BIG NEWS!

Ack, once again, I am horrible at keeping up with this thing! Why is it so hard to update everyday, like I vowed to do when I started this?!

 Ah well, so big news. I am officially PART TIME at WDW!! Merch, in the BBB!!! I am so completely stoked and so ready to start! Think I'm finished with Attractions for awhile, looking forward to trying something new! And with Merch, I can pick up shifts anywhere, any park (including Pirates League!) Everyone says sorry that I'm not a fairy godmother in training but honestly, I think I'm grateful. The stories I've heard and thinking of touching some of those girls' hair....eh. I'm totally ok with selling the merchandise and OMG I work in the freakin castle!!!! Jason got part time at the League so we will both be here for the holidays! I can hardly believe it. ((now we're kinda rivals, princesses and pirates. lol)) I'm currently applying for another part time job as well, wish more than anything it could be WWOHP ((OMG speaking of! Forgot to add the most magical, epic ending to the HP films! So, me, Clara, and Nikki dressed up (really well) and went to the midnight showing of the final movie, at Universal Citywalk. There were signs everywhere saying stay through the credits for a once in a lifetime opportunity......they came in at the end and announced from 3-5 am, we were getting free admission into WWOHP!!!!! 2500 of us who saw the midnight showing--OMG it was amazing!! We walked onto a red carpet into Hogsmeade, took a butterbeer into the castle--gahh so incredible! We toasted to my new job--it was pretty awesome night!
 So, need to go to bed so I'll continue with this challenge (hope I can finish it before my CP ends! lol)

Day #19: Your least favorite Pixar film
 Ah pretty easy one.....

Yeah i know, I know, Cars 2 has come out and it has Larry the Cableguy and it's such a big franchise but i did not enjoy this movie. Some funny moments, I spose but Owen Wilson's voice drives me crazy and i just thought it was a stupid plotline. That and I like most of the other Pixar movies! So there we have it. 
 Got to go to bed--work in the AM! 

 *faith* trust* and pixie dust
  ((Dreams really do come true!!)) :-D

Days Go By.........

 ah, sigh. welcome back, readers. Not that I expect many to be reading but for those who care about how my life is going, I hope you enjoy/are interested in reading.
 So about 5 1/2 weeks before my College Program ends. It was an unforgettable experience but god I am ready to shake those 2 letters away from my name: CP. I hate the word, as I hate hell, all Disney cast members and thee (not really :-P) But I have an interview for Part Time and hope to God something good comes of it! I am applying for the Pirates League/Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique overall, even Merch. in those two places. Then it's a couple of other random roles, like a merch place in HS, or merch place in MK. or an attraction in HS. So we'll just see what happens. I NEED a job. I have no idea what I'll do if Disney doesn't take me. I can't apply again to Universal for another 90 days (some bullshit I had no idea about when I put in an application for a position I didn't really want!) I'm so ready to be able to stop living paycheck to paycheck. I disappoint my mom every time I call home for more money and to tell her I owe more on the credit card :-( But seriously what do I want to DO?! I don't even know anymore. I always wanted to work for Disney but that's not much of a future. I am looking more and more into theatre teacher for little ones. I dunno. I feel like time is running out though, that I need a game plan STAT. *sigh*
 ah well, on to the challenge! (Maybe I'll actually finish this before my program is up!)
Day #18: Your favorite Pixar film

Hmmm, well as much as I love Toy Story I'd have to say Finding Nemo is my favorite. I love the movie so much, it's such a great storyline and the animation of the ocean is just gorgeous! Being in the Seas, you'd think I would get SO sick of Nemo but on the contrary, I love it and still watch it nonstop (plus I LOOOOVE the musical!) 


 So guess that's about it! Jason and Joshua are in town right now and we are having a blast! I love that I'm able to get them into Disney and share some magic with them! (Just took them to Turtle Talk and the Seas tonight and they loved it!) They leave on the 5th, and I'm determined to work as much as I possibly can after that (everyones hours have been cut back horribly!) 


 Faith*Trust* and *Pixie Dust* everyone! (and happy thoughts!)


 <3<3

THEYRE COMING!

 LOL my title isn't referring to aliens or the Yankees :-P 2 of my best friends from college are coming to visit us for a whole week! I barely have any hours while they are here so I shudder to think what my paycheck will be like :-/ but I'm so super excited to see them again! We have a lot of fun things planned--my first Character Dining, at the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa! And we are HOPEFULLY doing Harry Potter world--maybe it's better that I DON'T go, so I don't spend money on costume pieces I want to wear for the midnight premiere! :-P
  So I wanted to write a little post about my sad lovelife, or lack thereof but I decided not to--too depressing and it's too late (or early) to get into all that.
 So!

Day #17: Your least favorite classic

 Eh, probably Snow White. Even though she IS the character everyone says I look like the most, the movie bugs me and that princess irritates me! (Specially her voice--though I do a great impersonation, lol)  And for gods sakes, who takes an apple from a creepy old lady when they KNOW someone is out to kill them! Jeez :-P 
 But yeah. probably my least favorite. I also wasn't a fan of Black Cauldron, though to be fair, I didn't completely finish it. I like most of the old classics though. Peter Pan, Robin Hood, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, 101 Dalmations, etc. etc. 
 Ooh so sidenote. I started doing something to make my job even more fun and now I'm being called the Mermaid Princess of the Seas. My dream come true!! :-P Now I just want to find some sea shell jewelry I can wear to work so I can really feel like a mermaid. lol! 


 Night all! Til next time-
  *faith* trust* and pixie dust*


 <3<3<3

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes!

