tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19877637Fri, 26 Mar 2010 02:41:33 +0000Get In ... Sit Down ... Hang Onhttp://www.startedbyamouse.com/blogride/noreply@blogger.com (Matt)Blogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19877637.post-5430640620495976612Sat, 14 Jun 2008 04:29:00 +00002008-06-13T21:43:03.511-07:00Dream StalkingKathy, Chelsea and I were walking through Frontierland heading for the restroom when Kathy asked, "Where are they going?" I turned around but didn't see who she was referring to at first. But then I noticed three members of the "Dream Squad" walking in the other direction.Two of them were lugging huge duffel bags so we decided to follow them. I was assuming they had "Dream Ears" http://www.startedbyamouse.com/blogride/2008/06/dream-stalking-kathy-chelsea-and-i-were.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Matt)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19877637.post-6911320178478049366Thu, 24 Apr 2008 03:40:00 +00002008-04-23T21:38:29.607-07:00Not Getting My Panties in a BunchBefore being promoted to writing director at the public relations agency where I work, I was an account manager who had a software company for a client. My job, among other responsibilities, was to serve as a go-between between my client and editors at various publications in an effort to secure editorial placement in said publications.I was contacted by someone http://www.startedbyamouse.com/blogride/2008/04/not-getting-my-panties-in-bunch-before.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Matt)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19877637.post-7545846096611395609Wed, 16 Jan 2008 06:56:00 +00002008-01-15T23:17:30.091-08:00Possibly Published AgainOK, so after I ask where all the good Disney sites have gone, I disappear for a little while.I had no intention on going anywhere but when I have the choice between sleep and posting here, sleep is almost always going to win. And the more I have to make that choice, the more I consider letting the site sleep with the fishes, as it were.But one of the reasons I have such ahttp://www.startedbyamouse.com/blogride/2008/01/possibly-published-again-ok-so-after-i.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Matt)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19877637.post-2835029700471040544Thu, 10 Jan 2008 05:45:00 +00002008-04-13T23:11:42.346-07:00Where Have All the Good Disney Sites Gone?Recently, I looked at my Internet viewing habits and wondered why I wasn't spending as much time on the various Disney-related websites that I used to visit each and every day. There was a time that I simply went from one bookmark to the next reading as much daily information as I could. Certainly, I don't have the time that I once had to dedicate to http://www.startedbyamouse.com/blogride/2008/01/where-have-all-good-disney-sites-gone.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Matt)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19877637.post-3809149486267769278Wed, 09 Jan 2008 06:57:00 +00002008-01-08T23:15:29.402-08:00I Passed the M.A.T.It's strange that just a couple of days ago I mention on this very blog that I still have recurring dreams of working at the Disney Store and now today I've passed a test that will allow me to pursue my "dream job" - that of Chief Magic Official. Haven't heard of this position? Then you must not have seen the press release that was issued today."We're looking for that perfecthttp://www.startedbyamouse.com/blogride/2008/01/i-passed-m.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Matt)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19877637.post-3881207856070673532Mon, 07 Jan 2008 06:56:00 +00002008-01-06T23:39:47.579-08:00Ever, Ever AfterDriving to Kathy's parents' house for our weekly Sunday dinner, we were listening to the soundtrack for Enchanted. After hearing Carrie Underwood's "Ever, Ever After," Kathy asked me if I thought there'd be a sequel to the movie. I told her that I hoped not. My feeling is that when they say or imply at the end of the movie that "they all lived happily ever after" that it shouldhttp://www.startedbyamouse.com/blogride/2008/01/ever-ever-after-driving-to-kathys.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Matt)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19877637.post-4792094968668231141Sun, 06 Jan 2008 07:45:00 +00002008-01-06T00:07:05.195-08:00Baby, It's Cold OutsideAs a cold, winter storm hits Southern California, I do what any native son would do -- I make ice cream. Well, maybe not necessarily ice cream per se but a very close relative -- the Dole Whip. Yum!You see, I love frozen treats. And you may have read about my affliction to the pineappley goodness of a Dole Whip in my "Ode to a Dole Whip" poem I posted earlier this year.http://www.startedbyamouse.com/blogride/2008/01/baby-its-cold-outside-as-cold-winter.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Matt)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19877637.post-1119716475301416441Sat, 05 Jan 2008 05:39:00 +00002008-01-04T22:10:00.879-08:00Disney DreamingWell, yesterday we met up with an old friend that we worked with at the Disney Store and today we met up with an old friend that I worked with at the Disney Store.Our last hurrah before our vacations end, we decided to visit the Glendale Galleria to do some shopping. Glendale is home to the world's first Disney Store and the location of the last Store that I worked for before http://www.startedbyamouse.com/blogride/2008/01/disney-dreaming-well-yesterday-we-met.