What...a whirlwind.

Tonight, I dropped my family off at the airport. The 5 days they were here went by so fast. I was able to take them to the park twice so that was really great.

I love the cast connection store by the magic kingdom! Me, my mom and Grandma checked it out today and got some really awesome stuff. Everything from clothes to vacuums for $5. They even have food there that's really cheap like fruit, milk, cheese, oj, etc. The building next to it is for cast members only so I went in there and everything is 75% off, and I got a turkey leg shirt for my step-dad, a DVC member shirt and jacket for my mom, and a boba fett helmet for my brother Tyler. The trailer is full of really cool things that are damaged a bit or got returned and couldn't be sold again. I got my St. Patrick's day shirt from there and can't wait to wear it because I am not working that day, so I can actually wear it out in public all day! :)

I went to a speaker series at the Commons (the international college program's students apartments) the other day with my roommate, and it was very informational. There were 7 different speakers, who all did different things and started low in the company and worked their way up and told their personal stories. Jay Hatcher is the production manager for Disney Broadcast and Music production, and he showed us an awesome new project his team just finished up in NYC recently where people would look at the screen above the Disney store and the characters were back in Orlando interacting with the people in NYC via green screen. So cool.
Mickey

A couple others included Tobin Konecny, the catering guest service manager at the Yacht & Beach club, Paige McCalmon the Events & Operations Delivery Manager for cast activities like our Welcome parties and Grocery Bingo. (Speaking of Grocery bingo, I've gone twice and haven't won yet, so I'm hoping third time is the charm for the next one in a couple weeks for St. Patrick's day) and Ronke Olatunji who I was really interested in because she is the Parks Catering Guest service manager at Epcot, so she does the wine & food festival, among a bunch of other really cool events. Adam Pickett is in charge of all the runs at Disney, so I'm sure he was super stressed out a couple week-ends ago when there was the Tangled 5k on Saturday and then the next day was the Princess half marathon. Lastly, there was Donna, who oversees all the volunteer services and community outreach programs. She does a lot of events at the Wide World of Sports and the "Voluntear" programs for us cast members to be involved in community activities. This was a great experience because they told us their stories and helped us by sharing their experiences and what they would do differently and what to do such as network, keep in touch, and volunteer for events that you're interested in just to get your foot in the door, because managers will remember you if you're up for anything.

Me and my roommate Sarah went to One More Disney Day on Leap Day, 2/29. We wore our sequined Minnie ear headbands and went on some of the rides.

It was packed! I heard at midnight, there was a dance party, and Minnie and Mickey were in their pajamas taking pictures :) It's the first time Disney has ever done it, and I am so thrilled I got to be a part of it!!

Stephanie has already been here with the boys almost a month. That has flown by too. I was able to take her twice to the parks as well. Once with Brian when he was here in town, and then again with my Grandpa, who hadn't been to any of the parks in at least 25 years. So that was exciting to see it all through his eyes and have him tell me what has changed and what is still the same as it was so many years ago.

March 1st was my best friend's 24th birthday, and she's coming on the 9th to visit me and go to Walt Disney World. She hasn't been here recently enough to remember it, so it will be like her first time again :) We're going with Mallory who's also in town, and probably my friend John who moved to Orlando a few months before I did for a news room job. Everyone is shipping in or out it's hard to keep track of who's coming and going anymore!!! It sure is making the time go by quickly though, always having something to look forward to.

I talked to my manager today, asking about a possible shadowing at the Wedding Pavilion or one of the event coordinators, and she said she would talk to a woman she knows who does weddings all across the resorts, not just at the Wedding Pavilion. I'm hoping she gets back to me soon!!!

I'll leave you with this little gem from Saturday Night Live over the week-end....Real Housewives of Disney!

Housewives