The Adventures of Being Me

Took roommate for his written test to get his driver's permit to practice driving to get his driver's license and hopefully get a better paying job. He wants to go into construction or engineering that requires that he drive a business truck. He applied for construction and electrician apprenticeships, but he can't get hired without a driver's license. He can't get landscaping jobs jobs either cause he has to drive a large lawn mower or a snow plow. So he is stuck in fast food places he keeps getting fired or quit cause he wants to cook, but not work the cash register. Fast food manager insist he does both. He applied for dishwasher at restaurants, but no interviews. He applied to gas stations, and no interviews. He failed the test. He is furious because the multiple choice answers mean the same thing, but worded differently and he kept picking the wrong answer. He is so disappointed he is never doing that again, just won't drive a car and bike everywhere. H...

Got the prescription at the pharmacy. Turns out I had $38 on my HSA card instead of $18 and stuff cost $25 so that a of relief. I looked up the ear drops. It is an antibiotic for ear infections. She said the prescription was for softening the ear wax. Oh well, started using it. Roommate let go of the pet shrew and the frog. I didn't know he caught a frog in the back yard. Anyway, no more pets since he can't take care of them.

Had a girl guest offered a rubber duckie in exchange for one of my beaded pens. Why, sure, I can do that. Grabbed my shop collection and let her select one. Her sister got a pen too, plus Mom got a bracelet paying with a credit card. Not bad for what began as a fair trade. I never sold anything to a hotel guest, just coworkers. Well roommate has a new pet. A shrew he found in the yard. He wanted me to buy meal worms at Walmart but had to go to work. Said he can release it back in yard if can't get meal worms delivered. They might sell them at Petco or Petsmart. Then I told him it might need water too. Got a lecture from roommate when I refused to go to buy him a magic mushroom vaper when I was doing laundry and going to get ready to go to work in 2 hours. He needs help keeping this house clean. My house falling apart with a broken dishwasher that needs replaced. I am constantly working and always broke. I just took money from my retirement fund to pay my mortgage and for my n...

Well, I missed excitement while on lunch in the breakroom. Couple got intoxicated at bar so bar manager cut them off. They come screaming at my senior supervisor and he doesn't have authority over the bar manager (they run the front desk not the whole hotel). They claim to know so and so who hasn't worked here for years. Then they claim to know the GM who is drinking at the bar with them. Um, no, GM is at home with his family not drinking at the bar with customers. Then they demand a refund on their room cause they are leaving. It's a 3rd party reservation so can't do a refund. Oh, I forgot the part where they called my supervisor a Mexican. My supervisor is African-American. I burst out laughing at that. Get your ethnic slurs right drunk people. Update: Even better, drunk guy called the next day explaining he was kicked out of the hotel yesterday and a bartender called 911 on them. That wasn't right when they were enjoying their anniversary and complimentary ...

Had a relaxing Epsom salt lavender bubble bath after my Gray's Lake walk. Did my exercise ball stretching before the walk. Hopefully that help with the pending sore muscles tomorrow.

Had my interview today. Hope it went well. It is hourly instead of salary so can get overtime. General Manager didn't ask many questions, just explained the position details. I would help with the evening reception that is less than my hotel's manager reception. That sounded fun. I said I helped with breakfast at another hotel and did acocounting for different hotel so could help in both capacities. Crossing fingers. I need to make more money.

If I were to write a political speech, I would start by saying how viewing a huge sea of people gathered together and finding the right words to say to them is very humbling. Next, I would go into making history with this election (aren't all elections making history) and why it is important to vote. Then inspire people into action and unite the masses into your line of thinking. People talk about what our forefathers would say today. I think they would say the same thing as they did in 1776. It is our duty as citizens to criticize the government. It is our duty to correct social injustice and peacefully seek solutions. When a peaceful protest doesn't work, we riot and delcare our independence. Such anger to destroy property and hurt others who have nothing to do with police brutality or wars in foreign lands doesn't magically appear in vacuum. Our system is broken and we need to come together to find a solution. Our ancestors took a song mocking how an American fron...

