Lent 03 - Getting to know you

Today was short shift - 9am-3pm. Yay early release, boo having to get up early. Got into park before Guests. Thought it was cool to see areas open and peaceful. Cold still. Got assigned to tasking. Then got assigned a Magical Moment. Asked Cast Member for help. Got two kids to sign Mickey's Autograph Book. Sweet. Sent to Creature Comforts. Must've been downwind of Safari. Certain "animal smell" was in the air and breezing in through the open doors. Was only register for a little while. Encountered woman who was mad because she was told sweet things couldn't be on her snack plan. Was going to go to Guest Relations. This was about 10:30am. Got some cotton candy, which I knew counted as a snack. Found out one of the big suckers has nine servings. Nine?! Only a fifteen minute break. Two of the Village Beatnicks acknowledged me. One told me Tiger Woods told him to tell me that he's "sorry". Tiger Woods big "breaking news" on tv. Break too short. Weather much better. Assigned to center of Island. Was asked a bunch of "Where is...?" questions I didn't quite have the answer to. Pulled away for a stock meeting. DAK seemes to be becoming bigger on The Basics. Back to center. Met a girl who was supposed to leave at 2:30pm, originally 2:00pm, and then still got delayed for an extra 30 minutes. Her Dad played for The Cubs? Got bump out ten minutes early. Officially bumped out eight minutes early. Back to breakroom to gather my stuff. Eeyore hanging out, waiting to go on. Was looking through far-side screen door. Waved when I glanced over while talking to girl named Karen. Beatnicks playing. If stayed until three, probably would've seen them. Wanted to talk to Eeyore, but he was going on. Just waved big to him. Happy to leave, although had to swim through crowds to reach exit. Toni (security guard) wasn't there at the gate. Bummed. She's nice to talk to. Out to car, over to costuming. Changed to normal clothes. Opened car door, heard songs I gathered to be from Princess and the Frog. New stage show perhaps? Testing speakers and mics while I gathered my costumes. Two people at two check-in stations, both with many costumes. Started to have coughing jag. Ducked outside. Back in when I felt better, before another Cast Member could come in. Got one shirt. Back in car, called Mom. Played guessing game with her. Found out she and Dad were at southside shrimp place visited by Anthony Bourdain. Lucky. Decided to go to Magic Kingdom to attempt to see Anthony's spiel. Went to Magic Kingdom in the proper way. A little depressing, being on Main Street, seeing where my family was on their last day there. New paint job for Confectionary? Wandered down Main Street, over into Adventureland. Looked at bare Splash Mountain. Pretty cool to see without water. Seagulls everywhere in Frontierland. Decided to go back to Adventureland. Got into Pirates with a 20 minute wait. Stuck behind group of 6 teen girls and one Mom. Taking pictures, gabbing, throwing out slang like "off the hook". Sigh. At dock, was going to be fourth in a row with three of them. The three didn't understand, didn't make space. Ended up going on next boat. Pirates storytelling still amazing ^-^ Needed food, but what to have? Debated about little pretzels, milkshake/smoothy, Dole Whip. Or could've eaten food in car. Wandered. Not impressed with prices. Got cream cheese pretzel ^-^ Hopped on Carousel of Progress. Enjoyed show, hunted for hidden Mickeys that I could remember. Fun, and I found some! Anthony got back to my text, saying he was on a fifteen minute break. Headed to Jungle Cruise. Got in line. Spotted him by cds. Haircut? He found me in line. Asked if "we" were in line. Just me. That's how I do the parks :P Got to front of line. Told Skipper I was waiting for Anthony's boat. Waited about 10 minutes more. Got on, but let couple go ahead of me. They ended up close by Anthony. Rode Jungle Cruise. Blown away by Anthony's performance. I now understand why he has gsf cards. Now I know what it looks like when someone's just awesome at their job. Es bueno. Informed Anthony of such at end of ride. Planned to leave. Had an urge to see parade. No MJJ today :( Spectro's at 9:00pm and Wishes at 8:00pm?!?! Since when? Decided to go on PeopleMover. Very pleasant. Space Mountain very cool in the dark ^-^

Had a random thought: Is not the concept of conquering a people, something like war, is it not very comparible to sex? Males are about invading, invading, invading, while women are always welcoming and embracing?

This was thought right before going on TTA. Random.

