Back to the old grind

So, I'm back from Minnesota of course!!! I had a great time but the stress from my job is really getting to me and I can prove it: I went to the Mall of America on Saturday with a loaded credit card and checkbook, and I DIDN'T BUY ANYTHING!!!!! (Sad, but true) The horror of it all, I know! I'm so ashamed,I don't know what's wrong with me. I'll never show my face in public again, lol!!!Everyone, including my baby had to ask me was I ok. I'm still trippin yall, lol!.

Anyways, my baby and I really enjoyed ourselves: We both needed weekend getaways from our jobs. I know we're going to San Francisco next week and I can't wait, but I needed to not be in either Chicago or Michigan last weekend. It was a 6 1/2 -7 hour drive, but we really enjoyed each other's company. We talked all the way there and back, held hands, sang, it was really nice. I bought him the 2006 Rand McNally Road Atlas to look through: he's big on road maps and trying to find his way without my favorite map: Mapquest. He was soooo excited yall, like a big school kid! He's so cute when he's excited!

Well, according to his calculations, we made it there and back in a reasonable time. We would have arrived back in the Chi sooner on Sunday, but ran into a bad rainstorm in Wisconsin, on my leg of the drive of course! We had dinner with Brownboy and his baby at my favorite restaurant, FLAT TOP GRILL. A good time was had by all.

After spending Monday at another working meeting in Arlington Heights, I returned to the Haba Tuesday to one bombshell after the next. You know it's bad when you can't leave your job without the place falling apart. I guess everything's back to normal. I have a rigorous schedule over the next week leading up to San Francisco with interviews, desk shifts, as well as my own work and dealing with my nemesis, the pain in my side, the crick in my neck, the ache in my head (you get the picture,lol) Bob the Builder (my Maintenance Man). Yep, we are at war folks, and I will not lose! Victory shall be MINE!!!Lol, dramatic right?

Let's just say I can't wait until this vacation next week. I refuse to have another Dallas/Florida/Bahamas debacle.

WHAT THE F***!!!

So, my boss has called for a District Meeting this upcoming Thursday. ARRRRR!!! She has no idea the turmoil and the headache that she has just caused me. Here's the breakdown:

I had a housekeeper quit on Saturday, which pissed me off because I had the opportunity to sell out 100% of my rooms, which is a rarity in the Haba, but I do a pretty good job in filling the place. I was already scheduled to work Night Audit (11p-7a) on Saturday night, causing me to have to leave one of my BFF's Baby Shower early, which sucked because all 4 of the BFF's haven't been in the same room in Lord knows when. I got back to the Haba at around midnight, so I was late. I got off at around 7:30, went to bed, came back in to work second shift (3p-11p) on Sunday. My laundry lady couldn't come in due to her son badly hurting his leg on the trampoline (Yes, a trampoline, folks!!!) So, yours truly had to work overnight Sunday, after getting off at 11, to do laundry, and Lord knows I drop my clothes off at the cleaners FAITHFULLY to avoid such a task! After damn near 8 hrs. of washing, separating, drying, folding, stocking, my back and feet were hurting yall. BAD! So, I passed out at around 8:00 Monday morning.

I got up at around 2 to make the Bank Deposit for Sunday, shit, shaved, and showered to go back to work at 4 (let's not forget I still have all my managerial functions to do!) So, I go in, check my email, and see the email for the meeting and I'm like "WTF!!!" (You know what WTF means, so I won't say it, lol) I forgot to mention that I have a mandatory training class for my staff on Thursday. Well, I did, not anymore of course! Anyways, this means that the class was
cancelled. I then get a phone call from the person who is teaching the class, asking me if I can send my desk staff to Kalamazoo on Tuesday (tomorrow) or Wednesday (the next day) to attend the class at either of those properties. My housekeeper's and Maintenance class will be rescheduled at a later date, she says.

Once again, I'm like "WTF!!!" So after a drastic change in the schedule, I have come to the conclusion that neither sleep nor a weekday life is in the cards for me. I'm already understaffed, so this put me in a real pickle. Basically, I got stuck working desk shifts tonight (11p-7a), tomorrow (7a-3p), tomorrow night (11p-7a), and again Wednesday (3p-11p). Then I have to load up the car and drive all the way to Northbrook (burb of Chicago) for my meeting. WTF, WTF WTF!!!!

On a brighter note, my baby and I are driving to Minnesota this weekend to visit one of my closest friends and his hubby. Well, he's driving, because this Superman will be dead to the world, you hear me! Coincidentally, my sister and her boyfriend are going to Minnesota this weekend as well to visit his daughter. Funny huh? Hopefully this weekend will provide some relief. It should, because my "Gay Mom", drinks, my baby, my sister, and shopping! I'm in for a treat. If I can make it out of this disaster of a week. And the sad part is, it's only Tuesday!