Ugh, once again, I've been away for too long. It's taking me 6 months to finish this 30 day Disney challenge! LOL. I guess I haven't wanted to write much lately. I'm getting discouraged and starting to think and reevaluate again. Those age old questions "what am I doing", "how long is this going to last", "will I ever get the dream job", and so on!
 So it's mid June. I've been in Florida for about 5 months now. I like it better than Memphis--I miss my family and my friends and my old job.
 I don't love Florida weather. It's too freaking hot here, I break a sweat going outside to my car for a second.
 I HATE Florida drivers and the tourists aren't much better. I kinda miss Memphis drivers, driving like a bat out of hell :-P
 I love the friends I have met down here. I love the Seas people and management, it really is the best place in Epcot and I think one of the best places, management wise, in the parks!
 I went to a character audition today. Didn't make the cut. Wasn't expecting a princess but at least hoped this 43 lbs I have lost might make a difference. It didn't :-( But a lot of people got cut and they are gorgeous people! So who knows what they were looking for.
 I'm not looking into Universal. I really want to work in the WWOHP (Harry Potter) and I think I would really enjoy it, whatever I work, whether it's the rides or the shops. I'm becoming slightly disenchanted with Disney as a company because I have seen how it operates and I don't love it :-(
 I've been thinking more and more of going to New York. Or Chicago. Maybe doing theatre for youth or even a childrens theatre. I've also been thinking of going back and studying History and becoming a History teacher (ya know Gwynyth Paltrow on Glee?? That's totally how I would be...dressing up and doing the accents and everything, it brings history to life!)
 Ya know what I really want? I want a museum that does reenactments. Anyone seen Night at the Museum 2? Well, at the end, the museum is kept open at night and all of the exhibits come to life and the visitors think they are all reenactments. I would LOVE to do something like that! I wonder if I could find anything like that :-P
 Ooh and 2 of our best friends, Joshua and Jason, are coming to visit us in 2 weeks! I'm super excited! I miss those boys like crazy and I think we are all going to have a blast seeing the city together!
 So anyway, that's my latest update. On to the challenge!
  
Day #16: Your favorite classic


Ok well, since Little Mermaid was in 1989, I don't really consider it a classic. And I have talked about nothing else so I'll pick another movie, lol. 

   Peter Pan! 1953, I love nearly all versions of this movie but I love the animation, music, and the characters! Definitely my favorite classic Disney film of all time. When they start calling Little Mermaid a classic, I'll have to change that statement. Lol. 


 That's about it for now!


 *Faith*Trust* and *Pixie Dust* 
       :-)

ho hum ho hum

So right into it.
Day #15: The first movie you saw.


 Undoubtedly, Little Mermaid. It was released in 1989 and I would have been 2 (almost 3). I do know that my mom had to replace my VHS copy of it because it was so worn out. Twice. :-) It was and still is the best movie of all time!


 Yep, so that's it. Night folks


 :-)

Baaaack! and Sick!

Ok so I promised to update more often and have not held to that promise so far :-P Work has been crazy and my family was here last week visiting me. So now I'm missing them plus I'm sick. (not just family sick...I'm not home sick cause I don't miss memphis but i miss my friends and family!) So I had an awesome time with my family! It was everyone's first trip to Disney! We went to MK on Tuesday and Animal Kingdom and Epcot on Thursday. It was so amazing showing them where I worked and they all loved Turtle Talk. We watched Wishes together--it was just an incredible week. I miss my mom sooooooooooooooooo much. She is my best friend and I know I have to have my independence and all that but god do I miss her! I am planning a visit home in September so I can't wait for that.
 Well it's already May. 3 more months of my program and hopefully I will be here at Disney part time. Or maybe Universal. Who knows. Maybe both! :-D
 I'm sick again. Finally went to the doc and got an antibiotic. I have severe sinusitis, which is what Jason had last time we were sick. I got it this time. Ugh. How do teachers defend themselves against all the germs from working with kids?!
 Ok so I am more tired than I thought so on to Day Day #14 (almost finished!) : Your favorite kiss

Ok this is a toughie! I mean the Disney Kiss is....well, it's everything in the movies. There's the classic kisses, then there's the more modern Disney movies--I mean I honestly don't know! Snow White's kiss from her prince was pretty amazing, I mean it brought her back to life! And Phillip's kiss woke up Sleeping Beauty/Briar Rose. "True Love's Kiss". ha, is there such a thing?! Oh god, this is heading into a rant I wasn't planning on. I think I would have to say when Eric twirls Ariel around and kisses her and then the scene changes into their wedding. But I also love Tiana's and Naveen's kiss that breaks the spell and the dialogue "you just kissed yourself a princess". "and I'm about to do it again"  :-D 
 I'm a sucker for the disney kiss. It's classic. It's epic. It's magical. 


 And on that note, good night! :-)

 <3

Finally back!!

