Pomp and Circumstance

Eric finally gradumatated this summer.  He has been taking online classes toward his Bachelor's in business administration, so he had been joking about having his own graduation ceremony and walking past the webcam on our laptop when it was all over, but since his mom was in town during the school's official ceremony, he decided to physically attend a school event for the first (and last) time.  We kept it a secret until the day of the event, so she was pretty excited when she found out where we were going that day!

Eric and mom at the ceremony venue

Eric meets the dean of the business school

(Don't look too closely at the above photo if you are easily offended)

This is what Eric thinks of Everest University

A celebratory bike ride

I'm very proud of Eric for sticking with it--I'm not gonna lie: the online program was bull$#!+ so he was tempted to quit many times--but now it's over!  Everest University, we will forever be in your debt.  Go, Sherpas!

Christmas Eve

Tonight is Christmas Eve and I've been reflecting on our holiday season so far. I just returned from the Christmas eve candlelight service at our church and an open house at the home of the associate pastor and his wife. My favorite part of the party was listening to the partygoers' (church members') old stories. And the Baby Jesuses in a Blanket.

We've been keeping ourselves pretty busy preparing for the holiday and hob-nobbing with friends all over town. Our friend Kevin hosted a winter frost party so we frosted ourselves (meaning we wore white, blue, and silver outfits) one evening--there was a show and everything! We went to see Ice at the Gaylord Palms again this year, this time with our friends Jimmy and Becky, the newlyweds, and Paul and Missy. We all had fun and Eric and I wore our Smittens (mittens that allow two people to hold hands inside), except when we were on the slide (once you're in the mittens, you can't rightly let go).

A few Young Alpha Chis from our alumnae chapter got together for sushi, sake, and singing at good old Kimonos, and I got to spend a lot of time with my friend Rachel, but unfortunately I had to cram in the time because she is moving to Washington, D.C. to pursue a civics career. We connected very well and really enjoyed spending time together, so we'll have to reconnect sometime in the near future.

On Sunday afternoon we left for Waycross to have Christmas there and spend a few days with my family. We had our usual traditions of caroling to a few friends, having Christmas breakfast together, and reading the Christmas story. And opening gifts, of course. I got Photoshop from my parents, and Eric and I got a karaoke machine. Party at our house!

Let's see, what else? Our little holiday party was a success. We had lots of jolly guests and even more food. I'll be performing at the Ritz-Carlton in Palm Beach with my friend Dick on New Year's Eve next week, but more on that in a later post. We performed together at the church's Christmas dinner as well. Tomorrow we each have to work on Christmas morning, but hopefully we'll each be done in time for lunch. Then we'll unwrap our gifts (the ones Eric hasn't opened already), watch A Christmas Story, and go out with Paul, Missy, Jimmy, and Becky to the China King for dinner. We'd host dinner at our place, but the kitchen's a mess and the fridge is in the living room. (It's a long story but the short version starts with the dishwasher leaking, continues with mold growing in the kitchen, and ends with the bank paying to have all the walls torn out and cabinets replaced, the epilogue being that the fridge is currently in the living room. So now I'm sitting here watching In Bruges (it's technically a Christmas movie) eating Christmas candy and waiting for my husband to get home so we can snuggle and cuddle in front of the fireplace all night long. A very festive way to spend our Christmas eve, I'd say.

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!