The President of my Fan Club

So, guess who had a job interview Friday with a very nice Chicago Hotel? Yep, yours truly! It went very well. She asked me if I had to put in a two week's notice. I'm like "I'm not sure but I think it would be appropriate." I'm so professional, yall, lol!!!

My baby was more excited about the interview than I was. Now he's ready to look for a new place so I won't have to drive into the city. He's so sweet. He was so excited about the interview, he picked out my clothes and everything! We ended up at Marshall Field's and I walked around while he went CRAZY trying to find the perfect shirt and tie. I thought it was sooo cute. So throw in a new belt and a pair of shoes, my power suit, and all of my chocolate cuteness, and I was ready yall!

I got the phone call Wednesday and my baby, Lord Bless Him, jumped, or shall I say, took over the bandwagon. He immediately wanted me to look a certain way and kinda got a bit carried away, but I didn't mind at all. I guess he thought he was being too pushy because later he apologized for being that way. He was just excited and happy at the thought of me coming HOME.

So I told him that I understood why he acted like he did and it's ok if he gets excited about things like that because that only shows how much he loves me and wants me to have everything. I love the fact that he gets excited when I have good news to share with him. I also told him it doesn't bother me when he gets pushy, which he wasn't bytheway. I let him know that the only thing that would ever bother me would be if he didn't get excited over those things. I let him know that my victories are ours to share and his are too. He thanked me and told me how much I meant to him. He's my biggest fan. I couldn't help but smile afterwards.

Call me Dr. Phil

So I have been texting all day today! Thank God for unlimited text messages. One of my boys and his girlfriend got into a physical altercation yesterday. No, it wasn't him, it was HER! Yep, ol' girl straight punched my boy in the face as if he were a dude or something, breaking his glasses. So, he told her that she had to leave his apartment NOW with all her stuff. Then the apologies and tears came-a-flowin.

He called me to vent about it yesterday and throughout the night. Not only did she hit him, she accused him of cheating, which sooo isn't the case. He eventually let her come back "for the night" because it was late and he would have felt bad if something happened to her. I told him that that was mighty big of him.

Well today, I found myself counseling him and her at the same time, via text message. She pleaded her case to me while he was asking me if he should give her a second chance. I asked him what did his gut tell him because he shouldn't have to be in an abusive relationship. When you have to hit the one you "love", it's time to move on. I made her realize the seriousness of the offense that she has committed: She just hit her man in the face as if she were a man. That's worst than cheating and a huge blow to his manhood!

He then took the mindset of using her like all of her other no-good ex-boyfriends in an effort to teach her a lesson, which I talked him out of. I told him how he shouldn't carry a spiteful heart and if he did, it's best they stay apart. I explained to her that if she wants him back, some grand gesture will have to be done on her behalf. I told her that it needs to be genuine, from the heart, and out of the blue. Actions speak louder than words and if she loved him like she says she does, then she shouldn't have any problems.

I told her to pray for forgiveness, self-control, and for her relationship. I also told her to be patient because my boy won't come around so soon. I told him to pray for guidance, a forgiving heart, and to rid himself of all the anger. She thanked me for being a good friend to the both of them and she promised me she would make my friend happy. After 5 hours of couples therapy, I hope everything works out for them.

Next couple please!!!

The Perfect Tri-Fecta ( 3 shots, 3 rounds, and 3 days of Mr. Smith!!! )

So my baby came up to see me this weekend, amidst all of this craziness that is my life. We had a fantastic time!!! On Friday, after I got back from the funeral, he came up. That evening we ate dinner at the Texas Corale Steakhouse. We both enjoy a nice hearty medium-done steak. Afterwards, I took him for a late night drive through the Haba and then up to my favorite getaway place up here... the Lion's Park Beach on the Lake. We then went and picked up more booze and went back to my room for more drinks and well, you know. (it had been a couple of weeks so you know IT WAS GOOD YALL!!!!) then we went to sleep. Well I know I did, lol!

On Saturday we woke up for round 2. Afterwards, I took him to breakfast and back around town. Our outing was cut short because yours truly had to work 3-11. I was expecting to get off at 9 so that I could take him to dinter. (Thanks Madea for the new word!) Of course, my relief never showed, even when I drove to his house to pick him up to come in. As a matter of fact, he never even showed up for HIS shift at 11. Luckily my auditor came in at 10:45 (she was training him for audit). Note to self: Fire him! So I jetted to my room to have a drink with my baby, who was dressed and ready to go. He waited ever so patiently for me to get off from work. He was very handsome too, yall.