Sorry guys, know it's been awhile since my last post. A) I've been really busy with extra hours and B) I haven't really had anything to say. Scratch that, I haven't wanted to say what was on my mind. But writing it all down has always helped me out a great deal. So that's what I'm doing here now.
 So I have a confession. I am getting burned out :-( never thought it would happen, but it's not just me. I mean I talk to the other CPs and we are working 10, 11, 12 hour shifts every day! It's too much and we are getting burned out too fast. Jason says I have to find ways of making magical moments for myself as well as the guests. But I try to do that everyday.
 (btw I did receive another Guest Fanatic Card! My manager was out by me while I was working greeter and I got the age old question--how many Mickey Mouses are there? Answer. Just one. The guest kept asking and asking and the answer never changes. So I was given a card for preserving the magic. A magical moment for me, I must add :-D Don't get me wrong. I LOVE my job, love what I do, love the people and the management! But I don't love the pay and I don't love the long hours. We are losing 4 more people at the Seas soon and I don't know HOW we are going to stay afloat (haha!) We are so short staffed as it is.
 I have 4 more months of this! I wish I had just done my program until May. I would be applying for part time positions right now and would be making more money and not going insane with crazy hours. My mom is coming for a week and I have most of those days off so that will be really great for me. Plus I miss her like crazy. I don't miss Memphis. But I miss my family and my friends and my dog and my old job at the museum (and the pay!) and hate Florida weather and bugs and drivers! Ok so after nearly 4 months down here, I think I can complain now :-P It's just really hard to look past August and see a bright future with this company that I am SO in love with. It's scary, I have had my heart set on coming to Orlando and making a future here and now I am daydreaming of other places, perhaps Disneyland in Cali. Or somewhere else.
 *sigh*
 I guess another frustration is my weight. I have lost nearly 30 lbs since moving down here. It's not happening fast enough for me. Now I accepted years ago I don't have the look or face for a princess. But    I AM hoping to be friends with someone else (particularly one of Cindy's stepsisters!) All of the performers I see are skinny and beautiful and seriously, when is it my turn? I realize I have to work my way up to it all and just be patient but WHEN??!
.....yeah, I am like Ariel.
"When's it my turn? Wouldn't I love, love to explore that shore up above ((entertainment)) out of the sea ((ha!)) wish I could be, part of that world."
.....Well, anyway! Jason and I are going to try to go into Casting soon and see if we can get a straight answer when would be the best time to apply for full time. I am hoping very much to work Merch for Pirates League or the BBB. I figure I might have a chance to work my way up in the BBB if I start out in Merch. Jason really wants me to work in the Pirates League. We could have SO much fun together (and merch and pirate masters really dont see each other all that often) plus the hours! They close at like 5! If I wanted to, I could work evenings at the Seas and not be doing the same thing everyday. I just think more possibilities might open up if I'm not working 11 hours everyday :-P So please wish me luck. I don't know what the future holds for me but I would love the promise of a brighter future because I am getting so exhausted, mentally and physically with what I'm doing. I understand it is because I am a CP. So I really cannot say anything, I knew what I was signing up for. Apparently many other CPs didn't. :-P
 
 So, back to the challenge! Day #13: Your least favorite song
   Oh this one is too easy for me! "You've got a friend in me" from Toy Story. I HATE that song! And it's so much worse because Epcot plays it every damn day I go into work!! Randy Newman cannot sing and I think he sucks compared to Alan Menken! (Still pissed Tangled lost to Toy Story soundtracks at the Oscars) but I cannot listen to it, not for one second. UGH.
 yeah so that was probably the easiest question for me on this challenge. LOL 
  
 Oh another thing...I miss theatre. SOOOOOOOOOO much. I wish I had the time to be in a play, or go see a play, or even had the chance to go to a workshop of some kind. (ooooh don't get me started on that one!) But I miss being on the stage so freakin much. I hope to be able to audition for Candlelight Processional (Disney's Christmas Chorus kinda thing, it's so beautiful!) I know I still wanna be here at Christmas time (well I know I will, I mean our lease isn't up til January) but again, I hope I'll still be loving whatever it is I am doing. 


 I didn't mean for this to end up a rant post but I guess it did a bit. The magic is still alive for me. Always has been, always will be. Jason and I are going to the beach on Sunday! Yayy! 


 Til next time readers, *faith*trust* and pixie dust!  
 <3

Yayy for time off!

 So I had today and tomorrow off. It's been really nice and no, I haven't just been lazing around the house....much :-P I was actually very productive today. Got the apartment nice and clean (Jason's parents are coming into town and we want it to look nice :-) got the dishes cleaned and put away, laundry done, vacuumed and scrubbed counters, went grocery shopping, the whole she-bang! Yayy for being productive
 :-)

So we're on Day 12! Day #12: Your favorite villain song


 Hmmm, again the music questions are hard cause I practically love every Disney song ever! I loved "Friends on the Other Side" (Princess and the Frog, Dr. Facilier) and of course the Mob Song in Beauty and the Beast (not exactly Gaston's solo but definitely a villainous song!) I LOVE "Hellfire" (Hunchback of Notre Dame, Frollo) such a chilling song! But I'm gunna go back to my whole favorite tie of villains and say my favorite villain songs are "Poor Unfortunate Souls" (Little Mermaid, Ursula) AND "Mother Knows Best: Reprise" (Tangled, Mother Gothel) ((ooh gahh i love her "ooh, i see how it is!" part!)) 


 so in honor of my 2 favorite villain songs....

((fun fact: the heart with the crown is my tattoo! I decided on it when I was 8 and my mom paid for it for my 20th birthday! It says "dream" inside it for "All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them")) :-D

Yes the wanted thief, I'm so proud! 

:-D

So yeah, Day 12! Now I'm off to bed! One more day off and then it's back to work! Still working long shifts but at least the paychecks are pretty nice. 

<3<3<3

repeat!

 Ok just  posting this so I can move onto the next day in my challenge. But today is
Day #11: Your favorite love song


 Well I already answered it. "I see the Light" is my favorite love song of all now. I guess I can say Part of your World Reprise is my favorite Disney song of all time and I See the Light is my fav love song of all time.
 Ok that was a quick post! Going to bed now 


 :-)

uggg....sick.

Well, I've been feeling it coming on for a few days now and I didn't rest up so now I am sick. Again. Jason is much worse off, but he's finally going to the doctor tomorrow. I need a paycheck so I can go buy orange juice and more meds. These next couple of days are going to be LONG ones.
 Just had 2 days off and they were great. Yesterday I went to the beach with Jason and Marissa (Clearwater=GORGEOUS. My favorite now, I can't wait to go back!) and today we went to Epcot to do all of the attractions in Future World I had never done. Things I didn't particularly want to do but needed to to be able to answer guest questions :-P So we rode/saw Universe of Energy, Captain EO, Journey into Imagination, Living with the Land, and Mission: Space. It was a dumb idea to go out when Jason wasn't feeling well--I think the sun with his meds made it much worse :-( But the flower and garden festival is lovely--it was super extremely hot today and I hope it won't be like that the rest of the week! Greeter is my favorite position at work but NOT when it is near 100 degrees outside! Ick.

