Just call me Dr. P88hBear!

So I have been having this wonderful cough that has hung on since I was really ill a few months back. No big deal right ~ allergy season and what not. Yeah, I think not!

WebMD is a wonderful thing, depending on how you look at it. You look at it and say "oh, I should see a doctor because this could be something"... or you look at it like I do and say "Oh, I should call the doctor because I have already diagnosed myself and now they need to fix it... and thank me for making their job easier"...

Back to the cough - worse at night, shortness of breath, tightness in chest and back, accompanied by other things a little too gross to write for the world... according to WebMD (and three other sites because I never believe just one) I have asthema.

Now, wouldn't you think that I would have known about this so called asthema when I was little? Is it even possible for an adult to just all of a sudden show up with asthema? Apparently the answer to the second is yes and the first is no... though my mama is a nurse and she would have known so I don't claim responsibility on that one.

So, I have to find a doctor (we all know how much I love them), make an appointment and then actually go to it so they can poke and prod me all morning / afternoon (depends on the day of week as to whether or not it will be morning or afternoon) and then probably tell me what I told them since I am now a doctor via the internet.

Good to know what has been ailing me for the past few months... bad on the treatment options. What?!?! You think I would figure out what it was and then not go look at the alternatives to it... please.

Last Thought of the Night

Then and Now...

My Little Monster

One year we had to dress up for Halloween at work for a contest. I wasn't feeling it so my mom bought me this hat and a pair of sleep pants that were orange with black bats all over them. I still have both items and drag them out at this time of year.

Needless to say, my little monster loves the hat...

and so does my mom!

New Artwork - Disney, of course

So while I was at Disney University the other day I got some new artwork. Naturally this meant I had to rearrange my room. That was an all evening process in and of itself! Once it was all said and done I needed to go and get picture frames for the new stuff because I took down a large portion of my other things.

Let me preface this by saying that those who know me know that I love my pictures. Some people have albums or scrapbooks - I have frames because I want to see them. I am down to 9 photos, 4 cross stitched pieces of art my mother made for me through the years and two prints that I have had for about 20 years (Mom bought them for me because I loved them so much and they have always been hung in my room). I actually took down about 9 or so pictures so I can place these three beautiful pieces up.

This one is called "Heritage" and at the quote at the bottom says "I hope we don't lose sight of one thing ~ it was all started by a mouse." - Walt Disney

This one is called "Spirit" and the quote at the bottom is the same as the quote for my blog.

This one is very dear to my heart and I have always loved it. It is entitled "Self Portrait".

They look wonderful, even if I do say so myself. I'll add photos of my room as a whole tomorrow but I really wanted to share my art first!

Keith Urban

I don't normally do "gossip" though I love to read it... addicted to Popbytes, you should seriously check it out. MK keeps me in stitches... it's a guilty little pleasure of mine that I pass on to all of you.

Back to my original thought - Keith Urban. As those of you who know me know, I actually met the man this past February. Very sweet, down to earth, damn sexy and smelled wonderfully. Yes, that was necessary because I can honestly still remember how he smelled, it was woodsy and manly but not that bad kind of manly smell - the good kind that makes your toes curl!

Anywho, I just wanted to wish him well. He is a phenomenal artist and genuine good guy.

Happy Haunting!

Halloween is fast approaching and I thought this wallpaper was too cute not to share.

I Just Have to Say...

I think I am getting the hang of this HTML writing... I can now make those little links all proper and such... I can prove it... click on my surprise link! SURPRISE!!

Happy days... la de dah! I hope you have a bright big beautiful tomorrow!!

Walt Disney: An American Original

So I had a class at Disney University today entitle "Walt Disney & You" and I have to say it has been the best class by far!! I love learning about our traditions and heritage. I get all teary eyed watching the clips and listening to the audio... if I could have one wish, it would be to go for a stroll down Main Street with Walt.

This is the best book you will ever find on him and one of the few we actually sell on property. The write up for it is "Walt Disney is an American hero--the creator of Mickey Mouse, and a man who changed the face of American culture. After years of research, with the full cooperation of the Disney family and access to private papers and letters, Bob Thomas produced the definitive biography of the man behind the legend--the unschooled cartoonist from Kansas City who went bankrupt on his first movie venture but became the genius who produced unmatched works of animation. Complete with a rare collection of photographs, Bob Thomas' biography is a fascinating and inspirational work that captures the spirit of Walt Disney." This came from Alibris website since all the others have it where you can have some odd "preview" that doesn't really work and won't give a proper synapsis.



