Feeling lonely, but feeling better

Hello All

So I have neglected you this weekend. I'm sorry.

My first week at my new position has been AWESOME!!! These guys who are the principle graphic designers at WDI are incredibly talented, knowledgeable, NICE, encouraging and totally understanding that my degree was focused on Print design not Environmental design.

For my graphic designers: this job is incredible! Where else can you design for turn-of-the-century late 1800s, early 1900s store fronts, Princesses, Frontier western-style, and for the Tomorrow that never happened? The range of style, design, materials, scope, media and creative influence is so broad that this position will always keep you on your toes. Besides the fast turn-around, the ability of seeing your designs come through execution and be visible by thousands of guests a day is an aspect that is totally unique of being in my specific off-site campus of WDI. When it comes to our creative endeavors: "If you can dream it, you can do it."- Walt Disney

As for my life. Today was harder. I left work feeling a little empty. I guess I could sugar coat my entire experience here for you all, or I can really give it to you straight and have you be thankful of my honesty. I'm lonely. Though I have a great woman I shared a living space with, and I have a wonderful team of coworkers and interns near me. I miss my friends. I want to go to Nicole's and enjoy her new place. I want to go home and talk with Matt. I want to be able to drive only two and a half hours to surprise Juan! I want to not be experiencing this part of my life alone. Now, I know I'm not alone. I can call you all whenever I need. But... it is something else entirely when I can chat with Jodi in the back room for hours face to face than to sit on the phone. I want ice cream with Rakis! I want to go to spin class with my mom!

I digress.

I am still happy. I did just get a gym membership at a 24hr Fitness with my Disney Discount! Yay! I'm excited to get back into the gym. This moving has taken me out of the gym.

One great note to leave off on, and then hopefully future posts will sound less like a letter home and more like a blog post, I had a great (short) conversation with one of the principle designers. As it started, he asked me how my first week had been. Timidly, I replied, "Great." And with a sideways glance he asked, "Really?" I toured the Glendale office last week and was overcome with intimidation. These artists, engineers and Imagineers have an unbelievable talent, execution and creative "sight" that I fear I just don't have. My coworker understood and sympathized. He had once felt the same. He laid it out simply, "You have to look at where you are in your career, and where we are." He described a professional and creative development that takes years or experience to get to this point. I am fresh out of college, and there is no school that caters to this job description. He, and it sounds like the whole team, knows and understands that this is new for me, I am not expected to perform at their level. Whew! Now all I have to tell the perfectionist working hard within me, that I will learn and grow here, I don't have to be perfect...yet!