Well, onto Day #10: Your favorite song.
 I know I have always had ties for these questions and this is definitely another tie. 

I will always remain loyal to the best Disney movie of all time, The Little Mermaid. Part of your World Reprise has always been my favorite song of all time! (And I always performed this song in the bathtub and would soak the floor!) It's such a powerful, beautiful moment. 
 But I also have a new favorite. You probably already know what it is :-)

 Yep, Tangled again. This is my favorite love song of all time! Such a gorgeous song, beautiful lyrics, serious Alan Menken is a genius and it is total bull sh*t that this lost the Oscar to Randy Newman! Ugh. Anyway, not only is the song beautiful but the animation sequence for this was just...stunning! You couldn't ask for a more beautiful love scene. Everything was perfect about this song and this part in the movie! I kinda wished for a reprise at the end :-) 


 Music is such a powerful entity in Disney movies. I personally will always be a Menken/Ashman fan, but I LOVE Menken/Shwartz too. I'm not too big on Randy Newman, save for Princess and the Frog. Did NOT like any of his songs in Toy Story (ugggg I hate "You've Got a Friend In Me".) and if you look at my Ipod, it's all Disney songs and Broadway tunes. Disney music will always be my favorite and I'll be a kid and jam out to it in the car until the day I die :-P I've even decided I'll be walking down the aisle to Ariel's aria (and attempt to find someone who can sound exactly like Jodi Benson. That or I'll play Ariel from the movie! lol) That's how much a nerd I am about Disney :-D


 Ah well, better get to bed I suppose. Til next time, friends and readers!
 *faith* trust* and pixie dust! 
 <3

Making Magic!

So I want to start on the 30 day photo challenge but feel it would be really stupid  to do that before I have finished this challenge :-P so, onward!
Day #9: ((yayy almost halfway through!))
 Your favorite original character (Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, etc.)

Yes it' cliche but Mickey has always been and will always be my favorite! I still get giddy when I see him and he is my boss fer cryin out loud! ;-)  Jason and I went to the closing of ToonTown and Mickey and Minnie were both there and we both just turned into little kids! AND, at my Traditions class, Mickey came in to give us our nametags. It was so freakin awesome to have him welcoming us into the company! ((Plus, we were playing some trivia games where the winner would win a "critter", a little plastic statue of the original characters. There was one left and Mickey wanted to present it, being it was a tiny Mickey Mouse. I answered the question and got the critter and a hug from Mickey. It was extremely magical! I wish I had gotten a picture because I was close to tears. I called Mom afterwards and said "yep, that is why I am here! To have some amazingly magical experiences just like that one!" 

So speaking of magical experiences, I have yet to share some of my incredible stories from the Seas. 

Well, I called my mom up the other day and just told her how much I am loving it here. Sure I have those days where I want to say "screw it, I'm going home"--who doesn't have those days?! But when you see a kid smile, it's all so totally worth it. So I am proud to say I have been a part of some of those magical moments...

So we have these things called Guest Service Fanatic, where if a co-worker (or guest) sees you doing something especially special (going above and beyond...one of our key points at Disney) then they can award you a GSF. Not only does it go on your record card and look really good, you enter it into a drawing for lots of prizes, every week. I've gotten 2 GSF's; the first was right after I started, I was working Greeter (standing outside and welcoming people, occasionally pin trading) and I saw a family sitting on the wall near me. The little boy was about 4 and he went down onto the curb so hard and started crying. I ran over to see if he was ok, asked if he needed medical attention, etc. Well First Aid is clear across the park, poor parents didn't really want to take him there. He only had a little scratch on his head but was crying pretty bad so I recommended some ice from the restaurant around the corner. (They gave him a Mickey Mouse glove with ice in it!) So long story shortened, I was working Greeter later that night when I saw them coming back. I waved to the little guy, asked him how he was doing, and how his head felt. The parents couldn't believe I recognized him and we talked for a little bit before they went inside the building. I got my break a few mins later so I ran upstairs to the breakroom where we keep Mickey stickers. I grabbed one (explained to my co-workers what I was doing as I was looking for the stickers) and ran downstairs to find the kid. Luckily, they were in the loading area waiting for Turtle Talk to start. I gave him the sticker and his face lit up. His parents just thanked me and said "it's people like you who make it worth coming to this place" (that made me nearly cry!) I ran back upstairs to enjoy the rest of my break and the girls presented me with a GSF for going above and beyond and helping a guest. It was a magical moment for me :-D

My next magical moment was in Turtle Talk. We get a lot of special needs children, Make A Wish children, etc. It is incredible to see those kids smiling the most incredible thing ever. So I was hosting Turtle Talk and there is a little boy who is in a rolling bed with a tube. Can hardly speak but he looks so excited to talk to Crush. Crush will usually see children off to the side in wheelchairs or something and call on them first. He picked Reese first and talked to him for a minute, then went onto the other kids. Well long story shortened, I was working the show a few days later and Reese and his family had come back. It was their last day and Reese wanted to see Crush again. Crush recognized him and said "Hey I know that kid! It's Reese! Hi Reese!" and Reese just laughed and giggled and was smiling the whole time. His mother was in tears, it was so fantastic. She came up to me afterwards and was thanking me and told me to thank everyone involved. "This has been the most amazing experience of his life, thanks to Disney cast members." 

:-D

Disney might just be a tourist spot for most but we make magic here! And I am a part of that magic now. 

Hope my friends back home read this cause this is mainly for you...so you can see how happy I am, making dreams come true everyday

:-D

til next time, *faith*trust*and pixie dust!

<3<3<3

Should be in bed!

