Zapping Myself Bald

I nearly forgot to share my laser hair removal experience, ha!
A few people had asked about it and such, so I figured I would share here for anyone interested!
I bought a groupon for 3 laser hair removal treatments. It was only $99 and the three treatments typically total $530-not bad! We were given the choice of face, underarms, or traditional bikini- I chose underarm. I schedule my appointment just a few days before and got in when I wanted to, always nice!
When I got to Pelli Aesthetics (shopping center next to the main library between Poplar and Walnut Grove) it was empty since they had just opened. The atmosphere was really nice and contemporary, but still comfortable. I was really anxious, so that meant a lot. The girl at the desk was also the, hmm, well, I don't know the title, but lets say...specialist. Apparently the normal front desk girl had a family emergency.
There was a lot of paperwork to initial. Basically no huge health concerns, just legal "this treatment varies with everyone" stuff. The only health stuff I remember is discoloration of the skin and possible scabbing. It also mentioned how many patients described it feeling, like a quick rubber band snap. Reading exactly how it felt and how things would go down helped calm my nerves a lot.
Once I finished we headed back to the room. Much like a spa/doctor's office room. The lighting outside of the bed's overhead lamp was very nice and warm. The overhead lamp lamp was like an operating room lamp or a dentist office's, except a size in between the two. There was also a medium sized running fountain wall again the back. It is amazing the attention to detail in putting their customers in a doctor-like service, but spa-like atmosphere.
She asked me to remove my shirt and lay on the bed. She quickly cleaned my underarms and began setting up the machine. She showed me the laser and informed me that it was an inch by two inches in size so this would not take long at all. Next, she handed me a pair of goggles, just like tanning bed goggles, for safety. It made me a little nervous that I couldn't see what she was doing, but she talked me through it and counted down from three for the first one.
I didn't feel anything.
She said she just wanted me to experience the timing and such before she moved down to the hair. It was a milli-second long flash, that's it. As she moved to hair, I felt it more. It really felt like a rubber band popping against my underarms and then singe-ing under my skin. At first it didn't hurt, but after a while it started hurt more, simply because of repeating it. From what people have told me about getting a tattoo, it is very similar. At first it is nothing, but as it goes on it really starts to hurt as they continue in the same area. It makes sense since the laser and needle are going into the core of the pores, so to speak.
She was done with both arms in under five minutes.
Seriously.
If I didn't have paperwork to do I would have been in and out in under ten minutes.
Awesome!
The next appointment has to be 4 weeks later to work with our hair's growing cycle. You can add or subtract about 3 days from the exact day and still be okay. But keep that in mind when you make your first appointment. In other words, don't make an appointment a week before vacation thinking you can get all three in before your vacation.
You can shave throughout the entire experience and I highly recommend it (day of) for the first visit, it makes the singe feeling much lighter. I will definitely be shaving the morning of my next one. But no hair removal creams or anything. Show up clean. No deadorant for under arms, lotion for legs or face. Be pure!
Also, no tanning! It is bad for you, plus it would only cause discoloration. No tanning up to two weeks before the first treatment and no tanning during it!
You also cannot do the procedure with open wounds/scabs. They would worsen something awful!
There are some medicines that can make you sick or cause discoloration, ask when you make an appointment anywhere. This will keep you from wasting a trip just to be told you cant take that medicine up to two week before the treatment.
I didn't look but it felt like they were a little red afterwards, but I have decently tough skin, so that can definitely vary. Usually it doesn't last more than 2-3 days. Of course ice can help remedy the situation as well as post-laser gels or hydrocortisone cream.
The process is basically pushing the hair follicle out of the pore. In other words, it is going to look like it is still growing, but it is actually your body pushing it out. Typically it falls out within 5-10 days. I'm only on day 4, so I really can't verify much yet. It is good to make sure you exfoliate a bit in the area while you're in the shower, that will help it to come out sooner, smoother, and a little bit cleaner!
Well, that's that for now! E-mail if you have any questions!

