Cee’s Odd Ball Photo Challenge, Week 43

What? A killer whale being chased by a penguin? No worries. The wild ocean life at SeaWorld Orlando are quite friendly.

Antarctica, SeaWorld Orlando, Florida

 

Sunday Stills, the next challenge: Legs

Fort Wayne Zoo, Indiana

 

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Monochrome Monday: Underworlds

 

Sunday Nature Quote: Sun Roasted Peace

“A good roast of sun, it slows you, lets you relax–and out here if there’s anything wrong, you can see it coming with bags of time to do what’s next. This is the place and the weather for peace, for the cultivation of a friendly mind.”

A L Kennedy

Holland State Park, Michigan

Travel Theme: Minimalist

Superior National Forest, Minnesota

 

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Warmth

I learned in a physical anthropology class that a baby will become accustomed to whatever temperature they lived in for the first six weeks of life. So if you’re born in the middle of winter you’ll prefer colder climates and if you’re first six is during the heat of a southern summer cold climates will be difficult. If we move to another region we can adapt to 15º either way.

I was born in a warm region and grew up in a region that only has a yearly variation in temperature of about 40º. We rarely saw temps lower than 30º and 80º was considered a heat wave. Most of my adult life I lived in Indiana where daily temperature variations can range 40º or more. That will sure mess you up. And yearly variations of 125º or more, are you kidding me??? A year didn’t go by that I didn’t long to move to Florida.

This natural human phenomena was brought to mind while I was visiting with friends this week from New York. We went to swim in their “heated” pool but it was freezing! They just casually enjoy the nice “warm” water. I’ve learned warmth is relative as is cold. I remember the days when the upper 60s felt so good and now I’m looking for my sweater and fuzzy sox. Where’s the afghan and my coat? Oh yah, I didn’t think I needed them anymore since I now live in Florida. Warmth has taken on new meaning.

There was a time when I was on the road that warmth made a big difference in my physical comfort and more so my mental state. I had just spent October in damp cold New England then drove five days to the sunny southwest for another month. The sunny days and dry heat thawed out my body and soul. This is one of my favorite desert spots. I laid on the warm sand and soaked up the sun. The perfect prescription for a soggy and frost-bitten soul.

White Sands National Monument, New Mexico

All degrees are in Fahrenheit

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Cee’s Fun Foto: City Structures

Downtown New Orleans, Louisiana

 

One Word Photo Challenge: Olive

 

 

Cee’s Odd Ball Photo Challenge, Week 42

Amish & technology do mix.

I did a double take when I saw this “Amish” lady talking on a cell phone.

Actually this lady is probably Mennonite, which has less restrictive traditions.

Shipshewana, Indiana

 

 

 

 

Spotlight on a Florida Christmas: SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration

I’ve been going to SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration for years, even before Kai. It’s our must do Christmas activity every year. Here’s a highlight of what you’ll experience.

Here we have several shows: Santa’s Fireside Feast Dinner Show, O Wondrous Night and Shamu Christmas Miracles. (click each picture for full description)

Santa’s Fireside Feast Dinner Show. Enjoy dinner with Santa and Mrs Claus. All the elves are so helpful and Mrs Claus brings everyone a Christmas cookie. After dinner all the children get to meet Santa.

O Wondrous Night. Experience a traditional nativity play from the perspective of the animals.

Shamu Christmas Miracle. Enjoy performances by Shamu and his friends in this special Christmas show

Time to take a break, do some shopping or sit and relax with a nice cup of Crème de Menthe Hot Coco (my favorite) and some seasonal goodies in the Christmas Market. While you’re there enjoy dancing Christmas lights in the Sea of Trees show, listen to whimsical singers having fun with carols and get your photo taken with the local wildlife.

Christmas Market

Local Wildlife

Christmas Market

Whimsy Carolers

The Conductors

Sea of Trees

My favorite is Winter Wonderland on Ice – even though this is my first time to see it all. You need to arrive an hour and a half before the show starts to get a good seat. Years past I was always stuck behind some big piece of concrete or some big head. We got there early, fought with a very active three-year old, and watched the show from wonderful seats. This year they had a great opening act, an amazing acrobat.

What else is there? There’s a miniature train display so large it wouldn’t fit in my home. There’s the Polar Express Experience, a simulator based on the Christmas movie. I’ve been several times but not these past two years. I don’t feel right going without Kai, it’s one of his two favorite movies and he does watch it year round. Hopefully next year he’ll meet the height requirement. Oh, and yes there is snop.

Other activities include Elmo’s Christmas Wish and the Holly Jolly Railway at Shamu’s Happy Harbor. I haven’t been to these…maybe next year.

Finally we come to the end of the night with Holiday Reflections: Fireworks and Fountain Finale. Best viewing is from the Christmas Village.

HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS