May 22–May 28, 2011

Yes, it was softball Sunday again!  It was a tight game but we pulled it off in the end – our last regular season game!  With this win, team Fantastical ended in 2nd place in the standings! Woot!  We have next week off and then it’s playoff time!  I can’t wait!

Monday, I spent the day with Harry.  I had finished book 6 late Sunday night and jumped right in to book 7.  And all day, while laundry was washing, I joined Harry on his final adventures.  Seriously – all day, from wake up until just about 6pm when I got ready to attend Danielle’s going away karaoke party.  I hadn’t quite finished with Harry (but was very close) but I couldn’t miss seeing Danielle off!

It was a great time at the karaoke bar.  I got to spend some time catching up with Danielle and some mutual friends. Harry (a real life man!) and Sammie were there, along with Sammie’s son Travis and his wife Vilma.  I declined on the singing, and the bar was better for it, but the others all got up and did at least a number. I realized how much I missed hanging out with this group and seeing them on a regular basis.  But my crazy schedule and the 30 miles between us really makes it difficult to keep up with them. 

After several hours of singing and good conversation, I headed home and back to Harry (the fictional one).  I ended the night by ending my adventures with him.  I am super excited and ready for the final movie now!  Just so long as they don’t change too many things, I will be very happy!

Tuesday saw me finally experiencing the movie Pirates of the Caribbean – On Stranger Tides in its entirety.  I’d been seeing the same one scene for weeks on end with Join Jack’s Crew and now got to see how it all fit together.  I enjoyed the movie though I may have been partial to it.  I thought it was right up there with the first one. 

On Thursday, my cousin Cheryl, her husband Scott, baby Westin, and cousin Barbara arrived in town from Utah.  I met up with them late in the morning to sign them in to Disneyland.  As I had Grad Nite that night, I couldn’t play with them but they got a good many hours in the park.  Thankfully I knew we had the big family BBQ on Saturday when I could really catch up with them.

Friday I started my refresh on the summer fireworks spectacular, Magical.  It is a much faster paced show for us stage managers.  In addition to the two fairy flights, we also have a pachyderm flight.  We are constantly doing something during this show – not a lot of time to sit and enjoy the pyrotechnics. 

I continued my Magical refresh on Saturday but not before I experienced the famous Pickett Summer BBQ.  We usually saved the big BBQ for 4th of July but as we weren’t sure about the state of the house sale, we moved it to Memorial Day.  The kids got a bounce house, BINGO is played at the end of the night and all evening, my mom’s fabulous BBQ and spread is feasted upon by all.  There were probably 50+ people, family and friends, all hanging out in the family’s backyard.  It is such a fun time.  And I finally got to catch up with my cousins!  I was a little bummed to leave early (missing BINGO – with prizes!) and head in to work (especially as we ended up cancelling due to high winds!). 

Another family filled fun week in the books!

Candlelight Processional 2008 - Disneyland Resort

Over the weekend, I had the wonderful opportunity to work the annual Candlelight Processional at Disneyland. This was the second year I've been lucky enough to be a part of the event. Besides the incredible choirs, orchestra, fanfare trumpeters, soloists, & narrator (this year - John Stamos), we have such an wonderful production team. And as we spend 12 hours a day together for 2 straight days, it's so much better when you want to come to work to be with your team. I'm extremely grateful for the chance to participate in this traditional holiday event at Disneyland.