Tag: family

Feb 07 2008

Finally, a break!

  • Thursday, February 07, 2008

Well, it’s been a crazy week with lots of “fires” that needed to be put out at work. Projects/deadlines that I was never made aware of being thrown at me with the expectation of a final product instantly. Always fun. I’ve also started to look more in to my career with Disney and setting goals for what I want to do in the long term.

Work aside, things are going well. I have started on a work out routine that includes a plan to go at least 4 nights a week and have set a goal to work on getting in to shape and working on my general wellness more. Disney has set up a program with WebMD Health that not only gives me a credit on my insurance (hey, it’s a free $100) but it also gives you a personal assessment that is tied with your doctor on the disney health plan to help create a tailored plan with coach to help set goals and work out a plan to achieve them. Its pretty nice and I’m hoping that it will help me loose the few extra pounds that I want to shed.

I’m also taking a long weekend this week with a personal holiday on Sunday so that I can spend the whole weekend with my cousins Lisa and Stephanie here at Disney. I’m looking forward to it as well as the extra time off. My next mini-vacation will be to St. Petersburg and Eckerd College in a few weeks for the 50th Anniversary Convocation with Elie Wiesel, Nobel Peace Prize Winner and writer of Night. Sounds exciting and will be a nice excuse to go back to Eckerd for a night.

Other than that, I’m just doing my thing. Catch everyone later.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.webbyaquatics.com/archives/2008/02/finally-a-break/

Dec 22 2007

Let it Snow!

  • Saturday, December 22, 2007

Well, it is official, I am on my way to Minneapolis for Christmas and snow. I’m typing this while I am on the plane but this should post as soon as I get connection when I get home. It’s nice to officially say I am on vacation after a busy last several weeks. Those have probably noticed that in the last few months, my posts to my blog have been limited. I do apologize for the lack in updates but I have been supper busy with work trying to produce close to 500,000 tickets for the Cast Members of The Walt Disney Company and have them all out the door by January 1. So I do have a valid excuse. Almost makes the long days in the parks seem like nothing at all.

I will be in Minnesota through Christmas which will be a nice change from working late and long hours in years past while others enjoyed their vacations. Not much else new to report. Still just trucking along. I should be posting my Holiday Newsletter later tonight or tomorrow morning as well once i get back online. Stay tuned for more updates in the new year.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.webbyaquatics.com/archives/2007/12/let-it-snow/

Nov 23 2007

Thanksgiving at the Beach

  • Friday, November 23, 2007

Well, I am relaxing on the beach here in Naples, FL working on a tan. Looking out int the Gulf of Mexico and a small pod if dolphins are playijng just off shore. So close that you could probably walk out to them.

I hope all of you had a great Thanksgiving yesterday. I arrived down to Naples early Tuesday evening to join my grandparents, aunts, uncle and cousins for the holiday. It’s a quick visit though as I will be heading back home tonight to Orlando so I can go to the office in the morning, small sacrifice to take the holiday off. It will be nice and quiet and I can catch up on some work and print part of the Main Entrance Pass and United Way distributions.

Work is going well, as you see above, we have kicked off the distributions and the production of close to 500,000 tickets with in the next few weeks. Candlelight starts this weekend with my first performance this year next Wednesday, November 28 at the 6:45/8:15 shows. I can’t believe this will be my forth year singing!

Well, I’m off to enjoy my last few hours down here before heading home. Thanks to everyone who has been sending messages.

This message was sent from my T-Mobile BlackBerry wireless handheld. Kindly excuse any brevity, abbreviations or typos.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.webbyaquatics.com/archives/2007/11/thanksgiving-at-the-beach/

Nov 06 2007

Finally Back

  • Tuesday, November 06, 2007

Well, things are finally going back to normal for me. I’ve been fine the last few weeks despite what my last posts may have lead to believe. I have been busy with work and Candlelight Rehearsal so I have been in and out a lot. I am just catching up on some e-mail, Facebook, and general computer cleaning while Adam is practicing his piano on his keyboard. Adam is a good friend of mine that is staying with me for a bit which isn’t that bad since it is nice to have someone else around the house at times.

Mom, Dad and Aunt Sue came to visit this past weekend from Minnesota. It is always nice to have visitors and Mom, Dad and Sue, I had a great time sharing my home and time with you this past weekend. I look forward to seeing you again at Christmas time but this time, in Minnesota!

