My World!

I've been starting too many blog posts with apologies lately.  So I'm going to skip the I'm sorry (even though I really am!) and just say that I've been a little busier than I imagined!! When I pictured my time at home I imagined suntanning by the pool, running, hanging out with my sisters, parents, grandparents and some friends.  In general, I pictured relaxation and summer.  Unfortunately there hasn't been that much summer here! It's been about 15-25 degrees (when I say 25...it was that for like 2 hours one afternoon!..it's currently 17 degrees here...and 31 degrees in Orlando! Gah!) and I've been so busy! So here it is...a lovely picture run down of my weekend in Tofino with my dear friend Holly, my week in Vancouver with Kimmy and then a wordy description of what happened after that.  This is also an opportunity for me to show you a bit of what it's like where I'm from...tree-y, beautiful and breath taking!

Cathedral Grove!! This is featured in the O Canada movie in the Canada Pavilion...and not far from where I live!

Kate + Trees = <3

My camera doesn't capture how beautiful it is.  It is just so peaceful and tranquil. 

Now that is a BIG tree!

And here it is!! Holly + Me + BIG TREE

Home <3

On the drive to Tofino! 

Not a bad driving route!

We're getting closer!

It's a mountainous drive from the east coast to the west coast of Vancouver Island

Beauty

This is just from the highway...the highway gets this pretty a view! Crazyness!

We've arrived!  Holly's good friends were nice enough to allow us to stay with them
for two nights! Their place was beautiful including a big tree up the middle and this
incredible painting!

This is how real surfers now if the surf is going to be awesome!
...I may have made that up. We were just a block from the ocean though!!

Ahhhh Paradise!

The wind was whipping the top of the ocean through the air (aka mist)  creating a great look!

After arriving we went for a walk on the beach, had some tea at the bakery and explored!

Signs of things to come...

...the next day we went...

..surfing!!! That's not us out there, but it was the next day!
Thank goodness for wetsuits! It was windy but a ton of fun!

We also went for incredibly delicious sushi at the place where Holly's friend works!
Yummmmy!

Holly!!!! She is such an incredible friend :)

Me! Wearing Amy's shirts...another incredible friend :)

Couldn't you spend forever here?

This is the car of my dreams! I've always wanted a convertible but I don't want one like an
eclipse or something like that, I want a VW Cabriolet!!
They are cute and fantastic and wonderfully amazing!!!!! 

This is where we rented from! 

Bye Tofino!

Just in case you forgot what country we were in ;)

True North Strong and Free

BC Ferries! Most people hate them (they WAY overcharge!), some people think they're a hassle,
I think they're fun! Yes they are overcrowded sometimes, yes it's annoying when you want to
sit alone and strangers come sit with you, yes the food lines for overpriced
not-so-delicious-unless-you're-away-from-it-for-a-long-time food are ridiculous, but it's an incredibly beautiful
trip across, and I think the nostalgia of it really gets me.  The ferry either means you're going somewhere exciting,
or finally coming home! 

The passage to Vancouver

Passing another ferry

Almost in Vancouver

The view from the home Kim and Gar were staying in in West Vancouver!
The Ocean and UBC!

We spend the day trying to find bridesmaid dresses! Man oh man it was frustrating!
However this little beauty from Whole Foods brought my stress level down.
I could eat a Whole foods salad every single day. 

Seeing this ice cream made me think of my good friend Jordan! When we were younger we use to buy this ice cream
(which is so insanely delicious!) and sit in different places around town and just laugh, chat and have fun.
Honestly though, if you see this ice cream somewhere, eat it!

Bumblebee cupcakes at Whole Foods! We were looking at ordering cakes for the wedding here
and got to sample their vegan chocolate cake that had layers of vegan mousse in it! Oh my goodness!

The next day we ventured to IKEA where Kim + Gar spent a long time putting together a new kitchen!
I spent the time pretending I lived in the different fake 'houses' they have set up in IKEA.

Then we went downtown to pick up a suit.  We happened to pass this little gem...
A girl with a huge snake offering chances to hold it and take a picture for $5!
No thanks...

Everyone heard about the riot, here is one of the boarded up windows and messages of love from real fans and Vancouverites.

Lions Gate Bridge! Every time I drive over it I think about running over it again instead.

Zoomed view from the house!

The Disney Wonder cruise ship comes in and out of Vancouver on Tuesdays.
I may have woken up at 6am to catch this baby going into dock for 7am.
And I almost missed it!

It's so dorky, but it just makes me so soo excited!

On our drive out to Abbotsford we saw this....
only in Canada would you find a hockey puck stuck in a car window!
(It's right to the right of the Baby on Board sign)

Beautiful Flowers!