We did a few Manhattan shots and went to Spinnaker's for dinner. After that, we went back to the lake and sat on the beach on a blanket and looked out on the waves. Then, we did something I NEVER do. We took our shoes off and put them in the water. It was sooo cold, and it was so funny seeing me step outside of my box. He's so country, I must really love him to do something like that. It was the best date I've ever had!!!

Today, we got up and had Round 3. Lol, yep 3 rounds for me folks, so now I'm good until I see him this weekend! Then we went shopping for summer gear and swim trunks. We're going to San Francisco July 5-8 and he's determined to teach me how to swim. We also picked up groceries for the both of us. We ate lunch in my room and watched Glory Road. Very inspiring movie. After the movie, we said our goodbyes and he made his 2 and 1/2 hour trek back to the burbs if Chicago. I was so sad afterwards. Thank you baby for a magical and romantic weekend!

We talked about so much this weekend, from movies, current events, and us. I told him how loving him is truly my heart's joy and that I am at the happiest point in my life because I truly have everything I need. I genuinely hope and pray that everyone can know and feel what I feel at some point in their life!

R.I.P.

Brandon Cortez Ussery Jr.

Born/Died June 1, 2006

Brandon, you were loved by everyone before you even came into the world. I'm sorry that you departed this world before you were able to know exactly how much.

Good help is so hard to find! (But thank you anyway, Lord!)

So my new night auditor quit on me the other night (five days into his employment and two and a half hours into his shift) all because some guest yelled at him! Yes I'm serious!!! When I tried to reason with him, he tells me that he can't work here because he has anger management issues and has a short people complex. He further explained by saying that he can't deal with short people yelling at him and he wanted to hem the guest up against a wall. I was pissed yall.

First of all, this is customer service. If he knew he had these issues, he shouldn't have applied, wasting my time and his! Second of all, he basically lied during his interview, when I asked him SPECIFICALLY how would he handle an upset guest that yelled at him and he responded with the customary take care of the guest, customer is always right mumbo jumbo! Third of all, why didn't I pick up on this during the interview. I'm usually a good judge of people, so did I miss something here???

I was so mad, I couldn't sleep a wink the rest of the night. I ended up going to the gym to work out (my new hobby, by the way) at 5 am. It helps me relieve my stress and allows me to just focus on me. When I got back to my room, I got an early morning call from a Housekeeper trying to leave work early or not come in at all. I lost it right there. I had never hung up on an employee, but I did that day, only after I told her it's her responsibility to find her own replacement for the day or she had better show up for work ON TIME!

I called my baby afterwards for some much needed words of encouragement, which he delivered. He told me that I shouldn't let things stress me out like that because I have to make myself happy and stay positive. He also added that I've had a postive impact on my staff and not to let that go to waste. He also reminded me to thank the Lord for ALL of my blessings and that soon they all will be answered. I love that man so much, he always knows how to make me feel better! So like I always say, Thank you Lord for my health, my strength, my piece of mind, my career, my family and friends, my relationship, and for putting love in my heart and in my life!

P.S. I finally got a few hours sleep in at around 12 and went back to work at 3-11. Afterwards I had a couple of good drinks, curled up in the bed, talked with one of my boys, and watched Love and Basketball. So what started as a miserable day at 1:30 am came to a peaceful end at 1:30 am the next day. Whew, what a day!

Mother knows best!!!

So, I am having one of the longest weeks ever!!! I'm short staffed due to the fact that I fired an employees and I have two new hires to get trained, which means I will be working quite alot this month. And for the first time since we got back together, I won't be seeing my baby this weekend! As a matter of fact, I won;t even see Chicago this weekend. How much does that suck??? I don't know what I'm going to do with my free time, probably laundry. Whatever it is, I will be BORED out of my mind!!!

Anyways, the weirdest thing happened the other day. The guy that I let go on Tuesday, well his mom called later that day wondering why her son was fired. I'm like (to myself), I can't believe this bleep!!! (the s word). Do I really have to explain my reasoning for terminating an employee to their MOTHER? Come on now, this is 2006. Time to grow up fellas, mommy can't fight your battles for you, especially if you're a grown ass man!

So to be nice, I explained to his mommy about his job performance and how it didn't meet expectations, blah blah blah, and she seemed to be understanding of my predicament. I was still amused by the fact that this MAN went and cried to his mom, and she tried to fix it for him. Now that's a mother for you, always trying to make things easier for her boy. Lesson learned? Watch out for a momma's boy, lol!!!