Off Season Fun at the Shore

Good evening everyone and welcome to The Magical Mystery Blog.

Summer is winding down which means the shores will soon be empty of tourists and travelers. Shores like Wildwood, Ocean City, Long Beach Island, and many others often end their summer season around the teens in September. It’s a week after Labor Day, so naturally families will utilize that weekend to squeeze out the very last of summer.

However, just because the summer season comes to a close doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the shore. Here are some things you can do during the off season at the shore.

5. Shop

Take note of the shops. Most shops stay open for a week more after the off season to snag some last summer deals. Usually stores promoting summer wares and food are closed, but others may still remain open. For example, Ocean City NJ has a Christmas shop and a few arcades on the boardwalk that are open year round.

4. Snag Some Sales

Speaking of shops, since it is the off season you can score some great deals. You can get clothes for $10 and under as well as other accessories like purses. Even some arcades that offer a specific point amount for prizes reduce their points as a part of ‘end of summer sale’.

3. Do a Photoshoot

Want to do an uninterrupted photoshoot on the beach? Go during the off season. You’ll still get sun, experience the sand, and be at peace with no gawking onlookers or photo bombers.

2. Get Exercise

While it is good to exercise any time during the year, the shore during the off season is a good place for working out. You can run up and down the boardwalk and/or the sand, you can bike along the boards, do yoga on the beach next to the sound of waves, and don’t have to worry about the crowds getting in your way.

1.Experience the Local Culture

You can always take in the local culture. Each beach town has its own quirks. For example, Long Beach Island is more laid back and quiet as to where Wildwood is a haven for teenagers. While their boardwalk shops may be closed, you can still enjoy the local eateries, the small businesses, and try something new.

Thanks for reading tonight’s entry. If you enjoyed it, feel free to comment, critique, share, and subscribe.

So tell me, do you like to go to the shore during the off season?

Thank You on Memorial Day

Good afternoon everyone and welcome to The Magical Mystery Blog.

What is Memorial Day? Memorial Day is a day off from work, barbeques, mad dashes to the mall to snag those Memorial Day sales, but most importantly, a time to honor those who serve and have served for our nation.

Originally titled ‘Decoration Day’, it was officially declared in General Logan’s General Order No. 11 speech that on the 30^th of every May people would honor those who have fallen in the Civil War. People were to decorate the graves of comrades with flowers, wreaths, and anything of important significance. This proclamation was made on May 5^th, 1868 and May 30^th was chosen because it wasn’t the anniversary of any combat.

On the first ‘Decoration Day’ General Garfield gave a speech at Arlington Cemetery wherein thousands of participants gathered to adorn the graves of over twenty thousand Union and Confederate soldiers.

New York was the first state to officially recognize this holiday in 1873, followed by the other northern states. The South refused to celebrate this day because they had different days for honoring their dead. After World War I, ‘Decoration Day’ changed to honoring all who had passed in any war and not just the Civil War. This holiday was passed through Congress with the National Holiday Act of 1971 which ensured a three day weekend for Federal holidays – Memorial Day included.

To this day, we honor soldiers and loved ones whose lives were lost in battle and for their sacrifice we cannot thank them enough. We honor them for preserving our lives in our nation, we praise them for their dutiful service until the very end of the line, and we thank them with every fiber of gratitude we have. We wear ribbons and red poppies for them and should we ever see them, dead or alive, we should thank them not only today, but for as long as we live. For they have encountered horrors we could never dream of or experience and should be revered with honor and respect.

Thank you for reading today’s entry. If you enjoyed it, feel free to comment, critique, share, and subscribe.

So tell me, what are you doing for Memorial day? 

Cutting the Cord

Good afternoon everyone and welcome to The Magical Mystery Blog.

Most of my readers are adults if not young adolescents blooming into adulthood.  Adulthood is a wonderful time when you realize that the world is harsh, you must do everything you can to survive, take on responsibilities, and complete with a mountain of stress and surprisingly good times. In this new era of your life, you will still have your parents, but at some point you need to cut the umbilical cord. Here’s why.