Back home I found these cards when looking for a birthday card for a friend.
Cards FOR your dog and cat? Really?? Really?????
Oh my.

Once I got back from Vancouver I got a job! I wasn't originally going to work while I was home but there have been some unexpected expenses, so I'm cleaning yachts for a few weeks.  It's actually not so bad - it's outdoors, the views are beautiful, and it's nice being able to see the difference you've made literally in front of you.  The only thing is the days seem to be very long!  So I've been working and trying to get everything together for Disney! There is so much planning to be done! Planning for the wedding, planning for Disney and planning goodbyes with my friends and family! It's so bitter sweet leaving home.  I love my family and friends and it's weird thinking how long it'll be before I see them, however it's also the most exciting thing ever!

I have to admit I'm a little scared about my year at Disney, but for different reasons.  I'm nervous about moving there, and meeting all the new people and hoping that people like me and I make friends. I'm nervous about starting working and memorizing the menu and not disappointing anyone including myself.  I'm scared that the year is going to go by so fast that I'll miss things. I'm scared I'll become complacent and not go to the parks all the time, or fully take advantage of all the opportunities given to me.  I'm scared the holidays will go by and I won't see all the decorations.  I'm scared I won't save as much as I need to.  I'm nervous about what I'm leaving behind and what I'll come back to.  But at the same time I'm so, so excited. I'm excited to be in Orlando and I'm excited to work for Disney again. I'm excited to get to wake up everyday and go to a job I love. I'm excited to do behind the scenes tours and ride everything! I'm excited for Dole Whip! I'm excited for the half marathon! I'm so excited to see fireworks everyday. I'm excited to hang out with old friends and new ones. I'm excited to suntan all year. I'm excited to work, and work hard. I'm excited to learn more about wine and pairings. I'm excited to ride rides, pose with characters and discover things I don't even know exist.

I know there will be ups and downs, and I know some of my fears are silly, and some of my hopes won't work out, but I also know it's going to be an incredible year. And as long as I focus on seizing the day and working hard to make the most of everyday, then at the end I will be able to look back and know that it was everything I could have hoped for and more.

And lucky for you guys...you'll be there all along the way, so you can keep me working hard at doing all the amazing things over on my bucket list! 3 weeks guys! We're almost there!

Epic Weekend!

Before I start with my update I wanted to let you know that Wally Boag, who played Pecos Bill in nearly 40,000 live performances on the Golden Horseshoe Revue in Disneyland, passed away yesterday (Friday). He was 90 years old.  Wally also voice Jose in the Enchanted Tiki Room, helped write a lot of the show, and helped in the production of The Haunted Mansion. To read more visit WallyBoag.com or Wally Boag.

Wally and Betty Together

Betty Taylor, the longtime female star of Disneyland's Golden Horseshoe Revue has passed away, one day following the passing of her beloved co-star, Wally Boag. (Saturday, June 4th, 2011).  The spunky leader of a troupe of western dance hall girls, in Disneyland's popular Golden Horseshoe Revue, Betty Taylor passed away this morning at her home in Washington State. Betty was 91.  To learn more about the Disney Legend visit Betty Taylor or Betty Taylor: Disney Legend.

Betty Taylor "Slue Foot Sue"

School fountain with the sun pouring over it

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday morning I had class!! I'm doing pretty well in everything which is good, I wish I had more class time.  I really like being at school - it just doesn't seem like there is enough of it!

Never thought I'd be saying that ;) It's just so nice to learn!
On Thursday after class I went to Universal for the day!! Here it is in photographic form:

So fitting...

Such a fun land!

The Lorax!  Truffala Trees are important!

The Lost Continent...He'll never get dry mouth ;) yuc yuc yuc. hilarious!

'Input Harry Potter Music here'

Beauxbatons Academy of Magic V. Durmstrang Institute 

HOGWARTS!!!! The ride is so amazing...except for the huge scary spiders!!

You can't do Harry Potter World without a Butter Beer when it's over 90 degrees!

The pic is fro my phone so kind of blurry, but this is the dog from Marley and Me!

Such a clever orangutan!

I want her in MY arms!

hahaha. this made me laugh. a LOT! I may have ran to take a photo of it!

I will get Clodagh this shirt as soon as she's WAY bigger!

I won this Minion playing Whack-a-Mole! I loveeeee him!

He wouldn't stop sniffing me!

Bullwinkle!

Woody the Wookpecker!

I was excited it was Nick Cannon because we ran into him at Yachtman's Steakhouse during my first CRP!

Scoooooby!

Such a Curious little George!

