I woke up this morning with the most awful feeling of regret and sorrow. Last night I pushed someone into a corner and surprise, surprise the information that was revealed was not what I wanted to hear. I knew better, I know better and I have no idea what stupid person took over my mind and mouth and asked the question that should never have been asked. It wasn't fair to the other person. The only thing I can say it that apparently I became more invested more quickly than the other person. Which is okay, its my issue and I will deal with it. I'm not prepared to lose what I have based upon my stupid inability to deal with my emotions and keep them under wraps. My deepest concern is that the conversation last night might have really changed something and that we won't be able to go back to where we were. I wish I had a flashing red warning light that would come on when I ventured into dangerous territory. I don't want things to change with this person, what we have now is fantastic and I'm happy. I don't need anything more that isn't willing given. And if it never is then so be it. But how do I get rid of this awful feeling in the pit of my stomach? The heaviness in my heart? I wish I could turn back the clock so badly and take back what I said....
Its going to be a long day today. In addition, Stephen is totally ticked off at me for sending my report to him late last night and he didn't send it back to me with the revisions so this means that the property is going to receive it later than promised....can this day get any worse....don't answer that, I already know the answer is yes. God, why does my heart hurt so bad!!!!!
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Friday, January 27, 2006
Friday Nights
What a ride these past two weeks have been! The travel, the work, the hours, the new experiences and most of all the realization that no matter what my friends and family will still be there to chit-chat with no matter what time of the day or night it is. Last week Stephen, my trainer, and I were in the southern part of Texas. We spent the weekend in the Galveston area where I saw the Bay for the first time....really impressive. While in Galveston I hooked up with Rachel for a great evening of laughter, a glass of wine, a couple of beers, an art showing and some great seafood. It was a fantastic time with a funny and witty friend. That Sunday was spent recovering from the horrific cold I caught from Stephen earlier that week and after I took an afternoon nap while Stephen watched the football game in his room we took off for Beaumont. Now I don't know if any of you have ever been there but as B. said "there's nothing there." Truer words have never been spoken. My cold finally broke enough on Tuesday so I could finally smell the interesting scent of the oil refineries---Uggg, I simply cannot imagine willing living in such an area. We worked on Monday at a M6---long, long day and then on Tuesday began the interesting process of training on Franchise properties. The fantastic thing about Franchise properties is that they are a cinch to do! So we were able to cut out a little early on Tuesday, finish up the reporting and just in general relax and call it an early work day....that is if 12 hours can be counted an early work day. Wednesday we only had 1 Franchise location to Audit. After an eventful trip to the location via Louisiana (not my fault although I was navigating) we arrived in Port Arthur and finished up the Franchise in short order. That afternoon we played hooky and went to the Fort Travis Seawall Beach which is actually an old military fort. It was wonderful to walk to the edge and look into the Gulf, and then to look at the remaining Fort structures that were used not only in the late 1800's but also modified and utilized during WWI and WWII. All in all a fantastic mid-afternoon break in the middle of the week.
Thursday was a stresser, it was my first solo audit without Stephen anywhere around (he audited a Franchise then came back to the Hotel for the rest of the afternoon). Needless to say it was a learning experience. There are some people that I have a wonderful time with but know-it-all, self-centered, ostentatious jerks, who think they are god's gift to all women are not a category that I typically get along with. Apart from his ***ing about how long the process was taking he essentially tried to hit on me during the audit....GRRRRRR. I was in a foul mood by the time we were done, which did take an extraordinarily long time because he was not doing his daily managerial job of controling the financial risks at his property. So after he essentially gripped me out over and over again, of which I am not allowed to confront anyone in any way shape or form during the audit, I then had the additional happy occassion of listening to Stephen chew me out concerning my first "bad" client survey. It wouldn't have been such an issue except for the fact that what was said was filled with partial truths that made me sound like the wicked witch of the west. This is what happens when a manager doesn't do their job and we go in bust them on it and them they get all crabby about the fact they got caught so they go to the most petty gripes about the auditor in an effort to turn some of the corp. attention away from themselves. I hope he feels terrible for the things he said!
