Tag: Friends

Sep 20 2009

Best Vacation, Ever

  • Sunday, September 20, 2009

Well, it’s been about two weeks since I came back from probably one of the best vacations I have taken in a long time.  I had the unique experience of enjoying the 100th anniversary of Camp Lincoln for Boys in Lake Hubert, MN. It was like taking a trip back and reliving the summers I had as a kid along the shores of Lake Hubert. For those that don’t know, Camp Lincoln is where I spent the summers from 1991 – 1999 as a camper and CIT. At camp I learned to love meeting new people from around the world and fostered a love for sailing. Camp is also one of the reasons why I am here now in Florida and at Walt Disney World. Through the connections I had at camp, I learned about a small school in St. Petersburg, FL called Eckerd College. Thanks to Eckerd, I met some good friends who helped me get a role here at Disney. Camp is also important to my family as it is where Mom and Dad met. The rest, as they say, is history.

The Camp Reunion was a great time reliving old memories and reminiscing with old friends along with meeting many new ones. Justin, Mandy, Sarah and Courtney, thanks for a great time and Mandy, it was great to be out on the water again together. It was also fun to just relive the experience of being at Camp and living in Eagles cabin again after 14 years and singing some of the best songs I remember from the summers growing up! The 100th Dinner was amazing too with great music and a great message from Governer Tim Pawlenty. Thanks again to everyone who made the weekend a blast and to those at Camp that planned such a great event. I hope that I can return to Camp again soon and do another Alumni weekend or summer again soon! Check out below for my pictures from the weekend.

Back in the real world, things are slow around the office these days and I am just doing my thing to keep busy. More vacation coming this weekend when Dad and I will be going to Anaheim and visiting Disneyland . I haven’t been since 2006 but this will be Dad’s first time. I’m sure it will be a great weekend and as an added bonus, I will get to meet up with my friend Julien from Disneyland Paris as well. Look for more updates soon.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.webbyaquatics.com/archives/2009/09/best-vacation-ever/

Sep 05 2008

Making Things Me

  • Friday, September 05, 2008

So it is finally September and fall appears to be here as I was so reminded at my morning Starbucks run when they changed their menu to add the “fall” drinks on the menu like the Pumpkin Spice and Carmel Apple Spice.  September is also my one year mark with Walt Disney World® Ticketing. Work has been busy for me as I have been working with several projects that involve not just Walt Disney World® Resort but also Disneyland® Resort. This has been a nice change for me and gives me a chance to expand my network to another state and business unit in the company.

Today is finally a day off with no real plans. The last two weeks I had several meet and greets set-up with various leaders in the Transportation Line of Business about possible leadership opportunities there for the future. I guess one can say I am keeping my options open. As for the day off, with Hanna around off the coast, it is a nice rainy, windy and cloudy day. Only thing really on the docket is going to Epcot® to pick up my music for Candlelight which starts rehearsal next week. Yes, Christmas in September.

Home is going well too. I have finally gotten to the point where I am officially making my condo mine. After a year here, I am finally getting pictures hung on the wall and personalizing things more and making the place mine. I even had my first dinner party with friends the other night with Luke and Casey coming over. Though, getting settled in aside, this is the first year that I have been here with several major storms coming our way. Fay and Hanna seem to be non-issues here but, Ike is still coming this way. I guess there is a good reason to be living inland instead of on the coast.

Looking forward to October as well. Dad will be coming down in the first week and I am also looking at a long weekend to Naples and a weekend at Eckerd again. Till then though, I’m heading back to the morning coffee and The West Wing on Bravo.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.webbyaquatics.com/archives/2008/09/making-things-me/

Aug 12 2008

Minnesota and Ceremony of Lights

  • Tuesday, August 12, 2008

So it has been almost two weeks since I was back in Minnesota for my cousin Sarah’s wedding and visiting family and friends back home. I have to say, it was nice to get away from Florida for a nice long weekend for a change. The wedding was very enjoyable and we couldn’t have asked for a more perfect weekend weather wise for the event. Sitting on the hsoores of Lake Minnetonka brought back many memories of growing up and lifeguarding. I miss it to a point even though I have an ocean somewhat near by, ok an hour and a half away. Also, we officially welcomed Justin, Sarah’s husband in to the cousins group. Here is the new Webster Cousins:

Wedding aside, the weekend home was also a nice chance to reconnect with some old friends from Hopkins. Ryan, Pete, Paul and Scott, it was great to see all of you at home. For those that I missed, I will have to catch you the next time I am home.

