You say goodbye and I say hello

I'm currently in the middle of my first tropical storm, so this seemed like a perfect time to blog away... that is until I lose power or something from all the wind and rain :)  I thoroughly enjoy updating my life through random bullet points, so here we go...

- Went home and then to Celina and Tommy's wedding, AMAZING!  I'm so glad I was able to be there and have an all around a great time at home.  I can't wait to call up "The Byrd's" soon... how fun is that?!

-  I have continued my obsession with the Olympics, I'm serious, pretty much any sport that is on, I'm glued to for hours, I'm pretty sure my roommates think I have a problem

-  My last two days of work have bugged me... somethings seems off and I can't really pinpoint, I think I'm at the point where I'm just over it and I'm homesick from just coming back from Texas

-  This brings me to my final point, one which I'm very confused and don't really know what to think about.  I received an email from Disney last night basically stating that the fall program is overbooked... this means that they are offering people from my program to leave early (and when I say early, it's August 29th, aka next week)  Now.... I'll be the first to admit that this program has definitely been a challenge, mentally and physically, but I'm not sure I'm ready to leave in a week.  I'm currently weighing both options carefully before I make my final decision.  There are pros and cons to each, staying or going.  This is going to be hard, so any prayers would be welcomed.  

-  To end on a funny note, because everyone enjoys when i have a wacky guest story.... Yesterday I walk by our vending machines, and realize they look a little different.  I look again and have realized that our guests UNPLUGGED the vending machine so they could charge their electric wheelchairs... really people REALLY?!

The Silence is deafening

So as many of you know I've been having some issues since being in Florida.  It all started when my voice started getting scratchy, the next week I had some eye issues, the following week my ankle swelled up like a balloon... this brings me back full circle.  My voice gave out on me today.  Everyone at work laughed when I showed up because I literally sounded like Mickey Mouse... terrible and very funny at the same time.  With this latest development, I was told to go to the doctor.... and on doctor's orders, I am under a STRICT vocal restriction... also known as I must NOT talk very much for 7 DAYS!   

I started my vow of silence today, let's just say I am hardcore struggling... I like to talk, being silent is hard!  I guess God wanted me to be able to rest because I am now on orders not to work during the aforementioned week.. I was upset about this at first, but now realize this may be for the better.  I can have time to relax and recoup before going back to work... so here's to the future of my voice!

In other news, I am beyond excited to see everyone for Celina and Tommy's wedding, I can't believe its been so long since I've seen people... I'm about to burst with happy energy!

I'd also like to thank everyone that wished me a happy birthday, it was my first birthday away from home and each one of you helped make it a great day!  

PS:  I have been hardcore stalking Disney special events people around when I work parade... more chatting about Miley coming... I freaked out a bit!  

Oh my goodness I almost forgot to mention how happy I am about the Olympics, I love them so much and can literally sit for hours on end watching random events, a good thing to do with me, myself, and I... in silence!

Seeing is believing

It's been quite a few weeks since I've posted, so without further rambling. here is an update of my life:

-  Shocking... I still sell tickets, BUT, I am now equipped to sell tickets at ALL 4 parks!  Sounds exciting, really, it's not.  I get super confused on which park to go to on which day.  I just know one day I'm going to show up at the wrong park... that should be interesting.

-  I broke down and got my hair cut, now don't freak out on me, just a trim... but still scary to go to someone new in a new place

-  I have visited the nicest hospital known to man  (true story, they were worried the hospital wouldn't make it, so as a back up plan it can be turned into a resort)  ps- the hospital visit was not for me, but for a friend.  Say a little prayer for Wendy.

-  I had a guest tell me I look "hot" in my costume, he was lying but it made me feel better about myself

- Attended what I like to call "Allison's Music Filled Week" complete with Miley Cyrus' new CD, Michelle Branch, and wait for it.... Idina Menzel

- Idina deserves a bullet point of her very own.  Anyone who knows me is aware of this obsession.  I have wanted to see her live for almost four years now.  I had her built on kind of a high pedestal... just FYI, she was AMAZING!  No words can describe.

-  We are having a scavenger hunt in Magic Kingdom tomorrow, I think it'll be fun, so yeah.

-  Seeing Amy on Saturday for b-day fun, I'm stoked!

-  Final bullet point, I will be in Texas is 14 days!  I could NOT be more EXCITED!!!

Time goes by.. so slowly...

I've realized that I've slacked considerably on the whole blog thing in the past couple of weeks.  Disney is.. well Disney.  I work, eat, then wait for it... go to bed and start all over again.  

This is not to say that the past few weeks haven't been exciting because they have been, it is just a warning to everyone  that this post will consist of me droning on about work stuff because that is what I spend my time doing... working.

With that said, having been here for almost 2 months, I've attempted to adapt to Florida... it's kind of working I suppose.  Work is... interesting, I'm currently making my way around to all 4 parks.  I'm on park number three this week, and I'm finding out that each part is surprisingly different in operations.  This is not that much fun for me!  The managers enjoy saying "aww, look at the trainees!" (ps- we are NOT trainees, i already know my job, just not the location!)

