automaticable

Hey everyone, I know it’s been a while, but hopefully with this new post I can spark some enthusiasm into my dead beat brothers to start posting here again.  Have you ever wished for something and hoped that it came true?  Around the last couple times I posted, I stated that I got my extension to work in recreation.  I’ve enjoyed this new job for the most part, but as any job, it has its ups and downs.  The upside is some days I get to either work on the dock  with boats all day, or work the “gates” position, handing out wristbands and interacting with guests and kids.  The downside is that at a resort, there are “custodial” positions that I have to work as well that aren’t fun at all, very labor intensive, and the other cast members don’t treat you very well because the position has the word “custodial” in it.

Well, since the extension, a lot  has gone on.  I went home for my brother’s graduation which was amazing to say the least.  I also went on vacation for family reunion and I’m going to talk about that a little more extensively in a little bit, and lastly, I got my 2nd extension just a few short days ago to transfer into Transportation.  As most of you may have heard, there was a fatal accident recently in WDW on July 5th at 2AM involving a monorail.  Two cars were on the same track traveling different directions and unfortunately these two cars collided, killing one cast member, and minor injuries on only a handful of guests.  After about 3-5 days of investigation the monorail HAS reopened.  Am I worried about my new transfer because being a monorail driver is probably what I’m going to be doing?  Of course, but for it to be the first accident in 38 years of the monorails operation, the odds of something drastic happening are very slim.

Now about family reunion.  This vacation in general was something I was looking forward to for the last two years, and it couldn’t have gone any better.   I started out the vacation by leaving a full 4 days early to drive up to Atlanta to meet up with my brother Kyle as well as surprise my parents.  I wasn’t supposed to be able to leave for vacation until the Monday after the festivities began, but I pulled some strings and left directly after work Wednesday night and arrived very early Thursday morning into Atlanta.  My parents didn’t have any idea that I was going to be in Atlanta, so when they arrived Thursday evening, I popped out from hiding behind my brothers car and surprised them all.  It was the perfect way to start vacation.  After garage sale shopping for a day or so, we were off on vacation!  After a short six hour drive we arrived!  We hung out at one of the towny bars for a while waiting for our vacation homes to be ready to moved into, and once we all moved in the fun began!

I lucked out and stayed in the beach front home, so every night I was able to fall asleep and wake up every morning to the sound of the ocean.  The first night I hung out on the beach with cousins, and ended up fishing with them and caught a shark!!  It was so exciting!  It was about 4 feet long and about 10-12 pounds.  Put up a pretty good fight and was so exciting to pull in and hold up close.  For the remainder of the week, there was alot of just hanging out, playing in the water, fishing, and then going to the local raw bar called Eddie Teach’s.  They had THE BEST old bay shrimp and raw oysters I have EVER had, and with $4 pitchers of PBR, we made that our place for the week.  I probably ate about 20lbs of shrimp that week, all at Eddie Teach’s, so if you ever find yourself in St. George’s Island, FL, make sure to check it out!

The last day of the trip we went out on a kayaking trip in the snakelike rivers of the area, got to see some alligators, and just spent some quality time with my relatives.  Overall, the trip went really well and was something that I just really needed after 5 months of working for Disney, and not really seeing anyone that I truly knew.

That’s all I really have for now.  It’s getting late and I have to be up early in the morning.  It’s great to be posting again and hopefully we can get Automaticable back up and as lively as it was before.  Who’s with me on getting this blog awesome again?

Well folks, again last week was a very hectic week for me and I didn’t get around to posting again, but that just means I have a lot to write about!  The last couple of weeks were a real blast because I got a bunch of days off, and used that time to really treat myself to some fun outings.  I have been mainly just chilling with my roommates, but I did get a chance to go mini-golfing at a pretty sweet course during the time between my last post.  If you don’t know me, then let it be known that I LOVE mini-golfing and go-karting, probably two of my most favorite things to do to hang out with friends and such like that.  The place was kind of expensive, but I had buy-one-get-one free coupons, so it turned out to be about average price.  I also got too take some time and actually get some sun down at the pool, and let me tell you, it’s probably the most relaxing sensation in the world to just lay out in either the direct sun, or a partly overcast day and be at peace with yourself and your surroundings.

