World of fun

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So I've been here at The Mouse's house, training for my cruise gig. The training has been terribly boring and long, but at night we've been going into the parks FOR FREE, so I can't complain. I got to ride the Haunted Mansion (my fav), Space Mountain, Tower of Terror, Rock-N-Rollercoaster, Thunder Mountain (yes, they have a lot of "mountains"), on and on. Today is an actual day off, and it will be Animal Kingdom! Can't wait!

The people here are pretty cool so far, and we've been hanging out in groups. I am very well liked thus far, and I am grateful for that. I guess it's "so far, so good". That digital mixing board I've been trying to learn is kicking my ass in a major way, but I'll get it eventually.

All this fun will end today though. I get on the ship tomorrow at 5AM, or some obnoxiously early time. Then the true grind of working long hours every day begins.

Oh, did I mention some trips to Pleasure Island? Yeah, The Mouse has a park that is all nightclubs (see pic above). Too fun!

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Day 1 - The adventure begins

Two cramped and crowded flights, and here I am in Florida. The cruise line set me up with a cool rental car (about 10 years younger than my truck), and I'm grateful, but driving an unknown car through a city I don't know has been a challenge.

After a mighty four hours of sleep (I finally found my hotel at 2AM), I was up and off to my first training day. The Mouse's cruise line uses an advanced digital mixing board I have never before laid eyes upon. A company called ProSound is training me to use this board. I knew I was in trouble when my teacher announced to me that I am learning the most complicated digital mixing board on the planet. Indeed, it does seem to be just that. While it seems to have nearly endless options for mixing... That comes with nearly endless ways to screw things up! ;^)

With my brain completely scrambled by training, I went back to my hotel... The Mouse's "All Star Sports Resort":
All Star Sports Resort

The hotel is billed as "For Athletes and Fans alike". Since I am neither, I'm not crazy about the decor... Floor-to-ceiling sports. In fact, the courtyards surrounding the two outdoor swimming pools look like a fantasy realm of giant sports equipment. There are the football helmets that could easily house double-decker busses, giant baseball bats that double as support beams, etc., etc. Since the only sport that interests me is the Ultimate Fighting Championship (which is oddly not represented at all), I find it humorous that I am being housed across the street from the All Star Music Resort and the All Star Movie Resorts... Both of which are great interests of mine. :^)

Honestly, tonight I'm homesick. The first three weeks or so after moving away are always lonely. Since I'm here early for specific audio training, no other crew members from The Mouse's cruise line are currently staying at the hotel (they arrive Wednesday). It's just me, and what seems to be about 10,000 teenagers from Brazil. They move in packs... Large, giggling packs. I paid $10 to get online for 24 hours, hoping to hear from anyone, but nobody is responding to my emails, and nobody is on AIM. Weird.

It's not that I miss Mount Pleasant really---- I was stagnating there, but I DEFINITELY miss my friends and family. Sitting alone in a hotel a thousand miles from home is not really a fun activity. Too much introspection. I've moved and traveled a lot, but the first few weeks never seem to get any easier. The people I've lived, worked, and laughed with are not here, and I miss them already. Still, this adventure is just beginning. I may be a party of one... But I am STILL a party!

Bon Voyage

Yes, I am leaving. I took another cruise ship job---this time with a cruise line belonging to a certain famous cartoon Mouse who lives in Orlando, FL. I'm not naming names, since I don't need my new employer randomly finding this blog!

I will be the Audio1 (Head Audio Engineer) aboard a ship called the Wonder. We'll be sailing between Port Canaveral, Florida----and the Bahamas. I will have internet access, and my cell phone, though I won't have as frequent access to those services as I do on land... so if you send me an email, or leave a message on my cell, please be patient. It might be a few days before I can get back with you.

I fly to Orlando tonight, and start my training tomorrow. Next Sunday I'll join the ship. I'm a bit nervous, and a bit excited. I'm guessing this blog is going to get a whole lot more interesting very soon.... stay tuned!

One last dance

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Yeah, I'm leaving, but I sure had some fun this weekend! A certain birthday girl had an excellent party/camping/beach bash! I'm going to miss all who attended.

Freakin' BP!!!

What's worse than selling your soul for cash? Trying desperately to sell your soul for cash, but being postponed and/or denied despite your best efforts!