The holidays
Monday, December 15th, 2003
On Monday, we went to the condo that Jeremy’s mom and step dad had rented. We had planned to go to PI with his mom, and maybe his uncle. Unfortunately, his uncle, and his grandma, had had car trouble halfway here. They instead turned around and went back to Tennessee. But he and I had planned to go anyway. I’m not sure after finding out that his uncle and mom were not going he still wanted to. But I had gotten all dressed up.
At the condo, they had cooked dinner for us.
After that, they gave Jeremy his Christmas presents to open. His mom and step dad gave me a pair of earrings and matching necklace that were jade-colored, but looked like they were made of turquoise. They were very pretty.
PI seemed dead. It always is if you go early. Waiters kept coming up to me and asking me if I wanted a drink. I wanted nothing more than to have a drink or four. But I am not old enough. So I politely would say, “No, thanks.” It got a little irritating after awhile. Jeremy got a beer. He didn’t mock me for being under aged for once. Instead, he was very sympathetic and nice about it. He told me he knew how I felt.
On the way back from PI, Jeremy made me listen to the song on the comedy Christmas CD that my family had burnt for me called I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas.
Tuesday, December 16th, 2003
We met Jeremy’s parents in Epcot. They were eating in the German restaurant. They had somehow gotten a copy of the booklet with all the discounts and coupons that they sent to the Cast Members. So they were using the 50% off coupon for a meal inside the park. They were just about done eating when we got there.
After that, we went to Norway and rode Malestrom, which had no line. Jeremy sat between his mom and me. The best part about that was, before the boat took off, his mom and I started goosing Jeremy in the ticklish spot on his ribs. It was great fun…for her and me.
After that, we rode Test Track. The ride stopped right by the crash scene as you are about to accelerate towards the wall that leads to outside. A few minutes later we got started again. It was raining outside by the time we got there.
Then we went on Mission Space. However, Jeremy’s step-grandparents did not attend.
We then decided to take the Monorail over to Magic Kingdom. Jeremy showed his step grandparents the ice cream shop where he worked. They then wanted to ride the train, so we split ways.
Jeremy and I got an ice cream sundae at his ice cream place and split it.
Then we went over to the Haunted Mansion and rode it. I wanted to get a Pirates of the Caribbean baby doll shirt for Kelly before the 40% off ended. So we went into the store next to the Haunted Mansion. While we were in there, his parents called, said they didn’t ride the train after all, and were ready to go back.
We met them up by the entrance and rode the Monorail back to Epcot.
When we got back there, we saw Honey, I Shrunk the Audience. I don’t think I had ridden it since I had been working there.
After this, Jeremy’s stepfamily left. His mom stayed with us. We went into Canada. We saw the O, Canada! Circlevision film. After that, we used some of the coupons for popcorn and soda at the stand outside the stairway to the film.
One of the things I had resolved to do the next time I went to Epcot was buy my maternal grandma’s Christmas present. What I figured I would get her would be Japanese paper. So I made all of us go over to the Japan pavilion so that I could get the paper for the Christmas present. I got one that was long and thin but seemed to have fibers imbedded into the colored paper. And another was printed with elaborate, fancy and even in some places metallic, designs. We left after this.
Wednesday, December 17th, 2003
I had to be at work at 10:00 today. They had a post-college program meeting with some of us. They told us we would be “purged” from the system. Seems appropriate to us college people; treat us like crap here, and then spew us out like vomit.
They gave us a couple of pins for going to this meeting. One was a MGM cast-only, not for sale pin. And the other was a Mickey Mouse head that looks like the American flag. They talked to us about coming back and working, and how we had 365 days since our purge date to respond and tell them we wanted to work again, and that way we could retain our Cast Member status. Otherwise, it’s supposedly very hard to get back into the company. Unfortunately for me, this time could not be served at a different Disney venue. For example, I could not, instead of coming back to Disney World, go to Disneyland or the Disney Store. The idea of coming back for a week in the summer and leaving, knowing it would only be for a week, sounds nice. But I don’t know how plausible it is.
They also at this meeting had us write thank you notes, if we wanted, to people we’d worked with, and they would somehow get them to the recipients after we left. I wrote 3; one for Sabrina, one for Lucille, and one for Carlos, the people I talk to most personally.
I did trash before my break.
Today was the last day for the 40% off. I still had a couple of things I wanted to buy. So I took off the skirt of my uniform, put on some long pants, put a sweatshirt on over the costume shirt, and I went to the Aerosmith store, and bought Kelly a shirt with a big ol’ winged purple band logo on the front, and the ride statistics on the back. Once I had seen a Nightmare shirt that looked almost like a photograph on the cover, and was baby doll style. At the time I saw it, they either didn’t have my size, or I thought I would hold out till the 40%. The next time I went into the store it was gone. This time, when I happened to go into the store, they had it again. I grabbed it, and a box of Nightmare playing cards.
There was one other place I needed to go, but didn’t have time by then. I put in a request for an ER. They let me be produce stocker. The worst part about the job was today was not only the day the 40% discount went away, but it was also the day that the coupons for popcorn and soda expired. There were 6 coupons in a book, and it seemed everyone waited till the last minute to use all 6 of them. So people came up to the soda bin and pick out 6 bottles of soda at a time. It was annoying. I had to constantly restock the bin.
I was given a 45 minute ER. I used the extra time to run over to the store in the Animation Courtyard and bought Kelly’s Pirates of the Caribbean attraction poster, and a Cinderella poster.
Jacque found out that she needed to have surgery. If she were to have it here, she would need to be under the same doctor’s observation following the surgery. But she needs to be back in school before that time period would be up. So she had to be sent home for the surgery on Monday. I felt bad for her. She’s been here since summer. She’ll get an excused early release on the program, meaning it will show up that she completed it. But still, to come so far and not finish is lousy. No one is very happy about it. At least she’ll get to be with her family over the holidays. However, if the world were fair, Jenny would be leaving, and not Jacque.