Nice. We have a new front desk person who's not task force. In fact, they worked at other hotels but not our brand hotel so our computer system is unfamiliar to them. The newst task force person who has been here a week and sick half the time is training her. I am standing there preparing for arrivals and checking people out to be completely ignored until both new girls need help when a guest interrupts their chatting. Sigh. Had to leave early for a doctor's appointment. Had to know why my ears won't stop ringing. Well, my ear is packed with wax pushing on the ear drum. Had a vacuum remove much of the wax. Tech said it was grudgey wax. I am getting a medicine to soften the wax to remove it again. Then they want to do a hearing test in a couple weeks. One ear had no wax. Funny. Appointment fee to be seen is more than I have on my HSA card. I'm struggling to pay my mortgage next week and promised to get a bike for my roommate thinking I will have a larger paycheck from...

Call me evil. I got a job interview Friday for the hotel next door. Front Desk Manager position. Not sure I want the job, but smaller hotel. OMG, had an non-Amercian wedding in the atrium and celebration over several days. They had a drummer pounding this 3 foot tall drum that was loud in this open space with echoes bouncing off walls. I had trouble hearing people on the phone and standing next to me. Having a grand reception in the ballroom tonight. They brought in couches and grocery store fruit and bakery items. Then someone brought a cardboard three tier with frosting borders wedding cake. I guess that is for photos. PS. I heard from the Banquets report that guests got upset when bar closed (per instructions of the one paying for all this). Then one guy threw money on the dance floor to request the hotel staff pick it up. They declined.

Had a party for Mom at my brother's house to celebrate her 85th Birthday (her actually birthday was the 15th). Brother grilled food and we had a family potluck. I brought corn on the cob. Took lots of family photos to document the occasion. Saw my great-nieces. I'm usually working (or sleeping after night audit shifts) when family gatherings happen so they had no clue who I was. That broke my heart. Hopefully I can see them more often with my day shifts now. After I got home, I get a call from my sister explaining the siblings were to have a meeting about Mom's care after the party. Now, she informs me of this meeting. I told her whatever thy decide is fine. I am too tired and dealing with too many problems of my own to deal with Mom's health problems. It's not that I don't care, I'm overwhelmed with my own problems and have no energy to take on her problems too. I'm sure they will decide what is best for Mom.

Hotel system did updates again and system crashed for 17 hours. Doing everything by paper. Of course we get to be oversold as usual. People want different rooms, can't do that and keep track who is in what room. People want upgrades and group here took the upgrades already. One upgrade is out if order from water leak so group leader is screaming at my supervisor how they didn’t get all their reserved upgrade rooms the sales department promised last January. Senior supervisor ready to fire the new night auditor for not doing her job. I am ready to say screw this hotel chain and leave. Apparently the update fiasco was worldwide and effected airlines too. Ok, can't blame the hotel for that. News said it was worse that a criminal cyberattack. Interesting perspective.

RIP Professor Proton and Papa Elf. I watched the Bob Newhart Show and Newhart as a kid. Loved the last episode of Newhart connecting it to the Bob New Hart Show. Funny.

Poor roommate started his first day at the fast food place. He hasn't worked since February so adjusting to working again and sleeping at night. He hates it but it's money. Wants to save for a new bicycle or scooter to get to work better. Employers want people who don't ride the bus and have reliable transportation. Snobbery against poor people is what it is. He wants to get his driver's license to open doors to employment. He wants to go into construction or piloting airplanes. I told him to be a pilot he has to give up the drugs. Construction jobs will probably drug test too.

OMG what a jerk this task force person is. Asked me to show them how to do something we regularly do at front desk. Ok. Get ready to show them how to do this front desk duty and they leave. Find them sitting with others smoking outside. They don't want to learn the task after all. OK. Fine. Why ask me to show you how to do something then turn around and don't want to learn to do it?

While at work, we had a storm blow through. They called it a derecho and my city had a tornado within 3 miles of my hotel and my house. My roommate messaged about the sirens and hid in the basement when I said there was a tornado heading in our direction. The shuttle driver affirmed she was not going outside to take anyone anywhere. I replied she can stay inside where it was safe. We had to call over the speaker to head to the ballroom or stay away from windows. Some guests went to the ballroom and others didn't. I stayed at the front desk telling people about the tornado. Once the tornado left and it was safe, we annonced people could leave the ballroom. The low air pressure made my head hurt and ears started ringing. Then room started spinning so decided to go home early. My roommate rode the bus and walked to my hotel to drive me home. I commented to my roommate I would be lucky not to crash my car from the vertigo and he said he would come over. Told him all the excitement. He ...

