Good News All Around

It's been a busy past few weeks. As of tomorrow, I'll have been signed on my lease for two week and as of today, it's been a week since I officially moved in. All I can say for now is that I'm in love. I love how my new place is basically in the middle of nowhere. It's like a 15-20 minute drive to the nearest Wal-Mart. There's hardly any traffic in my small area. While I have to take I-4 to work, my hours are hardly ever starting or ending around rush hour and I have barely encountered any traffic.

My new room is a sanctuary in a way my old room couldn't be. I'm no longer constricted by my pinkish purple walls and mossy green carpet. I feel a lot less childish and had a great time decorating and organizing. The shape of my room makes it look almost round, which makes me feel a little like I'm in a tower. Honestly? My room is completely meant for me. I love it! (If only I had the money to get a bigger mattress... I currently have a twin, and man does that get smaller as you get older).

So, the major downside is that I'm far away from my closest friends and my family, of course. Not too far away, but driving so much could take its toll on me, and my car. Places that I used to think of as only a 20 minute drive away are now a 40-60 minute drive away. Suddenly, it becomes a small day trip to go some places that used to be "just over there". Being in the middle of nowhere, it's a little more difficult to come up with new places too. What can I say, though, it's an adventure!

I had the best day today. I can't describe everything that happened, but it was just one of those good days at work where you truly feel you made the right choice in profession. Then, when I left, it was pouring outside. And I mean POURING. As I was leaving the garage, an associate was trying to figure out how to get to the entrance without getting soaked, so I offered her a ride. Speaking with her in that short drive actually helped me figure out the better way to drive to avoid I-4 in the pouring rain. Good Karma never hurts, right? Anyways, today was really great.

So it's all good news really =D Great day at work, great new home... somehow I feel like I'm just asking for the sh** to hit the fan... Dear Lord, please don't let that happen!

Positoovity

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,

When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,

When the funds are low and the debts are high,

and you want to smile, but you have to sigh,

When care is pressing you down a bit,

rest if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,

as every one of us sometimes learns,

and many a failure turns about

When he might won, had he stuck it out;

Don't give up, though the pace seems slow--

You may succeed with another blow,

Success is failure turned inside out--

The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,

And you never can tell how close you are,

It may be near, when it seems so far;

So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit--

It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.

I've had this quote on my computer desktop since January 2012. It's there to remind me, when I'm bogged down by work or personal issues or money issues, that there is always a solution.

We have this thing at work called Critical Moments of Service. It's situations that can make or break a guest's stay. I know that just like we have CMS at work, there are Critical Moments of Life as well. These are the moments when someone close to you dies, when you get your heart broken, when you find yourself in debt, when you're stressed beyond belief due to work or school... these are defining moments that shape our lives. I feel that sometimes you are only as good as the person you become during a CML. For all the good you may do, if you run away when someone needs you, if you quit when you ought to have stuck it through, then that's how you'll be remembered. It's up to you to take ownership of that.

When I think about my own defining moments, sometimes I'm ashamed, and other times I'm quite proud of myself. I never try to forget any of them, because they've made me who I am. Sometimes, I will go back and laugh at myself, though. I think the most important thing to remember is that you have to keep going. Sure, you may have faltered at a defining moment, but who's to say that you won't have more chances in the future? You learn from your mistakes, you keep going, you keep your head held high, you keep smiling. Being positive is the best weapon you can have in your arsenal (even if you're forcing that smile just a bit... =P).

Set Your Laser to Stun

Today was move in day. Woo hoo! We signed the lease, got our keys and started bringing stuff up. Now, because of my crazy work schedule, I'm not moving my big stuff until Monday and Tuesday next week. Today, however, I had a small amount of stuff to bring up. The thing is, somewhere between loading the stuff in the car, driving to the new place (about 30 min away) and signing the lease, I pulled a muscle in my upper thigh, near my hip. Oh, and did I tell you our apartment is on the third floor? Yeah, that didn't translate well with the pulled muscle....

I survived though, and I have a little less than a week for it to heal before we start moving the big stuff. It's been a productive day, though. Between getting the apartment, driving a bunch, and, of course, work, I've certainly had my hands full. Work is a whole other story on it's own. I can't go into detail, but simply said: I'm stressed out. Add that to moving. Just add water and you'll get a nervous breakdown.

My problem is that I think too much. I'm always thinking about what could happen, what already happened, how we can make things better. I think about design and about stories. I stress myself out because I'm always thinking. Luckily, I have a laser pointer. See, there's a certain magic of laser pointers.

You know how a cat could be completely still, sleeping even, but then springs to action when a laser is put in it's path? Whatever it was doing previous is completely forgotten and the only thing that matters is the laser. That's kind of what happens with me.