We had decided to use this night to use the 50% coupons for a restaurant not in one of the four major theme parks. Everyone from 1803, and Jeremy and Erik, had been invited to go out to dinner at Ohanna with us, a big restaurant upstairs in the Polynesian Resort. Jeremy opted to be with his family rather than go with all of us to Ohanna.
We had done a Secret Santa exchange in our apartment. Cara and Erik had also participated, unknown to me (about Erik). Jeremy had not been invited to participate. I drew Cara’s name. I got her a hat that she had mentioned a couple of times she wanted; it was light blue ball cap with Tinker Bell embroidered on it, and the words, “Mood subject to change without notice” like a shirt she got at Property Control. We were going to the exchange on Christmas Eve, but since Jacque was leaving early, we opted to do it the night of the dinner.
I was almost glad Jeremy hadn’t gone to the dinner when I later found out that Erik was invited to play. Erik had drawn my name. He gave me a DVD from a Who concert. It is very cool. Everyone from 1803, except Julie, went to the dinner.
The food was very good. It was the sort of thing where they brought a big ol’ platter out to the table and everyone ate off it. It was a lot of sweet meats and vegetables. For dessert was pineapple wedges with caramel dipping sauce.
After this, we went over to the movie theater to see Return of the King. It was the opening night. There was a huge line just to get into the theater. The movie started at almost midnight, after the half hour of previews and commercials. It was not nearly as difficult to keep myself awake as I had hoped. I really enjoyed the movie. I can’t even begin to describe it. But I really liked it.
It was almost 3:00 by the time we got back from the movie. I stayed up a while longer and went to bed at nearly 4:00.
Thursday, December 18th, 2003
At work I did possibly my favorite job, turkey register, and one of my least favorites, trash.
That night, I did a bunch of laundry that I have been meaning to do.
My mom sent me a package with 5 Christmas presents in it, and the big ol’ Costco-sized box of microwavable popcorn for part of his Christmas present.
I picked Jeremy up at 1:00 in the morning. I hadn’t seen him for about 2 days. I missed him quite a bit. How lame is that? It’s only been 2 days and I miss him. Second off, what am I going to do in a little over 2 weeks when I won't see him again until...whenever? This is going to suck, but I always knew that.
Jeremy says he got my Christmas present. He also says he is planning to do something on Christmas, as part of my gift. He won’t say what, but I’m intrigued.
Friday, December 19th, 2003
I had the shortest shift I’ve had in a long time; 2:00-8:00. That meant I got at 15 minute break! (Whoo hoo). I was filling in Rosie’s all day.
Sometimes, I abhor this place; other times, it's not so bad.
The thing I’ve learned about Sunset Ranch is no one wants to be there. I've talked to so many people of differing statuses. No one wants to be here in Sunset. Everyone who is not a CP, ended up here kinda randomly, and they all want to kinda be somewhere else; managing, secretarial work, anything else. I talked briefly to this one guy out in the parking lot, he said every guy he ever talked to, ride operations, full service restaurants, etc. didn't like their job. I think it might have something to do with the hours. Or the reality of what a heartless corporation this is that works its employees to death on holidays.
Whoever came up with this college program was a genius. I can picture the conversation now, "Hey! I got a brilliant idea! I know a way we can get a bunch of non-union labor in here, pay them shit, work them during the lousiest shifts, you know, the closing ones, the ones that let out at 2:30 in the morning, 6 days a week, and get them to do it all voluntarily! ...Well, we'll trick them by telling them they'll have the time of their lives, and we'll leave out all the crappy parts!"
OK, I'm done.
I decided to call people tonight. Kelly thinks Jeremy is adorable; she's right.
I called my maternal grandmother that night. I guess my mom had shown her the pictures from Disney World. My grandma said that he was cute. She asked how we met. I told her all about The Thing. She told me I was bold for doing saying that. She also said if he doesn't treat me good she'll sit on him.
Cara opened my Secret Santa gift tonight. I worried she might have already gotten it. She was very excited about it.
I played video games with Erik tonight too.
I got Jeremy at 1:30 this morning. He says I am too sweet for going to get him all the time.
My parents don't know that I am planning in my mind to spend my Spring Break in Kentucky. When would be a good time to break it to them?
I got rid of my schedule on Christmas Eve! That way, I won’t have to work 6 days, and I can spend the day with my boyfriend doing…whatever it is he’s planning.
Tuesday, December 23rd, 2003
Well, the security alert is orange which means.... um.... uh.... high threat from killer pumpkins, I think. I hope that the killer pumpkins cause people to cancel their travel plans over the holiday to Disney World...
Not bloody likely...
I have a 14-hour shift on New Year's Eve. (Oh, yippy-skippy). Jeremy is outraged for me. Of course, he has the day off. Then they expect my ass to be Disneyrrific at 10:45 the next morning. HA! Fortunately, I think I might be able to get rid of my New Year's Day shift, so I'll get to sleep in. Plus then I'll get 2 days off instead of having to work 6 days. Jeremy's had to work 6 days for the first time in his program (he always gives his shifts away). And I did get rid of my Christmas Eve shift so I won't have to work tomorrow. I am working today. I had to do something I haven't done since September 10th, 2003: scoop at scoops. I actually didn't do too much scooping, fortunately. I remember this, because that night, I shot hoops with Cara, she suggested we go to the pool to see if Erik was down there. He wasn't. But this one guy was in the spa, that was there the night before, and for almost no other reason, other than it was what I believed, I said to this stranger, "Hi! You're cute!" (I love that story!)
I'm really not buying the whole Christmas thing. It doesn't feel like it. It never seems like the holiday should be as close as it is when it gets to be this time. But this year, it really doesn't seem like Christmas. I think it may have something to do with the fact that I'm in Disney's Inferno.
