Health Update

I am happy to say that after being on IV antibiotics for 4 weeks, today will be my last day. It has been a month of ups and downs, but it is relieving to be at the end of this jaunt. I was on two different IV medications Ceftazidime and Colistimethate both every 8 hours. The medications aren't so bad, but they tend to make me quite nauseous and tired, and when you're already sick it is exhausting.
I am looking forward to begin a job search once my meds are finished and start working out again. I plan on running a 10 mile in October and it is never to early to start training and practicing!
I am hoping that exercise will help my PFT's (Pulmonary Function Test) increase. My numbers before IV antibiotics were around 36%, which is down 10% from my last test. My PFT's don't normally increase after IV antibiotics, it usually takes an additional month before I see an increase.
My energy levels haven't quite gotten back to normal yet, but hopefully now that the meds are finished I can get back to my baseline maybe even do a little better then that!

Want to know more about Cystic Fibrosis check out the video below.

Happy Halloween?

So I might be jumping on the Halloween wagon a little late, given that it is now December but just count me down as being early for next year!
One of the best nights I had at Disney was when I spontaneously went to Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween party. I had spent the day in Magic Kingdom and met up with some of my friends who were staying for the party, I was planning on leaving and going back to my apartment, but they talked me into buying a Ticket for the party.
So kick the party off I waited in line to meet Jack and Sally from Nightmare before Christmas. At Disney World they only come out at Halloween and the line fills up fast for them, but I think it was worth it! We got to watch Jack scare one of his attendants a few times and the pictures turned out pretty good too. I didn't have a chance to dress up because this was completely spontaneous, but Sally told me I looked like a ghost so that was my costume the rest of the night!

After meeting Jack and Sally I wandered around for a bit, went and did a little Trick or Treating. Then I found my spot on Main Street to watch the Halloween Boo To You Parade! Which in my opinion is one of the best parades you can see at Disney!
It features Grave Diggers, Hitchhiking ghosts and of course all the regular character favorite too! After the parade it was nearly time for Hallo-Wishes! Which is definitely the best reoccurring firework show you can see on property! The Ghost Host introduces a number of villainous acts and even Oogy Boogy makes an appearance on the Castle!  It's definitely a show worth waiting for!
One of my favorite things from the night is the stage show! In which my favorite villain does a musical number. Dr. Facilier graces the castle stage performing Friends on the Other Side and then all the party villains make their debuts!
Now I do have a photo with Facilier but it is from the Friday the 13th Villain Bash that was hosted at Hollywood Studio's a month prior

My friends and I ended up staying at the Halloween Party until nearly closing time, then we ventured over to the Contemporary and got a bus back to our apartments.
The ticket for the Halloween party cost around $74.00 but it was so worth it! It was magical and Not to Scary but wonderful!  I can't wait to go back next year!

I guess you could say I am a mess

I've just run into a tunnel in my life and I can't seem to find the light at the end, or even the walls to know if i'm going in the right direction. I've left one of my biggest dreams behind for reasons beyond my control but I still can't help but feel that i've lost myself completely in that decision. I am not in any emotional distress of any sort, I am just at a loss of what is to come next in my life.
I've come to a point where I am at a road of convenience and a road of the unknown and while I know which road I should take I can't help but question the other as well. Time has never been a companion of mine and I don't depend on it now, but I can't help but beg for a few spare seconds to catch my breath before I dive into another decision, another commitment.
I look to the future with optimism and hope, but the remnants of the past cling to the walls of my home keeping me safe and warm. How can I abandon that, the security of what I know? I've left so many times and everything pulls me back to this prison.

I cling to my dreams because they've come to be the only parts of me that don't change or tire. They're endless and they give me somewhere to hide. I've faced my dream once and leaving it behind put a crack in my soul.  That dream wove so many new possibilities, but it was as if my fingers grew numb and I had to drop them all. I feel as if I were driving down a highway and the roads disappeared. I am still going somewhere, but at this point I have no clue where i'll end up.

