Feast or Famine

Here's the problem with keeping this blog up to date.  It seems that we're always either so busy that I don't have time to write about all the exciting things we're doing, or alternatively, nothing's happening and I have lots of free time but nothing to write about.  Since my last real update, there's been a little bit of both, but I'll catch you up on the highlights as far as our careers go.  Me first!  You can always visit my website for the latest on my career, but here are some of the most exciting recent developments.

After a great holiday season with Seraphim, my spring picked up with some really rewarding opportunities.  A group called Sing cast me as their swing performer.  (This basically means I learn all the parts so I can step in when someone in the cast isn't available.)  Sing is inspired by Glee and does performances for conventions and special events all over the nation--most recently Dallas, Miami, Denver, and Las Vegas!  I also joined Earth Beat, a classic cover band, as a lead singer!  Dr. Bill Picher asked be to sing in an a capella concert with the choir at the Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe.  It was an unforgettable day and Getting to sing with these awesomely talented groups is a dream--getting paid for it is even better!

Earth Beat

We did another opera at the Bob Carr this season, La Boheme.  My same old girlfriends--Lauren Langa, Lara Larberg, Jillian Rosich--and I had a blast cutting up in the chorus.  Simultaneously, I was rehearsing the role of Maria in The Sound of Music at Garden Theatre!  Since I was doing Boheme at the same time, I was just the understudy, but I had the chance to work with some truly amazing people and performers.  I wouldn't have had it any other way.  And I got to do the show twice :)

How do you solve a problem like me? O:-)

As for Eric, he has always been fascinated by hot air balloons.  So for his birthday, I got him a Groupon for a balloon ride. The ride itself was beautiful and peaceful.  Then right after the ride, Eric talked himself into a job on the team's chase crew!  He helps unpack and pack all the gear for rides, and he communicates with the pilot by radio and drives to drop off and pick up the passengers at the take-off and landing sites, because you can't steer a hot air balloon!

Eric hard at work

Holiday Season Recap

We have officially survived the holiday season from Thanksgiving to New Year's Day, and we have a few photos to prove it.  My first act during the holidays was to attend a book signing of the new Ridley Pearson-Dave Barry collaboration at Downtown Disney.  It was very exciting to meet these two literary legends, but I couldn't even yet tell the two people who would most share my excitement--my parents--because I asked Dave Barry to sign a book for each of them as a Christmas gift!  Didn't want to ruin the surprise :) The inscriptions (his idea, not mine)?  "To Terry, my idol," and "To Sharon, a goddess."

Here's a photo from the Singing Christmas Trees, featuring my talented friend Rachel Scott as the mother Mary.  Believe it or not, all of those hundreds of "ornaments" on the trees are choir singers! 

Check out our fancy new robes for the Candlelight Processional at Epcot!  They look a little funny up close, but from a distance in a tree-shaped clump, they look pretty spiffy!

Here's a photo I found online from our performance with Celine Dion for the Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade.  Can't find us?  Look more closely. 

Okay, I'll give you a hint.

Look how festive our house looks when decorated for the holidays!  We had a little get together to celebrate.

We partied for Eric's birthday, too!  How funny are these cupcakes!

The Young Alpha Chis went on an outing to Kimonos for some sushi and singing!  Rachel and I did a little number together.

We both had to work on Christmas morning, but at least Eric got a chance to wear the new shirt my parents gave him!

It was pretty slow at Saratoga, so he spent the morning making this pretty incredible ballon hat with his cast members.

And here we are, newly arrived home from our respective jobs, ready to open our stockings and read the Christmas story.

2009 Ship's Log

Our Disney cruise to the Virgin Islands was excellent! We got back on Saturday and we're still adjusting to being back on dry land. But don't worry--we took lots of pictures as promised, and I kept a ship's log like last year so I wouldn't forget any of the exciting activities and adventures we had! This year's log was in time-saving bullet-point form, so I'll elaborate here upon our daily events.

EDIT: I've added links to a few photos into this post. If you want to see all of the photos, not just the highlights, you can find them here at my Flickr site.

