Happy Christmas!

I sent out my pretty Christmas e-card today. I had too many people to send it to, and the third email I sent out failed to attach the picture properly. So I'm posting it here, along with my "fabulous" poem.

The Christmas Tree

Every year it is up to me
to fetch the MacPhail Christmas tree.

Having been a lumberjack for several months
I will admit to being kind of pumped.

I went deep into the woods
As far as I could!

First I headed East
Thinking about the impending Christmas feast.

I eventually turned South
Catching snowflakes in my mouth.

Soon a beaver was tagging along,
And a bluebird followed me singing a song.

I got a bit worried when the wolf appeared,
But I just winked at him and tossed him a beer.

Suddenly a fabulous tree stood right in my path
I estimated its height using some math.

A physics calculation determined the angle of my swing,
And the axe hit the tree with a rather subtle ping.

I dragged the tree to the homestead with a proud trot
Only to discover it was filled with termite rot.

So please, come to Charlottetown and see
My fabulous fake Christmas tree.

So Christmas is fast approaching. It doesn't feel very Christmas-y though, I'm not sure why. Maybe now that we have snow again I'll feel a bit more of the holiday spirit.

Yesterday I went on a shopping trip to the Charlottetown Mall yesterday for the first time in probably two years. I have been there twice since I've been home but both times just kind of to run in quickly or waiting for my mum, who had run in quickly. Oh, and to The Spa once. Quite the mall. "My" mall in Florida, i.e., the one closest to my home, was fantastic and I miss it. I didn't go there that much, (except to walk through on the way to the grocery store,) but it was lovely. Good deals on, well, everything, and they HAD everything, minus a department store. The mall was almost like a strip mall in the way the stores were connected by their walls, but you had to walk outside to get store to store. There was a fountain, an outdoor coffee/beer place, seating, etc. So nice!

It's been two-and-a-half months since I have worked. By the time I start my job it will have easily been three months. I was thinking to myself, "What have I done with my time?! Nothing," but that's not true. I spent almost five weeks on vacation!

When shopping on PEI, in the back of my mind I wonder if the cost of living on PEI really is that cheap. Our wages are lower than those of many provinces/cities and that argument is that our cost of living is lower. Perhaps my problem is that I generally shop only at the liquor store and grocery store, but I really don't notice things being excessively cheaper here. Rent/housing and gas are the big things, and it is quite cheaper here than many places. But with so many stores being chain stores where the price tag is put on a garmet before it's decided where it will be sold, lots of things are the same price as they would be in, for example, Toronto. I think a bit of it has to do with options. In big cities, you have the choice of going to a restaurant where you spend $35 on an entree. On the top of my head, we don't have restaurants in that price range in Charlottetown.

I know my mind is a little skewed from having spent almost fourteen months in the States, as it was skewed when I returned to Canada after being in Edinburgh. I thought Edinburgh was so expensive. However, a lot of that was due to the miserable exchange rate when we first arrived there. It improved a lot over the course of sixteen months, but by that time I didn't want it to improve as I wanted to get more dollars when I exchanged my pounds. Rent was definitely more expensive there, but the pay was higher to compensate. In retrospect, it was not as expensive as I initially thought. You could get a good meal in a restaurant for about $12CAD including tax, and no tip as tipping was not the norm there. I don't remember the price of milk, but it was normal. You could get a loaf of bread for 20p, (about 48 cents,). I remember cereal could go both ways... The sugary, American-inspired stuff was a bit pricey. The healthier or store-brand stuff was a pretty good deal though, perhaps $2.50 a box. The price of alcohol was pretty decent, you could get a pint for about 2.00GBP depending on the bar. I don't remember ever getting beer from a bottle in a bar... Except at Belushi's where Foster's Ice was buy one, get one free.

Random: any fellow deported Canucks remember Reef coolers? Ooooh, they were GOOD. They had great flavours! I like the red one and the tourquoise one. The purple, (black currant and grape, I believe,) was, umm, different. Definitely British ;) i don't remember what the red one was, but I believe the tourquoise was Green Apple and Pear. Different, but delicious. The red one makes me think of The Standing Order on George Street.

Oooh, or WKD Blue! That was like drinking a blue, melted popsicle.

You know what? I should really get into the import business. Introduce Islanders to the great things they are missing in other parts of the world. Sure we already import lots, and lots, and lots of stuff... but what's wrong with adding a little WKD Blue to our lives? Or Chomp bars. Or Tesco Fruit and Fiber cereal!

Keri is in Scotland right now. Hmm, kind of jealous.

Well, this was intended to be an educationed post about economics, but as usual, it ended with me rambling about Disney or Scotland.

Word.

Pictures pictures pictures.

I have pictures everywhere as I'm attempting to make a scrapbook.

And I'm relapsing. I miss the Commons sooooo much that I cried and now I have a headache.

----------------

I'm looking at old pictures on our computer. I used to have really long hair. That's because getting your hair cut in Edinburgh was expensive. Not related, but when I left there I threw out a lot of clothing. Specifically, there is a blue shirt that I really miss. WHY DID I NOT TAKE IT WITH ME??!! Probably because I wore it all the time and it was getting soooo fuzzy, not to mention the 20-kg weight limit. But why? Sad. And I'm wearing these random mitts in France and I have no idea whose they are. Were they mine? Did I borrow them from Keri?

----

Okay, I just remembered that I'm quite sure they ARE mine. I bought them at Internationale because I didn't have any mitts. I also almost lost them quite a bit. If it weren't for strangers tapping me on shoulders and me running back to the toilet minutes before a flight I would have had some rather cold hands by the time I left Finland! (Speaking of Finald, I have a fantastic photo of Patrick and I eating the most stupid backpackers supper EVER. I have a box of cereal, and he has a PICKLE, among other things. Hee hee...!) I did eventually lose a mitt, but I'll have to continue looking through pictures to determine when.

You know, I was soooo sad earlier but after looking at the THOUSANDS of pictures I have taken the past few years I really have no reason to be sad. Honestly, I think I had more fun these past few years than some people have in their whole lives. So how on Earth can I be sad?! Yes, I don't get to see people as much as I would like to, I have no idea when I'll see the majority of my friends again (come visit "The Gentle Island" please!) but I'm lucky to have met them. I've been to numerous fabulous places, had the job that I dreamed of since I was eleven-years old, have a brilliant family, etc. Despite throwing out my fabulous blue shirt, at least I got my 7GBP out of it.

So this wasn't supposed to be a birthday post, but the clock is inching towards 1:00am on December 8th and I'm cheering up. I survived another year, and somehow, despite living at the Commons for thirteen months, my liver still functions. THAT is something to be proud of! I've also managed to have a great tan through most of it, despite being stuck in Scotland's rainiest summer on record ;)

On my happy note, I think I'll go to bed. Tomorrow night, I think I need an adventure. Looking at my pictures, I had lots of random adventures that don't happen unless you are willing to "put yourself out there". Hard sometimes, but I haven't had a REAL adventure in Charlottetown yet and I know there is one out there waiting for me, waiting to wish me a Happy Birthday and welcome me "home".

Happy 24th Birthday!

Today I did very things that tested my patience.

I downloaded stuff from youtube with DIAL-UP.

WOW.

I was kind of a nerd and watching British commercials/"adverts". Okay, so they were Irn Bru commercials. For anyone who has seen them, I guess around World Cup time (Juneish? I remember because we, in pure class, had a World Cup of Drinking marathon at the Commons) Irn Bru released commercials celebrating Scotland going to the World Cup! HUUUUUGE deal, eh? Well, turns out the Trinidad and Tobago team has a player with the last name Scotland. Hilarious! I was then inspired to watch Orange Wednesday adverts. Dear Lord - those are the funniest things EVER. Really, I don't understand why the cinemas here don't show them. (Actually, I do completely understand - Orange mobile service doesn't exist here so their customers can't take advantage of the Orange Wednesday promotion. DUH.) But I love them.

This is one with Carrie Fisher that I had never seen.

Spike Lee. Also new to me!

Roy Scheider.

Steven Seagal.

I haven't actually watched these all yet, (note the dial-up,) so apologies if they aren't great. And I NEED to find the original one and the Patrick Swayze one. And Ewan McGregor just so I can listen to his fabulous accent.

Note to prospective British or American (I need citizenship) husband: Linking to these proves I have a lovely sense of humour. This is very desirable in a mate.

I watched some of Elf tonight. Good Lord that movie in HILARIOUS.

Woohoo! So I got home from Florida this evening. Yes, I did just leave it the sunshine state on Oct 20th, but I really didn't have a good reason NOT to go back as I scored myself a job for the new year!

The job is on PEI.

This has shocked a few people. However, I really just didn't feel like moving again. Do you realise how many times I have packed up my junk in the past years? In Jan 2003 I moved to Ottawa for two work terms, came back to Charlottetown in August. In May 2004 mere DAYS after graduation I hopped over to Edinburgh with Shan and Keri. (RIP our adventures in one of the world's most fabulous cities.) In mid July we packed up our stuff and moved flats. It wasn't a hard move as the flat was in walking distance, however it still sucked. And I have faint memories of a hungover Keri and I taking a dresser that we stole from a neighbour's pile of rubbish through the George V Park. A shopping trolley from Tesco was used at one point. I'm tired just thinking about it! In August 2005 I came back to Charlottetown for ten days. Unpacked the Scottish stuff (that which I had not thrown out) and packed up summer clothes to head to Florida. In October 2006 I left Florida and lugged my crap with me on a cruise ship, in Ottawa and in Toronto. So yes, the idea of packing up again made me want to hide deep under my bed. Like, halfway-to-China deep. Even more bizarre than the "I'm staying on PEI!" thing, is the fact I actually FOUND a job on PEI. Scientists are studying this as we speak.