There was an earthquake in California. I'm sorry I missed it.
Speaking of which, I'm getting my own room next semester! I can't wait!
What else? Tomorrow Jeremy is doing something with me. I have no idea what. His mom suggested it. He has definitely aroused my curiosity.
Sent off the last of my Xmas gifts last night. They're not getting them anytime soon, but they are getting them.
Ummmm... Went to Magic Kingdom last night, and rode Small World and Snow White, and played "Cudjagetme" for my mom. I hate that game. I got Jeremy's birthday present, a shirt from Pirates. It's got the skeleton driving the boat on it that he says is he. He also says I am the bride in the attic in Haunted Mansion (the reason I'm a dead bride in an attic is because my stupid dork of a fiancée was out driving his boat around in the rain and now he's dead too).
When I get back to work I will have 2 hours and 15 minutes to work. I am closing Produce tonight. It's busy out there. It's getting worse.
I catalogued all the Mickeys in front of Magic Kingdom last night. Now I can write the names in my book. I'm missing a few of them.
I don't feel like I’ve written anything.
My dad is staying at Pop Century when he comes. I've never been there. It just opened.
I also finally told my dad that I want to go to Tennessee/Kentucky for Spring Break. Jeremy was giving me crap about not telling them. I was giving him crap about being afraid to kiss me in front of his mom; when asked, he told her he loved me, but wouldn't kiss me. ("I love her, but we have no physical contact of a romantic nature what-so-ever.") Me avoiding telling any of them about my plans was kinda the same thing, so I just did it. Now I’ve got to tell my mom...yay....
I can't remember what I did on that evening. I think I just went to Magic Kingdom, picked up the boy. I hadn't eaten anything all that day. We went to Waffle House.
Wednesday, December 24th, 2003
My day off was nice, especially since it was spent with Jeremy.
He took me to Mexico in Epcot for dinner. His grandfather gave him some money to be spent on dinner for the two of us. That was what he wanted to do for me. It was good. I had nachos. They have good tortilla chips there.
Then we left and I dropped him off at Vista. I went to Magic Kingdom and took the pictures of the last of the missing Mickey Mice, took a picture of the tree in front of the Contemporary, which is really pretty, and went to Port Orleans resort for no apparent reason other than I haven't had my picture taken there.
After that, I kinda sat around and thought about how I was 2 months short to the day until I would be legal.
I tried to catalogue the Mickey Mice. I've concluded that there are actually more than 75 figures. The evidence is they move some, or replace them with others. For example, in one spot was one that looked like he was trick or treating. When I went back to do cataloguing, I saw a different one in its spot that was covered with circles. I didn't remember it, but figured I was wrong. Now I look at my pictures, and the subsequent list, and find they don't match up.
Stacey and Erik had tried forging for food, which proved to be impossible on Christmas Eve. Jeremy had passed along the information that Bennigan’s would be open until 10:00. When they came in complaining, I suggested they go there. They invited me with them, I accepted. "Can I go too?!" shouted Jenny. No one ever invites her anywhere; she always kinda invites herself. So we all went down to Bennigan’s to find it was closed. "Well, I'm going to Walgreens" announced Jenny. No one said a word as she up and left us. Stacey and Erik went back to his apartment. I was invited. I thought I would rather sit by the phone like a loser and wait for Jeremy to call me.
I had dropped Jeremy off at 5:30. It was now 10:30. He finally called. He asked me to come over and bring his present.
We exchanged our gifts. He appreciated mine: the airline gift certificate and the box of popcorn. Then he gave my gift. It was golden Mickey statue, dressed like a director with bullhorn, like an award with the title "Best Girlfriend" on the plaque underneath. He said I was the best girlfriend he's ever had. It's very sweet.
An amusing story I heard about Jeremy, apparently he was telling someone about me, his dad maybe, he said he hadn't heard Jeremy so excited since he got a new scooter when he was 13. That seems really sweet to me. I joked, "So I'm as exciting as a new scooter?" But I think that seems really nice.
Thursday, December 25th, 2003
I woke up at 9:30 the next morning. I was very tired. I had to be at work at 10:45. As I figured, I was to be a filler at Rosie's. That is my least favorite job. I said to the assigner, the big manager "Is it at all possible to do trash instead of filler?" "You want to do trash?! OK..." I was made Dockside busser, which meant I cleaned off the tables and emptied the trash around the water; by Gertie the Dinosaur (ice cream stand) and Min & Bill's (the boat). The time went by really quickly. It wasn't busy over there at all. I made a project out of cleaning off tables on the water…really cleaning the dirt off them. They were disgusting. The towels I cleaned them with were black by the time I was done. It was easy. Rachel came and saw me at work. That was fun.
I got my break about 3.5 hours into my shift (yay). On my break, I called my parents, where I talked to my family and my grandma, then I called my other grandma, and tried to call everyone else in my family. I talked to everyone else in my family throughout the day. I was on Rosie's Register after my break for a little while, and then I went back to dockside bussing. That was alright. I was fortunate enough to get off at 8:30.
I came home, opened the presents my mom sent. There was a snowman long-sleeve shirt, sweat pants, both of which I'm wearing, body smelly stuff, a Mother-Daughter ornament, and vacuum bags for traveling home with. I especially like the sweatpants.
They all liked the presents I got for them.
I think I'm going to go to the Grand Floridian before I go to get the boy.
Merry Christmas!
I talked to my mom again last night to thank her for the presents. She started in on all the food they had for Christmas dinner. "I had a can of hash," I said. "Poor baby; go treat yourself to something at the Grand Floridian."
I got over there about an hour before I had to pick up Jeremy. The rent-a-cop at the door started talking as I showed him my ID. I rolled down my window. The conversation was already longer than I wanted. "What do you want to do here?" (Uh, what?!) Having not expected the damn 3rd degree, I said profoundly, "Uh, I don't know." "Well it's restricted access in there tonight, unless you're working, you've got to leave." Stupidhead. If we'd just cancelled Christmas like I suggested in the first place, that would never have happened.
