My Summer Bucket List

Okay so I got this idea from Kelsey. Basically, I have a very short time here in Southern California unless a) they extend my college program until January or b) I somehow manage to get a job and an amazingly cheap apartment and like 10 roommates in the next month and a half. So I need to make the most of this summer while I'm here. Anyway, I read her blog just now and thought, "What an awesome idea... I should do this too." So here it goes. My summer bucket list:

1. Go to Hollywood and see Up at the El Capitan. While I'm there, I might as well check out Grauman's Chinese Theatre and a few of the other sights.
2. Get a tour of Walt Disney Animation Studios.
3. Get a tour of Pixar.
4. Meet John Lasseter.
5. Go to the US premiere of Ponyo (and seeing as how John Lasseter might just be there it would be an excellent way of taking care of #4... plus I've been wanting to watch Ponyo for ages).
6. Finish my website (which would require me to finish my portfolio and demo reel too).
7. Network my butt off here at Disneyland and in Hollywood/Burbank/LA. So if I have to leave I will have some sort of network in place for when I want to come back.
8. Enter the Disney/ABC Television Group Writing Fellowship competition (which would mean finishing the Ugly Betty spec script this Thursday and sending it in).
9. Enter the Fox/Aniboom Holiday Animation Challenge (meaning I'd have to actually finish the animated short I'm working on).
10. Get a tour of Warner Bros.
11. See Wicked in San Diego.
12. Finish design/develop on all the websites I've been promising my friends (and the ones I've been promising myself I'd finish).
13. Finish all the fan arts I've been promising my friends.
14. Get back on my diet, get down to the fitness room (at least three times a week) and lose another 20 pounds.
15. Experience every attraction at Disneyland and California Adventure. And takes lots and lots of pictures.
16. Go to Knott's Berry Farm and meet Snoopy (and take pictures, of course).
17. Go to Universal Studios Hollywood (and take pictures).
18. Look into animation and art classes in the area (just in case I stay). And actually read some of the animation books I spent so much money on... and maybe do some of the exercises described in those books. Maybe I can even use that animator's disc I bought (the desk I had to leave at home... my little Beetle could only carry so much stuff across country).
19. Apply for a ton of jobs and get some interviews
20. Write lots of spec scripts.
21. Add more life studies and portraits and caricatures to my portfolio (in short, draw more).
22. Have fun.

Okay... so I think that's it for now. I might add some later. I mean, it's a pretty ambitious list as it is... but I think I can do it. Got on an interest list today for people who are leaving in August but who would like to stay on till January if possible. We'll see how that goes. In the meantime, I need to get my butt in gear and start looking for jobs and seeing how much apartments around here cost.

California or Bust!

So it's official... I'M GOING TO CALIFORNIA! I got the phone call this morning. I was accepted for the Disneyland College Program Summer Alumni Program. I am beyond excited.

I'm going to be a vacation planner/ticket seller (I think I might actually miss merchandise). The program lasts May 21 or 28 till August 16.

Right now I'm trying to figure out if I'm going to drive out or fly. Mom thinks I should fly. But I'd like to have a car out there. The only thing is... I'm kinda scared to drive 3 or 4 days cross country by myself.

Anyway, I have like exactly three weeks left here. I went on a small shopping spree at Cast Connection today to buy some stuff I've been wanting. I still need a few more things that say Hollywood Studios (like the clapboard, the magnet, a frame, etc). I got a Director Mickey statue/Mouscar today. I need to get a plaque and get it engraved... College Program Disney's Hollywood Studios 2008-2009 or something like that.

Graduation is coming up in a week and a half. I hope I win a caricature this time...

Oh and I have 6.5 pounds to lose before I reach my May 15th goal. So yay there.

I'm going to pick my website project back up. Now that I'm going to California I need to get serious about getting my work seen. So look forward to that.

Oh and I'm going to go on a picture taking/character hunting spree... I have autograph books to fill up and now more photo albums and scrapbooks. I'm going to finish my to do list (still have several attractions at MK I haven't experienced). I am going to try to go to Typhoon Lagoon. I think they said its free for cast until the 30th or something. I'm also going to try to go to Universal next weekend with some friends from work. Might even try to squeeze in miniature golf at Fantasia Gardens or Winter Summerland. Why did I wait till the last minute to do all of this?! Oh and I signed up for like three DU classes... LOL.