"Too much work and too much energy kill a man just as effectively as too much assorted vice or too much drink"

I have realized a lot about myself and my life lately.
Things I thought I wanted simply do not cut it.
I envisioned a lot of my life on my own, traveling and learning, but that doesn't seem enough. I wanted my career to come first. I've worked hard to earn my education and I don't want it to go to waste just to become a soccer mom homemaker. I thought that I could handle being by myself as long as I filled my time with school and work.
But, at the end of the day, being by myself isn't good enough. I didn't want to share my life, it's mine! But what an awful fate I assigned myself.
I appreciate independence.
But what good is a career, travels, and money with no one else to share it with?
I really had little faith in love and relationships (outside platonic).
It simply didn't seem like they would do me any good. Sure, in the aftermath of a three and a half year relationship I really wonder if it is worth it.
But I also wonder if shoving my face into the grindstone was worth what it cost me, even with the best intentions.

This Is Morning

I really love Jack's Mannequin. And this one is perfect for today. Morning is definitely the hardest when you are sad about anything really. I can easily fill a day to occupy my mind. I can run myself down so that when I hit the bed Im too tired to think about anything else.
But in the morning, things are different.
Mornings are the beginning of everything.
Another day.
The first decision of the day.
Should I get up?
Why?
What will I do with the day?
Will it be worth it?
Will anyone notice if I stay here and dream?
It is when you jerk back to reality and realize what happened the day, the week, even the year before. You recognize changes. Changes in the amount of light, the time of day, and, for whatever reason that someone isn't there that used to be. Even if you didn't live with them.
My counselor "watered" this situation down to a change. I'm not insulting him or anyone, but I guess that is a good way to look at it. A simple change. He went on to describe it as similar to losing a loved one, via death. He recommended I research the five stages of grieving.
Pitiful.
I thought that was a ridiculous thing to say. A little dramatic.
Was I acting this stupid to suggest that?
But its true.
Three and a half years is a long time.
I actually found them really helpful though. It helps me realize that this is a process. Not a bad thing, but the process to a new life.
I can't assume that after a couple of good hours that I am good to go forever. Those are the days you go to bed and wake up sobbing.
When I woke up this morning I felt like I was in a hotel by myself. My aunt's house is beautiful. Beautifully decorated, always clean. It's like living in a show room. A comfortable showroom.
It was really depressing to feel like I was just another customer in this one room hotel.
I have a strange imagination.
But when I went downstairs to see my family, I realized how important they were and their hospitality was for me right now and at thanksgiving. This house is just another showroom without them.
How could I be unhappy when they all stayed up late into the night, although everyone was extremely exhausted, to talk to me and listen and complain about the now ex-boyfriend and how he would never be good enough.
Happy.
It sucks to be told that your significant other is tired of being in a relationship with because it is going nowhere.
You take it personal.
You can't help it.
But after talking to them and another wonderful friend of mine at the coffee shop, it feels good to know that I don't pull anything down or back.
I am going somewhere with or without him.
But not without the help of the amazing people I have been blessed to have in my life.

Just Madison

I'm not sure if there is a law in blogging limiting blog entries to once per day or not. But, oh well, I'm a rebel.
I have been super mopey the last couple days, especially this morning, regarding the whole relationship ending situation. I just can't help it though.
I mean, we have been through much worse together before. First we spend too much time together, so I make a bit of my own life so he doesn't feel any pressure to hang out with me. Now we don't spend enough. And instead of taking advantage of time we have or planning dates in advance. I guess it just sucks to really try just to have him show up express his feelings and already made decision and then expect my suggestions.
Why would you ask for my feelings and suggestions if you have already decided?
Aren't you supposed to do that BEFORE?
I feel kind of guilty subjecting depressing poison upon the blogging world. My apologies.
It took everything in me to leave the house this morning. I woke up early to get my life together, clean my room and do at least one thing with my appearance to cheer myself up (be it actually blow drying and straightening my hair, putting on make-up, or doing some crunches).
I cried.
I left the house late, looking a wreck (to compliment my still destroyed room).
A block away I thought about turning around to spend my day in bed until work.
Then my aunt called.
She could hear it in my voice.
I should have known. Why did I even answer the phone?!
Instantly I could hear her heart melting after I told her what happened. I really felt bad telling her since I didn't feel like I could be cheered up, but I couldn't keep it from her, I'm just not that good.
She went on for the rest of my drive to school saying how much better I was than him, ha! It still felt good, as petty as it sounds. While none of it was probably true, it still kept me from walking into class with completely shot eyes riding the edge of a breakdown.
I couldn't help but be distracted through my first class. I simply couldn't focus on anything but myself. I'm so selfish right now.
I just wanted out of there. I really didn't want to see anyone or explain anything. Fortunately, most thought I was just tired. In a way I guess I am. I have really exhausted myself- how pitiful!
In a way I was really dreading my F & B class. I know more people in there and knew they would know. But as soon as my friends came in it was a different story. You forget how funny and incredible people are until you are really down like this. They were so incredibly...hospitable. Just having their presence made all the difference in the world.
I am so lucky to have such great friends. And such awesome people in my major. They helped me joke about the situation, which is what I would normally do in any humiliating or upsetting situation. I just realized how much I was not acting like myself.
It was a little embarrassing.
I don't think I deserve them.
By the time I got to work, I was down again. Frick.
I really tried hard to smile though. At first I really hated that I worked with people. Why can't I just work in a cave with a computer all day so I can just cry and type and be self-centered!?
My dad came into work tonight. He met the people I work with and the guests I serve. Hearing them talk about me to my father almost made me cry. They were so excited to meet him for some reason. But it really made my day.
I just had another guest call down asking to extend his stay because of our service. Not saying that in a "tooting my own horn" manner. I'm beginning to feel like I come across that way here. I'm sorry.
It just feels nice.
Especially on such an awful day, I really think the dreary weather has enhanced my mood.
But has it really been that bad? I have absolutely incredible friends. So many people have called and text and sent fb messages.
They know me. They knew I would be upset.
One has even invited me over for girls night in to drown our sorrows in sangria.
A toast goodbye to the stupid boy that said I wasn't good enough.
No more tears, no more time.
Hello Madison.
Just Madison.

