Disney University

Okay, I've been promising this for a long time now! Finally, I'm going to do it!
I worked at Disneyland from 1995-1996 in Costume Issue and Attractions. When you hire in, after quite a process and hours of paperwork where you sign your very own thoughts over to the company, you attend what is known as Disney University. Most jobs call this "orientation" but that would be too ordinary for Disney!! Disney University is merely learning more about the park and how it operates. You get a tour of Disneyland where they point out things that one might not normally notice. We will startat the beginning of the tour. The first thing you see when you enter Disneyland is Main Street. The buildings here are built in forced perspective and fashioned after Walt Disney's hometown of Marceline, Missouri. As you walk down Main Street heading into the park the buildings closer to you are larger and get smaller as you get closer to the hub. Disney wanted the street to look long and inviting. But at the end of the day as you exit, of course you get the opposite effect. You're tired and just want to get to your car, so the street appears much shorter. One of the shops on Main Street is Candy Palace where the candy makers make oh so yummy treats all day long. Click on "Candy Palace" above and you'll see a photo. Notice the three blue circles near the sidewalk? The other buildings have solid circles but not Candy Palace! There are little holes where they pump out vanilla scent in the summer and peppermint in the winter. This is also true of the Popcorn stands throughout the park. Ever noticed that even if the cart is empty you can still smell the buttery popcorn?

Okay, I can't possibly divulge all the secrets of Disneyland in one post. So we'll move on to what I call Disney Speak. Everything is done is show terms. Before Disney's California Adventure was built there was red concrete leading the ticket booths which were all in one long line. Disney wanted the guests to feel that they were walking a red carpet into a movie theater. You are not an employee, you are a cast member. There are no customers!! Everyone who visits Disneyland is your guest!!! A cast member's immediate "supervisor" is a Lead. Cast members are not allowed to sit, stand with your hands in your pocket, wear sunglasses that are too dark to see your eyes, drink or eat where the guests can see you, also known as on-stage. If you do any of these things on-stage it's called "bad show". Cast members must direct with at least two fingers. Never point with one finger as in some countries this is considered offensive. For men, you hair cannot touch your collar and yes there is a barber shop stage if your lead says your hair is too long. If you have too much facial hair there are vending machines backstage that sell razors.
Have I given you too much for one day? Well, we'll continue with the next post. Thank you for joining me at Disney University!!

I'm not worthless!! or To no avail.......

I received an email today and boy was the timing right! I often feel that I have no strength yet I keep going. I often feel misunderstood and quite frequently I am. I make mistakes that I try to fix to no avail and that's defeating. I can't be perfect and I'm going to make mistakes. If I have apologized it's heartfelt and genuine. I have more that one flaw and one of them is apologizing. It's hard for me to do. I like to be right, after all, who likes to be wrong? But I'm working toward the opposite end of pride, which is humility. I don't always have to be right. In order for me to be right means that someone else has to be wrong. Get the picture? Maybe not, but I'm in a deep mood today and I know for myself what I mean. If anyone recieves an apology from me it's none other than a completely genuine thing. Have you ever had someone tell you to forget the past and move on? Heal thyself! But then in a cruel twist of fate the person who told you that won't forgive you when you've made a mistake and apologized for it?
One of the things I don't like about women and, really, why I get along better with men in general is because of the games women play. Hypothectical conversation:
Person 1, "You insulted me!"
Person 2, "How did I do that?"
Person 1, "Don't lie."
Person 2, "I'm not."
Person 1, "Well, if you don't know then I'm certainly not going to tell you."
Person 2, "Was it the comment I made yesterday?"
SILENCE
Person 2, "Well was it the other thing thing I said then?"
SILENCE
Person 1, "Are you serious? You really don't know?"
Person 2, "Well, I just made two guesses."
Person 1, "I'm not gonna play games with you."
Person 2, "I'm not playing games!"

Sounds like two women, huh? SURPRISE! It's not. Person 1 is a man.

So here's the email and while the part before the poem can be painful it's probably true. I am hurting and don't know how I can fix something when I don't know for sure what it is I'm supposed to fix. Maybe I'm stupid. It wouldn't surprise me. But that doesn't mean that I don't deserve a chance and for a friend to just come out and say what's on their mind. I'm not the one playing games here. I have feelings and problems just like the next guy. Even though I might not succeed at least I try and when I mess up I admit it. I'm not worthless!

God doesn't give you the people you want; He gives you the people you NEED... to help you, to hurt you, to leave you, to love you and to make you into the person you were meant to be.

One Flaw In Women

Women have strengths that amaze men....
They bear hardships and they carry burdens,
but they hold happiness, love and joy.
They smile when they want to scream.
They sing when they want to cry.
They cry when they are happy
and laugh when they are nervous.
They fight for what they believe in..
They stand up to injustice.
They don't take "no" for an answer
when they believe there is a better solution.
They go without so their family can have.
They go to the doctor with a frightened friend.
They love unconditionally.
They cry when their children excel
and cheer when their friends get awards.
They are happy when they hear about
a birth or a wedding.
Their hearts break when a friend dies.
They grieve at the loss of a family member,
yet they are strong when they
think there is no strength left.
They know that a hug and a kiss
can heal a broken heart.
Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors.
They'll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you
to show how much they care about you.
The heart of a woman is what
makes the world keep turning.
They bring joy, hope and love.
They have compassion and ideas.
They give moral support to their
family and friends.
Women have vital things to say
and everything to give.
HOWEVER, IF THERE IS ONE FLAW IN WOMEN,
IT IS THAT THEY FORGET THEIR WORTH.

Operation: Christmas Child

Every year for several years I have put together a shoebox for Operation: Christmas Child. It's always felt good to know that I could help make a poor little child who has nothing, smile an extra big smile on Christmas day. Last year has been the greatest so far! I took my 3 year old son shopping for the shoebox gifts and he was SO excited. It was the first year he understood what we were doing. He decided he would fill a box for a boy his age and I would fill a box for a girl. He put everything he liked into the cart and was very disappointed when I explained that we couldn't fit ALL the toys into a shoebox, especially a $200 two foot dinosaur. He sorted out his favorites and we got creative to fit it all in. It was so amazing to see how excited he was. I was a little afraid that he would think he could keep it all when we got home but he knew exactly what we were doing and it warmed my mother's heart to see him share the love of Christ and the spirit of Christmas. If you've never done this before I highly recommend it! Especially if you have children; what a way to teach them how demonstrate compassion. For more stories on what Operation: Christmas Child has meant to others click the button below. For more information on how to participate or to find a drop off location near you click on the title of this post.