June 12–June 18, 2011

Now that “Star Tours – The Adventures Continue” is officially open and before I forget (again!), I wanted to finally talk about the photo shoot I got to participate on with Darth Vader and the Stormtroopers!  It was so much fun and so much interesting work for the two days I got to be there (it was a 3 day shoot and Grad Nite got in the way for me).  My guys were fantastic and really rolled with everything the director threw at them.  They stood their ground when they were asked to do something out of character (and I backed them up – it was after all my reason for being there) and added their extra personalities (within character of course).  So even though the hours SUCKED, we had a terrific time.  And the video turned out so less cheesy than I thought – we are all quite proud of it!  Check it out here Darth Vader Visits Disneyland!

Sunday was my 12 on 12 day – see my next post for all fun tidbits but the highlight was seeing my friends in their production of Chicago!  The rest of the week was pretty typical, with a few fun bits thrown in for good measure.  On Monday night, my visiting teachers took me out for dinner.  I decided on Wahoo’s (for you Jordan!) and we had great food & conversation.  In fact, before I knew it, we’d been out for over 90 minutes.  I am really enjoying getting to knew these lovely ladies.

At work on Wednesday, I cleaned up the office we used for Join Jack’s Crew – it was bittersweet collecting up all the leftover items to be returned.  But I was able to keep a few things for myself (and the nephews) so it won’t be forgotten anytime soon.  After cleaning up the office, I headed to Ruby’s Diner in Orange for a work dinner with the Entertainment Salaried Staff of Disneyland.  The bosses wanted to thank us for our hard work over the past few months and give us a chance to see and chat with our fellow staff.  It was actually quite lovely and I got to catch up with some folks I don’t get to see much anymore.  We even got a “gift” – a bright orange safety vest with our name embroidered on the back.  It was our bosses sneaky way of getting us to support the new practice of the whole of the entertainment department wearing these vests from dusk til dawn (even though most of the locations are lit – but I won’t get into that!). 

My final Grad Nite of the season was Thursday night.  This too was bittersweet.  I love the show, the cast, the crew and the fun we have each week; I hate the hours and don’t particularly enjoy the grads…I wasn’t near that annoying at that age! ;)  So I took lots more pictures.  And as Grad Nites go, it can’t be a smooth evening.  Since we started rehearsals fighting the rain, the universe decided to end the event with some rain as well.  It kept things interesting all night.  I even started both my shows a smidge early in hopes of avoiding the pending rain.  Thankfully, it worked both times!  In the end, I would say it was a successful Grad Nite event!  And changes are afoot for next year’s event so while we don’t know what the future holds for us, we can hold on to our memories!  Thanks Grad Nite Cast & Crew for an excellent run!

Rene & Traci hamming it up just before we open to the Grads…Tyler and Adolfo hanging out at the audio board…Me and the Mouses – Mickey and Minnie…Sue – the Event Show Director…Jessica – My Castle ASM…Dance Shills and the Grad Nite Host…Dinner Time for the Techs… …and the Pyro team…It’s all about the looks on faces when I catch them mid-sentence :) …Chris – doing the sprinkler…Hanging “backstage” waiting for the Grads…Now it’s dinner time for the performers…Lighting guys Adam and Nick… (also the rain had started so the boards were covered for the first time of many)The Castle in the rain and pink light with polka dots…Joshua – what is your hand doing under there? ;-pThe rain has forced Joshua to take drastic measures…Adolfo sleeping through the rain and loud music – only as an audio can…The rain isn’t bothering Tyler or Nick – they both are wearing the “ah well, nothing surprises us” expressions…Tori loves Grad Nite!!  as seen by the intense smile next to her lanyard!!

May 8–May 14, 2011

Softball Sunday doubleheader – oh yeah!  I had a rehearsal for Grad Nite Explosion (more to come on that) during the afternoon and had to be late to the first game.  But I made it by the second inning and joined in on the third inning.  It was a fun game and we won, even if I did only play an inning and a half!  The second game we won by forfeit but decided to scrimmage with the other team.  It was a very nice, relaxed atmosphere to really enjoy each other’s company.  And we came away with 2 wins! :)

This week was mostly devoted to Grad Nite Explosion – rehearsal and opening night.  Sunday’s rehearsal was the first time we were able to put the whole thing together, acrobats and dancers, in the rehearsal hall.  It is a fun show with lots of movement and color and talent.  Near the end of the evening we even added in the costumes for the acrobats – they have lights on jumpsuits, similar to what they did in this years Super Bowl half-time show. 

Monday night was our first on-stage rehearsal with all elements – lighting, sound, and pyro.  We spent the first part of the evening wishing the rain away.  It is a bit hard to work on a tumble track and raised stage when wet.  Thankfully, the rain hit fairly early and we were able to get everything dry and ready to go just after midnight.  The cast got accustomed to the stage and I started to put together my responsibilities for the show.  At the end of the evening (which was really Tuesday morning around 4 a.m.) we added in the pyrotechnics – wow, the fireworks really complete the show!

Tuesday, my friend and co-worker Kim, had her Emerging Leader graduation.  It was held at the Disneyland Hotel Grand Ballroom and I was so proud of her.  I had such a great experience in the program and knew she had too!  It was slightly bittersweet because she was offered a full-time salary position in another department; I am going to miss regularly working with my friend.  Sandy, her mentor, and I met up with Marcie and enjoyed some refreshments after the ceremony with Kim.  It was a lovely afternoon.

