Job #2

(NOTE ABOUT PICTURE: This was taken Christmas 2001, when Dolly made a special trip to the park to have her picture made with her employees. I am in the 3rd row right behind her shoulder - dark green shirt - it was great!)

DOLLYWOOD, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee!  Yep - on weekends from April until the end of the year, I work for Dolly Parton.  AND let me tell you, she is one special lady.  Everyone always asks me - have you ever met her?  Sure - and she is one of the nicest people you would ever want to meet.  She has always said about herself "what you see is what you get" and that is exactly what she is like.  Two years ago she came to the park during Christmas and had her picture made with her employees.  I treasure this picture of I have of her and my team from Dollywood.

I work the River Rampage ride.  It is a big, inner-tube boat ride and we guarantee to get you wet - right down to your underwear.  It's a great ride on a hot summer day - the perfect way to "cool off".  The people I work with there are great - we all get along so well together and everyone is always willing to help each other out.  The work itself is hard - we are out in the sun most of the day and it gets pretty hot.  Our supervisor and team lead make sure that we all drink plenty of water, and we get rest breaks.  It's not really the ride itself that brings me back each year (this is my 5th year working the Rampage), it's my team.

Dollywood also has it own medical facility on the park  for hosts (that what we are called - hosts).  For me it is great since I don't have health insurance from my main job.

If you gotta work another job - you might as well work at a fun place - and Dollywood is a FUN place to work.

Ryan goes with me and he knows everyone on the park - and they know him.  Everyone treats him like he is a vip and he loves it.  He knows ALL the girls in ALL the shows, their birthdays and where they are from.  He loves the rides, especially the new rollercoaster that just opened this year, Thunderhead.

Christmas at Dollywood is really special.  My ride closes the end of October and I am usually "on call" for one of the other rides (if they need me).  The park is completed covered in lights of all colors, with special Christmas show and music and it is just a delightful place to be.  Ya'll come on and visit us - ya hear????