The Magic itself was amazing, the appropriate definition of "ship shape." Improvements were being made every day of the voyage to keep her at her best. Our stateroom was incredible, every bit as spacious and comfortable as I had imagined an onboard cabin could be. The service was second-to-none, especially our serving staff and stateroom attendant and the ever-cheerful cruise staff. The food was delicious; we were fed three times a day and then some, one of those daily meals being a four-course dinner! There were lots of opportunities just for grown-ups, a night-life area, designated pool and hot tubs, and lots of adult activities. We kept ourselves busy enjoying the sights, tastes, sounds, and even smells of the Magic and its exotic ports of call.

Saturday, October 10 - Day 1 - Port Canaveral

Aunt Robin, Uncle Jerry, and Cousin Melissa gave us a lift to the port (thanks, y'all!) where we checked in, saw Mickey and Pluto, and explored the terminal until it was time to board. Our first view on the ship was the beautiful lobby atrium, complete with a colorful pop art chandelier, glass elevators, and grand staircases. After we were announced ("Please welcome aboard, Mr. and Mrs. Brown!") we ran straight up to the Vista Spa and Salon book a massage first thing. On a tour of the spa, Eric won an additional free treatment! Then we went to take a dip in the adults only pool, Quiet Cove. What a nice amenity! Afterward, I went to the salon for a hair consultation; the stylist recommended I trim a few inches off the bottom and incorporate a few long layers (which I did...after we got home...for $6.99 at Great Clips!).

Next was our couple's massage, which (differently from the usual, and fortunately for us) took place in one of the luxurious private spa villas since it was empty; I guess everyone else was still exploring the ship! Later we relaxed on deck, had a delicious dinner at Lumiére's restaurant, and got to bed early to prepare for the next day at sea.

Sunday, October 11 - Day 2 - At Sea

First thing after breakfast, Eric dragged me to a fitness seminar on Secrets to a Flatter Stomach. I was so bored that I left 15 minutes later to attend Disney's Art of Entertaining seminar on Dazzling Desserts. Hey, I was on vacation. Later we visited the Port and Shopping show to get some tips on what shops to visit in St. Thomas and St. Croix. At Quiet Cove that day, the cruise staff held a pool golf game and Eric won a Drink of the Day by sinking a hole in one!

That evening was our formal night, so we got dolled up and went to meet Mickey in his finery and our captain, Tom Forberg, in his spiffy uniform. We were also treated to the Golden Mickeys show, an amazing Broadway-caliber musical presented in the Walt Disney Theater and honoring the musical and storytelling heritage of Disney films. Later we had our formal night dinner at Animator's Palate, a restaurant known for its ability to change colors throughout the meal, but on this evening it remained black and white to match the tuxedos worn by the wait staff and many of the excited guests.

Monday, October 12 - Day 3 - At Sea

On Monday we enjoyed Mickey's Island Jam for breakfast, a character dining experience at Parrot Cay restaurant with Caribbean-style cuisine and the opportunity to meet and greet with all our favorite Disney friends. Later that evening we got to go back to Parrot Cay for dinner, but for most of the day we spent lots of time relaxing and enjoying events onboard. We won our first trivia contest of this year's vacation, Cruisin' for Trivia 2! Then we also watched Who Wants to Be a Mouseketeer, Disney Innovations in Animation, and Twice Charmed: An Original Twist on the Cinderella Story at the Walt Disney Theatre. We also found Daisy Duck in her island attire, played a round of jackpot bingo, observed the onboard art auction, and lounged in the jacuzzi at Quiet Cove. We fit a nap in there too.

Tuesday, October 13 - Day 4 - Frederiksted, St. Croix

Early Tuesday morning while I was still asleep, Eric enjoyed his spa treatment prize, a seaweed wrap! Then we got ready to spend the day ashore in St. Croix, a small peaceful island rarely visited by cruise ship passengers. We shopped the local vendors' souvenirs and handmade items and strolled on the beach collecting sea glass and enjoying the sun, sand, and sea. That afternoon, we took an exciting ATV tour of the island, enjoying beautiful tropical and historical sights like the remains of Butler's Plantation and an old Dutch sugar mill, Mt. Stewart, and St. Croix's very own rainforest(-ish)!