The Best Last Day Ever (part 2)

We got to Hollywood Studio's around 5:30 pm and we headed straight to the Tower of Terror, which is my baby. The Tower of Terror is beyond my favorite ride at any of the parks, I could ride it all day. I love the atmosphere, the story line and of course the plummeting down the elevator shaft! This was an extra special night because we ran into my favorite cast member, and I made a fool of myself in front of him. I had gotten a little over excited when I realized he was working, and I may or may not have creeped him out a bit. After I returned to my usual color and we fell down 13 stories we made our way through the gift shop where I admired all the Tower Merch and made my first purchase of a Tower of Terror shirt.  After that we headed to the last place I planned on going in Studio's, to see the Osborne Family Lights. I had been once the week before to see them and I was in love! The lights are so beautiful that I had to go one last time before I took my leave to admire them.

We enjoyed the "Snoap" and lights until the park closed at 8 then we headed to The Boardwalk Resort for our reservations at the Flying Fish. Now the Flying Fish is a rather pricy restaurant that is known for it's amazing seafood and steak! Being a Cast Member I received a holiday book full of coupons one of them being a 50% off Dining coupon which I intended to use!
We got sat down at the Flying Fish and had the most wonderful waiter (Bob from Ohio). He greeted us and took our drink order and surprised us by bringing us complimentary cups of a potato leak soup.

After the surprise treat we all ordered our own appetizers, I ordered a shrimp and Calamari dish that was amazing! The calamari rings were so tender, and the shrimp was so flavorful! The only thing I wish I had considered was that this dish was deep fried so to eat it all myself it was quite heavy.

After looking at the menu I had to order the Crusted New York Strip steak, which is one of the things the Flying Fish is known for, and it did not disappoint. It was succulent and juicy, and so full of flavor! It is one of the best steaks I have ever had, anywhere! 

After we had such a large meal we opted to share a dessert! We got a trio of Boardwalk favorites which included a caramel corn cheesecake, a Cherry limeade popsicle, and a S'more on a chocolate stick! I voted for this dessert because I absolutely love S'mores, and the S'more came on a chocolate stick with a homemade marshmallow cemented with chocolate between two homemade cookies. Now when waiter Bob caught wind that I was not sharing the S'more he brought out two more for my friends! We all had a good laugh about it. I have to admit the S'more was good but the winner in the dessert was the popsicle we all agreed that it had a really great taste!

Now Bob being the best waiter ever knew it was my last day at Disney, and he brought us an extra special dessert! He brought us over a fig creme Brûlée! Now I am not a fan of figs because of a past traumatic experience, but my friends said it was amazing!

With my 50% off coupon the bill came to just over $126 but that includes a $34 tip. We saved over $88.00 which is amazing to me!

I was really happy to be able to spend the time with my friends, it made it a lot easier leaving knowing that I had been able to do everything I wanted to one last time! 

I am really lucky that I had such a wonderful manager who went out of her way to give me that day off. I had everything from my apartment packed up and I turned in my Keys and ID at 9:00 am the next morning and made the 17 hour drive home.

I think I will remember the events from the day forever, because they were so magical to me and it was all so much more then I could ask for!

The best last day ever! (Part 1)

My last day at Disney was Saturday November 16th and it was one of the best days I think I've ever had! I had a pretty good idea of how I wanted to spend my day, a few rides I wanted to hit and of course some quality friend time!
Our first stop for the day was to the Magic Kingdom with my friend Kayla. The first thing we did was hit up Space Mountain for a Fast Pass. Then we headed back behind the castle and rode the Haunted Mansion. After we got off that we headed over to Jungle I mean the renovated Jingle Cruise to grab a fast pass. After that is was back across the main hub where we stopped for a selfie in front of the castle:

We then continued on our way back through Tomorrowland to Space Mountain! Using our handy dandy fast passes the wait for Space Mountain wasn't to long at all. After we got off Space Mountain we met up with two of our other friends and headed back to the center of the hub for a group picture in front of the castle. After 3 months we hadn't taken one of those pictures yet!

