I learned a great deal during my 10+ years in 4-H. Not only does the pledge still mean a lot to me—"I pledge my head to clearer thinking, my heart to greater loyalty, my hands to larger service, and my health to better living, for my club, my community, my country and my world"—but the skills I developed continue to guide how I approach everything in life, including how I evaluate Disney Vacation Club properties.
Thinking clearly has always been my greatest strength. I try to set emotions aside and look at the logic of situations. I'm fiercely loyal—loyal to my family and those who have earned my trust. There is a flip side to loyalty; those who lose my respect are "done" for me. I avoid them and cut them out of my life, falling back on my logic. Why surround yourself with people who make you sad?
I am a truly "hands-on" person. I enjoy growing my own food, sewing my own clothes, and working hard to provide a greater service to our world. With that, I strive to live a cleaner life. I don't drink, smoke, and I try to avoid eating animals. I do this primarily for health reasons, but I also strive to maintain a smaller environmental footprint. I have downsized our housing.
4-H taught me so many valuable skills.
Leadership developed through my 4-H experience, where I worked my way up through every office, culminating in my role as club president during my junior year of high school. Accounting skills were developed as we had to prepare profit/loss statements for each project—buy a lamb for $20, pay $10 for feed, and sell it for $100, earning a $70 profit. Public speaking improved when we had to give demonstrations, such as teaching an audience how to decorate a cake. I even made my own 5-tier wedding cake!
However, one of the most valuable skills I acquired was the ability to judge. 4-H judging contests provide youth with hands-on learning experiences that enhance their knowledge while developing critical life skills:
Critical thinking - to analyze and evaluate different aspects,
Decision-making - to make informed choices based on evaluation and standards,
Communication - to explain reasoning and improve public speaking skills.
The contest format was simple: four pigs presented, or four heads of lettuce. Each had a number, and we had to rank them and explain why to the judge. Here's an example: I ranked lamb number 3 as the best because it had a straight back, full hindquarters, and alert eyes. Number 4 was next, but didn't seem as healthy as number 3. Number 1's back was dipped and lacked development in chest and hindquarters. Number 2 was last—it seemed sick, thin, and its wool was matted. Thus, I ranked them 3, 4, 1, 2.
4-H members start learning analytical evaluation at an early age. While "judgmental" often carries negative connotations—describing someone who forms harsh, critical opinions without being open-minded—what I learned was different. I developed the ability to be analytical, making informed judgments and rankings based on clear criteria and logical evaluation.
Applying These Skills to Disney Vacation Club
This analytical approach now guides my evaluation of Disney Vacation Club properties. Just like those 4-H judging contests, I evaluate each resort through multiple lenses: location, convenience, room layouts, amenities, transportation options, dining choices, and overall value proposition. I consider both the pros and cons of DVC ownership, helping others make informed decisions about this significant investment.
In my DVC playlist https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXGM_RRzOZ4&list=PLx_8Ja4anZU4oHlsC6u_9OQk-wMbfxf2d - I break down each DVC property with the same methodical approach I learned in 4-H. I don't let Disney magic cloud my judgment—instead, I evaluate each resort's strengths and weaknesses objectively. Whether it's the convenience of staying at Bay Lake Tower with easy monorail access to Magic Kingdom or the potential drawbacks of a resort's distance from the parks, I aim to provide you with a clear and logical analysis.
My DVC Resort Judging Journey Continues as I've been systematically visiting all the DVC resorts to provide firsthand insights. My next stop is Disney's Beach Club Villas in September, and I'm excited to experience this Epcot-area resort firsthand. From the famous Stormalong Bay pool complex to the easy walk to both Epcot and Hollywood Studios, Beach Club has always intrigued me, but I want to see for myself how it measures up against my analytical criteria.
The same skills that helped me rank livestock at county fairs now help me rank Disney resorts. It's about looking beyond the surface magic to understand what really matters: practical considerations, value for your vacation dollar, and which resort truly fits your family's needs.
Ready to Learn More?
If you're considering Disney Vacation Club or just want to see how these properties really stack up, check out myDVC playlist https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXGM_RRzOZ4&list=PLx_8Ja4anZU4oHlsC6u_9OQk-wMbfxf2d
I apply the same analytical approach to each property that 4-H taught me decades ago—because whether you're judging pigs or Disney resorts, clear thinking and honest evaluation never go out of style.
Stay tuned for my Beach Club review coming this fall!
