Good Ole Max

Some more of Max's awesome-ness!!

Utah Has Captured My Heart

Oh my goodness... What a wonderful time I'm having in Southern Utah!

When I first heard that I was going to a Best Western in Bryce Canyon, UT I was excited! However, I came here right after my several visits at Pelican Hill in Southern California. Pelican Hill is a billion dollar resort striving for 6 star status, and a Best Western is... well.... a Best Western. Nothing wrong with a Best Western, by ANY means, but compared to Pelican Hill - it's a little different.

This is Matt. For those of you who are reality TV show junkies, you probably recognize Matt. He was the 2nd place finisher on the "Pick Up Artist 2" on VH1. He was in my training class, and played as many tricks on me and the rest of the class members as he could! He's a very charismatic guy, so I'm surprised he didn't win the $50,000, but 2nd place ain't bad!!

I flew into Las Vegas, NV and waited for my co-worker to land about an hour later (yes, I lost $60 and it's all his fault!!) We got in my rental car and drove through Vegas on I-15 for about 4 and a half hours to Southern Utah - Bryce Canyon City to be exact. I started that day in Indiana, flew to Nevada, drove through a part of Arizona and onto Utah. I managed to cover 4 states in 24 hours.

This place has truly captured my heart... I've had a headache since the moment we climbed to 7,000 feet, two nosebleeds a day (today I only had one!!), NO cell phone service whatsoever, a dozen trips a day to the bathroom because I need to drink so much water, and one whole container of chap stick has been used - I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT! This town, Bryce Canyon City, has about 200 people living here. And, as far as my friend Max can tell - every single one of them work here. The history here is just great! My friend Max explains below........

I finally got my butt out of my room today at about noon and drove about five minutes up the road to Bryce Canyon. I drove all the way up to the top, Rainbow Point, and worked my way down. I got out of the car at Rainbow point and started to walk to the scenic part for a few pictures, and I almost tripped over a Raven that was hanging out in the parking lot. He kind of looked at me for a minute - I snapped a picture and went on my way. As I worked my way down the road and pulled aside for a few pictures, the Raven would come and visit me.... and step in my way. It wasn't like I would just see it... I mean, it would fly from a rock formation and swoop down onto one of the railings in front of me. It would stare at me. I swear it was the same Raven every time. I was all alone out there in the wilderness (aside from about four other cars making the rounds), except for this Raven. I talked to Max about it, and he said perhaps I should talk to a Navajo Indian - because it probably isn't a good thing!!

OH Max.... he keeps me in stitches most of the time. Below are a view videos I hope you enjoy. I'll write more soon, once I do some more exploring.

Long time.....

Sorry - it's been a LONG TIME since I've written in here. I'd like to say I've been really busy, but I'm not sure that's the reason. I have actually been randomly busy lately. Since I've written, I traveled back home to Indy for about five days of goodness. I went home on Wednesday night, tried to go to bed early...which never works, especially when coming home from the West Coast. I got up early (8am) on Thursday and Friday, because I actually had to work remotely from home. This is something I have never done and I've always thought only the really geeky, I mean more experienced, people do this. It was pretty intense, but I did actually dial into a few hotels and fixed their stuff. I felt fairly accomplished. Thursday evening, my roommate and I needed to get cheered up...we both had rough days. So - we took a cab to the airport to pick up a rental car so that I could have a car for the weekend. Since I'm an Elite Member I can pick whatever I want... we decided to go with the Volvo (which was quickly nicknamed "The Vulva"). We drove to the northside of Indy to see my friend Molly Huffman's Chorus practice. She is one of the Master Directors of the Capitol City Chorus. Their Christmas concert is this Sunday, right at about the time I'll be getting on a plane for Las Vegas. Friday night was spent hanging out with my roommate and her mom. It was really awesome to have an adult stay with us...a mommy figure. I know that sounds funny - but I've never experienced that with anyone really. It's been a LONG TIME since I've had that feeling. Saturday, I drove home and hung out with my Dad and Stepmom. We went to the Anderson race track/casino for the clinic's Xmas party - it was a lot of fun. I lost a bunch of money - but could've left with $800. Stupid. Next was random meetings and catching up with my friends from back home. Was a good trip.