Emotional Cure All

Waking up is the hardest.
No one likes to awake abruptly. It is an awful feeling to crack your eyes and see your running late. Or be deep in sleep and jolt up to a crash or scream.
It feels the same to wake and realize again what has transpired over the past couple of days. It is like being broken up with all over again. You feel like there is no hope for the day, so what reason is there to rise?
I guess this is something you can't fight. When someone shows up at your house, decision already made, what are you supposed to do? You can't force intimacy.
We were truly in a rough patch anyway. I thought we would push through this like everything else. Isn't that what makes you stronger? I guess I had hoped that he would be the one to bend his life some this time.
But you can't force that. I thought that he had realized all the bending I had done in years past and would return the favor this year.
I think I also expected him to be okay with my withdrawn. I was hanging out with people who didn't know or didn't care about my family life. My mom just abruptly married a guy. My grades are slipping. I'm broke. And it is winter. I hate winter.
It is hard not to have consistency. Since my life has changed so much over the past three and a half years, he has really been the only weight. I guess it is unfair to make someone feel like that though.
The modern human is a peculiar thing. We have drugs for everything. I guess we expect to heal everything within the hour. Even emotional things. I guess that is why we can seem so emotional. There really isn't much to cure that.
There is no instant cure for rejection.
I thought my busy lifestyle would be.
But when I filled it just to make myself seem worth loving, it hardly seems worth it now. Nor does the reminder help heal the wound.

And they lived happily ever after, apart.

Break ups are strange. Maybe it is because I am always a little surprised by them, even though I usually initiate. You don't plan on breaking up when you get into relationships.
Unless you're getting married.
Oddly enough.
But pre-nups are a whole different blog.
And when you get there. Three and a half years in. It feels like it should be more than what it was. Like, somehow, the break up should be ceremonial of sorts.
Outside of the Facebook announcement of course.
As if, it should be upheld like the first date or kiss.
It should mean something, right?
I have a strong work ethic. I don't mind scooping poop for a year if it gets me where I want to go. I push through things very well. I juggle a lot in my schedule.
Yet, I knew this relationship was not headed where I wanted or needed to go.
For at least a year.
How could I be so weak?
How dare someone say I'm strong. I feel so guilty every time someone says it. I don't deserve it.
I guess I just hoped that I could have the boy I once knew back, yet have him grow in different ways.
I was tired of being judged by his church/circle of friends. Feeling inadequate. Feeling as if everything I had done still wasn't good enough.
But I still didn't want it to end.
Oddly enough when we got back together in May, I told myself and a close friend, 6 months.
6 months of a genuine try this time and evaluate just before Thanksgiving.
She said that we both needed to try for each other's sake instead of one of us walking away wondering.
Makes sense.
Here I am, a single girl, and strangely enough, of his doing.
I don't think I will walk away wondering.
But it still hurts. Three and a half years is a long time for someone who is only 20. The relationship has been the only consistently in my life since it began.
My parents have divorced and one remarried since. I have gotten laid off. Struggle in college with no family aid. I have relied on him and those around the two of us to help me and now, even though I have worked really hard since returning from Disney to make my own life, I still feel really alone.
I thought that if I regained some independence it wouldn't be so bad if and when this day came. Instead, it pushed him away. And I knew it was. But I still kept on filling my schedule.
In a selfish way I feel like an idiot. Embarrassed that I couldn't make it work, wondering what he will tell his friends and how stupid I will look to them. Hurt that somehow I didn't fit the mold, whether or not I wanted to-simple rejection.
Naturally I have blown that feeling out of proportion to feeling hideous, stupid, and boring. The complete opposite of what every guy in every generic movie says about that girl he is telling his friends/mom: "she's smart, she's funny, she's beautiful."
No, I don't need a man to be any of that. I don't need someone to say those things about me.
I do need to readjust my life.
Character building.
I think I will go embrace "The Ragamuffin Gospel" by Brennan Manning.

