Memories-Destination Unknown

So, memory is a funny thing... and if I ever get accepted to another university willing to take a chance on me, I might take a class on the human mind (I wonder if that would count as an elective?)... It's amazing the things you forget over time. I know that last sentence sounds stupid, but seriously, it sucks to forget things. I was talking to a friend of mine the other day who regretted not keeping a journal during a 3 month visit to Europe. And it's true- very few of us actually keep good records of this show we call life. I pulled out the 2001 Springville High School Yearbook with "Destination Unknown" on the cover. Don't ask me why I pulled out my junior year yearbook, I hadn't yet reached my peak of coolness, so one would naturally assume I'd go straight for Senior year, but alas, this is where my attention focused.
1 sidebar very quickly: if you ever are in need of a self esteem boost, look at your old yearbooks. Generally speaking, you only had people sign your yearbook, whom you liked, and knew liked you. So 98% of what people wrote were compliments about you (I reserved the 2% for Blake Haines who wrote something about how I should stop being a closet gay, and the person who wrote "Duke Rules" all over my year book...thanks a lot Mortensen). But seriously, even if half of what these people are writing is generic "yearbook jargon" it still suffices as quite a morale boost :)
ok, sidebar aside, I think everyone should pull out their Junior Year Yearbook (I'll wait while you search frantically through old book shelves, or call your parents and ask if they kept any of your old belongings...).
Got it? ok, good. Now, just open up the first page and read the comments...I defy any of you to not find some quote, advice, memory that you had forgotten through the falling of the sands of time. I found tons! first off, some of these people had very nice things to say about me (again, they may have written the same thing in everyone's yearbook, but it doesn't matter), and I can not even remember who they are. I feel like a huge jerk for that. Secondly, it's often been said that adolescence is a time filled with identity issues. well, apparently, Junior year was mine, because I had way too many nicknames. the thing is, I'm pretty sure most of them were self appointed, which is not how nicknames are supposed to work...but it's nice to see that some things don't change, because I'm still giving myself nicknames. But there were some good ones from back in the day, that I had long forgotten about: Mr. Sensitive (I'm totally Mr. Sensitive!!), BYOB (thanks Kirsta for reminding me in your message on the back page!), Mr. Tough, Muerte! of course, I'm not sure how I had the nickname Muerte (spanish for death) and Mr. Sensitive at the same time, but clearly I was a chameleon back then.
So I could go on and on about the, well for lack of a better term, and this being the digital age "postings" on my yearbook, but since I only know of a select few that have occasion to read this blog, here are a few things I'd like to bring up:

First-and just a general statement. Lots of people mentioned memories of me in College Alg/Trig, and how fun it was. I don't remember it being fun. I barely passed that class. I honestly did not remember that I was such a nuisance...No wonder I didn't learn anything, and I'm surprised anyone learned anything with me in their class... I was a complete distraction. Teachers must have hated me!

but I digress...


Diana...you said that "if we ever got bored, we needed to conjugate irregular french verbs" well, I just want to say that your lack of follow through probably is the reason I'm not fluent today... :)

Justin- you said we were going to go camping everyday during the summer of 2001. I'm looking back on my date book, and you know what I didn't see?? it filled with notes about all my various camping appointments! although the few we did go on were wicked cool. (I'm guessing my schedule at the Hogi Yogi was pretty demanding or something :)

Mossey, you made several comments about my rugged good looks...I can't argue with that.

Will said something about me being the Great American Pelican... I know there's a story behind this, but I'm drawing a blank. Perhaps because I blocked it out. Ring a bell to anyone else?

Brad brought up something about cell phone smashing, which I vaguely remember...but not completely since I didn't own a working cell phone until I was back from the mish...

Boyer talked about how I was the greatest locker partner he ever had (loose translation)

Dave... guess what dave?? I can't find anything in my junior yearbook from you!!!? what's that about?! next time I visit Utah, I'm bringing this yearbook and you're going to write something in it!

