Step #16--Find the Love

Whew! We've made it. After so much worrying and waiting, we're finally here in Orlando! We're settled into our new apartment and I know what ride I'm going to work (Kilimanjaro Safari Operations! Woot!) I start my Traditions training today and my OST (on sight training) on Sunday. The past couple nights Kelly and I went out with some friends and we visited some of the Disney resorts and we strolled along Downtown Disney. I'm already in love with Orlando and Disney World. I could be nervous, I could be scared, but I'm not. I LOVE LIFE!

Emily and Kelly

Step #15--The glass is half full

Waiting, waiting, waiting. When you're just about to plunge into a new adventure, it can be rough standing on the edge. You just want to jump in, but it's not time yet. You can look at this two ways: with the glass half empty, or the glass half full. When there were still three weeks left until Disney time, a part of me wanted to groan and mope, whining: "I still have THREE WEEKS LEFT?" But, the stronger part of me decided to make the most of these three weeks I've had at home, and it's been AWESOME! We shopped, ate, laughed, spent an afternoon at the lake wave running, got sunburned, made cookie dough, got my medical problems squared away, made a trip to Lava Hot Springs for some river floating fun, and enjoyed each other's company. And now, as I sit here, realizing that I'll be in the airport in 24 hours, I can't help but look back on the past three weeks and smile. I know I enjoyed myself because I wanted to enjoy myself. Pessimism never pays off. You'll never find joy when you're looking for misery.

Step#14-- Have your cake and eat it too

It's almost my birthday, and since I'll be leaving for Florida in a day (YIKES) we celebrated it tonight! Lots of fun, lots of food, and an amazing cake. It's sad that I won't be home for my real birthday, BUT how many chances will I have to celebrate my birthday in DISNEY WORLD! I'm excited. I had a good birthday here, and I'm sure I'll have a good birthday in Florida. These are the pictures of my amazing Popcorn cake!

Step #13--A Picture's Worth a Thousand Words

There's nothing like a good picture to go along with a memory. Here are some of my favorite pictures from The Barber of Seville. Enjoy!

Step #12 Breathe

Emily Suzanne Randall: actress/assistant stage manager/prop locator/actor-technician relations regulator/go-fer/ AHHHHHHHHHHHH

The Barber of Seville is more demanding than I could've possibly imagined. I have so many responsibilities and I hardly know what to do with myself. I've had to choreograph all the ridiculous scene changes over and over again as things were added and removed. I'm constantly needed in two or three places at once: checking on props, putting on make-up, being on stage, being on headset, checking up on actors and technicians, etc. etc. Tonight was the most ridiculous night yet! I swear I've never been so stressed before in my life. Still, I'm having a blast. As crazy as this experience is, it's good for me. I've never been in this sort of position before, and it's empowering. But, it's still stressful. I find the best way to deal with the stress is to breathe. Stop for a few seconds and breathe. It's amazing how the transformation of oxygen into carbon dioxide can relieve so much pressure.

P.S. This is a picture of me with my black hair (don't worry Mom, it comes out with soap)

Step #11 Do it over and over again

Grammar and Usage class

Let me just say, I was not excited to take this class.

Day one: I felt overwhelmed. How could I diagram sentences? It didn't make any sense! I put adjectives where? What are adverbs again? How can I tell if it's transitive? Yeah...BUT! I soon discovered that it's not impossible. Diagramming sentences is easy and, dare I say it, fun--once you get the hang of it. We've been practicing the ten sentence patterns over and over again and I finally get it. We took a diagramming exam last week and I got 100%!

Anything is possible. Next on the list...make a million dollars