D23 Adventures

I apologize that this post has been delayed. I've been home from my D23 adventures for 2 weeks now. What is D23 you ask? It is the Comic-Con of Disney. Everything from the latest news for the Parks & Resorts to Disney art was there. From the latest technology & games to Pixar panels. Even Disney Channel cast members and movie props! It...was...amazing!!!

Basically, a Disney convention...on steroids! Among the amazing things I saw and did included: 

• Meeting and chatting with Constantine Maroulis (Placed 6th on American Idol Season 4...yes, I'm a dork, I remember!)
• Got to meet the "Voices of the Parks" including the California Screamin', it's a small world, Indiana Jones, Space Mountain, the Official Disneyland Voice, and Dee Bradley Baker!! (Remember Legends of the Hidden Temple??)
• Previewed the new Pixar Short "La Luna" which is to come out with the new Pixar movie "Brave" in June 2012. It was super good!
• Got a preview of the characters of the upcoming Pixar movie "Monsters University."
• Viewed a panel of Pixar directors (including John Lasseter) and got to hear some great insights and stories about this company.
• Met a LOST character, saw original LOST props, including the Dharma van!
• Also, got my T-shirt QR code scanned once! (Not as many as everyone else). The code links you here. Enjoy :)

Here are some photos...

(See my After Today Live T-shirt? We all wore them, with a scan code on the back)

Meeting Constantine!! SO COOL!

A LOST Dharma van!! 

Pixar Shorts directors

Rex & Ted met Bill Farmer. (The voice of Goofy.)

I...want...one...

Met Dan Roebuck. He played Artz in LOST. ("You've got some Artz on you.")

The directors of Pixar. John Lasseter is on the end closest to us. 

The new Sulley for Monsters University

The new Mike from Monsters University

The whole group in Downtown Disney the night before we left.

AJ & I 

Ok, for those other Losties. Here are my photos of the LOST props! Some are a bit blurry, we weren't allowed to use flash photography. I was so excited about these props you'd think I was at Disneyland. SO COOL! (There were also props/costumes from the Pirates movies, Hocus Pocus, National Treasure, Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, Alice in Wonderland, and others)

John Locke 

Charlie's rings!

Yes, Dharma polar bear food.

The letter Sawyer carried.

Hurley's lottery ticket and airline ticket.

Sun

Jack's card

Kate's mug shot, passport, handcuffs, and airplane.

I cannot tell you HOW excited I was!

Sayid, Sawyer, and Charlie clothes from Pilot. (Yes, I took pictures of jeans and tshirts!)

Jin & Sun

John Locke

Locke's wheelchair!

Kate

Jack

Pretty much, it was awesome. Can't wait until next time!

Today is Billy Gilman's Birthday

Wow, I am so sad that I still know that. Don't judge. And for those of you who know who Billy Gilman is, I commend you (or pity you as you are now in that same category as me). For those of you who don't, here is a sample of his first song (he was 11). Here is a sample of a more current song (ok, 2005). Today, he is the "National Youth Chairman for the Muscular Dystrophy Association."

I woke up this morning and saw it was May 24th. My first thought: "Two more days of Whittier." My next thought: "Today is Billy Gilman's birthday. He is 23."

Can you say "LAME" ??

This is Billy today.

Yet, this is the Billy I knew 11 years ago...

Oh the hours of watching the Elizabeth music video in order to win a contest (I won 2nd and 3rd place...prize: computer frames that I still have somewhere), the days of listening to the One Voice CD over and over again, the night of his concert (the night my sister was born) and chasing him to the airport in hopes of seeing him.

At his concert at the State Fair (yes...very exclusive), I met a girl who got to hug Billy! With no hesitation I said, "You got to hug Billy Gilman??" And I threw my arms around her and gave her a hug! Her mother shouted, "Don't rub it off!" Let's just say, I didn't make a very good impression.

No, I am not a Billy fanatic anymore (once, I had a username: billygbob...I won't even admit to what those passwords were!). However, I still have his music on my iPod and I listen to his Christmas CD in December. I have a couple of his newer (a bit deeper-voiced) songs too.

WOW, I am so dorky. Don't judge me! It was probably my one and only real celebrity/teeny-bopper crush. Took some time to let go, but every once in a while...

Class of 2011

This is long overdue, but...I did it!! Let me tell you right now. If I can graduate from college...anyone can!

I graduated from ASU on Friday, May 13th. (Pretty lucky!) Upon arrival that morning, I was so ready to be finished! I wanted the festivities over with and done.

I wandered to the sea of caps and gowns to await the procession. As I stood there by myself among the other grads, I had 15 minutes to think about what was actually happening. I looked at everyone there and wondered about their journeys. How had they come to stand where I was now? Was their journey as long and hard as mine? Was it worse? What are their plans? Do they have great expectations for their future? How much of a relief was this graduation? Or was it one more step toward their other academic goals? Was I the only one who was not planning on getting this far?

Anyway, as I was pondering these thoughts, I was also anxious to get the ceremony over with. (I was tempted to ditch out-I ditched my MCC one a couple years ago) Finally, we walked into the Arena and I could hear the pomp and circumstance music playing. I knew my family was there watching me. And all of a sudden...I was overcome. I had made it. This is real. I was literally weeping with joy and relief.

Here are some photos from that long awaited day!

With my family! (Brooke White took this photo!)

If you don't know who Brooke White is, click here or here. She was a contestant on American Idol. A Mormon girl from Mesa! Her brother graduated with me. We were taking photos right next to her family. So cool!

With my parents

Finally!!

"I reached the light at the end of the tunnel! Thanks to my parents for the gentle pushes and to my Heavenly Father for the guidance."