Starting in January, I will be working at the PEI Tourism Research Council. I will be polishing the Bridge with a toothbrush and examining the tourists' reactions to see if they have a sense of humour. If PEI tourists have at least a 6.45/10 on the sense-of-humour scale we will be tearing down Gateway Village to make room for the world's third-largest comedy club.

No, not really, obviously. I'm actually the Team Leader of the Data Collection Team. See my left arm? The iron fist there? That is what I shall rule with. That and a little bit of pixy dust because WDW habits are impossible to break. Anyone want to wear piercings while working under me? Reprimand! Ha ha. (Yes, I realise my nose is pierced. However, I took it out EVERY DAY AT WORK for over a year. Except two days that I forgot. Whoops. Point is that it made people less scared of me. Not that I'm scary, but you know...)

So PEI for a year, eh? I'm kind of worried, to be honest. Considering on my four-week anniversary of being home I hightailed it to Orlando, went out pretty much every night, was surrounded by people my own age, etc. Charlottetown needs a club. It needs either, (I can't believe I'm saying this...) Motions (gasp!), House of Blues, Destiny, or a Chillers. Actually, we need all of them, but let's be realistic. But the market really can't support it. Myrons has closed again, the Page (all the rage during second/third year uni) closed it's club, Peake's is seasonal, and the VUG is just... well, has that stigma attached to it. Eww. A bit of the problem is that people are meant to feel kind of old once they hit, like, 21. I used to live at Myrons twice-weekly when I was 19. However, by the time you hit 21 you have to laugh when you go there because the place was filled with under-agers that you used to BABY-SIT. I don't know what the solution is. As much as I enjoy the Old Dublin, I can't go there all the time. I like going out frquently and I can barely bother going there once a week. And ODP won't be playing techno anytime soon. Only if a dj plays the wrong song.

My left ear is still throbbing from my flight so I think it's best I head off to bed. Before 1:00am. I am SHOCKED. But I did get in last night at about 3:00am, and then got up for the airport about 45 mins later. I think that explains it ;)

So to everyone I saw in Florida, thank you so much! It was absolutely fantastic seeing everyone again and it shatters my heart knowing I'm not there anymore. =(

Oh yes, and Friday is my birthdays. Cheers to Hannah for the reminder! So if anyone I know is on PEI ( :P ) I want to hang out. Go out. Maybe have a little techno. Maybe drink a martini. Perhaps a glass of wine. (Dear PEI - Start selling ice wine. I need it. Canadian or German, I really don't care. I will even settle for a late-harvest riesling. Love Jen.

Bonne soiree

Blog blog blog.

So yup, not too much going on. Today I got up and took a reallllllllly long bath.

I've been having random Disney dreams. They used to be about work, (still, even AFTER I got home,) but now they are slowly turning into seeing Disney people outside of Disney World. One night I had a dream that all the UK lads were on PEI (WHY?!) so they stopped by my house to see what bars they should go to. So I took them all downtown, went to a bar with them, and when it came time to leave I couldn't find my vehicle ANYWHERE. I searched and I searched and then with some help I eventually found it. I do believe Lynda was the one who eventually put me right direction along with my neighbour Jane. Once we found our car/van/giant SUV or whatever it was, I cheered and woke up.

Last night my dream took place at Colonel Gray High School. Despite being 23, (almost 24!!!) I was heading back to school. However, everyone was my age. Maybe it was actually a university that was IN the Gray? Anyway, I saw my French roommate and nearly ran her over with hugs and happiness! Then, I was walking into the cafeteria and saw my Mexican roommate sitting and having lunch with the other Mexican exchange students!! Almost ploughed her down as well. I was so happy! So yup, those are the two of most recent memory.

In other news, still no job but I actually haven't tried too hard. I'm dropping off some resumes todays, and who knows if anything will come about of it. If not, well, hopefully the investment in gas and paper will eventually pay off. I have/had a couple of "leads" so we'll see what happens.

That is all.

Good news!

I found my old Pog collection!!

o_o

Hee hee, the joys of messing through drawers that haven't been searched through in years.

I wrote this a couple of nights ago... But couldn't get it to post. Pfft.

So here it is, another day.

I can't wait to get unlimited long distance. I think I'll do that tomorrow.

And to get a car to drive. Also potentially tomorrow. (No more house arrest, ha ha!)

I am very slowly applying for jobs. It's funny, having nothing to do makes me even more ambitious to do nothing. Suddenly getting out of bed before 11:00am seems like such a challenge. Going to bed before 3:00am is also a challenge. However, I think the extra half-hour of sleep every day is supposed to balance out the ridiculous amounts of sleep I missed out on in Florida.

Oh, Florida, how I miss thee. Sniffle. =(

I'm also going on some kind of random UK withdrawal. I partially blame the book I'm reading: A Year in the Merde. It's about an English guy who spends nine months working in Paris. So he is learning about culture, doing stupid things because you don't know any better, and all that fun stuff that comes along with moving somewhere new and different. So now I have a huge desire to improve my French and to marry an English guy so I can move to the UK. Any help with either goal is much appreciated. I really wish I could have put my UK visa on hold while I was in Florida, but nope.

I was quite back and forth about coming back to PEI. If I had left Disney and come straight home I probably would have locked myself in a closet. However, I had a nice, three-and-a-half-week-long holiday and felt a little ready to come home. Mostly to stop living out of luggage. Then I got home and felt like hiding. Then I felt like seeing people and so I did. I was pretty sure I was ready to get a "real" job, as I kept referring to it as, but now I'm not sure. First of all, I don't think I even know HOW to get a job! Secondly, I kind of mentally freaked out on Saturday at the Old Dublin when I realised if I stayed on PEI that would be my typical Saturday night. Don't get me wrong, I quite like the Old Dublin, but not for every Saturday. And I know my brain completely blew it up into a huge deal, which it isn't, but Sunday was pretty much a write-off for me not wanting to do anything except lay in bed and stare at the wall. And sulk. A lot. It wasn't all a "I don't think I can live on PEI" thing though; I really miss the Commons. I miss having friends so close. When the people who live far away live only a ten-minute walk away. When you're bored you have the option of watching some of the world's best fireworks or lazing about in a fabulous pool.

Then I missed Edinburgh too. Sometimes I got bored there because I kept doing the same thing over and over. (*cough* The Walkabout - although after I took a brief hiatus it became enjoyable again!) But the thing was, if I was bored, there was always something new I could do. A new part of town to explore, a new bus to hop on, a new town just a mere train-ride away.

Charlottetown doesn't even have a train.

Of course, who knows if I would be anymore cheery elsewhere. I had moody days in Orlando. I had blue days in Edinburgh. I definitely had foul moods in Ottawa.

And this is why I stay up so late at night. Thinking. (And reading about my new lovely English friend.) Wondering what will happen in the coming weeks. Trying to figure out how to solve my travel itch. Thinking about ways to out-smart Air Canada and West Jet and get a fabulous deal on a flight somewhere. Which is a laugh-and-a-half in Charlottetown! HA HA HA! One of the reasons Edinburgh was fabulous - great day trips or weekend breaks for pretty cheap. Orlando was AMAZING for flight deals. On a good day is costs only half a leg to fly somewhere from Charlottetown instead of the usual whole leg.

I think I'm thirsty.

Buh-bye

Oooh, and I'm also going to start emailing lots of ppl since I pretty much fell off the radar screen for many months. I'm Jen Mac, and it turns out I *didn't* die when away!

So here it is, another day.

I can't wait to get unlimited long distance. I think I'll do that tomorrow.

And to get a car to drive. Also potentially tomorrow. (No more house arrest, ha ha!)

I am very slowly applying for jobs. It's funny, having nothing to do makes me even more ambitous to do nothing. Suddenly getting out of bed before 11:00am seems like such a challenge. Going to bed before 3:00am is also a challenge. However, I think the extra half-hour of sleep every day is supposed to balance out the ridiculous amounts of sleep I missed out on in Florida.

Oh, Florida, how I miss thee. Sniffle. =(

I'm also going on some kind of random UK withdrawal. I partially blame the book I'm reading : A Year in the Merde. It's about an english guy who spends nine months working in Paris. So he is learning about culture, doing stupid things because you don't know any better, and all that fun stuff that comes along with moving somewhere new and different. So now I have a huge desire to improve my French and to marry an english guy so I can move to the UK. Any help with either goal is much appreciated. I really wish I could have put my UK visa on hold while I was in Florida, but nope.

I was quite back and forth about coming back to PEI. If I had left Disney and come straight home I probably would have locked myself in a closet. However, I had a nice, three-and-a-half-week-long holiday and felt a little ready to come home. Mostly to stop living out of luggage. Then I got home and felt like hiding. Then I felt like seeing people and so I did. I was pretty sure I was ready to get a "real" job, as I kept referring to it as, but now I'm not sure. First of all, I don't think I even know HOW to get a job! Secondly, I kind of mentally freaked out on Saturday at the Old Dublin when I realised if I stayed on PEI, that would be my typical Saturday night. Don't get me wrong, I quite like the Old Dublin, but not for every Saturday. And I know my brain completely blew it up into a huge deal, which it isn't, but Sunday was pretty much a write-off for me not wanting to do anything except lay in bed and stare at the wall. And sulk. A lot. It wasn't all a "I don't think I can live on PEI" thing though; I really miss the Commons. I miss having friends so close. When the people who live far away live only a ten-minute walk away. When you're bored you have the option of watching some of the world's best fireworks or lazing about in a fabulous pool.

Then I missed Edinburgh too. Sometimes I got bored there because I kept doing the same thing over and over. (*cough* The Walkabout - although after I took a brief hiatus it became enjoyable again!) But the thing was, if I was bored, there was always something new I could do. A new part of town to explore, a new bus to hop on, a new town just a mere train-ride away.

Charlottetown doesn't even have a train.

