Last year we had a change over of Supervisors. We also had a Large turn over of the staff. The shift I had was Always short a person. Some would come in for a part of shift, or for one shift to help, but I still felt I was doing more work than usual as new employees found their rhythm and speed. This seems to be a bad pattern that wont break any time soon.
I did two trips at the end of the year. I had asked Meghan if she wanted to go to Florida with me this year and when she looked hesitant I then offered the Ball again. She wanted to go to the ball. This year we did less in L.A. We went to Alhambra for some laser tag, our usual Shopping in the fabric district and in Japan Town, and Drove the entire Sunset Road from Downtown to the PC1. Then On Sunday we went to Catalina Island, and Monday to San Dimas for the Raging Waters Park.
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| LOJ Ball, Millennium Baltimore, L.A. |
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| Avalon, Catalina Island |
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| Raging Waters, San Dimas, Cool Water Coaster. |
Then in September I went to Florida. The first afternoon Caitlyn and I drove 2 and 1/2 hours from Orlando to Clearwater. The Gulf town was cute and we saw the Dolphins from the Dolphin tale movies. We didn't get back to Orlando until around 10pm.
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| Clearwater Beach looking at the Gulf. |
Then the next day we were up and at Universal Studios down the road from our Hotel at 9am. We were there for only one day and did half of each park. the Harry Potter World is split between both parks and connected by the Hogwarts Train. we did Dr. Sousse's land, Jurassic Park, Atlantis, and Hogsmead in one park. Then we did Diagon Alley, the Simpson's, ET, and the Men in Black areas in the main park. It was great fun on a Monday.
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| Hogsmead Stag, Showing My Slytherin Pride |
On Tuesday we went to Sea World. I fed sea lions and looked at a few exhibits while Caitlyn did the penguin meet and greet. Then we rushed to the other side of the park where I took pictures of her feeding and playing with arctic whales. I then went through the exhibit while they finished and changed. The most memorable part of this day for me was wondering if we were going to be hit by geysers from other people on the flume ride. It was Atlantis themed and we had spent about Five dollars hitting other riders with them. Well we got on the ride not knowing it had started raining when we were indoors. So when we went down the flume to the outside, no one was at the geyser buttons, but we still got completely soaked by the rain as we went through the outside track to the second part of the ride. Then as we got off, the rain had stopped. So it had essentially Rained just to ensure we had gotten soaked for the ride. The rest of the time was sunny and warm.
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| The Sea Lions I fed for a while |
Wednesday was for the Water Park run by Sea World, it was great fun and even though it opened the latest at 10am. We had done all the rides we wanted and spent a good deal of time in the faster Rapid's river going in circles in a life jacket by 3pm. So we left and checked into the Hotel by Disney, and got a lay of the area.
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| Floating in the faster Rapids River. |
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| Another advantage was the skattered rains. |
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| my favorite building, I like shiny things. |
Saturday was the Animal Kingdom and it was very nice. Set up much like Sea World it was lots of animals with a few Rides mixed in. It was a lot of fun, and we finished by early afternoon again. So we also went to Downtown Disney which was renamed Disney Springs. There was a lot to do there but we weren't up for a good part of it. I did do some shopping of things we had not seen in the parks though.
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| Safari Tour |
Sunday was mostly breakfast and travel. I almost felt punished for leaving. I had gotten to my gate an 1 1/2 hour early. Then a half hour later found out we were on a 2 hour delay which wasn't good because I had an 1 hr 75 min lay over. Then to top it off we sat on the tarmac for another 20 min. All this was due to JFK having a runway under construction. When We were on final approach it was 7:20 pm and my flight would begin boarding at 7:25. I was told that Final boarding would probably be at 7:55 which was when I was running down the gangway at gate 23 and needing to get to gate 4. I ran the horseshoe and got to gate 4 to only see no one and the screens declaring Closing. Luckily a guy was at the next gate and after my small melt down I went over and he let me down the gangway. I called home as I was the last one of the five still outside the plane getting on. I got home that night but my suitcase obviously didn't.
This all wouldn't have been too bad I guess. If I wasn't still stressed out and getting ready for a schedule change, among a few other things, but I can't help wonder if I was being told I should've stayed. These days I really do wonder. My schedule change was not what I had hoped, and now I really need to take care of myself and find something new.
This year is a solo trip to the Ball in August, and hopefully a good change. I have been putting my nose to the grindstone and not getting the satisfaction I need. In fact I'm now slipping badly in some areas, and it's not a good thing. If theses are not signs I don't know what is.
Well hopefully I will remember to log more for my family. Hopefully it will be my adventures, and no more complaining.
<3 Mal.
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