tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20016907401368845532024-02-21T00:07:07.514-06:00The Life and Times of Allie B.Allie Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06156825188700869940noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001690740136884553.post-14248313549051135482011-08-03T22:03:00.000-05:002011-08-03T22:03:58.716-05:00The one with my City Hall PoemSome of you may or may not have noticed that I don't write about my job at Magic Kingdom Guest Relations. I'm not sure why that is but it may be in part that it's so hard to explain what exactly we do there. After about 9 months of being on a Temporary Assignment to Magic Kingdom Guest Relations, I was chosen to be statused and now call MKGR my home. Not too long ago, I was home in Minnesota and thinking about a world that seemed so far away at the time, that world being Disney World. If you've known me for a while, you know that I tend to write poems about many random things. So while I was in Minnesota, I jotted down a little poem about my work place. When I returned to Florida, I printed it without my name on it and posted it in our little break room. I pointed it out to my friend Lori-Ann who brought it to the attention of our area leader who then brought it to the attention of the VP of MK, the one and only Phil! While I am blushing at the thought of Phil reading my little ditty, I also think it's kinda neat that he took the time to do so. I realize it is more meaningful if you know just how true it all is, but hopefully you like it, even if you have no clue what I'm talking about! =) So without further ado, here it is!<br />
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<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">City Hall</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">By: Allie Bentrud</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">“Welcome to City Hall!” is something we all say</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">With a smile on our face, every day is a MAGICAL day!</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">What kind of assistance do you need?</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">Is asked by us a lot INDEED!</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">What did it look like? Can you describe the lost item?</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">Ok, give me a moment while I go try to find’em!</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">Cinderella’s Royal Table books far in advance,</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">But sure, I’d be happy to check, there is still a chance!</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">We study Disney trivia just in case a guest might ask</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">We clean and create magical moments on a CDS task</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">Disney Dollars come in Ones, Fives and Tens</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">I’m sure they’ll make a new design, just not sure when!</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">A favorite guest are those who ask to see the pin book,</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">We get to smile and do nothing as they look and look.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">A trip to the tip board can brighten our day,</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">We might see a parade or give Fastpasses away!</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">Being greeter requires us to direct guests with a smile and a wave</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">But be warned, the smell of fresh popcorn will make you crave!</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">In a perfect world there would be no need for complaints,</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">So here at Disney World we listen, apologize, solve and say thanks!</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">Going above and beyond is what we do for every Guest,</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">Even if they don’t seem to appreciate it, we do it no less.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">But most will say thank you for restoring the pixie dust,</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">Because that’s all you need along with a little faith and trust!</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">We may not be characters in a Disney movie or Heroes at all,</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">But we are the everyday magic workers of Magic Kingdom’s City Hall.</div>Allie Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06156825188700869940noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001690740136884553.post-64477801921629411002011-06-15T13:21:00.010-05:002011-06-16T00:52:40.260-05:00The one about Remembering MattMy epic fun-filled trip home to Minnesota kind of took a turn when on Monday, June 6th, I learned that my cousin Matt had passed away unexpectedly. Matt was like the little brother I never had during my childhood. The title of cousin just doesn't seem to do our relationship justice. His passing was all over the news and the newspapers, so I suppose there is no harm in discussing it here either. He had gone to work out in the fire hall gym, (he was a 3rd generation firefighter for about 2 years now) and the fire chief went to check on him and found him. We don't even know if he even worked out, or what happened at all. I feel like everyday you can turn on the news and hear about another young kid who dies in a car crash or passing away due to cancer or some other illness. But Matt was healthy! In fact, I thought he was such a catch I was trying to set him up with almost any of my friends. He was educated, had a great job, funny, witty, outgoing, and owned his own home at the age of 23!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxDrBXVss5uzSZXUlJfoZut0nAjYFV68XKrQKLUMHX_mlKO3SzJQv3Xa9gex3er66ELYI-QD1UKx5Ok2l93tfsWo6vIP2UnqjNCMYZn_LEC4EWV81X-sQjNxmc9_XPbV4Ana1DHMbLHNCT/s1600/164798_483471183870_500718870_6121376_6323351_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxDrBXVss5uzSZXUlJfoZut0nAjYFV68XKrQKLUMHX_mlKO3SzJQv3Xa9gex3er66ELYI-QD1UKx5Ok2l93tfsWo6vIP2UnqjNCMYZn_LEC4EWV81X-sQjNxmc9_XPbV4Ana1DHMbLHNCT/s320/164798_483471183870_500718870_6121376_6323351_n.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Needless to say, my whole family was heartbroken. We found peace in knowing that Matt was in heaven with our Grandma and his Grandpa. The love from the community of Glenwood was overwhelming as well. I spent everyday since we heard at Matt's Mom and Dad's house (Beth and Ken) and there was a constant flow of people coming over to bring food, offer hugs and a kind word. We wouldn't be looking and then all of a sudden there would be flowers outside! Or more food! There was so much food brought to my Aunt and Uncles we had 3 coolers and started using the neighbor's fridge too.<br />
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But I think the best example of the amount of time and love given to my family was Matt's funeral processional. From my view, we pulled out of the church onto Mainstreet in Glenwood where police officers and fireman stood next to each other as we all drove by. Farther down Mainstreet, there were people just standing everywhere you look. It was as if the town stopped working and everyone came out to pay respect. We turned a corner. More people. We passed the hospital, and sure enough nurses and doctors were out there. Matt was so loved by the people of Glenwood (his funeral was standing room only!), as are my Aunt and Uncle and Grandpa that all still live there. It was remarkable to see the town rally to show support. An onlooker put together this video of processional from their perspective, I hope you watch it!<br />
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<iframe width="400" height="257" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/pmHK4Yh3PYE?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
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At the time, we had no idea that they only allowed a few cars of the family members. Then they piled everyone else who wanted to go onto buses. It was a packed place out at the cemetery! The race car in the procession is driven by Jake, one of Matt's best friends. Racing has always been a passion of Matt's so I'm sure he was looking down from heaven thinking that was pretty neat.<br />
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Anyhow, I'm not one who likes to talk about things like this much because I'll just start crying. And not like a pretty cry, but like a loud ugly cry with snot involved. =) So while I was coping the day after he died I wrote a little poem and I promised my mother that I would share it so here ya go:<br />
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Matt, I still can't believe it's true<br />
I was missing you already, now forever I will too.<br />
You lit up a room with your smile,<br />
Now people are coming to see you from miles and miles.<br />
You touched our hearts, hearts that are now breaking,<br />
You wouldn't want us to be sad but there will always be an aching.<br />
At Christmas time when the family gathers,<br />
We'll share stories of you and hold true to what matters.<br />
I promise to uphold our younger sibling duty,<br />
Of bugging Cassie and Josh, like we were so good at doing.<br />
I'm sad I can't beat you in cards anymore,<br />
Or set you up with my friends like we discussed before.<br />
I know we'll all find peace knowing you're in a better place<br />
But I speak for all when I say we'll miss your smiling face.<br />
I hope heaven has hunting, golf and races...<br />
But promise you'll take a break when it's our turn so you can great us with warm embraces<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">*********************************</div><br />
There is a cliche saying, that comes in various forms, that people always use about living life to the fullest because at any moment it could be over. Matt's passing gives an all new, all too real outlook on just how TRUE that really is. So hug your loved ones, tell them you love them. Let go of any tiny thing that's bugging you because it's just not worth it. Reflect on all the great people and things going on in your life. Try not to take any of it for granted because it could be gone without a moments notice.<br />
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For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.Allie Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06156825188700869940noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001690740136884553.post-53673634865030683472010-11-23T21:51:00.004-06:002010-11-23T22:00:36.001-06:00The One where I turn 21 (in a manner of speaking)<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My birthday this year was on the verge of being tragic. Having made plans to go away to the condo in Clearwater for the weekend and then having those plans ruined by a demanding work schedule, I had all but conceded to stay in on my birthday, get in pajamas and watch a movie. All by myself. Just for dramatic effect. </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">However, thanks to an amazing co-worker who switched days off with me so I could at least have my birthday off (Thanks, Ayumi!) and thanks to some amazing friends, I managed to have a very memorable birthday celebration after all. It was called Alliepalooza. </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
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For those of you who couldn't be there, I made this for you...don't get too excited. I am no Oscar winning documentarian. </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><object height="340" width="450"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/V0O7_S79ziQ?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0xcc2550&color2=0xe87a9f"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/V0O7_S79ziQ?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0xcc2550&color2=0xe87a9f" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="450" height="340"></embed></object></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I could tell you about how fun the party was, or I could show you...</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> We started out the night early with a little game of Cranium...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Kgp24JhpTYVCZV4lTPpl1QMX3xY-xfz7wkcwEVLxuH5IJhPFpWXiLrEX0XLLh1WSvtSuc7LjUDA8ux_U0Ejkq18at3RYzN3Vn42mJqRcp36Z-CMiMpO2l367nv7XWTnfnEijwC5cnBwl/s1600/november+10+051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Kgp24JhpTYVCZV4lTPpl1QMX3xY-xfz7wkcwEVLxuH5IJhPFpWXiLrEX0XLLh1WSvtSuc7LjUDA8ux_U0Ejkq18at3RYzN3Vn42mJqRcp36Z-CMiMpO2l367nv7XWTnfnEijwC5cnBwl/s320/november+10+051.JPG" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"> Some people were more into it than others....</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCzFCfoPcp-GCQR2qvb5Zud3tq9MhYhZYHHQEteUD9sOCawICeOSlAaQalCMhOPl-uS2uvJtzd6y_0c0jGDLKkooeHU0xdFF5Y0rhyphenhyphenq56k4KjaZTQcD5IQcAZCUjoqp0UGon_PxloqR-hb/s1600/november+10+050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCzFCfoPcp-GCQR2qvb5Zud3tq9MhYhZYHHQEteUD9sOCawICeOSlAaQalCMhOPl-uS2uvJtzd6y_0c0jGDLKkooeHU0xdFF5Y0rhyphenhyphenq56k4KjaZTQcD5IQcAZCUjoqp0UGon_PxloqR-hb/s320/november+10+050.JPG" width="320" /> </a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Let's not forget there was karaoke...kinda...we didn't have a karaoke machine but I had music playing and a lollipop for a mic so I'm pretty much set. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitVfvk2OA9bopCubbBNQZyYk7AdBhvuS6VhKIr1P5eFyyd-JYX0p-DeoygvQX-FSnu_kNcHoblYX8CcZnbOdL_5Corvncet-G8b_B-t3on_HS0iAyRIkulHhdL07zalDlYvq2MCA8GqRhN/s1600/november+10+087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitVfvk2OA9bopCubbBNQZyYk7AdBhvuS6VhKIr1P5eFyyd-JYX0p-DeoygvQX-FSnu_kNcHoblYX8CcZnbOdL_5Corvncet-G8b_B-t3on_HS0iAyRIkulHhdL07zalDlYvq2MCA8GqRhN/s320/november+10+087.JPG" width="211" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh06xGxzmPlm9Jm_c-AfjsjVlJsg044yjoT5gSM6wl-GbmfSGYvWie2aLyPdZXvvGxUtMiJHFT4-aw6dQ1iJPd3yswILXFXjIzzQkVL14a5Sbp_HGnAYKzROWpy4Ppt1M3G-3ltJBwefksJ/s1600/november+10+088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh06xGxzmPlm9Jm_c-AfjsjVlJsg044yjoT5gSM6wl-GbmfSGYvWie2aLyPdZXvvGxUtMiJHFT4-aw6dQ1iJPd3yswILXFXjIzzQkVL14a5Sbp_HGnAYKzROWpy4Ppt1M3G-3ltJBwefksJ/s320/november+10+088.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfbg4vUbPqjdLsQvkRxKP5lRtC0abYBE8HULrf1NPgCrftwAgkoo5pLHaFFQ2z_FjBTt6e8_mfvA3YubTGRXCOS1w8HHCdUEKQp1TiOhKdniMWUui2JVu6QYyeXOypiju24Lf2aW2Ojz9k/s1600/november+10+089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfbg4vUbPqjdLsQvkRxKP5lRtC0abYBE8HULrf1NPgCrftwAgkoo5pLHaFFQ2z_FjBTt6e8_mfvA3YubTGRXCOS1w8HHCdUEKQp1TiOhKdniMWUui2JVu6QYyeXOypiju24Lf2aW2Ojz9k/s320/november+10+089.JPG" width="240" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Now keep in mind, the singing all happened BEFORE this next video...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><object height="340" width="450"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/87xPLsHL7Uo?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0xcc2550&color2=0xe87a9f"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/87xPLsHL7Uo?