I am a great salesperson. I did not know this about myself until I started working in retail and would end up making amazing sales and lots of money for the owners of the stores I worked for. The owners loved me and things were never quite the same after I left.
Today the manager set the bait that whoever booked the third Yurt for the weekend, or next two days, would receive dinner on him. Within a half hour I very innocently booked that Yurt and became the hero of the hour. It was almost embarrassing. The manager was thrilled, made a big deal of the whole thing, and I ended up with a $25 gift certificate to the local Mexican restaurant. As a good will gesture my plan is to buy food for all the people who have worked so hard in taking and making reservations since it really is a team effort.
All I have to do now is find that misplaced gift certificate...
The Aspect Of My Life
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Top Ten Campgrounds in Oregon
Hot off the press, Mt. Hood Village is number 5 on the top ten list. http://www.travel-to-oregon-tips.com/oregon-campground.html
The manager of this resort is the best boss I have ever experienced. He listens to you, actually hears you, and does whatever it takes to make it right. Yesterday he bought pizza for the employees, handled a multitude of problems (cabin with a leak - no place to move them; maintenance issues, rain issues, etc. etc. etc.) and has a sharp mind that remembers a vast array of issues until they are solved. He remained relatively calm and didn't use other workers as his dumping ground. I have not heard one bad word against him.
More on the other cast of characters later......
The manager of this resort is the best boss I have ever experienced. He listens to you, actually hears you, and does whatever it takes to make it right. Yesterday he bought pizza for the employees, handled a multitude of problems (cabin with a leak - no place to move them; maintenance issues, rain issues, etc. etc. etc.) and has a sharp mind that remembers a vast array of issues until they are solved. He remained relatively calm and didn't use other workers as his dumping ground. I have not heard one bad word against him.
More on the other cast of characters later......
Hi Ho, Hi Ho....
...it's off to work I go.
Another 8 hour shift today and then I am off until Thursday. Whew! Working an 8 hour shift is tiring, but I actually enjoyed myself yesterday. I didn't allow myself to stress over phones ringing and a line of people wanting to check in or buy supplies from the store. I think I may have even had one of the easier jobs. Until later in the evening, everyone checked in at the outside booth and it was raining and cold. Gotta love everyone who chose to come out in this weather, particularly those that are tenting. We all thought today there would be sun, but nope, not yet! Maybe tomorrow...
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Another 8 hour shift today and then I am off until Thursday. Whew! Working an 8 hour shift is tiring, but I actually enjoyed myself yesterday. I didn't allow myself to stress over phones ringing and a line of people wanting to check in or buy supplies from the store. I think I may have even had one of the easier jobs. Until later in the evening, everyone checked in at the outside booth and it was raining and cold. Gotta love everyone who chose to come out in this weather, particularly those that are tenting. We all thought today there would be sun, but nope, not yet! Maybe tomorrow...
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Working
Worked four hours today and I am feeling much more comfortable with the whole process. I checked in 5 people, took a phone reservation, did a site change and several store purchases. Once I have done this a few more times, I might actually enjoy this workamping position:). Of course, tomorrow is the real challenge, but I think it is going to be okay.
The real bonus was that a fellow workamper, Chelle (pronounced Shelley), has adopted me and invited me for dinner after my shift ended. I love these Jewish and Italian women that continue to nurture and feed me:).
I am tired this evening and have two 8 hour shifts in the next two days. Although it is raining now, the early part of the day was rain free and it looks to be good for the week-end.
Time to go to bed......
The real bonus was that a fellow workamper, Chelle (pronounced Shelley), has adopted me and invited me for dinner after my shift ended. I love these Jewish and Italian women that continue to nurture and feed me:).
I am tired this evening and have two 8 hour shifts in the next two days. Although it is raining now, the early part of the day was rain free and it looks to be good for the week-end.
Time to go to bed......
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
My Mom
My mom has always been petite, a good weight for her is 100 pounds, and there is some disagreement as to her actual height, is she really 5 feet tall or 4'11"?? Until just recently she has been physically fit, active and healthy, literally walking circles around people 20 to 30 years younger. Other than a cold or two, I don't remember a time when she was ever ill. She is little but mighty, as my brother would say, an Energizer Bunny.
