God Gave Me You

My husband drives me nuts. He knows how to push my buttons better than anyone else on this planet and in just the right combination. He can pick a fight with me from 3000 miles away and make me want to throw something at him... and that would be throwing something very far! And yet...

I love him more than anything else in this world.

He makes me laugh, makes my bad days better. There is a bond of safety and trust and friendship and love that is unparalleled to anything else in this world. He makes my heart skip a beat with a mere glance and makes my day with a simple phone call.

And yet the man drives me bat crap insane :P

That's love for you.

Having a three hour time difference is not the most convenient thing. We like to talk right before we fall asleep, but when I call him at 10pm or 11pm I end up being awake talking to him til midnight or later. And let me tell you, I do not do mornings well at all. I am one of those people who needs sleep to function or I am a nightmare! I cherish those late night talks, but I am not good at deep life altering talks as I am laying there half asleep. Finances, moving, where to ask to be stationed, should I move to 29 Palms if his schooling is extended, should we visit on this date, can we afford this and that.... not the best when you are half asleep. Especially when finances make you all flustered in general and then you snap at the man you love more than anything and are tempted to just hang up on him!

Am I complaining enough?

I love Ryan with all my heart. I do. I miss him terribly and because when we tend to be apart we bicker over stupid things. Sigh.

Regardless of the back and forth ADDness of this post, this song is perfect for how I feel about Ryan, which is the most important thing of all.



Link up with Goodnight Moon

Cable!!!!! ARGH

So on Riding the Roller Coaster this week was a post that struck a chord with me and I know a few other bloggers have mentioned something similar. Basically it all goes along the lines of, "If I don't do it, it won't get done." The main reference was the show Everybody Loves Raymond when Ray comes home from a business trip and leaves his suitcase on the stairs, expecting Debra to unpack it. Well, she doesn't. So it sits there.

I know marriage is about compromise, helping one another out, and working together. Now that we got that out of the way...

Our cable has not worked since December.

December.

We pay quite a bit of money every month for our cable and internet since our apartment will ONLY accept Comcast. So for nearly two months now we have been paying for something we are not using and it bothers me.

When we first had our cable go out it was the box just went crazy. Instead of showing numbers it showed a rotating square thing. It wouldn't connect or show channels or would randomly scroll through weird letters and numbers. We tried to fix it. We reset the box. We tried dialing in online and having them fix it. Nothing. So I asked Ryan to call. Then we were away for Christmas. Then New Years. Then I was sick. Then Ryan's grandfather passed away. A lot of things happened.

But the dust has settled. So I asked again if Ryan could call.

Why don't I just call?

Because if I don't call, it doesn't get done. Point in fact, I had to call to get us cable in the first place. When HE lost our Geico check to fix the car I had to call to get a new one re-instated. When HE wanted to stay longer in SC I had to call the airline at one o'clock in the morning to change our flights (ok slightly different situation... I was in a better mindframe but still). PLUS I ANSWER A PHONE FOR A LIVING! The last thing I want to do is come home and sit on the phone with a Comcast representative. I hate talking on the phone, ironically enough.

Why should he call?

1. He tried to fix the box and knows more than I do what is going on with it.
2. The account is in his name. He has all the information.
3. He will be the one home to meet the guy since he gets home earlier than I do.
3a. So he knows his own schedule better than I do!

So I bring it up last night and he basically says if I want cable then I should call. He is perfectly content to sit and watch Netflix. For hours. And hours. Yes there are good things on Netflix and I like some of the shows, but my attention span is not good to sit and watch five episodes of Lie to Me no matter how decent of a show it is. I want to flip!

I am having surgery on the 23rd. I'd like to have cable when I am couch ridden.

But he won't do it. He said he doesn't care, he will keep watching Netflix, if I want it why should he call? I present my reasons. Nothing. I get upset. Stupid I know, but still nothing. So we have a shouting match at 11pm (when he has the range at 5am... oops), tears are shed, angry angry RAWR ughness. Make up. Sleep.



Still no one has called Comcast.

I refuse to budge on principle at this point. I don't ask a lot of him. I want him to do one thing. Make one phone call.

Am I being unreasonable here????

Perhaps. But darnit I don't care.


What is your big ARGH I ASKED YOU SO PLEASE JUST DO IT issue?

Busy Days and New Theories

I am still feeling a tad under the weather, it stinks that these little flare ups now last days instead of just for like a night like they used to. So from that, needless to say, I had a slow start this morning! But I had lunch with mom and Wawa forgot to put the turkey on my turkey sandwich. Hellooooo Monday. Then I went to the municipal building and got the marriage license we need the priest to sign and all that jazz. Did a brief two hour stint at Social Security to get the stuff I need to change my name and have my many questions answered. I grabbed a quick dinner and barely made it to work for 5pm! It was a sloooow night. I teched/did back register and read a lot of my book. After work I met my mom at the Culvers and had a lovely grilled cheese sandwich for dinner as we all talked.

Now the new theory came up at the Culvers. My mom read an article about a woman who had a lot of digestive problems and was tired more than usual and actually she had a thyroid problem. Hm.... never had that test. I will call the regular doctors office up here and try and get an apointment this week for a thyroid profiling. Can't hurt right? Wish me luck!

I was talking to Ryan and he told me a lot about his day, then as I started telling him about mine I noticed he got a lot more quiet. Then silent. I think he fell asleep on the phone with me! I tried calling back twice and got no answer. :( So much for the best part of my day....

So sick of this week already...

Oh what a day. A week. And it is only Tuesday.

So at work today I am up front and checking my email when all these little windows start popping up saying that our firewall expired and viruses and spyware were in the computer. I try and get rid of it but no luck. I was just on AOL so it obviously wasn't something I did, but opening the internet I think re-triggered it. So I tell Marlene and Charlie and my boss was pissed. Understandably so, because apparently me (and the highschoolers who do my job too) used the internet and someone got a virus on the system. So the register was down for an hour today while the computer company dialed in to fix it off site.