So yeah. Busy, busy. Hoping to visit home (Ohio) for a few days between programs. Got to get the process started for me going back to school part time in the fall. I'm hoping to be a campus rep. My application didn't get sent in. Stupid people at Chatham front desk... They put in the wrong fax number. So I resent it... but they've already scheduled all the interviews for this round so I have to wait until July before I hear anything. :(

But that's okay. I'm still on cloud 9. I've been wanting to go to California for so long. I want to see everything!

Life's a Climb

And I'm liking the view more and more each day.

So still haven't heard from Disneyland yet... I have like 3 weeks and 2 days left here. Freaking out just a little about it too. I need to be taking a lot more pictures... And there are still a few attractions that I haven't crossed off my list. Plus, I am determined to go to Universal at least once before I leave. Oh and I have a ton of drawings to get done for people at work before I leave too.

I am close to my May 15th goal weight. Within a few pounds, actually. I tried on some old blazers of mine yesterday. They actually never fit me. I can button them now. Still a little too tight to wear buttoned... well, I've always liked my clothes loose... but with another ten pounds or so I might be able to. The black velour jacket is actually too big on me now. I was thinking about wearing it to the Spring Formal (Hollywood theme). I might have to rethink that now. Mainly excited that the leather jacket fits me. Didn't fit me when I bought it. I've had it for almost two years. I was determined to fit into it one day. Now I can. Loving my new clothes that mom bought me. I got a shirt that says California on it. Hoping I can wear it when I go there...

Saw Hannah Montana the other day with Russ (basically one of the only people who would watch it with me). I actually really liked it (though I kinda knew I would). The ending was a bit cheesy... but then, most of the episodes of the show end like that. I loved most of the songs. I might just have to get the soundtrack. I'm at least going to get the Butterfly song. Any song with fly or wings in the title is an instant favorite of mine. That's why I started liking Hilary Duff's music. Her song Fly made me cry.

Oh and hoping to see 17 again soon. I would have already but I promised some people at work that I'd watch it with them.

Really excited about the 5th and 6th. Graduation and then my favorite cousin, Danielle, is coming to visit me. At least I'll use up one more of my main entrance passes before the end of my program... I'm going to have so many left. My stupid sister never brought my niece and nephew down. I guess I'm going to have to bring em down myself if I get the campus rep thing... which reminds me. I should call them and make sure they got my application. It's been a while and I haven't heard from them.

Just a quick blog before work. Basically I went clothes shopping today. All of my old clothes were falling off of me. I bought six new pairs of shorts (3 sizes smaller!) and 5 shirts... It was the most fun I had clothes shopping in years!

Also I had my phone interview with the CP Alumni Summer Program in Disneyland. The lady said she thought I'd be great for the program and that she was definitely recommending me. I'll know in a few days if I'm actually accepted. I'll keep you all posted!

Wooooohooooo!

California

So I might be going to California. I got an email a couple of days ago from recruiting asking me if I wanted to extend my program at Disneyland. At first I didn't think I was eligible (because I'm not eligible to extend my program here at Disney World and I'm not eligible to apply for professional internships here either). I replied to the email anyway. And I got a response back today. Apparently I am eligible. I just need to fill out the application and fax it off by Friday. So I'm going to have one of my managers fill out what they have to fill out and fax it off after work tomorrow. My program here ends May 15th. The Disneyland program lasts May (21st) to August. School would start in September... It just fits so perfectly.

It will take about two weeks to find out if I got it. And I'll have an interview before that... Plus I'm still waiting to hear if I got the campus rep position. I'm already thinking of things I can do to recruit people... I will have the coolest table in the student center.

Anyway, I would love to stay with the Disney company as long as I can... indefinitely if possible. The Disneyland Summer Alumni Program is particularly appealing because it offers housing. I've been wanting to move out there for years now. But without savings or a safety net or a friend's couch... Well I'm a little worried to say the least. This is a great way to get my feet wet out west, network and get my demo reel/portfolio seen by some people in the animation/tv/film industry. Plus... it's Disneyland. The original. Who wouldn't want to work there for the summer? It'll be awesome. But that's if I get accepted. I guess we'll see in two weeks or so.