Of course, who knows if I would be anymore cheery elsewhere. I had moody days in Orlando. I had blue days in Edinburgh. I definitely had foul moods in Ottawa.

And this is why I stay up so late at night. Thinking. (And reading about my new lovely English friend.) Wondering what will happen in the coming weeks. Trying to figure out how to solve my travel itch. Thinking about ways to out-smart Air Canada and West Jet and get a fabulous deal on a flight somewhere. Which is a laugh-and-a-half in Charlottetown! HA HA HA! One of the reasons Edinburgh was fabulous - great day trips or weekend breaks for pretty cheap. Orlando was AMAZING for flight deals. On a good day is costs only half a leg to fly somewhere from Charlottetown instead of the usual whole leg.

I think I'm thirsty.

Buh-bye

Oooh, and I'm also going to start emailing lots of ppl since I pretty much fell off the radar screen for many months. I'm Jen Mac, and it turns out I *didn't* die when away!

So here it is, another day.

I can't wait to get unlimited long distance. I think I'll do that tomorrow.

And to get a car to drive. Also potentially tomorrow. (No more house arrest, ha ha!)

I am very slowly applying for jobs. It's funny, having nothing to do makes me even more ambitous to do nothing. Suddenly getting out of bed before 11:00am seems like such a challenge. Going to bed before 3:00am is also a challenge. However, I think the extra half-hour of sleep every day is supposed to balance out the ridiculous amounts of sleep I missed out on in Florida.

Oh, Florida, how I miss thee. Sniffle. =(

I'm also going on some kind of random UK withdrawal. I partially blame the book I'm reading : A Year in the Merde. It's about an english guy who spends nine months working in Paris. So he is learning about culture, doing stupid things because you don't know any better, and all that fun stuff that comes along with moving somewhere new and different. So now I have a huge desire to improve my French and to marry an english guy so I can move to the UK. Any help with either goal is much appreciated. I really wish I could have put my UK visa on hold while I was in Florida, but nope.

I was quite back and forth about coming back to PEI. If I had left Disney and come straight home I probably would have locked myself in a closet. However, I had a nice, three-and-a-half-week-long holiday and felt a little ready to come home. Mostly to stop living out of luggage. Then I got home and felt like hiding. Then I felt like seeing people and so I did. I was pretty sure I was ready to get a "real" job, as I kept referring to it as, but now I'm not sure. First of all, I don't think I even know HOW to get a job! Secondly, I kind of mentally freaked out on Saturday at the Old Dublin when I realised if I stayed on PEI, that would be my typical Saturday night. Don't get me wrong, I quite like the Old Dublin, but not for every Saturday. And I know my brain completely blew it up into a huge deal, which it isn't, but Sunday was pretty much a write-off for me not wanting to do anything except lay in bed and stare at the wall. And sulk. A lot. It wasn't all a "I don't think I can live on PEI" thing though; I really miss the Commons. I miss having friends so close. When the people who live far away live only a ten-minute walk away. When you're bored you have the option of watching some of the world's best fireworks or lazing about in a fabulous pool.

Then I missed Edinburgh too. Sometimes I got bored there because I kept doing the same thing over and over. (*cough* The Walkabout - although after I took a brief hiatus it became enjoyable again!) But the thing was, if I was bored, there was always something new I could do. A new part of town to explore, a new bus to hop on, a new town just a mere train-ride away.

Charlottetown doesn't even have a train.

Of course, who knows if I would be anymore cheery elsewhere. I had moody days in Orlando. I had blue days in Edinburgh. I definitely had foul moods in Ottawa.

And this is why I stay up so late at night. Thinking. (And reading about my new lovely English friend.) Wondering what will happen in the coming weeks. Trying to figure out how to solve my travel itch. Thinking about ways to out-smart Air Canada and West Jet and get a fabulous deal on a flight somewhere. Which is a laugh-and-a-half in Charlottetown! HA HA HA! One of the reasons Edinburgh was fabulous - great day trips or weekend breaks for pretty cheap. Orlando was AMAZING for flight deals. On a good day is costs only half a leg to fly somewhere from Charlottetown instead of the usual whole leg.

I think I'm thirsty.

Buh-bye

Oooh, and I'm also going to start emailing lots of ppl since I pretty much fell off the radar screen for many months. I'm Jen Mac, and it turns out I *didn't* die when away!

And I'm done. Deported from the United States of America. Sigh! So now I sit in my snuggly housecoat in front of a slow, dial-up (??!!) computer. Tear.

A couple surprising things about being home: 1) That I quite like it, so far; and 2) I'm not as keen to get a job as I thought I would be. I mean, I have applied for jobs, but I haven't been doing it too aggresively. I do feel the job thing is going to be luck.

The worst thing about being home is being uprooted from with whom you spent the last thirteen months of you life. The weather also plays a downer... I keep waiting for the "cold-front" (actually called start of winter) to end and the sun to return. Next week it'll be sunny again. Next week I'll be wearing sunscreen again. Next week I will see a castle illuminated by fireworks.

I don't think I know how to get a job, or what kind of job I could get. I'm not stupid, despite never really working in an "environment with strict deadlines and results-based goals", I'm sure I could do it. I had deadlines in school. I had goals pertaining to my results.

I also wish my French and Spanish were up to snuff. Just looking at a research job with Immigration Canada, being able to conduct interviews in Spanish and being able to read Spanish documents would be an asset. I can read Spanish documents somewhat decently, (especially quando tengo mi dictionario espanol- ingles,) but I have a bad ear for languages. I can read French and write it somewhat decently after brushing up on a few rules, but I have trouble listening to it. This is why I should start watching cartoons and listening to the radio in multiple languages. Except music. As lovely as it is, I can't even make out English lyrics let alone lyrics in another language!

Winter hit me pretty much once I got to Ottawa. My skin is dry and disgusting. My knuckles feel so tight and like the skin over them is going to crack. I hate winter. I haven't been in intense winter in over two years. It'll be nice to go skiing a couple of times. Maybe do a little skating, throw a few snowballs, have a sledding adventure. That'll take about two weekends to do. I may just hibernate through the winter.

WHY DO ALMOST ALL GOVERMENT JOBS (except those in Edmunton) REQUIRE FRENCH?! I know we have two official languages, and I fully support and embrace that, but not everyone need speak French. When I worked in Gatineau some people had terrible English. That was okay, as long as *someone* could communicate with the team. Meeeeeh. I think government jobs make me angry. Mostly because I don't have one and probably won't get one. Woohoo private sector!

Actually, more woohoo for going at it by oneself. I need some ideas to start brewing, although a couple of temporary ones have crossed my mind.

It's cold out, I'm a hermit, and I miss Florida. Although seeing my PEI friends and famil is lovely. That pretty much sums up my life post Nov 1st. Sigh. Donde esta mi sol?

Oh my God... our a/c isn't working and I'm pretty sure this climatized Canadian is melting. Soon we will just have a puddle of Jen.

Time to sleep on the bath tub and fill it with ice cubes.

Tonight was my last serving shift. I tried during my Oh Canada. On your last dinner shift you stand in on the fireplace in the restaurant. Someone makes a little speach explaining how we are down here for only year and are basically each others family. Then we sing O' Canada together. Brad did my speach, and did a lovely job. And I couldn't sing because I was busy tearing up. When I tried to sing I just had a lump in my throat... =( So very sad... but at the same time, it doesn't seem like it's really happening. Apparently the lady at the table closest to us was crying right along with me!

And I'm done. Wow. I really can't believe this. It's so sad.... if I didn't have such a nice vacation to look forward to I would be a bloody mess. Instead I'm a mess because I'm melting. Icky Jen.

Blogger is being spotty! So I actually wrote this last night and couldn't post it. Although my France pics did randomly show up after I thought they didn't....? So yes, time machining to ten hours ago...

*********

Well, the next step of my life is starting to come together. Post-Disney life is looking pretty good… My plans include being on holiday. Ha!

Seriously, it’ll be nice though. I was starting to feel a little burnt-out at work but I had a nice lazy day today and am feeling better. Too bad I have only two days of run-your-ass-off service left. Sigh.

So the parents shall make arrival no. 3839489903 in Orlando next Wednesday. I will work my last shift as a Walt Disney World castmember. I will probably freak out and shit on the promenade and watch Illuminations while bawling my eyes out. Should be grand. My lovely parents will stay until the following Wednesday. That very same day, within hours, Charlene will arrive to the mighty MCO and we shall spend three glorious days together before we, along with Derek, embark on a CRUUUUIIIIISSSSEEEEE!!! FYI, cruises are addicting. Support groups don’t exist. We make it back to Orlando on the 19th and then I head up to Toronto, then to Ottawa, then to, gulp…. Charlottetown. Oh, my, God. Talk about blank slate. If you’re looking for me in November I will be sitting in my livingroom watching family videos of trips to Florida. Then I will be rewinding them, and watching them again. This is going to be soooo hard. I may be in hiding for a few weeks.

Life is dandy here! On my two days off last week Katelyn and I did a spur-of-the-moment trip to Savannah, Georgia. Late Monday night, i.e., 3.00am, we decided we needed to go somewhere on our days off, starting mere hours after. After determining Texas wasn’t going to work for anything less than a small fortune, we settled on five hours of sleep before a nice drive up to the south. (Florida isn’t really considered a southern state…) And that is all because my hand hurts from typing today. Today was a heavy internet day between booking cruises, looking for flights, and getting excited about cruising. Yes!

And despite my “OH MY GOD HOME SCARY NOOOOO!!!!” I am QUITE excited to see everyone! And to previously-mentioned parents, I’m quite looking forward to your visit J

Whoopsie! Blogger was quite buggy last night so some of my photos are duplicates. I didn't think any of them would actually show up! Hence, I wrote this last night and did not post it...

Flashback sequence to ten hours ago!