Wednesday shifted back to Grad Nite Explosion rehearsal.  It was our final night before debuting for the Grads.  Thankfully, the rain had moved on but left behind was bitter cold.  I made my salsa to share with the cast & crew as a thank you for their hard work throughout this process.  For me, the best part of the process was coming to an end.  I love performances but very much enjoy the rehearsal process – it is the time I get to spend with the performers.  Once shows start, my time with them is limited.  We had a lovely rehearsal, got through everything and even managed to end a smidge early (5 a.m.!). 

We were ready for the Grads on Thursday night.  The first Grad Nite is always a bit smaller in numbers, I think we only had around 11K Grads (our larger nights bring in 26-28K).  But small is a perfect way to make sure all the kinks are worked out before chaos sets is.  We had two great shows (1 a.m. and 3 a.m.) with most everything working. The thing with Grad Nite Explosion shows is that you never have a perfect show, it could be a great show but something, even if it is little, will go awry.  I have accepted this fact and it makes the nights a bit more manageable.  This was also my 12 on 12 day – see my next post for all things photo!

I got to sleep and recover on Friday and then it was back to work on Saturday for Join Jack’s Crew – but that never seems like work!  I don’t think I will ever get tired of working with my pirate cast & crew; and closing night is looming ever closer :( 

May 1–May 7, 2011

Softball Sunday!  Woo hoo!  I got to play another game :)  I know I’ve said it before but I’m saying it again, I love playing!  We’ve got a great bunch of folks playing and we’re not too shabby.  We even won this game!  I look forward to this every year since I got invited to play with the group.  Heck, I was quite upset the first year they played and formed the team without me even though I’d committed to playing while in the interest phase.  Alas, they smartened up and got me on the team eventually! 

Earlier in the day, my home teachers stopped in for a visit.  They a nice couple of guys – one works for a cancer research center in LA and the other is a local cop.  Can’t ask for a better couple of guys to check in on me each month or who I can go to if I need anything.  They even brought me cookies (which a wife had made!). 

The rest of my week was taken up with two things – prepping for Grad Nite Explosion and Mother’s Day celebration (a day early).  I spent all of my work hours prepping and rehearsing the pyrotechnic dance extravaganza the grads get to enjoy twice a night at 1am and 3am.  This year’s big ‘gimmick’ (for lack of a better word at the moment) is a trampoline (tumble track) set in the stage and those acrobats in costumes that light up (similar to those used in the Super Bowl Halftime Show this year).  It was several long days – yup, that’s right – days!  The girl who’d been working the swing shift (3pm-midnight) for the past few months suddenly had shifts beginning at 8am!!!!  But when you have an amazing cast & crew like I have for this event/show – it’s all worth it.  My cast is so very talented and they are taught by some very, very talented choreographers!  It makes my job so much easier – gives me time to deal with the headache that is pyro closures/restrictions and procedures. 

I tried to get a head start on the chaos this year but I think I just stirred up a kettle of fish (whatever that really means!).  Thankfully, I think I have it all worked out.  The test will be the first night we have the crazy wind conditions that shut just about all of Fantasyland down!  When I wasn’t in rehearsal with the dancers or dealing with procedure paperwork, I got to learn about trampoline and acrobatics – well, a little anyway.  Again, I have great tumblers who are willing to try and figure stuff out as we figured it out :)  I am truly blessed to be surrounded by wonderfully talented folk.

On Saturday, I got to put work behind me for a day – while everyone else at Disneyland was working the World Premiere of Pirates of the Caribbean – On Stranger Tides, I got to spend the day with a couple of mothers in my life: my Mom, Joanne, and sister, Karen.  Unfortunately, my sister Sarah is just too far away (Seattle, WA) to spend the day with – but I heard her family treated her well.  Mom, Karen, and I started our day with lunch at Café Rio in Laguna Hills.  We ate way too much because it’s just too good not to finish.  But you only celebrate Mother’s Day once a year, so why not?!? 

After lunch, it was Mani/Pedi time! We headed up to a local Happy Nails Salon and Spa for our girly delight.  We all decided to upgrade to the spa treatment with hand and foot massages and other luxuries included.  I even went so far as to get my eyebrows waxed and shaped (maybe too much info but I don’t care!)  Sitting there with my family, getting my hands and feet pampered, I could totally see how the well-to-do make this a part of their lifestyle.  I suppose if I wanted to do without certain other luxuries, I could reappoint that money to this – it’s all a matter of priorities I suppose.  Perhaps one day, this will be a stronger priority for me… I certainly did enjoy it! 

When our nails were all pur-dy, we headed out for some good old-fashioned shopping.  We intended to just briefly stop in to Bath and Body Works but they were having a sale.  On top of that, they had a bonus bag full of awesome stuff for not much money if you spent so much money (I know, right!).  But the lady into the store just before us took the last one.  However, the helpful employee called another store and held a bag for us.  So it was back in the car and off to the Mission Viejo Mall and the store with the bags.  We each spent over the required amount and got our bonus bag full of goodies.  And, yes, while we spent a significant amount of money on bath soap, lotions, and sprays – I won’t have to buy anything else for at least a year (maybe more!)!!  By the time we got back to the first BBW, I was exhausted so I headed home.  But Mom and Karen continued their kid-free shopping for a little bit longer.  I think it was quite a successful girls day out!  Happy Mother’s Day!

p.s. after lunch, I intended to take more pictures but plain forgot! :(

Summer Picture Time

So here's some pictures of what I've been up to this summer, including Grad Nites, more Born To Ride the Waves photos, friends in Romeo & Juliet, family, etc. Enjoy!