Then one of my bridesmaids Kim fills me in on the dress drama she is having. David's Bridal I thought would be great, it has locations everywhere and lots to chose from. Now I want to kick the Manhattan location in the face. Kim ordered her dress January 27th and they tell her NOW that it is a "special order" item and needs 12 weeks to come in! They told her it would be in April 1st back in January which was cutting it close to our "April 15th" wedding (we lied to get things in on time!). Apparently Blue Velvet is a special color and needs more time and they don't carry dresses in that color in floor stock. So why did I see at least four Blue Velvet dresses at the New Brunswick location as I was showing Sue (Sam's mom) what they look like? And if it is a special order item why do I have four girls with dresses in the color who had no problems getting theirs???

So I am on the phone with the manager who can't access our information as the computers all crashed. Of course they did. She had to call me back while I was still at work.

I am just so angry they gave Kim the wrong information and would not own up to their mistake. Once the computers were running the manager looked at all stores for that style and color and size for Kim but of course it doesn't exist. Anywhere. So they looked for any dress (and at per Kim's request a different dress than the other girls) that is long and Blue Velvet in Kim's size.

Apparently they found one. Kim is going in on Thursday with her mom as she was still angry. Me too. I was texting Kim and Sam and on the phone with Carrie and at work doing this for three hours!

Plus Ryan left his phone in his pocket while on the range and it poured so now his phone is not working. He will have to get a new one and can't really afford it. Or maybe afford to come this weekend but he is going to try but it is so stressful. And he didn't get our application in for the apartment in on time so the one we looked at is taken. There is ONE one bedroom left on the top floor, so it is more money, and someone already applied. Our only chance is that his credit sucks and he gets denied. Otherwise a one bedroom probably won't be available til JUNE.

So now what???

I think we will know tomorrow.

I just want to cry.

Reunited!!

Ok sorry this took me so long to get to! But this is how my weekend with the love of my life went!

So I woke up at about 4:30am and was in the car by 5am with Don, Patrick, and Karli who all came to see me off. I was on the plane by 7:20am and in DC by 9:30am!!! As soon as I stepped outside of Regan Airport I was cold!!!!! It was FREEZING! My poor Florida body was in shock! I got on the metro platform and I knew I was in for it when it came to how cold it was. I took the metro to Union Station and I met Cat, which was awesome. It was sooo good to see her again too. We had breakfast together and then we went to the Smithsonian and the Mall (and our tree!) for awhile and just caught up before Ryan could get up to DC.

Ryan texted me that he was on his way and we agreed to meet at the Eastern Market Metro Stop... doesn't sound too exciting, but that was where we had our first kiss over a year and a half ago! So our first kiss after the deployment was in the same spot. And it was a long one. I literally jumped at him and just hugged him for so long, it was wonderful.

We got on the metro and went back to Union Station so I could get my suitcase from the baggage storage area and then we went out to Branch Ave (at the very end of the Green Line) where we stayed.

I was so nervous about seeing Ryan, and being with him again. It had been a long time since we had seen one another... hell we didn't even talk on the phone that often while he was gone. He was in Iraq, he had a lot go on... I moved to Florida, we had grown and changed, and I was terrified that we might not click like we used to or something would be different. But we were wonderful. I was still a little nervous when we were together but that all fell away.

The first night we hung out around the hotel... and the only place nearby to eat (we were carless remember) was Red Lobster, so we walked there and had dinner. The next day we slept in and it took us awhile to get going because Ryan wasn't feeling the best. I walked to the gas station and got him medicine (had to force him to take it!) and then we went out into DC. We hung out in Georgetown since it was Halloween, had this wonderful dinner at Clydes where we talked about a LOT of things (ie the future, plans, ideas, hopes, what's going to happen...) and then we went and saw Couple's Retreat. I already saw it but it was funny and worth seeing again. Ryan got pretty sick so we just went back after that. He had a fever that night and wasn't doing well, but his fever broke in the night while I was taking care of him.

The next day I got sick.

So we were both sick!

You take someone from the hot dry heat of Iraq and someone from the hot humidity of Florida and put them in the cold dampness of DC in November, of course they'll both get sick!!!

So we were both drugged and struggling for a few days. Sunday we went back to my campus and went to church at the Basilica and then I saw some of my friends on campus. After that we went to Chinatown and got Ryan a cellphone charger but I was pretty sick at that point so we went back. It was my turn to have the awful fever so we just watched tv and I was miserable in a ball under the covers. (But we watched UP when he was sick and The Ugly Truth when I was, so we got some movies in! And I think Jumanji was in there somewhere too....)

Monday I was a little better. We went down to the Mall and saw some of the monuments and met my friend Kristin briefly before having a nice dinner at Jaleo in Chinatown. We were walking around after that and all these guys were scalpling tickets outside the Verizon Center. We were tired of being asked so we finally caved and asked what the tickets were for, turns out Bruce Springsteen and the E St Band were there! Guess who ended up at the concert?

That would be us!!!

It was fun, and I know Ryan wasn't a huge fan so it meant a lot to me for us to go. After we went back to the hotel and then it was suddenly our last day. We took a long metro ride to Virigina and went to IHOP for breakfast, I didn't eat much since I was still sick, but I was getting there. Then we sat on the National Mall and talked for hours until it was time to go to the airport. We had dinner at Fridays in the airport and then I had to say goodbye again. Leaving him at security physically hurt, I cried the entire way through. Then I was suddenly on the plane and back in Florida.


I also finally quit smoking. Being sick prompted it and then I just didn't want to anymore. It has officially been six days. And I am still sort of sick. I finally have a voice again but it comes and goes. Not good when you talk for a living.

