Need to catch up!

Yes, I need to catch up. I have some photos and updates for you. After work, I seem so tired. I think I am on Heidi's schedule. The drive home takes about an hour, so I get home around 6:30 or so, and Heidi gets home at 7:00. Then we eat dinner till about 8:00. After a little TV - I am ready for bed by 9:00 pm. (That is 8:00 pm Central Time.) Maybe Heidi has brainwashed me or something.... I want to go to the gym but I haven't had the chance to since I have been working. When I get home tonight - I will post the photos that I have and show you cards from Virtual Stamp Night!

Decisions, Decisions

I got a job offer from the company in Georgia. I am really struggling as to what to do. Rock seems to have mixed feelings about it too. I am still in training at "D" so I am not sure if I will like it here or not.

I did go to the company store the other day. I made my first employee purchase. I needed to get a better lanyard and ID holder than the free ones received in training. There were lanyards with images of Belle, Pluto, Tinkerbell, each Dwarf, and so on. Employees (cast members) seem to really relate with their favorite character. I picked the lanyard with the letter "D" - which I think it represents that I remain neutral and never pick a side.

The people in my training class received their location assignment yesterday. There was a "pin ceremony" to find out where in the learning centers we would be located. We had to hold out our hands and close our eyes. We each received a pin to represent the location. We had to guess where it was. Since I have not been a pin collector in the past - I couldn't tell anything or know the names of the locations. However, I could tell with my eyes closed that my pin had what seemed like a pole with a string attached. Mickey with a fishing pole? My guess was right - and my location will be at Port Orleans. This resort location is good for me since I will be working closely on HR projects - since it is not one of the heavy employee traffic locations. The pin ceremony was the ultimate in chessey-ness, but it was still a fun touch to the training experience. I will try to post pictures this weekend.

Traditions

We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.

- Walt Disney

Today I went to "D"'s orientation class. I also recieved my beautiful name badge and employee ID card. I tried to angle the badge a bit so you see the sparkles around the edge.

I also got my first employee cast pin - for Pin Trading. Even the backing has the mouse ear shape

Check In

Friday was check in day at "D." Basically, I had to show my ID, complete a few forms, and I was done within an hour or so. Saturday, I go to the orientation class - called "Traditions." Then my schedule this week will be Sunday through Thursday for training. The learning center is open seven days a week, and I am not sure if this training week will be an indication of my regular schedule. If so, having Fridays and Saturdays off is not too bad. Here are a couple pictures from today:

This is the tent where the check in process started. By the way - it was 80 degrees today. The check in was either outside or in non-air conditioned rooms.

This is where I will go for Orientation and one of the possible locations for me to work. The learning center has 13 locations, and the university is the largest.

Here is a picture from driving around today. It is not the best picture - since I was driving - watching traffic - and trying to hold the camera steady.

Just My Luck

This morning I got up early for a 7:00 am T'ai Chi class at the YMCA. I need to get back to waking up early before I start working. Yes, I was in class with the little old ladies again. I think someone made the comment to Rocky that going to Florida means hanging out with the retirees. The gym is close to the medical center, and it is in an older part of town. I don't mind. After the class, I drove around Baldwin Park (see photo). This is a nice neighborhood, and today the weather was beautiful out.

Yesterday, I watched a movie called "Just My Luck" with Lindsay Lohan. In the movie, Lindsay's character has a very charmed life. I would not say I am as fortunate as Lindsay's character - but I do tend to be in the right place at the right time, sometimes. Remember the penthouse upgrade for the free room in Biloxi? Well, today I got a free lunch. After Baldwin Park, I tried to drive around town a little more and I looked for some place to eat around 11:00. I was the first person to go into Anthony's Pizzeria off of Colonial. I hear the staff rustle around and raise a fuss in a language I assume to be Italian. I didn't think anything of it - until I noticed that someone locked me and the two other patrons inside. As more customers approached the door, I hear them explain that the restaurant was closed because their computer and register were not working. By the time I finished my slice of New York style pizza, I am told that I won't have to pay since they cannot ring up my order. The pizza was great (Anthony's was voted Orlando's best 4 times in a row)- and enjoying the meal for free was a pleasant surprise. To make sure karma was still in balance and all was still right in the world - I left a tip that I felt would cover the meal, in the event the registers were working soon.

Here are a couple of photos from Heidi's deck and side yard. On the deck, you can see Heidi's crazy stick tree. Therefore, the quote for today is:

"What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

On the side of the house is a fruit tree (I think the fruit is a grapefruit.) The way that it weighs down the little tree reminds me of Charlie Brown's Christmas tree.

Interview in GA

A couple of you have asked about my interview in Georgia. I flew to Georgia on January 2nd. After I picked up the rental car, I had about 30 - 35 miles to drive to get to the hotel. I took I-285 which I was told - this is the the way the locals go. Traffic was not too bad, until I had to get onto I-75. I think 7 - 8 lanes of traffic is just a bit much for me, plus it was starting to get dark. Not a good combination. I did not get onto I-75, but I took the next exit. I explored some back roads (interpretation = got lost) and found the road the hotel was on. After getting settled, I ventured back out to grab something for dinner and pick up a few things at Walgreens. Thursday was the interview. I think it went pretty well. Rocky told me to remain calm during the interview - since I still had the job with D to come back to if I did not get this job. Overall, I think it was one of my better interviews. After the questions, the hiring manager offered to give me a tour of the production floor. I did not know that I would be walking probably 2 miles in heels. The tour was interesting. Along the production floor, security makes the rounds in a small truck. It was weird to have to look both ways before crossing an intersection when you are inside a building. The interview was over at 11:00 am and my flight was not until 6:05 pm. So, I got some tips from Debbie in staffing, and I drove around the area. It was one of the colder days - around 16 degrees when I woke up, and about 40 degrees during the day. It was an enjoyable experience, even if I don't get the job. I will keep you posted if I hear anything. However, I am not sure what I would do since I am supposed to start at D on Friday.

YMCA

Heidi is a member of the YMCA, so I thought I would join too. The one close to her house is the Peggy and Phillip B. Crosby Wellness Center. The gym is close to a medical facility and it focuses on rehabilitation of patients. The gym has all of the latest equipment, and a very friendly staff. Gloria at the front desk is a hoot! She had us laughing the whole time we were there. Saturday, Heidi and I met with a trainer who showed us around the FitLynxx system - which is pretty cool. Today (Monday) I joined the water aerobics class. I was the youngest in class - probably by at least 30 years.

First ATC Swap

On Saturday, I received the AOL ATC swap in the mail. This was the first time I tried to make an ATC (Artist Trading Card). They are like mini versions of a card. The ladies on the AOL Stampin' Up message board are always so creative. It was a challenge for me to think of a smaller design than a normal size card. Here are the results:

Here is my first ATC that I made. There is a little tag that opens - and I used Shimmering H20's for the butterfly. Lot's of first for me on this swap.

I can't get the layout quite right - but at least you are able to see the ATC's.

Bye, Bye Rocky!

The first day of the new year - 2008. Rocky went back home today. He has to go back to work tomorrow. So sad to see him go. I know he will visit, but I am just not sure when I will see him again.

After he left, I drove in Orlando traffic (actually not too bad today) and my sister and I went to the YMCA. I went ahead and joined and then we went to see the movie, Sweeny Todd. The movie was pretty good (but it is a musical - in case you have issues with that.)