So I drove to Magic Kingdom and cussed out that uppity stupid Grand Floridian, and the whole evil company, and pretty much sat around in my car listening to the radio until it was an acceptable time to start waiting for Jeremy. No more Christmas music. It wasn't Christmas anymore, if it ever was to begin with.
We just went back to his apt, he held me on his couch, I didn't want to let go of him. Thoughts of all the time after the next 10 days plagued me as it still does.
I don't know how I’m going to deal with this. I miss him if I don't see him for 2 days, let alone nearly 3 months. I knew this would happen, sorta. I would get attached to someone and have to up and leave them, just like I had to leave he that shan't be mentioned. (At least Jeremy treats me good and respects me; it's funny how you never realize how bad/good something is until the situation changes either for the better or worse).
Friday, December 26th, 2003
Friday night a bunch of people from Sunset Ranch went over to the Ale House. Jeremy was working until 2, so this time I had no problem with going; last time it was, "Be with Jeremy, or hang out with people from work?" Toccarra and I went together. It was a lot of fun. Almost all the CPs were there. It was unusual, all the girls had their hair down, and the guys weren't wearing their little hats, people looked normal.
Sabrina, the cool assigner, came in at about 1 am. I had mostly come to see if the rumors of her partying were true. They were. She came in, and felt she had to catch up with everyone who'd been there since 11 or 12. She slammed back the drinks, but I don't think she got as trashed as she had in the past. Some of the people had brought books that they were having other people put their contact information in. Sabrina looked over people’s shoulders saying, “What are you writing about me?”
David, an older guy, not a CP was buying drinks for some of the girls. He was disappointed I didn't drink, he knows I do; he could tell I was a little hung over on Christmas day. He "wanted to see me crazy."
Around 1:30, Toccarra and I started saying our good-byes. We said to Sabrina, “Uh, we’re going to go now…” “Noooooo! Don’t go!” she said in a way I had never seen Sabrina act before.
Toccarra and I went to go get Jeremy at Magic Kingdom. We listened to Bohemian Rhapsody along the way.
Sunday, December 28th, 2003
I worked as drink filler in fry cart for about a 1/2 hr. Then I asked to be sent to produce stocker, which I was.
Unfortunately, I didn't get a break for 6 hours. My body was tired. After my break I continued being stocker.
Jeremy came and saw me at work. Apparently, I didn't notice him for a long time as I was unloading soft drinks into the ice cart. Finally he came up to me, "Excuse me," I looked up, not recognizing his voice, or expecting to hear it, "are these drinks cold?" he said. He left and came back and bought a pretzel. I got him a soda.
There were 2 mildly amusing things that happened to me that day. As I was attempting to push a cart full of...whatever through the throngs, a guest came up beside me and said, "Don't you just want to shout, 'Get the hell out of the way!'?" "Yes!" I said with exasperation.
Also, the things that we keep the drinks and fruit cups in are full of ice. Too often, I see someone fill a cup with the ice from these containers, or pick one out and suck on it. (This is not an activity exclusive to children, either). I don't say anything, I'm not their mom; it's not my place. As I was unloading some fruit cups, there was a boy playing in the ice. His mom was there telling him to stop. She said to me, "Amanda, tell him that's not a good idea." "Uh, yeah, that ice is really dirty, everyone puts their hands in there like you are now. You probably don't want to be playing in it." "Thank you, Amanda."
A manager caught me not working. I was leaning on the drink cart. My mind was mush by that time; 6 hours of work will do that. I was trying to collect my thoughts, "We need Diet Coke...maybe more Powerade..." Jeremy-the-manager came by. I saw him. I tried to move before he saw me. "Nice try," he said.
The not-so-amusing thing that happened yesterday (other than waiting 6 hours for a break) was I was put to close Turkey Legs with 2 other completely incompetent people. One had never closed there before, and the other did squat. I felt like I did the whole thing by myself. I was the last one there doing any work. The checker and I together were finishing up because it was a half hour after the time we were supposed to get off, while one of the people kept saying, "Can we go now?" I was pissed off mostly because Jeremy was waiting for me at the front, expecting me to come out at 11:00.
When Jeremy and I came back from work, we stood in the parking lot just holding each other for a long time, thinking about life after the next couple days. He too also said, "I miss you if I don't see you for 2 days, how am I going to do this for 2 months?"
An unusual thing happened last night. I cried a little tiny bit. I didn't think I could anymore. Last night with him beside me, I started thinking about leaving. I don't want this week to end. (Well, actually, I would like this week to be one of those weeks in early December-- actually, if this week could be the week that I spent most of my time with Jeremy, and we went to the Aerosmith concert and I had 3 days off and the parks closed at 7:00 and we weren't busy at all, if this week could be that week, and it could never end, that would be good).
Anyway, the point is, I cried a little. He doesn't want me to; he "Hates to see a girl cry over him."
I didn't think I would do this this far away from leaving. I'm trying to picture that day in my mind. Jeremy keeps trying to find ways that on our trip home we could spend as much time together as possible.
Jeremy aside, I do believe I'm going to miss this. The job is hell, and everyone hates it. The people are great though. I wonder if I will be left with this let down feeling of "Now what...?" Plus the access to the parks and discounts and stuff isn't too horrible either.
I do miss Kelly though. I miss going out with her on Friday nights, or whatever. I wonder if she'll be spending more time in my dorm next semester, since it will be private and I will be 21 in less than 2 months. (I keep bringing that up, I know).
I wish I could turn off my brain sometimes. Yesterday while I was working, all the negative possibilities kept coming into my head.
I still have one week. Can't think about it! Must not! I should be with him now. I just had to get all this out.
