Gone Summer Gone

I had no idea it has been a month since my last post!

Working in a hotel is bar-none the best experience I could ask for. The empowerment within Fairmont is unbelievable. You really feel like you are an important part of the team, no matter what you are doing.

My pre arrival initiative is now in full swing, and I must admit I am an upgrade queen. I am making close to $4000 extra a month for the hotel solely through my emailing guests prior to arrival. ChaChing!

I have been given my share of angry guests too. But its all character building and I am learning every day how to handle myself in hard situations. Such as being hit on, asked for dinner, being yelled at, cursed at... All part of a days work.

BUT... on a different note, Harry Potter comes out tomorrow night! I cannot put into words how absolutely over the moon excited I am to see it on Thursday night. Crissy, Pops and I are going together. I might have to go twice, or thrice while its in movies.

Summer is almost gone, but at the same time it has just started. Dan got back on Saturday and I cant wait for boating Sundays and BBQ's. and CUPMATCH.  August is just around the corner, and it will not be one to be missed.

I promise to be more diligent with posting... even if it is only a quick note, its better than nothing!

Friends and a Home.. Always

This weekend was one of the best in a long time. Every time I go back to BCS, its like I am going home. Teachers, students, and faculty change, but the feeling remains steadfast. I would give anything to be 17 again for a week. Run through the student centre to rugby practice, sit and talk for hours with Ben about absolutely nothing, mud slide with the Gillard girls... Or just listen to the song birds every morning when I wake up.

To have a place so special that it brings tears to my eyes is a true blessing. I can solemnly swear that BCS was the best 2 years of my life. The hardships I endured, the successes, have moulded me into who I am today. With a heightened understanding of love, family, and friendship, I want to think of myself as a compassionate person because of BCS.

The true test of what BCS did for me is in the friends that I have. This weekend was like any other we would have had at the Lion. The bridge of friendship jumped right over the 2+ years I had not seem some people to make it feel like it was only yesterday. I sat out on Max's porch last night and we talked for hours. Not everyone is fortunate to have a friend like him and many others I have from BCS. We share an unconditional bond of love that I know will never die.

Family. My second family. I am sitting here wondering, does everyone feel this? Or are some of us oblivious to the godsend of having phenomenal friends? When was the last time you spoke to your old best friend... all it takes is a phone call. 

What is a friend? A single soul in two bodies.

Can you feel it? 

To travel = to be irrate

Yesterday was NOT a day to remember. It started with me getting up early to go into work before leaving for Canada for my brother's graduation. There were a couple loose ends I wanted to tie up to ensure those WOW moments for our guests would really pull through. Upon arrival, I realized I had forgotten my passport. Great. Speed all the way home to get it after teaching, speed back to the airport, and jump on the plane. Buckle up, the plane rolls back. For me, the roll back of a plane is like a switch. Sleep. Peaceful.

Turbulence. Usually I am a solid character with it, but seeing as that Air France flight just recently disappeared over the Atlantic, I was a little apprehensive about flying. And of course, due to not so wonderful weather, we had many violent shake and bumps. My smashed against the window numerous times, so much so the lady sitting next to me became concerned. Finally I fell asleep to the all amazing Viva La Vida.

Customs in Toronto. No Problem. Squeezing my 24 of gingerbeer into my checked bag... not so easy. Find out my flight wasn't until 7pm, BUT get bumped to the 4.30 flight. Fantastic. Arrive in Montreal, get to the bus station with 10 minutes to spare. Of Course. there is a line of 50 people waiting to get tickets and Of Course, my interact card doesn't work in Canada, so no express ticketing for me. Fuming, I was, as I watched the 6:30 bus pull out that I definitely should be on.

Agitated and exhausted from the entire ordeal, I get my ticked for 8.30, sit and wait. Waiting leads to thinking. Wonderful. I forgot Dad's belt. I'm as good as road kill when I tell him. Get on the bus, get to Sherbrooke at 10.30.

Arrive at BCS this morning. It was all worth it. 

x3 a week!?

After reading one of Sadie's more recent posts, I realize that I too am not yet a successful blogger. It was May when I posted last! I went to Scoops the new ice cream store just up the road from my house. Simply put.. WOW. I had green tea ice cream which was undoubtedly the most amazing ice cream experience in my life. I am going back... probably tomorrow. 

