You can go to Disneyland (or Disney World) as many times in your life as you can afford. But you can go for the first time only once. And when you do, it's best either to be a child or be with a child. And I was with two of them when we battled the crowds in Anaheim to ride with Dumbo, meet a bevy of princesses, tour the Jungle Cruise, eat overpriced hot dogs (and cotton candy), not to mention meet Mickey and Minnie in all their splendor.

The two tickets above cost a total of $187, for one adult and one 4-year-old (the near-2-year-old was free). After I found a defibrillator, I pulled out my American Express card, gulped and proceeded to hand it over. And a good time was had by all.

After our nine-hour adventure, we were already making plans for next year. Or maybe the year after that. It'll take me that long to pay off my Amex so that I can load it up again.

Thanks, Walt. I know you died relatively young. Now I know why.

CALLING ALL TEENS: The YMCA is having a New Year's Eve party you won't want to miss! Hang out all night long … there'll be swimming, floor hockey, basketball, gym games and Xbox tournaments. Plus movies, food and music — all for you, the teen who knows how to have a good time!

The party runs from 10pm to 7am New Year's Eve, and is for ages 12-18. It's $35 if you're a Program Member and just $25 for Premier Members. (Seriously, Mom and Dad … this one's priceless! They have fun with their friends, you get to be asleep on the couch by 11 without hearing the kids tell you how lame you are for not going out and making a ruckus. Yes!)

For more information, or to register: 747-YMCA or ymcaspokane.org

Whitcoulls is, as it claims, “one of New Zealand's favorite bookstores.” But one of the store's biggest holiday features comes during Christmas, which is usually sunny and warm (December being the middle of the island nation's summer), when the store brings out its giant Santa. People line the city's sidewalks, mostly on busy Queen Street, and click photos of the big bearded guy. During the day we spent in Auckland, I was no different.

Seriously. Dude. What. The. Fudge. I can almost guarantee you every kid in these photos is scarred for life. I can't stop laughing. Oh, that's some holiday magic right there. 

I've been going to the same group of doctors since I was in 9th grade — that's more than 25 years (omg). Sure, the older I get the more often my GP has to outsource me to a specialist, but for the regular aches and pains, the gnarly cold that refuses to relent, the almost-sawed-off finger, I still head to the docs at Spokane Family Health Center. They're a full-service family practice, which means sometimes, when I call with a need-to-get-in-today issue, I get to spend time in a room that belongs to someone who usually treats the under-13 crowd.

On my last visit (during which I was told the aching in my throat was simply the bug du jour and not, in fact, strep) I whiled away the time it took for my tests to process by admiring this little gem of a poster. Seems sweet enough at first blush. A hand-drawn representation of the alphabet. A is for aardvark. I is for iguana … and then things get interesting. N is for narwhal. My doc was impressed that I knew this one … he said most of his patients think it's imaginary. I told him more of his patients need to become familiar with Elf.

Then I noticed X … X is for xerphus.

My doc walked back into the room with the verdict (just gunky, not streppy) and caught me double-checking my spelling of “The X Creature” in the Google search window of my hand-held computer device. “Um, I don't think you're going to find that one … I'm pretty sure it's make-believe.” Said the guy who overlooked U, for unicorn. 

Above: The remains of lunch at the Brooklyn eatery Five Leaves. The food was so good I'd almost finished before I snapped the photo.

More notes from New York: It was just after 2 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon, and my daughter abd I were hungry. As we had been working from her studio/office in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, we decided to walk down the street for some lunch. To a little eatery called Five Leaves.

If that name sounds familiar, it may be because of Heath Ledger. The late Australian actor had planned to open the corner restaurant, which sits on the boundary between Williamsburg and Greenpoint, but died before plans could be finalized. After funds were released from Ledger's estate, two of his friends - who had hatched the idea with Ledger - continued with the Australia-meets-America establishment.

Whatever its origin, the place is an informal setting that boasts an intriguing menu. It was a chilly day, but the sun was out so we sat at a sidewalk table. I ordered a Moroccan Scramble (merguez sausage, scrambled eggs with spiced chickpeas, crushed avocado over grilled sourdough), and Rachel a chopped black kale salad (with spicy anchovy dressing, aged gouda cheese and hazelnuts). And those were two of the more ordinary offerings.

City life isn't for everyone. And to some people, New York City means Manhattan. But the outer boroughs, especially Brooklyn, offer a world of diversity that tourists don't automatically know of.

Like Five Leaves. If you're in the Williamsburg-Greenpoint area, and you're hungry, you should drop in. The ghost of Heath Ledger will thank you.

You need gas. And you want to support our troops. Guess what? Until 4pm this afternoon you can take care of both things at once!

