Yep

So one of the good things that's come out of me being on this new diet is that I'm eating a lot more vegetables now. I actually really love vegetables. I was raised on a farm. One of my favorite things in the world is fresh green beans with home grown tomatoes. But for the past few years I haven't really eaten that many vegetables... unless I got the chicken and broccoli at the Chinese take out.

I am so done with fast food. I don't miss it at all.

I eat so many vegetables now. I was actually upset yesterday because Walmart had run out of squash and zucchini. I was looking forward to eating them all day... and now I'm looking up recipes for eggplant and spaghetti squash.

I'm cooking everday. I really missed cooking. I used to have large dinner parties every week. I'm actually a good cook. Of course, I'm having to get more creative now that my diet is so restricted... but that's cool. I like a challenge. I might try stuffed peppers too.

I checked out smaller pants yesterday. And I got a smaller belt. I'm looking forward to when I can check out even smaller pants. Hopefully by the end of February.

In other news... My friend Jenny is in Orlando. We're supposed to hang out on Monday. I want to meet Tinkerbell so I'm making her go with me. And my friend, Tracy, is visiting me from back home in about two weeks. It'll be the first time I've seen her since June. I'm going to take her and her year-old daughter, Brooke, to Disney. I'm so excited! But I'm trying to figure out just what kinds of attractions/shows would be appropriate.

I am going to try to see Wicked. It's coming to Jacksonville soon. I've been listening to the soundtrack on a loop for weeks. Anyway, Nate wants to go. I might even get Greg to come with too. That would fun.

I talked to Greg today on the phone. The ImagiNations thing fell thru but we had a long conversation about the future. We're both applying to lots of internships including the Page program with NBC and other recent grad type things at other TV places. I'd like to work for ABC if I end up working in TV but right now I'll take what I can get. I'm so scared about the economy and not being able to find a job. He's thinking about grad school. I've been thinking about going back to school to wait out the crisis (even going so far as to tour a few schools and request a lot of catalogs). I just can't go further into debt right now.

Where's the rich relative I didn't know that I had who dies and leaves me a million dollars in his will? Perhaps I should play the lottery. I just don't see me being able to pay on all of these student loans when my deferments are up...

Okay... now the Disney news. I have so much to do this month. I have a list of like ten people that I want to get meet and greets with. And I just signed up for two College Program classes. One of them starts Tuesday.

The Sorcerer Hat at the Studios still isn't finished. I'm hoping they have it done soon. There's supposed to be a big premiere thing for the American Idol Experience. Apparently David Cook is supposed to be coming back to shoot a video for Good Morning America. Maybe I'll get to see him this time. I'm still mad that I missed him by like 5 minutes the last time. At the very least, I'd like to go to the parade he's supposed to be in.

They had a full parade today. Apparently all the rain we had the other day made the paint fumes bearable. But the HSM kids are still on the Streets of America... I might just have to go see them if they don't come back to Hollywood Boulevard soon. I've been listening to the HSM 3 soundtrack every morning to hold myself over.

It makes me sad that the new CPs aren't HSM lovers. I made a joke about HSM the other day and none of them got it. Also, they don't treat me like one of them. The full timers still treat me like a "college kid" but the CPs mostly ignore me or look at me weird. It's sad. I was so used to having other CPs to bond with when the full timers treated us like crap. I even offered one of them a ride home earlier (she lived in Chatham too and had missed the bus) but she refused. She ended up getting a ride with someone else who had to go out of their way to drop her off at Chatham. So I've decided I'm not going to offer any of them rides anymore. Let them wait for the bus and sit at Pop Century for 20 minutes. No worries here.

Oh and I finally got some recognition for my plush wall skills. I didn't get an assignment tonight and the person assigned to plush didn't finish it so I went over to finish it and made it look all pretty. The managers were pleased and said they'd put me on plush more often. Karen said it looked as good as the plush walls at Magic Kingdom.

Oh and I haven't heard from Magic of Animation yet. Karen (the new manager) suggested that I email them again. So I'm going to do that tomorrow.