One of things that I’m learning about living in Florida (along with alligators, hurricanes, and bugs) is that the same plants that I have grown for years, do not thrive in Florida. But other plants do. I tried and tried to grow the typical garden favorites; broccoli, corn, and spinach, but they do not do well in our hot humid climate. But these are a few new things I have learned to grow and like to eat – and they are good for me! This is a picture of my granddaughter, Suby who is off the Florida Keys, learning about how wonderful Florida can be for free food. The best food is the food that you grow yourself!
Longevity Spinach (Gynura Procumbens)
This easy to grow plant (just take a clipping and stick in the ground) can help lower levels of cholesterol, blood pressure, and triglycerides in the body. Research shows that along with lowering sugar levels, the ethanol extract of the plant’s leaves has anti-hyperlipidemic effects as well. Another benefit is weight loss, considering the plants fat lowering properties. Longevity spinach has also become famous for its anti-inflammatory effects. It contains many bioactive constituents, alkaloids and steroids. These steroids and alkaloids found in the plant play a vital role in warding off inflammation. Its leaves have a mild taste so they can be crushed and put in smoothies, soups, or teas. I use it as my lettuce in sandwiches or in salads. I am also trying to grow its cousin, Okinawa Spinach, (Gynura crepioides) but the squirrels seem to like that. I bought both plants as little 4” starters on Etsy, but now I have plenty around the yard. Each serving contains about 4.5 grams of protein in a 3.5 ounce serving.
Red Leaf Hibiscus (Hibiscus acetosella)
This one I started from seeds that I got on Etsy. Both the foliage and flowers of 'Panama Red' Hibiscus are edible. Young leaves have a tart, lemony flavor, are rich in vitamin C and thiamin, and may be eaten raw or cooked. Its red foliage also adds color and flavor to salads. It makes a great addition to salads or sandwiches and you can also add it to your smoothies. When it comes to cooking, it is good in stir-fry, soups, or steam it like spinach. What many people like about it, is that it is not losing its nice red color after cooking. Older, tough leaves and calyxes can be used fresh (chopped or crashed), or dried (and crushed), to make a nice herbal tea, that taste quite sour and fruity. Every 100g of leaves of Hibiscus acetosella is providing 42 cal and 2.88g of protein, 67mg of vitamin C and 3409g of beta-carotene. Because of its oxalic acid content its leaves should not be consumed raw in excess, and avoided by persons suffering from urinary stones. Boiling and steaming significantly reduce oxalic acid content.
Papaya (Carica papaya)
My first papaya tree got too large, so I had to remove it. Now I have been growing smaller versions from the seeds of it. They truly grow like weeds if you scoop a handful of seeds from the center and toss them in the ground. I trim them down to keep them growing low, and I use the males in the yard to shade other plants. This year, I got a few females out of the batch of seeds I planted that are ready to fruit. Papayas contain high levels of antioxidants vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E. Diets high in antioxidants may reduce the risk of heart disease. The antioxidants prevent the oxidation of cholesterol. A medium-sized contains about 119 calories. 1.3 grams of protein. 30 grams of carbohydrates. I like to cut it into squares like cantaloupe; sprinkle a little lime and stevia on it and eat as a treat.
Do I miss my crop of corn, spinach, and broccoli? Sure, but some many other things grow well like sweet potatoes (like weeds) and potatoes. I have been transforming my tiny yard that had an ugly palm and 2 woody scrubs and tons of rubber bark, into a tropical oasis with my own organic food!
My brother, Stan was a drug dealer. In high school he was more of a distributor; a good source for weed and speed. I was a customer for weed twice, and unfortunately got some speed as a graduation gift from him to help Laura and me stay awake grad night. It made us both very sick and when I finally went to sleep, I slept most of the next day.
Stan later moved up a step and created a crack/meth lab. My dad eventually got Stan into treatment and disassembled the lab, but the damage to Stan’s health was already done. Stan died of nasal cancer at 62. It is a rare cancer, but some studies show that it can be caused by snorting drugs. The nose was not designed to snort powder.
I inherited two autoimmune diseases; from my dad's side arthritis, and from my mom's side psoriasis. Treatment for these over the years included lots of drugs including tranquillizers, steroids, and photochemotherapy drugs. I also took dozens of supplements to try and get healthy.