So Thursday sucked but today, Friday simply was fantastic. The audit was great, I finished by 4:30, and then came back to the Hotel to work on the data entry and the Executive Opinion Summary for the Executive IC Committee. So now I'm taking a break and catching everyone up on my life. How fun! :)
Tomorrow I have to do a Studio 6 Audit during the day but I hope to be done no later than 7pm and Rachel is possibly coming up and we are either going to go out or stay in, watch chick flicks, drink appletini's and just have some fun. So that's the news that is news and I hope that ya'll have a great weekend and enjoy this great Texas weather. (you should have heard the THICK accents in Beaumount, I couldn't help but laugh uncontrollably when I heard it from the guys next door to my room, the waiter and waitress at J. Carinos and the hotel managers). Made me wonder what they thought of my not so northern "Northern" accent.
Thursday was a stresser, it was my first solo audit without Stephen anywhere around (he audited a Franchise then came back to the Hotel for the rest of the afternoon). Needless to say it was a learning experience. There are some people that I have a wonderful time with but know-it-all, self-centered, ostentatious jerks, who think they are god's gift to all women are not a category that I typically get along with. Apart from his ***ing about how long the process was taking he essentially tried to hit on me during the audit....GRRRRRR. I was in a foul mood by the time we were done, which did take an extraordinarily long time because he was not doing his daily managerial job of controling the financial risks at his property. So after he essentially gripped me out over and over again, of which I am not allowed to confront anyone in any way shape or form during the audit, I then had the additional happy occassion of listening to Stephen chew me out concerning my first "bad" client survey. It wouldn't have been such an issue except for the fact that what was said was filled with partial truths that made me sound like the wicked witch of the west. This is what happens when a manager doesn't do their job and we go in bust them on it and them they get all crabby about the fact they got caught so they go to the most petty gripes about the auditor in an effort to turn some of the corp. attention away from themselves. I hope he feels terrible for the things he said!
So Thursday sucked but today, Friday simply was fantastic. The audit was great, I finished by 4:30, and then came back to the Hotel to work on the data entry and the Executive Opinion Summary for the Executive IC Committee. So now I'm taking a break and catching everyone up on my life. How fun! :)
Tomorrow I have to do a Studio 6 Audit during the day but I hope to be done no later than 7pm and Rachel is possibly coming up and we are either going to go out or stay in, watch chick flicks, drink appletini's and just have some fun. So that's the news that is news and I hope that ya'll have a great weekend and enjoy this great Texas weather. (you should have heard the THICK accents in Beaumount, I couldn't help but laugh uncontrollably when I heard it from the guys next door to my room, the waiter and waitress at J. Carinos and the hotel managers). Made me wonder what they thought of my not so northern "Northern" accent.
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
long days and longer nights
I'm dropping everyone a quick line to let you know that I have not fallen off the face of the earth. Rather I've been working 16 hour days and it just feels like I've lost touch with everyone and everything. Work is still good but it has its ups and downs. At this point in time the most serious down is the incredible amount of time it takes to perform the audit, drive to the next location and then input the data from that days work. This job is not for the faint of heart, or anyone who wants to have some vague form of a life. Its 100% work.
So I'm off to bed because guess what, I have to be back up at 5:30 to finish all the stuff I didn't get done tonight.....I cannot wait for the weekend.
So I'm off to bed because guess what, I have to be back up at 5:30 to finish all the stuff I didn't get done tonight.....I cannot wait for the weekend.
Saturday, January 14, 2006
Pop-ups
Just a general FYI to everyone. The network system for Accor has VERY strong firewalls and things of that nature, thus all pop-ups are blocked which includes Spell check and emoticons. So until further notice spelling errors and syntax errors might appear from time to time. Due to the goofy schedule which I have been keeping and its appearance of continuing, the majority of my blogging will be taking place late at night. Thereby creating an even greater possibility of spelling errors and run-on sentences. So if things of that nature bother you, don't read my blog! And if you can live with it, read on. So its not that I've lost all grammatical skill and have regressed but rather there are other factors at work that open the door for ridiculous mistakes. Such is life!!!
Friday, January 13, 2006
Catching up 2
Packing was finished in a mad rush of late nights and early mornings. On December 28th Pam, Nelly and I embarked on the adventurous trip to San Antonio. We got started a little later than anticipated, okay a couple of hours later, due to once again very tearful goodbyes as I said farewell to my staff and friends at M6 Joplin, MO. As I left the city limits of Joplin, I was equal parts filled with anticipation over the new job and reluctance at leaving that which was familiar and comfortable even though I knew my days of being happy as a property level manager were over.