So

I spent the day with JC at Epcot and MK. We started out early this morning... We originally planned on going to Epcot and checking out the new Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure and then I was going to come back home and work on my logo. But we got to talking about all the attractions we still hadn't done yet... First we did Impressions de France (because we had a mission in France and figured we'd cross that off the list while we were there). Then we saw the Voices of Liberty and the American Adventure (JC fell asleep, of course). We then ran into Dopey and got a quick picture. Then we saw Mulan and Mushu... And since we were in the area, we did Reflections of China. We kept doing just one more thing until we ended up doing the Three Caballeros thing at Mexico, Turtle Talk with Crush, the Circle of Life, Living with the Land, the Omnibus at MK, the Carousel of Progress, the Tomorrowland Transit Authority, and we even got to see Mickey and Minnie.

He then took me thru the tunnels under the Magic Kingdom (I had never been there). Oddly, we had to climb to the top of a house before going down several flights of stairs. And then he made me read the maps and figure out where we were going so I'd be able to find my way around if I ever came back by myself. It was kind of cool. But not as cool as I thought it would be. It kinda smelled in places...

We ended up visiting Discovery Diner (at Epcot) and Mousecateria too (because I had never been to either one). That means Animal Kingdom is the only park where I haven't been backstage or in the cast cafeteria.

And now my list of to dos is down to: The Hall of Presidents (which is closed), Enchanted Tiki Room, Swiss Family Robinson, O Canada, Playhouse Disney Live On Stage, Honey I Shrunk the Kids and Honey I Shrunk (or is it Blew Up?) the Audience. There might be a few other little ones.. Astral Obiter and that Goofy rollercoaster in Toon Town Fair. And then there's a ton of characters I still need to get. I'm hoping to go with Jenny to meet Tinkerbell next week. Oh and I haven't done everything there is to do in Innoventions and I still need to go to the mini golf courses and Typhoon Lagoon (if it opens back up). Not bad. I mean, I'm probably forgetting a few things but that's totally doable. I'm actually hoping to go to Universal soon. I have some friends that are going Saturday I think. I might ask mom for the money to join them. Course, I'd have to find someone to take my shift too. We'll see.

So anyway... I'm a little tired now. I did a lot of walking today and spent entirely too much time on monorails. I'm ready for some dinner... and then some mindless TV watching.

new manager

So I actually got to talk to one of our new managers today. Apparently she has a degree in art and is interested in product design. I told her about my attempts to get an internship with DDG and meeting with people there. Then I mentioned that I'd like to cross train at the Magic of Animation. Then she says that she did that like a year ago and that she still knew the people to talk to about it. So she's going to email them and see if she can't get me a meet and greet. I'm so excited... but also a little worried. I know that they have done this in the past but they're cutting hours and talking about laying people off and going into hiring freezes. They did away with some of their professional internship positions. And I hear they accepted fewer College Program kids this term too. Stupid economic crisis!

Well, all I can do is try. So that's what I'm going to do. I have a lot of other projects underway as well. My first big one is a logo design and print collateral for my web design business. I hope to have those ready soon. I'll post them soon for everyone to see. I'm also entering the ImagiNations competition. That's going to take up most of my free time in February. Well that and my website.

At any rate... diet is still going well. I think I'm going to have to check out a new belt soon. I need a new notch or two. I've been putting off trying on the smaller size pants at work. Disney sizes are so stupid. You have to get what you think will be two sizes to big anyway. I wonder what Disney size I'll be when I lose the 50 pounds I want to lose? Speaking of Disney sizes... I wonder what my Disney height is? I don't even know my real height is... Somewhere between 5'9" and 5'11" (I think). Didn't quite make it to the six foot mark...

By the way... who is Tom Skerritt? And why is Tim and Eric making a jingle for him? More to the point... why am I watching Tim and Eric? It hurts my head.

mom's visit

I found out last night that I've lost 10.8 pounds (well, that's what the Wii fit said). Most of it is probably water weight... But it made me feel good nevertheless. With the wieght I've lost over the past two months, I'm over 30 pounds lighter than I was at the beginning of the summer when I started the college program. Actually, I haven't weighed this little in about 2 years.

The visit with mom was so much fun. Exactly what I needed. We did 4 parks in 2 days... and I got my van fixed. It was cool seeing my mom get excited about the Festival of the Lion King, It's Tough to be a Bug and Illuminations (she saw them last time she was down and asked if we could do those again). But we also got to see my roommate JC sing at the new American Idol Experience. Then we rode the Spaceship Earth, Great Movie Ride, Jungle Cruise, Small World, Snow White's Scary Adventures, Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean and a few others. We also got to see Wishes. It was really cold but otherwise a perfect night.

Also... I'm excited to move to Phase 2 of my diet soon. I miss fruit.

Oh and I got a Bolt plush... finally.

