10/18/2011
Sometimes I get Sappy.
10/13/2011
[from here on out]
At first I wanted to take the time to write about my visit to Fargo. How it was the best week I've had a very long time. I saw Ali for the first time in two months, and it's like time stopped. I've never been so happy in my life, and I know the next time I see him will be even better.
I looked around on Friday night, vodka screw-up in hand, at Rooters. A little bit of a dive, but one of my favorite bars in Fargo, and I saw people who came out of their way, took a night out of their ever-busy lives, to celebrate my homecoming and just to say hello. I looked around and I felt so valued, so loved, and unbelievably blessed. How fortunate I am, and how much I have to be grateful for. I have amazing friends, the most loving, supportive boyfriend anyone could ever ask for, an amazing family, and a future ahead of me that anyone would be envious of...
The best part of my trip was just being able to lay in bed with Ali, watch Netflix, and just share in each other's company. Wrap up in his arms and feel at home. There's nothing I would rather do. On Monday evening, after sharing dinner with my family, he and I went to the Hotel Donaldson for a few martinis. I love the HoDo, the ambiance, the mood, the clientele... it makes me happy. On our first date, Ali took me to Wasabi for my first sushi experience, followed by martinis at the HoDo, and the Oscars. Ever since, martini dates with him have held a special significance in my heart. Spending time with him, sipping a martini, all dressed up, enjoying each other's company. It doesn't get better than that!
This experience, so far, has given me the opportunity to learn so much about myself. I'm stronger than I thought!
From here on out, I have some things I want to accomplish. I'll be back in Fargo soon, and I have a few things I hope to accomplish.
I looked around on Friday night, vodka screw-up in hand, at Rooters. A little bit of a dive, but one of my favorite bars in Fargo, and I saw people who came out of their way, took a night out of their ever-busy lives, to celebrate my homecoming and just to say hello. I looked around and I felt so valued, so loved, and unbelievably blessed. How fortunate I am, and how much I have to be grateful for. I have amazing friends, the most loving, supportive boyfriend anyone could ever ask for, an amazing family, and a future ahead of me that anyone would be envious of...
The best part of my trip was just being able to lay in bed with Ali, watch Netflix, and just share in each other's company. Wrap up in his arms and feel at home. There's nothing I would rather do. On Monday evening, after sharing dinner with my family, he and I went to the Hotel Donaldson for a few martinis. I love the HoDo, the ambiance, the mood, the clientele... it makes me happy. On our first date, Ali took me to Wasabi for my first sushi experience, followed by martinis at the HoDo, and the Oscars. Ever since, martini dates with him have held a special significance in my heart. Spending time with him, sipping a martini, all dressed up, enjoying each other's company. It doesn't get better than that!
This experience, so far, has given me the opportunity to learn so much about myself. I'm stronger than I thought!
From here on out, I have some things I want to accomplish. I'll be back in Fargo soon, and I have a few things I hope to accomplish.
- Gain a little muscle tone- The "Disney diet" has helped me. A combination of eating right, not drinking in excess, and walking up 500 stairs per day at work has helped me drop from a size four back down to a size zero, and now, with the help of Tony Horton and AB RIPPER X I'll be in a fantastic, muscular tone in no time!
- Stop leaving things scattered about my room. Goes without saying.
- Save money for a new mattress, and for the exciting things that are about to unfold in the next few years.
- Time for school!
Very exciting times ahead. Time is going to fly!
10/01/2011
Airline induced panic attack.
I am leaving in three days. All day Sunday, all day Monday, all day Tuesday... and getting up at the ass crack of dawn to fly home on Wednesday!
Perhaps it will be a blessing in disguise that I work 38 hours over the next three days. At least the time will go quickly!
I'm having a mild anxiety attack about this airline business. What if I miss my flight? What if my tickets are all wrong? What if zombies come and prevent my departure? What if I sleep too late? So many anxiety ridden thoughts all boiling down to the same thing: I cannot wait to get on that plane! Thank God for Mrs. Linda White, for providing me with affordable transportation to the airport at the ass-crack of dawn on Wednesday morning! She's my savior.
I'm still in mild disbelief that my trip home is already here! Can't believe it's October already. Time is flying. Hopefully it will slow down for the week I'm at home.
