Hello Friends,
In conjunction with becoming nocturnal I believe I am having more senior moments (as in I need to rely on facebook/pictures/status'/my planner) in order to figure out what I did the past week and a half.
I do apologize for my delay (I think this is the longest I've ever gone with out blogging). This past week and half has proven to be quite stressful and a little disheartening in some ways....but as Walt said in my last post title and this one....challenge is something we face everyday and perhaps the best way we can solve it is not only to move forward but move forward with innate curiosity.
I was also reminded this week that I am not alone in my struggles and challenges and support is all around me. No matter the experience or challenge, I know I can learn from it and (ultimately) make the result/outcome a positive one.
I do apologize for my delay (I think this is the longest I've ever gone with out blogging). This past week and half has proven to be quite stressful and a little disheartening in some ways....but as Walt said in my last post title and this one....challenge is something we face everyday and perhaps the best way we can solve it is not only to move forward but move forward with innate curiosity.
I was also reminded this week that I am not alone in my struggles and challenges and support is all around me. No matter the experience or challenge, I know I can learn from it and (ultimately) make the result/outcome a positive one.
So in replying on social media let me recap my past week and a half with some bonus tid bits added in.....
[Probably the best tid bit ----- this post contains a lot of pictures :)]
Saturday-Monday (10/12-10/14) - The only real great important aspects of these days was I went to work and made money and had a lot of great interactions with guests.
Tuesday (10/15): Tuesday turned out to be a really enjoyable day. I woke up around my usual time of 11:30 am and worked out before heading to my Disney Heritage Class where we learned about the early history of the Walt Disney Company. Lots of great information. Yes, there were more tears in the class - I've gotten use to it.
Tuesday night Thea and I wanted to get out of the apartment but weren't quite up for a theme park so we decided to head to Downtown Disney. This turned out to be the best decision we've ever made. Right when we got there we decided to eat at Raglan Road - the Irish Pub - where I hadn't eaten before during any of my previous trips to Orlando. We didn't call ahead to make a reservation so we knew to probably expect an hour to an hour and a half wait...but the Irish luck was on our side as we were told we could simply wait in line for patio seating so we could get seated sooner. So we wound up being the first couple of people in that line and though the wait was still 30 mins or so we were not phased because that was the time the band (from Ireland who have only been in the states a couple of months) just so happened to be playing their set outside. Live, authentic, Irish music...at the pub...there is nothing better. We got to see the dancers too (who were also from Ireland)! Lovely dancers. I even talked to a few of them and they suggested I start taking classes again! Maybe I will!
I did feel bad as Thea could not partake in a cider so I enjoyed it for the both of us. And I got fish and chips as my meal - classic! It felt like I was back in Ireland/England for a moment and just reinforced in my mind how much I want to go back there!
Nothing better than Irish men singing live.
:)
Wednesday (10/16): Wednesday was also a great day! I went to gym early and then took a field trip to Target with Britt. At Target I found something I have been searching for for going on two now (almost)...yes we're going back to London for a moment. I FOUND STELLA CIDER! That's right folks. I found it, in Target. I, of course, bought some and immediately texted all my London lassies. Special shout out to Laura McSherry as her place of employment is the best!!!!
Need less to say I was one happy girl. Britt was humored by it all.
I spent the afternoon relaxing before Alexis and I headed to Epcot for the food and wine festival at night.
Food and Wine is an annual festival at Epcot where carts from different nations sample their best food and wines (and beers) in addition to the parade of nations. It's literally the perfect drinking around the world opportunity....though it's probably best to do it over a matter of days/weeks. Responsibility and class people.
We had a great time and got to end the night drinking champagne and watching Illuminations.
Also, I really appreciated Lex drinking us back to the apartment after I realized I had forgotten my wallet. Typical.
Also, Illuminations music is fantastic!!!
Food and Wine Welcome Sign in Front of Spaceship Earth!!!
O.K. beer in Poland :)
Guinness in Ireland :)
Chalk Writing of one of Walt's most famous quotes in front of the UK :)
Champagne and Illuminations. Just livin' the dream.
Thursday (10/17): Thursday it was time to go back to work. But during the day I was able to work out and get laundry done as well as send some important emails so I'd say the day was successful.
Friday (10/18): Friday morning I went to a presentation/workshop hosted by the Disney College Program called, "Presenting with Confidence." I learned a lot of great information I can use in interviews and the work force.
Friday night I had work and it went well. After work Kenzie, Kate, Thea and I went to McDonalds and it was fun...and filling haha.
Saturday: Thea, Kenzie, and I met up hoping to plan a Disney cruise for ourselves (and Gina) but we failed (aka nothing is available). We hope to do a girls weekend (in the sense of a Disney weekend) soon. Saturday night at work proved to be very stressful and I did not leave work until 4:30 am and what better way to celebrate than to go to Ihop. That is exactly what Kenzie, Thea, Gina and I did. We got home at about 6 am. Yes, long night. A silver lining of this night was also seeing Caroline (one of my sorority sisters who was visiting Disney)!!!
Sunday (10/20): After getting home at 6 AM earlier that morning I spelt til about 1:30 pm and woke up with enough time to shower and get ready to head back to work for my 4:30-1 am shift. It was perhaps the laziest day I have spent thus far on my program. I literally woke up, ate, slept, woke up, ate, and worked again.