5.  You’re No Longer a Child

Your parents will always think of you as their child and after a while, it will start to get annoying. You’re in your twenties, your maturity is still growing, your brain is caught between the dying child and the rapidly growing adult you’re trying to be. Some parents realize this, others not so much. You have to tell them where you are in life; inform them that you are not their princess or astronaut. You’re an adult now and you’re going to do what you please. This will be hard to execute especially if you still live at home and your parents cook for you, but regardless, you must make your stand.

4.It’s Your Life, Not Theirs

Since it’s your life you can do whatever you please. You can make pudding at 5 am for no reason, you can stay out late, you can even drink (if you so desire). You will do things they may detest (get a tattoo, go to a club, eat different ethnical food, etc.), but you are doing these things; not them. Yes you will make bad decisions, but bad decisions are all a part of learning, and yes, your parents will try to stray you from them. Take their advice, keep it in the back of your head, do your research before doing anything drastic, and decide what you want to do. It is your life after all.

3. Independence

From doing what you so desire, you will gain independence. Being independent is possibly the best feeling in the world because you can rely on yourself to do what you need to do. Also from independence your anxiety will gradually taper off, your confidence will escalate, your maturity will grow, and you will learn the nature of this world as well as the many kind hearted souls and bitter hearts that inhabit it.  

2. Your Parents Won’t Always Be There

You’ll eventually move out when you can afford a place or they will unfortunately pass on. Tying in with independence, you will also learn how to function when your parents aren’t around.  So must learn how to act on your own without your mother or father holding your hand. In life, the only ones who will hold your hand are your spouse, children, and best friend, but even then they won’t always be there for you. So you have to learn how to hold your hand and lead yourself into the world.

1. You Will Be Your Own Self

If not develop into your own self. Your personality will be different from everyone else’s. You will develop into that wonderful person you want to be and from it you will flourish greatly. Embrace that person and if you want to change that person, then don’t be afraid to do so. Change introduces us to new perspectives, new ideas, new methods, and new experiences. Also don’t worry if you don’t automatically become this new person you so desire to be. It takes time. Days, months, years, it will take time; but don’t worry about it. The more experiences you gain in your life, the more they will contribute into knowing  and becoming who you are.

Thanks for reading today’s entry. If you enjoyed it, feel free to comment, share, and critique.

So tell me, what’s your favorite experience in life so far?

Coca Cola's Vision of America

Good evening everyone and welcome to The Magical Mystery Blog.

With the Superbowl finished (the Seahawks slaughtering the Broncos and taking the trophy (just as The Oatmeal predicted)), people are still abuzz about a few things; namely, the game and the Coca Cola advertisement.  For those of you who didn’t bother to watch the game, here is the Coca Cola commercial that everyone is fighting over:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8iM73E6JP8 – Coca Cola: America, the Beautiful

People have been tweeting Coca Cola no sooner they saw the commercial. Each tweet contained a message of people deeming Coca Cola “un-American” and vowing to never drink their product. Their ultimate reason for this is because that the song America, the Beautiful was sung in eight foreign languages.

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But what is America exactly? Most of us have different definitions of it. America is patriotic, idealistic, the land of opportunity, the home of dreams, and my personal favorite, the ultimate supplier of bacon. Coca Cola envisions America as a diverse melting pot, culminating with races and languages of different nationalities. This theme was seen and heard throughout the ad which featured a homosexual couple roller skating with their daughter, a family dinner, friends engaging in various fun activities such as surfing and watching a movie, and various nationalities joining in on the fun.

Coca Cola’s intent was to “get people talking and thinking about what it means to be American” (Lee, USA Today). While their attempt was promising and understandable, most people thought otherwise. As for myself, I’m not a big fan of Coca Cola for what it does to your body, much like other sodas. However, I believe the commercial was decent and carried out a meaning of America that has been always defined this nation.