Random

So I've been listening to the Wicked soundtrack on a loop for 3 days now. I absolutely HAVE TO see this musical. It's playing in Florida this spring in two different cities (both about 3 hours away). I want to see it soooo bad.

My favorite song is Defying Gravity. If you know me you know that's not surprising. Most of my favorite songs have fly in the title or talk about flying. It's the reason why I started liking Hilary Duff.

Ahem... Anyway, getting back to Wicked. It's kind of weird. I'm really obsessed with this... this musical I've never actually seen (though I have read the book it was based on... completely different stories, though... or so I'm told). I thought about doing a Wicked Witch of the West Christmas tree this past Christmas... that and I have this flash animation/parody planned that will actually be sort of fabulous if I ever get it finished. I won't give too much away... I want you to be surprised.

In any case, we have a signed picture of Kristin Chenoweth at Sid's (one of the stores I work in) that I want soooo bad. And I don't usually get into the autographed pictures and stuff (the one exception was the Harry Potter picture signed by Daniel, Rupert and Emma). Anyway, it's her dressed as Glinda. Of course, an Idina Menzel (as Elphaba) would be awesome too... But you can't have everything I suppose. We do have a playbill signed by the current cast of Wicked... which I'd be more excited about had it been signed by the original cast... but I'm a dork about it nonetheless. I talked to this one guest about it for like 20 minutes.

In other news... they're finally painting the Sorcerer's Hat at Hollywood Studios. It used to be like 12 shades of blue. They've got it down to one or two now. The only thing is they've painted the stars and crescent moon yellow. I'm hoping that it's just a primer or something... I mean, they just HAVE to be silver. They just HAVE to be. I guess I'd be less upset about this had I gotten my picture in front of the hat already... but I haven't. Right now they have scaffolding up too. I don't know how long it's going to stay there.

The American Idol Experience is open now. Well, not "officially" open (meaning you can compete and "win" but you don't really win anything... you just get confetti). Anyway, I plan on going either tomorrow or Tuesday with my mom. She's a fan of the show so I think she'll enjoy watching it. Did I mention she's coming to visit tomorrow? Anyway, we're going to go to Magic Kingdom too.

Work has been pretty boring lately. I've been put outside at Main Entrance/Movieland for about a week now. We got some new CPs in but I haven't really had a chance to talk to them. I'm excited, though because they had to change homeroom leaders and I got Toni Ann. I'm also supposed to be on the communications team now.

Diet is still going well.

John Barrowman is hosting a show on HGTV. It makes me happy. But I miss Torchwood and Doctor Who even more now... I wish I could afford to buy a season or two.

Oh and I love string cheese.

New Diet

So I thought I'd blog a little about this diet I'm starting. Well, started. I've been on it for about a week now. I guess there's not that much to report yet. Just that I finally ACTUALLY started a diet. Anyway, I decided to go on the South Beach Diet. I heard about it a few years ago (my ex went on it briefly). And I figured since I'm in Florida... where it all started... I'd give it a whirl.

So far Ive been on it 5 days. I've completely stopped drinking soda or any sugared beverage (that includes juice). I've decided to go caffeine free as well (though that isn't technically a requirement). I don't drink coffee, so that wasn't really an issue. And there are plenty of decaf herbal teas out there. And I can always use splenda. As far as soda goes... I just have to stay away from it. I can't drink diet (nutra sweet gives me headaches and there are precious few brands who use splenda). Of course, I've tried (time and time again) limiting my intake of regular soda... but I either just end up replacing it with sweet tea or not limiting myself at all because I tell myself I need the caffeine. And it's not like I need soda. I went almost three years without a single drop of soda before. And I'm so tired of caffeine headaches. More importantly, I know it's one of the major causes of my weight gain. Mostly... I just hate the idea of being addicted to something.

I do drink flavored water. It's sweetened with Splenda. One of the many substitutes I've made... You see, I've heard it's easier to break bad habits if you replace them with new ones. It's not the only substitute I've made, though. I've started using cucumber slices as crackers and leaves of lettuce instead of bread, etc.

I've also started drinking milk again. I'd stopped drinking milk for a long while because buying the lactose free or soy milk was costing me a lot of money. I just wasn't drinking it fast enough (the carton goes bad 7 days after you open it) so I always ended up throwing the majority of it away. But I'm actually making time for breakfast now and drinking a glass everyday so I don't have to feel guilty about buying milk anymore. Anyway, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. And milk is supposed to help you on your diet.