Monday, December 29th, 2003
On Monday I saw Jeremy at work. He was working Cone Shop register. I wandered around the park for about an hour or so. I thought I would ride a ride or two. Haunted Mansion: 65 minutes; Peter Pan: 90 minutes; Small World: 40 minutes; Philharmagic: 60 minutes; Snow White: 30 minutes. I figured out quickly I would accomplish nothing. I did do some more shopping. They came out with some new shirts. I got a Haunted Mansion attraction poster shirt, and a long-sleve Donald Duck shirt that said, "Stress Zone" on it.
I also bought one of those autograph books that guestomers buy to have characters sign. I wanted all my coworkers to sign it; like a high school yearbook. I would rather remember these people than the ones from High School. I was so distant from everyone in high school. I only remember a few people. I had to very closely associate with all these people on a daily basis. We all knew what everyone else more or less was going though; we were all putting up with the same crowds, we were all broke, living in the same place, working the same places in the same jobs, and dealing with the same managers. Some variables were different, but that was about it.
I went to the Cone shop to bug Jeremy; it was during Spectromagic so no one was in there and we could talk a little. He was not enjoying himself too much; he was frustrated with guestomers who couldn't speak English. I bought a cookie-ice cream sandwhich. In Spectromagic, they have a Fantasia unit. One of the floats has the dancing hippo Hyacinth dancing with the alligator, Prince Ali. He made some comment on me being that hippo. (Dork). I told him if I was that hippo, he was that little skinny alligator dancing with me. I left after the parade got over and the park got busy.
I wanted to make a point of seeing all my friends at work and taking their pictures there. I never got to see Jacque because every time I went to Animal Kingdom she had the day off, and she's since left. I only saw Stacey at work once, and I didn't have my camera. But I still could see Rachel. So I went over to the video arcade at the Contemporary and saw her. She was glad to see me. I got her picture. She gave me a bunch of free games. I played a game on a sea-doo thing, and then she gave me a bunch of free pinball games.
I tried to go to the Grand Floridian again. They still wouldn't let me in; well, they would if I parked way the hell away. Bloody stuck up hotel! Half of me just doesn't want to give them my attention, half of me takes it like a challenge. I'm good enough to feed its guests hot dogs and hamburgers and clean up after them, but I'm not good enough to park amongst them. I went to the Polynesian (which is a nicer hotel anyway). I got my picture taken there; I'm trying to get my picture taken at all the hotels. I will get into that damn Grand Floridian. I'll take the monorail in. Ha.
I decided to go to MGM and get pictures of people and autographs. So many people almost didn't recognize me. I won't read what anyone wrote until I get home, or at least away from Disney World.
I showed my book to Andrea. She said, "Oh, are you going to get Mickey's autograph?" I said, "He doesn't care about me, why should I care about him?" "I tell you how much he cares about you," she leaned in, "he doesn't give a shit!" So true!
When Jeremy left, I took he and one of his coworkers back to Vista Way. They talked about the process of getting term'ed and dumb guestomer questions.
A guy I knew from work got terminated. He apparently got busted eating a cookie out of a coffee cart. It's too bad because he just extended his program (why anyone would do that, especially when working since summer, is beyond me). But it's too bad because I liked him.
Tuesday, December 30th, 2003
Tuesday was a miserable day. It was busy as hell. I had an 11-hour shift. I was afraid of being a filler at Rosie's, so I asked to do trash. (My new goal is to never be a Rosie's filler again). Unfortunately, this day was maddening. (I heard the day before was worse; they closed the park. Glad I had it off). I was doing Tower Trash. I was the only one doing it, and it was not a one-person job. As soon as I could empty a trashcan it was full again, and over full by the time I got back from one run. Managers kept coming up to me, "All the trash bins are full." I just wanted to say, "Hey! No kidding! I'm doing the best I can! Why don't you come out here and help me, or are you afraid of getting that little blouse dirty?!" I did whimper to one, "I'm doing the best I can!" Finally, by the end of the time I was there some of the other bussers were helping me.
I got an hour-and-fifteen minute break. I took pictures of people, and got them to sign my autograph book.
I got sent back on trash after my break. Produce trash, fortunately, that means it's not as bad as Tower side. Plus it was evening so it was not as busy anyway.
Jeremy-the-manager saw me doing trash. The garbage trucks are technically supposed to have covers on them when we take them out in front of people (because we want to keep people believing that the magic fairies that fly out of our rears sprinkle their little pixie dust over their trash and it vanishes into thin air and that it doesn't really sit in a plastic bag in trash can and become increasingly disgusting). Jeremy-the-manager called me on it 45 minutes from closing after having been without a cover all day. I told him I was going topless. He didn't like that.
I am going to be so buff by the time I get outta here. The trash process is this, go to trashcan, pull out the bag, not easy depending on the fullness of the bag, and how much of a vacuum suck is keeping the bag one with the actual can. That means I kinda have to hold the bag, with the can attached to it, until gravity removes the can. Tie up the bag, throw it into the garbage truck, and repeat. When all the cans have been emptied, push the truck backstage to the dumpster/compactor, pick a bag up out of the deep truck, throw it into the window on the dumpster, when the window looks full, push the button and hope the bags don't fall out of the window. It is not uncommon to get leaked on by a yummy conglomeration of catsup, soda, water, grease, (esp from Turkey Legs) milk, or ice cream. I always look like I was in a food fight, and lost, at the end of the night.
I didn't have to close that night, fortunately, I got off at 10:00. I went out to wait for the bus. The 10:20 bus never came. The 10:40 bus was late. While we were waiting, one of the Tower of Terror attraction CPs said, "Oh, I don't care! I only ave a few more days of work!" And he started distributing Fast Passes, good for up to 3 people, that never expire for the attraction to all the CPs waiting for the bus.