I copied a write up of his history from The Museum of Broadcast Communications so you can see for yourself. If you would like one, just let me know and I'll mail one to you... I think everyone should read it and instill the principles of Disney in their life....



Walt Disney was a visionary filmmaker who brought his film library, his love of technology, and his business sense to American television in the mid-1950s. His ground-breaking television program, Disneyland, helped establish fledgling network ABC, pointed the way toward that network's increasing reliance on Hollywood-originated filmed programming, and provided much needed financing for Disney's pioneering theme park.

Since the late 1920s, Disney had been a public figure, Hollywood's best known independent studio head. He had first achieved success with animated short subjects starring the character with whom he is best associated, Mickey Mouse. In 1937, his studio had produced the first full-length animated motion picture, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. In the late 1940s, beginning with Song of the South (1946), the Disney studio had also branched out into live-action films, but it was primarily associated, then as now, with animation.

Unlike many other studios, Disney's had not prospered during World War II, when it had devoted much of its energies to producing films for the U.S. government. Indeed, the Disney studio had never made a great deal of money because of the time- and labor-intensive nature of animation work. After the war, Disney hoped to expand his enterprises. The key to this expansion, according to Christopher Anderson in Hollywood TV (1994), was diversification. Disney was ready to set his sights beyond the film industry.

Disney flirted with the new medium in the early 1950s, producing a one-hour special for NBC in 1950 and another in 1951. He discussed a possible series with both NBC and CBS, but only third-place network ABC was willing to give him what he wanted in exchange--funding for the amusement park he dreamed of opening in Anaheim, California. ABC executives were desperate to obtain programming that would enable them to compete with their more established rivals and were particularly interested in courting the growing family market in those baby-boom years.

Walt Disney and his brother Roy convinced the network to put up $500,000 toward the construction costs for the park, to be called (like the television program) Disneyland, and to guarantee its bank loans. In exchange, ABC would obtain 35% of the park and would receive profits from Disneyland concessions for ten years. Even more importantly to the network, Disney would deliver them a weekly, hour-long television program that would take advantage of his family-oriented film library.

The program Disneyland debuted on 27 October 1954, and quickly became ABC's first series to hit the top ten in ratings. A number of early episodes showed old Disney films or promoted new ones. (A documentary chronicling the filming of the upcoming 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea added to the audience for that film and also earned Disney his first Emmy award, for best documentary.)

The program's success was clinched in December 1954 with the introduction of the first of three episodes focusing on Davy Crockett. The day after the 15 December telecast of "Davy Crockett, Indian Fighter," Crockett mania swept through the country.

The "Davy Crockett" episodes established another new Disney tradition. Not only would Disney move his feature films to television; he would also reverse the process. Although ABC broadcast only in black and white, the Disney studio shot the Davy Crockett episodes in Technicolor. After telecasting each of the three hours twice during the winter and spring months of 1954-55, the studio edited them into a film, which it released to theaters nationally and internationally in the summer of 1955. The film's high attendance increased the visibility of the Disneyland television program--and of all Disney's enterprises, including his new park.

When the park opened in July of 1955, ABC aired a live special honoring America's new tourist mecca and its founder. Within a year, millions of viewers whose amusement appetites had been whetted by Disney's television program poured into Disneyland. In its first year, it grossed $10 million. Walt Disney and his company had shaped two new entertainment forms--and had made more money than ever before.

Disney himself served as the affable host of his program. In light of its success, his studio quickly generated other youth-oriented television shows for ABC. The Mickey Mouse Club, a daily daytime program featuring a likable group of youngsters known as the Mouseketeers, premiered a year after Disneyland and lasted for four seasons. Zorro, an adventure series about a masked, swashbuckling Spaniard in 19th-century California, ran from 1957 to 1959.

Disney continued to be best known, however, for the weekly program he hosted. In 1959, this show changed its name to Walt Disney Presents. In 1961, it moved to NBC and changed its name to Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color. NBC's parent company, RCA, offered the Disney studios an appealing sponsorship deal, hoping that Disney's colorful telefilms would help market color television receivers.

Disney was still the host of this version of the program at the time of his death in December 1966. His avuncular on-screen personality had endeared him to viewers of all ages. And his re-creation of American recreation through the dual marketing of the two Disneylands had forged new patterns in American cultural history, inextricably linking television to the film and amusement industries.