On Friday I was just having a quiet morning when this conversation with my friend Kristin occured:

Kristin "Good Afternoon!"

Kate "Hey! How are your errands going?" (I knew they were going to do errands)

Kristin "Great! Have you been a good girl lately?"

Kate "Of course! I'm always good!"

Kristin "How would you like to go to Disney World today?"

Kate "Are you kidding? :O"

Kristin "Well we thought you've been working so hard at school you deserved a fun day at Disney"

Kate "I'm the happiest kid in the world!!!"

I was SOOOOO EXCITED!! You may have noticed that I LOVE DISNEY! And living so close but not being able to go has been insanely a little bit hard, to say the least.  I couldn't believe that I was getting to go! Kristin and Oscar are such incredible friends and I'm so lucky to have them! We did go about the day acting as if I were their child they were taking to the park as a special treat..which is was! Plus if you've seen me at the parks a super jacked up excited kid pretty much explains it perfectly! 

So Kristin and Oscar picked me up and we went for lunch at the Golden Corral before heading to the parks.  It was actually so good! I don't know what people are talking about who diss this place! It's a buffet (watch out waistline!) but had so many options for vegetarians it was awesome! I even got fried okra which is weirdly becoming one of my favourite things! There was so much food from pastas to a whole turkey carving station to potatoes like 18 ways to gazillions of vegetables to a huge salad bar to fruit to make-your-own tacos to sandwiches...and don't even get me started on the desserts! It was pretty delicious for $8.59!

Then we headed over to HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS!!! Which just happened to be hosting Star Wars Weekends!!!

The added doors to all the trams because someone fell out! I don't know how :p The trams look so different though!

My favourite part of Star Wars Weekends...dressed up fans!!!!

Lotso in the Pixar Parade!

On this very stage George Lucas stood a week ago!

C3PO in the new Star Tours queue which is set up like an airport

Kermy the Peeping Tom ;) 

In line for Star Tours: The Adventure Continues!

CHEWBACCA!

WICKET!

Kristin pointed these out and I thought they were neat! Honey Spoons! So clever!

Jedi Mickey! and R2-MK 

 

Storm Trooper & I!

Creepy Star Wars lady...I should have taken a picture of her fingers...I couldn't deal with how long and freaky they were!

You know who!

Boba Fett..I think? I wanted to call him Bubba. haha that isn't correct.

These creepy Sand creatures make the most ridiculously freaky sounds...

...and chase people!

Earful Tower I think? I may be making that up

The sea organ from Pirates of the Caribbean!

 At Hollywood Studios we rode Star Tours (it was totally different from my first ride except Yoda was in both!), the Great Movie Ride, the Backlot Tour and the Tower of Terror! At the Great Movie Ride I have never seen the Bandit scene, I've only ever gotten the Gangster scene because that's the one they run when it's slow! Well, I asked if the Bandit was on today, and boy was he ever! We waited an extra couple of minutes and got to sit in the front row AND see the Bandit scene! We pulled into the country scene and the cowboy came out of holding up the bank, and then it caught fire...it was awesome! I was so giddy and excited and happy to finally get to see it! We had an awesome sequence on the Tower of Terror and saw the outline of the little girl lit up, which I don't remember.  It was such a good ride!! Then we left Hollywood and headed for the...

So GIDDY!!

Pretty sunset!

AHH!!! I am so excited! I couldn't wait to get in!

Home. True Love. Whatever you want to call it <3

This is an awful picture due to lighting, I'll get a better one, but it's my
Professor Ron Logan's window!!

The Castle!

Once we got to the Magic Kingdom we went right to the Haunted Mansion as it's Kristin's favourite ride! It was so cool getting to see the new interactive queue!!! They put in incredible effects like a tome with musical instruments that if you touch one it plays that sound, and then warped creepy instruments on the other side that play crazy sounds (including a screeching cat!).  There is also a pirates tome that spurts water, a book that writes itself and more! It was awesome! The ride was good of course as well! After Haunted Mansion we hit up Pirates of the Caribbean (yay!) before getting Dole Whip Floats (Heaven!) and popcorn and heading to Kristin and Oscar's secret firework watching location! It was great view, not crowded and we got to sit down in comfy chairs!

Right before the fireworks they had the amazing The magic, The Memories and You Photo show on the castle! It was incredible. My jaw hit the ground and I didn't want to blink! It made the castle look as though it was morphing in front of your eyes, and left me speechless. I'm impressed! Then we watched Wishes for the first time in over a year and it was amazing.  

It was the most incredible day with fantastic friends and I owe them so much for all their kindness over the past year and more.  So much fun! I love life :D

More Ron Logan facts coming soon ;)