Category Archives: Blunders

I thought my days were long before.  Eight or nine hour days with rarely a chance to sit down or eat. Sounds heavenly about now.

Not that I’m complaining.  I love my job.  Managing this hotel is as fun and complex and challenging as I’d hoped it would be.

But I AM complaining.  My days are now longer, and although I can make time to eat, by the 10th, or 11th, or even 12th hour, my feet are killing me.  Finding the right shoes has been a feat.  *ahem*  And one I have not yet mastered.  I’ve settled into a routine of stopping off at the shoe store on my way in, wearing the shoes at work, and then stopping off the next day to exchange them for another pair.

After two weeks, I have tried seemingly every shoe in the store, and my feet HURT.  I’ve even tried on the ugly ones, desperate for anything that feels comfortable.  Yet as soon as my feet realize I’m putting them in another shoe, they cringe and complain the whole time.

Now, I’ve worked in a hotel for over 5 years, and am used to standing all day.  But walking the halls of a hotel almost continuously, and setting up meeting rooms, and preparing for our nightly happy hour, and schmoozing the guests, is WAY different than just standing.

So today, my Saturday, I drug my hubby to the shoe store for what I hoped would be the last time.  I belabored over all the shoes I haven’t yet tried.  I’d put one on and walk the many aisles before putting it away and trying another.  A very friendly and patient sales lady noticed my frustration, and for the next hour, she brought me choices I had passed over for some reason or other.  I explained to her my many foot issues, and she set to work finding the perfect pair.

By the time I’d settled on one, we had a slew of open boxes scattered about, and my hubby was asleep in the “hubby chair” at the front of the store.

I’m not claiming success, however.  Not yet. The pair I chose was not in my size, but close enough to make me believe it would feel superb if it was just a half size larger.

Ginger kindly helped me order two different sizes, just in case.  I walked out of the store with $150 less in my pocket, and no shoes.

But I pray, when they finally come in, that they’re as comfy as I’m hoping.  And if so, I will order 10 more pair to ensure I never have to go through this again.

My hubby will gladly pay the bill.

I don’t know about you, but these last few weeks have been a little crazy for me.  The week following my promotion announcement was a busy one.  The hotel was busier than usual, and K and I were scrambling to find someone who would be qualified enough to do my job.  With no real answers, the decision making was pushed off until the next week.

Actually, K (the assistant GM over the front desk) and I knew exactly who the responsibilities should go to, however, we new our cynical GM would oppose.  C is the other supervisor at the front desk and has worked for the company for over ten years.  He transferred to our location and was promoted to a supe before I was.  Ever since then, our GM has been all over him.  Nothing he does is right in her eyes.  And she let him know it.  I was promoted to a supe a year later, and began taking over the admin responsibilities, while he continued to stay stagnate.  I felt guilty, but he never harbored any resentment towards me.  In fact, we’ve become great friends.

K and I know C has a ton to offer our hotel, and would love for him to take over.  In fact, he’s the only one currently at the hotel I would trust to handle the job.  So when the next week came, and we needed to make the decision, I spoke up.  She rolled her eyes when I mentioned his name, but she didn’t say no.  The decision was made!

So this past week I spent every free minute showing C what I do.  It’s not been easy.  The hotel was full due to a convention in the city, and a pre-Mardi Gras party south of town.  It’s difficult to train and run a completely full hotel in the process.  I came home exhausted at night, only to rise early and do it all again.

The pressure is easing a little, however.  Next week, my final week, C and I are scheduled together every shift with plenty of coverage at the front desk.  We should easily get everything covered and have him prepared to take over.  Just the thought helps me to rest easy.

Even better, I had Sunday off, and it was an absolutely beautiful day.  Sun shining and a high of 68 degrees!  After a nice outside run, and a hearty pancake breakfast, I headed out to wash my salty car.  I plugged in the hose, turned on the water, and noticed yet another leak.  That makes five. The lawn would get a nice sprinkling while I washed.

Halfway into it, I tugged the hose a little too hard, pulling it right out of the spigot.  That was that.  My poor little hose was done for.  I washed the rest of the car by splashing a bucket of water over it.  It worked well, but I ran to W*lmart soon after for a shiny new hose replacement.

It may very well be spring before I have a chance to wash my car again.  I’ve got one last busy week at this hotel before I begin 4 extensive weeks of leadership training.  I’ll be away from home most of the time, which in itself causes stress, but thankfully my hubby will be around to rule the roost.

And when I return, things will still be a little cray cray, I’m sure.  Just in a completely different hotel.  I can’t wait!