After that Kayla had to head off to work, so Hillary, Jen and I walked around the castle and just hung out for a bit. At 1:20 I had to leave them and meet up with my friend and co-worker Blythe for lunch at Cinderellas Royal Table! It is nearly impossible to get a reservation there.  After taking our picture with Cinderella we were called up stairs to sit at our table. At Cinderellas Royal Table you prepay when you make your reservation, but you get a 3 course meal. The starter is a tray containing cheese, hummus and a salad. I'll admit i wasn't a huge fan of it, but my main course was a roasted chicken with a risotto and shallot confit.

Let me tell you, that was delicious! The risotto wasn't very warm when it came out, but the chicken combined with the shallot confit was absolutely amazing! Just looking at the picture is making me hungry for more! When it came to Dessert, I couldn't help but get the special which is called "The Clock Strikes Twelve" a Chocolate cake topped with a white chocolate mousse, covered in chocolate.
I mean who in their right mind wouldn't order that?

I am not a big chocolate eater, but this was one of the best desserts I've eaten in a long time. The cake was really thin, and the mousse was really light and fluffy. It was amazing!
After taking some pictures with some princesses (Ariel, Aurora, Jasmine and Snow White), Wishing on our Wishing Stars, and some photos of the restaurant we headed to back onto the streets of Fantasyland.
We made a quick stop at Mickey's Philharmagic because that is one of my favorite attractions at Magic Kingdom and the wait was 10 minutes which is code for walk on.

We then head back over to Adventure land because one of the things on my list was to take a trip on the Jingle Cruise!
We had to wait in the stand by line because my previous fast passes has already expired, but we had a lot of fun chatting and enjoying the holiday decor while we waited, and it was all worth it for the corniest holiday jokes!

After that we headed back up to the Main Street USA where I made a stop in a shop to buy myself a Disney Dooney and Burke bag. After that we hopped on the monorail and went back to the contemporary and hopped on a bus to Hollywood Studio's.

This concludes part 1 of the Best Last Day ever, Part 2 will be posted pictures and all Tomorrow.

Faith, Trust and Pixie Dust

I have a sad update my friends, I am no longer living in Orlando Florida creating magic. Due to health problems I had to end my program nearly 7 months early. I was severely heart broken, but it was a decision made for the better. I was given a green light by my managers that I could come back at any time, which is an extremely comforting thought.
I did manage to have the best last two days ever which I will made a huge post about with pictures and stories because it was far too perfect now too share!

While I am sad that I had to leave Disney I have faith that I will return one day.

My Recipe for Homemade Marshmallows!

What you'll Need:

• 1/4 teaspoon of salt
• 1 teaspoon of Vanilla Extract
• 1/4 cup of confectioners sugar
• 1/4 cup of cornstarch
• 1 cup of cold water
• 1 cup of light corn syrup
• 1 1/2 cups of granulated sugar
• 3 packages of unflavored gelatin
• Candy thermometer

What to do:

1. Put 1/2 cup of cold water and unflavored gelatin in a large mixing bowl.
2. In a saucepan combine the remaining 1/2 cup of water with the salt,  corn syrup, and granulated sugar.
3. Turn the saucepan on to a medium heat, cover and cook for 3 to 4 minutes.
4. Clip your candy thermometer to the side of your saucepan and bring the mixture up to 240 degrees fahrenheit, will take between 5 and 10 minutes. Do not leave the mixture unattended!
5. Remove the mixture from the stove as soon as it reaches the proper temperature.
6. Using the whisk attachment turn your mixture on to a low speed.
7.  Slowly pour in the hot mixture from the pan.
8. Whisk the mixture until it is thick and lukewarm it will take about 15 minutes.
9. In the last 2 minutes add your flavoring, Vanilla extract for classic marshmallows but feel free to mix it up!
10. After you've finished add the mixture to your prepared pan.
11. Allow the pan to sit for 3 hours

How to prepare your pan:

Spray your pan with a non-stick cooking spray and add the cornstarch and confectioners sugar. Shake and coat the pan liberally. 