I ran the Bermuda Day 1/2 Marathon on the 25th. I have never been so hot in my entire life. Im going to run again next year and really crank it out. The crowds of people on the street are so encouraging, even though you are dead tired. It really shows you how Bermuda can come together, encourage and celebrate as one big family. No other place in the world do you have your entire country out on the road celebrating together... With Trinidad being an exception. 

This month is going to be super crazy work-wise for me. Im on the grind 24/7. Thats the way it is supposed to be! And with that its off to work. I still have 2 more posts to make this week, lets see if I can pull through!

Working Girl!

My first two weeks of work at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess have been a whirlwind! Within the first 2 days, I was triple sheeting beds, helping an elderly man find his wallet, and changing up nickels for a man who couldn't use them back in the states. But really, a nickel!?

I must say that I am extremely enthusiastic and proud about my new job. Im learning things in the back of house that you would never think about in a flawless check in or check out. Doing room discrepancies is also fun. Walking the floors and getting to know other employees is such a key part of front desk, because without a good relationship between housekeeping and the front office, there is not much hope for the hotel! Because lets face it, dirty rooms don't equal happy guests.

Our pre-concierge efforts have just began on Thursday. I sent out about 100 emails to guests arriving in 2 weeks to confirm their arrival and arrival times. This way I can ensure that their rooms will be ready on time to make their check in even more enjoyable. Having guests feel important and cared for is vital to success in our industry. I cannot wait to get my project up in full force. Booking spa appointments, dinner reservations, reconfirming room types and other events that make Bermuda another world. 

As a treat for all my hard work, I have a four day weekend! Running the Bermuda Day derby on Monday, hopefully I will be ok by the end of it! Until then my avid readers....

20 years of motherhood

Just a little jitter I had today..

The second Sunday in May marks a time for appreciation. A day to reflect on the most influential person in all of our lives: our mothers. Some have lost them, some still have them. Either way they are the epitome of our existence. But why do we only chose one day to acknowledge everything our mothers have done for us? 

Think about this. How many days do you wake up every morning and do something simple, like make coffee for your mother? How many times do you tell her you love her each day? Appreciation does not have to come in extravagant gifts and gold, sometimes the simple things in life mean more than words can say. So the next time you really want to make someone, and not just your mother, to know that you appreciate them, try it. No one will be left disappointed.

Simple is simply what everyone needs, but few achieve. Keep it in mind before breaking the bank.

Manic Monday!

I am officially a Fairmont Employee! Work starts next Monday, and I cannot wait. Work all day, lunch at Miles with... oh too many options.. Emma, Erica, and anyone else who wants to join! 

What is more exciting is that my orientation is with Mr. Randy Horton. Cannot get luckier than that I don't I think. And working like a real adult for a year! 

On another front, muma and I have started the redecorating process in my room. Sue Kempe had all my new linens ready for pick up today, and my bed looks gorgeous. White with blue seashells, starfish, and other things. Blue pinstriped sheets. Stunning. Im also going to get a new shower, with new tiling and the whole 9 yards! Papa doesn't know yet, but he will love it (hopefully!).

Its off to dinner with muma, a full update will come soon from my adventures at Hamilton Princess!

The Whaleless Weekend!

To break into May, I had quite a weekend. To lead into it, Dan came back for his birthday! Wow I cant believe we are 20 already. Had a great dinner at Tuckers Point with Auntie Patti, Uncle Thad and the Birthday Boy. It came out over dinner that I was in cadets and I now have the nickname GI JANE. Which was yelled out throughout Friday Night at Dockies. Thanks boys!

I did the end to end walk on Saturday, which for those of you who are not familiar, is where you walk from one of Bermuda to the other, for a total of 24 miles! Auntie Barb, Mum and I started at 7.30 and finished at 1.30. 6 hours for 24 miles isn't that bad. Mind you Barbie does keep a pretty mean pace. The second I crossed the finish line and stopped walking, every muscle in my body shut down. I now have a grand collection of blisters on my feet that are oh so attractive.

I was then up first thing in the morning on Sunday to go whale watching on the Jolly Roger. It was quite an event, but unfortunately the closest thing I saw to a whale was about 2 dozen flying fish. We ventured all the way out to Challenger Bank, where the boys thought it smart to start fishing. A 4 hour trip turned in to quite the adventure! It was cut short once 3 or 4 people started to get sea sick, as the swells got progressively larger throughout the afternoon. Needless to say I was a little fed up by the end of the trip.

Whenever Mondays roll around, no one is ever excited to head back to the office and get work done. This Monday was especially hard. Taylor and Alexis Bean lost their mother, Tammy. My prayers are with them. We have to keep our heads up and remember that there is a time for all of us, we will reunite again when it is time. There is another angel watching over us, rest in peace.