So, generally speaking, it was really fun to look this over. I think when you are in the last days of school, and a whole day is basically set aside for people to sign yearbooks, it seems like a waste of time...I remember thinking that the whole process was a tad bit self centered. but looking back on it, it's good to remember the days of yore. These I've mentioned and a few specific others that I haven't, have had a distinct impact on the person I am today. I think we sometimes forget that the journey of becoming who we want to be, is often just as important as the attainment of that persona. I just looked back on what was only a sliver of my life, and realized-that sliver, albeit small and seemingly insignificant on the outside, actually affects a huge part of who I am, and how I act, and why I tend to use comedy as an escape.

This small moment has opened up this stroll down memory lane...It's like the movie inception, only without all the complicated twists, turns, and thrills. It's as if I'm walking down a street and the buildings I walk past are structures representing my memories- my past. I pass a building on my right, it's a concert hall. Inside are all my memories of orchestra. I walk past the concert hall, and there's a frozen yogurt/sandwich/Japanese fast food restaurant (crazy, I know...) just across from the restaurant is the french embassy with a crazy man and lady standing out front (how were we so blessed to have two completely insane french teachers?? I'll never know). I turn down the street to the right and there's an open courtyard, with some sort of street fair in progress-filled with dances I've been to, and kids listening to a stereo in the middle of the hall... it's crazy. So many buildings/events are going on in this city in my mind. It's really quite amazing and in that respect, the fact that only a few things have slipped past my ability to recall them, is in and of itself a miracle. But that's why these things are so important. Journals, pictures, video, scrapbooks, and yes, even High School Yearbooks, can serve as defibrillators for the mind.

Anyway, this is a long post, but I encourage everyone to look back at these tools and take a trip through your own "city of memory". perhaps I'll see you there ;)

"Is Possible???"

Almost every Monday we have a tour group with 2-4 buses stay at the hotel for a night, on their way to visit the "Enchanted Canyonlands of the Southwest". Usually we have an Italian Bus, a French Bus, and then sometimes we get Australians.

The other day, one of the Italian guests came to the desk and started asking a question....in Italian... I looked at him blankly for a few minutes until he was done. Then I told him I didn't speak Italian, and he responded with....well, more Italian. I've had similar experiences with our French and Spanish speaking guests. Almost always they're sentence starts with "Is Possible...?" i.e. "Is Possible....to aah, internet??" which is fine, because that, I can understand. But with this gentleman, there was no working through the phonetics. He kept repeating himself, and I would point to things, or answer with what I thought he was asking, but eventually he just muttered something under his breath, then turned and walked away. If there was ever a time when I wish I could download a language learning system directly into my brain, this is it. Unfortunately, I can't draw on my experiences in Foreign Northern California to aide my translation skills... not that I'm bitter for going English Speaking or anything...

Catching up on the train ride to BlogTown

Wow, it's been a little while. I'm working the graveyard shift today and tomorrow, so I figure I'll have some time to post. I was trying to post a Youtube video Dave showed me when I visited Utah, it was Hilarious, and totally reminds me of the great Videos we made in yesteryear. When I went to share it, the title came up, but not the video....weird. Anyway, you should all go to Youtube and search for "Canadian Border Patrol" it's the first video that pops up...Amazing!

Mainly I use this forum for random thoughts, stories, and the like, but I was re-reading the July 1st Presidency Message from Pres. Eyring. He spoke of Friendship, and quoted D&C 84 when the Savior called us his Friends, if we will follow him. Pres. Eyring goes on to say that we should be the kind of Friend to others that the Savior is to us. This is great counsel. I've had my share of "down times" lately, but I can honestly say that I have always had the most joy and the most blessings, when I've forgotten about myself and looked to help others-when I've been a good friend. So my focus the rest of the year is to do more on that front.

