"Hey, where's Perry?"

That's what I seem to keep asking when I go out shopping around here. I think I said as much previously, but I've been on the hunt for Phineas and Ferb merchandise for the last few weeks. Specifically, Perry the Platypus plushies and/or T-shirts. I have this coming Tuesday off, this month, Tuesday is the only day of the week when the buses to the Florida Mall run. So you might be able to guess where I'm headed. My friends have already been, and say there's a Disney store with Perry the Platypus shirts galore (in adult sizes, too!). And if that doesn't pan out, there's always online stores.

Man, I can barely keep my eyes open to type this stuff out, I'm so worn out right now. although it actually has very little to do with work, for once. But I'm getting ahead of myself. This last week was a little rocky, and it started with:

Saturday, May 28th & Sunday,  May 29th - Memorial Day weekend meant larger-than-average crowds, and things got a little crazy at Blizzard. Guests were less patient and more surly at all locations in the park, but the Lodge was an especially unpleasant place to be. It's probably a good time for me to make a general statement about the Lodge: personally, I prefer working in the kitchen (or any job really) over filling orders at the counter. Normally I love interacting with the guests, but even on a regular day I find rush periods scary, since things can go from fast but organized to an absolute mess in a matter of minutes, if we get backed up on orders or run out of something. Midday on Saturday, I was a counter stocker, and a crowd of angry guests at counter 2 shouted at me to do something as I was wheeling a cart of ice past them -- things were really backed up there, and something resembling a mob was forming, looking for someone to blame for the confusion. I ended up skittering off to the cooler and hiding out there for a little while until I was calm enough to resume my task. Later that day at Cooling Hut, I was much more comfortable (it's so familiar at this point), but at the end of the day I was chirping at a higher pitch than normal, solely due to fatigue and a willingness to keep up the Cast Member persona no matter what. I deflated quite a bit after one gentleman all but sneered at me after I grinned and announced his large lemonade was ready. I know I shouldn't have taken it personally, since Blizzard was crowded and the lines were probably pretty long everywhere (leading to disgruntled guests), but it's funny how little things like that can suck the wind right out of your sails when you're exhausted.

Sunday was a little weird -- my day went from bad to good, to creepy, then back to good. Work started out hectic but was rewarding when they sent me to I.C. Expeditions near the end of the day (I actually really love that location now -- go figure!). After work, I wanted to head to Pop Century for dinner, so I was about to take a guest bus when I was approached by a gentleman who worked in custodial. He told me he was going to Downtown Disney but wasn't sure how to get there, so i told him he could take the same bus as me and transfer from Pop Century to Downtown Disney. We made conversation, and he went out of his way to reveal and prove his age as 30 (he even flashed his I.D. card). After a long, uncomfortable bus ride full of awkwardly specific questions on his part, I realized he was trying to come on to me, and got away from him as quickly as possible when we reached the resort. The worst part is that he knew I was 19, and was still doing it. Anyways. On a happier note, a guest randomly paid for my dinner at the Pop Century food court using his dining plan -- I was in my street clothes behind him and his wife in line, and I thought he was joking with the cashier about covering my meal until said cashier placed a cup on my tray and told me I was good. I was so touched! To think, a guest created a magical moment for a cast member, without even realizing it! It didn't completely scrub away the uncomfortable feeling left from talking with that guy from custodial, but it helped. And it's something I'll always remember.

(as for anyone worried about my safety, I fully intend to report the gentleman who hit on me if he approaches me again. in the meantime, I'm trying to avoid him at work.)

Monday, May 30th - Woke up feeling exhausted and sick -- nose running, ears plugged, and so on. I called in sick, both because I was feeling lousy and because I didn't want to be working with food when I was dripping like a faucet. I'm not going to be responsible for making anyone sick.

Tuesday, May 31st - My day off! Always seems to land on a Tuesday. Huh. Anywho, rounded up my friends Heather and Ariane and went first to get lunch at Cici's pizza (it's near Vista Way, and we get Cast Member discounts). Then we headed to Typhoon Lagoon, although we'd originally been planning on going to Blizzard. Later that night, we went to a welcoming party at Patterson Court's pool area (complete with a DJ), where we got free pizza and were able to meet up with some characters. The theme was 'a very merry unbirthday', so Alice and the Hatter were there. I was so excited! I don't think the Hatter appears anywhere anymore, outside of the Grand Floridian character breakfast and Magic Kingdom's Move It Shake It parade.

Later that night, we watched Pocahontas II at Ariane's apartment, and I stayed the night to keep her company, since she was still fighting with Price Management at the time about her empty apartment and the decided lack of new roommates, despite new CPs arriving all the time. I tried to sleep over for the remainder of the week, but our clashing schedules kept us apart, and there was only one key to the apartment. I feel incredibly bad for leaving her alone despite promises to keep her company, but in retrospect, I probably didn't think my temporary-move-in plan through very well.

Wednesday, June 1st - I came home from work to learn that security had been called by a roommate, and meeting with Price Management had been arranged for the next morning. I can't repeat anything about why the meeting was called, but I can say that I knew little about any conflict in our apartment until that night -- whatever was going on was happening long before I started my program. Still, it was mandatory for all roommates to attend, regardless of whether we were involved or not, and we had to turn in our housing I.D.s and fill out statements at security.

Thursday, June 2nd - I found out through my roommates -- not through security or housing -- that the meeting had been moved to Friday morning. So I ended up going in late to work (although I had called in already, because of the meeting). Not much else to say about this day.

Friday, June 3rd (today!) - Today was...rough. The meeting really wasn't that hard to get through, since they called us in individually -- I didn't have to watch anyone claw each others' eyes out. But the meeting was long, and it delayed my trip to costuming long enough that I arrived at work a full two and half hours after my shift was supposed to have started. Again, I had called in, so I wasn't in trouble, but I only put in four hours today thanks to that meeting. And I lost two roommates, since they moved out following the meeting. Admittedly, I was being a brat about things, since I felt I shouldn't have had to go to the meeting in the first place (I doubt I was the only person who felt that way). I slammed the bedroom door when I rushed home from costuming to change, and scared my roommates. At work, I broke down and cried behind the Cooling Hut. About an hour earlier, I had been assigned to create a Magical Moment for some 'junior chefs' by bring them a plate with a cookie and sprinkles, but I begged to get out of it -- any other day I would've been thrilled, but I just couldn't bear the thought of facing the guests and trying to create magic when I was feeling so horrible. Long story short, I was barely able to do my job properly today since troubles at home were weighing down on my mind. I'm so mad at myself, ugh. Although my day did end on a positive note when I went to Chick Fil-A for dinner.

...and now it's after midnight. That took longer than I hoped it would. I need to check when I have to work tomorrow, since I still need to do my laundry (I'm out of clean white socks, which I need for work). Man! Talk to you guys again soon. Y'know, when I'm not half-awake.