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Matt)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19877637.post-1618973681916373170Fri, 04 Jan 2008 06:28:00 +00002008-01-03T23:11:33.472-08:00Dinner with an Old FriendTonight, Kathy, Chelsea and I got together with Donna to celebrate birthdays and Christmas by exchanging gifts and going out to dinner. If the old Girl Scout saying, "Make new friends but keep the old; one is silver and the other gold," rings true, then Donna is our most golden joint friend.We met Donna 16 years ago when we hired on at the Disney Store in Northridge, http://www.startedbyamouse.com/blogride/2008/01/dinner-with-old-friend-tonight-kathy.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Matt)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19877637.post-4271511590743967450Thu, 03 Jan 2008 06:14:00 +00002008-01-02T22:54:47.134-08:00That Didn't Take LongWell, it is only the second day of 2008 and we've already taken our first trip to the Disneyland Resort. It was a beautiful Southern California day with temperatures in the 70s, blue skies and wispy clouds. Gotta love our version of winter.Going to Disneyland with Chelsea has changed the way we visit the park. We definitely try to do things that she can enjoy, which has http://www.startedbyamouse.com/blogride/2008/01/that-didnt-take-long-well-it-is-only.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Matt)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19877637.post-7325246348367279919Wed, 02 Jan 2008 07:57:00 +00002008-01-02T00:20:32.218-08:00Happy 2008!I can't believe that it is a new year already! I don't have a clue as to where 2007 went. It was a great year though. As busy as I was taking care of Chelsea as a work-from-home dad, I've treasured the past 365 days I've been able to do it. She has become her own person with a great sense of humor and a truly independent spirit. She is a handful but being a dad has been a great http://www.startedbyamouse.com/blogride/2008/01/happy-2008-i-cant-believe-that-it-is.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Matt)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19877637.post-215385156378801863Sun, 21 Oct 2007 04:52:00 +00002007-10-20T22:18:38.284-07:00The Great Rubber Ducky RaceIt's the little things that make a Disney experience "Disney" for me. And we happened to stumble upon a great one today.At 18 months old, Chelsea isn't content to sit in a stroller all day and ride around when we visit the Disneyland Resort anymore. She wants to get out and participate in what the theme parks have to offer rather than just be a casual observer with anhttp://www.startedbyamouse.com/blogride/2007/10/great-rubber-ducky-race-its-little.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Matt)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19877637.post-4783957122223169588Wed, 17 Oct 2007 20:37:00 +00002007-10-17T14:18:01.077-07:00Disney Announces Significant Expansion Plan For The Disneyland ResortMulti-Year Build-out Plan Includes Major Attractions and a New "Cars Land" at Disney's California AdventureGLENDALE, Calif., October 17, 2007 -- The Walt Disney Company today unveiled a significant multi-year expansion plan for the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim that continues its growth as a multi-day, world-class tourist http://www.startedbyamouse.com/blogride/2007/10/disney-announces-significant-expansion.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Matt)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19877637.post-897984205098904230Fri, 23 Feb 2007 18:14:00 +00002007-02-23T11:06:16.856-08:00We're Back?A recent e-mail sent to me:glad to see that your back-ChuckIn that case, welcome back to the all-new StartedByAMouse.com. OK, welcome back to the same ol' StartedByAMouse.com.Though I've updated the site a few times since pretty much abandoning it in June, this week marks the first time that I've actively posted multiple articles since then. We had a preview of Bridge to Terabithia http://www.startedbyamouse.com/blogride/2007/02/were-back-recent-e-mail-sent-to-me-glad.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Matt)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19877637.post-115333821771105504Wed, 19 Jul 2006 19:43:00 +00002006-07-19T12:43:37.713-07:00Where I've Been and Where We're GoingI got an email yesterday asking what happened to our weekly update of images in our Wallpaper Archives. It was the first message I had received inquiring about this site's status since I began infrequently updating StartedByAMouse.com in the middle of June. I'm not sure whether to take that relative silence as a sign that our readers don't mind waiting for http://www.startedbyamouse.com/blogride/2006/07/where-ive-been-and-where-w_115333821771105504.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Matt)13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19877637.post-114686789676573434Fri, 05 May 2006 21:50:00 +00002007-02-21T08:50:59.493-08:00Buy Low, Sell HighI made $207 today. And I did nothing to earn it. Well, technically I did do something, having invested retirement funds into shares of the Walt Disney Company some months back.The company's stock ended the day at a 52-week high of $29.09, up 69 cents. So my 300 shares earned me -- on paper, anyway -- $207. I'm up $1,100 from when I bought it. Certainly not enough to retire http://www.startedbyamouse.com/blogride/2006/05/buy-low-sell-high-i-made-207-today.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Matt)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19877637.post-114676896961335201Thu, 04 May 2006 18:55:00 +00002006-05-04T11:56:09.626-07:00Winning Television Isn't as Easy as ABCI remember seeing the news conference on TV when Disney announced that it was buying Capital Cities/ABC Inc. for $25.8 billion in 1995. That was a big acquisition and one that showed that the Walt Disney Company was definitely a media giant. Everyone talked synergies and how great a pairing the two companies would be as one.Eleven years later and ABC is http://www.startedbyamouse.com/blogride/2006/05/winning-television-isnt-as-easy-as-abc.