My best friend once took a laser pointer and created a sort of light show to the sound of the Transformers Score. I was so mesmerized by the dancing lights that I just stopped thinking. Sometimes, you have to stop thinking. He later gave me my own laser pointer, so I could create my own light shows (although mine are usually to the score for Love Actually). And to think I thought you need fireworks or lanterns to mesmerize you into thoughtlessness!

***Insert John Williams Score Here***

I saw Jurassic Park in 3D today. What a joy it was to watch one of my old favorites on the big screen! I enjoyed the jokes I didn't understand as a kid, and I appreciate the dialogue more in general. Now, we know the movie plays a few digs at Disney ("I should've built in Orlando", "When the power goes out at Disney the Pirates don't attack the tourists"). I found a new reference to my favorite theme park family. While talking to John about the possibility of getting the park back on track, Dr. Sattler tells him:

What happens when the Dinosaurs find their way to Magic Kingdom.

"You never had control, that's the illusion! I was overwhelmed by the power of this place. But I made a mistake, too, I didn't have enough respect for that power and it's out now."

Like Jurassic Park, Disney flourishes best when left to it's own devices. Don't force the magic. Let it happen. And don't get too caught up in it, because real life is out there as well. Short blog today, but please comment with any additional thoughts!

District Orlando

Orlando isn't just any city. Orlando is my city. It irks me when someone has unrealistic expectations about my city. Even worse? When they judge my city based on that one little road: International Drive.

International Drive, the most condensed area of food, shopping and entertainment in all of Orlando, is known as a little bit of a hell hole to most knowledgeable locals. Sure, the restaurants are great. The shopping has some wonderful deals. The entertainment is, well, entertaining. It is entirely meant for tourists. You don't go to Disney and expect it to be an area where the locals flock. The same goes for International Drive. It kills me that people will see that and assume that all of Orlando is some touristy nest of chain restaurants, silly, impractical museums and hardly any culture. 

Think of the Hunger Games. There are different districts, each responsible for one industry. District 4 is aquaculture, District 12 is coal. Katniss and Peeta ended up proving that their District is made of more than just Coal Miners. See, Orlando's industry is Tourism. We thrive off of hospitality, and yes, if Orlando lost Tourism, the city would certainly falter. But we are more than just hospitality workers. We are more than just smiling faces that welcome strangers and beg them to spend money.

It sucks when someone comes and decides to judge your city based on one area. Worse, it sucks that they judge you, because you live in that area. And it's not just Orlando. It's everywhere, really. Get to know the locals and you'll know a town/city/country a little better. Expand your horizons.

Hands Over my Eyes, But I'm Not Gonna Cry

Some big things have been happening. I mean, when God decides He wants to open a window, sometimes he throws open those huge French doors and says have at it. What a whirlwind!

As a follow up to my last post, yes, we were approved for the apartment and I move in next week. Woah. But, more on that as the time comes closer.

As you'll know if you've been reading this the past week, I'm trying to come out of my Disney bubble a little bit more and more and trying to experience new things. Today was possibly proof that I need to look sometimes before I leap.

I saw Evil Dead today. I hate scary movies. Why did I see it then? Because two good friends really wanted to see it and I saw it as a good opportunity to try something new. Rory, Rory, Rory... what in the world were you thinking?!?!?

I spent the entire movie with my hands covering my eyes, quietly whimpering and praying for the end. When I finally thought it was over ***SPOILER ALERT*** a hand shoots out of the ground and grabs the chick's leg. I'm pretty sure I leaped as far back in my chair as possible. At the end of the movie, when we left the theater, I was pale, shaking, and held myself up against a wall, slowly rocking back and forth. (Don't be too alarmed, this wasn't for more than a minute at most).

So, today's lesson? Try new things, even things you think you hate. Just remember, there's always going to be the chance that you still hate them, no matter how positive you try to be. And you know what, that's ok.

As a reward, I got to rock out to this song on the way home, which ended up being where the title comes from. It oddly fits.

A Whole New World

So yesterday a friend told me she needed a new roommate ASAP. To make a long story short, I'm potentially signing a lease tomorrow.

This is potentially the most spontaneous decision I've ever made. I had been planning to stay with my parents until at least the summer. Now, I'd be moving out to an area I'm not too familiar with, with 3 other people. only one of which I know, and possibly within the week! This is all happening so fast--

Usually, when moving somewhere, I have it all planned. I know how I'm going to design my room. I know exactly what I'm bringing. I'm packed a week beforehand and I know exactly how I'm getting there. I'm a planner. I plan things. This is entirely out of my element.

If I'm being honest, though, I kinda love it. I love the idea of the unknown. I love that my independence is just a touch away. I like the prospect of a challenge and something new. Sure, failure is always possible. And there's a chance I'm going to regret it--but you gotta try something new now and then. I'm just so used to my comfort zone, I have to step out of it. I'm ready to face this whole new world.