September 13, 2000

Today was Discovery Day! (9am-1pm) It was so fun! Discovery Day is sort of like when you get a Y group leader to show you all around campus. Well, we had a group of about 27 people and 2 group leaders. They just took us around Epcot and took us on a few rides, so we know where things are and what the rides are like. It was so fun to get paid to walk around and learn about the park. At the end of it we arranged ourselves in front of the fountain and our group leaders took our picture. They said we all get a copy of the picture in a few weeks and all our names will be on it. I thought that was pretty cool! Then they told us to all stand on this circle that was down on the pavement. Then she said she wanted us to all raise one hand and turn outward from the circle because we were all going to take an oath. We did and then this BIG horn announcement (doot! doot! doot! dooooo! like announcing the Royals or something) sounded and then music started playing. I thought it was the fountain show and I thought it was funny that it started right when she was about to have us take some silly oath. Then, our group leaders Kara and Jeff were walking around the outside of the circle waving at us and telling us to wave back, and the announcer said something like, "Ladies and Gentleman, may I have your attention please! If you will turn your attention to the fountain pavilion and please help us welcome our newest cast members! Thank you!" All of the guests were clapping and cheering and smiling and waving at us.  It was really funny and cool and MAGICAL! It was a magical moment! They said we'd be having a lot of those here.

After Discovery Day the convention people had a venue tour. That was fun too but it was a TON of walking! I was pooped and after that 3 of us worked over time (5:30-7:30) on the set up for the Cast Picnic, which is tomorrow. After that I was DEAD!

September 14, 2000

Today was one of my days off! :-) I could have worked over time at the Epcot Cast Picnic, like I did last night but I didn't feel like it. But, I'm going to work a lot of overtime soon. That's where you actually MAKE money.

Megan (a roommate) and I went to Epcot. Dad wanted me to find their train layout and take pictures of it for him. I found out where it was at the Discovery Day, so we went and took pictures of it today. I also made a sign that said "Happy Birthday! Love, Becky and __________" and I got Mickey Mouse to sign after me and I got a picture of us holding the sign. It was fun.

Then we went to the cast picnic It was huge! TONS of food, entertainment and a big store with Disney stuff in it and it was all 75% off. The merchandise was cheap and the food was FREE! Salads, deli sandwiches, hot dogs, BBQ chicken, popcorn, cotton candy, ice cream, etc. all FREE! It was awesome!

Tonight, Sarah and I went to Disney Quest. It was fun. They have a TON of video games and virtual reality stuff. We get in free during the 1st month of our employment and we also get a friend in free.  So, I got us in this time and next time, she'll get us in.

September 15, 2000

Today I had a Property Tour. We went to each Disney park and ALL the Resorts. It was so fun! We rode the Jungle Safari at Animal Kingdom and toured that park first. Then we went to MGM and went on Rockin' Roller Coaster and toured that park. We also went on the Great Movie ride. It was pretty good. Then we went and toured The Magic Kingdom and went on Space Mountain.

Tours are cool because they always tell us cool facts and stories and sometimes put an end to some of the rumors we hear. The whole tour was from 10am-6:30 and it was a TON of walking!

When I got home there was a message from Sarah to have me call her. We decided to try to make it over to Epcot by 9:00pm to see Illuminations (the fireworks show). It was really good! But, we sort of missed some of the beginning and we didn't exactly have the perfect view. But, it was still really good. Then we rode the test track and looked for penny smashers. Didn't find any new ones but, there wasn't much open anymore. So, we'll have to try back when everything is open. Then we came home. We watched Friends at 11:30, we try to stay up every night that we can just to watch it. It's fun. Then I came home and now I'm going to bed. POOPED!

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Our friends here in the Soo just took a trip to Florida and spent a day at The Magic Kingdom. Got me thinking about my days at Disney. SO many fun and great memories! Since, I'm working on my personal history I thought I'd bust my journal out and find some pages to type up.  I arrived in Florida on September 6, 2000 and started having amazing experiences right away. I wouldn't say these days really capture "amazing" experiences but, they do give a good idea of what I did and what it was like there; busy, lots of work, and LOTS of fun and LOTS of magic! Oh, it was pretty muggy and sticky...I definitely remember it being sticky. Good times!!!

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Confession. I have not been keeping up on blogs....I'm addicted to Pinterest. I miss my friends and family and reading and seeing what they are doing...but, I can't stop. 

Also, I am so overwhelmed with our pictures that I have not been blogging. And by overwhelmed I mean...I'm ignoring our pictures. We're taking pictures and having fun and living and breathing and learning and singing and dancing and growing and traveling and gardening and....not documenting our current happenings very well.  Just so you know....