I've also given up bread, potatoes, pasta and fruit (at least for the first "strict phase"). I don't miss bread per se (though I did have this weird donut dream the other night). It's potatoes and pasta I really miss. It's just that for so long my meals have consisted of either a quick sandwich (usually with fries or chips) or baked potatoes and macaroni (comfort foods). I guess I've been cooking and eating this way for so long that I don't really know how to cook or eat any other way. I mean, I love my starches. Usually, when I fix dinner, I have at least one if not two starches. I've been known to fix potatoes and spaghetti before. Mostly, though I ate a lot of fast food because I was busy with school and work. More recently, I had fallen into the habit of eating lots of sandwiches with chips. Bread, chips and ramen are cheap. When you budget 25-30 dollars for food a week your options get pretty limited.

Since starting the new diet, I've had to get a lot more creative. That and I've had to spend more money on food. But that's okay. I'm doing some freelance and earning a little more money.

The only problem I'm really having is that I haven't had a lot of time to plan my meals. I need some of that creativity. There's recipes in the book... but I haven't had the time to really test them. And I have no idea what they're supposed to look or taste like (anybody heard of a frittata?). Basically, I've made a lot of salads. That's getting old real fast. It's not that I don't like lettuce. I love lettuce. When I was a vegetarian, I use to make lettuce sandwiches. I don't know. I mean, it's not like I can't cook. I'm a great cook. I just can't make any of the things I used to cook.

My biggest problem, though, is (and always has been) that I'm an emotional eater. I'll get upset and then go all day without eating. At the end of the day I'm sick from not eating and even more upset so I end up binging. I do it all the time. It's so frustrating.

I've had my best results (and been my leanest/healthiest) when I had 3 regularly schedules meals a day. It's a little hard when you work the hours I work... and CDS determines when you go on break and Disney decides you'll be closing shift one day and mid or open the next. So yeah... a little rocky. But I'm managing. And I'm eager to get to phase 2... I miss my apples. That's one of the few things I'm going to reintroduce into my diet in February.

I haven't really added exercise into my weight loss plan yet (like I planned on doing). My roommate has a Wii fit. I used it once. It told me my weight (I hadn't weighed myself since June). I was pleasantly surprised to find that I've actually lost 15 pounds since I came down here. Of course, that's from eating nothing but ramen and tuna and ham sandwiches for months (not exactly healthy but not Wendy's everyday either). Anyway, I do plan on exercising. It's just that I'm usually too tired after work to do anything and I've been sleeping way too late to do anything before. So I either need to change my sleeping schedule or make myself get on the damned thing at night whether my feet feel like it or not.

At any rate, I really need to get busy. I have to go grocery shopping and do laundry and write a bunch of articles (that freelance thing I'm doing). I just hate to get out in this weather. I know my friends up north probably think I'm crazy but I just don't want to deal with this 60 degree weather. LOL. You know you've spent too much time in Florida when... It's true what they say, though. Living down here just thins out your blood. I don't know what I'd do if I had to readjust to Ohio weather right now... 10 degrees, snow. No thank you.

Dilemma

So I went to the taping of the commercial for the new American Idol Experience attraction at Hollywood Studios last night. It was a lot of fun. I basically spent most of the night cheering and jumping and screaming and clapping. Well, that's not true. Most of the night was spent looking at hotties. When I wasn't doing that, I was watching the camera people and gaffers and grips... wishing more than anything that I could be on a production team again.

So now I'm trying to figure out where film or TV is going to fit into my career path.

Don't get me wrong. I love animation. And I know that if I'm serious about working in the animation industry I am going to have to focus all my energy on that.

But I love TV too. Most of my favorite memories of Athens are of Confused? (that kid's show I worked on) and Newswatch/WOUB.

Geez. Why can't I just have one interest?

You know that expression... life happens when you're making other plans? Well I had no idea 3 years ago when I started volunteering for all those parades and concerts and sports productions with the EM Department that I would actually grow to love video. I was just doing it to spend more time with my friends and to try something new. That and I thought video would make me more marketable.

Now I'm wondering if I should actually pursue a career in TV. I'm looking into a lot of internships right now. There's a lot of stuff out there for recent grads. Of course, I'm still looking into that summer thing with WDAS (Walt Disney Animation Studios) and the recent grad thing with Pixar among other things. I'm evening looking into Imagineering and DIMG (Disney Interactive Media Group... they do video games and internet stuff).