I don't know why I have to update this thing so late at night :-P But ah well! Honestly I don't really have any new news for yall so I'll just do my Day 8 :-)


 Day 8: Favorite Villain

and the winner is: Mother Gothel from Tangled.
 Gahh I wanna play this bitch one day! She is so freakin awesome. Not many people like her because she has no powers but she is SO manipulative and so deceitful, ya gotta wonder WHAT is going through her head. And the fact that she can trick this young woman into staying with her, loving her even, it's just fantastic. But since I am oh so loyal to my villains, I will name my close 2nd....

Ursula! One freakin awesome sea-witch. She was ALWAYS my favorite villain, the way she was so manipulative plus powers! She kicks ass! I would LOVE to play her in the musical one day! (Gothel too!)

 So there ya have it, my villains. I do love the classic ones like Maleficent and Lady Tremaine (what a bitch!) but these are my faves. And I would give anything to be friends with a stepsister...they get to have so much fun! 

Guess that's all for this post. Love!

<3

Day 7....Man I am SO behind on this thing...

 I've said it before, I'll say it again. SO glad this is not anything to do with diet or something vitally important. Life has gotten so busy, I find on days I have off, I sleep in a few extra hours then spend the day getting things done and possibly playing in a park with Jason. The hours are ridiculous, but the paychecks are getting better and I'm getting more experience and more time to network with people. I definitely still want to stay on part time after my program...might even be able to stay in the Seas, which btw, is amazing. A couple of fun facts:
 The Seas has an aquarium that is the 2nd largest in the country! We have dolphins, sharks, sea turtles, manatees, and lots and lots of fish!
 I get to talk to a "totally cool" sea turtle every day (Turtle Talk with Crush, I host the show) 
 I get to see guests from all over the world and most of the time I get to actually chat with them for a time. I also do some pin trading in 2 of the positions, so I get to interact with the kids. Sure, it's not the BBB or Pirates League but it's something! 
The Seas is an incredible family. I have heard not all the places in Disney are like this but we are tight knit and have gotten very close. And it's only March! I am here at least until August! 
Finding Nemo is my favorite Pixar film, I think. I have not gotten burned out in the slightest and still love being able to say "just keep swimming" all of the time :-)


  So, that's my brief update. Still love the job, still love the city (though I miss my family terribly! My mom is coming to see me in May and I am planning a trip home in September, along with Jason, to see his nephew's 1st birthday) 
 Since I haven't updated in awhile, a lot of fun things have come to pass! My best friend's birthday, for example. I won't reveal his age because he does not look it AT ALL and definitely doesn't act it :-P but I think he had a good time. I was proud of my gifts (I usually get him some great gifts. After all, I freakin brought him to Disney with park hoppers for his b-day last year!) Anyway, I got him a Peter Pan musical figurine from MouseGear; he wants to start pin collecting so I found him an original, 1953 Peter Pan pin, which he loooooooved; AND I designed and ordered a Peter Pan keychain. All in all, it was a great night and he had a good time. Now if the casting dept. could see they have a perfect Peter Pan right in front of them, it will be an incredible year! :-) 


 Ooh speaking of casting, I've decided the next audition I am eligible for, I will be attending! I lost 13 more pounds, making my total since I have gotten down here, 26 pounds. I feel great and can definitely tell the difference. 




 Oh almost forgot! Today is Day #7: Your favorite sidekick

 Hmm, gotta think about this for a moment. I LOVE Pascal. He is such a cutie and I love the animation that went with him. Plus his loyalty! 
 The other is a tie.

 Mushu from Mulan. C'mon, Eddie Murphy voices him and he is an awesome character, no matter how much he screws up :-P

Aaaaaaand, the Genie from Aladdin. Ok besides the fact that he is voiced by Robin Williams, he is one of the most loyal (and oldest) sidekicks ever! I love Aladdin and the Genie working together, they are awesome ((I still love the animated series with their adventures! Yeah Abu and Iago are great but Genie, I think, rocks!))


 Well there's my day 7. I'll try not to wait til next month before I post Day 8 :-P 


 Hope everyone has a great day/night...thankfully I am going in for a later shift tomorrow, still closing though. 


Til next time, *faith* trust* and *pixie dust*

Now I've had the time of my life.......

Alrighty I'm only on Day 6 :-P Oh well, least I'm sticking to it. haha!
 So Day 6: Your favorite animal

 Hmm...I think once again this one is a tie. Favorite animals are:

             Dory from Finding Nemo. favorite quotes:
"sea monkey has my money."
"Yes I'm a natural blue."
"Wow, I wish I could speak whale."
"A game, ooh I love games, pick me!"
 aaand the winnner: "I shall call him Squishy and he shall be mine, and he shall be my Squishy"

 aaand

Nala from Lion King

favorite quotes:

"pinned ya again"

"why won't he be the king I know he is, the king I see inside"

So yeah, those are my Disney picks for today's challenge.

So work. Yeah, it's going well. I'm freakin exhausted because apparently CP= closing person. I am getting 10 hour shifts everyday now and I am closing nearly every night. So tired but loving it so dang much. And I still love going to the parks on my day off. Finally met Flynn and Rapunzel yesterday. WHOA, Flynn was hot. :-D I'm ready to see Tangled again! lol

So I had this whole big story I wanted to tell about how I made a difference today but now I'm so tired. haha. so I guess I'll save that for tomorrow's post.

til next time,

 *faith* trust* and pixie dust

:-)

Day 5: Ohhhh Flynn....

 Ok, so Day 5 is yet another repeat: Your favorite hero. I have already oohed and aaahed over Flynn Rider.  Read the previous post. It's all in there. Flynn made the ultimate sacrifice for Rapunzel's freedom. That is a hero in my eyes and he is definitely my favorite.