We love you all....

So much!

Utah  in 32 days!

Tahoe or BUST this summer!!!

What Choo Talkin' Bout Phyllis?!?

I'm working on my personal history again. I started it about 4 months after we moved here, so about 18 months ago. I worked on it steadily for about a month and I had created a skeleton of my life. It was about 7 pages. Now, I have organized it into different sections and I've started fleshing it out with everything I can recollect.  People's names and funny stories, events, vacations, activities, even mean things my older sisters did to me.  You know...AAAAALL the good stuff.

I really don't think I have a good memory but when I get started and make an effort I surprise myself. I remember more than I give myself credit for; and yet, when my sisters eventually read it, they may remember events and situations differently. Even people not related to me, may remember things different than I do.  That is to be expected though because our perspectives were/are different, right?

All that explanation just so I can start telling you long drawn out (sometimes) funny stories.

I remembered this one in the wee hours of this morning. I got up to go potty and I was dead tired, sure I was pass right out, back to dreaming bliss, but once I lay back down I started thinking of my personal history project and I was remembering....and giggling.

Here is one story I remembered.

In high school, I think it was my Junior year, I took an accounting class. We sat at tables that accommodated four people, they were in rows with an isle down the middle of the room. We all faced the front of the class.  Each work space had a large computer monitor, key board and mouse. Under each workspace a computer tower. [When my kids read this and their computer fits in their pocket, and has a touch screen, they will think I am SO ancient. Sad. And funny.]

Anyway, I sat near the center isle, second row back and on my right was David Barberi, an LDS guy from my stake. He was a year behind me in school but I knew him and his sisters. I always thought he had similar features as Jerry Seinfeld (minus the curly dark hair) and he was funny.

He understood accounting a lot better than I and helped me quite a bit. Before I took that class I thought I might want to be an accountant.  After that class, no way. I wonder what David Barberi is doing today?  Would NOT be surprised if he is an accountant.

[sidenote: After I finally fell back to sleep, I dreamed that David Barberi was a rock star and his band was asked to be the entertainment at our District Girls' Camp. And I was the Camp director and they agreed. Weird, eh? But, I was just thinking about him and I do know someone in a famous band, Imagine Dragons. So, maybe not that weird...but Girls Camp?  I have no idea!?!? Except I went to Girls Camp with David's sisters!  That's it! Still....weird.]

Our teacher was Phyllis Terrell, a very smart and nice lady. She was very proud of her son who played football.  I can't remember if he was a college or pro player, but I remember she liked to talk about him and how proud she was of him.  So much so, that David would take any and every occasion or opportunity to get her side tracked on telling us about him. This would cause us to not be able to get through the accounting lesson and then she would postpone homework or assignments. It was funny...because it worked.  It was even funnier when Ms. Terrell finally caught on.

As mentioned, I would often be confused. Who knew accounting had so much foreign terminology? I thought it would be mostly, adding and subtracting. Not the case.

As a result, I started saying, under my breath to David, "What you talkin' about Willis?" We thought this was hysterical and would stifle fits of laughter. Even though, we were both too young to have actually watched Diff'rent Strokes (just searched the phrase to find out what show it was from), we of course knew the phrase.  Who doesn't?  Well?  Really, I bet some of my younger cousin even know that phrase? I think?

Then one day we found out that Ms. Terrell's first name was Phyllis and this famous phrase, with very little altering, took on a greater weight of hilarity.

For years after this, I still would say, "What Choo Talkin' Bout Phyllis!?!" instead of Willis and people would try to correct me.

No, it used to be Willis. But, I like Phyllis much better.

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Okay, so what do you think?  Anti-climatic?  Too many unnecessary details?  What do you think my kids and grandkids will like to read? Not all my stories are funny and most of the them are anti-climatic.  Or maybe, "You had to be there." type stories?

My mom has been giving us sections of her personal history each Christmas and I LOVE reading anything and everything about her. It is so fun and I'm always sad when I'm done reading it.

Are you writing your personal history?  What do you thing about the idea?  Necessary? Unnecessary? Too much effort?  No time?

Tell me.

You are also, more than welcome to point out grammar and punctuation problems.  I try to proof-read a few times...but, I know they are still there. You can also, give your perspective on events inwhich you may have been involved....but remember this is from my memory and perspective...so I may NOT change those details. Or I MAY say, "Oh yea! That's right!!!! Thanks for the help remembering!"

Just so you know.