Work’s getting tougher and tougher with longer hours, early mornings, late nights, and redeployment folks that don’t really want to be in their new location and learn how the new location works. I’m being placed as a point person more and more now, which is amazing.  I love being the leader of a stand and being able to control the flow of how things work, because I have definitely worked in stands where there’s no control or direction.  Now that I’m a point/run I am able to help my team work as a well oiled machine within at least 2 hours.  The start of the shift is usually a little rough because people don’t want to listen to me, just because I’m a college program student, or they’re extra hours or redeployment people and feel they’re exempt from learning anything new, but as soon as I inform them that they can either A) listen and work as a team or B) go home and lose the hours they’d be working that day, they usually choose option A and are glad they did.  I let them know that if it’s a new position for them that they’re on, I’ll be right there next to them to help them if they have any questions, as well as train them on how to work that position effectively and efficiently as possible.

I have also decided that I’m going to extend my program.  I just submitted my application to extend about an hour ago, and I’m really excited to hear the results back from them soon.  I either want to stay in my location doing QSR F&B (Quick Service Restaurant Food and Beverage) or move on to Attractions or even Parking.  We’ll see how things play out.  If I am accepted to extend my program, I’ll be down in Orlando until August 14th.  This is another 3 months added onto my program, which will be perfect because with work and classes right now, I have no time to really network myself and try to get myself into the professional internship, but this extra time on my program will put me in a position to where I can do that.  There’s just so much going on right now, and all of it good and that excites me!  Well, as the excitement continues, I’ll try to keep better track of what’s going on and keep all you kids back home updated!  Take care everyone and I hope you all had a wonderful St. Patrick’s Day!!!

So within the last couple days I’ve really been reminiscing about the past and I’ve come to the conclusion that I truly miss my childhood.  All this growing up and making adult decisions really isn’t something that I want to be doing.  I’m sitting here drinking coffee out of a mug the size of my head that’s decorated like Jack Skellington from The Nightmare Before Christmas and watching my roommate and my neighbor putt in my family room.  This sort of relaxation and carefree lifestyle reminds me so much of when I was 10 years old and would gather all my friends on the street to play hide-and-go-seek or flashlight tag.  Twelve people all around the age of ten gathering around a cul-de-sac at 8 o’clock with a curfew of 10:00.  Being a seasoned veteran of the game, I knew exactly where to hide, when to pop out, and when to run like hell to try to tag safe.  Of course people began to catch onto my plan and began to look specifically for me, but that’s when I would start working as a team with the other hiders and tell them to all hide together and where, and they would all come out like thirty seconds after the seekers pass them up.  Oh I miss the old days.

Wow this coffee’s strong….

But yeah, that doesn’t really keep you updated with what I’m doing down here, but that’s alright, because I don’t even remember what I’ve done within the last couple days.  I know I went to the theme parks and saw more of Hollywood Studios than I’ve ever seen before, I started up my new classes (they were just general information days, no real work yet), but other than that, it’s been a pretty mellow week.  I’ll try to see what I can do about posting more often, or waking up earlier to post, because so far it’s looking like I’m only really going to be able to post on days that I have off, just because I’m too busy otherwise.  I’m off to go bake in the sun, rotisary style, catch ya’ll later!

Well, the first week of my vacation/internship has concluded, and I still have a smile on my face!  My first day of training at the Wide World of Sports was cool, but trying to get home was a pain in the butt.  It takes me an hour and a half to get to the park by a double bus transfer, but if I had a car to drive there, it would only take half an hour.  Going home is where the real problem is, because the bus doesn’t stop at the Wide World of Sports very often to pick up cast members (that’s what they call Disney employees).  So I called the bus before I went out to wait, which I then waited an hour, called the bus company AGAIN then preceded to wait another half hour until the bus came.  Once it arrived we rode to the Pop Century cast back lot to go over to Costuming to get our Disney Regulated uniforms (costumes).  We were there for about a half hour, and were pushing our luck on trying to catch the next bus (which left at 4:00), and we arrived outside at 4:01 and JUST missed the bus and had to wait ANOTHER half hour to catch the next bus.  Once that one came it was a half hour ride home, and a fifteen minute walk from the bus stop to my apartment.  All and all, it was about three hours from the time I clocked out until the time I stepped back into my apartment.

Other than that little fiasco, work has been pretty good and very enjoyable.  The rest of my training has consisted of stocking condiment shelves, stocking ALL of the concession stands, and then yesterday was our first day of event work, and I worked in a very non-busy tent selling Soda, Water, Power aid, Turkey Legs, Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, Pretzles, Nachos, and Candy.  Right now the event is the College Cheerleading, Dance and Mascot National Championships, so that should be alot of fun, I’ve already ran into a bunch of the cheerleaders and mascots so it was quite exciting.

