I might just be back for a while.

I've been gone for a while. I tend to get so wrapped up in my own life, I lose things and people along the way. It's why I am not a very good friend and why I suck so very badly at communication. I just focus on what's in front of me. What is going on right now is what takes precedence over planning for the future, or making sure people from my past stay in my present. Also, I am a terribly awkward person, and conversations can be incredibly hard for me. I know that sounds weird, but I am always unsure of what to say next. Another weird thing about me is that sometimes it is hard for me to talk about myself. Other times I can't shut up about myself, but most of the time I just don't want to talk about how uneventful my life is. Of course, that probably sounds strange coming from someone writing in a blog. I think it is easier to talk about myself when I think no one is listening. A couple things have changed since my last post. I am now doing the college program at Disneyland. I went home for a while first, but then decided to come here while I waited to transfer to Cal State East Bay. During my time at home. I got into my first sort of relationship. It was just a few dates, but for me that is a big deal. Not to sound conceited, but I get asked out plenty. I just don't usually say yes. The guys I want to ask me out are never interested. And I am not usually interested in the guys who do ask me out. Probably because of a deep set fear of intimacy and rejection, but who doesn't keep a set of those lying around? The moral of this story is that I took it way too seriously, and screwed it up totally. I like to tell myself that it is no big deal, because we only dated for a month, and only went on a handful of dates. But, since he was my first date and my first kiss. It was a little hard to swallow at the time. I'm over it now, but I still wish I had handled it better. But, fast forward to January, and I am living and working in Anaheim. I am still doing retail, but this time it is downtown Disney, which is much faster paced. I like it, though. There is no place like California. I am living in a two bedroom apartment in the disney housing. I have four roommates: three of us are in one room, and then the other room has two people. It is a nice apartment, and there is a minimal amount of drama. Probably because half of us work nights and the other half work days. I have made a lot of friends, but as always I usually revert to my loner tendencies and sit at the apartment reading, watching TV or doing homework. Still have my procrastination problem, though. I'll work on it later. That's the basic update on my life. I am trying to write more, and I think that updating this blog will help me get the words flowing. I have an idea fora story or a novel. I haven't decided yet. I haven't gotten too far with it, but it is the first idea I have been excited about in a long time. Maybe I'll even post tidbits here. Just to give me courage to show it to the people in my life. Here's hoping things get better. -Joe P.S. Cute moment of the week: I talked to a young girl while I was at the register, and I did the usual bit of asking her about her day, and what her favorite ride was, etc. She was rather sad when she got to my register, and I just wanted to cheer her up a bit, since her mom was clearly a bit tired and cranky. Anyway, when I was handing the bag to her mother when she asked if she could give me a lollypop. It was so cute, and she was so sad when her mom said no. But, she walked away happy because I told her that Mickey Mouse would give me one later. I love that young children still have the innocence to believe that Mickey Mouse is real.

Ooooh! A grooove.

Definitely into the groove of things here. Work, sleep, work some more, sleep some more, work even more, play a little, sleep even more, work, sleep, etc. I am loving work, and making some friends. I love that there are people working here from all over the world. It is not so fun when over half of our guests don't speak English. I only say this because that means I cannot communicate with them, because I neither speak nor understand their language. I am glad that they get to come and enjoy Disney World, I just wish I knew enough of their language to get information across.
I constantly think about how much money people dish out in order to come to Disney World, especially if they bring their kids. It is ridiculous. I'm glad they have a magical time, however the money they spent on their vacation could by a small house. Or two cars. Or a year of college. It makes me think about priorities. Even the things I listed could be considered unimportant compared to feeding the poor, educating and protecting women, getting better education for children, better social services for orphans and foster children, better social security for elderly. Instead, this money is spent on going to Disney World. Is it worth it? Sure, it creates a pocket of happiness, which is something we definitely need these days when awareness of all of the tragedies of life are so much more visible through the internet and other news deliverers. But is it more important to be happy with a little less, so we can give that little bit to people who really need it? Or will that simply encourage laziness, by giving the money, rather than trading it for a service?
I think all these things while saying, over and over again: "How are you?" "Are you having a good time?" "Have a magical day!" "I like your hat/shirt/shoes/outfit," Etc. Hahaha. Yeah, I think I am a little strange for a Disney employee.
Cute moment: Yesterday, this little girl was wearing a crown made out of little mermaid stickers. I was behind the register, but it is open to the store, so I bent my knees, to get down to her level and I said hello. She said hello back, I asked her if she was having a good time, etc. Then I told her she looked beautiful today, and she said "I know!" Then she went behind the counter and played with he size markers on the pile of hangers. She sat there for like 10 minutes! Yay for being confident and easily entertained! :D
Peace, Joe

I should be a swordsman.

I LOVE MY JOB! So, my area has 15 different shops that I cover. Included in these are the Indiana Jones outpost and truck, pretty much a store and a cart. One thing we sell there is a plastic Machete. Today, while things were slow at the outpost, I definitely played with the plastic machete, and I didn't get yelled at. You know why? Because it is considered part of "Merchaintainment." As long as I don't break it or damage anything, it is actually smiled upon. I love my job.
I only worked 7.5 hours today. Weird timing, I know, but it simply means that they only have a half hour break and a fifteen minute break, rather than two thirty minute breaks. I worked Indiana Jones and superstar, which is the American Idol cart. It was fun.
Last night, I went to downtown disney and spent a ton of money on most of the things I wanted to get before the holiday discount ends. Then Megan, Nicole (her roommate) and I went to T-Rex, a themed restaurant where the world ends every 10 minutes or so. We ate in the ice cave. It was freaking awesome. Also expensive, but mostly awesome. Then I went to hang out with Jamey's roommates a bit. They are freaking awesome. :D
Cute moment: A little girl today, who was dressed up like a princess (sleeping beauty, if you were wondering) came to the Indiana Jones outpost today. We sell plastic snakes and spiders there, and I was showing her and her brother the plastic spiders. She looked at me, smiled big, and told me that spiders were her favorite animal. I told her that it wasn't an animal, it was an arachnid, but that I thought it was a good favorite animal just the same. Then we high-fived.
Peace, Joe

New Idea!