By the time it got there, a huge crowd had gathered waiting to cram onto the bus. And of course, it was a special bus, because they need the big buses for the masses of people going to Crossroads and Downtown Disney at 10:30 night, or all the Cast Members that go to PI on a Tuesday night. I was standing on the bus. I scraped up my arm and fell on top of someone. Toccarra and I made fun of each other. And rather than go straight to Vista, it made a stop at the Poop Century hotel. It was after 11 by the time we got home. I was miserable. I felt disgusting. I needed a shower badly. I hate the feeling of just being so disgusting you feel you need a shower, rather than taking a shower just because you should.
I called my family. I told them I was miserable, ready for the vacation to be over, and hating the prospect of a 14 hr shift on New Year's Eve. I told my mom about my autograph book. She also asked, "Are you going to get Mickey's autograph?" (Even though as children we never went in for that autograph stuff anyway) I told her, "Hell no! He doesn't give a mouse's ass about me!" Besides, when you've watched one of your friends sign many of the character's signatures, seen Cinderella wearing glasses and reading in her underwear, seen Chip 'n' Dale's heads on a shelf, ridden It's a Small World with a blonde lady claiming to be the Little Mermaid, passed the kid from Treasure Planet talking on a cell phone, listened to a girl talk about being Buzz Lightyear and Eeyore, and ride the bus with lady complaining about having to do another set as Mickey Mouse, something about getting a character's autograph is not nearly so special anymore.
My family told me to go to bed early and not worry about Jeremy. I had planned to get Jeremy at 1:30, so I did just the opposite.
Wednesday, December 31st, 2003
I woke up early on New Year's Eve. I just lay there dreading the day. I pictured non-stop mass chaos and trash cans that were never empty no matter how quickly you changed them, working for 6 hours at a time, lines backed up to the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, no cast member parking spots, and traffic jams into the park. I left an hour early to avoid parking and traffic problems.
The worst part of my traffic was the turn into MGM. There was plenty of Cast Member parking in the TV lot. It's actually nicer since they make some guests park deeper into the TV lot. The more of the back of the lot they block off, the closer to the entrance I get to be, because otherwise I am forever away.
Incidentally, I found evidence that the parking attendants move my car after I go inside. I saw a parking attendant driving a car through the lot.
I was about 30 minutes early for work. I picked up my relatively happy Christmas paycheck, and changed my long skirt for a skort. I'm so glad I did. The weather was gorgeous, hot even. I can't stand wearing the long skirts by themselves.
I got to my location. It was busy, but not as busy as I’d ever seen it. They had yet to open register 3. I went and asked Crista (a manager) if I could be Register 3. She let me. I was happy. I buzzed through the crowd in front of me.
Then Ted came in and told me to go back to the computer. Then I was sent to Turkey Register 2. I was very happy; I like Turkey legs better than Rosie's register. I was in a very good mood.
Then someone came in and told me I was doing Trash 3…(wait, we don’t have a Trash 3). Sabrina told me the deal was that there was one person assigned to either trash side, and I was to just help both of them. I was in an unofficial position, so I was told whenever I got tired, I could ask for one of my 2 breaks. (Yes, they actually gave me 2 breaks, one 60 minute, one 30 minute. It made a huge difference). So it was very relaxing. The trashcans were not unendingly full. By 3:00 there were virtually no lines at the stands. I heard the length of the Tower and Rock 'n' Roller Coaster lines were 60 minutes and 45 minutes. I wouldn't wait in those lines, but for a day that was supposed to be the busiest of the year, and having seen the wait for Tower in the triple digits, it's not that bad. After working about 1/3 of my shift, I asked for my break. I took more pictures and got more signatures. It was nice.
I went back to work. It was still not busy. They finally turned off the Christmas music. They had a DJ out there and one of the bands from PI; the one I like that plays the classic rock covers. That was nice. Getting to get my groove on to good music for a change. Eventually, I was only doing Produce trash by myself. After the first Fantasmic! show got out, it got busier, but it was not nearly as maddening as I pictured it, like Stupid Soaps. Somewhere, they were giving out plastic top hats and horns.
They were selling champagne that night. It was 6.50 a glass (sold in plastic champagne glasses). Vinnie said he paid $2 a bottle for it. I don't think too many people bought it. Thank god.
I got my second break around 11:00. I signed other people's books, and had them do mine. It was good. One thing they did that they never do is give everyone free food. I got my usual, BBQ chicken pizza and chocolate cake. I ate it in the area behind the prep kitchen. I went to the assigner and told him to put me in my closing position. He told me he didn't know where to put me, and to come see him after the fireworks.
At 10 to 12 there was a wonderful big fireworks display. I was sitting behind the prep kitchen with Angie, Fran the GT, and Toccarra. I went around to all the people, hugging them, telling them Happy New Year. It was fun. By that time, no one was working during that last hour. There was no one there. People were just in their locations talking and hanging out. I went around and visited everyone. It was fun. They let us close early so we got on closing sooner. It was nice.
I took Nicole, Brian, and Kimberly home in my car. It was fun because, for one thing, we saw a Dynamic bus that was either and E or G bus parked on the road out. For another thing, I let Nicole play an Outkast CD, and it was funny; I'd never heard them before, and it was funny to watch Nicole, who's always so...I guess deadpan, totally rock out. I went straight to Jeremy's. He and I just kinda hung out and talked about how much we were going to miss each other and how he didn’t want to cry, or see me cry.
Friday, January 1st, 2004
I had New Years Day off. I took Jeremy to work after we had Taco Bell for lunch. I started/continued packing. Even though it felt like I was doing a lot of work it didn't look or seem like I had done anything. I have 3 boxes packed. Somewhere I lost my How the West Was Won DVD. Last time I saw it, it was on Stacey's TV stand.