Enroute to San Antonio we stopped in Dallas to deliver my most precious possession into the hands of a new friend, Dali. I left Tiffany in the capable hands of Dali and I must admit that I totally lost it for about the next half hour. I really had no sorrow, regrets or reluctance over leaving Joplin, but leaving Tiffany was one of the hardest things I've ever done. I took picts of Tiffany the last night we were in Joplin and have to admit that she was one of the most beautiful cats I've ever seen. So Dali is now spoiling her rotten, which is as it should be, and apparently Tiffany is being her usual antisocial self.
After visiting with Dali and having a great supper with her, her husband James, their son and Nelli and Dali's mother we embarked on our trip again with an additional passanger riding with Nelli. We dropped Nelli's mom off with Nelli's brother outside of Kearney and around 2am we arrived in San Antonio.
The next few days were filled were relaxation and fun as I settled into my new place in San Antonio and caught up with Sarah and Ryan. New Years Day--Sarah, Jeff, Veronica and I embarked on the adventure of wedding dress shopping for Sarah and searching for the perfect bridesmaid dreses for those of us in the wedding party. With Veronica as the matron of honor and myself as maid of honor we were determined that Sarah find the perfect dress in which to marry the love of her life, and dresses that would suit the wide range of body types and more importantly the differing heights which her bridesmaids have. The search was very successful and I'll say nothing more about either our dresses or Sarah's than the fact that the dresses are fantastic, Sarah will be a vision and I'll have the perfect dress which I would not be afraid to wear out to a special event such as a black and white ball.
Tuesday January 3rd I went to work in Addision, TX as a Process Analyst/Internal Auditor for Accor Hotels-North America, Accor Economy Lodging division.:) The week was packed with corporate meetings, review and calibration of the entire Audit Team to the 2006 AEL Audit which encompases all Corporately owned and Franchise Red Roof Inn, Sudio 6 and Motel 6 properties. But while the days were long, the evenings were filled with company dinners which integrated the Business and Leisure division, the Audit Team, the heads of finance, and other extremely important people!! A hockey game between the Dallas Stars and the Mighty Ducks was attended by the Audit team and of course a poker game night was held during the week, although it was "funded" by the company it was not "sponsored" by the company. If nothing else we know how to redefine technicalities and take each others money! The last weekend in Dallas was spent working with a brief adjournment to the local movie theater for two hours of reality avoidance. By the way the movie "Rumor has it" is great!!
Monday was spent once again in the office working on Audit prep, and trying to absorb as much information as possible before leaving for the first of the Audit trips. Stephen and I will be together as a team for the next 30 days although beginning next week we will be splitting off from each other as each of us takes on our own trips. And we review and discuss the different audits in the evenings after the report generation and submittals are completed. It has been an incredibly long week with multiple nights lasting until 10pm or 11pm and one late nighter lasted till 1:30am. But this to shall end and as we continue on with the Audits the process continues to smooth out and the length of the days is very dependent upon teh performance of the property auditied. If the property does well on the Audit the day ends up more like a normal 8 hour work day. If the property does not do well, then its best just to prepare yourself for a 10-12 hour day if not much, much longer depending upon the amount and variety of discrepancies. But even though the days are long, I can still say that I love what I do. Thus far, there have been no real challenges to my understanding and application of company policy to the individual properties. The challenges as I percieve them will lie in the Red Roof Inn side of operations as that process and and computer system is completely different from the Innsure reporting system which is used by M6 and Studio 6. Red Roof Inn uses Fidelio which is not as sophisticated as Innsure. So it will be a lot like revisiting the stone age of paper ledgers and handwritten guest receipts! I know that there are some individuals out there who have never seen a handwritten hotel ledger but trust me they do exist and yes they are just as filled with errors as you might think.
So Stephen and I finished this evening around 9ish and thats it, I'm free for the next two days and trust me I'm going to enjoy them. I actually am leaving tomorrow morning for San Antonio and am going to visit with Sarah and Ryan for a day or two, visit one of my favorite Sushi bars and am going to kick back and have some fun. There might even be time for a visit to my favorite winery. We will see what time allows.
Well folks, that all for now. And I simply must apologize for the lengthy silence all I can say is that it is great to have a functioning laptop with an internet connection even though it is dial-up right now. Thankfully by the time I arrive back in Dallas I will have my new computer with the Wi-Fi card already installed and funtioning. So be certain, there will be more fun Auditing stories later.