We elected to walk a mile back from our drop-off point to downtown Frederiksted so we could enjoy the beach a bit more. Back onboard, we won Cruisin' for Trivia 3 and then got ready for the Pirates IN the Caribbean Party! This included a delicious dinner at Lumiére's (complete with limbo!), Disney characters (along with us) dressed in pirate garb, and the famous Pirates IN the Caribbean deck party. The deck party features a fireworks display, the only one on the seven seas! Later that night we brought the house down at Krazy Karaoke singing Summer Nights--even though it was really fall, it felt like summer!

Wednesday, October 14 - Day 5 - Havensight, St. Thomas / Cruz Bay, St. John

Because of their close proximity to one another, we got to enjoy St. Thomas and St. John in one stop. I heard that the best snorkeling in the area was at Trunk Bay at Virgin Islands National Park in St. John, so we quickly took a taxi and ferry and another taxi to VI National Park. It really was beautifully preserved--clear waters, brightly colored plants and sealife, majestic rock formations, and soft sand. One of the highlights of my trip was snorkeling over the coral reef and watching a parrotfish having lunch. It was so peaceful at this locale that I could actually hear him crunching down on the coral with each bite as I observed him underwater. Wild!

We got back to St. Thomas in time to check out its famous shopping opportunities before going back on board. That evening we went on the Trick or Treat trail around the ship and competed in the adult costume contest. We also got to watch Alfred and Seymour, a hip-hop comedy duo, and won Disney Tune Trivia. We also got to dine at Animator's Palate once more, and this time we got to watch the restaurant transform from black and white to color right before our eyes!

Thursday, October 15 - Day 6 - At Sea

Another relaxing day at sea (my birthday!) began with an informative Q&A with members of the entertainment cast and technical team at Walt Disney Theatre. We also won Crusin' for Trivia 5 and had a delicious lunch at Lumiére's. Then we watched Disney Innovations in Theme Parks and saw an ice carving demonstration on deck. Later we took an Art of the Theme ship tour and a walking tour of two of the ship's galleys. (They were sparkly clean!) That night we saw the signature show, Disney Dreams: An Enchanted Classic. Then we enjoyed a delicious dinner at Palo, the adult exclusive restaurant, for my birthday! I had a tasty beef tenderloin with rich gorgonzola sauce. It was fabulous. We had a view of the sunset and terrific service.

Later Eric went back to see Alfred and Seymour perform their adult cabaret while I went to the piano bar, Sessions, to enjoy a set of songs from Broadway, television, and movies. Then that night was the moment we had all been waiting for: the Captain's Dessert Gala at Lumiére's, otherwise known as the chocolate buffet! Otherwise known as my birthday party with 2500 of my closest friends.

Friday, October 16 - Day 7 - Castaway Cay

On Friday, we enjoyed a day ashore at Castaway Cay, Disney Cruise Line's private Bahamian island. Eric is hot and he knows how to make me laugh. while on the island he found a huge hermit crab and carried about 100 yeards to show me. then he put it next to two old ladies to see if they would notice; however the crab flipped when the wave hit it and it was stuck upside down. Have you noticed that Eric has written the last three sentences in my voice? It's Katie, again, and I was getting to that part. Before Eric found his new friend, we did a bit of snorkeling at the family beach. The visibility was not so great, but we were still able to locate the statues of Mickey and Minnie hidden underwater! After popping a few postcards in the mailbox at Castaway Cay's own post office, we took a little tram to Serenity Bay, the adults-only beach at the other side of the island! (I tell you, we pretty much forgot that there were any kids on this voyage.) This is where we explored far out into the open ocean without our feet leaving the bottom, enjoyed a barbecue lunch, and Eric stumbled upon his house-toting buddy. Biggest. Hermit crab. I've ever. Seen. We also watched a hungry pelican divebombing face first into the ocean. He didn't seem to be having much luck, though.