Fireworks started as I tried to leave. Tinkerbell flew over me ^-^ Trapped on Tomorrowland bridge. So many people, where do they all come from? After a while, managed to squeeze my way through. Saw fireworks while waiting for monorail. Magical. I don't want to leave that...at least that feeling. Tram speaker (what's the name for this role?) was named Pat. "M-i-n n-i-e M-o-u-s-e" He's really good at what he does. Drove around back of Epcot resorts, then accidentally ended up almost leaving property. Need to pay attention to driving. But was ok. Explored little bit of Western Way and back of DAK. Nice to see another side of Expedition Everest and Tree of Life from road. Headed back. Called Dan and left vm while watching Epcot fireworks. Eventually called back again. Conversed about many things, from food and roommates to...bat missionary position? Inside for food and putting off of things I should be doing. Olympic skating has something that looks like dance? COOL!! Surprisingly o.o Ten minutes to ST:TNG. I'm such a dork ^-^

Question - do I know myself, more than just having a good guess at knowing myself?

I need to hang out with me more.

I have one of the songs from Outfitters stuck in my head. Why? I don't know.

Lent 02 - Tigger

Just got rid of a bug. At least, hope I got rid of the bug. Long thin body, six long legs. Stay outside. Today was another day of deployment at Animal Kingdom. Tried Walmart-brand cinnamon cereal on the way there. Better. Thought I was at Island. Found out it was Outfitters. Oops. First time at Beastly. Had to leave to break someone at Tree of Life cart. Had to leave to go to stock meeting. Eventually was there for a while. Met a woman who had gone with her husband (and family) on a real safari in Africa. Had their Hummer attacked by a lion. Chewed tires. Claws on glass and paint in the back. UK guy with them was beside himself, she said. That kind of beats out our safari. Loved Everest though. Woman who was working with me left. Had a one-on-one with a coordinator or leader or someone. Got break. Went to check for sure. Woman who had left was there. Told me I was doing well and had told someone that I was. Went on break at 3:00pm. Sat in outdoor screened area.

While I was eating my sandwich, I heard a rhythmic clicking noise, sort of like the one made by the tounge when a person's coaxing a squirrel or other small animal, only in tune to my eating. "What is that?" I wondered, and turned my head, still chewing, to find myself face-to-screened-face with Tigger! "Oh my gosh!" I said with a beaming smile. He turned to leave, he had a set, and I called out "No, no, don't go. You're so cool!" He turned and waved at me and headed out.

Finished eating. Talked a bit to one of the Villiage Beatnicks about Tiger Woods. Talked to girl named Amy from Mouse Gear. Just about finished with my break, saw Tigger come back. Bounced/ran quickly towards breakroom. While opening door, looked through, possibly at me who was staring at him. Returned to work. Did not get to see the parade, did get to hear it go past. Got a man's three kids "First Time" buttons. They were happy to have them, as their resort had run out and they were only wearing "I'm Celebrating" buttons. Told by one of the other Cast Members to move out from behind registers, that Cheryl (?) was around. Took care of Guests, and noticed near the end of one transaction, some woman watching and holding a clipboard. Took next Guest and continued on. Second break, only a fifteen. Met Brian and Kimberly in breakroom. Kim says Beastly Bazaar is beastly. Headed back in. Met woman who was writing. Mentioned that I did a good job. Showed Chase Tree of Life cart and went back to Beastly Bazaar. Met two guys who work at Epcot - one at Spaceship Earth and one at Soarin'. Ran out of quarters. Nearly ran out of dimes. Tried to get more from other register. Still didn't do much good. People kept coming in and out as park closed. Things slowed down. Thought it was done. No, still more people came in! Finally, FINALLY they left. Rang up a pack of nuts for co-worker, who rang up a unicorn sucker for me. Back to Outfitters to help organize and stock for 20 minutes. Clocked out. Headed back to apartment to catch end of Women's Snowboarding on the Olympics. Got to watch ST:TNG ep titled "The Perfect Mate". Patrick Stewart is cute when he smiles and lets some emotion show o.o Bright, engaging eyes. Informed Soyoung about the word "nerdy" (thought she said "naughty" at first...oops) and discussed whether or not men and women can be friends. She just discovered Family Guy and seems to like it. Need to get to sleep. Work at 9am tomorrow. Weather was nice today too. Still cold, but sunnier and not as breezy. Also, looked up a little bit about platypuses and Perry from Phineas and Ferb. Ferb's VA was in Love Actually?? Perry's so cool.