Extra tip:

When you go to cut your marshmallows have a bag of cornstarch and confectioners sugar nearby. Drop your marshmallows in right after you cut it and give it a good shake. 

These marshmallows make a great addition to hot cocoa, or just for roasting and eating plain.

I met a Disney Legend

After spending 2 1/2 hours in line Wednesday morning and being turned away because he ran out of time I finally got to meet Disney Legend Marty Sklar at Downtown Disney Art of Animation shop in the Market Place. I must say it was magical! I'll admit i've only gotten through half of the book so far, but his accomplishments are unparalleled to any other Disney imagineer or Disney Legend! Marty's book "Dream It! Do It!" is about his journey through the Disney company and along side the Disney family. Marty had personal relationships with Walt and Roy Disney through out his life and the stories he has to tell truly put the Disney spirit into perspective!
Before meeting Marty in true fangirl fashion I had a list of questions and things to say, but it all went out the window when I walked up to him and he said Hello and asked me where I was from. I told him that I was from Michigan recalling that he spent quite a time up there in my neck of the woods with Walt working with a handful of businesses GM and Ford being one of them. He proceeded to ask me how it was there and I told him that it could probably be better, but they were working on trying to get everything sorted and fixed. He said at least it isn't cold yet.
I do wish that I had mentioned I was a cast member and I had big dreams in the company, but I was a bit starstruck. Maybe in the future I'll be on the list of Disney Legends right next to Marty Sklar.

My idea of success

I used to think in order to be happy I had to be successful, so i would chase around this shadow of an idea of what I thought success was. I would grieve over an absence from class and shut myself down at the slightest grade under a B because that was not being a success and in my mind it just meant failure. I had been taught by society to believe that success meant having a fortune and a strong job title with a reputation built on the words of my peers, but it was all wrong. In my yearning and searching for this type of success I only ever found anxiety and panic over the fact that I could not live the expected life needed to become that person, to become that success. I spent a long time with this idea that I was a failure, and I won't deny that the constant fear of failing looms over me with every decision I make. I am stronger today because I know that failing is not what I should be afraid of, and not what I should have ever been scared to experience. The experience of failing or making a mistake is the most wonderful thing because with every tiny mistake a lesson is learned and you have the ability to grow as a person! 

I make mistakes everyday, and I am coming to a point where I am no longer ashamed of them I just accept them for what they are which is my learning opportunities. Mistakes should be glorified and praised for their educational capacities not shamed and looked down on. 

I don't know if I will ever have the stereotypical idea of success, but I know that I am successful everyday that I can admit to a flaw and overcome it. I have grown to shine above any mistake or flaw I have and accept them all as my own. Maybe some of them can stand to be changed or adjusted, but some of my flaws are just part of the things that make me who I am and they shouldn't have to be changed. 

The key to being successful is really just being happy with who you are and what you can do, and realizing that if you are not happy with that you can change it all at any time.

Monthiversary!

I moved into my apartment at Disney World one month ago today. Time here is so strange some days feel like years, but other days already feel like distant memories. It is really sad to think that my time here is already 1/5 of the way finished at that before we can even fathom it our programs will be over and it will be time to say good bye.
I am very glad to say that I love it here, I love every aspect of the company and even though I think there are better ways to do things sometimes I know that it is cast members like me who look towards to future who will keep this company on the right track and advancing.
While my ultimate goal is to write music for Disney movies and maybe even the shows they have here in the parks I have come to terms and realized that if I really want to accomplish that goal I must leave Disney in the future to further my education.
I have tons of plans and goals for my university education but nothing it set in stone just yet and I have plenty of time to decide what exactly I will be doing with my life still.
I can honestly say though that I am so excited for the future and for living and just being here and that is the best feeling. I wake up everyday maybe not jumping out of bed, but with a smile on my face because I realize how lucky I am.
I am doing a job that I love, in a place that I could have only ever dreamed of being. I am not sure if fate is being kind to me, or if I've just worked really hard to accomplish this, but I am so grateful for this opportunity and for this experience.