Pretty soon we decided to make our way back to the ship to prepare for our last night onboard. We packed quickly then got back out there to meet Mickey and Minnie in their cruising attire, win a round of The Wheel, enjoy one final dinner at Lumie's, and...experience Pub Night, a special treat for the adult passengers presented by the fabulous cruise staff. To future passengers I highly recommend it (if you aren't easily offended). Then we stuck around dancing into the night before our eyes wouldn't stay open and our feet wouldn't hold us up anymore.

Saturday, October 17 - Day 8 - Port Canaveral

We collected our trivia prizes--four Winner caps, three I'm a Winner medals, and two Champion buttons--and displayed our regalia at one final breakfast with our tablemates, also Disney cast members, from Dallas, LA, and Orlando. Our servers and head server came by and said we all have to come back, bringing bambinos with us next time! After saying our final goodbyes, we left the Disney Magic, hopefully to return someday soon.

Look who made the papers...again!

This article detailing our wedding, impeccably written by my mom, was published in my hometown paper, the Waycross Journal-Herald, this week. Three cheers!

Click the image below for a larger view.

Cruise Recap

We're back from the birthday cruise and we had so much fun in such a short amount of time that I can't remember it all in sequence! Luckily for you, I kept a ship's log! I was pretty seasick on Day 1, but here are the entries from Days 2 through 4. Stay tuned for photos and video.

Day 2

Hello from the high seas! It's Day 2 of our cruise and we are really enjoying ourselves. Yesterday was a nice introduction to the cruise lifestyle, and we did some cruise-y activities like roulette lessons, a scavenger hunt, and a tasty and unpronounceably fancy dinner. When we set sail, we hit some rough waters, so sadly we missed out on swing lessons because I was driving the porcelain bus! We spend the rest of the evening getting some much needed rest.

Because of some stormy weather, we bypassed Royal Caribbean's private Bahamian island to spend a day at sea. We should be returning to Coco Cay on Thursday [Day 4]. Instead, we climbed the rock wall, came in second in Name That Tune and the Nerd Word Trivia Contest, and watched the crowd favorite win the men's sexy legs contest. His primary talent consisted of scooting back and forth on his electric wheelchair. Really!

Now we're getting ready for the formal dinner this evening. I think I'll have the duck! Later tonight is karaoke (always a favorite) and a stage show, maybe some dancing at the ship's nightclub. Tomorrow is our day in Nassau. We have a shore excursion scheduled (snorkeling and sailing) and we plan to visit some local historic attractions like the Nassau Library, the Queen's Staircase, and a historic Bahamian fort. Should be big fun for my birthday!

We are feeling much better today on smoother seas. We also got some extra seasickness precautions. In addition to the nausea medication, I now have the very stylish drug-free arm bands that use the principles of acupuncture to reduce nausea symptoms. Very natural. All in all, today has been much more comfortable than last evening!

Day 3

Today has been lots of fun so far! Our snorkeling excursion was amazing -- we can't wait to make a video of our findings. After lunch onboard, we went back to Nassau to take in some historical sightseeing. It was a little overrated but still interesting and
educational. Then we did some haggling at the Straw Market. They have things other than straw there, but we sure did come out with a straw hat for me and a [straw surprise for someone's birthday]. And Eric got a conch shell horn thing which he hasn't stopped blowing since we reboarded! Dinner tonight was delicious, and after an already decadent dessert, a birthday cake came to our table! That sneaky Eric :)

AND we won Family Quick Draw, which is basically iSketch in real life, so I've had a lot of training. We're resting up after a round of Deuces Wild to get ready for salsa lessons, the Love and Marriage game show (which I'm pretty sure is a rip-off of the Newlywed Game), an ice sculpture demonstration, dancing under the stars on the pool deck, and, of course, the midnight buffet, since we haven't had enough food today. I could get used to this lifestyle! [I ended up not doing any of that stuff from the salsa lessons on because, you guessed it, I fell asleep.]

