Winding down

So summer is quickly coming to an end...here's a little update. I had a great time in North Carolina with my Ridinger side of the family. We spent a week at Lake Lure in a resort. It was a wonderful break from work and I picked the best week to do it. All week it was in the upper 90's all over the east, so instead of being outside, I was in an air-conditioned unit. Work itself isn't too bad, especially since the weather has cooled down. I've had several chances to test my leadership skills at Thunderhawk due to scheduling issues. I think I've done OK, but I'm glad I don't have to do that on a regular basis. Too much to worry about for basically no extra compensation. I've been disappointed too that now two of my co-workers have quit in the past 2 weeks. I've grown really fond of all my co-workers on my crew, so it sucks when one of them leaves. We all get along so well. Oh well...I'll be gone soon as well as I get ready to go back to Idaho for school, plus they had pretty valid reasons for quitting. My last day at Geauga Lake should be August 23rd. At this point I just want school to start so I can get it over with! The quicker I'm done with Rexburg and BYU-Idaho the better!!! Anyway...watch out for my first politcal/opinion blog coming up. Lots to talk about that I really feel the need to comment on!!!


Comments

I*C*Y*U*N*V (Chynell); August 30, 2006
I agree Jon I cant wait until summer vacation already! Wanna know why? Cuz this summe rI'll actually havea LIFE!!!

It's hot

Current mood: hot

I'm certainly not looking forward to this week mostly because of the weather. It looks like it's going to be in the 90's every day and humid too, so it will feel like 100 outside. If I didn't have to work outside, I don't think I'd mind as much!

In other news, the play is in it's last week this week. Honestly, I'll be sad to see it end, but I'll be glad too. It's been stressful and exhausting this last week doing the show every night after being at work the 8 hours before. On Friday of this past week (7/14) I was at the point of just driving away from the play and never going back. I truly had to act on stage so that I looked like I was having a good time even though I wasn't. After the show I didn't want anything more to do with the show or Geauga Lake. I was pretty much at my wit's end. Not totally sure why, but I was. There were a lot of things that day that really got on my nerves, both at work and at the show. Fortunately the next day was much better as we had our biggest crowd yet and a lot of my family members came to see the show, plus I got to start work later than normal so I could have lunch with my brother and sisters (something we rarely get to do). I hope this week goes well too.

Oh yeah, I FINALLY got a digital camera at long last. I'd been wanting to get one for the longest time, but never had the money. It was one of my small highlights for the week.


Comments

I*C*Y*U*N*V (Chynell); July 26, 2006
i know why u were frutrated...its cuz i was gone for the week of "hell on the lake" hehe

Follow up

Current mood: content

Things haven't really changed a whole lot at work or the play, but I seem to be content where I am. Even though I'm "out-ranked" on my crew at Geauga Lake, I still enjoy my crew (most times!!) and working with them. We have a lot of fun together and with our always-interesting guests. I still wish I had more "clout" or influence at the park, but for now I'm making do. Oh well.

The play opens now in less than two weeks. Thank goodness! Practices have been pretty long these past few days, so I haven't had much time to myself or at home. I leave home at 8:45 AM and have been getting home around 11:30 PM. Today was a shorter work day, but practice ended up being some 4 hours long (4-8), so I got home around 9. Once the play opens, my evenings won't be so long as the play begins at 7:30 each night and is over around 8:30. The other added bonus of the show being opened is that our director can't stop us while we're performing!! I've gotten some wonderful comments about the small part I do have as Professor Seixas. It is a fun part even though it's so small.

My ward

Current mood: content

Most of the year I'm in a singles ward at BYU-Idaho, so my time in my home ward (congregation) is only in the summer and at Christmas. Even though the ward has many problems, it's still home and I'm so glad to be a part of it again. We have a singles branch here, but it's a 45-minute drive there (Canton), plus I just love being a part of Primary (children's organization), something that obviously doesn't exist in a ward made up of single people. I know many people who like being around lots of people their age, but I prefer diversity. Yes, I enjoy hanging out with people my age, but not being around them every day like I am at school. There is so much we can all learn from our different levels of experience with a diversity of ages, plus I love kids, so being in Primary is just the best. The spirit is always so strong back there and it's just a lot of fun. Our Primary presidency and our teachers are awesome too. I also feel like I'm making a positive contribution because I can use my talents and abilities back there more and I'm appreciated (I sub as piano player or chorister). I'm also the music chairman and the ward chorister, so I get to use my talents there too and people actually respect and value my opinion. What a change from the rest of the week!! It helps that my ward has very few music people in it (hey, if you're an organist, we need you!!). I haven't been too excited about my singles ward and I really jump on any chance I get to go to a regular ward (usually my aunt's ward in Utah). That's just me though. I know a lot of my single friends disagree. Oh well, just one more year or so of my singles ward and then I can come back to my home ward if all goes as planned.