Lent 01 - Ash Wednesday

Got up in time to get to Church today. Ash Wednesday, and also Mass since I couldn't go on Sunday. Not feeling well. Felt bad I had to wipe the ashes from my forehead. Church and then off to work. Ate Life cereal, really didn't feel well afterwards. New side of Discovery Island today - Island Mercantile and Creature Comforts. Had no idea where to go backstage. Just went and hoped for the best. Learned a little about painted Ostrich eggs and Vinylmation while waiting to work. Relieved to see Kim and Brian from Buffalo, NY working today too. Brian asked for a ride, even though he got out at 9:00pm and I got done at 9:15pm. Placed on register 13. Found out it's on the pin porch outside. Numbers didn't work. Had to get them reset twice. Turns out, wasn' t in system to work the location. Cold. Windy. Wind kept knocking pins down. Ran out of quarters and called for more, but no one came. Had to fill up a bubble gun. Got more soap on the ground than in the holder. Break. Sat outside, but in screened area. At least out of wind. Back to work and placed on Creature Cart. Card swiper not working. Trainer and trainees leaving. Stocker stayed, helped me figure things out. Called what turned out to be security when trying to reach managers for more change. Out of quarters here too. Cold and windy. Got to see parade. Songs stuck in my head. Called for dimes and pennies too. George (coordinator/manager?) came, gave me a roll of quarters. Came back later, asked my last name, called and said he had a Cast Member out on Creature Cart for way too long. Put my job in for next in queue. Thanks George ^-^ Eventually over to Creature Comforts. Busy and not quite sure where everything was. George came around looking for extentions. Asked if I could stay until 11;15. Not that late, said was feeling under the weather. Offered to stay an hour later until 10:15. Despite extention, no extra break, other than my other half hour. Told Brian I had extended and apologized. Found out after break that Creature closes earlier than other stores on EMH nights. Balzac guy showed me way towards breakroom sorta. Saw and complimented on his Deathnote bag. Thought I'd be put back on pins. Got to stay inside Island. Awarded the task of finding home of plush fairy and plush firefly. Found it when others couldn't. Met guy from DAK Africa helping out for the night. Named Josh. At Creature Comforts with me second time I was there. Now he had a red plastic miner's helmet on. Holding up musical snowglobe attempting to sell it. Must've worked: girl asked me if we sold snow globes. Listened to guy named Timmy tell a Guest all about Disneyana pins, Eisner and his dislike of Dreamfinder and micromanagement techniques. Wonder what hotels we've got planned according to him. Girl came to bump me at 10:08pm, but went to bathroom. Didn't get back until my time to leave. Ah well. Chatted with Toni the Cast gate security guard about stuffed artic fox, 2008 Spectacle of Lights glow mug, her two dogs. Warmed up in car. Was going to make shrimp skillet, but pan was in water. Kid Cuisine instead! Mac and Cheese, followed by coconut rice and a slice of king cake. Also had a hot chocolate. Delicious.

February 11, 2010

I had a magical moment today. And no, it wasn't one of those assigned by cds and planned out in advance. It was something unexpected, surprising, and something I don't think I'll ever forget.

To begin, for the first hour or so of my shift today, I was given the gracious honor of stocking the outer kids wall. I was excited over this and happily took to my task. As I was heading into the first floor stockroom to try and find some "It's A Girl!" photo albums, an "Excuse me" caught my attention, and I turned to find a young man about my age holding a grey jacket covered with black Mickey images. He explained that he'd found the jacket, but couldn't find any others, and wanted to know if there was one in his size. Now, I was paying attention to what he was saying, but while he spoke, a part of me kept thinking "This guy looks a LOT like David" . That's when I realized that he was more than just a familiar doppleganger face.

"Lesandro?" I asked, pretty much out of the blue. It took him a second, since my question really had been rather random, and then he recognized who I was. We had met only a few days earlier when my friend Anthony and his roommate Clay (who are both Skippers on Jungle Cruise) accompanied me to Magic Kingdom, where Anthony taped Lesandro's boat since he would be leaving within the next couple of days. Recognition out of the way, I set about trying to find the brethren of the jacket he was holding. He asked why I still had the "Earning My Ears" tag on my nametag, and I explained it was because I was being deployed and figured it would help people realize I didn't know things about an area. It was also, as I told him shortly later, because I was still learning things at Mouse Gear.

This was plainly obvious, for even though I led him around for a good minute or two, I couldn't find the jackets. I managed to find a girl to ask, and she told me they'd be back in Bubble, the men's section. That was where he and I had met x.x So back we went, and after a moment, and right after I told him to hang out in an area while I took a super fast look around, he found another one of the jackets.

That was it: sadly, there were no others. And both of them were XL, which was too big for him. Not to worry, however, as I pulled out my radio, and called the stockroom, hoping we'd have more in the basement. No such luck. I reported the news back to him, and gave him my old stand-by about trying World of Disney, or if he was going that way, Gateway Gifts.