I leave you tonight with my character photo with Peter and Wendy:

Main Street and I

Photo Credit to the Beautiful, Stunning Kayla Justice

Main Street USA is one of my favorite places inside the magic kingdom, it's better to me then any ride in the park or even the castle. You can sit on the curb and watch people walk in under the train station and see that look on their face, that light in their eyes that begins to glow as they realize they've just entered a whole new world! When you see a little girl walk down main street and see the castle and have that look, that moment of realization that it's real! So i love Main Street, because it's where the magic really happens. The magic that puts a light in a childs' eye, or makes an old woman feel like a little girl again! That is what Disney magic is, it's that feeling it creates deep down in your soul that impossible smile that can't be wiped away.

Life at Disney

I am currently on the bus back to my apartment after working an awesome 6 hour shift and my beautiful resort the Polynesian.

I realize I haven't updated in a while! I am going to work on that I promise maybe not everyday but hopefully once a week!

Here's a brief overview of my role as a custodial cast Member at Walt Disney World Polynesian Resort!

I trained for about 2 weeks with 6 days of on the job training.

As a custodial cast member I am responsible for one of several different roles I can be working the pool or beach, restrooms, or the hotels lobby as well as a number of other things.

It is really great! I get to interact with guests and little princesses and answer questions or help them when they need it.

When I first applied this wasn't the role I would have chosen for myself, but after reflecting on my phone interview answers and what this role entails it really was a perfect fit!

I am so excited to be here living one of my biggest oldest childhood dreams, I will definitely be posting more!

99 Days until I check in!

Oh my goodness I can't believe that in 99 days I'll starting a whole new chapter in my life!
From now until I leave I'll be posting weekly updates of how i am preparing to go!
Starting off I have my roommate survey!
Well I already have my roommate, so it is more of a getting to know me survey instead!

DCP Fall Survey

NAME:

Marissa Parks sometimes known as Maris, Ris or Ginge

BIRTHDATE/AGE:

June 10^th 1992 / 21 for the program

HOMETOWN:

Linden Michigan (and proud)

MAJOR/MINOR:

Basically I’m an educational mess.

Business major Music Major maybe a few other things.

Undecided?

CURRENT JOB:

Bar’s Products I’m a cross between a temp, a secretary and a scientist (I have a lab coat)

RESORT:

Walt Disney World

ROLE:

Custodial!

ARRIVAL DATE / DEPARTURE DATE:

August 5^th -January 3^rd

FLYING IN OR DRIVING:

Driving

HOUSING PREFERENCES

BUILDING:

The Commons (maybe) Patterson

NUMBER OF ROOMMATES:

1 Found her already though!

I COULD NOT LIVE WITH A ROOMMATE THAT:

Whom doesn’t respect my space, or has people over at all hours of the night.

LIFESTYLE STUFF

DO YOU DRINK?

Probably casually

DO YOU SMOKE?

Absolutely not.

DO YOU LIKE TO PARTY?

My idea of party is to have late night chats and movie nights involving anything from horror movies to Disney movies or having friends over for a nice dinner night.

MEDICAL CONDITIONS?

Cystic Fibrosis genetic disorder that effects the lungs and pancrease.

MESSY OR TIDY?

I am fairly tidy, but I will have somedays where I won’t even want to make my bed.

DO YOU LIKE TO COOK?

I LOVE to cook! I love trying new recipes and making all sorts of different dishes! Lately I’ve been experimenting with chocolate and homemade marshmallows yum!

NIGHT PERSON OR MORNING PERSON?

Both

ROOMMATE STUFF

FAVORITE CHORE?

Dishes, sweeping, cleaning the bathroom.

LEAST FAVORITE CHORE?

Vacuuming, dusting.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT SHARING?

I am all for sharing! As long as it’s mutual and if you take the last one either replace it or at least let me know!

DO YOU SNORE?

No but I talk it my sleep, and do I have some stories.