Things at work are picking up a bit. I am just getting things finalized to kick off our rather large distribution for the entire Walt Disney Company Cast Member Complimentary Ticket and Main Entrance Pass Distribution. My team and I will be producing close to half a million tickets between now and mid-December. So needless to say, I will be somewhat busy with work the next few weeks. Anyways, that’s all I have for now. Look for more updates soon, I promise.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.webbyaquatics.com/archives/2007/11/finally-back/

Aug 03 2007

Paris So Far

  • Friday, August 03, 2007

So I officially have one more full day in Paris. Mom, Dad and Tim are leaving tomorrow and I leave on Sunday. So far, the trip has been great. I was in much need for this vacation and it has been nice to get back to Europe. Sorry to Anna about missing her wedding. I only had a limited amount of available time off.

In Paris, we have been very busy with museums. The first day, Tuesday, we hit Notre Dame and Sainte Chapelle before walking through the Tuilerie Gardens up through Champ Elysees to the Arc de Triomphe. It was a long day for me having been up for more than 24 hours by the time I got in but it was exciting to explore a new city.

Wednesday was the first real day for museums. We started our day at the Louvre and spent a good amount of time seeing the “classics”, Wings of Victory, Madonna of the Rocks, the Mona Lisa, and Venus de Milo. All the art is interesting but I tend to like more modern art since most of the classical is very centered around Christ and the Crucifixion. After a quick snack in the Louvre, we walked over to the the Pompidou for the modern art. I really enjoyed this one and wish I had explored it more but I needed to run to an internet cafe to get signed up for Candlelight Cast Choir. After the Pompidou and internet, we hiked over to Victor Hugo’s house at the recommendation of one of Tim’s professors. It was neat but at this point, I had hit the saturation point in the brain.

Thursday was just as full of a day. Early morning trip to the d’Orsay Museum to see all the art from the late 1800s on till just before the modern. This covers the impressionism movement and has works from Degas, Van Goo, Monet, etc. I personally enjoyed this more than the Louvre but not as much as the Pompidou. From the d’Orsay, we took a bus to the Eiffel Tower and climbed the stairs up. Yes, you can take an elevator but the lines were crazy and it was only 300 something stairs but the view is amazing. A little breezy but we had a nice lunch up there looking out. After lunch, we took a nice boat ride down the Seine and back up to the Louvre for a little more before walking to L’orangerie to see Monet’s famous Water Lilies and some more works by Picasso and more impressionists. I enjoyed this little museum a lot. This brings us to today.

This morning, Mom and I left the hotel early and caught the Metro to the RER and headed off to Disneyland Paris. I could go on and on about it but I will save that for another post as the train ride is almost over. Simple and short, I loved it. So much more to just enjoy and relax. Not as many rides but more details and more places just to just hide and enjoy the sights.

Off now to Sainte Sulpice and the Luxembourg Gardens. More updates later tonight. Train ride is over.

This message was sent from my T-Mobile BlackBerry wireless handheld. Kindly excuse any brevity, abbreviations or typos.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.webbyaquatics.com/archives/2007/08/paris-so-far/

Jul 31 2007

Vacation Time!

  • Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Well folks, it is finally time again for me to take a vacation! Since my last vacation was in October, I am taking the next week off of work and will be in Paris, France visiting with my family. Should anyone need to reach me for any reason or just want to check in, I will have the BlackBerry with me and will be connected to e-mail, Google Talk, Yahoo! Messenger and BlackBerry Messenger. I will also try and update the blog when I get a chance. Bon Voyage!

This message was sent from my T-Mobile BlackBerry wireless handheld. Kindly excuse any brevity, abbreviations or typos.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.webbyaquatics.com/archives/2007/07/vacation-time/

Dec 24 2006

Waiting for Santa

  • Sunday, December 24, 2006

Ok, so it just took me an hour to get back home. Something that usually takes 15 minutes. I guess I timed my drive home with the same time that Epcot closed. Oh well. So, I am back in Florida after a full yet enjoyable two days in Minnesota. I got a chance to see my friend Anna and then got the chance to see all my family, first at Grandpa and Grandma’s party on Friday night (Thank you again Grandpa and Grandma) and then over at mom and dad’s house before I hit the plane back to Florida. I also got my first chance in three years to celebrate Christmas with my family, even if it was a day or two early.

I think it was waiting at the airport in Minneapolis yesterday that I realized that this is going to be a busy week at work. For those that have never been to Walt Disney World the week of Christmas/New Years, it is busy. We close at capacity at least once each day. So, it was while waiting for my flight to board that I looked around and saw all these families with small kids and realized that they are all going to the same place, Walt Disney World and the Magic Kingdom. My sold out flight was all following me home to Orlando. This is going to be a fun week.