Day 4

Today has been a beautiful day in paradise! Ashore at Royal Caribbean's private island, Coco Cay, we started exploring along the beach and ended up at the other end of the mile-long island! After some hammock time, we were ready for crafting, more Name That Tune, and a little exercise back on the ship. In store for tonight are line dancing, more karaoke, a PJ party, and one big scavenger hunt! Our last night should be a fun-filled one and tomorrow we're back home. Hope all is well back on land!

So now we're back in the real world doing what we do. Eric is already excited about our next cruise, and I really enjoyed the vacation, but I, the porcelain bus driver, am glad for now to be back on land.

Our Lives Thus Far

So you've read about the wedding and the events leading up to it. Now here's a quick update on what's been going on with us lately.

Eric moved to Orlando in June 2007 after resigning his position as a manager at the Herkimer Area Resource Center and selling his house in Mohawk, New York. Having earned his associate's degree from Herkimer County Community College, Eric had already begun taking courses online toward his bachelor's in business administration from Everest University.

He began his career with Walt Disney World as a front desk concierge at Disney's Boardwalk Resort. Very early on, he was chosen as a trainer for front desk cast and a facilitator of the training class for all new Boardwalk cast members. Soon after he was trained as an FSA (I don't know what that stands for, but basically it means you're in charge of the whole front desk), Eric applied for a management position and was chosen to be part of a pilot program designed for approximately 30 of the company's top management candidates. He completed the Emerging Leaders program two days before the wedding and, on that day, the official announcement was made that he had been permantently placed as a front desk manager for Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa and Disney's Old Key West Resort.

As for myself, after I graduated from Stetson, I secured a gig as a full-time piano player at the Marriott World Center for a while, and, until the show ceased broadcast in July, I also wrote for the online trivia game EAgameshow.com by EA Sports. I continued working for Disney in the entertainment department and consequently as a photographer up to the present. In January, my friend Gretchen open her own business, an after-school performing arts academy, and I joined the faculty as a part-time drama, piano, voice, photography, and ballroom teacher. I've also been performing at Kimonos at the Walt Disney World Swan since last May. It's a fun gig!

Outside of work, I sang with the Orlando Chamber Singers and the Orlando Chorale last season, and I also volunteer from time to time at Give Kids the World Village. My songwriting has been coming along as well. I entered a piece in the contest to select a new Florida state song, and it was one of the top 20 contenders. A holiday piece I wrote was premiered by Gretchen's massed choirs at East Ridge High School, and the Orlando Gay Chorus has expressed interest in performing it for their winter concert this year.

Eric rowed for a team from his work location for a regatta called Canoe Races of the World, held annually in the Rivers of America at the Magic Kingdom. The team didn't place, but he enjoyed training for the race and being in the park before opening!

We also both performed for the second straight year in Encore! Cast Choir and Orchestra, an annual charity performance put on by Disney cast members. This year's concerts raised $25,940 for United Arts of Central Florida. Also, we'll be performing as part of the cast choir for Epcot's Christmas Candlelight concerts.

We're keeping busy, that's for sure, but Eric secured vacation time for the week of my birthday in October, and we're going on a four-night Royal Caribbean cruise! 19 days 'til we depart! Bon voyage!

Wedding Recap

Following our previous post about the pre-wedding activities (proposal, events, rehearsal, etc.), here is a short recap of the wedding day. Our mothers, the bridesmaids, and I all got ready for the big day in the parlor at the church, recently renovated to accomodate brides and their wedding parties. The gentlemen prepared at their hotel and at my parents' house and rendezvous-ed in the conference room to pal around and perfect their looks. Here are some photos of everyone getting ready!

Preceding the ceremony, my cousins Georgia, Jennifer, Rachel, and Sarah greeted guests at the sanctuary doors and distributed the ceremony programs. Guests were then escorted to their seats by Eric's groomsmen to the music of Carole Parker at the piano and Abby Mills on violin.