Outliers

I just finished a book by Malcolm Gladwell entitled "Outliers." It is a wonderful piece of work.
Economics and I really don't get along in the classroom, but outside, I love it. I love reading about it and I'm addicted to learning morning, especially in terms of society. I loved the book Freakonomics and am ready to read Freakonomics II.
Outliers is a book that breaks down how people actually succeed, the economics and opportunities. It is incredible the amount of detail and research that was done on this. I am thoroughly impressed and highly recommend it. I can't wait to read his other two.
There are so many things I want to write, but just picking one part would not only ruin it, but wouldn't have the same effect without the rest. Instead I just want to share a couple sentences found near the end of the epilogue that really sums it up.

"Superstar lawyers and math whizzes and software entrepreneurs appear at first blush to like outside ordinary experience. But they don't. They are products of history and community, of opportunity and legacy. Their success is not exceptional or mysterious. It is grounded in a web of advantages and inheritances, some deserved, some not, some earned, some just plain lucky - but all critical to making them who they are.
The outlier, in the end, is not an outlier at all."

Lonely Night At The Desk

I love my job. I always have so much fun talking to all the different people.
Except weekends.
I hate working weekends.
I mean it isn't that I have anything to give up on the weekends. Especially in wintertime, there isn't much going on socially for me. I just have a hard time adjusting to "strangers."
That's a weird thing to say for someone who meets at least 10 new people a work day. During the week though, we have mostly business travelers. Most have traveled here before. Many come weekly, biweekly and monthly. We even know our quarterly guests very well.
We are always looking at new pictures of the kids and what they were for Halloween or how the renovation is coming. Asking about that college kid of theirs that just isn't getting it. Our weekly guests are like our family, and we really bond when they come down for dinner and just chat- talk about the weekends and how the project is going. They miss their families and just need someone to talk to. It is hard being away every week. For them, I think they really value the conversation.
Our extended stay guests are like a different family. They are all here, waiting for future accomodations. Whether waiting on their house to be repaired or looking to buy a new one. Some are new to town because of a job and others are headed out. It is nice to keep up and help them make this home as much as possible. These guest love the homelike accomodations, but also like the familial conversations they have with staff they see everyday.
On the weekends, though, I only have our extended stay and transient guests. The extended stays spend most weekends out, shopping for the apartment or looking for a new house. They come home too exhausted for conversation. Transient guests are here for a purpose. Usually touring Memphis or a tournament or a family gathering. They don't necessarily need or value conversation with staff, not that they are bad people, they just have goals and limited time.
I get it.
That's how most, if not all, of my trips are. But still, it gets lonely here. At this property there is typically only one person on duty between 5 pm and 8 am. I spend most of my shifts working alone, on weekends all of the shift. If I don't have homework, then it gets really depressing up here!
There are plenty of times that guests annoy me and I just want them to leave me alone, but, all in all, they really make my day most of the time.
When I got to work Thursday, everyone that came up to the desk started the conversation with "where have you been? I can't believe you didn't tell me you were going to New York and I had to find out from the other staff while you were out!"
I'm spoiled.
To say the least.
To be missed feels really great. I feel worthwhile. Lately I have really beat myself up about how unimpressive my resume is and how awful my business skills are. But to walk in here and see that at least I mean a little something to a few folks makes up for it all.
I thank God for things like that.