-Tinky "Dakota" Weisblat

So Much for an Early Night!

So I was at work by 11:30 a.m. yesterday and didn't get out until 11:30 p.m.! It never fails, every time I think I will be able to get out early I end up getting trapped until really late. Things were not real magical with one of my cast members and now I have to put this whole game plan in place to document not only one but TWO of my team.

Which brings me to a more important point ~ why don't adults act like adults? I know that it may be a part time gig to some but why do they insist on breaking the rules and acting like children? We all know how to behave and that we should take our jobs seriously... so why do some constantly run around as if it is high school (or lower) and think that it is okay?

I don't like being the bad guy but if they are going to constantly under-perform then why should I keep them on my team? I think I am going to have a "Come to Mickey" meeting very soon about expectations and behavior... which is really sad. And why in this picture do I feel like Lumpy without the added smile and fun?

Good Gravy...

Can you believe that I am still awake... I know this is because I have to get up at a normal time tomorrow so I'm not late.. and now I am hungry... all I can think of is "bagel and cream cheese"... I told myself that if I went to bed like a good girl that I could have one in the morning with my coffee... do you think I listened?

No time tonight...

I got carried away gathering images and reading about my favorite subject ~ Disney. I like to get the Guest's point of view about our new campaing, The Year of a Million Dreams. I need to get my link up for the news but I have to ask permission first since it is the official Walt Disney World news site that we have our articles and such posted on... hmmm, wonder if I could submit that as my dream for a cast member?

Are you kidding me? Do you think I would waste my cast member dream on that one... NO WAY!! Y'all can read it in the post like everyone else, sorry. I would use my cast member dream on staying in Walt's apartment!!

Be good poppets and since I have to go and work the on the IMD 2007 AOP tomorrow I am sure I will be home early... oh, that means "In-Market Dine 2007 Annual Operating Procedures"... fun, fun, fun... woo hoo!!

DREAMS come true

We have been going through a "systems enhancement" these past few days and we finally came up last night. I was very happy to hear that but I must say that for most organizations it would have been a complete stand still... but not us!

We made it fun, and then some! We awarded agents every hour on the hour for "doing it right" since there wasn't much else they could do. Normally they would be making reservations but with the enhancement they couldn't get into the system. All they could do was quote and answer questions or book dining and Cirque du Soleil. Guests would call and want to know things and then book ~ we could inform but couldn't book. So we would have people listening "behind the scenes" and once an hour we would award an agent in each location for "doing it right". The fanfare consisted of "pixie dust" (which is Mickey icon confetti that people LOVE), a star balloon and 100 Magic Points. We, the Leaders, would sneak up and throw the confetti at them while we hooted and hollered about how they did it right ~ whether they were on the phone or not. It was a blast.

Now that DREAMS is in place, we are going to snack carting the floor for about a week. The leaders push snack carts with good things piled high (apples, bananas, chips, cookies, candy) and another with drinks (water, juice and soda). We do it twice a day ~ mid morning shift and mid evening shift. The cast members love it and having been on both sides of the cart I can tell you that the leaders love it to... what is better than doing that little something extra for your team?

I need to go and get ready to make magic. Be good poppets while I am gone and perhaps I will be able to write more tonight. I am trying to get back in the groove of daily posts but it has been a challenge recently.

Have a magical day!

Good night all

I just realized that is 3 A.M. and I am still up playing with this thing when I know I have to get up in a little bit with Sami... enjoy and be good poppets 'til morning!

New Look ~ Same Blog

Yeah, so I couldn't sleep and upgraded my blog a bit... how do you like it? Considering I spend most of my time on here late at night when I get home from work I though the black would be more "soothing" than what I had before.

So I did some dusting, some cleaning, some rearranging and some learning of the good ol' HTML... whatcha think?

Be good poppets!

The Kingdom Keepers

So I just finished the most awesome book. It was captivating, entertaining and full of suspense. I really worried that Amanda wasn't who I thought she was... Jez was just horrible... will Maybeck ever wake up... I actually stayed up really late to finish it. Yes, it was written for children but you know what - so was Harry Potter! Go grab a copy and see for yourself... and here is the official website so you can check it out ---> The Official Ridley Pearson Website

THE KINGDOM KEEPERS

In this fantastical thriller, five young teens tapped as models for theme park "guides" find themselves pitted against Disney villains and witches that threaten both the future of Walt Disney World and the stability of the world outside its walls.