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0xcc2550&color2=0xe87a9f" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="450" height="340"></embed></object></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">If you don't know the whole story, then here is 25% of it. In High School I decided I never wanted to drink. Ever. Now for the past year I've been thinking hmmm, maybe I should just TRY it one time. Cross it off the list and call it a day. Well when you've waited 24 years to try alcohol, you can't just like grab a beer on a Thursday because how uneventful is that!? Very. So after much contemplation I figured I would possibly have a drink on my 25th Birthday IF and only IF the moment felt right. If it didn't, then no worries because I didn't promise anyone anything. But when Tim showed up with Pink Champagne and I was surrounded by friends who are the antithesis of peer pressure, I felt comfortable enough to give it a whirl...and it tasted <i>horrible</i> but now I can cross it off my list! </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">The whole birthday crew...minus Chris, who was late. =)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj22Axzuz8zqtQAKoh4NKRJu9L_060epqkPvm0nyPVcl-fNOFOrQyH-xga1OipGa_-aiu9RydDQ5PtHKqJhigkE5SqLeHCcmEayfdUCyfYEHouQiT3pludZwwAp-il9NIGebhO6PnP7mQg/s1600/november+10+098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj22Axzuz8zqtQAKoh4NKRJu9L_060epqkPvm0nyPVcl-fNOFOrQyH-xga1OipGa_-aiu9RydDQ5PtHKqJhigkE5SqLeHCcmEayfdUCyfYEHouQiT3pludZwwAp-il9NIGebhO6PnP7mQg/s320/november+10+098.JPG" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I am told by my roommate that the baker thought she was picking up this cake for her child, hahaha eventually I will grow up and be all sophisticated, but until then, I will enjoy my pink cake with a tiara, thank you kindly!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfeoAyriq7P-SlBU-qtpkXVwhzsffgp_lm9t4UI4vtD3ZtgJkrLGrmn6FveFgapJs2iIKsQXtFHECr-y-dquWxVoYHz6PlPznZr3Qu3j-psQ9IHAylFNWk0ukFojP4zk34UDhfTTnfk0DM/s1600/november+10+079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfeoAyriq7P-SlBU-qtpkXVwhzsffgp_lm9t4UI4vtD3ZtgJkrLGrmn6FveFgapJs2iIKsQXtFHECr-y-dquWxVoYHz6PlPznZr3Qu3j-psQ9IHAylFNWk0ukFojP4zk34UDhfTTnfk0DM/s320/november+10+079.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">All in all, it was a great birthday. Obviously there are a lot of family members and friends I wish I could have celebrated with (holla Minnesotans!!) but as cheesy as it sounds, I could feel your Birthday wishes all the way from home and I can't wait to see you guys in January!! </span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</span>Allie Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06156825188700869940noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001690740136884553.post-66158713978072804142010-10-20T23:48:00.003-05:002010-10-20T23:51:09.261-05:00The One Where I Get All Caught Up!<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Oh my word it's been over a MONTH since I updated. What is wrong with me? I've been overwhelmed with SO MANY good things to discuss that I simply didn't post at all. I am not kidding. I wanted to do an individual blog about each and every topic below because it was all so awesome, so here is the Cliffs Notes version I guess! </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The biggest change in the last month? I don't work at Animal Kingdom Lodge right now! Say what?!!? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8cmuKILpdStvKYGaVM1VChY3zH9Wm4dIvarf_XIU4zWe9LlJMh2DCkq9zmNH4wIVhrvdQxT5tx6FV3x6bnsEJ_mGGWGemxZnetoLiRzkWzMoJ9Po0kK1gKSwWJD7yzmIh37Xwok3PBKkW/s1600/Last+Kidani+002.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8cmuKILpdStvKYGaVM1VChY3zH9Wm4dIvarf_XIU4zWe9LlJMh2DCkq9zmNH4wIVhrvdQxT5tx6FV3x6bnsEJ_mGGWGemxZnetoLiRzkWzMoJ9Po0kK1gKSwWJD7yzmIh37Xwok3PBKkW/s320/Last+Kidani+002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Well, the week I started at Animal Kingdom Lodge was the same week they posted a hiring notice for Guest Relations. Now, Guest Relations has been a job I've had my eye on for some time. It is the whole reason I went to Concierge as Concierge does a lot of similar things to Guest Relations (GR), the <i>major</i> difference being that one is at the resorts and one is at the theme parks. Anyhow, hundreds of people apply for GR and from the power of prayer and pixie dust, I was chosen! And at Magic Kingdom, of course! (Magic Kingdom is always where I am placed, it is my home I feel like.) The job, as of now, is a temporary assignment through January 1st. There may or may not be room to make it a permanent placement, so only time will tell. I love Animal Kingdom Lodge and I love Magic Kingdom. I feel like I am in a win-win situation right now.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Having a job as a Concierge though over the past month has proven to be quite advantageous. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>I went on 2 fireworks cruises....</b></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Nothing beats seeing the fireworks from the water. There are no distractions. No annoyingly tall people blocking your view (ha, who me?). It's just so calm and beautiful. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJtFxFJHfNm2C9TdhXZUkiDYQL_mhGKoPB7xf8Ss91IfmDz2qkRDewEhdX4nl-mnUiLpay0ytOQ-k8xsb3-70f3VKrqDi3-W4flH_veL9rBtCGvF-b0tmrVzt3ViBqEwjfKumNTm4ZF2-z/s1600/Firework+Cruise+and+MNSSHP+10+026.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJtFxFJHfNm2C9TdhXZUkiDYQL_mhGKoPB7xf8Ss91IfmDz2qkRDewEhdX4nl-mnUiLpay0ytOQ-k8xsb3-70f3VKrqDi3-W4flH_veL9rBtCGvF-b0tmrVzt3ViBqEwjfKumNTm4ZF2-z/s320/Firework+Cruise+and+MNSSHP+10+026.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <b>Had a private tour of the Savannahs at AKL...</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs414.snc4/47758_10100299366733600_13906830_64736144_5005506_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs414.snc4/47758_10100299366733600_13906830_64736144_5005506_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Saw Cirque Du Soliel from the 3rd row.....</b></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">That is my friend Marianna, she is an ICP from Mexico. She is precious. I feel lucky to have her as a friend!<b> </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkZ2mw7FSmkEI4paIyrerHzoPDr6Y5AKjRRc66m7S0Vr1q2oEtKeKXPiBmRi2mEe183m-0UmrRrKA16HOoIgDZQrI1ROrpCkLrusbzmPdrI_qf4LQr31yP4BfrB74uTZoqTz7xeNx1zw_W/s1600/SeptOct2010+015.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkZ2mw7FSmkEI4paIyrerHzoPDr6Y5AKjRRc66m7S0Vr1q2oEtKeKXPiBmRi2mEe183m-0UmrRrKA16HOoIgDZQrI1ROrpCkLrusbzmPdrI_qf4LQr31yP4BfrB74uTZoqTz7xeNx1zw_W/s320/SeptOct2010+015.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Did the Tom Petty Driving Experience....</b></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">That guy was trying to be nice helping me get in the car, but I was a pro.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCCAH5-C7TpE6-3q4693oJ5nhdDkV7jS0Qpfb8M5FxIaEngZo7KdbVp8QKr4oVw6NeJTNTjxNQZX4HksddXVnGjxTmNPWQN79100UEPp4wad2SkAOtDi5CNXtqeUOkfGeXqSxGAVa_YPpt/s1600/Racing+and+Mom+002.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCCAH5-C7TpE6-3q4693oJ5nhdDkV7jS0Qpfb8M5FxIaEngZo7KdbVp8QKr4oVw6NeJTNTjxNQZX4HksddXVnGjxTmNPWQN79100UEPp4wad2SkAOtDi5CNXtqeUOkfGeXqSxGAVa_YPpt/s320/Racing+and+Mom+002.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Even outside of my work-provided fun, it has been crazy! My mom and her friends came to Florida to celebrate her 50th Birthday. I had a great time showing them around the Magic Kingdom. We also got in some much needed relaxation time at the condo in Clearwater. My mom and her friends sure know how to have a good time...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs656.snc4/61672_163627033651864_100000137061048_580383_4972707_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs656.snc4/61672_163627033651864_100000137061048_580383_4972707_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9we2joQ9VatMzP0Wg90-Z_QjGB6Fi5wDr5xuk3sgC9wxd_U8yMFQs_9hMbiiM4zSLtYQ_Ubm16OsoE82hJJetKUaEBFex6LpIBWZrb93Dw0E2TJuJ7KW5YUbCybeg5stEQaTxcQv1iDQl/s1600/Racing+and+Mom+031.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9we2joQ9VatMzP0Wg90-Z_QjGB6Fi5wDr5xuk3sgC9wxd_U8yMFQs_9hMbiiM4zSLtYQ_Ubm16OsoE82hJJetKUaEBFex6LpIBWZrb93Dw0E2TJuJ7KW5YUbCybeg5stEQaTxcQv1iDQl/s320/Racing+and+Mom+031.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs648.snc4/60824_163627066985194_100000137061048_580386_1806320_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs648.snc4/60824_163627066985194_100000137061048_580386_1806320_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbmKIyNPJ3JTW6Kbbjvqm87dMo6_k-Lbuj-j36ubyuX1Ca90AQMrlTLlXJUgcwr2eg0s7ocRA74BOZRkVzQsUbVhQepwh9YDpfj4WFTpl9RcKsWv_5cnt-9uZGoPCwv2evGasgGI_jHFW7/s1600/Racing+and+Mom+049.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbmKIyNPJ3JTW6Kbbjvqm87dMo6_k-Lbuj-j36ubyuX1Ca90AQMrlTLlXJUgcwr2eg0s7ocRA74BOZRkVzQsUbVhQepwh9YDpfj4WFTpl9RcKsWv_5cnt-9uZGoPCwv2evGasgGI_jHFW7/s320/Racing+and+Mom+049.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In addition to seeing my mom, I also got to see my good friends Jon and Shanelle. We surprised Jon at Hollywood Studios with a Birthday Party! It was pretty epic. Jon says he didn't cry. A picture is worth a thousand words, but I only need 3: Yes he did. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs322.ash2/60187_550338959446_29501180_32606305_4563090_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs322.ash2/60187_550338959446_29501180_32606305_4563090_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs299.snc4/41274_550338909546_29501180_32606297_860863_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs299.snc4/41274_550338909546_29501180_32606297_860863_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As a part of the birthday celebration, we got seated in VIP at Fantasmic. We ever so discretely took photos of Jason Castro from American Idol who happened to be sitting behind us. (He's the one w/the dreads for you "too cool" people who claim to be above watching Idol =)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs304.ash2/58485_550338999366_29501180_32606312_2550677_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs304.ash2/58485_550338999366_29501180_32606312_2550677_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Funny story: that GR CM in the photo, yep, totally one of my trainers this week and I just noticed that. It's a small world after all! I will have to tell her about this lol</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Bonus Features - Picture Edition!! </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA-QBlZwhyphenhyphenhsxOcPaPVed6rXOd_cH3oFIQ8QxvnMbH3V9pAOJu6CI9fGp_aat-Ll6TwlBMIzXhppRUYfDIRe4TAg5VzLXw3RdeqJuZJK2GRRfzKt4ovcKzvSBPzi6vHmeNqOiVfRBzsnGY/s1600/Firework+Cruise+and+MNSSHP+10+040.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA-QBlZwhyphenhyphenhsxOcPaPVed6rXOd_cH3oFIQ8QxvnMbH3V9pAOJu6CI9fGp_aat-Ll6TwlBMIzXhppRUYfDIRe4TAg5VzLXw3RdeqJuZJK2GRRfzKt4ovcKzvSBPzi6vHmeNqOiVfRBzsnGY/s320/Firework+Cruise+and+MNSSHP+10+040.JPG" width="240" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">I made a friend named Kyle, he was 1 of my Concierge trainers. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">And I bought a Mickey straw, both epic in their own ways. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioMAONTaXPOQB5hreJOGekxlPNlTImwD1mHIU49PuBX6uJCPrhc3Rqhj_oqHLhzPLLkx2csddLw3S-tXPfe_k-GKQKacknxqkjAMtDvZw_m0sAk2Esx53A2-QAd5v16RiR-YXV3FeXAveX/s1600/Firework+Cruise+and+MNSSHP+10+049.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioMAONTaXPOQB5hreJOGekxlPNlTImwD1mHIU49PuBX6uJCPrhc3Rqhj_oqHLhzPLLkx2csddLw3S-tXPfe_k-GKQKacknxqkjAMtDvZw_m0sAk2Esx53A2-QAd5v16RiR-YXV3FeXAveX/s320/Firework+Cruise+and+MNSSHP+10+049.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">I wanted to go to the Halloween party as Tinker-Belle. Essentially Princess Belle in fairy form, but I couldn't find yellow wings so I was Summer-Time Belle instead. It was fun!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs154.ash2/41063_550339174016_29501180_32606330_7940840_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs154.ash2/41063_550339174016_29501180_32606330_7940840_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">I learned it is funny, yet frowned upon, to give Cinderella Bunny ears in a photo.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpy8xkSdLQV4jTNPVAcBxfvFFOZEScDVHaqS9I55qIhyONLbKEk9ytwguQ1dpWHbtzvxk0zoU2IBjpdBxR0hRvmpckrkXB746_AFgPOv-xPFPbfFTImLThvN1Cfvf-c0LnpLpqdgsQ0Xlm/s1600/Racing+and+Mom+034.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpy8xkSdLQV4jTNPVAcBxfvFFOZEScDVHaqS9I55qIhyONLbKEk9ytwguQ1dpWHbtzvxk0zoU2IBjpdBxR0hRvmpckrkXB746_AFgPOv-xPFPbfFTImLThvN1Cfvf-c0LnpLpqdgsQ0Xlm/s320/Racing+and+Mom+034.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Never take for granted sitting around a table for dinner with Family. I couldn't remember the last time I had this, so when it happened in Clearwater with my mom and her friends (who are practically family), I just had to take a photo. It's the simple things in life that matter =) </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><i>Coming Attractions:</i></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">I made a fort with Becca and Cory, I broke my camera, I replaced my camera, I saw the Cinderella Castle Suite, I went to Drag Bingo. (Disclaimer: Not all events stated just now happened in 1 day, but what a day that woulda been, right?!) Stay tuned friends. I won't keep you waiting so long next time! I promise! </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Allie Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06156825188700869940noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001690740136884553.post-13172973711699247002010-09-12T18:36:00.001-05:002010-10-20T23:41:23.109-05:00The One when I became a Concierge"A concierge is the Winnipeg equivalent of a geisha. This is a woman who has been trained in the fine art of fanciness and pleasure. And when you meet one it is intoxicating. Just what the doctor ordered" -Michael Scott<br />
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After about a month of working front desk, yesterday I finally finished my last day of on-the-job training for Concierge at Animal Kingdom Lodge. My job title is now OFFICIALLY Concierge. The job description is pretty close to what Michael Scott described above haha almost. Basically, I answer random questions, make dining reservations and sell tickets. Surprisingly, Disney uses a computer system straight out of the 80's, so for the first time in my life I use the function keys at the top of keyboards. I am not kidding when I say the screen is black and the font is green and you CANNOT use a mouse to navigate. The TAB key is my new best friend. Guests have NO idea the crazy weird steps I have to take just to sell them a ticket, and they shouldn't know, because it's not very magical, but I am telling you, I am not a fan of 1980's computer systems.<br />
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Despite the computers, I don't know when it happened exactly, but at some point in the last month and a half, I started loving Animal Kingdom Lodge. At first I felt out of place in the African Safari, just out of my element I suppose. But my co-workers are great, the managers are amazing and being indoors is excellent too! Work-wise, everything is dandy and with the exception of a promotion, I can see myself at AKL for a while. <br />
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Jon and Shanelle just visited from Nashville. I always love seeing them. We had a fun, but much too fast 3 days together. We celebrated Jon's 25th Birthday at Hollywood Studios with a mini surprise party. We even got VIP seating at Fantasmic, the view was just about the same as anywhere else but it was just nice to have reserved seats and lots of space! <br />
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Anyhow, the MTV Video Music Awards are on tonight and friends are coming over, so until next time. =)Allie Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06156825188700869940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001690740136884553.post-23370745099040631932010-07-23T16:15:00.000-05:002010-07-23T16:15:58.674-05:00The one with my Pink PalaceI can't believe I have lived in my new place for almost 5 months and not shown you! I did a whole spread on my crappy room in Kissimme and now I am in love with my room and I don't post it at all? That's just not right! So, without further ado....<br />
