Friday January 9th was the day I didn't think would ever come. If you remember, back in the summer I signed up for the "Circle of Life Family 5k". Well, it was finally the day of the race! I've never really mentioned running in my blog, and that's because I haven't run at all since coming to Florida. Yep, no running at all. Still, I got up at 5:30am so I could get ready, pick up Rebecca and get to Animal Kingdom. I was pretty excited and nervous because I'd never been to a race before. The setup was very cool. There was a stage with our two MC's, a package pickup, bag check, and lots of space to warm up (we started off in the parking lot after all!) It was cool, and dark still but Rebecca and I got ready, warmed up, and got ready for our race. Here are some pre-race photos!
I definitely underestimated myself, and so Rebecca and I started way too far back in the sea of people. The start was really cool, they had Timon and some of the cast of "The Lion King" musical to wish us luck, and fireworks to start the race! It took us two minutes to reach the starting line, almost half a mile before we could get into a running pace, and we spent over a mile passing people, trying to find people around our pace. Once I got started, running wasn't so bad. Usually I give up after a couple of minutes of running, but running in a crowd there's more motivation to keep up the pace. That, and the exileration of running a race pumped up my adrenaline and kept me going. If you want proof here are some photos Disney took during the race!
Yeah, it looks like I enjoyed running, but once you get the un-posed picture, it's not so true!
Rebecca and I finished the race in under 35 minutes! I was so proud, and once I caught my breath and had some breakfast I was smiling again!
Rebecca and I are hoping to run a couple more 5ks! There's one in March that's Princess themed! Our goal is to run the next one in under 30 minutes and I'm very excited! After the run, I relaxed and then went to work AM seating. I'm definitely glad it was an AM shift because by the end of it I was exhausted and wanted nothing more than to crash and watch tv!
Saturday January 10th I had the day off but I spent it relaxing in bed, catching up on my tv shows. I was pretty sore from running... I guess once the adrenaline wears off all you're left with is being sore.
Sunday January 11th I decided I should probably keep up this running thing so I went for a "run" which turned out to be more of a "walk-run". Shortly after, my dad arrived and so we checked into Old Key West, and went shopping! We went into Best Buy and looked at some of their laptops. My dad was still using the laptop we'd bought in 2000 so we thought maybe it was time to get a new one.
Monday January 12th was my first day of food runner training! I was pretty nervous because I wasn't sure if I would be good at carrying all the heavy plates.... especially carrying three plates at once. In the morning I went over to Old Key West and my Dad made me a very nice pancake breakfast with fruit to start me off on the right foot. Turns out it worked! Food running wasn't so bad! The first half an hour Tim (the permanent food runner, and the only trainer) showed us how the position points are determined for the various tables in the restaurant. Position points are important so that you don't end up auctioning off the food when you get to the table. The day went well, and time flew by fast. You constantly have something to do and so the 9 hour shift seems like nothing (especially compared to the 6 hour seating shifts that would drag on). It wasn't too hard, the most difficult part was just remembering the temperatures and position points you were going to. It's easy for the first little bit but then it all blends together and you can't remember whether this time it was medium, medium well, medium... or medium rare. Ha ha. After work I stopped by Old Key West to hang out with my Dad, and then headed home to Commons.
Tuesday Januray 13th my Dad and I decided that we were going to buy a new Dell laptop from Best Buy. They had the Studio laptop (in pink!) on sale on their website, so we thought we'd use my Partners Visa Check card to buy it online! So we spent the morning trying to deposit money into my account. At first we deposited in the majority as travellers cheques, which apparently are not considered cash at banks (like they are everywhere else), but are considered cheques and so a portion of the money is held for a week. Since we wanted to buy the laptop that day, we ended up having to deposit cash as well, knowing that I'd just take the money out from the travellers cheques as soon as the hold was off. It was a very frustrating and confusing processes, but at least it was done. Work went well... practice makes perfect and I was getting a lot of practice! My hands were starting to hurt and I was definitely feeling my non-existent muscles starting to get a little stronger!
Wednesday January 14th was Rebecca's birthday, so in the morning I met her, her mom, and her boyfriend's mom at the Magic Kingdom for breakfast at Crystal Palace! It was so delicious! I love character breakfasts! Afterwards, I headed to Epcot for more food runner training. Day 3 of training went fine, and Mariah and I got to remove our "Earning our Ears" flags.Thursday January 15th was my day off! Fortunately, it was also the day my laptop was supposed to arrive. So Heather and I waited patiently for the laptop all day. In the early afternoon my Dad came to join us, brining Olive Garden takeout. It was delicious! The laptop finally came around 4:30pm, after Dad had left, so I went to Old Key West to show him and set it up! I'm definitely loving the new laptop, not only because it's pink, but I actually like Windows Vista, and having a webcam built into my computer (it makes skyping easier)!
Friday January 16th was my Dad's Birthday... and also, inconveniently, my first day as a tipped food runner. Still, we managed to do some celebrating! We got up and went into Epcot early so that he could get his present from Disney (he already had a season's pass so they gave him a $75 gift card!). Then we ate lunch at Sunshine Seasons, one of our favourite quick service restaurants. It was delicious, and so nice, because everywhere we went people wished him a Happy Birthday! Unfortunately, after lunch I had to head into work. There's something about knowing that you're actually making decent money that makes working much more satisfying. I definitely enjoyed food running SO much more that night!