Well, the next step of my life is starting to come together. Post-Disney life is looking pretty good… My plans include being on holiday. Ha!

Seriously, it’ll be nice though. I was starting to feel a little burnt-out at work but I had a nice lazy day today and am feeling better. Too bad I have only two days of run-your-ass-off service left. Sigh.

So the parents shall make arrival no. 3839489903 in Orlando next Wednesday. I will work my last shift as a Walt Disney World castmember. I will probably freak out and shit on the promenade and watch Illuminations while bawling my eyes out. Should be grand. My lovely parents will stay until the following Wednesday. That very same day, within hours, Charlene will arrive to the mighty MCO and we shall spend three glorious days together before we, along with Derek, embark on a CRUUUUIIIIISSSSEEEEE!!! FYI, cruises are addicting. Support groups don’t exist. We make it back to Orlando on the 19th and then I head up to Toronto, then to Ottawa, then to, gulp…. Charlottetown. Oh, my, God. Talk about blank slate. If you’re looking for me in November I will be sitting in my livingroom watching family videos of trips to Florida. Then I will be rewinding them, and watching them again. This is going to be soooo hard. I may be in hiding for a few weeks.

Life is dandy here! On my two days off last week Katelyn and I did a spur-of-the-moment trip to Savannah, Georgia. Late Monday night, i.e., 3.00am, we decided we needed to go somewhere on our days off, starting mere hours after. After determining Texas wasn’t going to work for anything less than a small fortune, we settled on five hours of sleep before a nice drive up to the south. (Florida isn’t really considered a southern state…) And that is all because my hand hurts from typing today. Today was a heavy internet day between booking cruises, looking for flights, and getting excited about cruising. Yes!

And despite my “OH MY GOD HOME SCARY NOOOOO!!!!” I am QUITE excited to see everyone! And to previously-mentioned parents, I’m quite looking forward to your visit =)

Oh, la France :)

Woohoo - I am still in Florida! It's crazy to think that I was originally supposed to be in Canada right now. Although if original plans pulled through I would actually be on a ten-night cruise of the Caribbean right now. Whoops. Instead I have been working six days a week including random double shifts. Fabulous... I thought I was going to crack during the lunch part of my shift yesterday. I probably sounded like a robot and things weren't registering with me very well. When I used to work mostly lunch shifts I would have trouble getting into the groove for the dinner shift. Now it's vice-versa... I work primarly dinner so feel a little off for the first wee bit of lunch.

BUT NOW...!

I am off for two days!! In a row!!! This has been awhile in the making. My last day off was last Sunday and it kind of sucked. Started out alright as I hopped about Sea World, but as I made my way down I-drive it poured. A lot. And I was outside. Sad. Miserable. Kind of wet. And it was Sunday so the Lynx buses don't run very frequently. However, today is... Tuesday (Yup, I did have to think about that,) so the buses should be better and my plans should pull through with greater ease. The sky still has some dark clouds though. My poor, fading tan. Non-existent.

So when one doesn't have many days off, mini-vacations during the week are necessary. The Dec 6th lot was going to Chef Mickey's on their nine-month anniversary and I decided to go as it was my twelve-month anniversary! For a big group, and to make sure it wouldn't interupt work, our reservation was for 7:20 in the morning. After checking out the bus schedule, we decided leaving before the sun has even started to skim the horrizon was disgusting.

So we stayed at the Contemporary Resort instead ^_^ (The resort housing Chef Mickey's.) Erin and I went there after work. For those familiar with the place, we stayed in the tower. We decided the garden wings were ghetto and who wants to stay in an enclosed sidewing when the main draw of the resort is staying in the tower through which the monorail glides through. For the unfamilarized, this is where we stayed. I was rather floored when Erin and I walked into our room - it was really nice. I personally think CR is the most "aged" resort but the rooms were in fabulous condition and likely had been recently refurbished. WOW. Our view was over Bay Lake. The other side of the tower had the Magic Kingdom view. Eventually Mallory and Mel joined us and we grabbed some food, giggled in our room, watched Wishes (MK's fireworks) from an outdoor viewing area and then did the Monorail Drinking Game. Basically you stop and buy a drink at each stop on the monorail line. Except MK, because they don't serve alcohol in that prohibition Kingdom. First stop was the Polynesian aka my happy place. :) :) :) :) :) :) If they would let me live there, I would. I pretty much know its background music now since I have spent so much time poking about.

I just looked at the link I posted... The room pictures are of an old room. Ours was MUCH nicer.

So yes, at the Poly I had a Kona beer from Hawaii. Then we proceeded to the Grand Floridian (my akward place as I feel slightly out of my element there) where I had some Fuzzy Peach drink. Yum, I guess. It was rather zingy with the peach. The lounge there should be much nicer than it is... I find it to be rather dark.

Then we caught the last (or more likely second last) monorail to the Contemporary and visited the Outer Rim lounge. Melanie had a ... SPACE MONKEY!! Wowowowowoowowowoooo (Say it in a loud, deep, echo voice and imagine flashing lights.) I had a banana split drink (mmm.) Mel had the best drink... but it didn't taste much like we thought it would. Like they forgot to put something in it or something.

Then we poked about the arcade which was MASSIVE. And then we went and retired to our room.

And suddenly it was 7:00 and time for breakfast.... Uggh.... too early. We ate and then went back to bed until about ten minutes before check-out time.

I'm still boggled by why Disney would put such an ugly room picture on its own website!!

The end.

Oh yes, and one year ago today I flew from Glasgow - Belfast - Halifax. Wow. I feel like my life is a chapter book. I can't believe it's been a year since I left the UK. I still miss it and find it hard to accept that the opportunity to go back and have that experience again will probably never present itself. That was such a good time... and it's kind of funny, because I had some bad times there (generally work related [exhibit 1 - unemployed almost all of August 2004, exhibit 2 - SWIP FILING EVIL ANGRY ARRRRRRRRGGGHHH!!! July/August 2005]) I rarely think of it and remember only the good things. To the non-Islanders I befriended, Emily, Anne, Grand, etc., hopefully I'll get to see you again soon =)

Edinburgh was more real life. No Bubble. The Bubble is summer camp for a year... or as I like to put it, "like speed-dating for friends" because you develop relationships at such an accelerated pace compared to the real world.

Also UK related, I finally bought the Scissor Sisters cd about a month ago. How many times did I *almost* purchase it at Virgin or HMV on Princes Street?

AND OH MY GOD I MISS H&M.

UGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGH.

Cheers! ;)

Today was a bit of an emotional day. I got up this morning and it really hit me that today could be my last day of service in the restaurant. I had a gut feeling that it wouldn't be, but it did rather worry me. So I spent time sorting junk in my room, thinking, putting together leaving cards, and other such "leaving" thing. When I went to work this afternoon I harrassed the managers and was told that I got my extension. (Although apparently word wasn't "official" until 9.22 this evening!) That was good. Bad was pre-meal... Hoo boy! All the servers have a meeting lead by the shift manager before seating starts. Wow, what a mess. Two people were getting into their last hour of their last shift EVER and Charlene was sitting for her last pre-meal as a server. Bonour, tears. Pre-meal was the section of the restaurant closest to the doors (New Brunswick, for the knowing,) and one of the guests waiting on podium was watching us as most of us whimpered and teared up as the manager tried to make us feel better. Wow. The September group was so big... Most of us work the evening shifts and anytime the manager mentions stuff happening in the future (Food and Wine Festival, the bulk of free DDP, CHRISTMAS,) we point out that only one - three of the present servers will still be here.

I have a weird pit in my stomach about going to New Orleans. I'm not sure why... I think it's leaving the bubble and seeing somewhere very, very real. We call Disney/the Commons the Bubble. Life is plastic here. Good, but plastic/fake. New Orleans, as everyone knows, was pretty much ripped to shreds just shy of a year ago. I'm excited about going, and this is the "last" big trip for my wee clique (Tear Fest 2006), but I'm slightly ansy on going somewhere that is so far from perfect. I know no place is perfect, but I haven't really seen anything so "real" in quite awhile. It's going to be hard seeing leftover hurricane damage and being in a city where there is/was so much poverty and such an income gap. The way publications make it out to be I'm expecting the Brasil of Louisiana. (Brasil is a country in which many of its residents are either quite wealthy or quite poor, hence income gap.) And crime. I know it's going to be no worse than, say, Paris. We're sticking to the main areas and what not but books/articles/travel guides are making me apprehensive. The most crime I have dealt with as of late is when people take my tray when I'm pouring drinks at the pop station. Which, for the record, drives me right batty.

Sigh, I feel kind of guilty about getting an extension. Happy, but a little guilty. So many people wanted it, and I got it only by chance. I was the first person from the first September arrival group to apply. Most of my closest friends will be gone as I continue to work and get thrown into six-day mandatory overtime but I guess that presents the opportunity to meet more people. And, unfortunately, my September plans are scrapped. No ten-night cruise and no travels along the Eastern seaboard back up east in Canada.

Remember Canada? I remember when I used to live there. What was up with that sales tax?!?! ;) And what about that funny colo(u)red money?!

Anyway, I think I'll get an hour of sleep before I leave the Bubble at 6:00am. I have to stop doing this... I never sleep before flights. Which is fine, when you are flying across the Atlantic or taking multiple flights to travel the relatively short distance to Charlottetown, but my flight tomorrow is less than two-hours long!!!! I need more sleep than that!!! Maybe we'll take the long way and go to Phoenix first.

I kind of wish I had been better with this blog thing... so much of my life down here is undocumented with the exception of pictures, and many of those contain myself and random people squished together into a picture I took myself. I always wish I had taken more pictures, but the way my camera eats up battery power, (eats? more like INHALES.) it's such a hassle juggling 900+ batteries. Plus my camera is a wee bit bulky and I like small purses. I need to rewind this year.