I started packing my suitcase with the clothes I want to have on the ride home. As I did so, I got really depressed, mostly about Jeremy. I called my aunt Lucy, only because she was the person I knew could relate the most to me; she ended up marrying the man she spent 3000 miles away from. Every once in awhile I ask him if I'm worth waiting for. I had a nice long talk with her, even though I was still a little sad. I kept trying not thinking about it. Which is like telling you don't think about purple snowmen.
What are you thinking about now...?
I talked to my dad. He was on the way in to Tampa. He asked me to come over on Sunday night and spend that last evening with him at the Pop Century because he would have an extra bed. It sounded tempting, but I told him no. I'll get to see him off and on for the next 3 months; I won't get to see Jeremy at all.
My plan was to go over to MGM that night and say good-bye to all the people for whom that was their last day of work. For one thing, I couldn't stop packing. Then I saw my car was incredibly low on gas. I got to MGM right at 8:30 closing. I showed my ID to the security guard at the cast entrance. "The park is closed," she said. "Yeah, I know, I just wanted to say good-bye to some people who are leaving today." "Well, you're going to have to wait becuase it's after park hours." "But I don't want to do anything, I just want to see the people." (I love the next thing she said) "Well, that's your work ID, and it needs to be on a lanyard; I can't let you in here with it like that." (Uh, what?! It's funny but no one ever explained to me that an ID had to be on a little piece of yarn around your neck or whatever. It was explained that it always had to be on you, and surrendered as necessary, but no one, not when it was distributed, not at Traditions, not by a manager, ever said, "This ID is not valid unless it's on a lanyard").
I walked back out to my car. Then it happened. Something I haven't been able to bring myself to do in probably close to 2 years. As soon as I sat down in my car I started to cry, like really cry and sob. I called Kelly, no answer. I called Bonnie, Becky answered the phone and she was talking to my mom...which apparently Becky told her (dammit!). I talked to Bonnie when I got back to Vista Way. My mom found out that apparently I had called or spoken to everyone I know that day except her. I told her what was going on.
As I tried to the end the conversation with, "I guess I'm gonna go to Magic Kingdom now," my mom started in on me about a bunch of negativity; which was not something I wanted to hear, especially when I was right about to leave him. She knew I didn't want to hear it; but she opened her mouth anyway.
She also said something about, "Sometimes long distance relationships don't work out." Well hey, thank you for your good vibes, mom! I don't want to think about how it won't work out, rather how it will. It made me mad. Of course, my battery died right in the middle of her rambling. Which meant I had to call her back so that she didn't think I made up an excuse and hung up on her despite listening to her yack on with her negative crap. Which when I called her back is exactly what she thought because she had a total attitude with me.
I did finally go to Magic Kingdom. I got there right as Spectromagic was starting. I thought that was great because that would mean no one was in the bakery or cone shop and if Jeremy was on register I could talk to him without worrying about distracting him from his job. Whoever it was that took over for him said he was banking out (guess there's no time to go to Grand Floridian...). He said he would be off at 11:45, I thought I misheard him and he said 10:45 so I went back into the tunnel to wait for him. He was supposed to be off at 11:45, but fortunately for both of us, he got ERed.
It was nearly midnight by the time we got back to Vista. Yet I felt like it was only about 7 or 8; between getting off between 9:30 and 2, or picking him up at anywhere from 11:00 to 2:30, my sense of time has been skewed.
We talked to Kelly that night. (It was about the 4th time I called her).
Friday, January 2nd, 2004
My apartment was completely alive this morning, except for me, at 7:00 in the morning. Stacey was leaving, which meant Erik was too. Julie's mom and dad (her mom is a little bit nuts, to put it nicely) were here moving her out, despite that she has all day to be moved out. And Jenny was on her way to work. I finally realized I wouldn’t be able to sleep so I worked on updating my journal.
I packed some more and realized I had no clean costumes. I got dressed in human clothes, gathered up all the costumage I had left, and I drove to Walgreen’s. I dropped off 2 rolls of film, and drove to Kinko's to buy a poster tube. I found out that Cast Members get a discount there. (Now they tell me!).
I went to work, got my last set of costumes. It was great: one for today, one for tomorrow.
I came in, and was Fry Cart filler 2, which wasn't bad, especially since I was doing it with Silvia, a Brazilian girl who came in the same day as Andrea who I trained. She's good people.
I was not too long after moved to Produce Stocker; one thing I've come to learn is that they never have me in Fry Cart for too long, lately. It was going all right. When a bag of ice bottomed out on me is when things kinda went wrong. First off, the people in fry cart assumed I was their stocker, which is a fallacy at best, but to argue is counterproductive. There are 3 people in there, one of them can get out and get whatever.
One of the register girls went on break, and someone I felt neutral about until today replaced her. Her delivery was kinda whiny-bitchy. I'd be trying to bring one thing out, she'd whine about something else, never a smile, a thanks, a please, or an "oh, good." No, I would try and take care of one thing and she would just whine about the next thing. She whined at one point about frozen lemonade cups. I brought some. The only size they had backstage were the wrong size and we needed too much of everything else for me to take the extra time to hunt some down. "Well, the lids don't fit on here, see?" "I'm sorry, why do we need lids anyway?" "Cuz the managers said." "Well, I can't deal with it right now." "So I can't sell any frozen lemonade then?" "Guess not; you can call the managers and tell them I need help because I can't take care of it right now." She called Sabrina, and Sabrina was nice and helped to get some. I just got sick of her being a little bitch to me. I just felt like saying, "Tell you what, you bring in all the food, and drain everything, and make a field trip out to Peevy's, and deal with the fry cart whiners, and I'll sit here, play with the money and complain to you about what we don't have!"
I got out of there just in time. I'm on my break now! I've got a nice little shift today; 7 hrs, off at 7:30.