On a slightly related note... there is still so much I want to do here at Walt Disney World and in Orlando before I leave (for California or Ohio). I am determined to go to the Kennedy Space Center... and maybe SeaWorld. And I'm trying to organize a trip to Universal. I didn't have a pleasant experience at City Walk the one time I went there. So I'm not expecting much in terms of customer service or anything like that. But I would like to see Scooby... and ride a few roller coasters. Just to say I did. Too bad they haven't finished the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Actually, it's too bad Disney didn't get it. It would have been so much cooler. But I will have to come back when that's done.

Anyway... I need to get ready for bed. I have a 7 am shift tomorrow... Just wanted to let everyone know what was going on. I'll try to keep y'all updated as much as possible. But I am working 55+ hours this week and next. And Jenny said something about visiting next week. So I might not be online much...

Stuff

So I haven't posted in a while. Mostly I've been working a lot. Spring breaks have come and we are all getting scheduled 49 plus hours. But it's cool. I can use the extra money.

Lots of things are going on at Disney. Apparently the contract with GM for Test Track at Epcot is up and Disney doesn't know if GM is going to renew... they're one of the car companies in financial trouble right now. Space Mountain is closing soon for a refurb... It's going to be a two seater I think. Aerosmith is supposed to renew their contract with Disney for the Rockin' Rollercoaster. That is, unless the rumors are true and Disney plans on going with a Hannah Montana or Jonas Brothers theme... The Backlot Tour has opened back up. I haven't had the chance to ride it again... but I plan on doing it before I leave in May.

I also plan on taking a trip to Universal and Kennedy Space Center before I leave. I would like to do Sea World too... there's just so much to do. And very little money to do it with.

I'm starting to freak out a little bit. I've been here almost 11 months. I can't imagine life without Disney now. I have applied to the campus rep program (because I'm returning to school part-time). I've also applied to the Disneyland program (though I'm not sure that I'm eligible). And I'm looking for more internships/entry level jobs. I'm probably just going to move back to Ohio for a while, though. I will be happy to see friends and family. But I really need to get out west as soon as possible.

Diet is still going well. I've put off the website and all other art/animation/design projects for the time being. I've decided to make the most of my time left here... get as many pictures and autographs and memories as I can in the next month and a week...

Not much else to report. I did get to go to a Conversations with DDG artists and graphic designers... that was cool. Very informative. It was a little awkward, though. It was just a few days after they lost a third of their staff. Odd time to network. So even Disney is affected by the recession...

On a related note, I've been trying to keep up with Obama... His recent trip outside of the US seems to have gone well. I did see a conservative talk show where they tried to say he was un-American and didn't like him telling the rest of the world that we're all arrogant or something stupid like that. I personally am very happy that the other countries of the world don't hate us as much as they used to.

Okay. So I guess that's it. Today is my only day off. I am finishing up laundry... need to go grocery shopping... and then watch American Idol.

I don't wanna be a chicken

I don't wanna be a duck... So I'll just flap my wings and shake my butt... for three hours. LOL.

Yeah. I did the chicken dance for almost three hours tonight. This was right after an 8 hour shift. And eleven or twelve hours in the park yesterday with Kelsey and Kinsey. And now I'm exhausted.

But I got a free t-shirt. And I made Nate, Sandra, and Jazzy do the chicken dance too. That made it all worth it.

In case you're wondering what this is all about... I volunteered to help out with Goofy's Mystery Tour. It's a cast event where they tether four people together and have them wondering around in the park one night trying to solve riddles and find clues. And Goofy was there, of course. It was kind of fun.

The HTM people were there. I made them chicken dance too.

So... I was going to do this whole separate blog about Kelsey and Kinsey's visit... with photos and video... but I'm too tired. Maybe tomorrow night.

Oh and I got a nasty phone call from some student loan people. I realize now that there was one loan I forgot about. I'm afraid to call them.... they're going to tell me I owe three or four months worth of payments and I'm already having trouble paying the one... maybe they'll let me defer.

God I wish I had money... Or an extra kidney. Maybe I should just go back to school... I could go to grad school... Defer until the economy picks back up... But I really don't want to. Why can't I just find a job that pays well enough to make my student loan payments (oh and rent and food and other things I require to live... that would be nice to have too).

I don't like being an adult. It's no fun. Unless you're chicken dancing for free t shirts. That was kind of fun. And going to the parks yesterday with Kelsey and Kinsey. That was fun too. I need to go to bed now and stop rambling.