Florida Adventure (Park)

The Family Visit

2006-03-30T16:10:00.000-08:00

Last Thursday night Mom, Dad, and Lil drove down to Winter Haven to see me. It was a lot of fun having them here. Unfortunatly they brought the cold weather with them! But the warm is back now. Julie and I spent our break time on the Lazy River that opened up today.
Mom and Dad only stayed two full days but Lil stayed for part of her spring break. Our roomate Jere had his 26th birthday and we all went to Orlando to the "European Cafe Gourmet Bistro McDonalds" which is about as plush as McDonalds can get. We spent Monday at Cocoa Beach on Cape Canaveral. I tried to get us in to the Kennedy Space Center but apparently you have to pay and y'know go during the day time. Lil was here for American Idol night too... which is a little crazy at our apartment. Result night was yesterday. America proves yet again to be utterly inept at making any good decisions.
I only have two (and a half) more weeks here and I'm starting to panic a bit on what I'm going to do when I get home. But I'm not letting it interupt my planning of our mini-vacation to Keys.
Cherrios.

Finally an Update

2006-03-04T07:42:00.000-08:00

So Dad has been pestering me to blog but I'm afraid I've gotten too far behind to actually catch up properly. This week has been full of excitement starting off with a 13 year old boy falling off a roller coaster at Cypress Gardens. Apparently there was NO malfunction of the ride itself (as made very clear in our near 2 hour whole-park meeting that almost made some very irate performers miss American Idol. The boy stood up on the Triple Hurricane (dared by his brother) and fell 10-12 feet on the last turn, hitting the tracks, and winding up on the hard surface below. His family has declined to issue a statement on his well being so all we know is: he WAS in critical condition and he IS NOT (as of now) dead. It happened last Saturday but we got all our information from the news. We were told as we left the park that day to say "no comment" to any reporters roaming the employee parking.

Julie, Brian K. and I spent our day off auditioning for an internship with the Orlando Shakespeare Festival. I learned two new monologues for the occasion. The facilities were really nice and I would honestly be tempted to accept something like that.. but they didn't seem overly interested. It's good to be auditioning again... I've been feeling sort of out of the loop. After our audition we headed down to Universal's City Walk for some recreation. We ended up dancing in Margaritaville with children and 40 year olds alike. It was a good time.

Thursday night we all made the trip to Oralndo again to see some of my friends from Shorter who were down for the Southeastern Theatre Conference. We all met up at Downtown Disney. Unfortunately we didn't get there until about 10 pm and Jen and Co. were waking up early for the next day at Disney World so it was a short visit. So we wound up spending most of the night with our usual housemate group.

The weather has been really nice lately and Julie and I have gotten into the habit of going to the pool in the mornings. I've only gotten in once. The water is still FREEZING. Still having fun in the sun. Adios!

Miami

2006-02-07T16:13:00.000-08:00

We FINALLY did something fun on our day off. Sunday night we got off work, found a bed by the dumpster (that is now in my room waiting to be assembled) and Julie, Brian K. and I took off for Miami. We stayed at Brian's apartment. We took some (as much as would fit) of his stuff back home with us. He came to Winter Haven on the train with two suitcases so there is still a lot to bring. His apartment complex was very nice with a hot tub and pool (which we went ahead and started out the trip with) though the apartments themselves were very small. The next day we slept late (hey, its our day off) and went to meet Brian's friends for school for sushi. Which was delicious. Then we went shopping... a little too long because the sun started going down when we finally got to the beach. We stayed a bit anyway and went out to dinner in Coconut Grove with more of Brian's friends at the Cheesecake Factory. I had veggie soup and fried mac and cheese (I was curious but it near gave me a heart attack) and Julie and I split Dolce de Leche cheesecake. Mmmm. We went out dancing on South Beach but being a Monday night we landed in a nearly empty club. It was still a lot of fun. There was an aquarium under the dance floor which was very interesting... though I'm not sure PETA recommended. We woke up at 6 this morning to pack the car and get back to Winter Haven in time for our noon call. We've started themeing our shows thanks to actor-Julie who started our "moment befores". Such as the "You just won Miss America" moment. It amuses us. And makes the job less repetetive. Ok 2 minutes left on library computer.

Chugging Along.

2006-02-02T16:20:00.000-08:00

Things are well here in sunny Florida! Shake, Rattle, and Roll continues to delight youngsters and oldsters alike. The poor ice-skaters are a man down (Maria hurt her ankle...if it takes too long to heal she will be sent home to Russia) so they had some excitement re-ordering their show with new people.
Last night we had American Idol/pizza and board game Wednesday. Which was fun. I was on the winning team of Pictionary. Both rounds. Tomorrow we get PAID. Finally. I've paid two months rent and only been given one paycheck. I don't like this every-other week business.
Jessica is gone and the apartment is finally in order, with the proper people living there. We rearranged the furniture but we no longer have an X-box or DVD player and the channels are still fuzzy.
I think Julie and I are going to go in together to get a Brita-type filter thing because the water here tastes like vacation water (i.e. gross).

I really am having a good time. Though I can't think of much to write home about.

It has begun.