Well, it’s time to head to bed and wait for Santa Claus to come. I’ve gotten most of my gifts so far but I still have a few waiting under the tree till tomorrow morning. Off to go dream of a white christmas

Permanent link to this article: https://www.webbyaquatics.com/archives/2006/12/waiting-for-santa/

Dec 21 2006

I’ll Be Home For Christmas…

  • Thursday, December 21, 2006

Well, I am clocked out for the day and at home packing the final gifts in to my bag. That’s right folks, I am off to the artic tundra of Minnesota for two nights and spending some time with the family for Christmas. I will be back on Sunday for all the rush in the parks but it will be nice to be home for the family Christmas Party after not being there for three years. Can’t wait. Time to hit the airport.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.webbyaquatics.com/archives/2006/12/ill-be-home-for-christmas/

Dec 08 2006

Family, New Role and Holiday Time

  • Friday, December 08, 2006

Well, it has been an exciting last week here in Orlando, FL. First, I had a nice visit with my Parents and Grandparents the other weekend with Mom and Dad coming in from MN and Grandma and Grandpa Swanson coming up from Naples, FL. It was nice to spend some time with the family and have some time off from work even if I was still in the parks with them. Had some great meals out and even enjoyed seeing a few of the segments being tapes from the Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade that will be airing on Christmas Day including American Idol Finalists and Michael Bolton. Speaking of Christmas, thanks to Mom and Dad, I finally have a Christmas Tree. For the first time in two years I finally have my own tree with all the decorations on it complete with a monorail around the base. It really is feeling like the holidays finally.
Needless to say, the three days off was a blessing having been so busy at work and dealing with issues involved with my posting for a coordinator role here at the Walt Disney World Resort. Speaking of that coordinator role, I did finally get the role after getting all the stuff at casting sorted out. I will be staying on Main Street, USA for at the least, six more months before I am eligible to transfer again. This is the next step towards a full-time leadership role with the company and I look forward to more professional development opportunities that may surface with the new role including posting for a leadership position this spring.

Leaving work for a bit, last night I finally got to sing my first show this year for Candlelight. I did the late pair with Brian Dennehy as the narrator. I have to say, I really enjoyed his style after looking back at the past two years worth of readers I have sung with. I am scheduled for next Wednesday and Thursday nights with Mareen McGovern and then shows with Neil Patrick Harris and Marlee Matlin later on in the month.

Other than the new role, there really isn’t much else to report. Hope everyone has a great weekend. I’ve been training all week and I can finally sleep in tomorrow. Yay!

Permanent link to this article: https://www.webbyaquatics.com/archives/2006/12/family-new-role-and-holiday-time/

Nov 25 2006

Holidays Begin

  • Saturday, November 25, 2006

Well, I am just getting back from a great, but brief, trip to Naples, FL to see my Grandparents and Cousins for Thanksgiving. This is my first holiday off in three years so I figured that I would take the time off since I wasn’t scheduled. It was nice to see everyone since it has been a while especially us cousins with Lisa working in Washington, DC; Stephanie in Boston, and Stuart still at college. I got at least one nice day at the beach and used the other day to help get Grandpa set up on high-speed internet for his WebTV and get the wireless internet set up for all the visitors.

Back here in Orlando, things are work are just as busy as always. Yesterday was just “one of those days” out of the book with a lot going on and me staying very busy as coordinator dealing with lots of issues that had me walking around the train tracks several times. No, I will not be going in to detail on those as I can’t for work reasons. Let’s just say that I was happy to clock out yesterday when I did.

Today though was much better. I had a nice group for training today consisting of a husband and wife that are down from TN for a year. They are going to be great to work with and should be bringing a great deal of fresh energy to our area. For those that don’t work on Main Street, our cast is split in to the following categories; either the 15+ year club (the majority) or the <5 year club (the minority). Those that are in the 15+ club are all about the old way of things and nostalgia while the <5 year group wants it their way. It really is interesting to see the interactions throughout the day as we bringing in all these newer cast members. After work I headed over to meet up with some friends for the kick off to Holiday's Around the World at Epcot and the Osborne lights over at Disney-MGM Studios. I love the holiday time around our parks and look forward to enjoying it more once I finally have more time to commit to singing on candlelight as a stand-by on the nights that I am not scheduled. Well, that's all for now. Time to get rolling on those Christmas presents.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.webbyaquatics.com/archives/2006/11/holidays-begin/