Plans thus far for my trip home:
Wednesday: Land around 9:55a, lunch with my parents at HuHot, pedicure with mom at 2:00, then locking myself in Ali's apartment and waiting for him to come home!!! After that.... eating copious amounts of Chinese takeout and never letting him leave my sight.
Friday: Downtown shenanigans, FARGO style!
Sunday: Hello, Vikings football! Try and win for me!
Monday: Dinner with the familial unit, bonfire to follow.
Tuesday: Cry a lot :)
I can't wait!
In Disney news... Walt Disney World turned 40 today. There were 60,000+ people in the park today. No, I'm not exaggerating. And yes, that's only at the Magic Kingdom. More specifically, Magic Kingdom turned 40... Epcot turned 22 ;)
Perhaps it will be a blessing in disguise that I work 38 hours over the next three days. At least the time will go quickly!
I'm having a mild anxiety attack about this airline business. What if I miss my flight? What if my tickets are all wrong? What if zombies come and prevent my departure? What if I sleep too late? So many anxiety ridden thoughts all boiling down to the same thing: I cannot wait to get on that plane! Thank God for Mrs. Linda White, for providing me with affordable transportation to the airport at the ass-crack of dawn on Wednesday morning! She's my savior.
I'm still in mild disbelief that my trip home is already here! Can't believe it's October already. Time is flying. Hopefully it will slow down for the week I'm at home.
Plans thus far for my trip home:
Wednesday: Land around 9:55a, lunch with my parents at HuHot, pedicure with mom at 2:00, then locking myself in Ali's apartment and waiting for him to come home!!! After that.... eating copious amounts of Chinese takeout and never letting him leave my sight.
Friday: Downtown shenanigans, FARGO style!
Sunday: Hello, Vikings football! Try and win for me!
Monday: Dinner with the familial unit, bonfire to follow.
Tuesday: Cry a lot :)
I can't wait!
In Disney news... Walt Disney World turned 40 today. There were 60,000+ people in the park today. No, I'm not exaggerating. And yes, that's only at the Magic Kingdom. More specifically, Magic Kingdom turned 40... Epcot turned 22 ;)
9/30/2011
[untitled]
I've been trying, for a few weeks now, to update this blog with something substantial; unfortunately, I've been feeling more than uninspired lately. I know it seems surprising, since I work in the location that is, supposedly, the most magical place on Earth, but inspiration is hard to come by. Maybe it's all the yogurt and Kashi I've been consuming in the last week... perhaps it's addled my brain. Maybe the human brain can't survive on low-cal shit and needs a big, greasy, disgusting pizza every once and again. Who knows, maybe modern science has got it all wrong, and the human body needs 2,000 calories daily made up mostly of trans fat, cholesterol, and those squishy, fudgy marshmallows hiding in the pint of Ben & Jerry's Phish Food I'm so desperately trying to avoid in an attempt to maintain the thin figure I've redeveloped over the past two months away from home.
I took a nap this afternoon and dreamed my skin peeled off, leaving me as a muscled body... completely naked, of course, but the main concern here was the lack of integument, not the lack of clothing. Assuming it is completely based on my vanity... I'd say the dream spurred from my obsession with acquiring a golden glow before I fly to Fargo for the week. Don't get me wrong, I love my body... but this sunbathing fix isn't because I want to have pretty, golden skin; it's more so that when I gallivant back to the North country the idea of me living in Florida for the past two months is believable. I'd like to say I spend my time frolicking on the beach, learning how to surf, making magical memories for children and somehow finding time to pose with the nearest palm tree every day... but really? I spend at least two and a half hours per day on an overheated, smelly, overcrowded bus system. I take a bus from the Chatham bus stop (about three to four blocks from my Patterson apartment) to Vista Way, then that bus to Disney's Transportation and Ticket Center, then to West Clock cast member parking. Then I hop on a Disney VIP Castmember bus to the entrance of the Magic Kingdom tunnel system.... and I do it all again on the way home. I spent anywhere from 9-14 hours of every day inside Cinderella's Castle (trust me, it's a lot less exciting as it seems). On days I work, the time I'm not at work or on a bus I'm usually in bed, relaxing, skyping, mentally preparing myself for another day inside that castle. So the sun-kissed skin I'm sporting the past week or so? A carefully calculated optical illusion... trying to convince the masses that working for Disney, living in Florida, is the bees knees. I've carefully scheduled time to lay by the pool to create these tan lines. Alas, tis true. I am a Disney slave. My skin was just as pasty white as it was when I left North Dakota (considering I'd already peeled off my Lake Calhoun sunburn debaucle... I was pretty white).