WHAT TIME DO YOU USUALLY GO TO BED?

It depends, between 10 and 12 usually sometimes earlier sometimes later.

 WHAT TIME DO YOU WAKE UP ON FREE DAYS?

anywhere between 7 and 11

I PREFER TO SLEEP IN A ROOM THAT…

Is cool and dark, with a little bit of noise like a fan. I like fans a lot.

PERSONALITY STUFF

THREE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE YOU:

Musical, chipper, animated

ONE GOOD QUALITY:

I’m a good adapter. Emotionally it is easy for me to understand and adapt myself to different situations to and connect with people.

ONE BAD QUALITY:

I am painfully shy. I have a bit of social anxiety, but once I get to know you I’m a bit of a chatter box J

5 FAVORITE BANDS/SINGERS:

Queen

Jonas Brothers

Demi Lovato

5 FAVORITE TV SHOWS:

Doctor Who

Hells Kitchen

Kitchen Nightmares

NCIS
Sherlock

5 FAVORITE MOVIES:

Jurassic Park

Twister

5 FAVORITE BOOKS:

The Eternal Ones

 The Forbidden Games Series

John Green EVERYTHING

HOBBIES:

Race Cars, Music music music, reading, drawing, blogging, I’m a mess of hobbies the more you know me the more you’ll realize I am actually just a Hobbist

DISNEY STUFF

FAVORITE MOVIE:

The pressure! Peter Pan II Return to Neverland

FAVORITE CHARACTER:

Peter Pan/Alice

FAVORITE PRINCESS:

Tiana

FAVORITE VILLAIN:

Dr. Facilier

FAVORITE PARK:

E.P.C.O.T.

FAVORITE RIDE:

Tower of Terror

HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU BEEN TO DISNEY?

Disney World 3 times Disney Cruise Line 2

WHAT ARE YOU MOST EXCITED ABOUT AT DISNEY?

I am really excited start this part of my life! I am hoping to finish my A.A. online over the next year and network within the company to help me discover what I really want to do with my life. Working with the Disney company has been a dream of mine since I was in early middle school or elementary, I’m just frightened that once I get there I won’t leave!

OTHER:

I’m really excited to get to Florida and get everything started. I am confident that it will be an amazing time. I am also running the Tower of Terror 10 Mile event, and I’m the team leader of a charity team for the event so if you’re planning on running and want to be on my team message me! Don’t pay your registration fee yet though, message me first!

I'm Going to Disney World!

I got the E-mail Monday morning that said I was accepted into the Disney College Program! After freaking out for a few hours and telling everyone I know I sat down and paid my fee's and picked my arrival date!
My role in the college program is Custodial, which I've heard from a lot of people is one of the best roles to have!
I am really excited for this opportunity working for Disney has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember and I've finally got my chance to get my foot in the door of the company! This does put my degree off another semester, but I am completely okay with that! I am going to try and take one of the classes Disney offers and a class or two from my College, but I am scared that all the work will be too much and I really want to enjoy being at Disney as much as I can!

I feel like Tiana that dream i've been wishing on has finally come true!

Thank you Disney! and all the people who've supported my decision and encouraged me!

More Disney things to come!

Have a Magical Day!

Finals preparation!

So it is that time, my finals are approaching! I have 2 weeks until my official end of semester, but my first final is due next Wednesday I also have 3 tests between monday and wednesday as well and two tests finals week. All that and i'm only taking 3 classes!
I wouldn't say the stress of finals has set in yet, but i'm definitely starting to feel the burn.
I haven't been able to work out in the past 3 weeks because I've been on IV antibiotics. It's really hard to work out when you can take showers regularly.

Tomorrow I have to go to the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor to have my port needles changed. My port is in the right side of my chest! I'll pull my needle early to put my numbing cream on first and take a regular shower! I also have to get my blood drawn from the vampires! Okay not vampires, but that does make it sound like a better story.

I also have to go in and send off my passport paperwork! my passport expired at the beginning of February and you never know when i'll want to head off to a foreign land for an adventure!