Back in Florida, this past Friday Sawyer and I went down to St. Petersburg for something different to do. We started the morning off at teh Salvador Dali Museum downtown near USF and then spent the rest of the day at Eckerd where I gave Sawyer the full tour and met up with some of my old mentors and friends before attending the Ceremony of Lights for the Class of 2012. Can I just say I officially feel old now that the new Freshman class was all born in the 1990s!

This week is just a slow week around the office. My main manager in on vacation and there really isn’t much going on with distribution being completed. Not much planned for this weekend other than a few meetings and appointments I have with the doctor and dentist. So that’s all for now folks.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.webbyaquatics.com/archives/2008/08/minnesota-and-ceremony-of-lights/

Jul 05 2008

Birthday, Distribution, and more

  • Saturday, July 05, 2008

Wow, it has been a long time since I posted something more than a promo. A lot has been going on the last few weeks. First off, I had a great birthday weekend last weekend at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa thanks for the prize that I won from Corporate Alliances at the Ticketing Family Picnic. The birthday festivities actually started on my birthday, June 25, at Epcot® for drinks and fireworks and then several of my friends (Sawyer and Matt) joined me for two nights at the Grand where we had an amazing dinner at Citricos and enjoyed our suite that overlooked the Seven Seas Lagoon and the Magic Kingdom. To top it off, I even ended up with a three day weekend so that just made it even better.

Birthday aside, work is steady again. We are in the middle of Cast Member Comp Ticket Distribution again and my schedule has changed to help out the team more with production. I am really excited actually about this distribution as it is the first where I really got a chance to help design the ticket and give my input. I’m excited with how they turned out. I will post images of them at a later date once they have mailed. I want to keep them a suprise to those Cast Members that read this. Hint though, think heritage.

As far as the Leadership Casting Call went, I did have my interview and have heard back. I was not selected this time however. Although I am slightly disappointed, ok, a lot disappointed, I was given some great feedback of what to work on for the next time and was encouraged to for sure come back at the next posting. As a side note, most people do not get it on their first try. I would say 9 out of 10 managers at Disney have gone out at least twice before getting in to the pool. I am working with an awesome mentor to develope a plan of action to take me to the next step.

Today is just my day to relax and do nothing. It’s been a crazy week at work and having to work late nights has just drained me. IKEA is have ing a sale this weekend so I think it’s time to head up there when Sawyer gets off of work. Anyways, that’s it for now folks.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.webbyaquatics.com/archives/2008/07/birthday-distribution-and-more/

Mar 30 2008

I’ll Be Ready….

  • Sunday, March 30, 2008

Well, this past month has just flown by. I have been busy with work as usual and doing all sorts of meetings in my effort to continue my growth with Disney. This past weekend though was a nice break a return to something that I used to do a lot, teach Lifeguard Training. I spent my two days off in St. Petersburg at Eckerd College doing a lifeguard refresher course for the pool staff. I had a nice relaxing night on Friday visiting with some college friends and Dean of Students, Jim Annarelli. I must say, Eckerd is looking great with all of the improvements and it is exciting to visit every time. Next visit, Kappa Karnival in May. I can’t wait.

This weekend though made me realize how much fun I used to have being a lifeguard and training. I remember living Lifeguarding and all things safety. May be I should consider a teaching career again after I am done at Disney. So many options. Well, I am beat after a day at the office and then an evening catching up with old friends here in Orlando. Normal day tomorrow with some more networking meetings later in the day. Ta Ta for Now.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.webbyaquatics.com/archives/2008/03/ill-be-ready/

Feb 19 2008

Am I getting boring?