On my days off that I had last week I did alot of shopping as well as went off to the amusement parks with with my roommates and that was alot of fun.  This week has also helped me create alot new friends around the apartment complex and find people to hang out with when I have nothing better to do.  Well, it’s getting to be around lunch time around here, and I have to start getting ready for work as well, so I hope you all have a wonderful week and I’ll write again next week!

P.S.  Hope everyone in the Midwest is doing okay with all that snow and and cold weather you guys have been having.  Stay warm, stay safe, and stay up to date by subscribing to our RSS!

Hey loyal readers! I know it’s been a while (Holy crap, 3 months?!?!?) since our last post, but that does NOT mean that we Wegnerians have given up on you.  We’ve just all been swamped with school, work, social lives, or lack there of.  There are some changes that you will notice to the site as soon as the New Year, which includes a brand new Tab dedicated to me!  Why me? Because #1 I’m awesome, #2 I’m special, #3 I have a class project with my new internship that requires me to keep record of what I’m doing (I’ll post more on this later on).

So, I’m sitting here thinking, and I realize I only have about 32 more hours before I’m off on a flight, leaving the U.S.A. to go be in warm, 85 degree weather during some of the most brutal snow storms Chicago’s had in quite a while.  The family and I (yes, all automaticable bloggers) are taking a GLORIOUS trip down to Jamaica for my parent’s 25th wedding anniversary.  This is a trip that has been in the makings for about six months now, and I’m as gitty as a school girl.  With a brand new camera, and skin as white as the snow we’re leaving behind, I’m fully prepared for a 7 day, all expenses paid vacation in the Caribbean.  Our resort includes a poolside bar, sailboats at our leisure, a beach, and endless amount of sunshine.  I don’t want to brag or anything, but it’s supposed to be 85 degrees EVERY day that we’re there.

Now, being it the holiday season, we were torn at first, at what to do about “The Big C” (Christmas), but in the end, we decided…..we’re skipping Christmas.  Yes, I know, shocking, because every year we have Christmas Eve at our place, and 45 people will all be disappointed this year because Santa will be coming down the stairs this year, instead of the elevator.  The fact that we’re skipping Christmas this year, is kind of difficult.  All my friends are asking me what I want for Christmas, and the only good answer I have come up with is “A Tan.”  I’m saving a bunch of money for not having to buy any gifts this year, but I can’t seem to put a close to 2008, even with New Years on its way.  Without Christmas, my year just doesn’t seem to be complete.  Oh well, Jamaica will still be fun, and I’ll be tan for my arrival in Orlando.

So here’s the deal, starting January 7th, I’m leaving the cold once again to live in Orlando, Florida for 5 months.  I have been offered (and I graciously accepted) an internship at Walt Disney World.  I will be working in Quick Service Food and Beverage, but I won’t know which exact park or where IN the park until I arrive down there.  The new tab I was talking about is for the Coop-Internship side of things, where I have to keep in contact with a faculty member at my college so they know I’m actually doing something down there instead of just enjoying the warm weather.  I’ll try to post ATLEAST once a week, and there will also be pictures to support my posts.  This is an exciting thing for me, because it’s an opportunity of a life time, and will give me direction and motivation on what I really want my future to hold.  With that being said, it’s now close to midnight on Saturday and I only have 30 more hours, before my flight leaves for Jamaica.

A Bon Voyage to you all, as well as a Happy Chrismahanukwanzakah with a Jolly good New Year!

Well, two weeks and three days away until I leave on the trip of a lifetime with some of the closest people to me in my life.  Most of them you have heard from if you’ve read automaticable for a while.  Kyle Wegner, Scott Wegner, Joe Wegner, Stacy Friel, Lindsay Gerke, and I will all be road tripping down to the Smoky Mountains in Bryson City, North Carolina. This trip should be a lot of fun because it’s our first real big vacation where our parents haven’t been watching over our shoulders and there to guide us in what we should and shouldn’t do. My brothers and I have been camping and being outdoorsy for as long as I could remember, but we’ve never done anything of this caliber without our parents planning and them being there. But we’re finally making it our own and going down a path that has yet to be ventured by all of us. Granted we’re using a lot of the techniques that we’ve learned by observation through the years, like cooking teams, cleaning teams, planning out our expenses to a T and how much each meal SHOULD cost and what not. It’s kind of exciting to see how it will all come together in the end. So far we don’t really have many adventures or excursions planned for our trip, all we know is we have a cabin next to a lily pond, six people, two cars, and a weeks worth of time to have fun and enjoy everything that the Smoky Mountains and North Carolina has to offer us. If any of you Automaticabalites have been there and have suggestions for us to do or see, please, leave a comment and let us know! I’m sure when we return, there will be plenty for us to tell about our adventures and photos to go along with our delightful adventure.