Ellen's large feet

I just got off of work, and I'm basically debating on whether to go to bed (it's 8pm by the way) or do some laundry. I just polished off the better part of a box of Mac and Cheese (I added a can of green beans, my mother would be proud), and almost immediately regretted eating that much. While I contemplated the insane amount of pasta I had devoured today (I finished off some vegan leftovers from last night for breakfast: noodles and vegetables pan fried in Tai peanut sauce...very good); I decided to sit down and rest for a spot. Ellen's Somewhat Special Special was on. First thing I noticed was her sweet 3 piece suit. she is, after all, a sharp dresser. Next I look down, and what do you know, She's got some decent sized dogs! I mean, her shoes looked really long. not quite clown like, but definitely bigger than her small frame would suggest. I didn't dwell too long on her feet, however, because I got to thinking to myself "self, Ellen's got a pretty sharp hairdo going on...maybe you should get yourself an Ellen haircut!" I just wonder what the reaction will be when I go to the Great Clips down the street and tell the stylist "I'll take The Ellen." I would think it could be quite embarrassing, but hey, this is me...

"Time Flies on Wings of Lightning"

Dallin H. Oaks referenced this quote from a Hymn in the April 2001 Conference. It was evident tonight as I looked at some pictures of Blake.

How did this little tyke

turn into this little Man Child in less than 2 years????

He still makes the same face when he sleeps though. I love it.

We're letting his hair grow out a bit. I want to see how it looks. If it's horrible, we'll have to get him a trim before his 2 year photo, but until then, I say grow baby grow.

I think he's getting a little big of a Samson complex though. He's been a little bit of a tyrant recently. We had a little chat though, and he's going to work on it (If only parenting were that simple :)...

Customer Service

Most big companies have customer service departments. You know them, they take the returns, faulty merchandise, and all your complaints. Well in my line of work, the Front Desk is the Resort's customer service desk. You have a problem with Housekeeping...tell the Front Desk. Restaurant service was slow, get up from your table, walk past the Restaurant Manager and the three hostesses, and come to the Front Desk. Spa doesn't have any availability- they have several managers who are happy to talk to you, but nope-call the Front Desk. It's very interesting. I understand this is the case, and I'm OK with that for the most part. I understand that a big part of my job is to deal with Guest problems. Where I start to take umbrage, however, is when people who aren't guests, call to complain to me. It's like I'm the Chloe of Complaints, sans the accent (although I've got some great Jamaican associates who are teaching me their lingo...stay tuned for that).
This afternoon I got a call from this irate lady who wanted to give her friend (who had a future reservation to stay with us) a $100 credit to use as she wished. She was ripped because we wouldn't take her credit card over the phone. Marriott requires a credit card authorization form to be filled out and faxed/emailed to the property to allow third party charging. This is to protect the company and the guest. It's pretty standard in most hotel chains. Well this lady wasn't having any of it. She just went off about how I should be ashamed to work for a company that would make this so difficult for her. She then said that it wasn't to protect her at all, it was just to protect the company and that I was a liar for telling her different. And for the first time in a very long time, I started to lose my patience. She continued about how she is a Gold Member of Hyatt and they never ever asked her to send a credit card authorization, they always take her card over the phone. Amazon. Macy's. They all take credit cards over the phone. "All I want to do is give my friend a gift, and you are ruining her birthday!"
I was astonished. I'm very good at taking a verbal beating from guests, because I understand the associate/guest relationship. But this lady wasn't even staying with us! I basically cut her off. I told her that though she thought I was a liar, the credit card authorization was just as much for her benefit as ours. "How so??" she asked.
"Well Ma'am, lets say you tell me over the phone you want to pay $100 on your friends bill. I take your credit card over the phone, but instead of charging it $100, I charge it $1000. You see your credit card statement in a few days and call us to complain that we overcharged your card. But then it's your word against mine, thus our problem. However, lets say you were to send in a quick little form which the written amount you wanted charged and your signature. Then there would be no chance for confusion. Does this make sense to you?"
Then she gave an analogy of her own about calling Amazon to pay for something, and asked if what I said was similar to what she said. I checked out of the conversation 3 minutes earlier, so I just said yes.
Then she asks "Well, what should I do then?"
Well, you could write your friend a poem, give them a car wash, or shoe shine...maybe babysit her kids while she got away for the weekend...Or maybe...just maybe...you could email me back this credit card authorization filled out, and give your friend $100 like you planned. Holy Smokes! this conversation is worse than me sticking thumb tacks into my knuckles!
Eventually I ask her why she doesn't give them a Marriott Gift Card. Well I tried, but someone at your hotel gave me the wrong website.
http://www.marriott.com/? yes that is a tough one to remember. So I walked her through the process, even going to the website as she was, and clicking on everything before I told her, so I knew it worked. She said she wasn't seeing the same thing I was. Eventually she found the right site, but then asked how she's going to print off the gift card. I told her it wasn't a certificate, but that Marriott would actually mail her an actual gift card. "but the party is today, will it get here today?"
"No ma'am, it probably wont be there for a few days, since it's already 12pm and it won't leave the warehouse until TOMORROW!"
"well, what am I going to do then?"
So then I told her about the final option. "you could try Safeway or Fry's. They often have Marriott gift cards, or at the very least, they have visa and American express gift cards, which we accept here at the resort.
"No, I don't remember seeing any gift cards at Safeway."
"Trust me ma'am, they are there."
"Well, I don't know. This whole process has been very frustrating, and I feel certain people at your resort misled me. I've never experienced this with Hyatt."
Anyone that has been in customer service long enough, knows when a person is trying to get something for free. They're just fishing around, and you know exactly what they're doing, it's insane. It's like a five year old that wants something, so he goes to his mom and he thinks he's being so clever and sly, but he's a little kid, and his mom isn't stupid. She sees right through him! That's how I felt with this lady. Did she honestly expect me to say "Ma'am, I am so sorry for this trouble you've had giving your friend a gift. Tell you what I'm going to do. I'm going to put $100 credit on your friends account, and tell her it was from you. that way, you get out of giving her an actual gift!"