Ohh and I love this pic/part of the movie. And also... "Rapunzel, you were my new dream"

Gahhhhh I MELTED on those words.

So anyway, yes you now know my odd obsession with Disney animated characters. Moving on!

So tomorrow is Valentines Day. Shoot me through the heart right now please. This has always been a day I'm not exactly fond of....I really love Iris's opening quote from the movie "The Holiday". Here it is for those who don't know what I'm referring to:

I've found almost everything ever written about love to be true. Shakespeare said "Journeys end in lovers meeting." What an extraordinary thought. Personally, I have not experienced anything remotely close to that, but I am more than willing to believe Shakespeare had. I suppose I think about love more than anyone really should. I am constantly amazed by its sheer power to alter and define our lives. It was Shakespeare who also said "love is blind". Now that is something I know to be true. For some quite inexplicably, love fades; for others love is simply lost. But then of course love can also be found, even if just for the night. And then, there's another kind of love: the cruelest kind. The one that almost kills its victims. Its called unrequited love. Of that I am an expert. Most love stories are about people who fall in love with each other. But what about the rest of us? What about our stories, those of us who fall in love alone? We are the victims of the one sided affair. We are the cursed of the loved ones. We are the unloved ones, the walking wounded. The handicapped without the advantage of a great parking space! Yes, you are looking at one such individual. And I have willingly loved that man for over three miserable years! The absolute worst years of my life! The worst Christmas', the worst Birthday's, New Years Eve's brought in by tears and valium. These years that I have been in love have been the darkest days of my life. All because I've been cursed by being in love with a man who does not and will not love me back. Oh god, just the sight of him! Heart pounding! Throat thickening! Absolutely can't swallow! All the usual symptoms. 

Not going to get into all of the past relationships here, don't worry. I won't be one of those girls who whines about everything that went wrong, every year on Valentines Day. So, just take that quote and understand it pertains to my life very well. Moving on! 

That's really it, to be honest. Will try to update more. My work schedule right now is kinda crazy...working 9,10, and 11 hour shifts every day. Today was my first day off in awhile (not counting the early release I got the other day to get better) It was nice to just relax. Next time Jason and I are both off, we plan to take a picnic on the beach. :-D 

Off to bed! Gotta be at work early tomorrow and working a 9 hour day, then coming home to the best friend and drowning our single sorrows in chocolate  :-D

til next time, faith*trust* and pixie dust! 

Living the Life!

 *lays in bed and relaxes. Deeeeeeeeeep sigh* It feels so good to relax for a few. I have 2 days off before my assessment. I'm super nervous so I will spend most of my Saturday morning going over notes. I feel ok with the Turtle Talk with Crush attraction...the spiel is a relatively easy one to do and as long as I am listening to Crush talking, I am fine. It's the ride that I worry about.
 But I LOVE it. The Seas is the most amazing building ever! I didn't think I would like EPCOT much because, well, it's more intellectual and MK is for the kids, where the magic happens...thats where I wanted to be. But The Seas is for kids and is pretty magical so it feels like a piece of MK in EPCOT :-D
 The Seas is also the 2nd largest aquarium in the country. We have 4 dolphins, 2 manatees, several sharks, and LOTS and LOTS of fish! The Main Enviornment is one of my favorite rooms because I can go in there before the guests start arriving and sit against the class and feel like I'm a part of the sea. It's so peaceful and so beautiful.
 Bonus, Jason and I are getting off work at similar times so we have been playing in the parks at night. It's kinda amazing to say "hey, I'm bored. Wanna go watch fireworks at MK? Or wanna go ride some roller coasters in Animal Kingdom?" it's pretty freakin cool. I only wish I had some money right now cause I'm dying to go back to HP!! I got my first paycheck today! Not very big but I didn't work much last week. This week was training and next week I start picking up real shifts.
 So, getting back to the 30 day challenge.... Day 4 (hahahah I'm so off on this) would be: Your favorite Prince.
 Well, I definitely have a favorite....and then a 2 other princes who are kinda tied with each other. So here are my Disney men!
 ((kinda funny cause only one of them is a prince by birth!))


 Number one: Flynn Rider, or Eugene Fitzherbert

 Ummmm where to start with Flynn??! He's gorgeous, I love the name, he's an awesome character and he made the ULTIMATE sacrifice for his love! Yeah, the princes have all rescued their damsels but not like this! I bawled like a baby in the movie theatre! His lines are classic, and his facial expressions are priceless. He reminds me of my ex (umm lemme rephrase that. He reminds me of the good qualities my ex used to have!) But Flynn is definitely my favorite prince and favorite male character now. Flynn beat Naveen, who is next :-)

   Prince Naveen of Maldonia! OOOmg, gorgeous man...a cross between Aladdin and Eric. (no seriously, study his animation sometime. They took drawings of them both and combined the two) Naveen is an awesome character....and falls in love after getting to know her, as Flynn and the Beast did.  He loves music and even though he is a bit of a wild card, Tiana calms him down and he becomes a total sweetheart ((the proposal scene was like the cutest ever!))  So Naveen used to be favorite, now he is a close 2nd :-)

And last but not least, Aladdin! Another thief falls in love with a princess and becomes a prince later on. But Aladdin is really a sweet guy. He was my favorite prince growing up (beside Prince Eric but I guess I can only say 3. If I could say 4, Eric would be on that list too :-)

Anyway, those are my Disney men! Can I meet my guy who is a combination of all 3? LOL. 

 Ok I'm really exhausted so I'm hitting the bed! Thanks everyone for keeping up to date and have a magical weekend!