When the guests were seated, Jackson escorted in my father's parents, Jeff escorted Eric's parents, and Jackson escorted in my mom while Carole and Abby played Air on the G String. Then Eric entered with Steve and, officiating, our uncle Eric. Following their entrance, each of the remaining attendants processed.

As Carole and Abby played Girl with the Flaxen Hair, my dad and I walked down the aisle at the ceremony began! We said our vows, exchanged our rings, and Eric (the officiant, not the groom) read from the scripture two passages that Eric (the groom) and I chose for the occasion.

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:12-17

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Ephesians 3:14-19

As our mothers and we lit the candles in our unity wreath, our wedding song played. Eric and I recorded our version of "Come What May" for the service. Then we were pronounced man and wife and Eric kissed the bride. Here are the photos from the ceremony.

Then the real party started! While we, our familes, and the wedding party took photos in the sanctuary (you can see them here), the guests started the reception downstairs. Little by little, the photos were of smaller and smaller groups as family and friends from the sanctuary joined the reveling at the reception. Finally, when Eric and I were through with our individual portraits, we made our grand entrance at the reception! We surprised our guests with a unique rendition of "A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes" that transitions from a sweet slow dance to an upbeat swing. My dad and I danced to "Unforgettable", and Eric and his mom danced to "You Raise Me Up." We invited all of our parents to dance during "Beautiful in My Eyes", and we danced away the rest of the evening with all of our wedding guests. It was a beautiful day that all of us will remember. Click here to see photos from the reception.

The next morning, we left for the beach house at Ponce Inlet and enjoyed a week-long tropical honeymoon. The peaceful natural environment made for a memorable and enjoyable vacation. Here are some honeymoon photos!

Now we're back in Orlando each doing what we do best. More on that later. Hope you relived our special day vicariously through this detailed and roving recap post!

Pre-Wedding Activities Recap

Eric's and my May 24th wedding was beautiful, a dream come true to say the very least. Surrounded by friends and family, it was a magical celebration of the beginning of our new lives.

Here is a recap of the events leading up to it, soon to be followed by a recap of that amazing day.

On November 20, 2007, Eric proposed at the place where we had met at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

We planned a six-month engagement and a wedding in my hometown of Waycross, Georgia.

We chose our attendants to be:

Maid of Honor - Annie Pinder, my sister
Bridesmaid - Laura Kazmarek, Eric's sister
Bridesmaid - Gretchen Kemp, our friend
Best Man - Steve Brown, Eric's brother
Groomsman - Jeff Brown, Eric's brother
Groomsman - Jackson Pinder, my brother

A group of my parents' friends put together a ladies' shower at First Baptist Church where our wedding reception would be held. Their Sunday School class hosted a couples' shower. Then my bridesmaids and aunts organized a shower of local friends and family held here in Orlando. Photos from those events can be seen here.

We had engagement photos taken at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. Those photos can be seen here.

The week of the wedding, Eric graduated from Emerging Leaders, a pilot program at Disney for top management candidates. He was permanently placed as a Guest Service Manager at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa and Disney's Old Key West Resort.

Friends and family began to gather in Waycross to prepare for the festivities. Friday, the day before the wedding, was filled with activities for the wedding party. The gentlemen gathered for final tux fittings and a barbecue lunch. The ladies got together for a dainty lunch and a mani/pedi session.

The wedding rehearsal with all of the wedding party and ceremony participants went very smoothly. The rehearsal dinner, hosted by Eric's parents, was an intimate affair enjoyed by all. Held at the historic Ivy House in downtown Waycross, the dinner provided new acquaintances and old friends and relatives to celebrate the joining of two families.

At the hotel chosen to host out-of-town friends and family, those involved in the wedding connected at our dessert reception with the wedding guests staying there. I wish I could remember who thought of this idea because it was a wonderful opportunity for our friends and family to get acquainted and for everyone to relax and enjoy some sweets before the stressful fun of the wedding day began the next morning.

Stay tuned for a wedding recap, coming soon! In the meantime, check out a sampling of wedding photos here.