  • Tuesday, February 19, 2008

NPROk, this is going to sound really strange but I feel that I have changed in a lot of ways towards what I listen to and watch on TV. I have gotten in to the habit now on the way to and from work of listening to NPR on WMFE. Be it Morning Edition or All Things Considered, feel myself listening to it more and more. Even when I am home, I have started to stream WMFE over iTunes and listen to shows like A Prairie Home Companion. It really does intrigue me how my driving habits have changed from listening to my iPod to listening to the world.

BBC NewsWhat I listen to in the car isn’t the only thing that I have noticed a change. When I am channel cruising at home, I find myself landing on PBS more and watching shows like Antique Roadshow and more recently, I have discovered BBC World News on BBC America. Where I would once come home to watching shows like The Simpsons or Family Guy, I now feel that being informed is what is more important. It has made me realize how much we miss when we watch the sitcoms and soaps. Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoy my Desperate Housewives but I have realized that I don’t have to watch those shows. There is so much else going on in the real world that is just as fascinating.

I guess some of these changes in routine come from getting older but I think some come from a desire to be informed and having meaningful conversations with my friends. I’ve even gotten in the habit of waking up and watching the news again while I get ready for the day, something I haven’t done since high school when I would go to work when Dad did. There is so much going on in the world that it amazes me more people don’t take the time to learn. I think my appreciation for knowledge and culture comes from my amazing family but also my great experience at a liberal arts college. So I ask, am I just getting boring?

Permanent link to this article: https://www.webbyaquatics.com/archives/2008/02/am-i-getting-boring/

Nov 16 2007

IKEA Adventures

  • Friday, November 16, 2007

So IKEA just opened up in Orlando on Wednesday this week and Sawyer and I decided to go tough out the crowds so i could get a new light for my bedroom since one of the existing IKEA lights I had on my wall burned out. All I have to say is what a mad house! We went over at about 6pm after we both got out of work and it was still packed after all day. I’m just glad all IKEAs are set up the same and I was able to go in and get to the lights right away so the entire in and check-out process for us was about 35-40 minutes. I’d rather wait in the line that pay for shipping again to order online.

The interesting observation for the night was how obsessive people are over IKEA. I mean, people were buying furniture as if they didn’t have any! IKEA is all anyone at work has been talking about for the past month till the store opened. Oh well, I have to admit, I too love IKEA.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.webbyaquatics.com/archives/2007/11/ikea-adventures/

Jan 15 2007

Goodbye Christmas, Hello Eckerd?

  • Monday, January 15, 2007

Well, after a busy holiday season, I have finally packed away all of the Christmas decorations. The decorations at the Resort went down on January 8. Due to my busy schedule, I wasn’t able to get mine down until yesterday. I’ve either been working (which I know I do a lot of) or I’ve been out with friends.

This past weekend was a nice change to the craziness. For those that are not aware, my days off are now officially Friday and Saturday. This is a strange adjustment since I have had Wednesday and Thursday off since March 2005. So, Andrew thought that I should take advantage of it and we both decided to go back to visit the ‘ol stomping ground of Eckerd College.

Once we arrived on campus, it was strange to sense that not much had changed in the three years since I have left. My mailbox still opens (1497) with the same code I had in college and the students are still just as eco-conscious as always. Granted, I have not been out of school THAT long, it’s just funny to see that even with a new dorm, new library, new administrators, and new programs, that the school has not changed at all.

Andrew and I had a nice chance to walk around campus and see new dorm which I must say, is very new and modern but, has the total feel of an Eckerd Dorm. We also saw Jim, the Dean of Students and a close friend/mentor to me and met up with him and his wife Anna for dinner. It was a nice treat and always great to reconnect with old friends.

Work this week is full with me back to training new College Program students on turnstiles intermixed with my regular coordinator shifts. My biological clock though is all out of whack with my normal close, close, mid, open, open schedule being changed around. After next week, I hope to be back to normal.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.webbyaquatics.com/archives/2007/01/goodbye-christmas-hello-eckerd/