Today I only take 2 pills a day; a low dose aspirin in the morning to keep my blood thin to avoid strokes and at night melatonin, a hormone that decreases as we age. Instead of taking dozens of supplements, I decided to get healthy through diet and exercise instead. As a science buff, I do a lot of research on how to get the nutrients I need through food and grow a lot of that in my own organic garden. My latest additions are longevity spinach and Okinawa spinach, a cousin of longevity spinach. The name “Longevity” refers to its health benefits in lowering blood sugar, inflammation, and cholesterol.
In my 40s and 50s, I had packed on an extra 50 pounds from my lean high school weight. I was always slightly underweight growing up, so this was a puzzlement for me to be gaining weight. I first tried various diets; settling on vegan/pescatarian diet to try and avoid the cancer cursing our family. I bought a treadmill desk to try and walk off the pounds, and of course all those supplements. Then I started looking at the science of weight gain and weight loss. The weight gain was simple. I was under a lot of stress and the drug cortisol caused my body to start holding onto my fat. Cortisol in nature is essential for my body's fight or flight response; however, it caused fat storage in my abdomen. This belly fat accumulated and caused far more health issues including my weight gain and inflammation to trigger my autoimmune diseases.
I found four things to lower my belly fat; eating good fats, intermittent fasting, adjusting my metabolism and core strength training. I've gotten 40 of those extra 50 pounds gone; but it did take a few years. I started first with my core strength training since that is best when you have all the extra weight. You might think that "I'll diet and lose some weight so that exercise will be easier" but actually this extra weight is like carrying around free dumbbells all day. Everything you do will be more effective in this phase. I worked with a physical trainer and have a daily routine of planks, chairs, tippy toes, etc. I combined this with yoga for a great core training routine. I've lost 6 inches in my belly and become rather strong. It is great in my gardening to be able to dig and pick up things without getting a sore back. I like being strong. I've already covered in another post the good fats and I'll discuss the metabolism in my next blog. In the meantime, focus on using your extra weight to your advantage!
As I started to "age gracefully," I found myself overweight after struggling to lose even a few pounds. My metabolism had really slowed down when I turned 40. I started worrying when I hit 179 pounds at 45 years old compared to the 129 I had weighed in high school. These extra fifty pounds took a toll on my health; my arthritis and psoriasis were terrible. I was living in dark, damp and dreary Eugene, Oregon. I was under so much stress from my work and other family issues. Food was my only comfort in those tough times. Eventually, I got out of that stressful situation and moved to Florida and by the time I was 60, we had switched to a mostly vegan diet and gotten my weight down into the 160s. But I just couldn’t get rid of those last 30 pounds. I was rather “healthy” with my vegan lifestyle, AND I spent most of my day on a treadmill computer desk or walking out in the sun. How could I not be shedding those last 30 pounds? I found out that my real problem was inflammation, which is what most of us suffer from. It was caused by my genes, diet, and stress. This is the story of my journey.
I inherited psoriasis from my grandpa, and it started when I was seventeen. Boyfriend troubles caused stress in my life, and I started drinking. I remember my grandpa sitting in his chair, scratching. Psoriasis tends to appear on the outside of elbows and knees, the scalp, the lower back, the face, palms and feet. For me, it was almost everywhere! From my dad, I inherited arthritis in my neck, aggravated by my job as a computer programmer and moving that mouse back and forth, clicking and clicking.
The good news is that today, both my arthritis and psoriasis are completely gone – not one spot on me and a free-moving neck! I remember having psoriasis so bad that I couldn’t sleep at night (itching so much that I would have to wear socks on my hands), and once it was covering so much of my body that my dermatologist said I would need to be hospitalized to avoid infection. But today, I am sore-free, with no itching. I wish I had figured out the cure when I was younger, but some of the cure wasn’t possible. I worked in high-stress jobs and later traveled so much that I couldn’t control what I ate. But today, I have already lost 20 of those 30 pounds, and it is coming off without dieting.
Now, this is a lot to do, so I have tried to list it in the order of easiest to most complicated. The thing you are fighting is inflammation. Inflammation is causing you to put on weight, and more importantly, it can cause you to catch COVID-19 more easier and increase your chance of death. Inflammation is your new enemy; weight gain and other ailments, food sensitivity, etc., are merely by-products. Ready to begin? Try this for just the next month and see if it makes a difference. You need to do this for a least a month to cure yourself.