Enroute to San Antonio we stopped in Dallas to deliver my most precious possession into the hands of a new friend, Dali. I left Tiffany in the capable hands of Dali and I must admit that I totally lost it for about the next half hour. I really had no sorrow, regrets or reluctance over leaving Joplin, but leaving Tiffany was one of the hardest things I've ever done. I took picts of Tiffany the last night we were in Joplin and have to admit that she was one of the most beautiful cats I've ever seen. So Dali is now spoiling her rotten, which is as it should be, and apparently Tiffany is being her usual antisocial self.
After visiting with Dali and having a great supper with her, her husband James, their son and Nelli and Dali's mother we embarked on our trip again with an additional passanger riding with Nelli. We dropped Nelli's mom off with Nelli's brother outside of Kearney and around 2am we arrived in San Antonio.
The next few days were filled were relaxation and fun as I settled into my new place in San Antonio and caught up with Sarah and Ryan. New Years Day--Sarah, Jeff, Veronica and I embarked on the adventure of wedding dress shopping for Sarah and searching for the perfect bridesmaid dreses for those of us in the wedding party. With Veronica as the matron of honor and myself as maid of honor we were determined that Sarah find the perfect dress in which to marry the love of her life, and dresses that would suit the wide range of body types and more importantly the differing heights which her bridesmaids have. The search was very successful and I'll say nothing more about either our dresses or Sarah's than the fact that the dresses are fantastic, Sarah will be a vision and I'll have the perfect dress which I would not be afraid to wear out to a special event such as a black and white ball.
Tuesday January 3rd I went to work in Addision, TX as a Process Analyst/Internal Auditor for Accor Hotels-North America, Accor Economy Lodging division.:) The week was packed with corporate meetings, review and calibration of the entire Audit Team to the 2006 AEL Audit which encompases all Corporately owned and Franchise Red Roof Inn, Sudio 6 and Motel 6 properties. But while the days were long, the evenings were filled with company dinners which integrated the Business and Leisure division, the Audit Team, the heads of finance, and other extremely important people!! A hockey game between the Dallas Stars and the Mighty Ducks was attended by the Audit team and of course a poker game night was held during the week, although it was "funded" by the company it was not "sponsored" by the company. If nothing else we know how to redefine technicalities and take each others money! The last weekend in Dallas was spent working with a brief adjournment to the local movie theater for two hours of reality avoidance. By the way the movie "Rumor has it" is great!!
Monday was spent once again in the office working on Audit prep, and trying to absorb as much information as possible before leaving for the first of the Audit trips. Stephen and I will be together as a team for the next 30 days although beginning next week we will be splitting off from each other as each of us takes on our own trips. And we review and discuss the different audits in the evenings after the report generation and submittals are completed. It has been an incredibly long week with multiple nights lasting until 10pm or 11pm and one late nighter lasted till 1:30am. But this to shall end and as we continue on with the Audits the process continues to smooth out and the length of the days is very dependent upon teh performance of the property auditied. If the property does well on the Audit the day ends up more like a normal 8 hour work day. If the property does not do well, then its best just to prepare yourself for a 10-12 hour day if not much, much longer depending upon the amount and variety of discrepancies. But even though the days are long, I can still say that I love what I do. Thus far, there have been no real challenges to my understanding and application of company policy to the individual properties. The challenges as I percieve them will lie in the Red Roof Inn side of operations as that process and and computer system is completely different from the Innsure reporting system which is used by M6 and Studio 6. Red Roof Inn uses Fidelio which is not as sophisticated as Innsure. So it will be a lot like revisiting the stone age of paper ledgers and handwritten guest receipts! I know that there are some individuals out there who have never seen a handwritten hotel ledger but trust me they do exist and yes they are just as filled with errors as you might think.
So Stephen and I finished this evening around 9ish and thats it, I'm free for the next two days and trust me I'm going to enjoy them. I actually am leaving tomorrow morning for San Antonio and am going to visit with Sarah and Ryan for a day or two, visit one of my favorite Sushi bars and am going to kick back and have some fun. There might even be time for a visit to my favorite winery. We will see what time allows.
Well folks, that all for now. And I simply must apologize for the lengthy silence all I can say is that it is great to have a functioning laptop with an internet connection even though it is dial-up right now. Thankfully by the time I arrive back in Dallas I will have my new computer with the Wi-Fi card already installed and funtioning. So be certain, there will be more fun Auditing stories later.