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Welcome to My room:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn0HqLSC0tjlPJGXqqpafpUIhVLlO01gydBmPezSy3MP-wt2iyV_QO9GpnFbUlQKEXfkDHpoH8_aPmjLy1pJdgd4bmjDQWBvGTU6k2ZKd8Wae6IaeuzFUQL_wTF-2rSa6pwzJIrdwG6TLj/s1600/July+2010+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn0HqLSC0tjlPJGXqqpafpUIhVLlO01gydBmPezSy3MP-wt2iyV_QO9GpnFbUlQKEXfkDHpoH8_aPmjLy1pJdgd4bmjDQWBvGTU6k2ZKd8Wae6IaeuzFUQL_wTF-2rSa6pwzJIrdwG6TLj/s320/July+2010+004.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtlkiIepL0MEsyEx1HNp19YGjoVd_vGYqUBJzF1Y7UW757vQBptnwBS7hncg317LlFM_bEhbX6gGQ9PdZKeUitZ0QLD9kMDoVJDZNshMqep6WuJQ4AsJhIKvB9aI6Z_O0_mmdxAC2N65fy/s1600/July+2010+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtlkiIepL0MEsyEx1HNp19YGjoVd_vGYqUBJzF1Y7UW757vQBptnwBS7hncg317LlFM_bEhbX6gGQ9PdZKeUitZ0QLD9kMDoVJDZNshMqep6WuJQ4AsJhIKvB9aI6Z_O0_mmdxAC2N65fy/s320/July+2010+002.JPG" /></a></div> I painted 1 wall in my room "Rasberry Splash". Until I left for college, I lived in a room with blue and beige walls. And I won't submit my future (and hopefully not imaginary) husband to living with pink walls, so essentially, I saw this as the one opportunity in life to have a pink room and I seized it!<br />
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I am also a fan of Tiffany Blue, so you can see splashes of that in there as well. This is not a complete tour of my room, I can't give you the complete run down of where everything is (like the pricless art and jewelry) because it's just not safe! lol I am kidding, my closet and desk just aren't that interesting... <br />
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On a different note, I am 3 days into my job at Animal Kingdom Lodge. It's too soon to tell if I will like it so I will refrain from making any snap judgments. It's stupid because I enjoy being in the A/C but I miss the outdoors. And I enjoy not being rejected by guests but I am stressing over messing up their reservation now. It is kind of fun when I look out the window and see a giraffe just hanging out. I imagine people that work at a Zoo feel like this all the time. But to look up from my computer and see a giraffe is just so crazy!<br />
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Until next time,<br />
Allie BAllie Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06156825188700869940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001690740136884553.post-63356956787652137952010-07-14T19:52:00.005-05:002010-10-20T23:45:58.672-05:00The one about the Sexy-Accent-KindMy days in research are officially over and somehow it doesn't feel real. I am expecting to wake up tomorrow and go to Epcot, pick up my strat and a tablet and go survey people again. I miss the people already and I know I will miss the freedom to wander around the parks. But for now, I am enjoying the A/C and meeting new people!<br />
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Yesterday, I had a resort tour of Animal Kingdom Lodge which consists of the Jambo House (which is the main lodge) and Kidani Village (which is the Disney Vacation Club resort and the lobby is WAY small). I will be working at both, I think. It was a quick resort tour and I was the only concierge in the small group. I met 2 guys that will be doing Front Desk, so I assume I will be working with them for the first month at least because my first month is at Front Desk. I like making new friends =)<br />
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Today was awesome for so many reasons. It was Day 1 (of 4) of a class called "First Impressions" which is required for Concierge and Front Desk cast members so it was a big group of people who will be working at all different resorts. <br />
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First of all, I think I was the last person to arrive and I was still 10 minutes early and then I figured out why...every single person in the class, except me, is on the International College Program and therefor had to take the bus and therefor they all arrived at the same time. I was also the only American in the class. Which was a feeling I've never experienced before but I didn't mind AT ALL because the entire class was from either Australasia or New Zealand. In case you aren't aware, Australians and New Zealanders (is that right?) have just as awesome accents as people from England. Although, I was informed today that technically, in that room <i>I</i> am the only one with an accent lol. Tis true I suppose. Anyhow, I picked the first chair I could find and resolved to try to blend in. Soooo did not happen!!! The first thing someone said to me at break time, "So, you're the only one from the states, eh? Must feel like a foreigner in your own country!" Up until this point, despite the group introductions and my complete lack of a sexy accent in my "Hi I am Allie", I was hoping it wasn't <i>that</i> noticeable that I was the only one from America. I was wrong.<br />
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We were given an hour and a half lunch, and having made no progress with the sexy-accent-kind and not wanting to fumble through a lunch with them, I was like, hmmm let's go over to MK and see my research friends!! (I <i>am</i> having withdrawals afterall and I can make progress with the others later). To my luck, I found Katy and had the most perfect lunch just like the good ol' days <strike>one week ago</strike>.<br />
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Lunch with Katy must have been the perfect refresher because immediately when I got back, one of the New Zealanders started talking to me!! ::insert excited face here:: He was so nice and I felt like FINALLY I am not a social outcast of the group! Normally, I would just strike up a convo with them, no biggie. But from the beginning, they all knew each other and they made fun of Americans a lot so it was a little intimidating. (They also all look like they are some English soap opera, but their TV is apparently so much better than ours they probably don't have soap operas.) I tried to smile at everyone so they knew I was nice, and didn't take offense to the fact that they picked on Americans a lot, and I guess it paid off because at our next break I talked to 4 more of the sexy-accent-kind!! If I ever become friends with them on Facebook, I pray they do not find this blog. (Although, I guess if we become <strike>friends</strike> mates, we'd have a good laugh over it.)<br />
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I am thoroughly looking forward to my next 3 days of training with them, especially since I fully plan on brushing up on my Australian/New Zealand geography tonight so I don't look like a complete fool and/or arrogant American who doesn't know about any country other than their own (which is another thing they discussed). I am also going to see if I can sneak in the words/phrases "dontchya know", "pop", "out and about" and every other stereotypical midwestern saying just for the heck of it and see if I get any puzzled looks. They already picked on the fact that Americans say "What's Up?" and apparently we pronounce Pokemon weird too (We say poke-E-mon, they say poke-eh-mon, I am not the greatest at phonetics but I am thinking you get my point. We emphasis the E, they do not.) I am excited to learn what else they think about Americans! I will report back! <br />
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Bonus Features:<br />
1.) I will fall instantly in love with anyone who realizes that I am wearing tiny old-fashioned key earrings because as Front Desk Hostess for a month, it will be my job to hand out room keys. If anyone makes this connection, I will love them forever. If you are reading this (and aren't a stalker), I already love you, so don't worry when I say you do not qualify because I already told you story behind my earrings lol<br />
2) My dog died. I don't want to be a downer, but she deserves some recognition for her passing. I took this picture of her last Christmas (hence the snow village in the back). Her name is Buffy, I named her in like 5th grade when I was obsessed with Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I am not gonna cry because she is gone, I am lucky to have had a great dog for 14 years, especially one that protected me from vampires =) <br />
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Until next time,<br />
Allie BAllie Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06156825188700869940noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001690740136884553.post-11613942419509047192010-06-25T15:51:00.000-05:002010-06-25T15:51:02.107-05:00The one about June 2010June is almost over and somehow I managed to not blog at all despite the fact that a lot has been going on! The biggest news is that I am switching jobs at Disney, thus diversifying myself in preparation for when I take over the company in like 2040 =). When you talk to managers and other higher-ups here at Disney, they will give you a whole list of different roles they've had throughout their Disney career. Now I am on my 3rd role (Merchandise, Research, now Concierge) and I'm sure it will not be my last. I am very excited about my new role as a Concierge at Animal Kingdom Lodge for several reasons.... <br />
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Reason #1: Yeah, I'll be working there. Cool, huh?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.funindisneyworld.com/images/2008/11/animal-kingdom-lodge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.funindisneyworld.com/images/2008/11/animal-kingdom-lodge.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4023/4296609388_25ea7ef93b_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4023/4296609388_25ea7ef93b_b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Reason #2: Air Conditioning! This can be seen as a pro and a con.... mostly a pro but pretty sure I've sweated off like 5 pounds so far this summer. Now I might actually have to work out again when I have an indoor job.<br />
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Reason #3: I don't have to survey people anymore! Woohooo. No more "May I have your zip code please?" <br />
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Reason #4: I get to help people and make magic much more than I could in research.<br />
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All in all, I think this will be a good change for me. I am a little hesitant to venture out of the theme parks. I especially liked the fact that I worked in all 4 theme parks in Research, but I think I will actually be able to enjoy the theme parks again when I don't think of them as my place of work.<br />
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In other news, I signed my lease at my apartment for another year so it looks like I'll be a Floridian for another year at least. Obviously, things can change, but it is a good indicator of me staying put. If I applied for and got a job elsewhere that paid well, I'd leave in a heartbeat but the chances of that happening look pretty bleak.<br />
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Bonus Features:<br />
1) My little sister, Elise, got engaged! I am very happy for her and have little to no jealousy over the fact that she is younger than me and engaged haha. Her now fiance went with us to Las Vegas and he seems like a cool guy and he fit in great with the family. The count for weddings I cannot miss in 2011 is now up to 3. <br />
2) I so did NOT cry at the end of Toy Story 3, maybe I am more cold and heartless than I thought?? lol<br />
3) I saw Jordin Sparks in concert <a href="http://www.alliemusic.blogspot.com/">(see other blog)</a><br />
4) I bought the new Miley Cyrus CD and am not that impressed. It's good but not like WOW.<br />
Jordin Sparks' Battlefield > Miley Cyrus' Can't Be Tamed. Just sayin.Allie Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06156825188700869940noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001690740136884553.post-22858930533390719202010-05-27T11:55:00.001-05:002010-05-27T11:57:44.350-05:00The one with the Finale MadnessWhile May means college graduation to many (I graduated 2 years ago, yikes!), for the last 8 years, it's meant the crowning of a new American Idol! (Kelly Clarkson, the first Idol, won her title in September and then they changed it from there on out).<br />
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Anyways, normally I'd make a big spectacle of watching the Idol finale with friends. I went through the effort of requesting an early shift in order to ensure I could watch the finale episodes, so one would think I'd make plans to watch it with some friends. But I didn't. So I settle in to watch the antics of Simon's last Idol and what ensued really made me stop and go "hmmm times really are changing." Let me explain.<br />
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Although technically I watched the American Idol finale alone in my room, I felt as though I were watching it with several different people due to the marvels of modern technology. Every commercial break I received a phone call (ground breaking technology that phone lol) from someone (usually Emily) with comments about what had just happened. During the show I received and sent commentary text messages to friends watching it at their homes (I counted roughly 100 texts received in the 2 hour time span and countless sent). And I had a real-time discussion of the night's events with my friends Autumn and Drew via Facebook. All of the chatting, texting, calling made the finale way more entertaining and after it was over, I felt like I had experienced the finale with my friends even when some of them were back in Minnesota.<br />
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Essentially, when technology bridges the gap from MN to FL and makes it feel practically non-existent and allows me to continue with friendships despite the distance, I can't help but think it's a good thing. It is when technology starts becoming a substitute for actual in-person communication that I will begin to worry. But anyways, I am getting too in depth for my own good and literally just spent the last 20 minutes debating with myself the future risks of relying too much on technology.<br />
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So on that note....lol<br />
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The best part of the night though was right after they announced that Lee had won, I called my friend Emily and told her that for her birthday, I bought us 4th row tickets to the American Idols live tour! I was going to wait to tell her on her actual birthday, but with the excitement of Lee winning, the timing was just right!<br />
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Anyhow, despite my desire to write more (I have news I am dying to share, but when the time is right!), I must continue onto other things on this wonderful sunny day in Orlando. Thanks for checking in, my friends =)Allie Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06156825188700869940noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001690740136884553.post-78020490001234137382010-05-03T21:08:00.001-05:002010-05-03T21:09:08.920-05:00The One where I'm a Floridian, I guessApril was a pretty insane month with a lot going on. I've wanted to write about but no time to really do so, my apologies! <br />