1. The outside you – Organic Coconut oil and NO CHEMICALS. Buy the big tub of coconut oil at Costco or Walmart. It has a natural SPF of 4-5, so lather it on before you go into the sun or outside. Yup, it is messy when it is hot and totally liquid or cold and hard to spread, but I put it on over the area that has wood floors and then rub it into the floor! I have it in smaller plastic containers all around the house. I rub it on after showers and into my hair too. That is the ONLY thing that goes on my skin. Everything else has chemicals that cause inflammation. Sunscreen is bad, bug spray is bad, hairspray is bad, most hand lotion is bad, anti-aging creams are bad, and even the prescriptions that I had paid hundreds for over the years caused inflammation. They are all gon,e and no chemicals touch my skin, nor do I ingest them. More on that later. I also use a more natural detergent and products that we get on Amazon; Grab Green Natural 3 in 1 Laundry Detergent Pods, Free & Clear/Unscented, 60 Loads, Fragrance-Free, Organic Enzyme-Powered, Plant & Mineral-Based. We don’t use fabric sheets; instead I use little wool dryer balls, Smart Sheep 6-Pack XL Premium 100% Wool Dryer Balls. Bounce fabric sheets are filled with chemicals that get on your sheets, towels and clothes then irritate your skin.
No Soap or Shampoo. I use PURA D’OR Scalp Therapy Shampoo – Hydrates & Nourishes Scalp – Scalp Care Shampoo For Itchy Flaky Scalp w/ Tea Tree, Peppermint, Patchouli, Cedarwood. It is my body wash, shampoo and conditioner. I don’t color my hair anymore – that is a big inflammation that spreads through your body and causes cancer. Instead, I use Light Mountain henna hair color, which is time-consuming and messy but has no chemicals. I make my own deodorant and air freshener. Buy a set of plastic spray bottles and essential oils. There are lots of recipes online,e but deodorants, bug sprays and air fresheners go right into you fast and cause inflammation. Yes, don’t have to avoid going outside which you love – that is actually great therapy. We spend 15-20 minutes each day in the sun to get the Vitamin D that we both need, so make sure you do that every day; the earlier, the better. We go out at 9:30AM while it is still cool in Florida and my coconut oil protects me. I am starting to make my own makeup powders, more info on that later.
2. The inside you – Good oils – Coconut oil, Avocado Oil and Olive Oil. Salmon. Now, we need to fix what is going inside you that is causing inflammation. I eliminated two things; bad oils and sugar. I don’t drink, but if you do, the alcohol has to go for now. You might want to consider replacing it with medical marijuana (the kids have this right) – but make sure you don’t smoke it. Any smoke (like your barbeque) causes inflammation. You might want to try CBD gummies first to calm yourself instead. Giving up alcohol wasn’t hard for us; we did that in our 20s but if it is part of your lifestyle and culture, a little tough. If you do get medical marijuana, you can have that when you go out and have a few gummies and soda water with a lemon and still have a nice buzz. Giving up sugar was VERY hard, but I have replaced it with stevia. That is the only artificial sweetener that is okay. The rest are very, very bad, so no more diet sodas unless they are made with stevia. I drink Zevia Root Beer which I order from Amazon or often find it at the grocery store or Target. Removing bad oils is also hard. Most products have bad oil. Even “olive oil butter” or “olive oil chips” are really made with sunflower oil (bad) and have a little olive oil added. I have an air fryer, buy corn tortillas and make my own chips. I eat my own guacamole that I make. I make my own butter spread (start saving all plastic containers.) No animal products except salmon. Yup, becoming vegan was a little too hard, especially when you go out, but everyone always has salmon on the menu. Try to only eat cold water-caught salmon – farmed salmon has chemicals. I buy it canned and make a sort of tuna salad every other day and on the other days, I eat a tofu burrito with lots of guacamole. The goal is to get the good oils in you and the bad oils out. I gained a little weight at first due to #3 next and all the good oil, but yup, I have now lost 20 pounds (although I might say 30 since I lost the first 10 from becoming vegan before 60 and stopping the cheese and Red Vine addiction that I had!) The hateful eight industrial seed oils are Canola, Corn, Cottonseed Soy, Sunflower, Safflower, Grapeseed, and Rice bran. Look at the ingredients of your “healthy foods.” They most likely have these and they are causing inflammation and belly fat.