On my maternal side is the Epps clan and on my paternal side is the Miller clan. The Epps clan are the ones with the sparkling blue eyes, always laughing, telling some ribald tale, pulling quarters out of your ears and enjoying life to the fullest. Even with life's challenges, there is laughter and a joke to be told. You just love to be around them. From my mom's side I have received the blue eyes, the curly hair, the quick wit and the gift of gab. Also, some really good skin:).
I believe my mom is from the Fey World, the world of the Fairies. Her middle name is Mae and she carries a twinkle and lightness of being evocative of the month of May when the flowers are in bloom and the Fairies are most visible to the human world. She will sometimes have this faraway look in her eyes, almost a look of enchantment, and I wonder what world she is off visiting. She has never shared where it is she goes, if she longs to return to that world, if there is the faintest of yearnings.
I celebrate my mother today, tomorrow, and hopefully many days to come. I want to share more laughter with her, enjoy the sparkle in her eyes, receive her love and bask in her lightness. Happy Birthday, Darlin' Mae.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Understaffed
My first sense of this job was that they were extremely understaffed. If you have worked enough places, you know all the signs. Employees are disgruntled and stress prevails in the workplace. When the manager is stressed there is a trickle down effect which effects every employee. That is the situation I am in.
In an already understaffed work environment, it seems as if we are about to lose one of the more experienced workers. Just so happens, she is the one I have been assigned to work with during my shifts. It is all still "hush, hush", but you cannot keep secrets among employees. I do not know how all this will affect the coming weekend, whose backs will break under the pressure, will other people quit, will even I want to say "forget this!".
Time will tell, but I am certainly learning a lot from this, my first workamping postion:).
In an already understaffed work environment, it seems as if we are about to lose one of the more experienced workers. Just so happens, she is the one I have been assigned to work with during my shifts. It is all still "hush, hush", but you cannot keep secrets among employees. I do not know how all this will affect the coming weekend, whose backs will break under the pressure, will other people quit, will even I want to say "forget this!".
Time will tell, but I am certainly learning a lot from this, my first workamping postion:).
Monday, May 24, 2010
Spirit Talking
Another one of those days that feels so packed I can hardly believe it has only been 24 hours. I wonder if other people are experiencing this same fullness.
Because I knew today would be one of the rare days this week with no rain or showers, on my agenda was a walk to the nearest grocery store and then laundry. I knew the store was almost 2 miles each way, and the reality was this was a long walk! And, of course, I overstuffed my backpack so was not looking forward to the return walk. Thankfully, and with much appreciation, I saw someone at the shopping center who works at Mt. Hood Village and was able to get a ride back. Spirit talking in a good way.
Did my laundry and spent some time in the office chatting with other workampers. We are all trying to gear up for the coming weekend and it is nice to know we are there to support one another. We'll see how all this goes.
Because it was still nice this evening it was perfect for a fire even though some of the wood was still damp. Everett helped with the fire and then we started a two hour conversation. It was one of those conversations I am all too familiar with; the talk of survival, facts, the type of conversation where there is no real sharing but someone trying to convert me to their way of thinking and the logic of their particular truth, thinking and belief. It is so exhausting when someone is pounding you over the head in an attempt to make you see the err of your beliefs. The more I affirm that we all have our own Truths and Beliefs, the more agitated Everett becomes until I finally have to say I am done with the conversation. Hopefully that is the last of our "spiritual" conversations.
Because I knew today would be one of the rare days this week with no rain or showers, on my agenda was a walk to the nearest grocery store and then laundry. I knew the store was almost 2 miles each way, and the reality was this was a long walk! And, of course, I overstuffed my backpack so was not looking forward to the return walk. Thankfully, and with much appreciation, I saw someone at the shopping center who works at Mt. Hood Village and was able to get a ride back. Spirit talking in a good way.
Did my laundry and spent some time in the office chatting with other workampers. We are all trying to gear up for the coming weekend and it is nice to know we are there to support one another. We'll see how all this goes.
Because it was still nice this evening it was perfect for a fire even though some of the wood was still damp. Everett helped with the fire and then we started a two hour conversation. It was one of those conversations I am all too familiar with; the talk of survival, facts, the type of conversation where there is no real sharing but someone trying to convert me to their way of thinking and the logic of their particular truth, thinking and belief. It is so exhausting when someone is pounding you over the head in an attempt to make you see the err of your beliefs. The more I affirm that we all have our own Truths and Beliefs, the more agitated Everett becomes until I finally have to say I am done with the conversation. Hopefully that is the last of our "spiritual" conversations.
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