MOUSE GEAR...

This is the name of the place I will be working while at Disney... It is the largest merchandise shop on Disney property.. The only one larger is at Downtown Disney.   It has four entrances to it .... Here are some pictures of "stuff" available for sale... everything from crystal Mickey earrings to Disney pencils..   By the way, it is located to the left behind the big Ball known as "Spaceship Earth."

This is the wall of Bulk Candy..... !!!!

                                                      Notice the "Engineer" Costumes

                       Whew !!....   guess there isn't gonna be any "down time" at work here !!  

Hi Ho, Hi Ho.. It's off to work I go... .

I started my career with Disney along with about 50 other newbies at a classroom at Disney University.  The day long class is called " Traditions" and immerses you in the Disney frame of mind, history and culture... It was really quit enjoyable.  The exciting part was when we were presented our "official Disney name tag" at the end of the day..There is a ceremony and everything... Folks... Make no mistake.... The enthusiasm and joy of working for Disney that you hear and see people talk about is not fake !!   It trickles from the top down to every cast member --no matter what part you play...   Kind of reminds me of how the Church works and the joy that comes naturally from the whole environment of the Gospel..

 During the Traditions Class, When you answer a question correctly, or are the first to answer it, you get a "Critter."  These are small plastic figures of Disney Characters that are not available for sale or anywhere else except during the Traditions class.    I was beginning to think I was going to come home "critterless" because it was getting late in the afternoon... Then.. .we were blessed by a visit from a very, big, MOUSE !  Mickey surprised us with a visit !!   The coordinator then started a round of trivia questions for us to answer.  I thought... I am pretty trivial.... I can do this !   The question was asked.. "What was the name Walt originally wanted to name Mickey?"    I KNOW !!   I KNOW !!  My mind said as my hand shot up !   Miraculously, I was called upon and almost had a Senior Moment !  Then, I recovered quickly and answered " Mortimer"   That was correct !   Success at last !   I was gonna get a valuable "critter."   I did get my "critter!"  But it was presented to me by none other than Mr. Mickey Mouse himself !     I managed not to faint and gave him a good tight hug for all of his many fans in the Cattell family-- including in laws and out laws !!  

Oh... what an experience that was... Dreams really do come true, don't they ?!!??

"Now it's time to say Goodbye to all our company ......M I C K E Y M O U S E

Now that I have been in Orlando just under a week, worked 4 days and had two off to try to unpack the car... let me give an update...
Leaving Tifton was a WHOLE LOT HARDER than I thought it would be.... The lucky part (I guess) was that everyone had to leave quickly to be somewhere else, so my goodbyes were quick!  
I must say that I really miss Caiti... She has been an appendage of mine for almost a year and life seems a little less comical and chaotic---I am not sure that is a good thing... I really do miss her snuggles and hugs and unconditional love.  
Jimmy gave me a tight hug as I left and has called several times since to "check" on me... He is not very demonstrative in his affections, but I KNOW he loves me, in spite of all my quirks!
I was doing really well with my Goodbyes to my two close friends- Debra and Debbie until they both told me that I was the sister they never had and they would miss me too much!  Who knew??  Amazing how the number of sisters a person can have can grow over a lifetime.
I should have never visited Mom and Dad after my two Debbies got my "hay fever" started...   It has been 19 years since I came back to Tifton and Mom and Dad have been the one constant during my time there.  Physically, I was ready to leave, but when I started with the good bye hugs to my parents... I realized that I was not mentally ready to leave them... It was the hardest thing in the world to do to pull away from them and actually walk out that door and get into the car....    Heavenly Father, Please take care of all my loved ones that I left behind in Tifton... Bless me that I might make them  and YOU proud of me..