By Tuesday, I was back in Orange County, CA for the third time now. We came with a team of 6 total people this time, which is HUGE!! They have two front desks here at Pelican Hill Resort, so we had to have that many. We were all sharing two three-bedroom villas. I leave tomorrow and it feels like I've been here for a very LONG TIME. I'm constantly reminded of where I am, because of all of the helicopters that keep flying low over our villa. We've got a view of the golf course and we're right under the path of the helicopter. Actually - here comes another one. I wish my camera worked right now - I'd take a pic for you.

So - Thursday...Thanksgiving... We had about 12 people total in our villa for dinner...our team, as well as the IT Team from the resort. Dinner took a LONG TIME to cook. I, as a non-drinker, managed to get drunk while we were waiting somehow. It's always kind of fun when that happens. I haven't gotten that drunk in a LONG TIME. And, people (including myself) are always so shocked at how I hold my liquor. I just become more funny....talk like a sailor....and let go of all of my reservations. Basically, it turns into an HBO Comedy Special. Not to mention, the last few people to stay got the best part of it. There was another software installer there for their spa software, and one of the IT Project Managers. They decided it would be a great idea to straighten my hair.... which hasn't happened in a LONG TIME. Some pictures are here for you.

The only other real news I have is that they are still hammering through the idea of bringing me into the office as a Project Specialist. This would require my relocation to Columbia, MD....which I'm completely okay with. It's more a matter of finding affordable housing, or maybe finding a roommate, which is always hard for me. I'll live with my brother Mitch for at least a short term period of time. Another change may be in my future! We'll just have to see what happens.

I'm a little "over" the blogging thing today....sorry. I'll send some more pics as they come along. Have a GREAT day to the plethera of people reading this... (right!!)

What a weekend...

Okay - I'll start from the top. We have had some pretty uneventful work days here....well, the drama is still very strong, but it always is - isn't it?! So, Friday, we drove up to Beverly Hills to pick up some other installers that are working there at the Beverly Hills Hotel. If you're not aware, the Beverly Hills Hotel is probably one of the most "high profile" hotels in the country, with guests that enjoy a very "low profile" stay! Their average rate isn't extremely high though...that's what I don't get. Anyway - I digress. Charlize Theron and Robert DeNiro have been sited there in the time that team has been there. They just stop in for dinner. Although, Simon Cowell had to be moved from his suite because the paparazzi were bothering him. Though the install is going very well, that team was ready to get the heck out of there. They don't have a car and the part of Beverly Hills they are in, isn't exactly conducive to walking down the street for a bite to eat. Unfortunately, we only met up with one of the team members, because of one reason or another. But, we did end up at a place called the Aqua Lounge to meet up with yet another team of people who were working down the street at the new hotel, the Montage. Good times. To the side is a picture of the Beverly Hills Hotel and below is the sign on Sunset Avenue.

Turns out, on Saturday, I had one of the worst colds EVER. It was so weird. I woke up Saturday really late..like noon (shut up, I couldn't sleep and finally passed out at about 3am)...with the biggest headache I have ever had in my life. I was really hot and just had a horrible time with head congestion. I went through every single tissue I had in my room and stayed in bed most of the day. Yuck! Then, I woke up this morning and felt a LOT better. I still say it was sympathy sickness for my friend Katie in Indy that has been sick for like a month. I did keep checking outside my window though, because the news was covering all of the crazy fires. There is a pretty big one in Yorba Linda, which I don't think is too far from where we're staying. There is another just outside of LA, but that one isn't far from us either. The other one is up by Santa Barbara, I think.

