Random Days in Orlando

It has been crazy since 4th of July!

We watched our fireworks at EPCOT and also saw Hollywood Studios' show (if you want to see it make sure you are sitting near the Mexico pavilion).

Earlier in the day I served breakfast at give kids the world in the gingerbread house and boy was it busy! The gingerbread house is a neat place that serves breakfast and dinner for the families staying. Perkins sponsors all the food there. Along the ceiling are toys that past wish children have sent back to give kids the world for others to enjoy while eating breakfast. Many of the families were so grateful to have someone carry their tray. These parents are not only taking care of a sick child that sometimes is sick to the point of essentially caring for a newborn, but their other children as well. I can't imagine the stress and the look of relief on their faces was sign enough of everything they do in a day.

After my shift I signed up to serve breakfast again. This time I served in Ice Cream Palace, where the families can get a sundae 24 hours a day. There is a quicks service stand just next to it sponsored by IHG with Holiday Inn Express Breakfast food. Many of these families were getting up early to jet off to the parks for the day. I definitely enjoyed that more since it was busier.

The next day I worked and we rode bikes around Celebration once we got home. I feel like I continue to discover different parts of this town. There is one section, Artisan Park, that has a free gym. Residents only. And the scenery is even nicer than this side of Celebration. I know the tax rates have to be crazy over there! If you are ever in Orlando, definitely come bike around or take a segway tour. Don't forget to eat some ice cream on the main lake.

Saturday I got up early again and headed back to give kids the world. This time I worked at the main gate. This was neat because I was the first to welcome several families to GKTW and even quickly chat with workers and other volunteers. Plus I had time to do some History homework in between!

Afterwards my roommate and I went to universal with our neighbor. He wanted to see "Boys Like Girls" so we headed over and I finally bought a season pass to Universal. I talked the agent into giving me a florida resident discount.

What?

He was cute, I couldn't help myself.

After they played the two songs I knew by them (so glad I didn't pay extra for that ticket), my roommate and I went to go ride one of Universal's new rides "Rip, Ride, Rock It." It had been closed for 20 minutes, though. My roommate never gives up so we flirted our way on. Not only did we get on, but we got back doored. Essentially at Disney, you back door very close friends and celebrities. So not only did we get on past close, but we didn't have to wait in line either.

Nice.

And the ride was great, but I wish I would have had more time to choose a song (you choose a song as soon as you sit down from the list on the handlebar, and you only have 30 seconds).

On Sunday my friend and I got up really early and drove to Cocoa Beach to watch the sunrise. We pretty much did nothing all day and it was glorious. I also discovered a blown glass shop I am checking out on Wednesday!

After a couple of days of working, my friend came in town and we hit up universal with my roommate and neighbor and his friend. I finally saw "Potterversal" and it was awesome. If you have any interest in going, get to the park 15 minutes before it opens so you can run back and hop on the ride before it gets crazy. Also check out the show at Olivander's. It is neat, but not worth waiting 2 hours, so do that in the morning, too. Also, definitely have a butter beer. And the ice one, not the warm one (those are gross I hear). Honeydukes was also there and I got a chocolate frog, which came with a wizard card (I got Ravenclaw!). There were a few other small stores, none of which I would ever go in once the day got busy. They are way too small. There is also a dragon challenge which is essentially Dueling Dragons with a few harry potter banners.

Of course we hit up the Universal notables too - Hulk, Jurassic Park, and Spiderman.

We moved over to studios to ride Rip, Ride, Rock it again (this time I picked a song in time, Kanye West's "Stronger") and then The Mummy, Jaws, Men In Black, The Simpsons, and for my first time ever, E.T. A much better version of Disney's Peter Pan ride.

With two universal days under my belt and another when my mom gets to town Tuesday, I think the pass was well worth it.

The other night I finally got to see Cirque Du Soleil's La Nouba at Downtown Disney. It was a really great and intriguing show with some really neat acts. I highly recommend for an nice night out instead of a movie. I can't say whether or not it was better than Blue Man Group, but it was different. They were both very different shows than I have ever seen in my life.

Last night I was finally certified in night diving at Ginnie Springs in Alachua, FL (northwest of Gainesville). This was a super neat place that a lot of people camped at and the springs were absolutely beautiful. Cold, but beautiful. And the campsites were right on the river. If I was staying for the next month, I would have called my roommate and made plans on the spot to spend a weekend there.

The water was 70 degrees, which is SO cold, but great for a hot day I'm sure. On our first dive we basically went down and explored this cave. That's two fears in one: enclosed spaces (especially underwater), and the dark (extra especially underwater). It was really great though and just a big beautiful room. There was also a side room that really only fit 2 people that you could swim up to with big air pockets and a small space that overlooked the rest of the cave. My instructor then brought me over to a grate with a strong flow of water coming through. I had heard him talk about this before and how he often would hold on to it in the dark and simply close his eyes.

Crazy I know.

It was really fun to hold on to, lights on though.

For our second dive we would be having a "galaxy dive." A galaxy dive is essentially busting open glow sticks to watch the particles swirl around you like stars in the dark.

We went down and had to all turn our lights out. And that was probably one of the darkest darks I have ever been in, with the exception of the cave in Cozumel at Secret River. I felt like I was hyper-ventilating like crazy. But for the last minute, I finally calmed down.

And I just breathed.

There was nothing to do except relax and listen to myself breath.

And I finally understood holding on to a grate in the absolute dark letting a current move you through the water.

And then he cracked the glow sticks.

Once open, speckles of light filled the cave. It was almost Harry Potter like. As if a spell had been set. Parts of the current swirled in the cave, creating a swirling galaxy effect.

As I moved through the cave I felt like I was swimming amongst the stars.

And that is why I scuba dive.

Moments like those of absolute beauty.

Beauty you can't find anywhere else.

I wish I could take a picture, but they don't show up.

In a way, I'm glad you can't. That beauty is reserved for those will to wait in the paralyzing dark, cold water to experience in that moment. And for no one else.

Much love.