The 92nd Squadron Booster Club from Fairchild will be manning (and womaning) the pumps out at Spoko Fuel in Airway Heights today, pumping gas, washing windows and raising money for their squadron Christmas party. I'm pretty sure these awesome enlisted families could use every extra ounce of Christmas cheer you can spare, so if you're headed out that way, tuck a couple extra bucks in your pocket and drop it in their celebration bucket why don't ya.  

P.S. I realize this is a Navy-themed flag pic, but you have to admit it's pretty cool and it caught your attention, right? Took it at the end of the Navy Pier while we were in Chicago celebrating our boy's graduation from Boot Camp in August. Hooyah!

 

… some generous agencies and businesses in Kootenai County are paying it forward this Thanksgiving.

Here's a message that was shared with us, and we're sharing it with you. If you or someone you know wants to share a Thanksgiving meal with people in your community, you're welcome to attend!

Here's the information. Please share it! There are no prerequisites, no qualifiers. This is just a wonderful way to come together and be thankful.

This has been a year of great economic hardship for many families in Kootenai County. Loss of jobs, loss of homes, and the rising cost of gas, utilities, and groceries has put a strain on all of us.

This year agencies and businesses across Kootenai County have united to “pay it forward” to the residents of Kootenai County by providing Thanksgiving Dinner for our community. Everyone is welcome, there are no prerequisites.

Thanksgiving Dinner will be served free to the public on November 22 at The Fedora Pub and Grille, 1726 W. Kathleen from 11 am to 4 pm.

Come and share Thanksgiving dinner with your community in Kootenai County and “pay it forward” in each other’s lives.

Haunted Houses. Creepy Hallows. Monster Mashes. Ghoulish Games. And candy … lots and lots of candy! If you're searching for some frightful fun, there's plenty for everyone this weekend, right on through Halloween.

You'll be terrified by the possibilities … click here.

The H&M store in the Spokane Valley Mall opens today at noon. Lines have been forming since before sun-up .. the first 100 people in line will get H&M Grand Opening giveaways valued between $10 and $300, and the mall will be giving away 10 $300 H&M gift cards throughout the day!

Although I love a deal, I love my sleep more. I'm sure there'll be plenty of $9.95 deals waiting for me at noon on Sunday. 

When you hear Turkey in the Straw and see that big square van slowly rolling down the street, you're 8-years-old again.

Here's to those simpler times, when all it took to make your world OK was a frozen treat and a shady spot to enjoy every last bite. 

Mark your calendars for the Mobius Grand Opening Street Festival on September 8. The Mobius crew is blocking off the street and filling the day with extreme science shows, hands-on science activities, fun art creations, robotics, food vendors and more! 

Take advantage of guided tours of the NEW 27,000-square-foot Mobius Science Center, and visit the newly renovated Mobius Kids Children's Museum to see their new exhibit, Wattson's World, where you can learn ways to stay safe and conserve energy.

It's a day filled with fun and new discoveries. The new science center bosts 65 different exhibits, some of them one-of-a-kind, all of them amazing (can't wait to check out the digital autopsy table) and sure to instill a desire to learn and grow. Who knew science could be so cool?

The Street Festival happens on Main Avenue, between Lincoln and Post, downtown, from 9am to 6pm. 

You'll find Mobius Science Center at 811 W. Main Ave; Mobius Kids Children's Museum is across the street, in the lower level of River Park Square. 

It's been a long time since I've changed a diaper. But if I had to, I'm sure Babyland Diaper Service would be a good businness to work with. That said, I'm not sure I'm completely comfortable with the pairing of baby and adult the way I saw it yesterday on the way to getting my morning coffee. I'm getting on in years, though, so maybe I'm just having trouble accepting the whole circle-of-life concept..

I grabbed this from the Garland Theater's Facebook update yesterday: While not a fan of redundancy, might we just point out that it is HOT. You can either A: sit in a pool of your own sweat or B: come sit in air conditioned sweetness. Choice is yours…

If you start early (doors open at 9am) you can escape the heat for free for a while, thanks to the Garland's Free Summer Movies!

This week it's Alvin & the Chipmunks Chipwrecked (I've seen it. You will never look at a Lady Gaga tune the same way again.)

August 13-17 it's Rio (haven't seen it, but if this heat keeps up, I will!)

August 20-24 the free movie is Mrs. Popper's Penguin

August 27-31 A Dolphin's Tale is on the screen (isn't Harry Connick Jr in this one???)

The Garland is also showing Battleship and MIB III this week, at various times throughout the day for just $4.50 each show! 

Cool. Seriously.

  

And it's coming to the Valley Mall this fall. This is pretty much the greatest shopping news I've shared all week.