Now, to make matters a little more complicated, today was cold, and poor Lesandro was only wearing the "Por Favor" monorail t-shirt and a vest. Florida-wear, but this (hopefully) isn't typical Florida weather. He mentioned that he'd also been considering a 2010 jacket, but that he'd been looking all over the World since his program began to find a jacket like the grey one he had. All the others, in his opinion, seemed a little childish when taken out of the context of Disney. And he'd had a really nice Levi jacket, but somehow it'd gotten lost.

I tried to be helpful, telling him that maybe he could get the 2010 one and then swap it if he found another one of jackets, since we are allowed to do that in the return policy. He even tried on the XL jacket, just to see if maybe it would be ok. Nope. Too big. I apologized quite a few times, feeling bad especially because of the above factors, not to mention that he was one of Anthony's friends, and again suggested World of Disney, despite the fact that he hadn't seen the jacket anywhere else.

Finally, in a random act, I went back to the area where the jackets were, saying sometimes they fall off the hangers. I didn't see any empty hangers sitting between the XL jackets, but I looked anyway, digging between the heavy folds of fabric. And then, I found one. A random jacket, sitting at the bottom of the others.

I couldn't believe it, just for the simple fact that there was an honest-to-goodness jacket that had fallen off the hanger in this very small selection of stock. I lifted it up to show him, and he said that it looked smaller, but that it was probably still an XL.

I peeked inside the top of the jacket, to see what size it was.

The lettering had faded off, leaving everything else but the crucial size.

I looked down and located the tag hanging off the arm.

It read "L".

I couldn't believe it. Quickly I handed it over to him and he put it on in an instant.

It was the right fit.

I can't quite describe the thrill that this gave me. But I got one. I was excited, and more importantly, so was he. I pointed out a mirror to him, just so he could see how it looked, and he returned a moment later and gave me a big hug.

It was just the right jacket.

I told him that he'd have to take pictures of the jacket all over South America and send them to me. In response, he said he wanted a picture, and took one of us, with me holding up the jacket. After that, he thanked me, and then he went to go pay, and I went back to stocking.

But boy did I think that was the neatest thing.


Although, in my awesomeness, after I had tried calling the stockroom to no avail, Lesandro had said he could write me a GSF, since I had gone "Above and Beyond". Above and beyond for radioing a stockroom that didn't have what he needed? Psh. I told him he didn't need to. And now, well, had I said yes, I would've finally, finally had a GSF to my name.

But thinking about what happened today, in that one moment, that one instant, from the simple action of checking which I've had had to do late at night when straightening, I'm just amused. Amused and amazed.

There were plenty of other things that happened today too, such as my learning where Animal Kingdom's costuming building is located. That was a little hoot and a holler. Or how about Joe Jonas and Demi Lovato having a concert right outside of Mouse Gear? And trying to find parking in the Cast parking lot thanks to the event they were singing at; that was something else too. But I think the event between Lesandro and I was one of the big things of today, and as it's late, and I'm tired, and have much, much more to do over the next couple of days, I update with this. A something that could be described and classified as many things, but that I am happy to title for now a "Magical Moment".

I had a Magical Moment today. I shared a Magical Moment today.

It was awesome.

3.8-Magnitude Quake Strikes 45 Miles Outside of Chicago

(Feb. 10) -- A small pre-dawn earthquake has hit northern Illinois, startling residents as far away as Michigan and Iowa, but no damage or injuries were immediately reported.

The U.S. Geological Survey says the 3.8-magnitude earthquake hit about 45 miles northwest of Chicago at 4 a.m. Wednesday. Scientists say the epicenter was southwest of the village of Gilberts in Kane County.

The USGS initially reported the magnitude as 4.3 but later downgraded it. USGS geophysicist Amy Vaughan says such quakes are rare in northern Illinois.

She says residents in Iowa, Indiana, Wisconsin and Michigan also reported feeling the quake.

In Kane County, sheriff's dispatchers were overwhelmed with calls, and several residential and business alarms were triggered. But spokesman Lt. Pat Gengler says no injuries or damage have been reported.

Facebook status update

Do something. There are worlds out there to explore. Every second that ticks by is one second left to live. Go.

As I was checking my e-mail

"Prep & Landing" tells the tale of an elite elf unit assigned to pave the way for the big guy in red each Christmas Eve. Disgruntled veteran Wayne (voiced by Dave Foley) and his new partner, eager beaver Lanny (Derek Richardson), run into a few snags at a little boy's home that threaten to derail Santa's visit – unless the elves go above and beyond. It's a warm, funny, and visually gorgeous holiday treat.


I don't know if it's the Drunken Tuscan Pasta or the fact that it's after midnight, but this amuses me.

Yay for making a meal!
And yay for pasta that turned purple with the amount of Chianti I put in (one bottle)!