So, a lot of blogs will have something at the end of them, like a count. Instead, I will do a story of a cute or funny guest. Because, I like to tell people about them. They are awesome.
I am really enjoying my job. Some people I work with complain a lot. But, honestly, I think that complaining about my feet for 4 hours is not a good use of my time. Instead, I try to interact with guests as much as I can. Many of them don't want to talk to you, they just want to shop or to get through the shop as quickly as possible. Others do not speak English. But, there are those who talk to you and you know that you are helping to make their vacation just that much more magical. It's corny, I know, but I really like knowing that.
I am finally really making friends. I was having a hard time before. It has always been hard for me to make friends. I am not the kind of person who finds it easy to instigate relationships. But, Megan is here and I am finally getting along with one of my flatmates, so I have people to hang out with, including Megan's roommate and a friend she made. I watched the Superbowl with Megan and her roommate Nicole tonight. I am so psyched that the packers won! They are my number 2 team, after the Chargers. :D Greg Jennings is my superstar! He rocked my fantasy football team, and he rocked the Superbowl!
My cute moment is from yesterday, since I had today off. This little girl came up with her dad and asked if she could buy the Eeyore. When I told her she could, she got super excited and turned to her dad and said "She said I could buy it!" Then I rung her up, and gave Eeyore "one last hug" as I cut the tag off. When I handed it to her, she ran to her mom and said "Look! They let me buy Eeyore!" She was practically jumping up and down. It was adorable!
Peace, Joe

Oh, so much fun.

I went to Magic Kingdom with one of my flatmates, Katie, last night. It was a blast! We went on two rides, and watched the electric light parade and then the fireworks show. Then we came home and watched The Princess and the Frog. Overall, a great night! I felt like such a little kid!
Adults so often wish they were kids again. They longingly wish they could go back to the simpler days, when they had no responsibilities. However, I think that this is an awful thing to do. Many childhoods were great, some not so much, but non were perfect. We were a little more innocent, we had fewer responsibilities, but we also couldn't fully enjoy life. We were constantly waiting to be older. We couldn't wait to be old enough to stay up later, to watch a certain movie, to drive, to be an adult, to drink.
It is true that being young was fun, but now that we are older, we are able to do so much more! We can act like a child, we can drive ourselves to wherever we want to go, we can save up money to go exciting places, we can buy alcohol and enjoy whatever movie we want to watch. We know enough to truly appreciate things that happen in our lives. We can analyze and critically think about complex ideas and theories. Our relationships become so much more complex and fulfilling. True, they also become more complicated and our hearts breaks hurt so much more and the pain goes so much deeper. But in the end, I believe it is worth it.
Those responsibilities we have, they don't have to be terrible things. It is all about our attitude. If we get in and get them done quickly, rather than putting them off, then the rest of our time can be spent having childish fun. We can read what we want. We can watch television. We can play video games. We can go out with friends. And we can choose to enjoy these things with that innocent joy we had when we were younger. It is often difficult, because we are very attached to our worries and stresses.
Don't get me wrong, I don't think we should completely ignore those worries. I think it is important to know what is going on in the world. It is important to address your issues. But these things don't have to be the focus of our entire lives. We can let them fade away for a little bit every day. We can take time off from the stresses and we can use those stresses to truly enjoy life. We can really appreciate the happy moments in life when we can compare them to all of the crappy things going on in the world.
Another benefit of growing older is that we are now able to make a difference. We can give our time and money to worthy causes. We can work to make the lives of others better. And that is more rewarding than innocence. Innocence my be bliss, but I'll take knowledge and ability any day.
At least, that's the way I see it.
Peace, Joe

I have to wake up at what time?

It's been a long week. I finish training tomorrow with a 7am shift. Yup. That means I have to get up at 5am so I can shower and catch the 6 am bus. No one should have to get up that early. Oh well, all of my shifts next week are closing, so I won't have to get up early at all. Which is nice. That is actually all I am going to write for now, because I am freaking exhausted. I have a head cold and I didn't sleep well last night. So farewell for now.
Peace, Joe

First day of training: done!

I am officially done with my first day of training! I have 15 different locations I will be rotating through, including the star wars and Indiana Jones stores, which is awesome! I am still a little worried about standing all day, but I will deal with it, lol. Though, I have to say that every time I talk to someone new, I get a stronger and stronger feeling that I am getting a sales pitch. It is worrying me a little, I'm not gonna lie. Seriously, anything that really needs a sales pitch must have a dark side. Oh well, I am here, and I love interacting with the guests, and it will look great on my resume.
Speaking of interacting with the guests, I think that pin trading with the guests is one of my favorite things! It is so much fun, and I don't feel like I'm trying to sell something, lol. Seriously, though, I do think that I might have a hard time with be a salesperson. I don't like trying to pressure people into buying things. It will pay the bills while I get to run a muck in Disney World! :D
Peace, Joe