I was reading my cybersecurity book and realized I hadn’t written in my journal yet. Not that I even know what I want to write about today. Sometimes I sit down intending to journal and then realize my mind feels oddly blank, like there’s nothing specific demanding attention. Other times, once I start writing, random little things from the day somehow turn into a whole page.

I used the rest of my baguette to make myself a ham sandwich and used the tomatoes we still had leftover from last night. Adding tomatoes makes the sandwich feel a little extra, almost fancier somehow. I don’t normally have tomatoes to put on my sandwiches, so it felt like an upgrade. The baguette made it better, too. There’s something about good bread that makes even a simple sandwich feel like an actual meal instead of just throwing something together because you’re hungry.

Everest seems bored today. She’s just wandering around the house and walking from room to room like she’s searching for something to do. I’d be happy to let her go outside if I knew she wouldn’t escape or disappear on some grand adventure. I can already imagine her deciding she suddenly has important dog business elsewhere.

I’ve mostly been reading my cybersecurity book all day. It’s interesting, and I’m enjoying learning about it, but I’m also hoping I can actually retain all this information. There’s so much to take in, and sometimes I wonder how people manage to keep all of it organized in their heads. I’m planning to quiz myself soon on the things I’ve been reading so I can see what’s sticking. The more I read, the more I realize how much we really do have to stay vigilant online. There are so many ways people can be tricked without even realizing it, which makes taking precautions while browsing the internet, opening emails, or clicking links seem a lot more important than I used to think. The internet can feel so normal and routine that it’s easy to forget there are risks hiding behind everyday actions.

I’m noticing that my phone keeps going off with messages. Ding. Then another one. Ding ding. At this point, my phone isn’t acting like a phone anymore; it’s acting like a hyperactive little sidekick whose only mission is to destroy my concentration. Every few seconds, it’s basically yelling, “HEY! HEY! IMPORTANT THING! LOOK AT ME!” I pick it up thinking maybe it’s something urgent, but no, it’s another message about our upcoming trip to Disney World. And while I do think that is important. I must stay focused.

Everyone is talking about Disney World right now. I want to read every single message because, honestly, I’m excited too. But I’m trying to study, and my brain is currently being pulled in two different directions. One side is saying, Focus. Read the chapter. Be responsible. The other side is already halfway to Florida, wearing mouse ears and carrying a churro.

I’m really excited because I’ve only been to Disneyland and Disneyland Paris before. Disney World is a whole different level. Disneyland feels like a city, while Disney World feels more like its own small country that accidentally became Disney-themed. It’s huge, around 25,000 acres, which is roughly the size of San Francisco. Disney World is so big that if you make one wrong turn, you might emerge three days later in a completely different park with a turkey leg in your hand and no memory of how you got there.

And there are four parks! Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom. Four! Disneyland spoiled me into thinking, Oh yes, a Disney park, I understand this concept. Disney World looked at that and said, “What if…more?” Want castles? Great. Want space travel? Sure. Want world cultures? Absolutely. Want to ride a mountain while screaming? They have options.

I also learned that EPCOT has that giant silver sphere called Spaceship Earth, the one that looks like a decorative golf ball. It’s actually a ride. Disney really looked at a giant geodesic sphere and said, “You know what people should do? Go inside that.”

Animal Kingdom also has the Tree of Life with over 300 animal carvings in it. Over 300! I’ll probably spend ten minutes staring at it, going, “Wait…is that a squirrel? No…that’s a rhino ear.”

So yes, I absolutely want to read all these messages. I want to join in on the excitement, quietly, on my end, and overanalyze every possible ride and snack strategy. But I should really get back to my reading.

While I sit here…listening to my phone go:

Ding.
Ding.
Ding ding ding.

At this point, I think my phone has become my own personal Disney parade.

Reading is not going so good right now. Now, I’m thinking about our trip. There are roughly 1,000+ hidden Mickey ears around Disney World, but nobody knows the exact total. Ok, more Disney stuff:

* Magic Kingdom has underground “tunnels” called Utilidors. They’re actually at ground level; the park itself was built above them so cast members can move around unseen.
* Cinderella Castle looks enormous, but it’s only 189 feet tall. It was intentionally built just under 200 feet to avoid requiring aircraft warning lights on top.
* EPCOT was originally imagined by Walt Disney as an Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. A real city where people would live and test future technologies.
* Spaceship Earth (the giant silver sphere that looks like a golf ball) contains over 11,000 triangular panels.
* Disney’s Animal Kingdom is home to thousands of animals representing hundreds of species, making it both a theme park and a large accredited zoological facility.
* Main Street, U.S.A. uses forced perspective: upper floors are built smaller so buildings look taller than they really are.
* Disney World even has its own fire department, transportation system, and massive behind-the-scenes operations, so it functions a bit like its own mini-city.
* Discovery Island used to be a wildlife attraction that guests could visit by boat. It closed in 1999 and was left largely untouched. For years, people became fascinated by photos of empty buildings being reclaimed by plants, which helped fuel “abandoned Disney” legends.
* River Country was one of Disney’s earliest water parks. It closed permanently in 2001. Images of empty slides and pools became famous online and inspired a lot of creepy stories and internet myths.
* People used to leave ashes in attractions. This is a persistent Disney rumor that has also been acknowledged over the years by former employees: some guests have attempted to scatter cremated remains inside attractions, with stories frequently mentioning rides like the Haunted Mansion. Disney does not allow this and reportedly cleans it up when it happens.
* During rare ride evacuations or park-wide technical issues, guests suddenly see attractions with all the special effects and music turned off. A cheerful fantasy environment can instantly feel eerie when the lighting changes and you see unfinished walls, tracks, and machinery.
* There really was a small airstrip called Lake Buena Vista STOLport in Disney World’s early years. It was intended for short takeoff and landing aircraft. It no longer operates, which has helped generate “hidden airport” stories.
* Long-time visitors sometimes talk about attractions that seem like dreams because they vanished years ago; rides, restaurants, and experiences that disappeared and live mostly through memories and old videos.

My favorite weird one: people often think the castle is huge from photos, but when standing next to it, your brain is being tricked by architecture. Disney uses visual illusions everywhere.

I used to get Disney VHS tapes in the mail and collect Disney snow globes. I still have my snow globes, and I’m surprised they survived all the moves over the years. They’ve traveled from place to place and somehow made it through with only a few chips and small breaks here and there. Considering how fragile they are, it feels kind of impressive that they’re still around.

I don’t have the Disney movies anymore, though. I sometimes wonder what happened to them and where they ended up. Not that I would have much use for them now anyway, since I don’t even own a VCR anymore. It’s strange how things that once felt like such a big part of life can quietly disappear over time.

I used to be much more into Disney than I am now. Back then I collected Disney things and really loved it, but life got in the way and my interests gradually shifted. These days, I think the only Disney items I still have are a few small Mickey Mouse plushies, a Winnie the Pooh watch, and my snow globes. I’m pretty sure the watch doesn’t work anymore. Still, even if some things are broken or worn out, it’s nice having these little pieces left from that time in my life. They feel less like collectibles now and more like memories sitting on a shelf.

I’m going to try to read a bit more and then watch some YouTube before everyone comes home.