Since our visit we text constantly and we talk on the phone every night, usually for an hour or more. Last night was two and a half hours.

We're planning on moving in together after I finish here in Disney. Ryan thinks he will end up in DC until at least August (*fingers crossed*) so we'll get an apartment together. I just have to ask my Dad first... eek. My mom is cool with it though.

Talk of an engagement and rings has also come up.

Multiple times.

Whew. Ok, all written! Thanks for keeping up with me and this deployment saga. I cannot believe we made it through our first deployment. Yes it was shorter than expected but we still did it and so far we're still going strong, if not stronger than before. I love him so much, he is worth every bit of this.

Semper Fi readers, Semper Fi.

A Three Hour Tou-...Phone Call!

Ryan and I just talked on the phone for nearly three hours. Lord I have missed him!!!!!! One more day!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tomorrow's Blog: Disney Entertainment Face Character Auditions, the inside scoop!

I am 22! Holy Cannoli...

Yup, I am the double deuces. Twenty two years old. Two decades and two years old. Wow. I cannot quite wrap my brain around it...

So Ryan called me last night at 11:58pm to be the first one to officially wish me a happy birthday!! It was so sweet. He woke up early just to make sure he was the first to get to me. We talked for about ten minutes before my mom called and he had to go. This was the first time in five years someone beat my mom to wishing me a happy birthday. She said she kind of knew he would call, that's why she waited until 12:10am to call. Ryan said he sent me a letter and tried to get it to me for my birthday, but it didn't make it yet :( Maybe tomorrow? Ryan also said he wouldn't be able to talk to me again until Thursday. Bummer. I hope he is safe out on his mission.

My mom sent me a Minnie Mouse mug with flowers and a balloon, and my room mates all got me an awesome chocolate cake from Publix. I then went out to lunch with my dads' cousins John and Diane to a place called Sweet Tomatoes, it was good! Then Kayla, my room mate and I, went to Magic Kingdom. We went to the Monsters Inc show and were totally called on for the "psychic part" of the show. The show is all monsters on a screen but there are actors there who do the comedy live from somewhere backstage so it is like the monsters are interacting with you. It is pretty cool. And I had a Disney Birthday pin on (yay year of Celebrations!) so the monster comedian called us out on it. We then went on the Haunted Mansion and found the 2 hidden mickeys! After that Kayla went to work and I caught the flag lowering ceremony at the front of the park. They have the band play and a guest Military in the park helps with the ceremony and gets to keep the flag. This guy was older, a Cpl from Illinois actually, and it made me tear up.

I then drove to EPCOT and stopped by Innoventions, played and did some of the exhibits. Then Karli and I went on a Kim Possible Mission, had dinner in Japan, and watched the fireworks.

Lots of phone calls, texts, and facebooking today. People I havent talked to in years messaged me.... its strange.

And Ryan's aunt sent me a card (: It was so sweet!

OH. Anger. We found out that there is over 200lbs of mail sitting on Al Asad for Ryan and his unit. Just SITTING there. He hasn't gotten mail barely at all since he has been there and it is frustrating since he has yet to get any of my boxes. The SSgt found that out and called and bitched them out so hopefully the mail will get there soon.

Also, spent Sunday-Monday with my Uncle Dave and Aunt Darlene in Melbourne. Got my puppy fix since they have 3 yellow labs and a black lab, and one of the yellow labs is pregnant. My cousins Kim and her husband Chris were there and my cousin Michael, it was cool. We had a huge steak and shrimp dinner and they made me a vanilla cake with chocolate icing, my favorite!

All for now. Work tomorrow at 1:30. Oh what a day....

Day Two on the Floor

So last night my room mate Amanda and I were up late. We watched Bridezillas on WE and I got so angry watching it! One woman called her ex husband who was serving in Iraq and asked for more money as child support for their son... then used it to pay for more of her wedding to her new husband!! Disgusting! But then we watched What A Girl Wants, the Amanda Bynes movie, and felt better with some chick flick influence. But that prompted us to talk about our guys and we were up until after 3am!

Then at 8:30am my mom called and said Ryan was online. So I got up and dragged myself to the laptop and talked to him for half an hour, which is always wonderful. Then he had to go so I went back to bed. Half an hour later HIS mom calls and says he is back on, but by the time I got there he was gone, so I went back to bed. At 11am, my phone rings and it is Ryan! So I got to talk to him for another half an hour before I had to get ready for work. I love being able to hear his voice. It just makes my day.

Work was pretty good. Lots of shows... two audiences even got a perfect score!! I was pretty proud. One of the audiences was full, the other was three people... so that's kind of expected but the full one was exciting. Disney also does this pin trading thing... you buy a lanyard and pins and you can trade all over the parks. Cast members wear them and you can buy them at little kiosks. I got my own lanyard from my coordinator today so I get to trade pins with guests which is fun! It gives cool interaction. So I get my lanyard and the coordinator told me to go outside and greet and "spread some magic". So I did. I didn't realize it was as a task, which is a fifteen minute assignment normally when the CDS (Cast Deployment System, a computer we sign into and it gives us a piece of paper where to go or who to replace) gives it. So I was out there for an hour and a half! Oops! Luckily it wasn't busy so they just made fun of me for being outside for so long and sent me back to do more stom struck shows!

I have an early day tomorrow. Mass at 7:30am. Then I am driving to work early since a lot of roads are closed due to a Disney Women's Triathalon so I want to make sure I am at work by 9:45 when I am due. Then I work until 7:30pm and then I am driving an hour or so to Melbourne to visit my Uncle Dave. I will be there until Monday then come back.

Since Sam can't come to Disney anymore for my birthday I kind of made a new plan. I am going to go to EPCOT and get my hair washed and styled in the cast salon, it is pretty cheap. Then I will hang out for a bit and explore I guess. Then my friend Karli is working til 7:30 she gets off and we are going to explore and play in EPCOT until closing. Pretty good plan for now right?