Post New York Life

Our last day in New York was a little depressing. I should have known when I awoke to a gloomy sky and a wrecked room- a clear indication of how much time I spent in my room or lack thereof.
As we toured the new Intercontinental Times Square property, I couldn't help but feel so small and insignificant. There was so much I didn't know. Some many details I didn't catch. So many amenities that are a necessity there and unheard of here - there was a computer in EVERY room.
I guess this is how it felt when we started putting televisions in hotel rooms. Expected now, a right back then.
We quickly moved from there to Chinatown and I hit up my newly favorite Chinatown "stolen accessory" lord at Canal and Church. Maybe I shouldn't be putting that on here.
Oh well.
After acquiring a new Luis Vuitton clutch to accompany the Chanel glasses, we moved to Manhattan and roamed by Central park, telling Chris to "go home" when necessary. I picked up an overpriced Harley Davidson t-shirt for the pops and we headed for some cart food before the subway. I got a hot dog, but, for some reason, Craig was awarded a jumbo hot dog.
Unfair!
We moved quickly to the subway station fearing we wouldn't make it on time. I can't believe I did it, but I actually stepped in between closing doors and pushed them open so we caught that train! I can't believe I'm not dead yet.
Stupid girl.
We got back to the hotel only to wait on Dr. Umbreit, ha! He arranged for a Yukon to take us to the airport instead of a taxi this time, apparently it is cheaper than two taxis. Upon arrival we apparently signed ourselves up for curbside check-in when we let go of our bags for a millisecond.
Dr. Umbreit left us, saying that it was extra.
Good to know.
As we waited, bags in hand this time, in the lobby waiting for him to get us checked-in I tried my best to shove what I could out of my book bag and into my luggage. I had remembered that I would have to take my laptop out, which would have resulted in an accessory explosion at security. Desperately trying to avoid the humiliation, I finally got enough pressure on the bag to zip it closed.
Sigh.
Seeing everyone else at our gate made me a little sad. Most looked like Memphians. It is amazing how quickly you can tell. Just look for the overweight, unoriginal people, to remind you of where you are going.
Back to where you live.
Your "real" life.
My feelings were only enhanced when I approached my row to see an overweight couple reading what had to have been explicit romance novels. (Both of them, really?)
They certainly weren't pleased to see that I would be climbing over them.
Awesome.
I dozed off against the wall and awoke on the tarmac, a little embarrassed that I fell asleep. I guess I should have been over by that point. I had to have fallen asleep against a subway car wall like a homeless person at least twice with a probably very humiliated Craig sitting next to me.
After an hour of this woman looking over and staring at me, I finally tried to make conversation. Okay, I was beginning to warm her up so she wouldn't be angry when I told her in about ten minutes that my bladder was about to burst and to please let me up without the evil eye.
She had a mickey watch on.
I can work with that.
"I like your watch."
And we're off! Of course she is a Disney nut, thank God!
I actually felt a little guilty when I broke the news that I really had to urinate that would have been a great conversation if I could have convinced that stewardess to chauffeur my bladder to the back and bring it back empty.
Now that I view my life through a looking glass tinted with NYC, I feel very small town. As we flew over Memphis, it just looked like a child's playland in comparison.
We had a meeting last night that was originally for the whole school and then changed to just the leaders. When I got there, only one other scholar was there.
Honestly, my least favorite one.
Apparently it was relayed to the others that this meeting was not that important and simply don't come. A scholar told them this.
One that was there.
And it wasn't me.
I was a little offended to say the least that he felt that his opinion mattered the most, like usual.
This particular boy (they are all boys except myself) does not work. And apparently feels the need to force those of us who already do to spend even more classes sitting in little internships during the classes meeting time. He also feels that intnerships should not be paid.
Let it be known that the sorority girl, who also does not work, agrees.
Yet they both feel we must also commit more social events to students, too.
I wish I would not have been the only person who worked there. They made me feel like there is no way you can go to school and work, especially with ALL those classes they are taking and social clubs they are leading, yet, at the end of the day, they admit to being unprepared for the workforce.
Dear anyone who says that jobs won't accommodate school. You are completely incompetent and clearly have no experience with not only interviewing by negotiation schedules. Not that it takes serious negotiate to tell your boss your school schedule. No boss, especially in Hospitality, is going to tell you work comes before school. They just need to know your schedule up front.
All of this to say, I am tired of being told how we should be educated by students who have no work experience. They live life in a college bubble.
We have the benefit of a city full of job opportunity behind us instead of some small college town. Get of your ass and stop sucking your parent's money tit.
When you move outside your bubble with a more well grounded experience, then we will talk. Until then, I place no value on your input unless it is social gathering ideas.
That's what you do.
It's what you are good at.
Stick to it until you decide to get out there and doing something with yourselves.
All of that to say, I am exhausted of the Memphis bubble. These are the people who will live here and teach and work in this city.
These small minded people with no interests outside themselves.
I miss you New York.