America has always been a melting pot that speaks more than one language. The most popular languages spoken in this nation are: English, French, and Spanish. They are languages that have migrated to this country by way of people. Over time, more people have come to this country in search of a new life, and with it, they brought their language regardless if it was Japanese or Italian. So why are we now causing a commotion over something that has been happening for ages with this nation?

Feel free to leave your comments below and as always, feedback and followers are welcomed.

No Love for November

Welcome to another Monday here at The Magical Mystery Blog.

Throughout the year we have months that represent iconic events. October represents Halloween, December represents Christmas, June represents when school is done, and September represents the end of summer and the start of school. However, there are months that are just fillers to make up the calendar, like November. November is the month that blocks us from the merrily bustling month of December, which is mostly known for Christmas and New Year’s.  However, there are some things about November that we should adore; after all it is a month with certain days and traditions we appreciate.

Here’s why we should embrace November:

5) Christmas Decoration Sales

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Wait a minute, that’s a month away! Oh well, that doesn’t stop department stores from having Christmas sales no sooner Halloween is finished. Places like Kohls, Target, and other locations begin their Christmas décor sales at the start of November.  These areas usually cut villages’ prices in half, offer buy one get one free ornament deals, and tons of other bargains.  Why with all these decoration sales, you could have your home decked out for Christmas just before Thanksgiving.  Some stores even have these sales before Halloween. Walmart, for example, always presents their Christmas décor alongside their Halloween costumes at the start of September. The Halloween items are marked at moderate to high prices, while Christmas decorations are featured at low prices.

4) PUMPKIN AND GINGERBREAD/PEPPERMINT EVERYTHING.

The invasion of pumpkin spice everything began in the early days of September. It started with the lattes and coffees and slowly dwindled its way into other treats such as doughnuts, ice cream, and other delicious edibles. There’s still pumpkin spice food available but as November progresses, ginger and peppermint flavored foods will come to light. It will also begin with the lattes and weave its way into other delicacies.

3) Foliage

During this time of the year, the trees turn to gold and create some of the most beautiful landscapes the season has to offer. Photographers, artists, and even writers have been inspired by the lush leaves. It’s a wonderful and inspirational time to go walking through a corridor of gorgeous foliage, to hear the crunch of the leaves beneath your feet, and to go diving into a pile of oranges, yellows, and reds. Even their smell is intoxicating and sparks romance for those who happen to fall in love this season.

2) Black Friday and Cyber Monday

Staying up to 3 am is all right and is something one would do at an excellent party, college, and possibly, on a daily basis.  Staying up to 3 am just to wait for department stores’ doors to open to start Christmas shopping and save some money, is what people tend to do on Black Friday. Black Friday is the day where people tear each other apart for items right after breaking bread with their fellow man.

 

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Listen Grandpa I love you and whatnot but so help me God, if you want the same toaster I do at Sears tomorrow, I will obliterate you with my fists.

Some people have been trampled, murdered, or even severely injured by this all out brawl for savings. Yet it has been ingrained into our society (and possibly other societies) for many, many years. Even some movies and television shows like Jingle All the Way and The Nanny, have treated this day as the 10^th level of Hell. 

Following Black Friday’s chaos is Cyber Monday which is just like Black Friday if you don’t want to fight anyone for savings. It’s also for those who feel like dealing with the mad rush of Black Friday from their homes. However, instead of receiving a blow to the face you may receive a jammed server. When tons of people tend to be on one site at once, the site may freeze up, and break down temporarily; just like tumblr.