I am signing out to enjoy another Bermudaful day on my front lawn, with A Thousand Splendid Suns, and a black and coke. Until next time!

 

Timing Love

Its funny how time passes. For some reason it lingers when you want nothing to do with it. But it runs faster than Usain Bolt when you want it to hang around. One of my biggest personal flaws is that I might be too compassionate. I put myself last on the list of things to do, because I genuinely believe that I will be happy if others around me are happy. Yet time has begun to prove that this may be a dead end for me. Everyone else I know who is like me never receives the gratitude that they deserve until it is too late. Its crazy how many times you hear about how people love each other and never say it enough. And then one day the person you love is gone, and a void inside burns bigger every day with the things you wish you would have said. Which is absurd really, because everyone appreciates the notion of love. 

There was one person in my life who constantly reminded me to tell everyone how I felt. My Nana. She forever warned me that time was a particular hazard in life, and to always try and work with it, because in the end we all lose the fight against it. She lost her battle just over 2 years ago now, Yet the start of her life was a mere 2 days ago, and she would have been 72. I took the time to think about what it really meant to me, and the fact that I still think of her on her birthday even though she is no longer here. I cannot call her, send her an email or card in the mail telling her happy birthday. Or that I love her, and miss her. But she knows, I have faith that she knows. And for this ironic reason...

4 months before she past, i had a heartbreaking, unbearable summer that I still cry about. I lost one of my best friends in a car crash. I found out when I was in BC at my cabin. Everyone else had gone out on the lake to enjoy the scorching August afternoon. I hadn't been feeling well that entire day, but I could not put a finger on why exactly. Zoe called me, and I knew what she was going to say before the words even reached me. I am, embarrassingly, a closet emo child. I hate crying in public, or on the phone. I don't like to look weak. I ran to my room and cried so hard I couldn't breathe. I was shaking uncontrollably. I didn't know what to do with myself. I could not remember the last thing I had said to Hannah, even though we had spoken the day before. I could not remember the last time I told her I loved her, and I was mad at myself for it. No true best friend would not remember their last conversation. 

I heard a door open in what seemed to be the far off distance. Then there was a hand on my back. On my shoulder. Cradling me. Pulling me in. As horrible as I felt, I knew I was safe. That for that one moment, everything would be ok. We sat there for what felt like days. She never asked what was wrong, but she knew. She knew I had lost a part of my life that would never be replaced.

It is gut-wrenching that the last memory I have of her is one in which I am mourning a loved one. I never saw her afterwards. I flew back to boarding school. Four months later she was dead and thats all I could think about. The fact that the last time we touched was because someone had died. 

Time is a funny creature. I believe in fate. I believe everything happens for a reason. I lost two of the most important people in my life in the span of 4 months. But I also believe I have become stronger from it, or am at least trying to. In losing Nana and Hannah blossomed one of the most amazing best friends I could ever ask for. We went through probably the roughest grade 12 anyone could attest to. The cliche stands firm: what wont kill you will only make you stronger. That plus Zoe Gordon Kirkham. I love you child. And I just wanted to let you know, because tomorrow is not promised today.

No Guelph for more than a year?!

This little 20 year old is truly on the road to becoming versatile.  I went to Opus on Wednesday, with my crazy baby Kait to attend the first and last 'house' party of my life. Alej I wish you were there, because trying to explain the amount of kids jumping up and down like rabbits does no justice to the situation. BUT! I did try to have a good time, but techno just does not do it for me. Gimme some bermy wine! 

I had my last shot of fun in Guelph last night! I cant believe its been two years already. Last year was a little shaky, but I can truly attest that the friends I have made and held on to this year are as much a part of me as my smile. They are always there, no matter what. There has not been a day where I am thankful for the friends I have, because it is not hard to find people who are sincere, loving and so much fun!

Now sitting here in the gorgeous sunshine, sea breeze and kiskadees dancing across the bay, I really don't think life can get much better. Minus the fact I will not be in Guelph for a year, I thin I can handle being home again.

Work starts on the 4th, and I get to initiate a pre concierge programme at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess. Talk about an amazing experience! On top of that, Im still working for Aquamania, I swear I can never stop teaching. Who wouldn't if you could be outside, get an amazing tan, and be in the water!?

That is all for now, must go get ready for the Ocean Club with Normalice, my phenomenal parents, with whom it is never a dull moment.

Besos!