I am pretty tired. I am probably going to finish watching the Parent Trap (ala Lindsay Lohan) on the Disney Channel of all places and then go shower and get to bed early. Night all!

Magic Kingdom and Training

On Monday Sam came over and we explored Magic Kingdom together.... it was a great day. We did a lot of talking and officially caught up in one anothers lives. We went on tons of rides, had Captain Jack Sparrow flirt with us, and had a princess lunch at Cinderella's castle. It was a small splurge but totally worth it. We got pictures with Cinderella, Snow White, Ariel, Belle, and Jasmine! I think I threw the poor girl who plays Ariel through a loop. She saw Sam and I were sitting just the two of us at a table for four and wanted to know where are princes were. We told her they weren't there and she said, "Well they better be protecting you or buying you jewelery, that are the only acceptable reasons to not be here." And I honestly could say my Prince was out protecting me. So she asked where he was exactly... so I said he was a Marine deployed in Iraq at the moment. Her response? "Oh my goodness! I hope he is alright, you make sure to tell him I say hi and to stay safe and come home soon." So like I said, I must have put that poor girl through a loop. I doubt she gets that answer too often! But the lunch was so good! We got five photo copies printed there (with Cinderella) included, as well as a wishing star, magic wand (boys get swords) and an appetizer, main course, and dessert for about $45 a person. Not a bad deal at all! And we lucked out not having a reservation and just managing to get in and get a table! We also met Stitch, Mickey, and Minnie!

We did some shopping, I got stuff to send Ryan in his first Florida care package and then I started a pin trading necklace. Then we got hit.... a huge thunderstorm settled over us and like typical Florida rain it didn't leave after an hour. It stayed. We were in the Monsters Inc comedy show when one of the screens went out. So we had to get the show cut short and we learned nearly all of Tomorrowland lost power in a power surge from the lightining. Boo. We decided to venture home a little after that... and we got soaked. And we had an umbrella!!!

I had work today and yesterday, still training, from 7:30am-4:15pm. Long days!! I am so tired! I need to go to bed early tonight. But I did Storm Struck for my first live audience today! It was so exhilirating, it reminded me why I love going up and performing in front of people. I didn't even mess up, I was pretty excited about that. Cinnamon is trying to convince me to do my assessment tomorrow and check out early, but we shall see how the morning goes. I think I could do it but I am not sure.. meh.

Ryan called me yesterday!!! The first twenty minutes were rough because he kept losing the call every five minutes or so. Then we got it to work and talked for a good 45 minutes! It was late for him, 6-8pm for me is almost 1-3am for him! He said they had been outside the wire all day and took a new dangerous route that had me worrying to hear. And he said, "Don't worry Sweetie, we haven't been hit yet." It was the yet that killed me. Plus the fact I found out the team he replaced was hit two weeks before he got there and other teams at his COP got hit. And weren't completely ok. Allie = Nervous Wreck. Moreso than before!! Ugh. But it was so good to hear from him and talk to him and to hear him laugh!! Oh that was amazing. He was a little jealous when I told him in my email to him that Captain Jack Sparrow hit on me and Sam, but we had a fun running joke out of it during the phone call.

Ok, enough for today. I need to have some food and get to bed. Not sure if anyone reads this thing, but just saying thanks and I appreciate it if you do!

Disney... an update at last!!!

Sorry this took me so long! I have worked long days and was out internet for awhile so this is long overdue!

Day One

I was temporarily without internet because the charming residents in the apartment before me stole the modem! But we reported it and maintenance so it got fixed! So far I am pretty happy here. My room mates are pretty cool, two Amandas and a Kayla. I live with the Amanda from Hawaii (she goes to school there but is from San Diego originally), Kayla and the other Amanda are in the other room and are from Scranton PA and Tennessee respectively.

So Day One Mom and I woke up and went to check in. We got there and I met Amanda, my roommate, in line, and Kayla, the one I was matched with originally was right in front of me. So we all signed in and got our beginning paperwork and spiels. I am living in a 2 bedroom in Chatham Square apartments, the one I wanted, and we got the last one there!!! So we drove over there and unloaded as the skies opened up in a massive down pour. Up three flights of stairs outside with all my stuff in the rain. Oy. But we got it done. After that I went over to casting and spent about three hours going through the place with my room mates. Station after station.... job confirmation, payroll, Disney Look check, background scan, electronic fingerprinting.... it was a lot of standing in line and waiting! But I did get to talk to other people so that was pretty cool.

On the bus back we saw a snake chasing a lizard up and down a fence! The snake intertwined itself in the chain link and was chasing the thing up and down and up and down and the lizard got away! I took pictures so you will see shortly!

We went back and unpacked more, then we all got in the cars and headed to Target. And got lost. Then got there. I got some bedding at Marshalls, blue polka dots, then we had dinner at Subway before going to Target for the rest. Amanda and I did a rubber ducky themed bathroom and we got cleaning supplies and stuff for the kitchen, placemats, doormats, a wireless router etc. Productive shopping trip! We just got home, unpacked, realized the modem was stolen and reported it, then I drove mom back to the hotel. I went to business center using the free internet to email Ryan and then home.

Day Two

Richie texted me that day asking if I had heard from Ryan in the last day or so because Josh hadn't gotten back to her and she was worried with all the bombings going on in Iraq. She was wondering if TFE got called over to help or not but I told her I didn't know. I don't watch or listen to the news but everyone feels the need to inadvertently tell me anyway! Ugh.

