's when pain is experienced with loneliness... 007. Time to fly. Higher perspective for perfect vision. What is perfect vision? Diamond all broken on the inside from the day you left. You wanted a perfect diamond so you let me burn. You see, those feathers gave me wings to carry this message for you to hear. The ring you got for me, still sitting in your pocket until I can forgive myself for falling apart. 

Written by: Suzie Sateri 

Stay

Remember that Christmas I'm still fighting those demons. Your absence makes my presence a jagged pill. You wonder what's happening when I'm acting like the devil forgetting the pain that created that wound. Recognizing the wound is the first step to mending it. Baby steps are small and wobbly like a spaghetti noodle. Crawling is better sometimes. Closer to the ground so falling won't hurt so bad. Time to break out of these walls I've built around myself. Blocking you out only blocks me in. Time to break down these walls I've built between you and me. 

Written by: Suzie Sateri 

For Today Every Day

Know that you're loved.

110 Years Old

When you turn 110 years old you feel like...

Different Languages

When you're going through a tough time... Keep going. Things will get better. 

Glimpses of You

He makes noises until I turn away from my deep stare into space and look upon his face. I smile with more than just my eyes. He smiles back at me with his whole heart and I catch glimpses of you. 

By: Suzie Sateri 

My Favorite Blog

Baby Ellington Composition

Baby Einstein World Of Colors

You're Beautiful

A voice, familiar and comforting can evoke powerful emotions that inspire greatness, providing light where there is darkness.

Nirvana - Sam Smith (cover)

Lay Me Down - Sam Smith | Acoustic Cover by Sorah Yang

Lemon Balm

Data via WebMD

Anise

Data via WebMD 

Nasturtium

Data via WebMD

Celosia

Data via Wikipedia 

Pampers Swaddlers

The diapers that I like thus far are Pampers Swaddlers. The Pampers Swaddlers have a yellow line in the center of the diaper that turns blue when the baby urinates. 

Kirkland Baby Wipes

These are the other baby wipes that I really like from Costco. 

Osaki

Lansinoh

I'm a big fan of the breast pads, wipes and cloths by Lansinoh. 

Missing Santa

It's like someone telling you Santa is not real when you still believe. You want to keep believing even though you know there might be a hint of truth. People can dress up like Santa and act like Santa. But who is the real Santa and what is the purpose of having Santa? Regardless of what anyone thinks, it's still fun to get gifts from Santa every Christmas. Necessary? No. I know you may feel like you carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. I know sometimes life doesn't make sense from our own perspective. Once in a while, someone might share their view and give you understanding. Life is like a labyrinth. There is a center you move toward. You start with one brick, then move to another, then another, then another, shedding the weight of the world you carry. When you arrive at the center you find your inner peace. Then, you start moving back out into the world with the inner peace you've found. Step by step, you move forward.

Ellington Loves Kait

Story Time with Kait and Mak

Love Amy's Farm

Amy's Farm

I'm so happy my sister told me about Amy's Farm because the kids and I love to spend time there. 

Eyes of Appreciation

Happy Birthday Dad

I know how you love me because now I know how to love like that I understand when you teach me because it's from the heart I know what you mean to say when you don't say what you mean I understand how it feels to have an open heart I know how my smile must light your day I understand how you could drown in my tears I know I should count my blessings I understand how old you are I love you. Suzie

Meghan Trainor - All About That Bass

First Three Months

Well, my baby is almost three months old now and I have learned a few things. If you are going to give birth at the hospital, you only need a few things. One, a robe and slippers along with items to shower with. After you give birth the hospital provides you with huge pad underwear so you really only need what you're going to wear home. Be prepared to bleed like you had a major period for what feels like one month straight. Maybe even expect major constipation for about a month after as well. You might want to prepare to feel like a stinky old lady for a while but this too shall pass. When your baby starts to breast feed, know that it takes about three days for your milk supply to come in. That's when it starts to feel a bit more natural but for the first three days be prepared to exit your own mind as much as humanly possible. Remember that these days provide the baby with what is referred to as "liquid gold" so it's worth the moments that feel like agony. Once the baby starts latching on and enjoying meals, it is so fun to know that your own body is capable of producing milk like that. "Do the best you can, with what you have, where you are." I was given a gift box of disposable breast pads and I am so thankful. These pads are as helpful as disposable diapers and should be changed almost as much. You don't really need to start using them until after the first three days when your milk actually comes in. Get some storage bags for your breast milk so you have plenty of room in the fridge and freezer for storing the milk (store in fridge for about 24 hours, then move the bag to the freezer). Also, period pads are very necessary because, like I said, it will feel like a major period for weeks. Be prepared to be bothered throughout the days and nights while you're in the hospital. It's for good reasons and will help you to feel grateful when you get home. Epidural for me was in question until I felt the labor pains for an hour straight. After my epidural was administered it was like a whole new experience. My body was still doing the work it takes for labor but I could actually enjoy the process while keeping my mind in a good place. Then, wuala! Your baby is in your arms and you're like, "What do we do now?". Keep an open mind and heart and do what is best for you and your baby. Your baby feeds off of your energy (sometimes literally) so try to be at peace. The first few days we had him in Newborn size diapers and then moved him into size one. The first week or so we washed him with cloths we brought home from the hospital with pure water (place the pure water on cloths and gently wipe). After that, we moved into using regular wipes. Also, A&D was and still is something we use very frequently to keep his diaper area clean and comfortable (gently wipe a bit of A&D ointment on his or her bottom with a clean finger). If wipes are too harsh for the baby skin, try washing his or her bottom... in the sink with fairly warm water. If you have a boy who has been circumcised, once the circumcision heals, make sure you gently pull back the skin on his penis and clean it well (sometimes they build up a sort of residue that can cause an infection if not cleaned). If you have a girl, make sure you are wiping or cleaning her from front to back (sometimes if wiped the other way around, a yeast infection could occur). Be prepared to not do jack for the first three months, then if you actually do something you'll be really happy with yourself. And if you don't, you'll just feel normal. Take pictures and observe the infinite wisdom your baby holds. Try to enjoy every moment as much as possible. Don't be too hard on yourself if you sometimes feel like you're in a monkey cage with a baby monkey and other monkeys trying to throw poop at you. ;) It's normal. Appropriate questions and comments are welcome. Be Blessed, Suzie Sateri