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First and foremost, I bought a car! And this time I'm keeping it! =) It's a 2007 Saturn Ion and she is a beauty. I named her Marilyn for 2 reasons. 1st, Marilyn is the name of the lovely woman I bought it from and 2nd, the fact that the car is white reminds me Marilyn Monroe so I thought it was fitting. Alfred (the husband) and Marilyn, the couple I bought it from, are the nicest people ever. They had no reason to sell the car other than the fact that they just didn't need it because as a retired couple, they go everywhere together so don't really have a need for 2 cars. So really, it was the ideal situation for me because buying a car from a person can be questionable since lots of times used cars have problems. However, after the last fiasco with the car dealer, I really did not want to buy from a dealer again so I searched high and low for a good deal on a used car and I am fairly certain I found THEE best deal in all of Florida. It's so nice to finally have the whole car situation figured out! Now let's just hope this one runs for a long, long time!<br />
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The day I picked up my car was also the day I flew out to Las Vegas for a little family reunion! It was me, my Mom and Step Dad, my sister, my 6 step siblings, my siblings' spouses and my Grandma, so a total of 16 of us and it was technically just the immediate family! My parents didn't allow any grandkids on the trip so it was the first time in at least 10 years that we had all been together without any kids running around. It was a fun but really quick trip! We jam packed all the sight seeing we could into 2 days! The highlight had to be seeing Miranda Lambert in concert. I took the video below when Blake Shelton came out for the finale to sing a little song called Hillbilly Bone.<br />
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All in all, things are kind of feeling to start like they are falling into place here in Florida. I'm officially a Florida resident, so says my Florida drivers license, but I will always be a Minnesotan. It was so weird in Vegas because a guy asked us where we were visiting from and my sister said "Minnesota, but she's from Florida" No I'm not!! I'm from Minnesota too! I just happen to be living in Florida! As you can see, I'm still adjusting to the idea that I'm a Floridian. Having yet to survive a Florida summer, I feel as though I cannot rightfully call myself a Floridian just yet, or if I'm even sure I want the title. My mom thinks I'm allergic to Minnesota because my allergies are a lot worse in MN than here, it's an interesting hypothesis.<br />
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Speaking of my madre. She made a quick visit here for 3 days to see me and take her <strike>death trap</strike> convertible back to Minnesota. I was worried the car wouldn't make it back to Minnesota but it did, shockingly! I think the car is a little Christine-esque and prefers my mom and therefor only breaks down in my possession.<br />
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Anyhow, I must get going! I start training tomorrow for coordinator and 7am is insanely early so I am going to attempt to go to sleep at a decent hour. Wish me luck.<br />
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Bonus Features:<br />
1) I just watched the first episode of the new show Happy Town. It's set in Minnesota (which is the only reason I wanted to see it) but filmed in Canada (which is abundantly obvious to a Minnesotan) and I just gotta say, I love the show portrays Minnesotans as crazy and/or socially awkard. Minnesotans, so poorly understood by the outside world haha<br />
2) I got asked to be a bridesmaid in my friend Shanelle's wedding!! It will be my first time as a bridesmaid and I couldn't be more excited!<br />
3) If you haven't heard by now, Nashville is flooded like mad and I just saw pics of Tami's neighborhood (the neighborhood I lived in while in Nashville) and I cannot believe how high the water is! The entire neighborhood is filled with water at least 4 feet deep. I feel so bad for Tami and everyone else in Nashville. Not gonna lie, kinda glad I'm not dealing with that right now if I still lived there!Allie Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06156825188700869940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001690740136884553.post-35494047309813374482010-03-30T23:49:00.000-05:002010-03-30T23:49:35.817-05:00The One about my Favorite HobbyWhen you do something BIG, like move, usually it is newsworthy. However, part of the definition of newsworthy is something that is a rare occurrence. So, with that in mind, it should not be news at all that I am moving, again. No joke, I really am moving, but before you go thinking I am too crazy, it's just a move across town!<br />
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I lasted 4 LONG MONTHS in Kissimmee, a suburb of Orlando I guess you could call it, the ghetto of Orlando is more like it though. I grew tired of the commute to work really fast. I probably spent about $100 a month in tolls, easily, since there are 2 tolls to and from work. Toll roads are called Tolls because they take a toll on your bank account. It's highway robbery!<br />
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Anyhow, the decision to move was not an easy one as my current roommates are as awesome as they get and I felt like moving them would be ditching them, which I did not want to do at all. But with my need-to-buy-a-car deadline approaching fast, I needed to make some changes that would save me money and thus make buying a car more affordable. So by moving closer to work, cutting out the toll roads and my commute by 75%, I will be saving enough to make a huge dent in a monthly car payment.<br />
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To top it off, I will be living with my former roommates Becca and Sheena and 2 new roommates Mel and Amber and for that, I am very excited! But wait! It gets better! For the first time in my entire life, I will have a WALK-IN CLOSET!! aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa I am so excited! I looked at it today and screamed like a little girl on Christmas who got a Barbie playhouse. Built in shelves, so much storage...it's amazing what a walk-in closet can do to improve a girl's mood. <br />
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Anyways, I've been moving my stuff over all week and will start living there for real April 1st. It's a great apartment complex pretty much 5 miles from work. Life is going to be so much easier being closer, or at least I'm hoping so! With the 40 minutes a day I'm going to save on drive-time, I might actually get my butt to the gym on a semi-regular basis. Let's hope! Anyhow, time to pack up a few more things and get to bed.<br />
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Bonus Features:<br />
1) My computer was freaking out on me again, randomly shutting off for unknown reasons (kind of like my car, lol funny but not really, anyhow...) so I wiped it clean and reinstalled the Operating System (yikes!) and am currently working on restoring music, photos and other documents. Pray it works. It's such a headache!<br />
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2) I just checked, my music is SAVED!!!! That's just about the best news all day right there. The bad news is that my play counts on iTunes were erased so now I will have to recreate my top 25 most played which was 2 years in the making of some of my all time faves. The good news is my Top 25 most played will no longer make me cringe because of that one summer I listened to a little too much Miley Cyrus. =)Allie Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06156825188700869940noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001690740136884553.post-81821355309396852672010-03-25T22:26:00.000-05:002010-03-25T22:26:49.428-05:00The One about Epcot (and other various changes!)Today I got 2 pieces of job-related news to wrap my mind around..... Shift bids were this week (that's where everyone in my department re-picks what park they work at and what their days off will be). Being low on the totem pole I don't really get to pick, I'm moreso just told what's left for me to have. Having only ever worked at Magic Kingdom, I clearly hoped that Magic Kingdom is where I would be placed. However, since that is what I wanted I should have known that is not what I would get, because that's just how my life goes you know? lol If you couldn't guess from the title of the blog I got placed at Epcot.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu8J0-gluuWeMkkcnPXDli1AUdYTWewS5mseyqbqi4Zj4R4mEo7QJYcLZh4ETNLT24JYwr2kLEG9dlkrfyhzv_O7mJvaP_TxrgPqPxV-3ryTzUxgof9Xh2xeGsn6YL2sh9vMZCSmAO_yNz/s1600/epcot+ball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu8J0-gluuWeMkkcnPXDli1AUdYTWewS5mseyqbqi4Zj4R4mEo7QJYcLZh4ETNLT24JYwr2kLEG9dlkrfyhzv_O7mJvaP_TxrgPqPxV-3ryTzUxgof9Xh2xeGsn6YL2sh9vMZCSmAO_yNz/s320/epcot+ball.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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Epcot's Pros:<br />
Closer Parking (at Magic you have to park like on the moon and then take a bus)<br />
Nicer guests (the mood is more relaxed than at Magic and guests are willing to talk more)<br />
Shade (stand under the big ball, avoid the sun, it's that simple)<br />
Wind (their is a wind tunnel created by the big ball, which will come in very handy on a hot summer day)<br />
No interuptions (At magic kingdom, you have 4 parades, numerous marching bands, a flag retreat and goodness knows what else that make talking to guests impossible, Epcot as no such interruptions)<br />
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Epcot's Cons:<br />
NO FRIENDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<br />
I don't know if you realize this but my job is made 100% better by my co-workers and for the most part, they all work at Magic Kingdom! No Jason, No Ariel, No Jordan, No Tracey, No Andrew, No Sarah, No Angela, the list goes on and on. I will miss you, my friends, come visit me. With my luck, the Epcot ball will come loose and roll me over and squash me like the Disney-slave ant that I am. If that happens, please feel free to play Hanson at my funeral.<br />
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Also, another con, the cafeteria is like a million miles away. But that could be a con hidden as a pro because it will motivate me to bring my own beverage to lunch and not buy anything, hence it will save me money. (I always bring my own meal, I just usually buy a beverage because fountain pop IS the best! Aren't you glad you know that completely useless fact about me now!?)<br />
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I also cannot explain directions at Epcot if my life depended on it. I am usually really good at getting a visual map in my head of any place I go after walking around it 1 time, but not Epcot. Where is soarin you ask? Head that direction and find the next cast member so they can tell you. That will be my answer. lol The closest smoking section? Heck if I know. I can tell you the location of every single smoking section in the Magic Kingdom, the menus of almost every restaurant (quick service and sit down), the food served at every cart in the Magic Kingdom, the location of every bathroom with detailed directions on how to get there no matter where we are currently standing and pretty much anything else you want to know. Basically, I rock the face off of Magic Kingdom and pride myself on knowing it inside and out. Epcot is a mystery to me. I like to tell myself that I need to figure out Epcot like I have figured out Magic Kingdom so that when I am President of Walt Disney World I know all the parks well haha and then I woke up from my dream...<br />
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Today I also found out that I did not get the Research Coordinator position that I applied/interviewed for. I interviewed last week and it went really well, I was pleased with how I did and really went into it with the attitude that interviews are always good practice and I had no expectation of actually getting the position. So I was not surprised to hear that I did not get it. I did, however, get relief coordinator! Essentially, whenever one of the coordinators has a day off or calls in sick, the pull a relief coordinator to fill in! So that is exciting and will bring on some new challenges that I can tackle!<br />
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So a lot of changes at work and in life but more about the life changes LATER. I am off to bed, gotta get up early tomorrow and open Epcot, go figure!! Until next time...<br />
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Bonus Features:<br />
1) Only my Minnesota friends will get this most likely...today I met one of the co-founders of Cub foods! How insanely random, huh? I just saw this old man walking with a Mall of America hat on so I started chatting with him, turns out he started the biggest Grocery store chain in all of Minnesota!<br />
2) Who watches American Idol? This season kinda blows, not going to lie, but I am all about Casey and Lee. Those 2 are probably the only 2 that I would buy a CD of, maybe Crystal. It's just a world of different from last season when I loved the whole top 10 practically.Allie Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06156825188700869940noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001690740136884553.post-89640312507334596712010-03-05T22:39:00.002-06:002010-03-12T22:06:58.973-06:00The One Where Everything Went Wrong<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The title is no exaggeration, everything that could possibly go wrong lately has gone wrong. Let me explain.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">If you've followed along, you know that car trouble to me is regular occurrence. So when the car I've been driving (my mom's white convertible) started breaking down AGAIN, I thought to myself, "I really need my own car ASAP!" So I started car shopping. Before you know it I'm at a dealership signing papers for a 2005 Toyota Corolla. I had looked at this car forever online and in a whirlwind of activity at the dealership, it became mine...kinda...see after I drove off and the reality set in, I realized that the car didn't have everything it was advertised as having. No keyless entry, no power seats or power windows and no MP3 hook-up. Shocked at my discovery, I (along with my friend Sam, but it was mostly Sam who did the talking cuz I am a baby) brought it to the attention of the dealership that they falsely advertised their car, to which they responded "Too bad so sad" (I am paraphrasing).</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Their rude behavior and deception was too much! On top of it all they were unable to deliver a low APR as promised. So I did what every 24-year-old who is in over their head would do. I called my parents. For days it was a back and forth phone-call marathon between my mom, me and the dealer. The dealer would call and bug me relentlessly at work, my mom would call them to get some answers and I would just cry, all the time, but mostly at the most inconvenient times like at morning work meetings (awesome). The situation was out of control, my mom threatened to get a lawyer and they pretty much laughed in her face. Finally, having reached the end of her rope, she handed the phone to my step-dad. Now, if you have ever met my step-dad or been unlucky enough to make him mad, then you know, this is just not something you do. The dealership had the nerve to imply he was a bad parent by not being there with me when I was there buying a car so it was his fault or something. Insanity!! That, rightfully so, made him really mad, so my step dad said, "You take back the car, give her all of her money back with no fees or I will see you on Monday with my attorney!" And he meant every word and I think the dealership knew it because before you know it they agreed to take back the car and give me all my money back! Hooray! </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So after that headache was over it was time for the next one. Since the whole reason I bought a car was due to the fact that the convertible thought it was fun to shut off randomly while in use, I brought her into a Mitsubishi dealer for the diagnosis. $740 later, she runs <strike>great</strike> (for the time being) and it bought me a little bit more time to shop for cars until my mother takes the car back to Minnesota for another summer. </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">With the car fiasco behind me, I felt like it was only UP from here but I was wrong, Oh so wrong. I had about 4 days in between the end of car-gate (like watergate but not...lol) and my trip to the ER (say what!?!?) Yes the ER And in that 4 day time span, my computer decided to up and get a virus because my life was getting a tad too easy and that's just not OK I guess but let's get back to the ER story.