Where has the time gone? =(

Woohoo New Orleans! Laissez les bons temps rouler!

Wow, it's beena long while, eh?

Lots of stuff going on... changes.

I found out my extension got denied. Then they resubmitted it or something and now I'm waiting approval on it. I should find out tomorrow, and I was told it was "99% likely". So now, if I find out tomorrow that I DIDN'T get extended it will be mood swings all over again. And it doesn't really help that the manager that deals with these issues apparently on holiday. Ooooh, me me.

So since Canada Day I worked a lot, went to Miami/Fort Lauderdale/Naples/Sarasota on a weekend trip with Erin, went back to PEI for Shan and Malcolm's wedding, booked a trip to New Orleans, etc, etc.! New Orleans takes place this Thursday until the following Sunday. Erin, Charlene, Derek and I booked a package on lastminute.com (I heart that website...) and got a flight/hotel combo for $190.00. Ha! I love it. Travel in the US is lovely.

My mexican roommate left on Saturday. She arrived just in April but left early as 1) she hated her job, and 2) she is going to study in Sweden for a year. I remember studying, it was... enriching. Sometimes I feel like I haven't used my brain in ages. Learn? What is that?

AND WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO IN THE FALL????!!!!!????!!!!!!

Oh, my feeble head. So lost and confused.

Oh, I finally stayed at the Polynesian Resort!!!! My happy place. I loved it. I want to live there. Stay there forever. Drinking Kona Beer on the beach singing along to Wishes, the firework show at the Magic Kingdom.

So the bad part about my pending extention? It really screws up the plans I DID make. Charlene and I were going to vacation in Florida for a week and then go on a ten-night, Southern Carribean cruise with Erin. After some relaxation, we were going to take the train back to eastern Canada stopping at various points along the US eastern seaboard.

Not sure when I'll be getting a new roommate, but I must say, as much as I miss Bere it is awfully nice to have my own room for the first time in AGES! My italian housemate left in the middle of July and was replaced with a very nice Chinese girl, Xu. I didn't really know when Miss Italy was leaving as she had been living with her boyfriend at his apartment for a couple of months. To be Frank, (although I'll still answer to Jennifer ;) ) I like it much better that way. Much, much, much better.

Anyway, I'm off. I'm actually home this evening. I was supposed to go the Magic Kingdom for one of our last hurrahs with Charlene but after both theme parking and working the past couple of days we both kind of crashed after work today. So this evening (or what's left of it before I get ready to go out) I am tidying up some and doing things I have been putting off. Jen = responsible. Almost.

Happy Canada Day!

Today is Canada Day! They are having a celebration for us at work and special activites for guests. It should be a good time! After work we are having an across-Canada pubcrawl. Each province and territory are being represented by a different apartment and we are doing a shot (or something) at each stop. My apartment is the PEI stop. Needless to say, there wasn't any competition! We did get two new Islanders last week though... so now I'm a third as special as I used to be. We actually have a whole army of new people and I am very slowly learning their names.

Time to decorate/get ready for work! And sweat. Because during the summer in Florida, you can't do anything without sweating. Let's just say the heat is a wee bit intense. I'll probably freeze during the evenings on PEI in August!

A la prochaine...

Wow - it's been awhile eh? Not too much has been happening... Puerto Rico was FABULOUS (gracias Frankie y Sonia!) and I couldn' believe how hot it was there. I don't think it was actually that much hotter there than it is here, but I really wasn't used to being outside in the heat as I had been working beyond excessivly up to that point. I seriously felt like I had heat stroke after spending a good chunk of the Saturday in a car! And there were the Puerto Ricans, in their jeans and t-shirts! I felt like putting on my bathing suit and laying in a kiddie pool of ice cubes. But to start from the beginning... We arrived in San Juan and Frankie was waiting to pick us up from the airport. We took the long way to Old San Juan as he gave us a tour of San Juan along the way. We ate at a restaurant and I ate some kind of orange chicken. (Chicken with orange sauce... not an orange chicken!) We then walked lots and lots around Old San Juan and it was very, very nice! It was nice being in an older city... Frankly I-Drive doesn't cut it with the "tourist" character. We stayed in the Sheraton for the first night. After parting ways with Frankie and his friend Les-Anne, Sonia and I went for a swim on the rooftop of our hotel! It was fabulous! We then went for a wander about and stopped at Senor Frogs - a staple of any cruise-ship-frequened port. We walked about and didn't really find any places that appealed to us too much as it seemed to early to "go out", unless you wanted to sit down and eat. So we bought tickets for La Rumba - a floating club, pretty much. The boat left an hour past its departure time (three cheers for the punctual Puerto Ricans, as we would learn ;) ) but the music was brilliant and I had a ball, despite falling asleep ON the boat waiting for it to leave the dock! On Saturday morning Frankie and Les-Anne, (whose name I really don't know how to spell,) picked us up and gave us a Starbucks breakfast. We did lots of driving on Saturday and I will admit that I slept a LOT. A combination of being exhausted, the heat, and not fully following the pretty Spanish conversation (hee hee!! :) ) made my eyelids quite heavy at times. But I did wake up for some stops! We drove up to the high point on Puerto Rico and ate lunch at a roadside, umm, "eatery". We got boatloads of food for pretty cheap. We continued driving and stopped at some nice falls and pranced about the slippy rocks. We continued driving with some more stops including a Castillo that had some very nice gardens around it. We drove to Ponce, the largest city on the southern part of the Island. We walked about and Sonia and I made arrangements to go on a late-night boat/snorkeling tour. The boat, as before, left over an hour late... But it was pretty cool. Where we went the water was filled with... Well, I'm not exactly sure what, but whenever you moved in the water a trace of what looked like green glitter would trail you. It was really neat! .. until everyone started getting stung by the jellyfish that no one could see in the moon-lit night. We hopped back on the boat and I wasn't too thrilled with the prospect of sharing my water so closely with jellyfish. Which I hate. Uggggghh.. Squirm. Which presented a problem... due to heat exhausion, I had drank a LOT of water before getting on the boat. Unshockingly, I reallly had to pee towards the end of the boat tour. I figured I could just go in the water... but the jellyfish presented a problem. So I held it. And remained very quiet and concentrated deeply. It wasn't *quite* as bad as the time I had to pee on the way home from Aberdeen after a lacrosse match. Anyway, afterwards we drove back to Frankie's where we spent the night. We stopped at a Walgreens which was suspiciously like an American Walgreens.

The following morning we got up and Frankie made us breakfast! We then hopped back in his car. We stopped at the beach, only to be stopped by the rain! We then drove to El Yunque which is a rainforest on the eastern part of Puerto Rico. It was quite pretty and I looooooved the vegetation there and throughout Puerto Rico. What can I say, I adore palm trees. We eventually went back to Frankie's to gather our stuff and then head to his parents' place where Sonia and I would be staying the night. We walked to the beach with Frankie's niece (who it turned out I had met before!!), but it kind of started to rain so we headed back home. Frankie's mum fed us, the clouds cleared, so we went back to the beach until the bugs started to be a pain ( I swear bugs love me.. you should see the work they had done to my legs over the past couple of months) and then went to the beach. We were with Frankie's nieces, one from Orlando and one from Atlanta. They were fantastic and I had a blast with them! I stayed up late with his neice from Orlando playing a computer game and giggling with her :) :)

On Monday morning Frankie's mum cooked Sonia and I breakfast and then drove us back to San Juan. Sonia and I wandered about for awhile. We then met up with Frankie and he drove us to the airport :( :( :( It was a FANTASTIC vacation! And in culture differences, Subway in Puerto Rico sells pizza. Just thought I would throw that out there. :)

Since then I have been working six days a week. Ever since school has been let out in the southern States things have been different at work. The servers are making less money as our restaurant fills with kids AND, honestly, who wants to eat a big steak meal in 30C+? Umm, not me. Point me to Beaches 'n Cream for ice cream!

Last week Erin, Charlene, Derek and I rented at room at the Boardwalk for a night. (Officially "Disney's Boardwalk Inn".) I got there around 3:30 and hit the gym. Man, SUCH a nice gym after using ghetto-1970s gym at the Commons. I"m tempted to buy a membership there but I'm not sure how much I would use it, seeing as I would need to spend at least an hour getting there every day. But having a nice gym does make such a difference... the Gym at the Commons is, frankly, shit and I hate it. I hate using it. And I should use it, but I don’t. It’s crap. It really is. Erin found me once she finished work and we “freshened up” and then went to Flying Fish Café. I had a nice martini and salmon with lovely potatoes and cucumber, I think. It was fantastic! The inside was very nice as well… It’s nice to go high class once in awhile and have someone server me instead of me running about to make others happy. Our server was very good – efficient. Here’s what I notice as the difference between “real” servers and some of us at Le Cellier : “real” servers seem more professional, but not as “magical”, as has been my experience. We seem to take the time to joke around with kids, I never really see “real” servers doing that. They may be faster, but we, umm, connect… or something. Sometimes I wonder if the guests pick up on the chaos of our restaurant. I think I’m getting better at hiding my stress…. Although it helps that it’s slow at work. Well, relatively speaking. I’m sure we are still one of the busiest restaurants on property, just not as busy as before, perhaps. Anyway, after Flying Fish Erin and I returned to our lovely room and, get this, watch Illuminations (Epcot’s firework/laser/etc. show) from our balcony!!! It was soooo nice! We then went to Jellyrolls and eventually met up with Derek and Charlene. It was good fun and nice to be able to just drift up to our hotel room rather than find a cab back to the Commons. The next morning we woke up and went for lunch at Le Cellier. You know what? I’m really not much of a steak girl. I had a beef-tip stir-fry… but I really don’t think I would leave happy ordering a filet or a steak. The food is really good, just not my style. That’s right, Canadian food isn’t my thing ;) Not really, Canadian beef just isn’t my thing. Nor is the infamous Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup. I think I fall into the minority in this case. I tell everyone it’s good though. Serving and being a saleswoman can be… interesting.