1)Thanksgiving

Fall is Fattening Season. October is the start of the fattening, featuring Halloween sweets. November is second in line with Thanksgiving and Christmas is the last month for gaining weight, showcasing holiday treats. But Thanksgiving takes the cake when it comes to gaining weight in the season of Fall and fat. Thanksgiving is a day where we honor two important concepts: a smorgasbord of food ranging from alcohol to stuffings and the day where we tricked Native Americans to being best friends and feasting with them only to take their land. However, it is still a holiday most of us love because it brings everyone closer together. It unites families and friends over a fantastic meal and festive activities. It allows us to break bread with those we haven’t seen in a while and to catch up with everyone. So raise your glass this Thanksgiving and dive into that turkey while associating with those you love.

What’s your favorite thing about November? Feel free to leave your thoughts below and as always, feedback and followers are welcomed. 

Black Cats Prowl on Halloween

Greetings everyone and welcome to The Magical Mystery Blog.

Halloween is represented by many different icons that we've come to know and love. Some of these icons include witches, ghosts, pumpkins, and black cats. The black cat is mostly noted for being a bringer of bad luck. It is also known for being rather adorable.

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Because of their stigma, people tend to treat these cats differently. For starters, they aren’t adopted as much. In movies like Hocus Pocus and horror films, there are black cats everywhere. When people see them interacting with the villains, they automatically associate the creature as evil. This way of thinking is entitled ‘Black Cat Syndrome’. To help black cats find a new home, shelters offer some days where people can adopt them at a cheaper rate, or make it a two for one deal.  

Speaking of adoption, there is a new trend surrounding these particular felines. Around this time of the year, black cats are adopted tremendously. For the cats being taken to a home with a loving family, it’s fantastic.  They’re finally out of the shelter and are able to begin a new life  - or so it seems. No sooner Halloween is over, they are returned to the shelter with the reason of “it didn't work out.” Not only does it diminish the cat’s hope for a new life, it gives them trust issues for the future. People have taken up this horrible habit because they believe having a real black cat for Halloween would be the cat's pajamas. Instead of buying black cat décor, they opt for one at an animal shelter. They take the creature home to fit the Halloween scene and return it no sooner the holiday is finished.

However, there are those who go to the extremes when it comes to black cats. Due to their negative connotation of evil, people will go out of their way to torture these poor animals. Some are sacrificed while others are just tormented because of their stigma. To avoid this and adopting black cats for Halloween, shelters have created various methods for protecting them. They will scrutinize the family, inform them of how to keep their black cat safe around this time of the year, and even postpone adopting black cats for the month of October, if not earlier.

It’s a shame, honestly. In the past these beautiful animals were seen as royalty to the Egyptians, luck to the Scottish, and protection to the sailors. While some are lucky to belong to a loving family, others face the torment of man.  Why anyone would want to harm these adorable creatures is beyond me.

At one point in my life, I was fortunate to own a black cat named Kitty. She came crawling to our door on Halloween and we couldn’t turn her down, not with the possible idea of her being tortured. She lived for a long time as a happy, healthy feline who loved her cat treats. 

May everyone enjoy this Halloween, including your pets. Keep them safe and give them a few suitable treats. 

Toy Story...of Terror!

Hello everyone and welcome to another Halloween themed entry of The Magical Mystery Blog.

This past Wednesday, viewers turned in to Pixar’s first holiday special entitled Toy Story of Terror. It was on ABC at eight o clock and paid tribute to the classic scary movies and horror movie character stereotypes (Ex.: The damsel in distress, the skeptic, the know-it-all, the mentor, and the mysterious thing in the shadows). The narrator was none other than Mr.Pricklepants who predicted the next action of the special. By foreseeing the upcoming scene, he was breaking the fourth wall – a feature I enjoy, if done properly. 

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If my deductions are correct, you are probably reading this blog and anticipating the splendors of Halloween.     

The story begins on a car ride with Bonnie and her mother, while the toys (Woody, Buzz, Jesse, Trixie, Rex, Mr.Pricklepants, and Mr.Potato Head) watch old black and white vampire film in the trunk. During the drive, one of their tires blows out, causing the toys, Bonnie, and her mother to take shelter at a Sleep Well hotel.  As Bonnie and her mother rest, the toys decide to explore the hotel where they encounter the mysterious thing in the shadows. The horrible shady being follows them, stealing them one by one, to a place they are completely unfamiliar with.