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The pain started on the Wednesday of my work week (not an actual wednesday, just MY wednesday aka the 3rd day in my work week). It basically felt like cramps but times 100. Seriously. I worked through it but when it came to my Friday night, I was in so much pain. My friends Jon and Shanelle were in town from Nashville (yay!!!) and Jon was planning on purposing to Shanelle during fireworks at the Magic Kingdom (triple yay!!!) , so despite my pain, I couldn't miss seeing that! It was magical and amazing and she said YES, obviously, but I headed out ASAP!</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">When I got home I tried to just relax and sleep it off or something, but I was in so much pain it was impossible. I was literally laying in bed just crying because it hurt so much (mostly in my lower back but not my back per-se but the organs located in that general location were clearly not happy for some reason). Fearing I had a kidney infection or that my appendix was going to rupture or something else awful, I went to the Emergency Room. After about 3 hours, a doctor finally saw me <strike>for about 5 minutes</strike>. He diagnosed me with a bladder infection and told me to come back if I throw-up (kidney infection sign) or if pain on my right side worsens (appendix gone awry sign). Well in the next few days I did throw up and I did feel pain on my right side and I tried to get into a doctor without going to the ER again and I had an appointment and wouldn't you know it? The doctor canceled on me. So I waited it out for another day because I had no other choice and now we are caught up to the present. I am writing this from my sick bed. I attempted to blog earlier on but my nausea was so bad I got dizzy looking at the letters fly across the screen as I typed lol. I had to call into work because I couldn't stand for 5 minutes without getting dizzy and I figured that me fainting while doing a survey isn't so magical so I'm best staying at home. The antibiotics and pain killers seem to be doing their job but I fear that some of the things I've been experiencing (nausea, dizziness, fatigue, etc) is actually because of the meds! So I am waiting until I am back at 100% before I get back to work and the earliest the doc could squeeze me in was Wednesday (like 4 days away!!) So pray that my appendix doesn't explode before then I guess... (really bad joke, I'm sorry, I don't think it will). </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">lol But to be honest, the severity of my car situation and my health situation, really put life in perspective. What may seem like the end of the world is actually a very manageable problem usually.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">If you know me at all, you know I always try to look at the bright side of every situation. With an avalanche of "bad" thrown on me, it has been hard to keep my sunny outlook on life but the amount of friends and family I have had help me through each situation has shown me beyond a shadow of a doubt how many great people I have who care about me. When I didn't have a car for over a week due to car-gate, I didn't miss a day of work due to the help of friends and co-workers who either brought me to work or switched with me so I could ride into work with a roommate who was also working at the Magic Kingdom. My mom, dad, stepmom and step-dad were all there for me the best they could be from Minnesota My roommate Will brought me to and from work AND waited in the ER with me. My roommates Emily and Jessi both let me borrow their cars in a pinch. My co-worker Tracey let me sleep at her place, bought me dinner and brought me to work the next morning. My friends Jon and Shanelle drove me home when the meds I was on made it very dangerous for me drive. And my friend Michelle pretty much did everything under the sun from driving me places, picking me up, sharing her mom with me, letting me stay over, not getting mad that I threw up on the side of her car....lol...gross, I know, and that's just the beginning. I am so lucky to have so many people care about me and I can only hope that I can be there for you guys as much as you've been there for me. So while I still don't have my own car yet and my computer is in the process of backing up files as I type and my body can't decide if it's healthy or sick still, I know everything will eventually work out just fine. And to ALL my friends and family, I love you, thanks for being there.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Bonus Features:</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">1) On the way to return the car a really funny thing happened. It was raining and the paper temporary license plate the dealer put on the car was falling off because it was completely soaking wet. I knew this already because Michelle, who was following behind me, called to tell me so. But just as I was at the light to turn into the dealer's lot, a nice man in the car next to me on the right started waving at me, he looked all concerned and yelled "Your tag is falling off!!" but, since I didn't have power windows and couldn't reach the window to roll it down, I just waved back and tried to mouth "I know!" but I was smiling because the whole situation was so ironic that I think he thought I didn't hear him right! But I did, and I laughed.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">2) This is probably the worst news of all my bad news: My FAVORITE BAND in ALL OF FLORIDA - MARK & JAMES - SPLIT UP! I probably got sick because the news of this was so distressing. I loved going to see them play like whenever possible and not gonna lie, pretty much thought James was the coolest guy ever. Alas, no more. I seriously listen to them (along with the Fray and some Jon McL) every night before bed. I am sad that the last time I saw them play, James was <strike>tipsy</strike> being socially awkward and I am sad to think about never hearing "Just Because" ever again. </div>Allie Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06156825188700869940noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001690740136884553.post-3629562085079503742010-02-08T21:04:00.000-06:002010-02-08T21:04:01.112-06:00The One with Bizarre Guest Behavior<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I'm not sure what it was about today, February 8th 2010, that was so crazy, but it was definitely a day of out of the ordinary guest behavior today in the Magic Kingdom. Sure, on any given day, I may have one unique encounter with a guest that sticks out for some reason or another, but today was so strange for so many reasons that I just have to share with you. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">First off, to set the stage, I was surveying rides/attractions/shops in Tomorrowland and Fantasyland today. My first stop was the Tomorrowland Indy Speedway. As I'm approaching the ride's exit, I notice a VIP tour guide with a couple and their kid in a stroller. You know me, I stare until I can figure out who it is when I see a VIP tour guide with someone. Most of the times it's nobody famous, just someone with money who doesn't want to wait in line, but this time it WAS someone famous! If you read my facebook status already, the surprise is ruined, but it was Nascar driver Jeff Gordon! And it totally made me laugh that he was getting off of the indy speedway and I just watched all of the oblivious people getting off the ride after him and I wanted to be like "Do you realize you just were on a race track with one of the best Nascar drivers EVER?????" But I couldn't do that, OBVIOUSLY. So, while I was supposed to be asking people about their experience on the ride, I just watched Jeff and his wife stroll towards the teacups with their kid and their VIP tour guide in tow. Surprisingly, Jeff was pushing his own kid's stroller versus having the guide do it, which is rare if you ask me. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Anyhow, my next stop is Space Mountain. Now let me give you a little background. When I am surveying rides, one of the questions we ask is "Why did you give (insert ride name here) a rating of (insert number 0-10) for your likelihood to recommend it to a friend?" 99% of people answer this question with "Because it's fun" or something to that effect. I'm not even kidding you. It doesn't take a genius to predict that people</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"> will say Monster's Inc laugh floor is funny or that they like to control the ride at dumbo. So today, when I asked a man in his 20s why he gave Space mountain a rating of 9, I was expecting him to say "Because it's awesome! And it's in the dark!" (the typical Space Mountain answer) But alas, he did not. With a total straight face he pauses, clearly thinking of his answer and begins, "Well, if you look at the ride's history. It opened in 1975 so it's a considerably old rollercoaster compared to other rides at Disney World but even so it is one of the best rides in all of Disney World, which is really saying something. </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">The refurbishments they made too are notable. The ride is smother, the theme fits better with the whole vision of tomorrow..." and before he can say anymore, his girlfriend stops him and goes "It was fun" and I just started laughing because I couldn't help it! He did proceed to tell me more too as I did my best to remember it all. The whole encounter was simply fabulous and hilarious too because even during the longest and most thoughtful space mountain verbatim EVER, I still received the standard answer of "It was fun". <br />
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</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Anyways, as I finish Tomorrowland attractions, it's time to head to Mickey's Star Traders (a store in Tomorrowland). I'm standing there, minding my own business, waiting for guests to come out of the store and this guy walks out of the store looking all mad. (Clearly, I do not intercept <i>that guy </i>I thought to myself.) His little girl, about 3 years old, comes running after him but before she leaves the store, she grabs a bag of candy and continues out the store. They don't pay me enough to stop shoplifting toddlers so I just watch the chaos instead (I know, I'm horrible, right!?). The dad walks the girl back, puts the candy down and yells something at his wife and continues to stand next to me in the doorway for a bit. Then, out of nowhere, the wife comes over and starts yelling "Look what you started! You let her walk out of the store with candy in her hand and now you're checking out those girls! They're little girls you perv!"</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">He must be used to this because he just shrugs and goes "They're old enough and I wasn't do anything." It took all of the power in me not to let my jaw drop. It was the most insane couple ever. For the record, the wife was referring to a group of high school girls that were there for a dance competition. (There were huge groups of high school girls all over the park today due to said competition.) But wow, the wife accusing her husband of checking out high school girls, loud enough for the girls to hear it, while her daughter shoplifts was quite something to see. I did my best to look oblivious, and as soon as they weren't looking, I moved to another door haha.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">My next stop was the Tea Cups, which I usually hate because I always end up watching the Tea Cups spin round and round and then feel dizzy. I always tell myself to remember NOT to watch them spin, but I always watch and always feel light headed but anyways, I have to of surveyed the teacups like a hundred times now but today was the first day I saw the Queen of Hearts and subsequently the White Rabbit take turns riding the tea cups with guests! I've heard that sometimes Alice will ride with a guest in the morning, but this happened in the afternoon and all my hundreds of times surveying there, I've never seen it happen!! It was fun and I thoroughly enjoyed watching the little girls face light up because she was riding the tea cups with the White Rabbit. So precious. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Later on, I was waiting for guests to come out of Pinocchio's Village House and a woman walks up to me to ask me a question. She sees my nametage, which says I'm from the "Univ of Minnesota Duluth" and she goes "oooh! We're from Minnesota! Do you know the Duluth bus joke?" I didn't and told her such and she proceeds to tell me this really corny joke that doesn't translate into writing because it's all about the stereotypical Minnesota accent, but it was fun none the less. I don't think I've ever had a guest tell me a joke before. Sure, I get lots of guests who think they're funny with their quick comebacks, and I laugh politely, but this lady was down right awesome (as are most Minnesotans! =) </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Finally, on my way from It's a Small World to Winnie the Pooh (my last survey to do for the night!!!) I hear this guy yell "Touch me and I will put you down!" Talk like that sticks out like a sore thumb at Disney so I whip my head around to see what's going on and these two grown men are in full on death-stare-mode and yelling at each other for some unknown reason and I'm like frantic- looking around for a manager or ANY other cast member and see NO ONE. So I'm like crap, crap, crap, what do I do if this gets physical!?!? But praise the Lord for wives because two women just step in and the two guys walk away from each other and all is calm again. I then proceeded to find the location of the nearest phone, just for future reference, because I don't want some guy to get punched out as I stand there and go, hmm, sucks to be him. So now I'm prepared for future throw downs but only if they happen right in front of It's a Small World again haha. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Anyhow, today was a day like no other. I think everyone stayed up to late watching the superbowl or something and it made them crazy. Just a theory lol It's funny because the big event of the day was that Drew Brees, the superbowl MVP, was doing a parade down mainstreet USA and I completely did not care enough to try to go watch it and somehow a bunch excitement seemed to find me anyways. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div>Allie Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06156825188700869940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001690740136884553.post-23432872587915993722010-02-03T21:06:00.003-06:002010-02-03T21:10:17.916-06:00The One Where I Explain Recent Vague Status Updates<div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">So a lot of things have happened recently that are a big deal but do little to effect my day to day life...if that makes any sense. And sometimes, whatever it happens to be, is all I can think about and somehow finds it's way into an annoyingly vague facebook status.... and I apologize but i can explain.... Sometimes you want to share news with your friends, but when you've accumulated 600 friends from your entire life, it's like, do I really want to conveniently place my life's latest news for all to see on their news feed? Or do I want only the ones who care enough to come read my blog (or call or text me) to know the whole story? And The answers are no and yes respectively. </span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>So, without any further ado. Let me explain these two from January 27: <i><span class="UIStory_Message"> </span></i></b></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="UIStory_Message">" Just finished a really annoying chapter. Onto the next one! But first, an interview...kinda..."</span></span></i></b></span></div><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" data-ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="color: black; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="UIStory_Message">This one is about two completely different topics. I don't really care to elaborate on the first half. But the second half is of some interest. I've tried very hard to enjoy my job in Research and have succeeded for the most part, with the help of some great co-workers who make going to work fun for me. However, the job is clearly draining my energy and I dread going to work everyday so I decided to do something about it. I went to casting at Disney World and applied for a transfer to be a Concierge in the Resorts! For now, this has potential to be a perfect role for me because the part I thoroughly enjoy about my current job is the time in-between surveys when I can help answer questions for guests and talk to them as ME instead of someone who is reading questions verbatim like a Disney Robot. The interview went very well but there are not current openings, so I have to be patient and wait for an opening to come up. When an opening occurs, I have to interview for the position still, so I have a ways to go, but it's a start. It might be a month or it could be 6 months before a job opens up, so patience is going to be essential. The concierge role would be a great stepping stone so feel free to pray for an opening for me sooner rather than later!</span></span></h3><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" data-ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="color: black; font-weight: normal;"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="UIStory_Message">" Being unready and ill-equipped is what you have to expect in life. It is the universal predicament. It is your lot as a human being to lack what it takes. Circumstances are seldom right. You never have the capacities, the strength, the wisdom, the virtue you ought to have. You must always do with less than you need in <span class="text_exposed_hide">...</span><span class="text_exposed_show">a situation vastly different from what you would have chosen"</span></span></span></b></i></h3><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" data-ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="color: black; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="UIStory_Message">This quote just really spoke to me because so often in life we make excuses for why we aren't where we want to be, who we want to be with or doing what we want to do. And sometimes you have to stop and realize that if you'd rather make excuses for not going for something then you must not really want to go for it, because if you did, there would be no excuses. You would just do it, even if the circumstances weren't perfect. When you are truly passionate about something, you'll go for it, no matter what.</span></span></h3><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" data-ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="color: black; font-weight: normal;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="UIStory_Message">Yesterday:</span><span class="UIStory_Message"> <i> </i></span></span></b></h3><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" data-ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="color: black; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span class="UIStory_Message"><i>" Hmmm interesting news I'm not quite sure how to process."</i></span></b></span></h3><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" data-ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="color: black; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="UIStory_Message"> There's no easy way to say this so I'll just get right to it. I found out that my former Uncle passed away yesterday. He couldn't have been more than 45 and he has 3 kids, my cousins, who are all amazing and much too young to lose their Dad. He is technically not my uncle anymore because he was married to my Aunt and they divorced a few years ago but it's sad nonetheless. He was always a cool Uncle and easy to talk to and laugh with. I mostly feel horrible for my cousins and I wish I was home more but I have been seeing less and less of them ever since I went away to college and being at Disney the last year and a half, I've missed quite a few family events with them. So I just pray for my cousins and my Aunt and I hope they are all coping as best as humanly possible. </span></span></h3><div style="color: black;"><br />
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</div><div style="color: black;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">I don't want to end on a sad note, so here's a good one from January 22:<span class="UIStory_Message"> </span></span></b></div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span class="UIStory_Message">" I can't believe tonight is actually happening!"</span></i></b></span></div><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" data-ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="color: black; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="UIStory_Message">Do you know who the 1 person I text more than any other person in the world is? His name is Billie and I can count on one hand the number of friends I have who even KNOW about him and that's because it's an unusual friendship but one that has lasted for approximately 10 years. Remember back in 1999, when we dialed up to the internet using AOL and sleepovers involved spending all night on AIM with your girl friends saying stupid things to boys in chat rooms!? Well I do because that's what me and my friends did! Well I don't even remember how it all started exactly, in some random AOL chat room I presume. I used to lie about who I was in those, because I was scared that there were creepers out there, but I could tell Billie was genuinely just a nice guy from California therefore I felt okay to be honest and that I was just Allie from Minnesota. Billie and I were middle school internet friends that only chatted on AIM and somehow turned it into High School internet friends who texted every once and a while (since it was the new trend afterall, duh!) and then he was my College internet friend who I would call on my drives back to Duluth from concerts in the cities. Neither of us can explain WHY or HOW we've managed to stay friends for so long, it just happened. I think it helped that it has always been a very platonic relationship in that we both tell each other about our crushes. And after so many years, you forget that you've technically never met the person. So on January 22, Billie was in Orlando with some friends to go to a Magic Game (he's currently in Daytona Beach for an umpire camp) so we finally met, how insane is that?! My friend Michelle went with me just in case Billie turned out to be a weirdo (he's not) and it was like meeting a friend you've known for 10 years, completely comfortable. It's funny because, there aren't many guy friends in my life that have sent me birthday cards every year on my birthday or texted me till I fell asleep in Nashville when I was scared and felt alone in a strange city, but Billie did all that and I'm grateful to have him as a friend! </span></span></h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI4nquoaQl_QEALKBljmw3H8dx1t72v3yhHmLEL0DdPqbQakPTLHy1sVhyRLa0PtPmMYfCa0-qpCB6TiPA4jD-7WezGPtRN2czQbYpVjTFCkH6fyc_tf4z58IQeoxphx8YEnMD5JaNS0n5/s1600-h/Billie+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI4nquoaQl_QEALKBljmw3H8dx1t72v3yhHmLEL0DdPqbQakPTLHy1sVhyRLa0PtPmMYfCa0-qpCB6TiPA4jD-7WezGPtRN2czQbYpVjTFCkH6fyc_tf4z58IQeoxphx8YEnMD5JaNS0n5/s400/Billie+010.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" data-ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="color: black; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="UIStory_Message"> </span></span></h3><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" data-ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="color: black; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="UIStory_Message"> Anyways, hopefully I am no longer guilty of "Vaguebooking" as it is called these days because I dutifully explained my vague statuses but on the other hand, sometimes it just seems tacky to wear your heart on your status so I ensure there will be more vague statuses in the future. But as always, you can get <i>pretty much</i> the whole scoop here! (It's not the WHOLE scoop because I have never and will never talk about boys in my blog, because that takes all the fun out of girl talk ;)</span></span></h3><br />
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</span>Allie Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06156825188700869940noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001690740136884553.post-54862728179077236032010-01-21T20:48:00.003-06:002010-01-21T20:54:26.583-06:00The one with my new casa<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Yay for a new update, right?! Only like a 22 day gap! I wasn't feeling very inspired to write at times then when I was, I had no time!! So instead of writing about my last 22 days, I decided to just show you my life in photos. More fun I think! <br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">New Years Eve 2010!!! It was a Black & White party and we girls had a fun time taking pics, clearly.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Home for Christmas! Only a two weeks late, but whatever! Home sweet home!<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7gxtSHYyoZPT11hZjHMUU_dxW34Ke9Pgw5te4CamjX5h0YsSjHvHVBOztUgDTibfYWvB05W5REvkVE3tbhf7Xz_IdKG9JWox8QVAin7LWdVttvGtaG2XNAfsKRvJHLHWOIpcwd0WjpW3v/s1600-h/New+Years+2010+043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7gxtSHYyoZPT11hZjHMUU_dxW34Ke9Pgw5te4CamjX5h0YsSjHvHVBOztUgDTibfYWvB05W5REvkVE3tbhf7Xz_IdKG9JWox8QVAin7LWdVttvGtaG2XNAfsKRvJHLHWOIpcwd0WjpW3v/s400/New+Years+2010+043.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Got to see my little brothers, Lucas (L) and Jared (R). They are adorable, I know.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Church with my mom and Sis - nothing feels more like home than a Sunday with family. PS How am I the only one NOT wearing pink!? Everyone take note, history was made and this pic is proof.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Got to see my friends who I love and miss a lot when I'm in Florida! This pic is with Lily (L) and Jenna (R). I love those girls! Christine, Nate and Mike were also there! And I got to spend a whole day with Trisha and a wonderful afternoon with Emily! Sadly I didn't get to see my friends still up in Duluth! Next time, I promise!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Back to life...back to reality...<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">I took back 2 full suitcases of things from home so I could finally make my room in Florida a little more "me". So here is a tour of my room! We start at the beginning...seriously...here is my door:<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixEu4u1LQA2T4eMfOjaPz1g31kZ53vvSAtY6bFzff1VfObmS8bHcvOHg-peyGe7byNZM2ih9GwFXJC8nVbTXnlm6Sh5tyCoYM1KBexomaYVQQt1wfItLZ2f_qodmvPX3jhIg-CLtznsoiu/s1600-h/My+new+casa+009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixEu4u1LQA2T4eMfOjaPz1g31kZ53vvSAtY6bFzff1VfObmS8bHcvOHg-peyGe7byNZM2ih9GwFXJC8nVbTXnlm6Sh5tyCoYM1KBexomaYVQQt1wfItLZ2f_qodmvPX3jhIg-CLtznsoiu/s400/My+new+casa+009.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"> Yes, I did make door decs for me and my roommates (RA for life!)<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Is it too much pink!? Hahaha. I really don't think it is. Seriously. It's more white if you ask me.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">This is the view from my bed. I am very proud of that bookcase, because I assembled it myself and it was harder than the desk I assembled the week prior. Don't ask me how!<br />
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I am even more proud of this collage than I am of the bookcase. I found this quote card (center) and was inspired to make this. The quote says "Good friends are like stars. You may not always see them but you know they are always there." So I printed off pics of some of my closest friends (emphasis on the ones I don't always get to see, like the quote implies) and made this collage. (See yourself!? Autumn, the first pic I took, there was a glare right on your face, but I re-took the pic just so you could see that you're there! Love you!)<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">And I don't know why I felt compelled to show you what our bathroom looks like, but it's cute and all color coordinated (pink, purple and brown!) so I'm like, sure, why not!? I'd show you the rest of the house but it's not nearly as exciting. We're thinking about painting the walls and decorating, so until that happens, you'll just have to wait in suspense. =)<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">Anyways, not much else is new! I loved being home, it felt like a real vacation and it was amazing. I miss everyone there so much but the cold weather and scary winter driving was a good reminder as to why I don't think I want to deal with winters like that for my ENTIRE life. So even if I just take a few years break from winter, that's better than nothing.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">If this is the only part of my blog you read, you'd know everything that's going on in my life right now:</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Work </b>= I'm surviving</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Career </b>= always a work in progress, hopefully I'll have news in the coming months </span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Friends</b> = Fun and much too spread out across the globe</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Roommates</b> = I have a new one, Jessi, who I used to work with at the Emporium and is AWESOME!!</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Family</b> = Miss them</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Faith</b> = Stronger than ever</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Concerts </b>= none on the horizon ::picture me, looking very sad right about now::</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Boys</b> = let's not go there</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Rock Band Talent (Drums) </b>= Decent</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Rock Band Talent (Singing)</b> = Laughable </span><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">As always, thanks for reading! </span><br />
</div>Allie Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06156825188700869940noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001690740136884553.post-88105468587825459712009-12-29T12:21:00.001-06:002009-12-29T12:33:23.608-06:00The One about Christmas 2009Merry Christmas (a few days late) and Happy New Year (a few days early!)<br />