The apartment also got a new roommate, she's from Scotland and I enjoy hearing her say certain phrases throughout the day.  My personal favorite right now is when she says "oh bollocks."  Ultimately she doesn't snore, so that works for me!

Until I have more exciting news, this will have to suffice.  My parents come tomorrow and I'm going to a couple concerts in the next two weeks, so should be blog worthy.

Fun guest experience of the week:  someone asked me out.. he was even willing to buy me a ticket.  How's that for guest service?!

And things get a little crazy...

So, I've decided that to follow up my last super depressing post with all the bad things that were happening, this post would veer on the lighter side of life.  I'll give you a top 10 of random Disney occurrences that will *hopefully offer some entertainment:

10.  In a zippy and unexpected twist, my roommate, aka "the snorer" decided her "lifestyle" was different that the other three in the apartment and moved out.  (Needless to say the other side of my room is empty right now :( but very quiet :)

9.  The last two assignments for my class have been to watch Disney movies, Camp Rock and the Haunted Mansion, boo on the last one by the way

8.  I went to a dueling piano bar with some people from work, very fun and much needed stress reliever

7.  My hair is up ALL the time, the "fountain" now resembles Mickey Mouse, or so I'm told

6.  I upgraded 4 tickets to 10 day park hoppers, a big deal in ticket world

5.  I ran into a cone a work, like the huge orange ones, just plowed right into it and almost face planted in front of guests... super awkward

4.  I had a very nice conversation about Hannah Montana with a "tween," she even busted out some dance moves from "Nobody's perfect"

3.  They're testing out special 4th of July fireworks tomorrow, and I'm a guinea pig to see how they look :)

2.  I played with kids at the parade today and even led crowd yelling, i felt so important

*1.  And, the number one fun fact from the last week or so... I almost had a huge lady pass out ontop of me.  I seriously thought both of us were going down... we both survived thank you very much!

'Cause you had a bad day...

I think this title is appropriate for how my day has been, shocking for one because it's my day off!  I'll rehash my not so great day and then move on to happier things... so stick with me.

First off, this morning started off rough by dropping my contact on the floor, so here I am crawling all over the floor looking for it, and after several minutes of frantic searching, I gave up and opened a brand spankin' new one, boo on both crawling around and having to open a new contact.  (For those wondering, I did find my old contact later in the day)

Second issue, which technically has been been brewing for the last couple of weeks.  My roommate snores, simple as that.  We're not talking softly though, or heavy breathing, we're talking "is there a chainsaw over there with her" sort of snore.  Now, I've been trying to figure out the best way to deal with this... I first tried to ignore it: didn't work.  Then I had to brilliant idea to play music: didn't work.  Then, stroke of genius, someone at work gave me earplugs that parking uses aka "good earplugs": didn't work.  This girl is OUT of control!  

Branching out from this second issue, I chose today to chat with her about it, and let her know that I MIGHT be thinking of moving apartments; let's just say it ended badly with her, AND housing was not too helpful (people, we work at Disney, where is the guest service?!)

So, after these issues, I decide it's time for some retail therapy, BUT before I go, I decide to take out the apartment's trash.  Let's just say this ended with my car keys at the bottom of a dumpster in some interesting wet substance...

But, not all my days have been bad... I thoroughly enjoy walking into the happiest place on earth for free!  I've been to all four parks now, and let me just say, definitely still tons o' fun.  I actually went to Hollywood Studios all by myself, which weird enough, I had a great time.  I'm looking forward to having more "guests" like some I've had.  Kids coming to Disney can be pretty darn cute.  In other news... part of my homework for my class is to watch "Camp Rock"... I'm OK with that.

The times are a-changing

When I think about how I thought my life would be after I graduated college, this was not exactly the picture in my head.  Not to say that it is a good thing or a bad thing that my life is different than I thought, but just to say that in the last couple of weeks I have learned that sometimes God has a plan that is designed to challenge and help you grow more than you thought possible.

As my first blog post ever, that last paragraph may have come off as a little... interesting to say the least.  I must say, that after the last couple of weeks, I definitely have learned to appreciate change.  It feels like forever since I was in Waco with friends and family for Baylor graduation.  If I could go back to that moment and freeze that feeling, I would.  After graduation, I must admit that I was a ball of emotion until I arrived with my dad to Orlando.  Now, bear in mind, I graduated, had a week at home, and then was whisked (18 hours later of driving actually) off to Orlando to begin an internship at Disney.  

Since arriving at Disney, I have met so many people, interacted with so many people, and seen a little reveal of "Disney magic,"  which does kind of make the whole illusion of Disney World disappear quickly when you see characters running around without their heads on.  Two weeks after training, I've done nothing but work, train actually, but after Friday I will hopefully be a full vacation planner and ready to go forth for the next seven months.  I won't lie and say I love it, but this is all about an "opportunity" so I will stick it out and work my butt off until it is time to leave.

 

All of this recap of my life is just to point out that my life is still in chaos.  A month ago, I lived in Waco, this month, I'm working more than I have ever done in my life, am 1300 miles away from home, and get bossed around by a "mouse."  Life sure has a way of turning out different than you think...