Rank-and-file

Current mood: annoyed

So I've been thinking lately about my current status in life and it hasn't been pretty. Lately I've been pretty frustrated with my life, mostly because I'm still in college at 24 and so I don't have a degree, which also means I don't have a steady, well-paying job yet. I long for the days when I can be independent and not have to worry about accumulating debt or living at home. Most days I don't mind living at home (I'm only home for four months during the summer), but I can't wait to be on my own, just for the sake of being on my own. I also long for the day when someone, somewhere will notice my talents and abilities and give me an opportunity to express them and further develop them. Currently I work at Geauga Lake amusement park in Ohio and despite the fact that I'm four years older then the next oldest crew member, I'm "out-ranked" by three other people on my crew. I have as much clout at the park as the average 16-year old employee despite being 24. The only thing I'm known for at the park is giving good spiels. Just today I was really not feeling too well about working there, but some of my co-workers were getting on my nerves too.

I'm also doing this show, "This is Kirtland," a show I did last year as well. While I technically have a different part this year, it's still a pretty small part and that's frustrating to say the least. I really feel like people in the show think I'm some sort of musical novice who just likes to do it all for fun, but really doesn't have much experience. I'm a seniot music major and I've been in several shows since I was in elementary school, although I haven't had a major role in a production since I was in eighth grade. I definitely feel overlooked and largely ignored in both areas right now and being "rank-and-file" and average doesn't sit well with me. I really feel if I was given a chance I would do well in a leading role, but no one seems to agree with me.


Comments

First comment deleted

JRid (Jon); June 25, 2006
Thanks...good to hear from you! Nice to see someone's reading my blog!

Dorese; June 25, 2006
Stick with it and things will look up! I know you feel "old" at 24, but I know many a 27 year old who is still in college (my husband being one of them) and waiting for the day to stop going home every summer and mooching off his parents, and finally step out on his own. You have a lot to offer, no matter what you do or where you go. Cheer up, and stick with it! Things will get better!

I*C*Y*U*N*V (Chynell); July 1, 2006
hey you dont just have good spiels! You are excellent at everything you do. Honestly! I wish you were my _ _ _.

Utah

Current mood: thoughtful

I just got back from a visit to Utah for a good friend's wedding at the Salt Lake LDS Temple. I had a great time. I seem to find myself in Utah about every month (except in the summer while I'm home in Ohio). Really, I enjoy visiting Utah but I don't think I could ever live there long term. If I had to live in Utah, I'd live in the Salt Lake area. I can't stand the Provo area and I try to avoid it as much as possible. The mountains are my favorite part of Utah. If Ohio had mountains, then it would be almost perfect. For now, though, I'd gladly trade the high number of trees here for the mountains. One thing I've discovered over the last five years living in three western states (Arizona, New Mexico, & Idaho) is that I'm an easterner and more specifically an Ohioan. I just love Ohio, but that's not to say there aren't things I've enjoyed about the other states I've lived in. Ohio is home and where I'm most comfortable. But anyway, since I'm LDS, there are lots of benefits in Utah too since so many more LDS things are readily available there than in Ohio where there are hardly any Mormons. I can't say I mind not having to go far to go to the temple or to church, plus you can get LDS items in just about any store. In most places you have to special order them unless you're in a heavy-LDS community. Yeah, there's definitely perks to being LDS and living in a place like Utah or Idaho, but in the end, I still like living in Ohio better- more diversity and more people rooted in REALITY!!


Comments

Dorese; June 25, 2006
I liked your last comment about people not seeming to be rooted in reality in the LDS "bubble." I totally agree!And even though I've decided to make Idaho pretty much my permanent home, Ohio still totally rocks! Anyway, have a good week, Jon!

JRid (Jon); June 25, 2006
DORESE!! So good to hear from you!! Thanks for the comments!