Catch up
To be honest I have no idea of where to even begin with the events that have occurred December 17th. Sarah, Ryan and Jeff came up to Joplin and helped celebrate the occassion with Pam and Nelly on Saturday evening. A few bottles of wine and champagne later everyone was laughing and having a great time and playing Sarah's ingenious game of "Guess Who" which of course isn't its official name but since at the moment I can't remember what the official name of the game is/was that is the name I'll be giving to it. And if its really important to someone then just read the comments as I'm certain Sarah will post the real name of the game below. :) The next day amid tearful goodbyes Sarah, Ryan and Jeff left for San Antonio and Dallas and I began to pack for the next adventure. After completing the arduous task of cleaning up :) I left for Kansas City to administer a MOD Certification and enjoy a brief respite from the rigors of property management as I had forgotten my cell phone charger and thus was unable to be contacted by the home property. Oooops, or would that be a subconscious decision on my part to leave it behind and thus avoid the all to frequent phone calls from the property. Regardless my phone quickly died as those who know me know that talking is never an issue, not talking is. So I had three days of no contact with anyone at all. I never realized how fun it could be to disconnect.
Dennis and I had a blast during the MOD Certification, we revisited our favorite restraunt in Kansas City, the ZIN and talked about the changes forthcoming within both of our lives. After a fantastic 5 course dinner including new wines with each course and a decadent dessert selection we went to the Phoenix club and another blues club in honor of the upcoming holidays. The next day I officially left for vacation and headed up North to MN and WI for Christmas. Of course that was after I frantically searched three different Sprint stores for a charger for my new Sprint Treo 650--thanks for the great graduation gift Sarah and Ryan! By the way the week before Chirstmas is not a good time to visit any gadget store as they typically run out phones, chargers and other necessary accessories quickly, but they still had an overabundance of pink leather phone cases that they were very eager to sell(hideous, truly hideous!)
The next few days seemed to fly at the speed of light and in the midst of holiday baking with my sister, spending as much time as possible with my niece and nephew, visiting with my brother, mom and dad and grandmothers on both sides, I realized just how important it to maintain those family traditions which we have carried on for years in addition to making way for new traditions. Christmas eve was the traditional meal, gifts for the kids and general chaos. It was fantastic to see the faces of my niece and nephew (Jasmine and Caleb) and cousins, Marie, Mitchell and baby Grant light up when they first caught sight of the multitude of gifts under the tree and the utter abandon with which they tore into the gifts once they were distributed. Christmas Day, my brother invited everyone to his house for dinner and he prepared a fantastic meal of wild rabbit with butter cream sauce and linguini and Waldorf Salad. The remainder of the Christmas holiday flew by and on Monday the 26th I returned to Joplin with heavy feet to begin the dreaded process of packing for the move to Dallas.
Dennis and I had a blast during the MOD Certification, we revisited our favorite restraunt in Kansas City, the ZIN and talked about the changes forthcoming within both of our lives. After a fantastic 5 course dinner including new wines with each course and a decadent dessert selection we went to the Phoenix club and another blues club in honor of the upcoming holidays. The next day I officially left for vacation and headed up North to MN and WI for Christmas. Of course that was after I frantically searched three different Sprint stores for a charger for my new Sprint Treo 650--thanks for the great graduation gift Sarah and Ryan! By the way the week before Chirstmas is not a good time to visit any gadget store as they typically run out phones, chargers and other necessary accessories quickly, but they still had an overabundance of pink leather phone cases that they were very eager to sell(hideous, truly hideous!)
The next few days seemed to fly at the speed of light and in the midst of holiday baking with my sister, spending as much time as possible with my niece and nephew, visiting with my brother, mom and dad and grandmothers on both sides, I realized just how important it to maintain those family traditions which we have carried on for years in addition to making way for new traditions. Christmas eve was the traditional meal, gifts for the kids and general chaos. It was fantastic to see the faces of my niece and nephew (Jasmine and Caleb) and cousins, Marie, Mitchell and baby Grant light up when they first caught sight of the multitude of gifts under the tree and the utter abandon with which they tore into the gifts once they were distributed. Christmas Day, my brother invited everyone to his house for dinner and he prepared a fantastic meal of wild rabbit with butter cream sauce and linguini and Waldorf Salad. The remainder of the Christmas holiday flew by and on Monday the 26th I returned to Joplin with heavy feet to begin the dreaded process of packing for the move to Dallas.
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