3. The Mental You. Exercise is the cure. I wish everyone could get rid of the stress in your life. I live a truly stress-free life. We sold our software company, and I’m in year 2 of a 5-year retirement plan. We didn’t make a ton of money, but we now have a monthly income and a reduced lifestyle that requires less income. I have no real human contact with clients anymore (part of the agreement) – that was a real stress builder. If you are a high-stress job and probably can’t retire – your goal is to fix this. Consider downsizing your lifestyle to live with less (what you need instead of what you want) and retire. Use a treadmill desk. Start doing Yoga. When the TV is on, I am normally exercising. It is hard because towards the end of the day when we sit down to watch TV, I can be exhausted, but it is just for a month to see what a difference it makes. I went to a personal trainer and got this routine. Right now, your body is mostly fat. It is merely a part of aging. After 30, we lose our muscles and convert them to fat to prepare us for the “winter” of our lives. This fat, especially belly fat, means elevated cortisol hormone, which means elevated blood sugar, which then raises insulin – the fat storage hormone. So even if you’re still eating the same, your body will hold onto more fat – especially at your waistline. So, getting rid of sugar (alcohol) and exercising are cortisol (the stress hormone) fighters. Every time you are angry, take a walk (if it is hot, jog around in a pool or the kitchen) or start exercising. It works! It gets you away from the stress and has the added benefit of your long-term plan to convert yourself into a lean, mean, fighting machine! Here is the exercise plan designed by personal training before they shut down. The goal is to convert fat to muscle so your body burns more calories per day and then you can either eat more (which I like) or lose weight (almost done with that.) Do not diet – under any circumstances. You need to instead convert fat to muscle and slowly burn the weight off. A 3″ square of muscle weighs more than fat, so you can gain weight at first, but then after 30 days, you normally turn the corner and start losing about 1-2 pounds a month. It is a VERY slow process of weight loss, but it has worked for m,e and I have very little belly fat left and 30 pounds lighter! I massaged my belly every night to make sure my skin tightened back up. I eat a lot – a whole lot. I often go off the “vegan” plan and have a cupcake, fish and chips, steak or fried chicken, but that is now rare, but I do not diet. This Sunday, I will have a pepperoni pizza! But now I really, really enjoy it rather than it being just dinner. When a friend makes something special – it is double special for me to eat!
Exercise plan
A. On the couch or chair, sit down and stand up. It is harder than you think. Don’t use your arms. Start with 12 reps and increase to 20. Then do it many times a day.
B. Using 10-pound barbells, I do 3 different arm strengthening routines; 12 reps each, then increase to 20.
C. I lay flat ahhh….resting, and then doing toe touches where I lift my toe up and then touch it down; 20 for each leg/toe and then 20 together.
D. 20-pointer dogs. Yoga Balance Table, then bring your right hand to touch your left knee. Reverse.
Yoga Balance Table
E. 5 minutes of stepper. Sunny Health & Fitness Mini Stepper with Resistance Bands – from Amazon
F. I also garden for 1 hour and do an 1 or 2 hour on the treadmill, but you might not have room or finances for the treadmill right now. If you can find a corner in the front room for these – the stepper and treadmill, great. We use a treadmill desk, so it’s easier. I have been on the treadmill while writing this, checking Facebook and handling my email, so I’m almost at my 1 hour, and it is almost breakfast time, then gardening. Ah… the life of the semi-retired.
G. WiiFit – I do the yoga and balance game and now I am adding more real yoga into my life. Just starting this, so more info later.
This is a lot to do, but it works. It also helps that it is hot and humid in Florida. Our house is pretty humid; we keep it hotter than most, 80 degrees in the summer since it is 90-100 outside. Running the air and heat dries out the house and you. Our indoor humidity is between 45-50%. You might not be able to do this, but it works for us. I am now allergy, psoriasis and arthritis free and lighter. All were caused by inflammation. We meditate twice a day for 20 minutes (you might call them senior naps), and that is a great time to chat. You and your spouse or significant other might try this; going into the bedroom, shutting the door and meditating for 20 minutes. Sometimes, we just talk, but being in that cool, dark room together and away from the noise can be helpful. We do it at 10AM and 2pm every day. You might just start at 10AM on Sunday. This means de-scheduling your life. Start saying “no” to events. Covid 19 has taught us that lesson; we no longer need to fill our weekends with travel, eating out, and attending events, so try to continue this when things start opening up. Hard when you have family still, but we moved away from all that. When you are at a restaurant, mall, lake or park with friends and family, ask yourself this, “would I rather be home in my dark bedroom, having a nap – or even in my own chair by the TV or pool floating around peacefully or be here – trying to look pretty and be witty?”
