On My Own: BG

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Holidays

So I haven't updated in awhile because there hasn't really been anything to write about. I've been cooking a bit, but not really taking pictures. I didn't get much of anything made from my fall baking list. I did, however, actually make an entire Thanksgiving feast since I didn't get to go home. I was too busy trying to get everything made and my apartment cleaned that I didn't get pictures of anything. It was just me and a couple of friends from work who didn't make it home either. I made a turkey breast and some turkey legs (since a whole turkey seemed like a little much for three people), stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, rolls, pecan pie, and pumpkin pie. There were way too many leftovers, but it all came out really well, and I was pretty proud of my first Thanksgiving on my own!

Christmastown at the park is up and running. It was a rough push towards the end, and lots of 16-hour days, but it all looks amazing. You should probably come to the park and check it out.

^ France! The "Noel" has colored lights now, I just haven't gotten a new picture. I helped create the fleur-de-lis snowflake. I think it's pretty cool.

^ Escape from Pompeii. Normally it's a big log flume-type ride, but for the winter, the water is all drained and the basin and ramps are covered in net lights and the building is covered with hundreds of strings of lights. I helped do all of this!

^ Peace on Earth, on the train bridge over the river. Despite being one of the projects that I was looking forward to the most, I didn't actually get to work on this, but it's still pretty cool.

^ Outside of Festhaus. The trees, snowflakes, strings of lights... everything is connected with data cable and it's all a big light show that goes with Christmas music. It's incredible, and I helped to do all of it. :-)

^ Oh, yeah, and there are penguins in France. I have nothing to do with these, but they're adorable!

So that's just a smattering of some of the stuff in the park. I haven't gotten pictures of everything that I worked on. I'm hoping I get a day off while the park is open in the next couple of weeks so I can take a real camera and get some good shots. I'm also dying for some peppermint-fudge hot chocolate, and a s'more. That's right, there are stands that sell s'mores. That alone is incentive to go!

Despite having worked on putting up Christmas decorations for the past month and a half, I've found the ambition to get a couple of things up in my apartment.

I have some more that I want to get up, and I want to go to Christmas Mouse and get a fancy wreath for my door. It's beginning to be festive, though, so I'm happy!

Saturday, May 26, 2012

On My Own Again

I am officially moved! I have been for a week, actually... I've just been going through phases of busy and lazy, and blogging took a back seat. I started this blog when I was out "on my own" in South Carolina for my internship. When that ended, I was back with my parents, not so on my own. Now I'm in Virginia, once again... on my own. It's rough this time because my dad was just diagnosed with untreatable bone cancer. If I hadn't already had the job, apartment, insurances, etc., I probably wouldn't have moved. Since everything was lined up, though, I pretty much had to. But. I'm half the distance from my family that I was in SC and I can go home whenever I have a couple of days off in a row, and hopefully my parents will get down to visit me before my dad gets too bad. It's all still just pretty unbelievable.

Aaanyway, I start at Busch Gardens on June 4th, and I go in the weekend before that for orientation/training. I had to go in the other day to do paperwork and get my drug test done. Weirdest drug test ever. They use hair instead of urine, and since there's none on my head, they had to take it from my chest. My first experience as a Busch Gardens employee was some little old lady named Betty shaving my chest. I feel like this job will be... a unique experience.

I absolutely love my apartment. It's just as big as my duplex in SC (if twice the rent...). I have yet to spot a roach inside. Although, I took the trash out after dark last night and there were quite a few scurrying around the sidewalk. As long as they stay out there, I'll just be sure not to go outside after dark! My appliances are amazing. My stove/oven is almost brand new, and way high tech... especially compared to my 80's reject oven in SC. So be prepared for lots of baking!

Well, I don't have a lot else to say. I just figured it was time for an update. I leave for the Outer Banks tomorrow to stay for a week, so I'll definitely have some beach posts coming. For your viewing pleasure, I'll leave you with some pictures of my amazing new apartment!