After I emailed Ryan that morning Mom and I got breakfast and then went shopping. I got jeans that fit (surprise!) and a rain jacket since Harvey, my brother's rabbit, ate mine and we didn't notice all the holes until I unpacked it. After that I went to sign up for my free Disney class in Entertainment and it took FOREVER. I filled out the piece of paper in thirty seconds but I was there over an hour for the thing. Of course once we fill out the paper only people can go up to hand it in one table at a time then get in another line to have someone read the information back to you since college students obviously cannot read. :P Then I went to my security building and got my decal for my car and the missing items that were not on our apartment inventory. After that I had to go to a Housing meeting that took 2 hours! Basically don't have weapons, don't break anything, no drugs, no minors with alcohol, and you're fine! Somehow still that took 2 HOURS to go through. Then Mom met me and we went grocery shopping, got the starting essentials and came back and unloaded everything. Then we went and got dinner and I dropped her off at her hotel before coming home.

We are still without wireless. We got a modem now but the wrong router! So we are going to have to take it back to Target and get the right one, but at least I can plug this into the wall in the living room and use it to access the internet!

Day Three


My Traditions class for training this day was long, but oddly not too bad. I learned a lot and I got my employee name tag and my pass to get into the parks for free. I also learned Disney is big in Toys for Tots come the holidays so be sure to know I will definitely be volunteering to help with that!! I took the bus back and then changed out of my business attire (black skirt and jacket with a lacy bottom purple tank top, stockings, heels, even pearls in my ears!) and met my mom and my uncle Dave for dinner. He is my favorite uncle as I have told you before so I am disappointed he and Ryan never got to meet. He said he is anxious to meet Ryan when you get back! It was a sad day for him, I don't know how much My cousin Alex, for the past two years or so he has been exploring with Mormonism. He left today for Hawaii as two girls from his church got him a ticket there and he will be there a month. Then he goes to Iowa to work a steel mill thing which will then fund his mission which is about 2 years. So my uncle was heartbroken as he has no idea when he will see Alex again, poor kid is just 19 and has been kind of lost since his parents divorced years ago. He found that family feeling in the Mormon church when his then girlfriend took him with her, and he has been in there ever since. It kind of kills my uncle sometimes, I can tell, he just feels like Alex jumped in too quick or something.

Day Four

What a long day! I saw the sunrise and everything! So I got on the bus around 7:15 and I was in EPCOT and signed in by 8am. I sat through a few videos and slideshows, a lot about Walt Disney's original idea for EPCOT and the stories behind it, then some more cast need to know stuff. Then we split up into three groups and toured the park as part of our "Discovery Day" (all paid too!). It was barely 9:30am when we ventured out so the park was just opening, and the first thing we did was go on Spaceship Earth, the ride inside the giant dome that is THE symbol for EPCOT. It was still early so there was no line, we literally walked right on. It shows how man has changed throughout civilization with these amazing animatronic characters, and in the end it is that giant dome filled with stars and I felt like Ryan were there with me, stars are our thing. Stars in the night sky always make me think of him, and this night sky simulation I saw is probably like what he sees every night out there!

After that we walked around more. We went through Innoventions, where I will be working, and saw all the displays. Then we went over to Club Cool where we got to try samples of Coca Cola from all over the world. Verdict? Worst: Italy, waaaay too bitter. Best? Israel, nice and lemony! Then after that they had all of us stand in this huge circle in a courtyard and told us to wave at one another (to get used to greeting everyone we see) and then turn around outside the circle and start waving to guests. Suddenly the big booming announcer voice comes on and says, "Ladies and Gentlemen, please direct your attention to FutureWorld West Courtyard and say hello to our newest cast members! Please welcome them to our Disney Family!" And everyone around was waving and even taking pictures of us and cheering, it was cool and slightly embarrassing all at once! But mostly cool. After that we got on our own boat and went around the lake and got to see all the countries in the International section.... Canada, Germany, France, United Kingdom, Morocco, Americana, African Outpost, Japan, China, Italy, Norway, and Mexico. I think that is all of them. Each section is only employed by people who are actually from that country, it is pretty cool! They usually come here for a year long program and work as natives in their section.

Then it was back to the classroom, more videos and slides and get to know you things. Then our trainers came and got us just before noon. Mine was Ginny and only one other girl was Innoventions, her name was Sarah. Ginny took us to wardrobe to get our costume and... mine is just short of hideous. High waisted black pants in the style of what they call "mom jeans" that billow out at the hips and make anyone look wide, a belt (!), and a blue and teal green sort of wide striped vertical button down shirt worn tucked in. Coupled with all black sneakers (no mesh or suede or symbols) I look like an old man with huge hips! We are issued everything (except shoes and socks) including a matching windbreaker, winter coat (for when the time comes, as well as hat, scarf and gloves), and clear long rain jacket. Intense! Every item is scanned out with my ID and I can have five out at a time. When they get dirty I scan them back in and they get washed and repaired if need be for me and I can get more. Oh, and the pants run small, everyone has to get them in two sizes LARGER than what they are, so I am back to an 8 (x 32 length) again which was just a bummer even though I know it isn't my "real" size.

I got my locker and put that away and then Ginny took us to the employee cafeteria for lunch. Good prices and surprisingly good food too. After that we walked over to Innoventions and went through the whole building. I met managers and saw the offices and all. I found out I am a presenter in StormSurge! Which is like a 3D movie/show that is about 10 minutes long (aka 17 pages or so of memorizing) that is all me! Ginny said it was like a one woman show. I basically narrate the film as it happens, so I really cannot mess up! Eek! I don't have my script yet so we shall see how it goes. Then we went down to the basement and I did almost 3 hours of standard computer training. Ick. And not only did you have to listen and pay attention but there were mini quizzes after all the sections. I passed them all and clocked out at 4:30. I was walking back through the exhibit when I saw my dad's cousin John there (I don’t know if I mentioned he and his wife Diane retired down there and he is a bus driver and she works outside Innoventions) and my mom and Diane were in one of the exhibits! They were hanging with my mom today and got her in the park free so she could see where I worked and all. I said a quick hi to him and then went and got my costumes and got back on the bus home.