My Mom turns 85 today. Sunday we are having a party for her. Her doctor was talking of surgery to install a feeding tube cause Mom is losing weight from her puree diet. Visited her in her apartment. My sister had just brought her back from dinner. Yeah, Mom was skipping meals from not feeling hungry so she needs to be walked to the dining room by sister or staff to get her to eat her meals. Probably why she was losing weight. Well, it was too much trouble to find someone to tube feed Mom her feeding tube meals so they cancelled the surgery. I thought Mom's sister who is a retired nurse could help but I guess not. Anyway, we sat to watch the news that came on and Mom expressed how terrible the world is and hates to see what will happen to the world in 10 years. She probably won't make it another 10 years with her health problems so have to enjoy her company while I can. Roommate decided to go visit his newest flame at her house so dropped him off.

Hooray. Roommate got a job at a nearby fast food place. The question is how long can he keep it. He still talks about leaving the state. Now he wants me to come too. No. This terrible city is my home. My family is here. My yard has my pets buried in it. I will never leave my house. It's my home. He starts Wednesday. He has a new girlfriend he met on social media. He tried to meet her in a park but she didn't show. Then he wanted to invite her and her friend to meet here. What? You want to meet a total stranger you have not met in person in my house. You can;t meet her somewhere else. Well, they tried to meet at a park but she got lost. He assured me he would keep the house safe and I have nothing to worry about. I said he could invite her and her friend here begrudgedly. Men don't have to worry becoming a victim of a serial killer or sex trafficker and women do. You really don't know people from the internet until you actually meet them in person. I've met onli...

RIP Exercise guru I watched on TV as a kid and did his exercises in my living room. He made exercise fun not just work to lose weight cause you're fat.

RIP Brenda of Beverly Hills 90210. I watched that show as a teenager. I also watched Little House of the Prairie where she played Jenny Wilder. I never watched Charmed. Saw memes of Shannon with Luke Perry who played her boyfriend in 90210 saying "Together Again". So sweet.

Had a guest compliment me on my beautiful nails. I replied that they were real. Funny they are uneven and rough from breaking and not filed but I still get a compliment. I hate people. Working 6 days a week cause they can't get people hired for the 3rd week in a row. I am literally falling apart I barely can stand from stress and exhaustion. Managers getting mad at me when asking for help. I'm a supervisor and can handle it. Guests getting mad when I try to explain we are sold out cause I make no sense cause I can't think straight. Roommate getting upset I come home in a daze and not much fun. He is so sweet trying to make me laugh. OK maybe I hate my job and trapped in it. I left twice and forced to come back.

Had a fun day. Took my window in to be fixed. $35. I can handle that. Will be ready in 2 hours. I have to get it Monday cause I have to get ready for work in 2 hours. Also took my laptop to be fixed. The updates took forver to upload and after 24 hours, 98% installed. Turned off computer and it says have to uninstall updates since didn't upload properly. 12 hours later it still is unstallign updates. Have to pick it up on Monday or whenever they get it fixed. Then grocery shopping and go plenty to eat for a while. Got a paycheck and been workiing 6 days a week for 3 weeks so had some extra money. Got some fresh fruit and meat I normally don't get pinching my pennies. Even put more toward federal taxes I owe and to my sister I still owe from Bilbo's surgery last March.

Fun guest of the day. Me: May I help you? Guest: Checking out. Me: What room number? Guest: You checked me in yesterday. (Along with 80 other people too) Me: Alright, what name. Guest: Lindsey, we have 4 rooms. Me: Do you need a receipt?

Well I came up with a new term tonight. B*tch Lecture. One task force person is driving me crazy with their daily lectures that offer no insight to do better, but just complaints. She keeps lecturing me that I ignore guests and that's why have poor customer service scores. Actually that guest I'm ignoring is someone I just gave room keys to and they are leaving. Another I knowledged saying "Just one second" and wrote a note about the guest I just helped. She stands in front of me and demands I stop ignoring the guest to help her. Why doesn't she get behind her counter and start helping guests in line instead lecturing me in front of a guest. I finished my note and then helped the guest. Found out something interesting today. Remember the Financial Director who I replaced at another hotel last summer and then replaced me when his family didn't want to move to Chicago. Well he is currently working with a former coworker at another hotel. How do you like me no...

Today was fun. School baseball teams left so hotel became less noisy. Hosting a mens chorus group and saw in the kitchen the cooks unwrapping frozen pancakes for their group breakfast tomorrow. Yeah, you would think everything in a restaurant kitchen would be made from scratch, but not everything is. They certainly got their dozens of pecan pies from a bakery. I looked up the chorus and they are doing a concert in a local park.

