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Conversation with Dad

  Some photos from when Dad and I stopped in Tennessee on the way down to Florida from Wisconsin in May 2023 Just got off a 2 hour phone call with my Dad. It was one of, if not the best, conversations I think I've ever had with him. I called him because I was really upset with my mom re: how she responded to my telling her I didn't get the WDI job.  There are far too many things to mention, so I'm breaking them down into bullets: The (WDI) Job: Of note: his reaction was a totally perfect, normal reaction. He kept reacting to the crazy feedback the recruiter gave me and asked a lot of questions.  He agreed that the recruiter didn't make any sense and it didn't make any sense. He also agreed that I should reach out to another recruiter and try to connect with them. He said it sounds like something is really off inside the department, maybe with leadership, and this might not have been the right time or opportunity. It might have been a good omen  He also said somethin
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Plants in my life this week

These are the plants in my life these past two days (as I volunteered at Leu Gardens): Saw Palmetto Palms (the only native palm in Florida) Lady Palms (these are the suckers that travel underground and attach themselves to each other, making them near impossible to pull out. I've also been informed that they make very popular houseplants) Sword Fern? Camelia Groves This was my favorite one A bunch of crazy Bromelias (it *almost* makes it worth getting them, but not quite) This yellow blooming tree next to this regular tree Honorable mention: my new favorite flower -- the Bush Lily

Purgatory

Disney purgatory.            Writing purgatory.                          Job purgatory.  I feel like I've finally climbed to the top of the treehouse. Now I'm standing on the highest deck, looking out above the trees at the horizon, waiting to see if I'm getting a room in the house... or stepping onto the rope elevator back to the ground. It feels so close to one of them. This week is going to take forever.  It's really a 50/50 feeling. Maybe they'll accept me... maybe they won't. I'll have gotten all the way to the very end, and then let go. Let loose back in the cold, hard world of unemployment. The other Disney job, Stacy's old CT one, is still in the air; but Amy's also in the running, and I doubt I can outperform her. Although I do have Stacy's gold-star recommendation behind me, so I'm not going to give up.  Hopefully, it doesn't go that far, though. Hopefully, I get that call from Disney saying they're giving me the job.  Just

6 Word Catch-up

 Too many things have happened the past 2 months. So here are a series of six words. 1. Scuba at Buford Springs. Neon green. Seriously though. It was one of the most magical, unique, and beautiful things I've ever seen. I wasn't very impressed with the sinkhole (and got wildly eaten up by noseeums) until my buddy, whose name I still don't know, point up towards the entrance; and there was this huge, awe-inspiring ray of neon green light shining through the cavern. I've never seen a color like that -- like a bright neon green sign from the 90s -- anywhere in nature. The second and third photos above were the closest I could find to match the color. It was striking and I can still visual it in my head. The scuba divers appeared as stark black silhouettes in the light, floating above us; and at the very top of the sinkhole, just a few feet below the water surface, were four fallen trees, criss-crossed over each other, appearing black like the scuba divers.  Honestly, I jus

January 21: Dinner Hosting, Streets of Rage with Lea

Most of today was spent prepping dinner for Jenny Weinbloom and Jenny Lim to share dinner at my house. I cleaned everything up, bought ingredients (I made japchae and Korean spicy soup), and made everything. It was a lot of fun, although I'm a little jealous that they seem to have a stronger network here than I did when I moved here and still do. But I supposed they've been in the industry longer than me and are also working in person. Well, Jenny Lim isn't, so I suppose I should check in on her from time to time.  We spend the night sharing, oo-ing, and awe-ing over horror stories that have happened to us: Jenny Weinbloom about human trafficking tenants and me about my crawlspace creep. I feel bad because apparently it was really cold in the house and I didn't even notice, and then the house refused to warm up until AFTER they had left. Now it's cold again... I also spent almost 3 hours on the phone with Jamie, AND I completed the block document for chapters 17-21

January 19: Rennigers, Mt. Dora, and FARTS

Twice a year the big flea market in Mt. Dora does a really big version. The event (or location?) is called Rennigers. Today was the first day of it's first event (it's a 3-day event). Bryan invited me to go up with him, and we left around 9:45am. It was fun, even though it started raining again in the afternoon; and I bought a pair of earrings, elephant planter, and 9x9 baking pan for Oma's apple cake. This was a table I really liked at the market. If I had a wood shop, I could make it. The elephant planter, looking fabulous. It's the same one we had growing up! Then we went to Mt. Dora and got drinks at an upstairs cafe. He got a lavender latte, which he didn't like, and I got a lavender steamer, which was delicious. We wandered over to the park with the boardwalk and lighthouse. It's the smallest lighthouse I've ever seen. Not sure if it was ever functional, but it's on a "port" where boats dock, so maybe. We saw an anhinga eating a big fish

January 18 - Being a therapist: 10 rides at Magic Kingdom

Sitting at The Whiskey on Sand Lake, waiting for Bryan. I took myself to Epcot, where it rained, and spent the entire day on the phone. Sea World Nick's finally hit wall with his Jeff problems and has accepted that he needs to see a counselor. That's good. Hopefully, Melody and I can become friends in the process.  We'll go go Magic Kingdom next to see the Country Bears before they're gone, but it feels good to not be at Disney for a second, even if it meant having to drive all the way back to Sand Lake and then drive back again.  No photos today.  LATER ADDITION: Despite it being really damp, rainy, cold, and puddly; and despite Bryan and I both being really tired (possibly because of drinking whiskey and wine, but also possibly because I was emotionally drained), Bryan and I somehow went on 10 rides at Magic Kingdom in 3 hours and closed out the park.  We didn't realize this until we were talking in the car later because we weren't rushing or even aiming to do