Ho Ho Ho.

I know, I know... I'm unforgivably rude.

Mousey Milestones!!

Mickey Mouse is 80!!

The Walt Disney company is celebrating this treasured rodent's birthday in accordance to the anniversary of the release of 'Steamboat Willie'... Mickey's first big role.

Steamboat Willie - 1928 - How sweet is he here?
I just wanna hug his whole face.

Mickey went on to make quite an impression on the world.
Cartoon shorts, movies, books, tv, Mickey Mouse Club, comic strips & books, Disneyland, Disney World, merchandise (a huge category of its own, really), toys, video games, ice capades, music... the list goes on.

Mickey even has a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame - and was the first cartoon character to have one, as it should be. That happened on his 50th birthday - 30 years ago!

Another big role was Fantasia (above), of course- and that is one of my favorites.
(Though I must admit in all honesty, I was rather frightened of the marching broomsticks.

Just a tad freaky.)

Mickey strikes a classic pose.

I'm a HUGE Mickey fan, always have been. I like most of the Disney characters well enough, but Mickey is the cat's meow (bad analogy, I know) for me.
He is sweet, charming, almost always happy, and just plain makes me feel good when I see him.

Who else can say that? (well, maybe the hubby - but he's not raking in billions of dollars every year, now is he? )

And I love that Mickey Mouse voice. Over the years it has been many people, I'm sure, but they all have that specific falsetto sound...
(You're trying to imitate it right now, aren't you?)

Ok, I'm not a fan of Minnie, I'll admit.
Maybe it's just cause I'm jealous and want Mickey all to myself, I don't know.

But they do look too cute in the above pic.

Thanks for all the memories, Mickey - and for making children (and adults!) smile all around the world! You're still my favorite cartoon character, hands down.
Guess I should say thanks to Walt Disney, the man, as well...
Though I think he should be thanking Mickey even more than me!