I hate people. Oversold again and get chewed out when I have to send someone to another hotel. Had some kid get behind my counter and pick up my beaded pen and I explained that was mine. Then the 4 kids were $1 short for their ice cream and said they would come back with $1 later. I replied I will hold the ice cream until they returned with all the money owed. Their parents cussed at me for accusing their precious baby of stealing. They are going to lodge a complaint to the General Manager. Whatever. Go for it. Teach your kids better manners and we won't have a problem. Then right before I leave I get some group coming tomorrow needs rooms changed, Right Now! Now is 10:45 PM. After waiting 30 minutes for these corrections, I sent an email explaining I will make corrections when I come in in the morning since I will be the one assigning the rooms tomorrow. I just hate people some days.

Happy 4th. I got to work all day. Had my evening open. Asked family to see the prior evening parade but nobody wanted to go. Brother and sister-in-law went to the morning parade by themselves. Brother-in-law and nephew were working today. Sister didn't want to go to a parade and cleaned up the house for me visitng after work. Niece wanted to see the parade but didn't want to go by heself. Me neither so stayed home last night. Ate hamburgers and hot dogs. Fed the dog under table. Then went to see the fireworks with family. Good day. I asked my roommate to go see a parade and fireworks. He wanted to stay in the basement room sleeping and playing video games with hometown buddy. I said it could be just the 2 of us going, he doesn't enjoy my family (too antisocial). He said no. Losing a shuttle driver. One announced his 2 weeks notice so let him have a pen as a goodbye gift. Going to an assistance living place and shuttle residents to the grocery store and events. Then they ...

Funny, wore a button dress shirt for work as it meets corporate standards instead of polyester tank tops with bolero sweaters and someone asks if I feel differently, more like a supervisor. No, actually I feel the same. Does my polyester shirt make others perceive me differently?

Wake up in time to take roommate to his driver's license written test for his permit. Roommate canceled his driver's test appointment today cause he didn't sleep last night. Then he wants me to buy him wine so he can sleep today. No, not until my window is covered in plywood. He worked so hard mowing the grass, raking up the yard, cleaned the house, and I am still upset over a broken window. He is now refusing to clean the house until he gets job. He called the fast food manager again and she is not offering a job. I told him not to be aggressive if he wanted that job cause employers don't want aggressive employees. Wouldn't listen and kept calling for the manager cause he is desperate for a job. He goes to sleep and my brother to look at my window. He removed the rusted and painted over window so I can take it to a hardware store to have the pane of glass replaced. Not as much cost as replacing a whole window so I am happy enough to let roommate have the wine an...

Sigh. Got a request for my beaded pens, a nurse theme pen to give as a gift. Uh, I don't know if th website sells nurse beads. They thought I painted the beads. No, I buy them. Well, they do sell nurse beads on website, but I am not sure I want to buy 200 wood beads to make 1 pen. That's why I stick to holidays. Someone suggested sports theme pens, but who is going to buy them?

Not only do I have broken doors, I have a broken window and torn off screens because roommate locked himself out of the house and I couldn't leave the counter to let him in. I am working by myself. Task force and Assistant General Manager didn't answer their room phones to ask to watch the counter for me. AGM walked by later to ask how it was going. Great, I have a broken window now. How much do windows cost, it's a garage window. Apparently roommate couldn't come here and get my key. Later the task force person walked by to say hello. Yeah, everything fine now. After tossing a brick threw my garage window, he messaged he is getting high because that situation didn't work out like he thought. It was raining and cold and needed inside right away. He was doing yard work and shut the garage door realizing later it was locked. His wallet was inside so couldn't ride the bus to get my key at work. Walking 3 miles in the rain was a bit much to ask. I am sorry that I c...

Yikes. Showing my beaded stuff to a housekeeper and a guest wants checked in. Coworker offers my stuff to the guest, then she wants a total and I try to tear myself from them to check in the guest waiting because the other front desk worker has disappeared. I come up with a total quickly on my phone app. It is the wrong total because app figures in all tax rates I have saved in the app, which is 3 states and 2 localities. Put the extra in an envelope and leave it for the housekeeper. I pray the guest doesn't complain having to wait cause I was selling something to coworker or I will be put out of business permanently. I am sure that would make many people happy.