Anyway, I should go to bed. It’s almost 3:00. This “dinner shifts only” schedule is making me stay up laaaaater and finds me getting up and freaking out “Oh my God I wasted the day!” at 11:30. And I have something rather important to do tomorrow… So, yeah. I’m handing in my letter requesting an extension. The thought of leaving here and returning to Canada boggles my mind… But I know it’ll be different here once all my arrival group leaves and (bearing I get an extension) I remain. I don’t know. But really, what’s an extra five weeks of my life? About $4,500 ;) well, gross… less net.

Adios!

Voy a Puerto Rico en tres horas!!!

I am excited! As expected, I didn't go to bed yet. My roommate is asleep, and my sunglasses are deep in my room somewhere... or perhaps in my locker at work. (Although I can't imagine why... I recall seeing both pairs of my sunglasses in our apartment only yesterday. Curious.)

I also need to find a lock. A very tiny lock for locking my luggage. Speaking of luggage, I have no idea what random clothes I threw in my suitcase. Some of the clothes that should be in it are in the dryer.

My major dilema of packing is what to wear on the plane. Planes are bloody freezing sometimes... but I really can't be bothered wasting space with PANTS. Tonight I thought about the last time I wore pants that were not part of my uniform of PJs. I have no idea when. (And capris don't count as pants.)

Actually, scratch that. I wore pants to a course I took at Disney University last week. But that's because we had to wear nice clothes and I couldn't wear a skirt as I managed to destroy my pantyhose the day of my first voyage to Disney University.

I went to Bush Gardens with Erin last week and had lots of fun! I heart zoos. Although Bush Gardnes is perhaps half-zoo. I didn't really go on any rides (they don't agree with Erin's stomach) but we had a lovely time looking at the animals and drinking beer! Well, I enjoyed the beer, Erin did not. You see, Bush Gardens (Sea World as well) is owned by Anheiser Busch of infamous beer fame. So they have free beer at the parks. And yes, you are right to conjure images of Duffland or whatever it was from the Simpsons.

Puerto Rico!!!

I have new pics on my msn space.

The end.

So yes, those bloody knees would be the result of my 5-km race this morning. I is a graceful girl. The knees were wounded at about kilometre 0.000002. It hurt. But it was awfully funny and, well, not entirely unsurprising. In the past few weeks I've been pulling an Edinburgh and stumbling over cracks in the sidewalks. Perhaps sleeping for more than three hours before hand would have been a good idea? Anyway, other then the Big Tumble, it all went over rather well and I finished in just under thirty-one minutes. Pretty good considering I started near the end and had to weave through some slow people at the start and, umm, fell. In a related note, I have NO idea how people run actural marathons without collapsing and twitching on the ground. Maybe it's because I'm too competitive and get a kick out of passing people, but I would wear myself out waaaay too early. Like, by kilometre six.



Last Saturday Vanessa and I hired a car.. Low and behold we wound up with a convertable! We went to St. Augustine for the afternoon. It's the oldest city (town?) in the United States. It was nice to be somewhere that the old-looking buildings were actually, well, old. Disney is beautiful and all, but obviously fake. We stopped at a big fruit stand on the way and I bought some oranges. At St. Augustine we took a tour of the town and then walked around a bunch.


(Vanessa and I at an old Fort that was never actually used in battle.)

(Big, old, neat trees.)

Well, I'm kind of bummed tonight. Tomorrow morning ma chere Ibitessem is leaving to go to New York City for a week and then heading home to Paris. She's been my roommate since I got here and I'm really sad to see her leave. It's hard not to dwell on it. Before living here I had never shared a bedroom with someone before and it was easily one of the things I was most ansy about. However, she is a fantastic roommate and, even better, a fantastic person. So now it's just Canada and Norway. Well, not quite yet, but in about eight hours it will.

Tonight Marita, my norwegian roommate, cooked us all a fabulous supper and we had kind of a "last supper". Kind of ironic, as it was also our first supper. We've randomly eaten together in mix 'n match fashion, but never the three of us. That happens though, we all had such different work schedules and ate Commons-style dinners. You know, the random food you stuff down your face in the ten minutes you spend eating between getting home from work and getting ready to go out. She fixed me when I looked like a retard or didn't have a clue what looked nice together. That's when we saw each other the most: the hours between 10:30pm and 12:00am. Anyway, I don't want to dwell on it but it's hard. Having an older brother for 23 years, it was kind of neat to have an older sister for seven months. This is my first BIG good-bye... I've seen a lot of people leave, but very few of them I knew very well. I notice they are gone, but it hasn't effected me personally too much. This one is going to be rough. Boo...

Oh, and icing on the cake: we were trying to get it arranged so my frien Katelyn could move in and, despite assurance that it would not be a problem, suddenly it IS a problem and she isn't allowed to move in. Bloody retarded. Sometimes living at the Commons is like having Big Brother watching over you.

Umm, on a more positive note work is going well and the cruise was fan-bloody-tastic!!! Next trip is Puerto Rico at the end of May.

Anyway, I'm too bummed to write about happy things.

I signed up for a 5-kilometre run next Saturday. Hilarity at its finest. I'll let you know if they don't kick me out for being too slow. My goal is 35 minutes. Should be interesting.

Sigh.

Spring ahead!

Of my seven-day working stretch, five of those shifts start at 10:15. Today, on spring-ahead, change-your-clocks day I am lucky enough not to start until 3:30! Excellent timing, if you ask me.

So why am I working seven days in a row? Because I am going on a cruise on Thursday! So it's a case of early days off one week and my days off for the following week being late in the week. However, I'm pretty sure working a mere seven days in a row (actually not that much,) is worth three-and-a-half boats of being pampered and bumming around a boat filled with food, pools, sunchairs and fun. And yes, it is a Disney cruise I am going on. I figured I really would like to do both a Disney and a non-Disney cruise, but I might as well do the Disney cruise while I am at cast member (as opposed to a relaxing sail right before I head home after the end of my contract) so I can get a discount.

Yesterday wasn't a great day at work. It was just one of those days that I was falling behind because I just couldn't get what I needed. I would run back to grab ice tea for someone and there would be no ice and no ice tea. I would need some plates to put butter, ketchup, dressing, etc., on but there wouldn't be anything. Little things like that happening waaaaaaaaay too closely together drive me mad as it slows me down soooo much thus the guests at my tables sit there wondering if their server is flying down from Canada before she greets their party. I rarely have a good day when I work the Saturday lunch shift. I don't know why, but it just seems to never go smoothly. We were short staffed yesterday but it didn't really seem too busy. It was mostly since we were short we had one fewer person to help get ice, stock stuff, brew ice tea, etc. Anyway, today is a new day. A new day for people to call in, as apparently people call in every single freaking day. I will admit, I called in sick once but I was actually sick. Very sick. I probably could have handled, at most, one table of two at a time. A table of two with no wine and sharing a meal.

My cruise is going to fly by super quick. We leave Thursday morning for Port Canaveral. The ship doesn't leave until 5:00ish and we sail overnight and spend Friday at Nassau in the Bahamas. We then sail overnight Friday to Disney's private island, Castaway Cay, where we spend the day on Saturday night. Sunday morning we get up early and get off the ship as apparently they feel like waking us at a ridiculously early hour, much like a high school -trip to Greece. Hmm. On Saturday night the cruise ship has "Pirate Night". So we get to, if we want, dress up like pirates. I'm pumped! Arrrr, yee matey! Anyway, wouldn't it be quite the thing to own an island? Oh, and if you feel your cash burning a hole in your pocket, Disney offers ocean-side, cabana massages on their island. Ahhhhhh, relaxing. I, on the otherhand, would prefer to get a kayak and a bike. (Not at the same time.)

This week I went somewhere NEW. On Thursday night five of us trucked down I-drive (well, took a cab,) and went to Howl at the Moon. It was good fun - dueling pianos with some very entertaining pianists! However, the bar could use a dance floor. Sometimes sitting still for 2+ hours singing along makes me a little fidgity.

I went to a proper bookstore on Wednesday for the first time in AGES. I was feeling bookstore deprived so decided to use my clever Yellow Page skills (thank you, Balfour Beatty!) to hunt down the closest bookstore. Low and behold, I killed two birds with one stone. I had wanted to go to Pointe Orlando (an outdoor shopping mall type place,) for quite awhile and it turnes out it has a bookstore. Woo! So I spent some money.

Anyway, I'm oot.

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!

I just realised that I am soooo far behind in this blog. Remember that time I went to Los Angeles? Oh, right, no, because I barely wrote anything about it.


It was great. Day was is highlighted two posts ago. Day two was spent in "glorious" Hollywood poking about and on a tour. I have pictures. Vee and I went to Santa Monica that day as well, it was VERY nice! (Glorious without the quotation marks.) We went down to the beach and I got wet in the Pacific Ocean. I wanted to touch it, just because I had never seen it before. Well, I kept walking a little closer to the water's edge, hand reached out to touch the sea. The waves stopped coming in so far but I knew better than to keep venturing out. I shrugged, and called it a day. I turned around to rejoin Vanessa on the beach where she was holding my camera. Three...two... one... a wave comes crashing around my feet and my sneakers are soaked, along with the bottom three inches of my pants! Zut alors! Luckily Vanessa had some flipflops in her bag so I wore them for the rest of the day.

