Hoo-ray for Hollywood . . .

. . . EXCEPT for when a production company, filming locally, decides the VERY BEST place to put the crew restrooms is right outside the entrance to my office building.

Not cool, dudes.

(other than that, had a good day selling cruises!)

*and it just occurred to me that I seem to have a bathroom theme going on here. SO not cool . . . :D

One of life's little ironies . . .

is REALLY having to pee while telling someone that yes, her toddler DOES have to be potty-trained in order to be admitted to the kids' club . . .

New Post. Just Sayin'.

Okay, okay, okay.

Sheesh.

Take a week or 12 off and people get testy . . .

So I'm still working at the cruise line, still loving the job, yay! I'm getting better at it, call by call, bit by bit. We have a new system in place that allows me to give callers my extension if they want to work exclusively with me on their bookings. I'm slowly building a clientele, something I expected to do much later on, not this soon. But it's all working out quite well. I guess. If not, I'm sure I'll get a memo at some point . . .

By the way, the picture was taken in December on one of our ships. She was in port on a turnaround day and shoreside employees got to do a visit for lunch and a show. Did I manage to put enough cruise jargon in that sentence? Don't even get me started on fore & aft, port & starboard, traditional or anytime dining, etc., etc., etc.

While I like working in a group again (as opposed to working at home), it's been a bit of an adjustment getting used to a corporate society. My husband and I can't just say, "We're going on vacation" or "We're going away for the weekend" on a whim anymore. And I can't just say to my boss, "Hey can I have the week of ______ off?" Apparently I have to submit a request through the computer system to Staffing and they'll let me know, presumably through the same system. I'd rather just go find this mysterious "Staffing" and find out what's available--I'm flexible; I have no set dates in mind yet for a week off this summer. Why go through the process of trying to figure out a week and then probably being told I can't have it?! I'm one the of the newest employees, thus bottom of the totem pole. I'm fine with seniority; I just don't want to waste my precious free time on a possibly futile endeavor.

But, since I tend to roll with the punches these days, I'm fairly certain things will work out one way or another.

Otherwise, no complaints. I'm glad I'm on the team I'm on and I'm glad my station is where it is. There's a LOT of gossip and hearsay and wrong information being bandied about on "the other side" of the office--it's an open-plan space, but divided by the stairwells, elevators, restrooms, etc. We get snippets of it from our classmates who sit over there, and while we eat it up, we're glad WE don't have to be in the middle of it all day long! The 3 people from my class that I work next to are all funny and easy to get along with--and none of us really "participate" in office politics. We're all happy to have jobs and are there to make money--and of course, have fun doing it, if at all possible!

Working on the computer all day and taking with people on the phone all day means I've cut down drastically on my online time at home! I check in with emails and facebook nearly every day, but don't spend hours at it any more. Maybe if I had a smartphone and could keep up with fb at work between calls, I'd have more comments to make, but I don't miss it that much. I think I keep up with what's important and the rest will work itself out without my participation. As it should!

So that's been my main focus these last weeks and I'm sorry for not posting sooner! I'll try to post more often, maybe start a "Funny Stuff People Said on the Phone Today" or "Another Question Someone Asked About Something That Wouldn't Even Occur To A Reasonable Person . . ."

Until then, Bon Voyage!

Just gotta say . . .

I really REALLY like my job!

I'm working at a major cruise line in the call center. Basically, I get paid to sit around and talk about cruises all day!

I get to help people make their once-in-a-lifetime vacation a reality.

I get to help people cross another item off their bucket list.

I get to help people celebrate an anniversary, a birthday, a Spring Break, a honeymoon, a Babymoon, or a "just because we deserve this" occasion.

Every single call I take is an opportunity to make someone's day, to learn more about the world, to expand not just my own horizons, but those of whoever is on the other end of the line.

I get to talk to people from all walks of life--the affluent, to whom cost is not a big concern; the middle, to whom cost counts but this is a special occasion so let's pull out all the stops within reason anyways; and the yearning traveler, to whom cost is big concern, but seeing new things means a lot and I'll just be in my cabin to shower & sleep so give me a place to lay my head and I'll be happy.

They're all special and interesting to me. I want to help them all have the best experience they can.

Humbling. And so satisfying.

Thanks, God.

Christmas 2011 -- Birth of a New Tradition

I received this in my email. It makes sense to me. How about you?

As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods --merchandise that has been produced at the expense of American labor.

This year will be different.

This year Americans will give the gift of genuine concern for other Americans.

There is no longer an excuse that, at gift-giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by American hands. Yes there is! It's time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper?

Everyone -- yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift certificatesfrom your local American hair salon or barber?

Gym membership? It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about somehealth improvement.

Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, American-owned detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a book of gift certificates.

Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plonking downthe Benjamins on a Chinese made flat-screen? Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course.

There are a bazillion owner-run restaurants -- all offering gift certificates. And, if your intended isn't the fancy eatery sort, what about a half-dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint. Plan your holiday outings at local, owner-operated restaurants and leave your server a nice tip.

Remember, folks this isn't about big National chains -- this is about supporting your home town Americans with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open.How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck or motorcycle, done at a shop run by the American working guy?

Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services of a local cleaning lady for a day.

My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy who is struggling to get his repair business up and running.

OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people spin their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, and potteryand beautiful wooden boxes.

And, how about going out to see a play or ballet atyour hometown theater.Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands.

Honestly, people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand Chinese lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of light, about fifty cents stays in the community. If you have those kinds of bucks to burn, leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a nice BIG tip.

You see, Christmas is no longer about draining American pockets so that China can build another glittering city. Christmas is now about caring about US, encouraging American small businesses to keep plugging away, to follow their dreams. And, when we care about other Americans, we care about our communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn't imagine.

THIS is the new American Christmas tradition.

This is a revolution of caring about each other,and isn't that what Christmas is about?

Hmmmmm . . .

I read blogs by friends and loved ones and see how much music is an influence or a commentary on their lives. And I wonder when that stopped being true of me and my life.

And then I realized, the music pretty much went out of my life when I got married, and got consumed by my husband's life and family and concerns, and I lost myself along the way. I thought that was part of (finally) growing up and caring about things other than myself. And I worked SO HARD to be worthy of that new family.

Never questioning if they were worthy of me, just accepting that I had to live up to them.

Well, that was my mistake.

Time to cue up some Buffett and be me again. Feels good.

Incommunicado

Grenada Wildlife

My cell phone won't work there and I have no idea what the chances are I'll be able to hop online (since we don't have the latest gadgetry and I'm not sure if the hotel will have a public computer).

So even though I won't be facebooking or emailing or even texting until at least the 28th, please know I am thinking of you and wondering how you're doing (in between beaching, snorkeling, sight-seeing, touring that rum factory and hopefully not dodging any hurricanes ('tis the season, you know) . . . Oh! And I hope we see the monkeys again!

Stay safe!