Using a cutting-edge technology called DHI--which stands for both Disney Host Interactive and Daylight Hologram Imaging--Finn Whitman, an Orlando teen, and four other kids are transformed into hologram projections that guide guests through the park.

The new technology turns out, however, to have unexpected effects that are both thrilling and scary. Soon Finn finds himself transported in his DHI form into the Magic Kingdom at night. Is it real? Is he dreaming?

Finn's confusion only increases when he encounters Wayne, an elderly Imagineer who tells him that the park is in grave danger. Led by the scheming witch Maleficent, a mysterious group of characters called the Overtakers is plotting to destroy Disney's beloved realm, and maybe more.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way To The DRC

Okay, so not really but it sounded good. Now it is time to play catch up for all the things that I have not been able to write in here. I am sure that there will be things left out but I will do what I can to make it short, sweet and quasi-interesting...

I have been going to Disney University at least once a week for the past month. Hense the reason postings have gone down. A DU day is not the easiest of days! Normally it is up at 4ish, out the door by 5ish and make sure there is coffee either available or not real far away! Then it is timing traffic just right because unless you have actually taken your life in your hands on I-4, you just don't know... well, I-10 in Houston is worse so there are a few who know... so then it is on property by 7ish because I am a Type A personality who can not, I repeat - CAN NOT, be late. Once I have found the studio that I meet in I go and relax for the next twenty minutes or so until it is time for class to start. Generally speaking these last about 4 hours... some days they are back to back and I don't get out until 5ish... some days I can only schedule one and leave around noonish. Once all of my Disney learning for the day has been dispensed I return to the DRC to actually perform my job! When all is said and done I probably get to leave the DRC around 11ish and am able to crawl into my bed around midnightish. Now, let's wash, rinse and repeat 15 times since my first class - yeah baby.

Work has been good, but then again I do work for Disney. Team is starting to come together and work well. The few stragglers will probably be out before the shift bids get finalized. At least that is what I am hoping. The leadership team is a different story as there is one TSA who doesn't pay attention to detail, doesn't have an ounce of team spirit and has a habit of thinking that they are somehow above all others. That is all I will say about it here as it is not "RAVE"ing and I refuse to be taken down to their level... and it is a loooooooong way down there.

Kids are good, folks are good... get to see my brother is about five weeks. I am taking my entire family to the Magic Kingdom the day after Thanksgiving!! I am so stoked. That will be 8 of us running around the parks having a big time. I love sharing my perks with the people I love... do you know that Dave hasn't been there since we were kids?? How can we be related?? I am thinking it has been a good 20 years since he has gone! It hasn't even been 20 days since I've gone and I don't think I will ever let it get to be that long... my pixie dust would need serious refilling after that type of ... of... I don't even know what to call it.

I should get to bed... I have a busy week this week, what's new right. Sunday is office work, Monday is 8 a.m. Casting Call so I will be there for 15 hours, Tuesday is normal day to catch up from Monday, Wednesday is DU at 8:30 a.m. with a meeting at 3:30 at DRC and then normal work day of 15 hours, Thursday I have to take Sami to the doctor's for her 18 month check up and Friday it is back to DU and a meeting at 4 p.m. at DRC... oh and in case you didn't know... my schedule is part time with 29 hours a week - off on Thursday, Friday and Saturday!

Love y'all... be good poppets while I'm gone!

Trick or Treat II

Do you think someone before was just learning how to do central shadows and focus on the previous wallpaper... LOL!

Trick or Treat I

Alright, I know it has been a while since I last wrote... what with allergies and Disney University and my team and life in general... lordie, I'm tired just writing it! I promise to have actual information up soon... probably tonight... right now I am just playing... y'all've been good poppets!

Can I Hide In There Too...

I came down to get Sami some juice and this is how I found her... just relaxing in her toy box. I want to relax in my toy box too. Between getting up with Sami, chasing her around, driving to work (yeah, it's 45 minutes at the least), working, driving home (now it's about 35 minutes), trying to fall asleep before 2 am and doing it all over again... then there are days when I have to go to Disney University which is a 2 hour drive if everyone remembers how to drive straight and doesn't do something stupid on the interstate.

Add to all that internet issues last week along with allergies compiled because I haven't had time to do a good cleaning and the change of season... yeah, not having a bunch of time to blog this past week. I will be able to get things down to more a rhythm soon as classes will slow down and our celebration has kicked off.

Patience poppets and we will be back on track soon.