Speaking of Adventure I have two planned out so far!
I am going to make a return visit to my College in Iowa in April for my old choirs spring show! And to see my friends of course!
In June I am heading to LAS VEGAS!!!! My mom promised me years ago she would take me to Vegas when I turned 21 and this is the year! I can't wait to hit the strip with my best friend and see what this drinking thing is all about!

Wish me luck,

Marissa

Vlog!

So I made this blog video the other day, it is the first of many to come!
It will go farther than being just about CF but since CF if a big part of my life i thought i would start there!
Check out my video and tell me what you think!

Also today is my first day off bed rest! Thank goodness I was going mad! And so far so good, i've been feeling a lot better and I can walk farther than 4 feet without feeling out of breath! Which is the first time in a long time!

Bed Rest: Day 1

I was in bed all day. Okay not quite ALL day but I didn't leave the house, unless you count stepping out onto the porch to get the dog to let go of a dead bird.
I am bored and tired. I haven't seen sleeping at all at night maybe a couple hours but not in a row. Sitting in the house all day has me bored more than anything.
My grandfather is coming up tomorrow though so hopefully that will chip me up a bit!

Wish me luck!


Marissa

bed rest?

Well i'm on bed rest until i go to class Monday. I had an appointment with my doctor today and he's really concerned with my health i am not to be getting out of bed unless I absolutely need something.
What am I supposed to do in bed for four day?
I admit I have been super tired lately so the rest will probably do me good.

I start IV antibiotics tomorrow, i am on a different medication so they want the home care nurse to "teach" me how to infuse it and watch me to make sure I don't have a bad reaction to it. I'll be on them for 2-4 weeks depending on how I feel each week, and I'm not rushing it! Normally i try to get off them as soon as possible, but not anymore!

My PFT was lower than it has been in a really long time it was 33%, which is down 8% from the last time I was sick in December. My PFT's haven't been this low since i was 7-8 years old and after that my Doctor sent me to a lung transplant doctor in St. Louis. I was taken off the lung transplant list 2 years ago, hopefully I can stay off it! It's made me nervous but I am sure all will be well!

Wish me luck!


Marissa

Phone Interview!

Earlier this evening I had my phone interview for the Disney College Program. I filed my initial application on Friday. I was really nervous in the morning because I woke up with a bad head cold. I was congested in my nose and chest so bad I couldn't breathe or smell anything! And I sounded like Chuckie Finsters dad, but I got it cleared up enough to sound normal by the time the phone rang.
 Here's how it went:
My interviewer was Connie and she was a complete sweet heart! She asked my about my intentions with the Program and why I wanted to be apart of it and then continued to ask me about my top 2 roles and how my work experience qualified me for them. She also asked me a few questions about how I work and what type of working environments do I prefer and work best in.
At the end of my interview she asked me if I had any questions or concerns with anything and I expressed my concern about having Cystic Fibrosis and being allowed to have my medications in the housing that Disney provides. She assured me that is would be no problem and that I shouldn't even be questioned about it from the staff.

I felt really good about my interview. I was a bit nervous, but I felt good about my answers to her questions, we even had a good laugh about the weather. I am satisfied with my interview and at this point I just hope it was good enough to put me above the rest of the applicants.


Wish me luck!

Marissa

I have made a decision, a decision that will change my life hopefully for the better but we'll see.
I don't think I am going to continue with the college, at least not like I am it is not the most important thing in my life, and while I have tried so hard to make it, it will never be.

Maybe this is a reality check, maybe it's nothing at all.
I am really tired, and I've been very sick the past 5 months I've been on IV antibiotics and they didn't help, I spent a week in the hospital and nothing. I've been pretending i'm fine, that it was all nothing that it was going to go away, but It won't.  I can't walk up a flight of stairs without needing a 5 minute break to catch my breath. I have spent a long time pretending but i think it's time to realize that I am sick, someday i won't get better, there will be no fixing me and I am grateful that it isn't today, and I'm done treating today like it's nothing.