Til next time, *faith*trust* and *pixie dust*

real quick update

 OMG I know people who care about my blog are like "why haven't you posted, you started work!" so I apologize :-) It's been a crazy couple of days. Traditions, Discovery Day at Epcot, training, training, training, training.....oh and some more training, look at that :-P

 I am officially a part of the Disney Epcot team!! I am working at The Seas, the Finding Nemo attraction and the Turtle Talk show. It's AMAZING. I seriously think this is the best place for me, other than MK. And I am EXTREMELY lucky and grateful and very very lucky. Basically it went down like this. Got my assignment. It was Mission:Space. Those who know me, know I Hate Space. I was really bummed and saw a friend of mine was bummed too. He got Nemo. I requested Nemo when I found out I was probably getting EPCOT. Long story short, we went everywhere and were switched. We're apparently the first people ever to do that and it's kinda opened a can of worms, which I'm sorry for but I couldn't be happier about where I am. And it's more kid friendly and thats what was important to me. It's not my dream role but I am extremely content to stay here until I make it :-)

 So thats my update. I've been opening the ride every morning, 7 am to 4 pm. It's been long days and I'm still exhausted but I'm having the most amazing time of my life!!!

 :-D

Day 3 of Disney Challenge /Apartment

ALMOST got all the boxes out of the way! Still need to find something to do with my DVDs and movies because we don't have an entertainment center yet so I have 3 boxes just lyin in my floor. I also have 2 boxes of picture frames I need to find places for. Weird thing about my pictures...I have some old pics in there. Of old people. People I don't talk to anymore, or haven't hung out with in a really long time. Now I have a strict policy for myself on my photo albums...never take a photo out. Even if it is of an ex and I kissing, I leave it in and just grimace when I look at it years later. How else are you going to remember those bad times you had? Or...some good times you don't want to think about anymore :-P So I'm trying to decide if I want to change my pictures at last....put in some new ones, of my new life here with the new people I have met/going to meet. Til then, I just keep looking at boxes piled in my bedroom. But hey, only 5! That's pretty good. I got my chest of drawers and my book shelf built, mom bought me a great jewelry organizer to hang on the door, I found a shoe organizer in my stuff that I hung on the other side of the door---its really feeling like home! And the living room/kitchen/dining room----ugh I don't ever wanna leave it! It's SOOO cozy! Jason really is a BEAUTIFUL interior decorator. I admit, I am tacky. T-A-C-K-Y. In my house you're going to find five different colors in the living room, my Disney and Harry Potter and Broadway stuff all over the house and please don't forget my huge gaudy Disney princess calendar on the door. :-D That's just how I am. But I love living in a place that's so cozy and beautiful. And today, we're going to start painting! Just the kitchen and 2 walls in the living room. I don't really love to paint but its going to be really pretty! 

 So, going back to the Disney Challenge (cause if I don't continue I will never get to 30 days :-P)Day #3: Your favorite heroine: Belle 

 AND

  Pocahontas

Yeah yeah so I cheated a little :-P I have two favorite heroines and both are amazing women who saved  lives. I love the later Disney characters who didn't necessarily sit around, dreaming of their prince. These women actually made things happen--or took the time to fall in love. So lets start with Belle.

 I believe I am the most like Belle, in personality and in looks. My dream is to be her one day at Disney. Every Disney personality test I take says I am most like Belle. She gets lost in her books, dreaming of new adventures but she will sacrifice all of those dreams to save someone she loves. She doesn't judge immediately, she sees what some others cannot. She fell in love with the Beast because of his heart, nevermind the looks. And she comes running into the castle to save her love after Gaston has locked her in a cellar. Her love breaks the spell and saves everyone in the castle. She has a really good heart and I have always tried to be a sweet person. So Belle is one of my favorite princesses and definitely my favorite heroine because her love saves the Beast and everyone else :-) 

Pocahontas: Gahh, where do I begin?! I wish Disney did more like this. Take a historical figure, sure you can twist it around a bit but keep that historical figure and make her into this beautiful heroine young girls can look up to. I don't think I even have to explain. She saved her people, she kept a war from happening, she saved the one she loved. She fell in love against all odds, and did say goodbye for the good of her people. Remember when every little girl was wearing her necklace and her red arm tattoo? I know I did for a long time, lol. I love the movie and it is such BEAUTIFUL music and animation! I really want to see it on stage one day :-) Suppose I will settle for the little show "Pocahontas and Friends" in Animal Kingdom. lol. 

 So I hear Jason getting up so we are probably going to go get paint and more things for the apartment. It is a beautiful 68 degrees here today, hope everyone has a magical day!

*faith*trust* and *pixie dust*

 <3

LOVING it!!!!

 Ok so I'm falling behind on my Disney 30 day challenge....good thing this isn't like a diet or something or I'd be screwed :-P

 So I have been in my apartment and in Florida for almost a week now. I am loving every minute of it. Florida is just amazing--the weather is gorgeous (I will probably start complaining when it hits 110 degree heat but right now I love it) there is SO much to do! So many new places to eat ((yeah, TRYING not to spend money eating out but theres so many wonderful places to try! :-) )) and being in a brand new place, just doing new things and hanging with new people is incredible.
 The apartment looks GORGEOUS. Having a roomie with taste and who knows how to decorate and build shit is awesome, lol. I feel quite useless but I hold something here or throw away something there. Oh wait, I vacuumed last night. I've done my womanly duty :-P But no, it really does look fantastic. And our screened in porch is to die for. I can't wait til we get furniture and can sit out there :-)
 Have not started work yet--we start in 6 days!!!! I hung out with 2 full time character performers last night and had a great time--they're both total sweethearts and a lot of fun. I whined and complained to them about not getting the BBB and they both said, just keep talking to ppl, make myself known, etc. So I'll try it. Til then I'll chill in Attractions, wherever they put me :-)

  ... well, I think thats it. We have been going nonstop since we got here, I think today I'll finish organizing my room and take it easy then might go out tonight. Thanks to Jason, I now have a chest of drawers for my clothes and a bookshelf for all my books :-) So i can finally get some of these boxes out of here! But the living room and kitchen look wonderful--will post pics soon!
 <3<3<3

I'm Here!