After Santa Monica we took a super long bus ride to Disneyland!! Yup, we are nerds. We left Walt Disney World and went to Disneyland. But we got in for free, so it's okay :) Disneyland was AWESOME! It was so much fun... I've kind of worn out the fun of Walt Disney World, so Disneyland was refreshing as it was different, but the same... It was smaller, but it looked so nice as they really spiffed it up for the 50th-Anniversary celebration. Some rides were completely new to me, and some were familiar. Splash Mountain was a bit different, and for some reason the water current must have been on "rush those suckers through!" high speed as it seemed like we zipped through the whole ride. We also went to Disney's California Adventure. I can see why people don't like it, as it does kind of lack the typical Disney touch, but I was expecting it to be worse. I LOVED the rollercoaster there! Also, any park wise enough to house Tower of Terror has to be good, eh?

On Sat night we arrived at Disneyland just in time to take in the fireworks. They were so great - they almost made me cry. Turning into such a sap, I am. They started off similar to the ones at the Magic Kingdom but took a twist as the firework show has sections devoted to different attractions in the park.

We went on the Matterhorn at night and it kind of scared the crap out of me. By the time we got back to our hotel circa 11:30 we were exhausted and pretty much crashed. Early morning the following day as we had to head back to Disneyland and get to the airport. By the way, important to note that you need your MAINGATE to get into Disneyland!! Really didn't see that one coming and I had only my WDW ID. Luckily Vanessa had hers with her. So in we went. Same deal on Sunday morning.

On Sunday night we flew out of LA at about 10:00 and got into Orlando at about 6:30 in the morning. I slept for, well, an hour or so and then hopped off to work.

It really wasn't my best day at work. My years were really plugged up from the plane and I was having a TERRIBLE time hearing people! It also sort of threw my balance off. And, of course, I was soooo tired.

The end.

So today I couldn't remember where O'Leary was. Whoops. I was pretty sure it was up west somewhere. Candace confirmed to me that, indeed, it is west.

Actually, my geography knowledge of PEI was never much good. I know my way around places that I travel on foot or by bus a lot. Most my journeys around PEI were before I learned how to drive so I never paid much attention. Post receiving a drivers licenced, I generally travelled to Bordon (bonjour, bridge!) or the beach someone. (Twenty minutes in any general direction, really.)

There are so many Canadians around here that you never feel "isolated", for lack of a better word, from your culture. Expect on Wedneday. On Wednesday night I was at a throw-out and following the throw-out was discussing the following day's ice cream social to be held at work. (Thirty days without an accident! Lets have ice cream!) I started to sing the song Ice Cream from Anne of Green Gables and NO ONE knew what I was singing. Mind you not every single Canadian was around... but still! Someone said, "Are you just making up some random ice cream song?" GASP!!! NOOOO!!! So I said I would find the lyrics to the song and teach them some of it. Low and behold, the internet has failed me, and I could NOT find the lyrics to the song anywhere online.

I've recently developed a fondness for steel drums. Maybe we can update Ice Cream with steel drums? Ha ha!

The weather here is AMAZING. I LOVE SUMMER. The past couple of nights it has been warm enough for shorts in the evening. I love it. Winter? AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!! I get confused and sometimes think, "I guess we're just getting a warm front..." but then realise that we are getting pretty seasonal weather with some days being warmer and some being cooler. I can't believe I'm going to have to put up with winter next year. However, I do recall purchasing an extra-classy orage winter coat towards the end of last winter (Hello, 9GBP, Foxhole!) that may make dealing with winter easier.

As some of the masses know, my mum, grandmother and two cousins were visiting this week. I met them at their hotel on Saturday night and bummed about for a bit. On Sunday I worked in the lunch shift and met up with them afterwards. I finally had one of those "make your own marshmellow/apple/rice krispe/calor-ific! treat" things at Goofy's Candy place at Downtown Disney. They look better than they taste. However, what else would we expect from American chocolate? Dear US: Stick to your Root Beer and hot dogs; Europe has you beat on this one. Speaking of which, anyone wanting to send me British easter chocolate is more than welcome to. Just wanted to clear up any confusion on that.

On Monday I met up with the fam before work and let them into the parks for the day. I met up with them at the Magic Kingdom when I was done at work, (at no other place can, "I'll meet you at Cinderella's Castle," be met with such an understanding nod,) and we went on rides, because that's what people do at Disney World. I also ate really, really hot soup. I should have spilled it on me and sued. I proceeded to pretty much fall asleep on the monorail back to the TTC AND on the bus back to the Commons. Somehow, I summoned the energy to go to Pleasure Island that night. Call me a trooper! I bought a drink called "The Big Apple Martini" or something similar. WOW. Ninety-eight percent alcohol, I would venture. Bing!

On Tuesday I worked than went with non-family Sandra to the Earl of Sandwich. After visiting the Earl, a visit to Subway is never the same. I remember when I thought Subway was good. Earl of Sandwich blows Subway soooooo far out of the water that... umm, I can't think of a clever way to end that phrase. Afterwards we wandered about and grabbed a PROPER PINT (!!!) at Raglan Road and sat outside. It was quite nice! And, having been drinking American beer for the better part of six months, the Stella seemed rather strong. Super Tennants strong. We were going to head out that night but somehow got sidetracked but were still up til 3:00 am anyway. Thus the life of the Commons.

Wednesday the phone woke me up about two hours too early. So I ended up meeting the family at random Disney hotel for a swim/snooze in the sun. Then I dragged my ass too work with an entire TWO minutes to spare.

Thursday was park day again! I also ate at Le Cellier for the first time. That's right, I actually ate at my workplace. It turns out the food IS amazing and I haven't been lieing to everyone!! And maple creme brullee is worth the fuss people make over it. It may even beat the apple cobbler... Thursday night was Chase's throw out. I'm bitter about his leaving, but anyway.

Then there was Friday - Typhoon Lagoon with Keltie and Vanessa day!!!! I tell ya, this place should be featured front and centre in all Walt Disney World advertising. That water park is AMAZING. I'm so glad it's not "winter" anymore so we can go to water parks. I heart you, Typhoon Lagoon! Anyway, said good-bye in the evening after a plate of half-assed nachos from Bennigans. Kind of sad. Both saying good-bye and the sub-par nachos.

Speaking of Bennigans, don't bother unless you're there for the bar.

And now we are at Saturday. I worked today. It sucked. Sometimes I'm not in the mood for work but it fades once I get there and start working. I just couldn't get into it and didn't enjoy myself very much. I have had a lot of Saturdays off as of late, which is good as it seems whenever I work a Saturday they go terribly wrong. Ah well, third time is the charm with next Saturday!

My six-month anniversary is on Monday. I can't believe it. I feel like I have accomplished NOTHING. Even with an average of one trip per month I won't make it everywhere. What is a girl to do? And what about when I go home? I don't know what to do. At all. Will someone give me guidance? How is whatever I do supposed to even compare to the last two years of my life?! Or even the three years as my last year of University was quite the blast as well.

I think I expect too much of myself at work. Want everyone to love me, and annoyed at myself when I don't get refills out before the guest actually asks for them. But I also get annoyed that people drink so much soda. Are you SURE you need that much more sugar?? Or maybe I should just stop reading Don't Eat This Book. I swear I don't know what to eat anymore. What's low in calories, fat, sugar, and carbs? At the same time, it should be high in fiber?

Mmm, water and apple peelings.

I remember before I came to Florida I thought, "Wow, I am going to buy so much cool clothing and be, like, so cool in my cool clothing of coolness!"

I haven't been to the Florida Mall once. Not a single journey. I have bought some stuff, but considering how much I have worn a lot of my clothing I'm sure some more could be replaced.

Anyway, phone rang so I'm oot!

Heeeeeey....!

It's been awhile, eh?

Truth be told, after running about all day at work I generally don't have the ambition to sit down and think. No thinking means no emails and no blogs. However, I like reading blogs of other people so perhaps people like reading my blog. Just a thought...

Since I last posted I haven't been fired! That, my friends, is a good thing. I also took a whirl-wind trip to Los Angeles. Vanessa and I booked our flight/hotel on Monday night and zoomed off in a big plane on Friday morning. Our last-minute package included our flight and hotel and was a fabulous $302.00!! Pretty spiffy considering I was looking at flights initially and they alone were in the $400 - $450 range.

So Vanessa and I flew into LA Friday morning a couple of weeks back. Our flight left at about 7:00 and we were lucky enough to catch a drive to the airport with Derek who was going home for a long weekend! In a busy airport day, another canadian, Sarah, was also going home for a few days. Vanessa and I got into LA at about 9:45. By the time we got to our hotel and ate and headed back out it was about 2:00. We went to glorious Hollywood! Actually, make that "glorious" Hollywood! Ahem, quite the scuzzy place. The Kodak Theatre that hosts the Oscars, i.e., what we see on TV, and the Chinese Theatre take up about one block of space on the north side. The south side has El Capitan, a restored cinema thanks to Disney. The other blocks... umm, rather dodgy. Sketchville, USA.

And, of course, that's all I have time to write at the moment. Pushing the clock as usual. Big posts are coming though, I promise! I am off for TWO WHOLE DAYS and have NO plans! For once, I am excited about that. A wee bit of rest and relaxation :) I plan on doing some emailing, seriously, and posting, seriously!

Seriously!

Heart you all... ;)

Yay, so I'm awake because I keep having dreams about forgetting about people's allergies and therefore getting fired.

The only good thing about this is that I realised at some point during my random wakings and two-minute sleeps that I had set my alarm too early as today is Wednesday and my shift today doesn't start untl 11:15, not 10:15 as I had thought.

On Monday night and yesterday at work some people were complaining about the election results. I asked the complainers if any of them had voted and they all said no. I remember back in early January how I thought about organising something so we could all send off our voting paperwork together but, of course, forgot and found myself remembering at inappropriate moments.

Ooh, on Monday I got to serve the VP of Food and Beverage for Epcot. I'm not sure why I served his party given that I was easily the newest server on the floor (hola, dia numero dos!) but I imagine it's because we have been extremely short-staffed and I was probably the only one with a table open at the time he checked in. Important people don't have to wait at Le Cellier ;) My manager told me yesterday morning that Mr. Big Shot, (and I don't mean that in a rude way,) had emailed him and said I did a great job. Woohoo! Probably because he didn't have any allergies so I didn't accidently kill him.