I quickly got ready and met them all at church. It was a HUGE church, less than five minutes from my apartment, but not the homey feeling of my church :( It is mainly a vacation parish, no one really is a "member" there, it is just a lot of tourists and some employees. And when the priest read the gospel he didn't read it as is, he modernized as he read which was just kind of weird to hear. We really don't do that. You read it how it is written for the gospel and use the homily to explain it and make it relevant as needed.

Anyway after that we went to Olive Garden and had a nice dinner. John and Diane are so incredibly nice, they live like ten minutes from me and know all the insider stuff around here and said I could call them for anything. John usually drives guests the late night shift (7pm-3am for example) so he is VERY familiar with all the routes around here and said if I was ever trashed and needed a ride to call at anytime. That probably will not happen but the offer was sweet all the same! After dinner Mom and I went to Target and I got my ugly black shoes... I literally had to buy men's size 7 since there was nothing in women's that fit the criteria. I then dropped Mom off at home and I got a glimpse of the Magic Kingdom fireworks as I drove on Rt 192.

I get to "sleep in" the next day. I don't have to be at work until 12:45 so I am getting on the bus around 11:45 maybe. Then I have what Ginny called the "mind stuffing" where we will get a lot of information thrown at us the first half with more computer quizzes. The second half we get Illuminations duty. Innoventions closes at 7pm everyday and if we are working closing we help set up and control the parade which is called Illuminations. It is something I remember from being 5 years old and there, a huge waterfront parade and fireworks show! I will be seeing it a lot I guess now. And I absolutely love love love fireworks so I am ok with that!

Oh! Mc messaged me that day, he got the box my family and I sent last Saturday! It hasn't even been 2 weeks yet! I have steadily sent Ryan boxes since the fourth and he has yet to get even one! :(

Day Five

Today was the first day I got to hear from Ryan since Day One when he called me during move in. We kept missing one another and it was so so so so so so so sooooooo good to hear his voice. I have missed talking to him so much! He sounded so sad though, it almost broke my heart :(. I thought about him the rest of the day, especially at fireworks duty that night. He would have loved the show and I would have loved to watch it with him by my side. I know things are crazy now since I am training but hopefully I will get a more solid schedule soon and we can talk more. I felt bad the whole phone call backstage, aka where guests cannot go, was right near the ride called Test Track and the cars were zooming by every two seconds at 70 mph during the ten minute call!

Work was actually fun. My feet hurt like hell and the costume was nice and hideous, but it was cool being there! I did some more safety training stuff in the training room, but then Hugh, our trainer, took us through the exhibits and let us watch the shows and see where we work. I have yet to see STORM STRUCK! though which is where I will be! My group had Sarah from yesterday, then a girl from Honduras, one from South Korea, and one from Peru! We were quite a mix! I even got to go into the EPCOT tunnels!!!! I was so excited. The literally only run under Innoventions, so they are much smaller than the Magic Kingdom ones, but it was still cool. As we were walking around I saw Chip and Dale come down and start removing their heads and unzipping the costumes as they walked..... so strange! Especially to go up the stairs and see a fully costumed Chip and Dale waiting to go outside to interact with the guests!!!! They said hi to us, silently naturally, and as we went to leave the tunnels we saw it was POURING yet again. So Chip and Dale did the silent fist pump of victory as they got to go into the air-conditioned indoor character spot instead of the outside one in the sun!

At night I got to do Illuminations Parade duty. It was so cool. Tonight we actually got to watch the whole show so we can say we have seen it all, and we were in the best spot ever. In front of the ropes closer than anyone else!!!! Normally we do crowd control and block off areas and just make sure people aren't stupid, but tonight we just got to watch. Then my second favorite part of the day happened, the first being talking to Ryan! After the fireworks we hurried towards the entrance and stood on the big fountain that is there. We were all given Mickey Mouse stuffed glove hand things and we waved goodbye to all the guests as they left. Everyone had the biggest smiles on their faces as they waved back to us. I got high fives even from ambitious kids who jumped high enough! We all said things like, "Thanks for coming! See you again soon! Goodnight! Thanks again! Good luck finding your car in the parking lot!" It was amazing. Everyone was just so happy and replied to us with so much energy even though we all were exhausted! I hope I get to close a lot, parade duty is amazing and doing that goodbye thing would make me smile even on the worst days. Then I took the bus home and there were all the international kids on my bus! Norway, Mexico, Italy, Germany, Japan, China.... I honestly heard about six different languages on the bus alone! When I got home I then took my room mate Amanda (the one from University of Haiwaii) to Walmart... it still boggles my mind they are 24 hours down here. And it was packed! So she did her grocery shopping and I got home about twelve thirty in the morning....... the latest I had been up since moving here!

Day Six

A day off!!!! Mom, Dad, and Stefan came to my apartment and I moved the rest of my stuff in and then we met Dad’s cousin who got them into Hollywood Studios (aka MGM) for free with me since my passes for guests don’t work yet. I spent the day with them there and it was cool, I love that park! I got to be in a stunt show too in the backlot studio tour! I was the Crazy deckhand who got shot at and completely soaked!

But sad news..... I went to the Indiana Jones stunt show and as we’re leaving this bitch knocked me from behind and made me drop my camera and it broke! My camera is like it is a part of me first of all, but this is the camera Ryan gave me for our anniversary. It means so much to me and I honestly cried right there in the park. It won’t work anymore. :(

When I got home though I made dinner and then my phone rang... Don’t Stop Believin! It was Ryan! That is his ringtone!!!!!! It was after six so it was late for him so I was surprised. We got to really really talk for about half an hour and it was great to hear his voice. Then he had to go, so I sadly finished dinner and then my phone rang again! He had to call me back as he wanted to talk more and I loved it. So I got over an hour to talk to him. But then when he went to say goodbye this time I kind of lost it. I honestly started crying which just came out of nowhere. I felt awful for doing it but we talked a bit more than I calmed down.