At last, the damsel in distress is the only one left who hasn't been taken by the monster. From there on, the story progresses quite swiftly, like a serial killer moving from house to house. The damsel is reunited with her friends and only then, does she discover the true evil of the Sleep Well hotel.

For their very first television special, Pixar did an excellent job encompassing the spirit of Halloween, and the ambiance of horror movies. Using these influences, they created quite a treat for families and children.  I hope this is a special they will continue to air for many Octobers to come because this is just as great as It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. Toy Story of Terror special gets a ten out of ten in my book for great characters, tribute to Halloween, and capturing the essence of horror movies.

What do you think? Did Pixar make a spooktacular television special? Leave your thoughts below and as always, followers and feedback are welcome. 

A Table for the Modern Family

Welcome to yet another end of the week at The Magical Mystery Blog.

I can imagine that most of you enjoy going out on the weekends, possibly venturing out to a bar or a nice restaurant. In eateries everywhere, many customers come and go – teenagers who are on first dates, a group of friends, a parents’ night away from the kids, and families with children.  

Honestly, I love children. They’re new to the world and have clear slates for minds that can be filled with knowledge. Their imaginations are as vast as the ocean, especially at this tender age where they’re exploring everything. Their curiosity knows no bounds because they want to understand life and all its complexities and simplicities.

However, there are times when kids act inappropriately in public such as treating the location like a playground, screaming like they’re on a roller coaster, or overall, just being a pain in the nose. They misbehave and sometimes the parents let them do what they please with the philosophy of,”They’re just children. They don’t know any better.”

Yes, children do not know better. They were not born with instructions on how to act in a restaurant or how to not run around in a department store. But that’s where parents step in and teach them how to act, show them what’s wrong and right to do in public, and discipline them. Or so that’s how it should be.

On September 19^th, 2013 a family was kicked out of a Texas Applebee’s due to their children’s  (ages 1 and 3) disruptive behavior. Apparently their children were sprinting all over the establishment and screaming at guests. To make matters even worse, the parents proceeded to fight in front of the entire restaurant. The manager had received tons of complaints about this particular family and asked them to leave. No sooner they stepped outside Applebees, the county sheriff handed them a criminal trespass slip. The owner of the establishment did not want them in the restaurant anymore due to their behavior. However, he apologized afterwards and offered them a free meal to which they declined.

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The father, Gau, claims that his two boys “act like children. They’re not adults” which is all well and good but it’s a matter of controlling them.  It’s also an issue of handling yourself in public. If you know your children are running amok and causing a ruckus, there is no need to join them. Take them by the hand, instruct them that what they’re doing is wrong, and why. That’s what you’re there for; you’re a parent, a mentor, a teacher. Children look up to their mother and father for guidance on every level from dining out to school help.

While I’m not a parent myself, I hear stories and even see situations like this occur almost every day.  I often compare how my mother and father raised me to other parents' methods. When I was a child, I was taught how to behave in locations. Of course, I wasn't always obedient. I probably misbehaved some in my day. But even so, it’s also common sense; if you have a child it’s your responsibility to take care of them.  You brought them into this world, now you have to raise them.

I believe that what Applebee's did was right because the family was disruptive and ruining the night of other guests. I do not think the restaurant was racist because race has nothing to do with this situation. It was a matter of how they controlled their children and themselves – not the color of their skin. They failed to properly discipline their two sons and themselves and got what they deserved. At first I thought that alerting the police was a bit extreme but then I considered the situation. If you were a restaurant owner with a chaotic family, would you want them to return to your establishment?

What do you think? Was Applebee's right in what they did? Please leave your comments below and as always feedback and followers are welcomed.