2006-01-25T16:14:00.000-08:00

Last weekend we opened "Shake, Rattle, and Roll" to some packed audiences. We got our new guy, Brian...who is terrific. AND our new girl, Julie, came in yesterday. She's my age and a dancer from Ohio. Jessica will be leaving for Las Vegas on Saturday. Tony left after our first few shows last Saturday. It's strange to have him gone...though I know we will see him again in a few weeks to check up on the show. The new SUPER Walmart opened near our apartment, which for some reason is very exciting. It looks like our regular schedule will turn out to be noon to seven 6 days a week. I joined the Gold's Gym here so I've been going to classes and enjoying having a big screen tv (instead of our fuzzy rabbit-eared 4 channels). Lisa and I are determined to learn Russian and practice on our iceskaters. Tonight I'm watching the second half of Angels in America and ordering in Chinese with my roommates. So far I'm really enjoying myself. Though I need to start thinking of exciting things to do on my days off.

Another One Bites the Dust

2006-01-18T08:19:00.000-08:00

Sooo. We're now minus two. Two days before the show. Hasheen got call offering a job on a cruise line one day and was gone the next. Cypress Gardens seriously needs an out-clause. The obnoxious part is that he DIDN'T tell Tony about it. He tried to go above his head and tell the Entertainment supervisor, Gail, but she wasn't having it and told him to call Tony. And then he told US that he had no intention of calling Tony. It was just incredibly immature. Luckily we called Gail and she said she HAD called Tony so he knew and we wouldn't end up having to tell Tony ourselves the next day at rehearsal (which was a scheduled 10 hour day). Ack. The thing is he (and we) KNEW all day at rehearsal and couldn't say anything. Couldn't prepare in anyway. Nothing. And even though I was angry I sort of felt bad for Hasheen thinking he would have to tell Tony and deal with that as well as pack up completely and leave tonight. BUT he only took his clothes. His friend's car broke down and Jessica had to drive him. He almost got away without paying his rent. AND he was completely unremorseful and insultingly smug. Which was offensive to the other 4 of us who are HAPPY to be here. To have a job, be it at a theme park. And to be making some money and having some fun.
In other news his replacement is getting here this evening. And Jessica's replacement will be here next week. Oh and we got our costumes. Which are hilariously small waisted seeing that I GAVE them my measurement. I guess she just didnt take me seriously. Oh and I get the yellow poodle skirt with records on it.

Wee! A Break.

2006-01-14T13:17:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we found out that Jessica got a job in Las Vegas (that she just auditioned for on Wednesday with Hasheen in Orlando) and will be leaving in a couple weeks. So we will soon be getting a new cast member. It's kind of disappointing as we were just getting used to one another and getting excited about the show but I guess that's just the way it goes. Last night Tony took us out to a Mexican resturaunt. Hurray! Tomorrow is our day off. Usually it will be Wednesdays but during the rehearsal process we get Sundays. I have no idea how I will use all my free time. I'll probably waste it on sleep and sloth.
I miss easy internet access (I've been driving to the library).
And I can't wait for my first paycheck (but I think it will be a while since pay period is every two weeks I believe)

Cypress Gardens 101

2006-01-11T16:19:00.000-08:00

As many of you may or may not know, I arrived Sunday in Winter Haven, Florida where I will be working for the next 3 months at Cypress Gardens. So far so good. I am doing a 1950's review with 5 other people. I am living with 4 of those people in an apartment about 5 minutes away from the park. I am the youngest. My roomates are Jere (pronounced "Jerry"), Brian, Hasheen, and Jessica. I get my own room (hoorah) but it was unfurnished so I am for the time being living boho on a mat. Lisa makes our 6th and she is living with her soon-to-be inlaws. Everyone is 24 or 25 except me and Jessica who is a little older. Today is only our second day of singing and dancing emphasis on the dancing. And I am sore. The first day Tony (the director) didn't make his flight so we spent the day getting a (paid) guided tour around the park. We went to see the very patriotic (considering the cast is largely Russian) ice show and caught a bit of the water ski show on our lunch break yesterday. I haven't ridden any of the rides yet... they don't have very many they were just added during the renovation. At this time of year the park seems to cater primarily to elderly crowds. It's very scenic the lake is beautiful and they have a mini zoo complete with alligators AND crocs. And the gardens of course. "Southern belles" wander around... there's a pirate comedy show... Yeah, well I like it. The weather here is fantastic, I've been wandering around in a T-shirt all week. Flying south for the winter birds have a good thing going.
The show is going to be called "Shake, Rattle, and Roll"
The songs are:
Let the Good Times Roll
Shake Rattle and Roll
The Sea of Love (I have a solo)
Johnny B Goode (I have the solo)
Love Potion #9
Hound Dog (girls trio)
Jailhouse Rock
At the Hop
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes
Since I Don't Have You
Great Balls of Fire
Dream, Dream
Rock around the Clock

I really think it's going to be fun. And a pretty paycheck.

Let's see other interesting tidbits: Tony is Cuban and spent 7 months in refugee camp as well as toured with a ballet company and helped choreograph Chita Revera in Kiss of Spider Woman. Oh, and Grease 2. His assistant, Angela, went to Shorter. She graduated the year before I transfered. And Nakeisha Daneil from Shorter did our "Rock around the Clock" dance (that we are stealling the choreography from) for a show at Wild Adventures -- I saw her in the video last night.Jere and Brian worked at Dollyworld together. Oh! And we have a dog! Jere brought his dog, Toby, who is very lethargic.