Saturday January 17th I had the day off. Go figure I'd get the day before AND after my Dad's birthday off. We spent the morning relaxing and then went into Epcot in the afternoon. Despite the fact that it was my Dad's birthday celebration day, he wouldn't wear his pin. He said because it was a day after he couldn't wear it. So we wandered around and into the O'Canada film where Heather and Katie were working. Heather saw he wasn't wearing his button, so she made him a new one (which he had to wear). Even better, when Katie went up to do her spiel she made note of a very special Canadian celebrating his birthday, and he had to stand while everyone there sang him 'Happy Birthday'! It was incredible, since the waiting area was almost packed! After the film we went to our reservation at Le Cellier and had a delicious dinner, complete with a "Happy Birthday" dessert! After dinner we relaxed, wandered around Epcot, and watched Illuminations. I think it was the perfect birthday celebration day!Sunday, January 18th I was a food runner, but I can't really think of anything else I did that day. Food running really occupies most of your day since you're at the restaurant from noon until 9:30 or 10pm.
Monday January 19th I had another day off, so my Dad and I decided to spend a day at the parks! We spent the morning in Animal Kingdom, going on the Safari and Primeaval Whirl, seeing Finding Nemo the Musical, and doing a little bit of shopping. I'd forgotten my ears at The Commons so I decided to buy a new pair! Since I still had the 50% discount I decided to invest in some sequined Minnie Ears. They are VERY cute. In the afternoon we headed to Hollywood Studios for a couple rides, the Stunt show, dining at our favourite 50's Prime Time Cafe, and of course, seeing Beauty and the Beast and Fantasmic!
Tuesday January 20th I had the day off so we spent the morning running some errands, getting groceries and a couple other things at Walmart, and went to KFC for lunch. I don't know why, but KFC is a million times better in the states. It just is. They have better options (mashed potatoes and gravy, for example) and better chicken. It's actually good in the states! Then we went back to Old Key West to relax until I had to go to my Candlelight reunion dinner at Ohana's! There were 12 of us who came together for dinner and it was a great time! We got to see a little hula show, and have the best food ever, with some of the best people ever. Honestly, the people I met through Candlelight are inspirational. The attitude they have towards daily life is wonderful and infectious. You just can't help smile around them. Dinner was even more amazing because some of the group knew one of the Chefs, and so he brought us a special scallop dish as well as fried bannanas and chocolate sauce (both not on the menu in addition to all the regular food you get at Ohana's! It was by far the best meal! We're hoping to have another one at Raglan Road in March... I can't wait!
Wednesday January 21st my Dad had to fly back to Canada for my Grandma's knee surgery so I drove him to the airport in the morning before my food running shift. Since I had Old Key West to myself, Rebecca came over after work and we chatted while munching on some snacks my Dad left us.
Thursday January 22nd was another day of food running and then Heather and Rebecca came to Old Key West for a girl's movie night. It was so much fun, and we got to watch "House Bunny". Definitely a cute movie!
Friday January 23rd was yet another day of food running... but it was exciting because it was my last food running shift before server training! By the end of the day I was so sore! I don't know if it's the fact that we have to carry heavy plates, or that I'm not used to walking so much but my hip was sore! I sound like an old person, but I was literally limping as I walked into the airport to pick my dad up!
Saturday January 24th I had the day off, so Dad and I decided to go to Sarasota and the Keys around it. Check out the pictures!
Sunday January 25th I had another day off so we headed to the Kennedy Space Center! I ended up having a ton of fun and getting a season's pass! I can't wait to go back. Check out the pictures! Part 1, and Part 2 :)
Monday January 26th was my first day of service training! As a new initiative training was supposed to start an hour before the regular shift started. So I arrived at work at 9:15am, and for the first half an hour I was the only person there. Then a manager arrived and gave me a binder to look over. Turns out there was a confustion over who was training me, and when they were supposed to show up. So I spent the morning shaddowing Emily, which was a lot of fun. My dad met me after work with some popcorn and we headed to China for some quick service food, followed by some Fantasia mini-golf. It was SO much fun, and FREE with my Disney Holiday Pass. What was even better was that I won... I rarely win at mini-golf against my dad!
Tuesday January 27th my Dad and I made a morning run to Walmart for a wine key, and then I had PM service training with a newlywed Chelsea! She had just been married at a small ceremony over the weekend and was just back from her mini-honeymoon! It was a very fun night, I was even able to take some tables myself!
Wednesday January 28th my Dad and I spent the morning at Downtown Disney because he needed to spend his birthday gift card from Disney! While we were there we headed to Wolfgang Puck's Express for lunch (they have amazing rotisserie chicken) and then I went into work for PM service training with Patrick! This time we were in a section with two 6T's and a 4. I was given two tables at a time (sometimes the two 6's) and so I found it a much more stressful day. Patrick said I did okay, but I definitely think I need more practice at this!
Thursday January 29th was my last day of service training. The last day is a morning shift. You write your written assessment (a series of questions about different things you need to know as a server), then you work in the Northwest Territories section fo the restaurant. You are supposed to be running the section yourself with your trainer just watching. Overall, I found it stressful having someone just watching over your shoulder. Near the end of your shift you have your service assessment, where your trainer and a manager are guests in your section. This I found extremely stressful but I passed! After work I met Dad at the Magic Kingdom. It was raining but that meant the park was empty so we could have some fun. We went on some rides and bought some Disney art. I also gave in and bought the giant Mickey I've been eyeing. It's huge. Mickey's head is much bigger than mine! Fortunately, the rain cleared up just in time to watch Wishes!
Friday January 30th I had the day off. Dad and I went to Walmart to grab a couple of things then spent the afternoon relaxing at Old Key West before heading to the Magic Kingdom for more shopping, Dinner at the Crystal Palace, rides, and Wishes.
Saturday January 31st Dad headed home. He left early so he could get a good start and make it most of the way back to Canada. I slept in a little more and then worked as an AM Server... my first official server shift. It went well, and I had a lot of fun, but it was sad not to go back to Old Key West after work!
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