How We Learn

My Mom and I were talking about work and skills and things of the sort. She was saying that if someone goes out of practice they start to lose their skills. So, here I am, working on my writing. To the reader, there might be grammatical errors because I haven't written nearly as much as I'd like to. Regardless of the grammatical errors and things of the sort, I hope I can bring wisdom. When we learn in school, we are asked to correct the paragraphs with mistakes. We are asked to read it looking for error and are taught ways in which we can make corrections. How do we learn if everything is perfect?

My Best

My baby has to have surgery and I've been reluctant to accept that fact. I want him to be perfectly healthy and I can't stand the thought of him having to undergo any kind of procedure that might make him uncomfortable. Today I felt a sort of panic when the surgery date was scheduled. I am already stressing out about it and pretty much don't know what to do with myself. It's difficult to be able to let go of things I can't control, especially when it comes to my baby. I try to stay calm and poised as much as possible in these types of circumstances and situations but I'm dying inside. I have been in denial about him having to have surgery and have been praying his body heals miraculously. Now that the surgery is scheduled for the end of next month, I'm freaking out inside and feel like falling apart when I need to keep it together. It's a procedure that has been done on numerous occasions with a high success rate, so I feel irrational for worrying. I don't really notice when I'm stressing out this bad until I step outside and compare myself to other people. That is when I realize I haven't brushed my hair, plucked my eyebrows or shaved my legs and am wearing a shirt with spit-up on it. In those moments, I am utterly grateful for those who do not pass judgement. It's good to know what it feels like to not be at my best because I can be more empathetic toward others through their ups and downs. Sometimes I wonder when I will ever be back at even close to "my best" or if I will ever get there. Every day I just tell myself to put one foot in front of the other and do what I can with what I have where I am. It's hard for me to understand "my best", now is very different than it used to be. I have every reason to believe, to have faith that everything will be okay. So I hang in there. They say "When you're at the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on." So I let the knot in my throat holding back my tears get a little tighter and I tell myself to stay strong. And my heart is grateful. Suzie Sateri

Grand Prix

So many thoughts racing through my head like the Grand Prix. It's hard to know what to focus on first but the baby helps me with that. At just the right time, when my head starts spinning and I lose my direction, he wakes from his sleeping slumber or his peaceful state and shifts my focus onto him. I feed him and remember to eat and drink water myself. Everything slows down for a few minutes and life seems more bearable. My list of things to do for the day is mostly unattended to but the one or two things I do accomplish I am so grateful for. I have a brand new human life teaching me on a daily basis. I learn what is the most important and how to attend to my daily tasks with grace and ease, knowing I simply can't accomplish all that I want to in the span of one day. I learn that representing others requires a selfless nature. I am learning to let go a bit more and re-learn everything I thought I knew. It is liberating and necessary. He reminds me in his vulnerability that vulnerability is endearing. He reminds me in just being that the essence of people is good. When in the presence of a baby, people want to hold them because they know how they like to be held. People like to hug and kiss him and hold his hand, because they understand the power of an innocent touch. People like to speak words of kindness to him and about him because they know how it feels to love. When he cries and can't communicate nor find relief from his discomfort, frustration sets in. Perhaps this type of frustration stems from feelings of rejection. He reminds me of what it's like to feel human. He helps me to understand and accept parts of humanity that are not friendly in terms of the world, but can be more readily accepted from the eyes of a child. Like the moon shines in darkness and shows up every night, and the sun rises every day, he brings me light. My heart is thankful. Suzie Sateri

Mon Monde

Super Man

Aloe Blacc - "Mama Hold My Hand"

Children's Book