I went outside to relax a bit and breathe and I met the guys who live across the hall from me who just moved in. One is going to be Tigger in Magic Kingdom! Pretty cool. We chatted a bit then I came back in here and compiled this way too long of a post. Thanks for reading if anyone did! Tomorrow my best friend Sam is coming here and seeing the place then the family and us are going to a park to hang out. And Jess, my friend from school, is coming too! Yay!

Whew.

It's here!

I leave for Disney tomorrow!!! The car is packed and Mom and I leave in the morning. We are driving down to Virginia and getting on the Auto Train for a seventeen hour train ride... with my car on board. We even have snuggies for the ride! I arrive in Orlando on the 18th and get a day to veg, then move in the 19th and 20th. Eek! I have that whole nervous first day of college feeling again. I hope I like my job, my room mate, my apartment, etc... I cannot believe it is here already.

Tomorrow Ryan mentioned he has a possibly dangerous operation. Please keep him in your prayers if you can. I am pretty worried. I got to talk to him on the phone Friday, which was amazing, and Saturday we missed one another, but this morning I did get a call from his aunt and found him on facebook chat at around 9am. So... yes. I don't know when I will get internet access again so I am going to be worrying for quite a bit. I hope he will be alright.

Oh Deployments...

There is nothing in this world like getting a phone call from your Marine. It is amazing. Even when it cuts out four times and he has to call you back. Or when it ends with, "Oh crap Sweetie I got to go. Now. Loveyoubye." *click* (Don't worry I got a message an hour later on facebook that he was fine and not to worry, does he know me or what?) But it is still amazing and totally worth it.

I made these today...

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Cake-in-a-Jar/Detail.aspx

I am so excited to mail them to Ryan. I managed to get about seven of them. They are cakes in jars! Basically you bake any cake mix, one cup in a wide mouth mason jar, and then you boil the lids. When the cakes are done baking you take the lid out of the boiling water and screw it on the jar. As it cools it seals and it will keep for about a month. Hopefully!!!! I got this on the USMC_gals website and I am so excited to see if they make it to him! I made chocolate cake and I got a can of chocolate icing to put in the box as well. Then thanks to another idea I saw I am going to decorate the jars and call them "Jarhead Cakes". I am a little too excited about this craft project!!! I love making care packages and I think he will really like this one. You know, if it makes it there! My first care pacakge sent July 20th still has yet to arrive... oy. I sent another yesterday or so and this one tomorrow. Actually probably two. Haha. And I am putting a box together for two of his close friends, I just need one of them to get back to me with his address. The other I have.

It is almost 3am. What am I doing up?!!? I want to go visit friends in NYC tomorrow so I need sleep.

PS - On facebook do not get the Farm Town application. It is so fricken addicting!! My mom started me on it and I can't stop!

Surprise Phone Call

This will be quick, just wanted to share! I was talking to Ryan on facebook chattoday and he was pestering me to tell him what was in the carepackage I sent (that he still didn't get). I was telling him "No! It has to be a surprise! There is so little I can do for you I can at least send you a surprise!" Then he wrote BRB. So I am sitting, and waiting. Couple minutes goes by. Then my phone rings, the house line. I don't technically live here anymore so I don't pick up, my Mom does. She comes in my room, smiling, and hands the phone over.

First thing I hear? "See, I can do surprises too!" He told me he had limited to no phone access so I found myself tearing up with the sound of his voice. It was amazing. I talked to him for about two minutes when the dreaded operator said, "Call has been lost. Please try again."

Damn.

But he got back online and I talked to him a bit more. It is amazing how something so small, like a two minute phone call, can make my entire day.

More later!

Last Week in DC

Sorry I have slacked in my updating the past few days. I have been so overwhelmed stressed the last few days! On Thursday I had a rough day trying to do that stupid light hang job. The designer is just making my life difficult and I regret taking the job in the first place. I have very little time to do a lot of work and it sucks. I then spent the evening bagging up old clothes for the salvation army, removing posters and pictures from my walls, and battling with the blue tacky stuff that does not want to seem to come off. I spent hours trying to get the walls clean and they still aren't. It sucks. And pieces of the paint came off on some of it and I am not sure if I have to fix those or not before I move out. I need my security deposit back so that needs to be fixed.

That night I ended up being awake until almost 5am! Between the walls and watching some heavily emotional episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer (season 5 on DVD!) I just could not settle to sleep regardless how tired I was. The Ryan called me that morning around 7:30am! I remember him saying his phone card didn't have much time on it and we said I love you and Miss you.... but I don't remember anything else! I had only been asleep for two hours and I think my brain was still foggy. I hope I didn't sound too awful!

Fiday I went in to work and hung lights for seven hours. Three by myself, 2 with Rich, and 2 with Cat. I got almost all the lights on the plot in the air except the ones that were missing, and I started circuiting too. I still have quite a bit to do, but I got a huge chunk done thankfully. By myself it was hard. I was on the giant scaffolding thing and I had to climb up and down constantly carrying lights and rolling the thing around. I got soooo much more done when other people where there! I am nice a calloused now.

Then we had our last show for Fringe Friday at 11:30pm. Jay (the director and a good friend of mine) picked me up and drove me back so I wouldn't have to metro, and he took me on his motorcycle! It was cool, I had never been on one before and it was pretty fun. Good for short distances but I don't think I would last too long on the back of one for a road trip. I'd say an hour tops if I had to. In the city it was handy though, we could weave and drive easier. I think flying down the highway I'd be terrified but we hit 55 maybe once in the city so I was ok with it. The show went well, everything ran smoothly, including the lights! Finally! Go me! Then this club (Lux?) nearby was doing a big promotion and I think I saw the Real World DC crew hanging out there. I am sure the cast was around but I have no idea which ones they were, but the guy with the camera you couldn't miss!