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This year was my 2nd Christmas where I didn't see family OR go to Church, so it really didn't feel like Christmas to me at all. I worked at Epcot on Christmas morning, it was rather uneventful other than my manager bringing us donuts and orange juice. Christmas evening, I went to my co-worker's house for dinner with a few other co-workers who are in Florida without any family around. It was a fun time and it was nice to get a real, home-cooked meal on Christmas! Although, I have to say, even if I were with family on Christmas, if I were in Florida, it still wouldn't feel Christmasy because Christmas to me equals snow and cold, not palm trees and 60 degrees (unintentional rhyming but enjoyable nonetheless).<br />
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Last night though was SO COLD and I had to work until 11:30 (not late compared to my 5am shifts last year at the Emporium) but regardless, I'm the stupid Minnesotan wearing shorts outside thinking if I can handle blizzards I can handle a "cold" Florida night. But I was assigned to exit surveys, so essentially standing in 1 spot trying to get people to stop to do my survey. It was NOT easy. I know that other cast members doing the same surveys on a warmer day got about 200 completed. I, for once in my life, am lowering the curve with a measley 71 surveys. Thankfully, I had no quota, was just told to get as many as I could. It didn't help that it seemed everything that could go wrong, did go wrong. Including but not limited to, a frantic woman wanting me to help her find her lost son and a elderly woman who took a dive on the sidewalk in front of me. Ouch!<br />
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The cutest thing happened at work though too. I'm standing near town square in the Magic Kingdom, which is all decorated for Christmas with like a 100 foot Christmas tree and all, and this little boy comes running in and with his arms waving in the air proclaims "IT'S A WINTER WONDERLAND IN HERE!!!" I just start laughing and his parents just look at him like, awww, isn't our son the cutest!? And in a non-verbal nod, I communicated back that he was, indeed, the cutest.<br />
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A week from tomorrow I'll be on my way to Minnesota and I couldn't be more excited! I was a little bummed when my mom told me, on Christmas, that my sister was going to be taking my bed (the one I hand-picked in High School and labeled my dream bed) to her new house. I was like ummmm hold the phone, sleeping in my bed at home is a whole part of the coming home experience, right!? And I plead my case which resulted in my sister getting a new bed and me keeping my bed at home! Win-win for everyone! My mom also told me that for Christmas, her and my step-dad are taking the entire family to Las Vegas. Because nothing says FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY like Las Vegas!!!!!! lol My family is strange. I'm thinking my 13 nieces and nephews won't be along for this trip. Just a hunch.<br />
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Anyways, time to do something productive but before I go, in the spirit of cheesy holiday messages, I just have to say, it warms my heart that you care enough to read this! I especially love when I get text messages of my spelling mistakes - ahem thanks Billie. =)Allie Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06156825188700869940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001690740136884553.post-82004977308594226472009-12-16T00:03:00.001-06:002009-12-16T00:03:36.218-06:00The one where I learned to like my jobSo I've officially been a Research Specialist at Walt Disney World for about 2 months. I finally was told I get to take off my "Earning my ears" tag from my name tag soooo I guess I'm official. I menionted before that I would be interviewing to go full-time in my current role and, as predicted, it was awkward. But it all worked out in the end because I got the job..yes... the one already had. Don't be confused. Interviews USUALLY are for getting a new job, this interview was to just change status from part-time to full-time. lol But yeah, they told me I got it like 2 days later. I feel everyday I am getting more okay with my job as well. And if you are curious about it, I'll try to explain.<br />
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At the beginning of the day, you're given a "strat" with the list of all the surveys you are assigned to complete that day.We have some surveys that can just seem like huge mountains to climb. Example 1: The Dreaded Diary. Completing the Diary requires finding someone who arrived in the Orlando area yesterday or today, is staying OFF Disney property, lives in the USA, has NO cast member with them AND THEN is willing to keep track of all of their spending for their entire vacation including what stores they even just visit and few other details. So yeah, when you have one of those on your strat, it can feel like a weight on your shoulders. Example 2: The fearful Food and Beverage. This entails finding 12-13 people who have had food and/or beverages that day who are willing to go sit at a computer and take a 5-10 minute survey about the food they had. There are a few other surveys that can seem like a daunting task, but regardless, I don't fear them as much as I once did. In fact, yesterday, after finishing all my work an hour and a half early, I did 2 extra show reviews of Tiana's Showboat Jubilee, 5 extra food and beverage surveys AND an extra diary, because others didn't get them done and I wanted to help out. I totally could have just sat in the break room and done nothing. As long as I finish my work, I'm golden. But to be at the point where it doesn't bother me to do extra work makes me finally feel like I'm comfortable with the job I'm in and that's a good feeling. No, this isn't my dream job, but it's nice not to hate my job either. It can be fun actually being able to talk to people (the nice ones) throughout the day and I feel lucky to have fun co-workers to keep it interesting. <br />
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Anyhow, not much else is new, just working and enjoying living in Florida. My roommate from my College Program, Becca moved back down to Florida yesterday and I'm so excited to have her back! A big group of us went out to the Ale House tonight to kind of celebrate all being back together and it was fun. Not to make my Minnesota friends jealous or anything but today was 100% top-down on the convertible weather, it was soooooo amazing. The holidays are making me homesick but I'm consoled by the sun and the fact that I don't fear for my life driving in snow. I can't wait to go home in January though! (And Because I know Autumn reads these, I am already making plans with Emily to come up to Duluth, so rest assured we will probably want to crash at your place oook!?) Night all!Allie Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06156825188700869940noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001690740136884553.post-9644780509794171162009-12-08T20:27:00.002-06:002009-12-08T20:29:48.847-06:00The One with SnuggiesIn an effort to continue the exponential growth of the world phenomenon known as the Snuggie, Emily and I decided to test the claims in the oh-so-convincing Snuggie ad campaign. Can you REALLY change the channel of the TV while staying warm!? It seemed too good to be true, we had to test it for ourselves... <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Unbelievable!! Talking on the phone AND using the computer at the same time<i> while</i> looking fashionable in the popular zebra print Snuggie. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwlpa0fpM2_vZpWsxtjhGTj-iwNEFlF47eNW4vc6QICZrYgdlDisttWJySe9dWg-DTfxva7pFaLmefrBmuJzp01iLjk_CfnkXFp0_IpBbFPna1C0mirhMtSOyVycVBhurolSpZaBvQdKJN/s1600-h/Snuggies+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
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</a> The most obvious use for a Snuggie: sleeping! Duh! <br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yet they never seem to show you that on TV, what are they hiding?! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Guitar Hero + Snuggie = Ultimate Christmas Gift Combo<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Someone just told me the Snuggie will now be available in purple giraffe print!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Wow, doesn't she look warm while changing the TV station!? If she had a regular ol' blanket<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">her entire arm would have indeed fallen off due to frostbite.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Celebrities should wear them in public because they also happen to make a great way to hide from the paparazzi. Of course if they wear one in public no one will think you're famous anyhow, so really, why AREN'T the celebs wearing these on Rodeo Drive already?!? I think I just started a trend<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This photo is so rock and roll I can see it being printed in Rolling Stone<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">with the headline "Move over Jimi Hendrix, Emily Hendricks has arrived!"<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And, as those famous ads show, you really CAN watch sports in a snuggie! The question is no longer can you really do all those things in a snuggie, because we've proven, against all odds, that you can.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But the real question, the one burning on everyone's mind is....<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">when will it be socially acceptable to wear a snuggie everywhere!? <br />
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</div>Allie Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06156825188700869940noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001690740136884553.post-25474214718603259522009-12-06T20:37:00.000-06:002009-12-06T20:37:42.869-06:00The (Second) One where I moved - just not as farIf you've been following along, you know that I moved to Orlando and into my friend Michelle's apartment as a temporary solution while I figured out a place to live. Well, it's December 6th (can you believe it!?) and I moved into a house in Kissimmee this week I'm not going to lie, I have extremely mixed emotions about it. It feels soooo far away (there are 2 tolls to and from work) and when people ask me where I live, I honestly have no idea how to describe it to anyone. "It's next to a Walgreens?" is my pathetic attempt. Well, just about every place is next to a Walgreens around here.<br />
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It was a much needed move though, since I couldn't cramp Michelle's space any longer. I'm enjoying having my own room once again, but I do miss girl talk with Michelle every night! The house I live in now is most definitely a shade of pink! Go figure, I live in a pink house! There are palm trees in the front and a pool in the back so I can't complain! (although it's WAY too cold to swim!) I live with Emily Hendricks (for those of you who don't know, I grew up with her back home and we were practically neighbors) and her boyfriend Will- they both work at Magic Kingdom so hey, maybe we can all car pool someday! How cute, right!? haha<br />
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Work has been getting a lot better..or maybe I'm getting a lot better at my work!? lol I am not sure which is which but after a while, rude people just bug you less and when people say no to doing a survey, you just don't care anymore because it happens all the time and the next person will probably say yes.<br />
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If you're back in Minnesota, I'm hoping to be able to come home in January, so put that in the back of your mind and I'll keep you posted on dates. I won't be home for Christmas sadly, but I'll be off work, with nothing to do, so feel free to call =)<br />
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This week I'm hoping to finally get to see Mark & James play on Friday then maybe hit up a concert with Boys Like Girls, The Ting Tings, Ke$ha, Cobra Starship, and Hey Monday. It's just been waaaaaaay too long since I've been to a concert! <br />
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Bonus Features:<br />
1. I had to get new sheets for my new bed and I totally nerded out because I am not kidding you, I found sheets "inspired by" Cinderella but are PINK, even though Cindy is all about the blue ya know, so the fact that they're pink is like a miracle. Basically, they are the prettiest sheets ever and am fairly certain the fairy godmother herself wove them just for me.<br />
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2. On tuesday I'm interviewing for the job I already have, weird, right? I'm technically only part time and apparently you have to be interviewed to get statused as full time. How do you interview for a job you already have? I'm confused.<br />
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3. Yesterday at work, I was recruiting people to participate in a Food & Beverage survey and I stopped this lovely couple from the United Kingdom and the most hilarious thing happened. I asked them if they would be willing to take 5 minutes to go sit and complete this survey and they said in their cute accents "Well that's alright." So I was like, "ok, well have a great night!" and moved on to find someone else. A minute later, the guy I work with comes over and is like, the people you were just talking to are sitting inside waiting to do the survey. I was like umm, what people!? WELL turns out, that while Americans say "That's alright" as a means of saying no, English people say "That's alright!" like they'd say "Jolly good!" except apparently no one says "jolly good" anymore, so I'm told. So the cute couple saw themselves over to do the survey and probably thought I was the most weird girl ever but they were so awesome and the whole exchange made my night (in addition to my awesome co-worker who pretty much prevented me from going into a major meltdown lol) Anyways, that was waaaaay too long of a bonus feature, but there ya go! Have a good one folks!Allie Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06156825188700869940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001690740136884553.post-43013087125913681742009-12-03T21:38:00.001-06:002009-12-03T21:39:54.099-06:00The One with Kris Allen and Christmas!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjILpn_pNncPK_kNFOWPKJL3JaduGjDmCkwzj-hk5RLJa8ls9V3XSqG1tqcKhlxp6MkV7gRY5qTsSkw8qGR0T9bts4C8Yx7THe5_ODT5We5n_DJCN8RJ2BgS-RupWrybPhH1RRpZic_OlST/s1600-h/Kris+Allen+Christmas+013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjILpn_pNncPK_kNFOWPKJL3JaduGjDmCkwzj-hk5RLJa8ls9V3XSqG1tqcKhlxp6MkV7gRY5qTsSkw8qGR0T9bts4C8Yx7THe5_ODT5We5n_DJCN8RJ2BgS-RupWrybPhH1RRpZic_OlST/s320/Kris+Allen+Christmas+013.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Today Emily and I went to the Magic Kingdom to see this awesome guy sing Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree. It was a fun experience. He didn't talk much, just sang the song 3 times, waved to the crowd and went on his way but it was cool! I just love seeing how things like the Walt Disney World Christmas Parade are put together, even if it means seeing Nick Cannon repeat the same lines 3 times over!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Despite the huge camera behind us, my camera was the only camera that caught footage of us two ladies throughout the day. We just didn't stand in the right spots to be in the crowd shots but that's Aokay with me! So no need to try to find us in the crowd on Christmas day, fairly certain we'll be no where in site despite the fact that we were up pretty close! <br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge9kmMI2Rnn-yr3cNrZdp-5n0hGyJyGa2Hi-RYeV_oCQCQLGsSoDse8VPEiRQuHFUBPPWhFDlyJNxzX3xoFNj21in_UbJqd56iKV6tleFipQt-hS7Qv1BpCmZU2CMsYy9gnD3fpiYKAXrA/s1600-h/Kris+Allen+Christmas+056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge9kmMI2Rnn-yr3cNrZdp-5n0hGyJyGa2Hi-RYeV_oCQCQLGsSoDse8VPEiRQuHFUBPPWhFDlyJNxzX3xoFNj21in_UbJqd56iKV6tleFipQt-hS7Qv1BpCmZU2CMsYy9gnD3fpiYKAXrA/s320/Kris+Allen+Christmas+056.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Nick Cannon was looking festive in a red velvet suit, too bad it was like 70 degrees and he was right in the sun! He was a pro though! He'd squint when the cameras were off but when the cameras were on, he somehow managed to appear as though the sun wasn't bothering him at all! You could tell he really was a nice, funny guy too. He'd mess up his lines here and there but just kept smiling and kept rolling. <br />
