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| The best boss I'll ever work for |
Let's break it down into three major arenas, shall we?
Arena #1 - PUBLIC TRANSIT SUCKS. PERIOD.
Yes, we all knew this, but when it's your only modus ferre (way of getting anywhere), you come to realize just how usefully horrid it really is. My worst day thus far with our bus system was on one of my days off... our ugly metal people movers broke down consistently enough to piss me off to the point that I wanted to disown buses forever. Amid stories of buses catching fire and overheating on interstates, one may question why we still use them if they are truly this terrible. It's painfully simple: we don't have a choice. If I had a car, I would use it and get wherever I want to go 75% faster than if I took a bus. But, the major tradeoff is gas money: at this time, I pay nothing to get from point A to B. Free is wonderful, but you get what you pay for. It doesn't help anything that our ailing buses are old and worn out to begin with; add to that the factors such as heavy traffic, cranky bus drivers, and unmerciful Florida heat, and you have a recipe for a carless disaster. Oddly enough, I'm figuring out which buses are lemons by the bus number... bus #86929 has broken down every time I've ever seen it. #87054 and #87069 have been the best I've encountered thus far...
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| Let's hope that nothing like THIS ever happens to my bus... |
I found this out the hard way. I knew that PhotoPass was a job that would have me on my feet all day, but I never expected the constant wear and tear. After the first week of work, I bought gel inserts for my shoes. Second week, Vitamin C to stay healthy. Third week, I was bedridden. Fourth week, got better only to get sick AGAIN. Seriously?! In the first month of working for Disney, I got sick TWICE. Thing is, I never get sick. Yes, Florida has different germs than the Midwest, but it's nothing my immune system can't handle, right? Oh, how wrong I was! Three days straight I had to call in sick, followed by another sick day the week after. My throat was so sore I couldn't even moan... partly from hollering at Guests to smile for the camera. "Okay, move this way... now back a step... hey! COME BACK! Now smile... that's great... smile! SMILE!!!" (slight exaggeration, but you get the picture) Just try to get stubborn people to listen to you over the sounds of a theme park filled with people... then do it all day, and let me know how your throat feels when you get home. Not that I'm complaining, I love my job... it just wears on me.
Arena #3 - MONEY DISAPPEARS.
Again, common knowledge. But the realization of this fact just became real to me. I'm paying my own rent now. I'm buying my own food, and toilet paper, and food, and I shouldn't have bought that TV, and "crap, I eat a lot... must stop... can't stop, dangit..." There's no college loans to help pay for anything now; it's all on me. Gotta love responsibility! I knew I'd have to be responsible, but reality is a dog...
That being said, and in lieu of my eating and spending habits, I have decided to review a local eatery to relieve stress and splurge on myself. (I'm so lavish...)
Bahama Breeze is a local restaurant located just down the street from Vista Way. A 20 minute walk on a good day, it's a scenic journey through foliage, sidewalks, and an asphalt jungle filled with emotionless motorists. Once you arrive at Bahama Breeze, however, the stress of the journey melts away into the Caribbean aura that envelops you upon arriving. The restaurant offers standard valet parking - a necessary commodity in the ever-selfish society of modern times. Valet parking, an ever-present staff, and live music lend the atmosphere an upper-class feel, though the restaurant is very relaxed and open. Bahama Breeze features both indoor and outdoor dining arrangements.
The outdoor pavilion-like section features large tables and a stage where music artists perform live shows as guests dine; while the indoor section boasts intimate booths, darker lighting, and a full bar. In terms of alcohol, the restaurant spares no expense; there is a book of mixed drinks and Caribbean concoctions at every table; however, the restaurant also offers many non-alcoholic exotic beverages as well as Coke products.
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| I didn't realize I had the menu opened to the "Beer" section when I took this... >.> |
The menu is decent, offering the usual entree and appetizer variety that can appeal to anyone's tastes; there's always something one would love to try. There are many seafood and sandwich options, including a "Build Your Own Burger" section that I would love to have sometime. Only two steak options exist, though I feel the variety of the menu makes up for it.
For an appetizer, I chose Bahama Breeze's signature coconut shrimp, served with fresh sliced pineapple and a lightly tart citrus mustard dipping sauce. My server for the evening, Spencer, informed me that this was Bahama Breeze's "house" sauce; an original blend similar to honey mustard, but smoother and with a tart punch of citrus that contrasts nicely with the delightfully sweet taste.
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| Signature Coconut Shrimp with Pineapple - one of Bahama Breeze's signature appetizers |
Looking on to the entrees, I selected the buttermilk fried chicken, battered in-house and served on mashed potatoes, drizzled with lemon butter sauce on layers of spinach and tomatoes... all garnished with corn, chives, and black beans. The chef who prepared my entree also delivered his creation right to my table, which added a personal touch to my experience. The portion sizes were also wonderful; two large boneless chicken breasts with a delicious breading served atop a bed of hand mashed potatoes. I definitely got enough to fill my hungry tummy.
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| Buttermilk Fried Chicken Breast |
No review would be complete without a dessert, so to close out my already-sufficient meal, I chose another Bahamas Breeze signature menu item: Rebecca's Key Lime Pie. Smooth and rich with delightfully popping lime flavor that dances on the tongue and topped with lightly toasted whipped cream, it was delectable. The pie was served with two drizzles of syrup on the side - raspberry and mango. When eaten with the raspberry drizzle, the pie gained a sweet tang; the mango added a tropical swirl of additional flair. Needless to say, I savored every bite of this delicacy that was truly worth the extra money, though the last two bites were a bit rich...
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| Rebecca's Key Lime Pie - a Bahama Breeze signature dessert |
All in all, I would say that though it is expensive, you definitely get your money's worth at Bahama Breeze. The service is wonderful, and the food is simply amazing. I give it an 8 out of 10! Good thing I had a $10 dollar off coupon ;)
And, the coolest thing ever, they draw on your to-go boxes!
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| Oh, this made me happy. |
In other news, I am now fully trained in my job as a photographer, which means I get to hang out with characters like Tigger and Mickey. It's much more fun than taking pictures of immobile objects (think of a giant tree in Animal Kingdom, for instance... I wonder how many thousands of photos I've taken of that beautiful thing!) I now look forward to park hopping with my shifts; I would love to pick up a shift or two at Hollywood Studios, for instance. A change of scenery is needed... I think Animal Kingdom is going to drive me cray cray soon.
In closing, I've never loved Mickey more. The longer I work at Disney, the more I see how dedicated to quality the company is. Nothing is perfect, but in terms of integrity, Disney is very committed. Walt's legacy lives on through all of us, and it's pretty cool to see people's dreams coming true every day I'm here. So, thanks Lord for getting me here. Now show me what to do...
**om nom nom**
- Knolster