 Well, I can't stay for long but I wanted to do a quick update. Arrived at our apartment on Thursday and it was a BITCH moving all that stuff up the stairs. But we're settled in for the most part and have enjoyed showing our parents around. Evangeline (our cat) loves her new home :-)
 I love this place. It's so cute and a lot of space. There are three windows in the living room and the sunlight just pours in. We left snow in Memphis and got to 60 and 70 degree weather in Florida--its glorious!
 I am a bit nervous about how to pay for everything (rent, utilities, insurance, drivers license and Florida tags, groceries, etc) but I'm determined to make it work. And I start work at Disney in 10 days!!! :-D :-D

So anyway, that's my short post. I'm unpacking and finding places for stuff right now and am probably going to take a nap out on the screened in porch. Our parents leave tomorrow---it will be sooooooooo hard to say goodbye but I'm looking forward to venturing out into Kissimmee and seeing my new home :-)

 <3!

New Year/ Day 2..

Haha, yeah I didn't think this 30 day challenge would work out cause I can hardly get on the internet. But it's ok, I'm having fun! So day 2 is...

Day #2: Your favorite princess: Ariel
 ((Part of your World Reprise is like one of my favorite Disney songs of all time--so beautiful!))

 Well, this is kinda a repeat. Everything said about Ariel the first time goes for this answer too. lol. I think I was a mermaid in a past life...but I was involved in this really great project my senior year of college called "The Chance to Dream". The director took a small group of students (of very different backgrounds and social groups and such) and interviewed us for several weeks. It was mainly about our dreams, our future goals, our past, how we got into theatre, that sort of thing. She took our stories and made a script about it. It was SO much fun. We had to pair up and as we told our story, our partner had to come up with movements to help tell the story. Before our final presentation, we paired up with our partners and our partner had to tell our story (before we did) and tell what they like about it, etc. My partner was my good friend Jason (Gerhard) and he said the most awesome thing.
 "My favorite thing about AniKa is that she is always dreaming. We all think she's crazy and we all make fun of her but I envy her so much because she will never give up her dreams and will never really stay on land...she's always floating away, one way ot the other. I envy that".
 My story was about how my mom gave me a fin when I was really little and I didn't take it off for weeks. I walked around in it, and when I was at home, I "swam" through my carpet :-) As I grew up, my fin kind of disappeared for a bit as I learned to walk (wobbly, like Ariel) through life but sometimes I jump back in that water and my fin grows back. I love the metaphor we came up with and I LOVED the movements he did for my story, they were beautiful. So that's another thing about my favorite princess and about me :-)

 So HAPPY NEW YEAR! 2011, wow I feel old. lol. New Years was pretty laid back, actually. Not a big party, just a few close friends. We brought in the new year popping those confetti poppers and making a hell of a mess in the living room floor. But we had a great time. Nikki came into town for a few days and it was so wonderful to just catch up with her. I had dinner with a group from high school (middle school really!) and it was amazing to see how much has changed and how much we've grown up. 4 of us have tattoos, one is married, one is getting married, one is talking about kids, one is trying to get a job out of town....it's incredible.

 So, thinking about 2010. Some of my favorite memories....

--visiting Disneyworld with my best friend. (I took him for his birthday). We had so much fun and we both decided we had to work there.
--my first community theatre show. The Crucible--my favorite play of all time, I played an amazing role and learned so much. I had a blast. (and I got to hang every night! How cool is that, lol)
--The Shadowbox. The most fun role I have ever done, one I want to play again one day. I got to show the department I was not just a little innocent princess--I could play a freak if I wanted. lol
--Even though it was so hard and not a great memory, it's still memorable. Helping Jason. He had a major knee injury and surgery in December and he spent awhile on crutches and went to physical therapy. His confidence fell and he had a hard time being happy for awhile. I have to say, I did everything I could to be the best friend I could be and do think I succeeded. I made him laugh, we had some great times...that's all that matters. He overcame it with the help of his family but I think I had a small part in it too :-)
--Mertz Awards. I won "Most Improved in the Department". Whoa, such a huge honor for me. Even though it was just a department award, it was my peers that voted and thought I had improved!
--Summer Youth Conservatory at Playhouse on the Square. I was an assistant but loved every minute of it. Loved working with the kids and being around them when they became actors! It was incredible to watch the transformations!
--Going back to Orlando in August to search for an apartment. Jason and I had made the decision we were moving there and we were exploring the city for the first time. We also went to WWOHP. AMAZING!
--Getting accepted into the Disney College Program! And then getting a phone call from Jason saying he was acccepted too! We got our purple folders on the same day.
--John and Jen. Such an unbelievable experience. One that made me realize I loved directing and I would love to try it again one day. Such a proud moment for me when people I respected and loved came up to me and said it brought tears to their eyes or that I had a real talent for the art. I was so unbelievably proud of Jason and Christina. It was a beautiful show.
--Speaking of Christina, rooming with her. We didn't know each other extremely well but she became one of my closest friends and confidantes, as well as the best roomate I've ever had. We had our differences but overall, she was incredible. Lots of fun memories in the house :-)
--Going back to Orlando in October for a few days--spending time with some entertainment people and having a blast around the park. We had a great night at Cole's the night before we left, we all gathered at his house, ordered pizza and watched a Tinkerbell movie. Then we walked around his neighborhood and just talked. They were some incredible people and I can't wait to be able to have more nights like that.
--And finally, graduating college Magna Cum Laude. My mom and Jason were there to see me walk and I graduated with two of my close friends from high school. It was such a huge honor (neither of my parents have graduated, though Mom has 2 more classes!) and I'm glad I decided to walk.

 2010 has been a wonderful year. I can't wait to see what adventures 2011 will bring!

:-D