</div>Allie Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06156825188700869940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001690740136884553.post-13224992055685469962009-11-21T23:01:00.005-06:002009-11-21T23:08:18.466-06:00The One where I turned 24!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgosnJnPbc0PFDHgAOj2-MDrrTrsMp_IM9TISrt4D-jkgUMLcg8YgjP2oMxwcGaU7vjqq-oUUKcBc-c0KEqDlw8u6W9YyUyLAeZtpuM7wN7Gg8xH5aEUXV-8NHjpxUKIWHkjg503LTyIh5_/s1600/P1020111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgosnJnPbc0PFDHgAOj2-MDrrTrsMp_IM9TISrt4D-jkgUMLcg8YgjP2oMxwcGaU7vjqq-oUUKcBc-c0KEqDlw8u6W9YyUyLAeZtpuM7wN7Gg8xH5aEUXV-8NHjpxUKIWHkjg503LTyIh5_/s320/P1020111.JPG" /></a><br />
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I still cannot believe I'm 24. 23 was young 20s. 24 is mid 20s. Oh Lord. Anyways, you may or may not know that I traditionally like to make a big deal about my birthday. Growing up, I always had big parties. In college, it was a little less intense but I still tried to get as many friends together as possible for dinner or something.<br />
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This year was a little different. All I wanted to do this year was go see my favorite duo (Mark & James) play some tunes and have some dinner with my girls. That was the one and only plan. I had no other plans for the day other than relax, get dolled up, see Mark & James. Well about 3pm, I found out Mark & James were sick and not playing that night. My reaction: Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! Insert really sad face. I haven't really heard them play since May and I had been looking forward to my bday/seeing them for weeks. Not cool.<br />
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But I couldn't just sit home on my birthday, that's not how I roll. So I asked Michelle if she wanted to go to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. Being the awesome friend that she is, she said yes. The others couldn't go for various reasons, but it's all good, Michelle and I know how to have fun together!<br />
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Having never been to the Christmas Party, I was very excited to go! I wasn't planning on going due to my ode to making financially smart choices but that all goes out the window on my birthday. For those of you that don't know, the Christmas Party is a a separate ticket event that even cast members can't go to for free. There is a different parade, different fireworks, characters in different outfits (which sounds least exciting but is actually my favorite part), different shows, free cocoa and cookies and it snows <span style="text-decoration: line-through;">tiny soap bubbles</span> on mainstreet USA. The crowds are also lighter at the Christmas party, making lines much much shorter on just about everything.<br />
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My one and only goal was to meet Prince Charming, a feat pretty much impossible to accomplish in the parks on a normal day. So imagine my delight when we get into the Princess tent (home of Belle, Cinderella, and Aurora normally) and see not only Prince Charming, but Prince Philip (Sleeping Beauty's beau) there too!! Oh my word, I was like a kid on Christmas morning. I nerd out over meeting rare characters general, the fact that they happen to be Princes in this instance simply added to the fun. Also, fun fact, all of the Princes (Erik, Aladdin, Charming 1 and 2) are in the 3 o clock parade but Prince Philip is not-so I think I was doubly excited to meet him since I'd barely even ever seen him before!<br />
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So anyways, the best line of the night had to of come from Prince Philip. Michelle and I were clearly too excited to be there and the photographer was trying to take our picture but we kept talking, I apologized for being unable to focus and without skipping a beat, Prince Philip goes "Well it's a good thing your camera can focus at least!" Hi-lar-ious! The whole line laughed it was spot on! Prince Charming had like no personality whatsoever but I think he was probably just weirded out over the 2 overly excited adults (with no children in their group) fawning over him, so I can't really blame him.<br />
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One of my favorite moments of the night was when we went to go get some cocoa and cookies at a Restaurant called Columbia Harbor House in Liberty Square. I was walking in and the greeter said hi and turned inside and walked quickly over to her fellow cast members. I just figured she's probably a CP who thought of something funny to tell her friends, right?! Sooo wrong! Soon, every cast member in the place starts clapping. I'm confused but then they start singing happy birthday. You would think I would realize they were singing to me but since I'm used to being a cast member, and not on the receiving end of the magic these days, it took me a second to realize they were singing to ME! It totally made my night, it's the little things in life, right?<br />
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The only other bummer of the night was that my flip flop broke. So incredibly sad since they were like my trusty park-going flip flops but Michelle literally gave me the shoes off her feet so I could walk to buy some new ones. All in all though, it was a memorable and festive birthday. I'd be lying if I still didn't wish I had gotten to see Mark & James instead, but that just wasn't in the stars for the night and that's cool with me. =)<br />
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P.S. The best present I could ever ask for is my friends and family taking time to wish me a happy birthday. Being away from home is hard a lot of times and having friends scattered around the country makes me miss everyone so much. But I felt so loved with all the calls, texts, messages etc. I have the best friends and family a girl could ask for.Allie Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06156825188700869940noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001690740136884553.post-54458857845556205892009-11-11T22:37:00.000-06:002009-11-11T22:37:47.414-06:00The One with random thoughts<ul><li>I'm the type of person who likes to get stuff done. I'm thinking that my personality isn't going to jive well in a large company where change, no matter how big or small, has to be approved by the many levels of the hierarchy. Just a thought. Not one I'm going to act on anytime soon, but a thought nonetheless.</li>
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<ul><li>Taylor Swift deserved Entertainer of the Year, but was it just me or did it look like she was trying to cry cuz she thought she should cry not because she actually wanted to cry? The shocked look IS getting a little old, but I do love that she is humble. </li>
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<ul><li>This time of year I usually get to thinking about what sort of trouble I can stir up. Why you ask? Because when the calendar flips my age one number higher, as it will next week, I can blame my recklessness on my young age. To this day, I have never actually stirred up trouble though. I just think about it. No actual ideas come to mind though because let's be honest, I'm a good girl who freaks out and thinks the police are after her because she went the wrong way down a one way into an apartment complex.</li>
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<ul><li>I'm getting old! In ten years, I'm gonna be that girl (woman!? lol) at concerts that everyone thinks is someone's mom who is <span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: line-through; text-decoration: line-through;">trying to be</span> cool. I can't wait! Seriously. </li>
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<ul><li>I need to study the world map so when I ask someone where they are from for a survey (which is often!), I don't have to ask what continent that is on. LOL. But seriously, if someone told you they were from Ireland Island, Bermuda would you not be a little confused? Is that Ireland? Is that Bermuda?! What is going on? I get schooled in geography on a regular basis and it has to stop.</li>
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<ul><li>Anyways, I told you this was going to be random. This is what happens when I can't sleep, I don't want to journal and I can't talk to Michelle cuz she's already sleeping! Night folks.<br />
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</ul>Allie Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06156825188700869940noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001690740136884553.post-71996014148172658372009-11-10T15:47:00.000-06:002009-11-10T15:47:51.123-06:00The one about my first week! -Warning all about Disney!I just finished my first official post-training week as a research specialist at the world's most famous theme park, and wow, do I have some stories for you all! If you're a little fuzzy as to what I do all day, I'll break it down for you. Yesterday, I asked 130 people for their zip code and if I could scan their park ticket. 10% of those people asked me why and looked very concerned-they are the same people who probably wear aluminum foil on their heads to make sure the government isn't reading their thoughts.<br />
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After I get zip codes, I collect emails in various ways so people can do a survey at home. 10% of the people ask me if I'm going to sell their email. In this instance, I don't blame them for asking actually but Disney doesn't spam so we're all good.<br />
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Then I survey people about every little last detail about their vacation and/or their experience at the Magic Kingdom.<br />
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The rest of my time is spent building up courage to approach more people so I can meet my survey quota and not get fired. I have to read the surveys verbatim so I wouldn't be surprised if someday a kid kicks me in the shin thinking I'm an animatronic robot like he saw on the Pirates ride or the Carousel of Progress, or pretty much any other Disney attraction because I do in fact sound robotic from time to time. <br />
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Anyways, I just have to say, Americans by and large are probably the most rude guests of all. Every time I talk to a guest from another country, they are so polite and say please and thank you. They reject me less when I ask them to take a survey and if they do they are all "Sorry, I'm in a terrible hurry, or I would" meanwhile Americans go "No!" and give you the "you're a waste of space" look (no lie, they do, it's like the look you give your shoe when you step on a piece of gum). I will give the American population the benefit of the doubt because they make up the majority of people I talk to so chances are greater I'll run into a rude one from time to time. And there <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">are</span> so many more nice ones than rude ones I suppose!<br />
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For example, I talked to the sweetest girl the other day whose dream it is to work at Disney World. She's old enough to and even moved here to do so, but is too scared to apply because she's heard some people say it ruins the magic or is not as fun as one would think. We had a great talk about it and I told her that I had the same fear and that if anything, it's just more magical, and it'll only be fun if you have the right attitude. I personally love seeing Cinderella get pop in the cafeteria and Prince Charming checking his email in the learning center, I think it's a cool/weird job perk (yes, I am a nerd, I know). I didn't tell her those example specifically because that wouldn't be keeping the magic for her but she'll see it when she's a cast member, which I'm sure she will be one day.<br />
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I had the cutest moment with a little boy riding the train the other day too. Where I do most of my work is the courtyard from the gates into the Magic Kingdom to the train station. When it's pulling into the station, the train overlooks the courtyard and a little boy, about 6, was waving at people in the courtyard but no one was waving back because no one was looking up there! But I saw him so I waved and smiled back and he got the biggest smile on his face and his wave became 10 times more enthusiastic. It honestly could have been a Disney commercial the moment was so precious.<br />
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Yesterday, a guest approached me asking for any tips I had because it was his first time to Disney World. I started by telling him to get a first visit pin at Guest Relations then asked him if there was anything specific he wanted tips on. He then tells me he has a Walt Disney World app on his iPhone. He showed me the app and honestly, fast forward 10 years, everyone has a phone w/apps and Disney World requires 10,000 less cast members because people don't need as much help anymore, that's how good that app was! It knew everything, including wait times on rides, which I can't fathom how it knew! Think of a question you would want to know about the Magic Kingdom- it knows the answer! He even had a Magic Kingdom GPS app that told us exactly where we were standing, so I didn't even need to tell him where Guest Relations was, because he already knew by looking at the MK GPS!<br />
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Everyday I run into people that love telling me their Disney stories. I just have to hold onto positive and forget about the rude people who yell at me for my surveys being too long (yeah, that happened!) while in the meantime, never forgetting that this job is only temporary and something else will come along in time!Allie Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06156825188700869940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2001690740136884553.post-61895179411646951342009-11-03T23:36:00.000-06:002009-11-03T23:36:41.970-06:00The One about my Other BlogJust a quick little FYI - I started a 2nd blog about all things music. Instead of explaining it here, I'll let you read my intro blog there...<br />
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<a href="http://www.alliemusic.blogspot.com/">CLICK HERE TO GO TO MY OTHER BLOG</a><br />
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What can I say? I guess I like to write.<br />
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And not much else is new from my last post. I got a hair cut that no one will notice. I got a cute new pair of shoes. I'm wearing them tomorrow to the concert, get excited, there will be pictures!!! Talk about a CLIFF HANGER, wow, how do you guys handle the intensity of my blog!??!!? =)<br />
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NIGHT ALL!! Unless you're not reading this at night...then I hope you have a good morning/afternoon/day/evening/dusk/twilight/whateverAllie Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06156825188700869940noreply@blogger.com0