I got home that night and my apartment was so hot. When Caitlin moved out either she or her charming boyfriend turned the AC up to 89 degrees before they left!!! I saw the temperature was currently at 76, and set for 89! Witch. Ugh. So not cool. I was always pleasant to her so I don't know why they would have done that. Unless they overheard the "Cat Lady" remarks... but that was usually Ryan saying that not me. (She sneaked in two illegal cats, living in University of Maryland housing we can't have pets and I am allergic so it was sucky.)

Yesterday I got another phone call from Ryan in the morning. He told me they were moving out tomorrow (today) to start his mission. I at least now know where he will be generally, but I won't write it here. I know better! It is a little safer I think than his original planned location so I am happy about that. He asked for toys, coloring books, cleaning supplies, and socks for the locals in his next care package. He also said phone access will be limited but apparently they will have wireless which is good. I think he said he asked his Mom to send his laptop so at least I can still talk to him.

I went back to sleep for a bit after I talked to Ryan. Then I got up and went to Gregg's for the cast party. It was fun, lots of good food, a keg of Dogfish, and of course Rock Band on the Wii. I was there for a bit and then I went to see Jay's other show Magnum Opus. It was another English language Opera and I knew a lot of the cast, including the composer and the stage manager, and it was pretty good. Jenny and Brian (two friends I graduated with, fellow Drama majors) were there so it was nice to see them again.

When I got to the theatre I was early so I decided to walk and buy some more cigarettes. After I got them it started raining. So I am on the street corner next to this tall blodne when all these young black kids come up to us and start saying "You're so pretty. Can you hang out? What are you doing?" and stuff. The other girl goes, "Sorry, I'm married and she's with me." and we walked across the street. She then offered me to share her umbrella with her which was sweet. Then I looked at her and I realized why she was so familiar, she was a contestant on America's Next Top Model! I told her she handled them well and thanked her for helping me, then I said, "Sorry, you must get this a lot, but were you..." and before I could finish she replied, "On America's Next Top Model? Yes I was." And I apologized for bringing it up and she said it wasn't a problem, she went on the show and put herself out there so it was expected. She introduced herself, Sara, as did I and we chatted for a few blocks. I told her I was going to the opera and she said she was meeting girlfriends for dinner. Sara was about 6 feet tall, so thin, gorgeous, and very kind. I then thanked her for sharing her umbrella as we parted ways and then said it was nice meeting her. I thought it was pretty cool!

After the opera we went back to Gregg's for a bit. I got my paycheck, yay! And then he gave all of us a cast/crew photo we had taken when we had dress rehearsal and at IKEA he found these mini easels he spray painted red and put the frame on that... it fit with the theme of the show and it was very sweet. I hung out there a bit longer then went and met people at the Dubliner for my friend Tom's 21st Birthday. I had a cider or two and Tom was pretty wasted by the end of the night! The bouncer kept buying him drinks and he was gooooone. But it was nice to see people again, I mostly talked to Jenny and just hung out.

Today I went to church, still keeping my promise to myself! I slept through noon mass but there was one at 4:30pm I went to. It was actually celebrated by the cardinal which was pretty cool. Then in his homily he talked about how he spent last Holy Thursday in Iraq, celebrating with the men and women stationed there. As he spoke it brought tears to my eyes. I wonder if I went to the noon mass if he would have been there, it was almost a sign to me that Ryan would be ok and I was just very grateful to hear it.

Now I am home. I saw Ryan quickly posted on his facebook that he made it safe to his new location, thank goodness. I talked to his Mom earlier today and we're keeping one another updated as much as possible.

AND. Great news. My voicemail from Ryan was set to expire, but I listened to it today, teary thinking I'd not get to again. But I tried to hit the save button and it reset for another 21 days!!! Very happy about that.

Sorry this got a tad longer than expected! Hopefully I will hear from Ryan soon. And Disney is in T-Minus 24 days!

First phone call!

As you can tell from the title I got my first phone call from Ryan today!! I was just telling my mom yesterday that I knew Ryan's mom sent him phone cards but I still hadn't heard from him and the whole thing with his saved voicemail expiring in three days. Well today, after a stressful day (long story short I agreed to be Master Electrician for a show and I have a week to do it alone since the designer took forever, plus tons of complications and the fact I have a week to do it, clean, and move!) he made it all better!

I was sitting on my bed working on my photo albums. I have about 36 envelopes of pictures from when I studied abroad that I had been meaning to put in pictures, so I finally forced myself to do it. Note to self: buy two more albums! Well I'm working on that when my phone rings. It was a weird number, and it was missing one in the sequence so I thought it was a spam call in all honesty. But I answered and then I couldn't hear anyone for awhile. So I hung up and then they called back. And it was Ryan! I got to talk to him for 36 minutes and 56 seconds! It was wonderful. Just hearing his voice almost made my eyes tear up but I kept it all in check so I could talk to him.

He was telling me about base and a little bit about what he might be doing on his mission. I told him about my day, and that I sent him care packages. I told him what was in my mom's but I left mine a surprise. We were talking and laughing and I felt like it was normal again... like we were talking on the phone at night before bed except it was 10pm for me and 5am for him. He told me the food on base is actually really good, it is prepared by Iraqis, and that it is better than any chow he'd had before. In 8th and I or Quantico!

Just hearing his voice and talking to him made me feel so amazing. I got to talk to him online this morning for an hour and then on the phone too... I am so incredibly lucky.



Also, I found this website I wanted to share. It is like a positive FML.
http://www.givesmehope.com

If you ever need to smile or have your faith restored in humanity that is the place to do it!