My first day serving, Sunday, I had a guest ask to speak to the manager since I wasn't apologetic enough about a mistake I had made. (I didn't realise one of our sauces was available at suppertime only.) I don't think the manager on duty cared too much since the guest was being a winer and was a castmember. It's sad, but sometimes castmembers put ridiculously high expections on us. The table next to them, most likely, overheard and then they asked to speak to the manager before they headed out. However, they raved about me so all was good. They were probably happy they didn't have any allergies or else I probably would have forgotten about them and accidently killed the entire party.

I really don't want to get deported =( Tear. Cry. Sad. And yes, it is worth losing sleep over and putting myself though intensive retail therapy.

In a somewhat related note, I quite love working the lunch shift. The money isn't nearly as good as a dinner shift, but I love having free evenings! On Sunday after work I went to the Olive Garden with two of the other newest servers and it was soooo good. Pretty cheap too! (Guess I'm getting used to WDW prices... ;) ) On Monday night after work I wandered around Epcot looking to spend money and enjoy some rides. I ran into a friend, Kaitlyn, rather randomly so we ended up staying until close. Last night Vanessa and I took off to Disney-MGM Studios after work to also spend money and have some fun. It's not that I'm making boatloads of money or anything, but we are currently getting 40% off merchandise as part of our company Christmas present so I'm being proactive and buying stuff I know I'll want before I go home. So I'm buying August's souvenirs today! I will admit though, I probably wouldn't be spending quite so much if I wasn't leaving work with a nice wad o' bills in my pocket at the end of my shift. Hmm....

Today's shift will be a good one. I can tell. Cross yer fingers fer me!

Back, I say back, to bed I say.

And to reset my alarm!!

Hmm, such an up-and-down day today.

If I come home from Florida early I can tell you exactly why ahead of time: I'll get fired for forgetting about peoples' allergies. Basically, you get fired if you forget about an allergy more than two times. Even if you remember and tell the chef but forget to put it in the computer. So, by day three of my serving career, I have already forgotten once. It's kind of depressing because I knew my ass was covered before and I was not doing anything that would ever get me termed. So this will be it. Seriously. I have SUCH issues with my short-term memory that I feel like I should run a lottery on what month I'll be deported back to Canada. So I'm a bit bummed. I had a rather bad start today with issues at two of my first three tables. However, the nice thing is every table is a fresh start and the new guests don't know that you messed you severley on the previous table or that you drop a bunch of bread and butter on the dining room floor. Sigh. So I had a bit of a stupid day and quite want a day off. Frankly, I don't like the weight of constantly wonder whether I'm going to kill someone by serving them food. Sigh. So yup, good times. Whatever.

So I made it to Pittsburgh and it was good fun! It was awesome to see Emily! I'm definitely going back at some point. It was kind of interesting to be in an actual American city rather than Disney World... There are some cultural differences. Yup.

I'm glum thus heading to bed. See you in February when I get deported.

It's a Wonderful Life

Well, I should be in bed, sleeping. But I have other things on my mind this evening... Like how I should be emailing people, (thanks for the Christmas wishes, everyone!, and Happy Engagement to Kiki!) but can't even decide with whom to begin since I am, as per usual, massively far behind in emailing.

I'm going to be proactive. All those folks with birthdays at some point in 2006? Happy Birthday, [insert name]!

So what is on my mind is my life since May 2004. Basically since I left PEI on a permament, non-school basis. Lord, basically since I have left the country, ha ha! Heh. So yup, just scanning my mind as to what I would be doing now if I hadn't left Canada or, more specifically, PEI.

Wee PEI, how precious you are.

I wonder how many new people I would have met, I wonder where I would be working, and I wonder if I would still go to the Wave. Probably not that much, as the novelty wears thin once you realise the main draw of going to the Wave was seeing those people that you weren't super close with, but still liked to randomly sit with and chat for awhile.

I don't know what to do in October... I'd like to start working on getting a proper career, but there is still other stuff I want to do. I want to go live in France, but sometimes I get sick of being so far away from home. A trip home is planned a least a month in advance instead of the 15 minutes it would require to plan a quick weekend trip home if I lived in the maritimes. Despites this, I'm rather bitter that my UK work permit will expire at the end of April. That will be a sad day. It feels like I'm watching ice cream melt in the heat and can't reach it to eat it. My work permit is going to waste! I quite miss Edinburgh and find my mind rolling back to grade-twelve economics and first-year economics at fabulous UPEI... The opporunity cost of an action. In economics you can literally put a dollar figure on it, but this is more qualitative. I could make it quantitative by figuring out the wage I would have earned in the UK (minus expenses) versus that of a similar job in Canada. However, if in Canada, I would not have had a similar job. The day you find me filing full-time in Charlottetown is the day you find out that Ottawa has been demoted as the capital city and Tignish is the feds' new home.

Speaking of Feds, there is an election coming up!

Shit. I can't vote. I have NEVER voted in a federal election =( Last time there was one, summer '04, I was working at lovely Balfour Beatty sneakingly following the news around the impending election and never even THOUGHT about voting. I honestly forgot that I could vote. It was the first time there had been a federal election since I had become old enough to vote. This time around, I kept forgetting to visit Election Canada's website to get the proper stuff to vote as a resident abroad. I just checked it out, and if I want to vote I have an entire thirty-seven hours to get my application back up North. Umm, right. THAT would go over something great. So here is to another five years of waiting... Unless the same thing happens as the reason for this election being called.

Man, I need to go to bed. This is just getting retarded... I don't even remember the last time I was in bed before 2:00... This week I was especially bad as I worked late shifts during the last half of the week. Bonjour 4:00, 5:00, etc., bedtime.

Adios!

So... this is the third time I am writing this blog. Through the joys of my trackpad, I managed to erase my other posts just as I was hitting the post button.

The weather has been AMAZING as of late! Honestly, I knew I wasn't in for a chilly winter but this has easily exceded my expectations. I do believe it has been unseasonably warm though and this isn't the norm. Today, after spending yesterday trudging around resorts and randomly falling asleep everytime I set foot on a bus, I slept until almost noon and was lazy. I layed in the sun and read. I thought about stuff I *could* be doing, but it wasn't that enticing. I was going to be a good girl and clean my room some this evening but my roommate is napping so I have a *very* good excuse not to!

Next week good things are coming my way: tips and a trip to Pittsburgh! I am moving into food running next week and am flying up to Pittsburgh on Wednesday to spend a glorious 36ish hours with Emily. For the record, food runners are responsible for helping servers bring entrees to guests. They help with appetizers and desserts as well, but entrees are their main responsibilities. This is basically a predisecer (sp?) to serving. I'm looking forward to it, as it's something new and a little more profitable! The servers are *supposed* to give the food runners 1% of their gross for the night. I think. So while not as profitable as serving, there is a guarantee income whereas with serving there is not. (Some people don't find it necessary to leave a tip after a $35.00 meal. Per person.)

Epcot has been holding a "Candlelight Processional" every night since Thanksgiving up until December 30th. There is a celebrity narrator and a very talented choir that reads/sings the story of Jesus. The singing is the focus, and with good reason. The narrator is important, but the choir deserves the real applause, as with the orchestra. On December 25th, 26th, and 27th John Stamos was the narrator! I went to see it with my parents.

John Stamos.

The guy who played Jesus in The Passion of Christ narrated on December 22nd, 23rd and 24th. The following week he and his extended family had dinner at Le Cellier. MY RESTAURANT. I saw him. I never would have recognised him if we had not been discussing his arrival all day and he came in as an ordinary guest under a fake name. Anyway, I got to clear his table when everyone was done. So I have cleaned up Jesus's mess.

This week four of my five shifts are six hours. Umm.... $$$$$??? I think not! Not this week anyway.

Yesterday I came to the conclusion that the best Disney Christmas decorations that I have seen this year and last are those at Disneyland Parc Paris, and at Port Orleans French Quarter Resort here. Just for the record. The winners of this little contest get no prize except public recognition by me. Felicitations!

Speaking of (in) French, I got my French flag on my nametag now to show that I can speak French. I feel like I'm lieing as my French isn't very good! So when I could tell one family was French I kind of diverted my nametag and repositioned myself and hoped they couldn't see it. Wow, I am so brave. Brave is thy jen.

I worked on New Years Eve so it was rather uneventful. I was in such a fowl mood at first as my shift didn't start until 5:30 and with my retarded cold I find my head just about collapses around 6:00 every night. (By collapses I mean gets really stuffy so I can hardly hear and my neck aches. It's quite lovely, really.) It ended fine though, we got to go outside and watch the fireworks as a big Canadian, "Sorry are we blocking your view, suckers?" family. They were quite good, and then we ate some leftovers in the kitchen from the New Year's Eve special dinner that apparently no one ordered.

Anyway, enough for now as I'll probably fumble with my keyboard (stupid trackpad) and accidently delete everything again.

For Christ sake. I just wrote the longest blog post EVER and it disapeared when I was copying and pasting it into Word in case it didn't work. It's my fault because I find the lack of mouse awkward on my laptop. I'm trying not to curse.

Summary of blog:

- I'm going to Pittsburgh next week.
- I start getting tips next week.
- I'm tired.
- I'm going to the gym cause I'm getting fat.
- I got hurt on a rollercoaster.
- My family's visit was qutie lovely and I'm glad they were here.
- I wore shorts and a tank top today and yesteday. Outside. Take that, Canada!
- I am going to be better at keeping in touch with you all.
- I saw John Stamos.
- Jesus ate at Le Cellier and I got to walk by him and clear his table.

The end.

Ugh. *(*$#*(%