NYC Day Three

Yet another rushed post so I can gain some sleep time.
Today the convention was awesome.
We got to go through the booths and check out a lot of stuff, plus pick-up some freebies. It was really neat to see how many businesses were grounded on the little things in hotels that I don't even notice. Afterwards we moved to the boutique design section.
Incredible.
With boutiques there is so much more freedom. No chain guidelines. Buy what you want. Buy what serves the area and guest the best. Afterwards we scooted back to the hotel so we could check out the statue of liberty. Upon arrival, all the crown tickets were sold out as well as pedestal ones. In other words we could only ride over and cover island ground. I still got some pictures and had a great time. It was here that I was able to reunite with one of my roomies, Kayla.
So great to see her.
We got off and headed to wall street to get pictures with the bull as well as Tiffany's! We quickly caught the subway up to times square and shopped in the new Disney store, cast discount! I picked up the lady liberty vinylmation for a friend and another for a quick ebay resale. We also went in the toys r us. Wow. A ferris wheel?
Really!?
And the little tykes car was a cart! Plus a barbie convertible, toy story, e.t. and firetruck. Once we left we were headed back to the hotel to prep for our dinner with the other scholars and the Umbreits.
Kayla and I discovered I have a small view of the empire state building while skyping with Moorea. We soon hugged and I joined the group to head over to a nice italian restaurant.
While there we got to know Mrs. Umbreit a lot more. She is an incredibly interesting and humble human. I think I also got to know the other scholars more after a bread bowl spill.
Post-Dinner, Craig and I headed down to the World Trade Center memorial. Which is actually a construction site right now. A balloon scuplture, whiff of weed, and a few circles around the block later, we ended up in the PATH station apparently bound for New Jersey.
Nice.
Fortunately we recognized this in time and got off to circle the block lost for a bit more. We finally found a subway and headed to Chinatown - our original destination. After roaming the streets even further, we came upon the Williamsburg bridge (northeast of Brooklyn). The Williamsburg bridge is in Lower East Side/Cooperative Village. Not a very good part of town. At this point we figured we would be the butte of our "police encounter" joke of the day.
After paying a dollar for someone to open a door we ended up at Delancy Street Subway station sitting and hoping to God this would get us to the right place. We finally landed back in Times Square.
Back home.
It has already started feeling like home.
Which scares me because I don't really want to love New York, but I think I do now.
At the convention I spent a good bit of time at the Cornell University table.
Pondering graduate school.