That’s right people.  Kyle Wegner, everyday SEO and automaticable contributor, is internationally famous.  How is this possible, you ask?  Well, the image you see in this post was used by a fellow named Martin Menu in a presentation in France last week.  The conference he presented at was called the Atlassian User Group, which you can find more information about here (site in French).  In the presentation he not only included my image, but a By: line, so my name has now been recognized internationally.

The reason I know about this is because Martin contacted me and asked permission to use the image I created.  Though the image has been realeased under the Creative Commons Licence (with some restrictions), I really appreciated him asking whether he could use it or not.  The internet is such a free for all with people stealing other people’s work, and it is nice to know that some people still respect the hard work people put into their art.

If the presentation ever gets put online and Martin follows up with me with the link, I’ll definitely be posting it here.  Until then, just know that a group of people on the Champs Elysees saw my RSS image and name during some conference on June 19th. 

People, I have something very depressing to admit.  I have run out of things to say.  Because of this, automaticable is suffering.  Since when am I opinionless?  I must be getting sick or something.

Someone say something inspiring.  Give me some ammunition here.  Tell me you love Bush, or that I am a Godless heathen.  Talk to me about how gays shouldn’t marry.  Make fun of my lack of style.  Say my music sucks.  Tell me SEO is a scam.

If you don’t want to do all those things, just visit all the links I stuffed into that last paragraph.  That’ll keep you busy while I try to think of something new and awesome to say.

Reading Gizmodo when drunk is WAY more entertaining than when sober.  I mean, the Giz is kind of comical all the time, but not really funny. It takes a special kind of inebriation to really crack up when reading that blog.

Anyone think automaticable is only entertaining when drunk?  Anybody?  Hello?

And no, this doesn’t count as one of my posts for the week.  I already had one of those for today.

With Finals just around the corner, I look back at my college career thus far and I see all the good decisions that I’ve made. I switched from Medical Science with a hopes for Orthotics and Prosthesis to Recreation Management and I couldn’t be happier. I came back home from SIU to finish up my general education classes and receive my AA from College of DuPage and I love every minute of being home. I’ve switched around from a couple jobs and finally found something that I enjoy doing and that gives me hope for a brighter future. The relationship aspect of my life couldn’t be better. I have a steady girlfriend of over two years now, and we’re always talking about what the future brings, planning little trips with each other, and we can never stop smiling when we’re with each other.

With the weather turning nice I’m becoming more and more optimistic and becoming less stressed. Finals should be pretty much a breeze this year due to the classes and the requirements that they have for me. I gave two huge project presentations yesterday that I worked for 6 hours straight on over the weekend, and I found out immediately afterwards that I had aced both of them. I feel a sense of accomplishment this semester through all the trouble and stress that my classes brought me. I feel I did the best I could in all my classes and I’m not afraid of anything that future classes throw at me.

I used to sit in my room with the blinds closed to keep the heat in my room so it doesn’t get too cold, but I came home the other day and my mom had opened them, and I realized how beautiful of a view out my window I have. There’s a beautiful backyard with trees lining the perimeter of the half acre backyard, thick green grass, a flower island in the middle of the yard, and horseshoe pits in the back. I could probably sit and look out my window all day and watch the birds, squirrels, chipmunks, and the neighbors cats run through our yard all day and be content.

Basically what I’m getting at here is that through all the stress and hard work that have been hitting me this entire semester, I’m glad that it’s finally over and I have a bright, relaxing summer to look forward to. The warm afternoons, the stormy nights, the bonfires, the hookah parties, or just relaxing on the screen porch, falling asleep in the chase lounge are all things that I have to look forward to. So all you college students out there fretting over finals and worrying about grades and their futures, take a step back and look at all the good things you’ve done so far and all the great things in the future that lie ahead of you. Realize that ultimately they’re just grades and a beige piece of paper, and that what you should be worrying about is how many times your going to ride Superman at Six Flags this summer.