Monday (10/21): Monday kind of threw me for a loop as my work day was 10:30 AM to 7:15 pm (part of this time was spent in training). I was so tired in the beginning of the day. And while the store is normally slow in the morning/early afternoon...on this day is was quite busy. The highlight of this shift for me was the magical moment I got to share with a little princess who wanted pixie dust. Luckily my friend Tink was able to spare me just enough pixie dust for this little princess. I had her make a wish and gave her a special so she'd always remember the wish she made. Her Mom and Grandmother were happy and it was so nice to see that little girl smile!
After the rest of my shift and training were over LeeAnn and I decided to go into MK to get dinner as we were, in every way, hangry (so hungry that we very angry). We went to cosmic rays and literally did not speak to each other for 20 minutes as we ate our food. I don't think I've had a more satisfying meal the whole time I've been here.
A nice perk of getting off at work at 7:15 PM is that we got to enjoy some time actually in the park as guests.
I wanted to go on Jungle Cruise as I hadn't been on it since it reopened in September. Worth the wait! The skipper was so good, though I will ALWAYS wish (and am waiting for the day) to jump on one of Skipper Sheila's tours!!! Something happened at Jungle Cruise that we never happen again - it was a 5 min. wait! Unheard of! Because we made such good time we decided to go Pirates and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Pirates was awesome.
We got stopped by the electric parade trying to make our way over the Big Thunder Railroad. I got to see Alexis as she works at Big Thunder so that was cool. We were on the ride at the start of wishes at it was amazing to see the fireworks from the roller coaster....a "this is what Disney is about" moment.
After we got off the ride we got treats and watched the rest of Wishes....Frointerland is a great place to watch fireworks - for future reference. I had my first Mickey Premium bar and it was as delicious as I always hoped it would be.
My first Mickey Bar with Wishes in the Background.
After the fireworks we spent some time in the Christmas shoppe in Liberty square before heading back to Main Street. LeeAnn went to meet up with another friend and I decided I was going to head home. Or so I thought.... It seems there was some kind of issue in directing guests who left Crystal Palace and there was a human traffic jam.....hundreds and hundreds of people at a stand still.....it took me almost 45 mins to get from the Castle to a cast area near the Emporium.
Soon enough though I was on the bus and in bed after an amazing "Friday!"
Tuesday (10/22): Tuesday Kenzie was nice enough to drive me to my follow up doctor's appointment with my breathing doctor down here. We got dunkin for breakfast and headed to the doctor. We were there at the time I was told to be because I was scheduled for allergy testing. Turns out I didn't have to be there that early so I felt bad. All my allergy tests came back negative so that was good and the doctor was happy with the improvement of my breathing.
I told Kenzie I would treat to lunch. We went to Wawa and I was so happy I could introduce her to the magic that is Wawa....she loved it (or at least she said so to humor me). I got back with just enough time to make it to my class where we had a guest speaker, Michael Lyons. Michael talked to us about the Golden Age of Animation and Walt (and the company) used television when it was introduced to benefit projects --- a lot of great information and awesome videos and recordings. I spent the night relaxing with the roomies. We watched the Pretty Little Liars Halloween Special. There was a moment of creepy coincidence when we though something was wrong with Allie but was okay (those of you that know the show can see the connection there).
The Wawa down here has this "how to order" sheet. Cracks me up!
Wednesday (10/23): I picked up a shift on Wednesday night so I could make a little extra cash. I went to the gym and spent the day cleaning and such before going to work for my shift from 8 pm-2 am. This shift was kinda hectic and I had to deal with a few guest and housekeeping situations but it felt rewarding at the same time.
Thursday (10/24): Yesterday I woke up around 10 am and walked around town for a little bit. Yesterday's weather was absolutely GORGEOUS! 71 degrees, soft breeze, no humidity. It was almost like fall. Put it to ya this way - I wore a sweat shirt and yoga pants comfortably.
Work last night proved to be very busy and stressful but we survived it. Kenzie and I were so hungry after work we wanted to head to McDonald's but it was close - naturally...so we went to Perkins instead. I'm pretty sure there were a couple of guys there who said they just out of jail (this was 4 am mind you) so we ate and left as fast as we could.
Friday (10/25): This morning I went to another session/work shop hosted by the program called "Professionalism in the Work place" - again a lot of great information. I was able to get ready and come here to Starbucks to blog before heading to work a little early in order to pick up a different costume I have to wear tomorrow.
For those of you that were wondering...this is my costume as I am a Hostess at the Emporium on Main Street. 1901 best dressed listed!
Thank you to my best friends for their love and support this week. I'm also lucky to have such amazing Disney friends. This week has caused me to ponder a lot and I wanted to share a facebook status I wrote and posted the other day:
A dream or a wish, by themselves, can not change the past, better the present or brightened the future. They come true with the real work - blood, sweat, and tears we put into them. Holding onto hope they will come true but never being certain, until you realize the journey was really the dream and getting to a point of love and happiness was the wish. So then, just maybe, somewhere down the road when someone asks you "Did your dream or wish come true yet?" you can say..."No, something even greater than that came true."
Until next time friends!
Keep Dreaming,
Mary-Kate
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