It's amazing how when you're craving a slimy, greasy, nasty cheese pizza that nothing you try to tempt your body with to get rid of the craving is good enough.
"Here, body, try a raspberry yogurt with cinnamon KASHI! You love that! It's your favorite!"
"Hmm... no, thanks. I want a pizza. That's it. I'm going to reject everything you give me until you fill my arteries with grease. Okay, thanks."
"But, body... I've been working really hard to eat right and be healthy! Don't sabatouge me now!"
"Fuck you, Emily! I'm going to KEEP releasing negative chemicals in your brain until you give me what I want. I want pizza. End of story."
Sad thing is... that body always wins. And as if the pizza which the Ninja turtles would envy wasn't enough to satisfy me, I'll throw in some garlic butter. Just in case.
I took a nap this afternoon and dreamed my skin peeled off, leaving me as a muscled body... completely naked, of course, but the main concern here was the lack of integument, not the lack of clothing. Assuming it is completely based on my vanity... I'd say the dream spurred from my obsession with acquiring a golden glow before I fly to Fargo for the week. Don't get me wrong, I love my body... but this sunbathing fix isn't because I want to have pretty, golden skin; it's more so that when I gallivant back to the North country the idea of me living in Florida for the past two months is believable. I'd like to say I spend my time frolicking on the beach, learning how to surf, making magical memories for children and somehow finding time to pose with the nearest palm tree every day... but really? I spend at least two and a half hours per day on an overheated, smelly, overcrowded bus system. I take a bus from the Chatham bus stop (about three to four blocks from my Patterson apartment) to Vista Way, then that bus to Disney's Transportation and Ticket Center, then to West Clock cast member parking. Then I hop on a Disney VIP Castmember bus to the entrance of the Magic Kingdom tunnel system.... and I do it all again on the way home. I spent anywhere from 9-14 hours of every day inside Cinderella's Castle (trust me, it's a lot less exciting as it seems). On days I work, the time I'm not at work or on a bus I'm usually in bed, relaxing, skyping, mentally preparing myself for another day inside that castle. So the sun-kissed skin I'm sporting the past week or so? A carefully calculated optical illusion... trying to convince the masses that working for Disney, living in Florida, is the bees knees. I've carefully scheduled time to lay by the pool to create these tan lines. Alas, tis true. I am a Disney slave. My skin was just as pasty white as it was when I left North Dakota (considering I'd already peeled off my Lake Calhoun sunburn debaucle... I was pretty white).
It's amazing how when you're craving a slimy, greasy, nasty cheese pizza that nothing you try to tempt your body with to get rid of the craving is good enough.
"Here, body, try a raspberry yogurt with cinnamon KASHI! You love that! It's your favorite!"
"Hmm... no, thanks. I want a pizza. That's it. I'm going to reject everything you give me until you fill my arteries with grease. Okay, thanks."
"But, body... I've been working really hard to eat right and be healthy! Don't sabatouge me now!"
"Fuck you, Emily! I'm going to KEEP releasing negative chemicals in your brain until you give me what I want. I want pizza. End of story."
Sad thing is... that body always wins. And as if the pizza which the Ninja turtles would envy wasn't enough to satisfy me, I'll throw in some garlic butter. Just in case.
In the Next Four Days.
Saturday. Sunday. Monday. Tuesday... I'm going to:
- Work 35 hours
- Clean my room
- Clean the bathroom
- Eat nothing but yogurt, kashi, and english muffins
- Be paranoid about missing my flight
- Not sleep due to paranoia about missing my flight
- Stare at the clock to make time go faster
- Pack and repack my carry on bag
- Triple check my flight
- ... then check it again
- Take a deep breath.
- Get the hell away from Disney
I can't wait. See you soon, Fargo!