So - this morning we drove back up to Beverly Hills to pick up our buddy. We drove to Universal Studios, got there about 1p and didn't leave until 6p. IT WAS GREAT!! I had SO much fun walking around, checking things out! It was a little creepy though, on the way up there. The sky was just eery.... I'm not sure if this picture does it justice, but the sky was just smokey...and weird. We saw a few of the planes flying by and dropping stuff on the fires. That is the WB Studio...or whatever it's called... a mile away or so, I think. But check out the sky - it's not supposed to look like that.

I did manage to buy my nephew, Brody, a stuffed animal. And, of course, I had to get a magnet. I didn't want to get another one that says "Newport Beach" or "Orange County". I'm coming back here on the 25th, so I'll have 3 on the fridge. That's a little much. The magnet collection was a good choice though. Those are the only things you can find in every single airport in the country/Canada.

Guess where our buddy wanted to go for dinner................... 3-2-1...

THAT'S RIGHT!! In N Out. LOVE IT! I'm not sure if I told you, but I talked about In N Out in all of my classes so much that my morning class all pitched in to buy me a gift card! YEAH! Cash money in the bank!

I've sneezed four times while writing this blog, noticed on ESPN that the Colts won today (Yes, I am probably 1 in 100 women that actually keeps ESPN on for background noise), pottied, looked up how to spell a few words (mostly names), laughed at a Justin Timberlake short from SNL, considered what the Top 5 Horse Movies should actually be.....and blew my nose a few times. Shew! I'm tired. Until next time.........

PS. I'm sorry about the quality of some of the pictures in this blog. I was afraid to overload the blog with picture gigs!!

Here are some more pics from today to last you! OH, HOW FUN!!

Fat People Should Get Paid More...

Come on, Obama. That's what I think this country needs. Pay fat people more, so that their pay scale works out to be about the same as the skinny people....Jeesh! A skinny person that does my job ends up making more money than I do, because they save more money on food...IT'S CRAP! I think this country should really think about that.............


Okay - of course, I'm kidding. It's not like I spend money on food anyway. Seriously.

I went shopping the other night with the other lady that I'm working with. We're both big ladies...excuse me, "full figured women". Good Lord. I can't honestly say that I'm "full figured" or "curvy", I'm just BIG. I'm used to it, you should be too. Anyway - I realized while shopping with her that I've never been shopping with another "full figured woman" before. It's pretty awesome! She just guessed my "over-size" and didn't think twice about it. I bought two suits, which I needed badly. My suits are getting a little rough, and being at Pelican Hill was a great excuse to go shopping.

Training is going well, but tomorrow is our last day together in a structured training environment. :( I love this training group......the people in my class are absolutely perfect. They fit my personality SO WELL, and they are learning SO WELL. I will truly miss this group.


This picture was taken the last time I was home. This sign cracked me up and I HAD to take a picture. Come on fat people - quit walking through the drive-thru for exercise.

Food Adventures in California....

LOVE IT!! Oh my god. I can't honestly explain it, other than the fact that I have apparently been seriously deprived of In N Out Burger for 23 years...and I'm making up for that now. I have eaten In N Out for lunch or dinner four times in five days. WOW. So, we had to take pictures tonight, as we visited In N Out for dinner!! I think this drive through window guy freaked me out..... He kept poking his head out of the window like a turtle poking his head out of a shell!!!

Other than that, we've gotten to enjoy Taco Bell (for lunch today and I almost puked), Melting Pot (where I met another person named Lindy), and Dave and Busters (another new one.....it's intense). Other than that - it's been all about In N Out...I really don't think I've eaten anywhere else than that in 5 days. Truly disgusting, I know.