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Matt)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19877637.post-114366503975042834Wed, 29 Mar 2006 20:43:00 +00002006-03-29T12:44:14.690-08:00Taking Pictures is Making Memories"Now we shoot whatever we seeNight or day in color photographyCandid shots are barrels of funTaking pictures by the light of the sunSmile, hon, look at the cameraHold your breath and say cheeseAnd with every single shot we take, we are making memoriesMaking memories, making memoriesTaking pictures is making memories" - From the Sherman Brothers' song "Making http://www.startedbyamouse.com/blogride/2006/03/taking-pictures-is-making-memories-now.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Matt)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19877637.post-114263100548803918Fri, 17 Mar 2006 21:29:00 +00002006-03-17T13:30:05.503-08:00I'm Too Excited to Sleep!I have to say that I'm still in love with the TV commercial where the kids are talking about what their upcoming visit to Walt Disney World will be like and mom comes in to tell them that it is time to go to bed. The little boy's reaction is perfect: "We're too excited to sleep!"I understand this feeling perfectly. This was me as a youngster. How can anyone sleep http://www.startedbyamouse.com/blogride/2006/03/im-too-excited-to-sleep-i-have-to-say.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Matt)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19877637.post-114201432228897153Fri, 10 Mar 2006 17:23:00 +00002006-03-10T10:14:52.740-08:00Submit To MeFor those of you who follow our Photo of the Day feature, you may have noticed today's entry from The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh attraction at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom was credited to one of our readers, Lisa Dozier. Likewise, we ran a Photo of the Day on March 3 of Spaceship Earth from 12-year-old reader Victoria. And this closely followed a submission of a http://www.startedbyamouse.com/blogride/2006/03/submit-to-me-for-those-of-you-who.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Matt)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19877637.post-114107664635875990Mon, 27 Feb 2006 21:43:00 +00002006-02-27T13:44:09.556-08:00Disney on TVThe first Disney television program, a special entitled One Hour in Wonderland, aired on Christmas Day in 1950. Disney and TV have had a symbiotic bond ever since.It was ABC that helped a cash-strapped Walt Disney with money to open Disneyland in 1955. In exchange, Walt produced a weekly anthology series and The Mickey Mouse Club. After years of successful broadcast television, thehttp://www.startedbyamouse.com/blogride/2006/02/disney-on-tv-first-disney-television.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Matt)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19877637.post-113994451880977042Tue, 14 Feb 2006 18:20:00 +00002006-02-14T11:18:36.726-08:00StartedByAMouse.com Mail Bag - A Selection of Recent LettersWhen I was the editor in chief of my college newspaper, I was amazed at how many letters we received. The amount of mail was astounding and I suggested to the editor who replaced me that she might want to keep all that she received in a closet and take a picture of the mountain of mail at the end of the semester and write a column about http://www.startedbyamouse.com/blogride/2006/02/startedbyamouse.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Matt)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19877637.post-113950755629201661Thu, 09 Feb 2006 17:38:00 +00002006-02-09T09:54:19.330-08:00How's This For Lucky? Oswald Comes HomeI just read a story from the Associated Press about Al Michaels leaving ABC/ESPN and joining NBC Sports so that he can continue to partner with John Madden in broadcasting primetime football on broadcast TV. Though that news in itself is not necessarily that exciting to a non-football loving Disney fan, an interesting bit of compensation was included in http://www.startedbyamouse.com/blogride/2006/02/hows-this-for-lucky-oswald-comes-home.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Matt)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19877637.post-113942136981863035Wed, 08 Feb 2006 17:13:00 +00002006-02-08T09:56:09.880-08:00Happy 5th Birthday, DCA!The much-maligned younger sibling of Disneyland is celebrating its fifth anniversary today. For some, this is just another day to lament the park's opening. But for me, it represents an interesting point of reflection on the first Disney theme park that I've been able to see open and grow.I've been a vocal supporter of Disney's California Adventure since January 2001. http://www.startedbyamouse.com/blogride/2006/02/happy-5th-birthday-dca-much-maligned.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Matt)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19877637.post-113891512756914313Thu, 02 Feb 2006 20:21:00 +00002006-02-02T13:18:47.606-08:00Do You Want To Know A Secret?In Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, there's a scene right before the song "I'm Wishing" where Snow turns to the forest animals and asks:Do you want to know a secret?Do you promise not to tell?We are standing by a wishing well.It is said that the first two lines inspired John Lennon of the Beatles when he penned, appropriately enough, "Do You Want to Know a Secret?"http://www.startedbyamouse.com/blogride/2006/02/do-you-want-to-know-secret-in-snow.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Matt)0