Just Because I Can
I'm currently doing laundry, planning my parent's trip to Disney in December, cleaning for inspections this week, being overly excited for my visit home, and skyping with Ali and Jordon... all in my bra and zubas. Why? Because I can.
9/24/2011
Make*A*Wish
It never fails. Seeing a family in Disney with a Make-A-Wish button on always chokes me up. Today was no different.
Tonight, a gentleman came up to our podium inquiring if we had any availability for his family for the evening. As always, we responded with a resounding, "I'm sorry, sir, but we are fully booked for the evening. If you'd like, you can call the Disney dining line at 407-WDW-DINE and see if there are any openings for the duration of your stay." He, looking crestfallen, told us that it was okay, he understood, he was there with his family for his daughter's Wish and he knew that getting in was a longshot, and walked away.
I feel guilty every time I turn away a guest. Realistically, we are fully booked everyday, and we book out six months in advance. If I could, I would let every family come inside and visit Cinderella's Castle, eat with the princesses, and have a great time; however, seeing as there are only 43 tables and a capacity of 211 (including staff) this, of course, is not possible. Seeing the disappointment on little girls' faces everyday is hard to see, especially when parents blame me for ruining their child's vacation... but seeing a Make*A*Wish family walk away without being able to show their family the castle is heartbreaking. I know that, if given the chance, they would give anything to change the cards they were dealt, and these vacations are a chance for them to escape, if only for a short time.
The end of the night came, and the father came walking back up to the podium in the off chance we were able to let his family inside. As luck would have it, my coordinator told me to go ahead and take them in as a walk-in for our last turn. As I turned and told the father that we were able to take his family inside for dinner and asked for his information, he started to tear up. He profusely thanked me, sharing part of his story...
His daughter, Ella, was diagnosed with neuroblastoma. Despite numerous rounds of chemotherapy, the cancer wouldn't back down, and the doctors told their family there was nothing else they could do. She was given approximately two months to live, and sent home to spend the remaining time with her parents and big sister. Make*A*Wish granted her wish to spend a week in Walt Disney World, and seeing where Cinderella lived was the top item on her list.
While I know that I wasn't the one who made her wish come true, but knowing I was involved in a very special, very important memory for this family lifted me up and made me feel good.
Most of all, it made me so grateful for the life I was given.
Tonight, a gentleman came up to our podium inquiring if we had any availability for his family for the evening. As always, we responded with a resounding, "I'm sorry, sir, but we are fully booked for the evening. If you'd like, you can call the Disney dining line at 407-WDW-DINE and see if there are any openings for the duration of your stay." He, looking crestfallen, told us that it was okay, he understood, he was there with his family for his daughter's Wish and he knew that getting in was a longshot, and walked away.
I feel guilty every time I turn away a guest. Realistically, we are fully booked everyday, and we book out six months in advance. If I could, I would let every family come inside and visit Cinderella's Castle, eat with the princesses, and have a great time; however, seeing as there are only 43 tables and a capacity of 211 (including staff) this, of course, is not possible. Seeing the disappointment on little girls' faces everyday is hard to see, especially when parents blame me for ruining their child's vacation... but seeing a Make*A*Wish family walk away without being able to show their family the castle is heartbreaking. I know that, if given the chance, they would give anything to change the cards they were dealt, and these vacations are a chance for them to escape, if only for a short time.
The end of the night came, and the father came walking back up to the podium in the off chance we were able to let his family inside. As luck would have it, my coordinator told me to go ahead and take them in as a walk-in for our last turn. As I turned and told the father that we were able to take his family inside for dinner and asked for his information, he started to tear up. He profusely thanked me, sharing part of his story...
His daughter, Ella, was diagnosed with neuroblastoma. Despite numerous rounds of chemotherapy, the cancer wouldn't back down, and the doctors told their family there was nothing else they could do. She was given approximately two months to live, and sent home to spend the remaining time with her parents and big sister. Make*A*Wish granted her wish to spend a week in Walt Disney World, and seeing where Cinderella lived was the top item on her list.
While I know that I wasn't the one who made her wish come true, but knowing I was involved in a very special, very important memory for this family lifted me up and made me feel good.
Most of all, it made me so grateful for the life I was given.
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