And, can I just tell you that these Orange County people are something else!! The Orange County Airport...John Wayne...has to follow the sound ordinance in Orange County. Meaning - the planes can't make too much noise!! HAHAHA...you better believe, if you're taking off in one of those 747s...you better be prepared to make a pretty steep climb, and then hear the engines turn off until you end up over the ocean. Holy crap. Not only that - but you can't find a gas station anywhere in the city limits, unless you know just where to look. I guess the Real Housewives of Orange County don't want anyone to see them get gas!! Thanks for thinking of the transient business travelers in your neighborhood...jerks.

The first day here in Irvine, we drove around for awhile on the way to the Corporate Office building for training, to try and find a Starbucks. Isn't this California?! Where are all of the freaking Starbucks?! We did find one, finally...and there was no place in sight to turn into it. I can't tell you how many U-Turns we took that morning....GOOD LORD!

I think I could handle this Irvine place...although, it doesn't really compare to Farmland, Indiana.

On a separate note - I'm watching that movie "Flicka"..... this is the 3rd best horse movie EVER!! 10 extra bonus points if you can name the first two...................................

More later....gators.

PS. Sorry this blog is a little late. I had to spend time drenching my keyboard in rubbing alcohol so that I could actually use the space and shift key. Otherwise - my blog would look like this:

"HI My wonderful
blogging friends. I CERtainly
hope you're
all doing very well. TURns out that I REALLY
like this IRVine place."

An uneventful, tiring day...

Last week, in the very last hour of our very boring training class...I managed to spill a soda completely over the top of my laptop. Just now - an entire week later (minus about 14 hours) my keyboard decides to beat me up....... I think I'll probably have forearms like Popeye by the time this blog is completed!!



Today was another very interesting day. So far, our work here is great...I am one of three trainers here for Pelican Hill. Pelican Hill is a resort in Newport Beach that is striving for 6-star status....striving to be known as THE BEST resort in the world. Good luck, Pelican. What's great about this is that most of these "kids" have never worked in hotels before, so I find myself putting them through a "Hotel 101" class. Which I apparently LOVE to do! My room, the War Room - otherwise known as "Big Sexy", is the best training room I have ever had.



After a LONG day of training and miscellaneous drama, we went to the Melting Pot for dinner. Our waitress's name was Lindy..............WEIRD! That is only the second Lindy I had every met, and I turned out to be her first! Afterwards, the lady I was driving around - Miss Daisy - needed to go to a Walgreen's or Target...something. We weren't sure where one was, so we just kind of drove around in my rental (a brand new Jeep Liberty with a convertible roof...like a sunroof on crack) until we landed up at THE DISTRICT is Tustan, CA. JACKPOT!! It was maybe three blocks away from the hotel, so we're set for the next week and a half!



I FINALLY had In N Out Burger..... HOLY CRAP! That place is the most amazing thing in the world. This project team all went there for lunch yesterday and my afternoon class was so excited for me, they jumped online and printed out the "secret menu" for me! So, today for lunch we went again and I got all kinds of bells and whistles on my burger and fries!! SWEET!



This all seems so boring to me, but if you're still reading this by now - then that might mean that it was semi-interesting. I'm alright today - just a little lonely, run-down and tired. Hopefully tomorrow will bring something inspiring..........................



Here's a picture of me "over it" after work today! More later............

Another Venue...

Alright! Let's add to the long list of "commuter websites" that I choose to keep up, to update my friends on where I am and what I'm doing. If you aren't aware, there are apparently different crowds of people that are on facebook, myspace AND now this blogger. Good times, great oldies.

YOU GOT ME!! Here I am!! HAHAHA.... I'm just trying to convince myself that there is really a significant number of people that are reading this!

I'm in Newport Beach again... But this time I'm here for two weeks of training sessions with a brand new staff here at this resort - most of which have never worked in a hotel before, not to mention have never used hospitality software. LOVE IT!! I'm SO in my element...too bad it can't last forever.

While I was in Baltimore last week, my brother and his wife had their first child... Emily Judith. I was so happy about being in the right area at the right time! It was great to meet her and have the chance to spend the time with family that I don't often get to see.... Isn't she beautiful?!