Before I left work that day, I was given my work evaluation. I'm not sure when or how I was evaluated. I just know I was evaluated by a manager named Crista; probably my favorite. I don't remember how many areas there were that I was evaluated on. (Could I use that word a few more times in the paragraph?). All I know is I got “Outstanding”s and “Excellent”s on everything. The piece of paper with the information was given to me, and reviewed by Jeremy-the-manager. I was given a "Yes" rehire status. In other words, I will probably always have a place at Disney. Let's hope I never get so desperate.
I produce stocked during my last couple of hours after my break. I pretty much stood around and did nothing. Someone did ask me, "Is there a dinosaur ride here?" (Do you see a dinosaur ride on that map of yours?). This was the night that my dad was coming in. I wandered around MGM until after closing. I bought some fudge at Sweet Spells, and some other stuff my mom asking me to get in the Cudjagetme game, which she probably won't be having me play so much anymore.
I went to Magic Kingdom that night for a while. I don't remember what I rode, if anything. Saw Jeremy; don't remember where.
My dad called me at some point. He said it wasn't necessary that I went and saw him that night. I told him I was planning on going to the Grand Floridian that night.
I drove out to the Polynesian, parked, got on the Monorail, and got off at the next stop, Grand Floridian. As I exited, I had this feeling of, "Ha! I did it, suckers!" I had mostly come to see the Christmas decorations. Including the huge gingerbread house.
As a hotel, at least in that main entrance area it was rather unimpressive. Almost kind of a nothing place. There was a lot of white. But it was almost as if it was too stuck up to be fun. Like the Boardwalk and Polynesian at least seems fun. Anyone who pays $400 a night for a hotel room that they have for 1-3 reasons (they're passing through, sex, or Disney vacation), only one of those 3 reasons might be a valid reason for paying that much (it's not "we're just staying here on our way down to the keys" or "This is what we get to come home to and not really enjoy because we just spent the whole day traipsing all over Epcot absorbing as much as possible"). Anyway, save your money, you'll have more fun at an All-Star or the Coronado Springs.
I also drove over to the Pop Century to make sure they were giving him the 50% Cast discount. Looked like a fun hotel.
I went back to Magic Kingdom and waited for Jeremy. He gave me cookies that the managers were distributing for free. We gave his coworker Christine a ride home.
Jeremy suggested at one point that I paint my car bright yellow, just because of all the carting around of everyone else I did in it. I'm going to use the same amount of gas if I drive myself home alone or load up the backseat. Plus it's nice, and a good bonding experience.
When we came home that night, it was Julie's last night. She was shuffling stuff around in the room and making a lot of noise. Knowing I had to get up early the next day, I went back with a blanket and slept on one of the available beds in Stacey and Jacque's room. At some point in the evening, Rachel, who had been sleeping on the couch for the last month came in. "Can I join you?" she said. "I don't care," I think I said.
One other thing I did that night was put posts into my 2 cartilage piercings. I haven't taken them off since!
Saturday, January 3rd, 2004
I had one last day of work that day. I was to start at 12:15. My dad wanted to turn in his rental car, and then take my car to get some work done on it.
I met my dad at the Pop (Poop) Century Hotel. He bought me breakfast there; I had a big ol brownie and milk. (More than what I was used to).
I drove around the airport for a long time until he finally got his car in. We drove back to MGM together.
I had come to work wearing human clothes. I had my clean and dirty costumes in a bag in the back seat.
Towards the end I was starting to get paranoid about being late for work. I explained to my dad about the whole points and reprimand system. I really did not want to be late on my last day. But I figured I had at least 1 full point left to my name before I got a reprimand, being late would only be half a point, for one thing. For another thing, if I got a reprimand, I would have to sign it; I can't sign what I'm not around to see.
I was about 10 minutes late. The manager, Shawna, was glad to see me. I was very apologetic; she was just glad that I didn't skip out on my last day. There were 3 other CPs left that day, Stephanie, Jen, Eric, who arrived on the same day as me, and the 2 Brazilian girls who don't count because they had only been there a month. It was kinda pathetic. It felt really empty. I was put on trash; what an appropriate send off.
Throughout the day, Sabrina would come up to me and say things like, "Just 2 and a 1/2 more hours left!"
The day felt almost as if they were giving me a little taste of everything I hate about the place. 1. I did trash all day and just having to deal with everything that that job implicates. I was told when I started "It probably wouldn't be pretty." So that was extra fun. 2. It was kinda crazy in the morning which meant I was constantly busy yet 3. In the evening it wasn't busy enough. 4. I got asked a very dumb question; "Where is Sunset Ranch Market?"
But to top it all off, they put me into a closing position I’d never been in during the day before, let alone to close. I tried to talk to the closing manager to get me to change; I close Turkey Legs every night, and can close trash. So of course (as is apparently a tradition for CPs) they put me somewhere I’ve never been. The manager didn't even consider changing. It was just a flat out, "No." They had me closing dishes, which not only did I not know how to do (fortunately I was not at it by myself), is the job in which people go home the latest. I stayed a 1/2 hour after my closing time. Of course my dad was waiting for me up at the front in my freshly serviced car; I told him to come at 9:30, he came early, and I came out a half hour late. It never fails that I'm out late when I have someone waiting for me or some other commitment immediately after work.
I was almost glad that all that stuff happened the last day. I when I came in, I was thinking, "I don't want to leave; so many people." By the end of my hellacious day, the attitude was, "No, forget the people, I want out!"
I stopped and said good-bye to Sabrina before I left the Ranch. She gave me a big hug. She said to me, "May all your dreams come true in a non-Disney way."
My dad and I went to the House of Blues at Downtown Disney that night. It was pretty good. We walked around the West Side of Downtown a bit. It was fun.
My brakes started making a horrible noise, which my dad attempted to assure me was just a little water on the brakes from a car wash.
I dropped my dad off at the Poop Century afterwards. He was staying in the 80's building.
I went that night at 1:30 and got Jeremy.
Back to the beginning of December
Forward to leaving
Journals Home
Homepage