On a lighter note... my mom is coming to visit me soon. The last time she was down here at Disney World I took her to the Animal Kingdom and the Studios. We also went to Epcot/World Showcase briefly to watch Illuminations. She loved it. She didn't get a chance to go to MK, though. So I guess that's where we'll go. I only get her for like a day or two. We can do a lot of the things I haven't crossed off my list yet... Jungle Cruise, Enchanted Tiki Room, Carousel of Progress... and we'll have to do Philharmagic and Stitch's Great Escape (my favorite attractions at MK). And of course there's the parade and fireworks.

I really don't go to MK as much as I should. LOL. Free admission and I sit at home on my days off. I must be crazy.

At any rate, I'm looking forward to the Inaugaration on the 20th. I heard a little bit of Bush's farewell speech today on youtube. And something about an Iraqi reporter throwing their shoes at him at some press conference. Crazy. But hopefully, things will start getting better now. Maybe it won't be as crazy hard getting a job in the somewhat near future. Stupid economic crisis! I've even considered going back to school (to wait it out). But I just can't go further into debt when I don't know if I'm actually going to be able to get a job in this business. Ugh.

So anyway, I've ranted long enough. Time to get to work on demo reel stuff. More interesting and less whiney posts later... I promise.

My first journal

So I've been saying for months now that I was going to start one... But now I'm actually doing it. I'm starting a blog. So, yeah. Here it is. LOL. I promise all of my entries won't be this boring... And I do plan on updating it much more frequently than I have my livejournal, deadjournal or myspace in the past. It's just that I now live in a different part of the country than most of my friends (and in some cases, they live in entirely different countries). The point being that I don't get to see my friends or speak with them as often as I'd like. And there's only so much you can say in your facebook status or send in a text message. And I guess it's because I'm a digital native (though you wouldn't know it by the limited amount of technology that I actually use)... Anyway, I'm just not very good at keeping in touch via snailmail. I did send out some postcards last month. But that can be problematic because then I have to figure out if I send it to their home address or their school address. And like me, my friends addresses tend to change by the year (or even sometimes several times a year). So I'm finally "getting with it" and embracing this technology.

Okay... so now for my first journal.

As many of you know, I've spent the last several months in Orlando, Florida, on the Walt Disney World College Program. I came down to Orlando in June, immediatley following my graduation from Ohio University. I earned a BA in art and a BS in digital media (3D animation). So now I'm just trying to network and make the most of this experience while trying to save money and finish my portfolio/demo reel. The ultimate goal is to move to California and get an internship in animation or TV.

Okay so that's the necessary information. On a more personal note, I've decided to make some major changes in my life - most of which I will chronicle in the days and weeks to come. I've started a new diet. So far it's going well... I plan on writing much more about it later. But my goal is to lose about 50 pounds. I'll keep you informed on my progress.

I also plan on posting drawings, animations and other potential portfolio/demo reel additions soon. I'm applying for lots of jobs and internships and even entering a few competitions. Basically I'm getting serious about my future again... The seven month hiatus was fun... well, most of it.... and after 9 and a half years of college (I'll admit) a bit restful (and who gets to have a seven month working vacation in Disney World?). But it's time I refocus on my dream. So that's what I'm doing.

Geez. So this journal turned out to be a bit heavier than I originally planned. Don't worry, though, I still plan on having fun and posting lots of pretty pictures of Walt Disney World and all the goings on down here. We have the new American Idol Experience opening up soon. And a new parade at Magic Kingdom. I still haven't met Tinkerbell... And don't get me started on the list of attractions and shows I haven't done.

I'm still trying to decide if I want to take College Program classes this time around. I really enjoyed Exploring Marketing... But I also need to focus on getting my website up (a web designer without a website... beyond pathetic), getting business cards, finishing my resume and portfolio, and networking my butt off. Then there's also the ImagiNations competition... which by the way, if you are a junior or senior in college or a recent grad and you are an artist, creative writer, animator, architect or engineer, theater desgin or fashion/costume designer and would like to be on my team, let me know. I'm going to enter by Jan 30 and submit by Feb 28. I have a lot of ideas and if you're interested in being on my team, then please contact me in the next week or two and I'll share with you just what I'm planning on submitting.

Well, I guess that's it. Like I said, I'll be posting frequently. Watch for my drawings and animations and such... Oh and I'll post a link to my website when I'm finished with it.