Seriously?? I'd rather get kicked in the face by a donkey then give you anything!

It's people like this that really make it hard for honest guests who have experienced problems to get proper compensation. Amazing!!

awkward...

So, being somewhat of a blogger novice, I sometimes hit the "next blog" button on accident, when I'm actually trying to post something. It's a little awkward. Here I am, sitting comfortably in my own living room, trying to pen the inner most languishings of my heart (while USA v Australia plays on the DVR)...when all of the sudden, one mis-click of the mouse, and I'm transported to someone else's world, someone else's languishes of the heart, on a blog, not so ironically called "languishings" It's a little awkward being thrown into a stranger's blog. I don't know this person, I feel like an intruder. It's like freshman year of college when you walk into the classroom, sit down, look around, notice that "Welcome to Issues of the Womb 202" is on the white board, and suddenly realize, you're sitting in classroom RB242 instead of RB142. Just as you get up to leave the professor walks in...so you have to sit down so as to not draw too much attention to yourself. You think you can get through one class, unnoticed, and then never return again, but by about the 5th minute, you realize you're just not going to be comfortable with the subject matter, and you book it out of there. To parallel, I accidentally came across this other blog, I want to get out of there, but feel weird automatically clicking the back button. Almost as if this person would know that I came in, and left as if I had just noticed I walked into the women's restroom. (wow, maybe the women's restroom analogy works better than the drawn out "issues of the womb" class analogy...I'm not even sure BYU offers that course, oh wait... yes they do... Marriage Family and Human Development! ha ha, just kidding Friends and Sister who may or may not have such a degree ;)
anyway, I did find myself starting to read this person's blog, but had to stop after 3 or 4 lines because I just felt like such a home invader... I'm sure it's a very nice blog, written by a very nice lady, but I couldn't hang around uninvited long enough to find out.