The weather has been terrible!!!Apr 2, 2011
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Brenda & Walt - Papaw's Flatbread
Rick - Concessions
Betsy - Grandstand
| DollyWood – Week 2 – 3/22 thru 4/2 We have begun working, kind of. We started off with our DW Orientation on Thursday, 3/23, where we learned some of the DW background and the corporate Vision and Mission statements as well as a tour of the park. We were treated to lunch at Red’s Diner. On Friday, 3/24, we had our on-the-job training – Betsy at the Grandstand and Rick at the Midway Concession Stand. Friday was also the soft opening of the park, with only Season Pass-holders allowed in – we were very busy; the DW parking lots were full and folks were having to park at DW Splash Country and fetched by trams into DW itself. Betsy’s job consists of a variety of duties from hand washing trays and keeping the patio picked up to handing the completed orders to the customers and pouring soft drinks. Eventually I will be trained on the cash register and possibly learn the cooking duties. My team leader, Jennifer, and the Asst. Team Leader, Marie, have been great to work for so far as have the other hosts (what they call us worker bees) assigned to the Grandstand. Most of them are my age or older though we do have a few younger ones. Rick’s jobs consist of jerking sodas and icees , making popcorn, running the cash register, and doing the opening and closing reports. So well so, mind you, that they put him in the Country Fair Frozen Lemonade stand solo on Saturday (the 2nd day he worked) – it’s not rocket science. For those of you who know our friends, Walt and Brenda Austin, they are also here in Pigeon Forge at the same campground and working at Dollywood. They are working at Papaw’s Flatbread. They haven’t been working much either but we all hope that situation will change now that the weather is improving. Lest you think that we have been overwhelmed on our jobs, I would remind you that for most of the week, we were below 50 degrees, windy, rainy, and in generally just plain nasty weather, so much so, that we were called-off on three days. But this coming weekend portends to be nice, sunny and around 70, but followed with 2-3 more days of bad weather, including winds of up to 50 miles per hour. We did take the opportunity on one of the called-off days to go to several of the DW shows – Samaia, Drum!, and The Kingdom Heirs. Drum! and The Kingdom Heirs were, as always, really wonderful. Samaia is a review of folk songs and dancing from the Caucasus area of Russia. It was good, once. They had some children doing some of the numbers and they stole the show. We have attended the First UMC of Pigeon Forge for the past two Sundays at their 6PM contemporary service. The church is probably a little bit smaller than our church in Blue Ridge, but seems to have more younger people. Since I have to work this coming Sunday, I think Betsy will be going to a Cowboy Church with one of our neighbors who just happen to be from Ellijay GA, the next town south of us – small world. Speaking of small world, I was working the concession stand at the Train Depot, and who should walk up but Ron and Darlene Wallace from Blue Ridge – Ron used to be in charge of the BR Scenic RR and Darlene knows Betsy from the quilt shop. We had a celebration this week! Our companions from BR – Walt and Brenda Austin – went out for dinner with us and her brother and sister-in-law to cheer up Brenda on her birthday – she won’t let me tell you which one, but it isn’t ,,,55, 60, 65. Anyhow, Brenda says thanks for all the birthday wishes from everyone. (Sandra Aplin – I ate an apple fritter for you). Speaking of dining out, we have been to the Wood Grill Buffet, Mr. Gatti’s Pizza, Smokey Mountain Brewery, and the Applehouse. All great and there are so many more!!! And , of course, there have been the usual trips to Kroger and Walmart. Betsy has also been working on her crocheting skills and, as always, I have been picking up some rocks – our driveway is just littered with small agates. Hopefully, the weather will settle down so that we can take some day trips around the area. When our schedules become a bit more predictable, we will also be able to go to more of the entertainment venues here and in Sevierville and Gatlinburg. Laptop is doing well, constantly having to dodge the puddles. He’s ready for good weather, too. Love to all, Rick, Betsy, and Laptop PS Get a load of us in our “cute” Dollywood outfits. |
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