I've decided that I will jump head first into the dreams I used to plan my life around, no matter how childish or unrealistic people think they are.
I sing. I love to sing, and I am SO lucky to have a voice.
I've lost friends, fellow Cystic's and I want to be their voice. I want to stand in front of people and tell them that I am a Cystic, but I am also lucky to experience life because some people never do.

I want to teach people that life isn't something to be quoted or stared at it's something to be experienced. Speak the words live in those moments you think are impossible because they're not.

You're not impossible.


Marissa Parks

I Confess!

Okay I admit it, I am a terrible Cystic. I am awful at taking my medications and treating my body correctly, but i'm working on it!
I get lectured all the time by my parents about not doing everything perfectly and honestly I know i don't but their comments and all that lack inspiration and really only make me feel bad about myself.
I should really consider myself lucky though, i take a bit of pills, but some people are on a lot more medications than I am. I just have a hard time remembering to do it. That sounds silly to a lot of people, yes I've been doing this for 20 years, but it's still something I have to remember to do. It takes a bit of time out of my day.
Just being random i thought I'd list all of my medications and when they're taken, maybe, hopefully this will inspire me to be better at taking me all

Morning

• Albuterol Breathing treatment 
• TOBI breathing treatment
• 10,000 IUs Vitamin D (5 caplets)
• Prilosec 
• Multi Vitamin
• CF Source Vitamin
• Vest (30 minutes)
• Rhinocort nasal spray
• Azythromycin (only Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays)
• 5 Enzymes (if i eat)
• Ciprofloxacilin

Afternoon

• Albuterol Breathing treatment
• Vest (30 minutes)
• 5 Enzymes (if i eat)

Evening

• Albuterol Breathing treatment
• Pulmozyne breathing treatment
• TOBI breathing treatment
• Zantac 75
• Rhinocort nasal spray
• Azythromycin (only Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays)
• 5 Enzymes (if I eat) 
• Cirprofloxacilin 

And I know i am missing a couple, so this will definitely be edited in the near future to include what I'm missing. 

This list also doesn't include the medications that change monthly, these are just the ones i'm taking right now.

Oh and no matter how often I take my medications or for how long, i will never be able to spell them. 

Wish me luck on this list!

Marissa

I've done it! I've applied!

So the Disney College Program applications went up this morning, and after having a miniature panic attack I managed to successfully fill out my application!

Now for those of you who don't know the Disney College Program is like an internship (without the title intern). Disney hires college students to take a semester and work for them. They provide housing and training and even offer extra classes like Disney History that some colleges will accept for their credits!

I have been planning on applying for the college programs since I first read about it in the summer of 2011, and I wanted to wait to apply until i was finishing up my A.A. degree but after transferring school last semester and starting a new program I was tired of waiting so I applied now!

It felt a little like this:

The Application felt really stressful, but it was actually really simple There 4 steps to Disney's Application process.

Step 1: The standard application. You provide you name address and social security number and information like this. Disney will also give you a list of roles to choose from and you rate your interest level on a scale of High Interest, Moderate Interest, Low Interest of No Interest.
Step 2. The Web Based Interview (WBI). The WBI is like a giant personality quiz  it asks you how well you do things and how you like them. Questions such as working in groups vs alone, to how would you handle an employee doing something wrong? There is a scale such as Strongly Agree to Strongly Disagree questions  like that. Again very stressful because if the questions don't match up to what they want you can be rejected here.
Step 3.  Phone Interview. This is when you will interact directly with a Disney recruiter. They'll ask a variety of questions about the roles you chose, your past work experience and all sorts of other questions! This is the last step that involves answering any questions.
Step 4. Your fate! You'll get an e-mail with the final decision. This decision can come after weeks of holding a pending status or just a few days of finishing step 3. But there's no doubt this step could change your life!


I am currently waiting for step 3. I have my phone interview scheduled for Tuesday at 3pm and I can't wait!
I am confident that I have what it takes to be a Disney CP but I just have to prove that to my recruiter.

Wish me luck!

Marissa