NYC Day Two

Okay this is going to be another hurried entry- my apologies, but I am dying for some sleep.
I woke up at 6:30 this morning, mind you I went to bed at 2:30, and looked out to a beautiful city. Since we did so much last night it was crazy to see a city I was already very familiar with look incredible different. I was confused when we stepped foot outside the hotel because it looked so different.
From there we walked to the Jacob K Javtis Convention Center where the International Hotel, Motel, and Restaurant Show was being held. As we waited in line for our badges, one of Dr. Umbreit's former students walked up and started a conversation after introducing herself. She was only 6 years past graduation and performs the international revenue management training for Marriott. In other words, she is headed to London for two weeks soon.
Jealous.
It is crazy to think that very soon Dr. Umbreit will be asking the same questions of myself. This time next year I will be filing my intent to graduation.
Wow.
Time flies.
I must admit I began dozing off during the first session, it was on CEO's in the industry. Basically they talked about themselves for an hour and a half. The next one was really awesome and had new panelists discussing trends and the future for the market. From there we moved to lunch where we enjoyed a "campaign update." Most of the time these mean Republican Rant Hour, however, they actually had a republican and democrat debating current policies as well as up and coming ones and how they will affect our industry. We moved into concurrent sessions from there.
I chose high turnover rates and how to lower them.
Super informative.
Although I felt as if a lot of it were common sense, the studies were pretty interesting.
We left this session and moved as quickly as possible to get back to the hotel, so that we MAY make the last statue of liberty ferry.
Try as we might, we were too late.
So we hopped back on the subway to head further uptown to a museum we had seen yesterday.
The museum of sex is on 5th.
And that's where we went.
I must say, it was really cool. I mean some was akward, of course, but all in all, really insightful. There was a section on art and one artist showcased a video of these robots fornicating in such a harsh light. It is really hard to describe, but in his interview video, he talked about how porn is so cold and heartless, just like the robots. He wanted us to feel as though it was sad and empty.
I did.
How insightful.
Of course there was a lot more uncomfortable objects, especially for someone as, well, sheltered, as myself. But it was a learning experience for sure. At one point in time, vibrators were sold in the Sears and Roebuck catalog as beauty products. Who knew?!
Plus I couldn't die without seeing animal penises. Or learning that a certain type of slug (sorry I can't remember the name) uses his penis once before his partner bites it off. If, for whatever reason, the partner does not bite it off, they will chew it off themselves since it grows on the side of their head.
We decided on the subway again. As we waited for the train a homeless man came up to us and asked Craig if I was his wife, lol! He told him no and the man pushed it a bit and said why not? You should do that soon.
At this point Craig decides to play along and ask the man where we should get married.
He goes on to tell us in detail how our wedding should be and where we should honeymoon.
I nearly wet my pants trying to hold in the laughter.
He claims it is the last time he will ever sit down in a subway station to wait.
Craig and I moved from here to Little Italy and ate at Saluggi's. Delicious pizza of course. Great conversation as always and cozy atmosphere.
We started roaming through Chinatown when we came across the folks selling stolen handbags. I was looking for a new clutch, why not! As I attempted to break away from a potential seller (he only had ugly clutches!), he suddenly stopped harassing me and moved along quickly. When I turned around a woman had one of the sellers against the wall and was handcuffing him!
Two nights in a row I watch a crazy NYPD bust!?
And this one was undercover!!
As we made our way down the street, word had clearly spread to the permanently installed vendors as they no longer had their original bags outside.
We roamed some more.
I could walk these city streets forever.
Just looking. Noticing. Observing life.
We hopped on the subway to go up to Central Park.
It wasn't until we got their that I realized what a big deal central park is. I have finally realized what a commodity space is. And to see all that nearly undeveloped space simply floored me.
Alas, it was cold,
and I wanted dessert,
so we rode back to Times Square.
We tried to go to Pop Tart World, but it was already closed, so we made our way through to M&M World. Afterwards we attempted Hershey's since they have a dessert bar, but they were also closed!
For the city that never sleeps there are a lot of things that close by midnight!
Speaking of never sleeping, I should get to bed.
My poor body is worn out.
Last weekend I told it to "fall back" and hour.
And this weekend it is springing back forward.
Sigh......


zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

NYC Day One

I'm writing this as quickly as possible as I have to get to the convention.
My day in New York began at touch down at La Gaurdia airport(around 6:15), but apparently my phone thought otherwise. It claimed I was in Denver, CO.
Hmm.
Some "smart phone."
After that we headed to get a taxi. Apparently they are hard to get and people wait in lines for them. As we hopped in I couldn't help but notice it was just like the movies.
The driver drove crazy fast and close to others. Everyone honks. A lot. Its like they all need attention and they get it by honking!
Once we got to the hotel I was surprised to find that there were only 6 rooms to a floor. This hotel has NO width! It is 36, I think, stories high though. I'm on the 32. I can't even see the street from my window I'm so high up, and my ears often pop as I take the elevator up! All in all, the Holiday Inn Express was decently new so it was very nice!
We moved on to Times Square, but on the way ran into Dr. Jackson! We ate a Chevy's, simply excited about being there. The square was so bright it seemed like day. We moved onto the empire state building. Craig and I opted for the 102 floor tour, the others stuck with simply 86, which has an outdoor balcony. With the wind it was VERY cold up there. It seemed that we could see for miles. I could have stood there and simply "looked." Craig and I headed up to 102, and I had to clear my ears again several times. My ears are going to be shot by the end of this. We could see the light of the Statue of Liberty and on much further.
From there we headed to the Apple store on fifth.
On the way we passed countless designer stores (including Diesel and their "Be Stupid" campaign!) and executive offices. We saw the beginning of the Rockefeller tree and Trump towers lights. The Apple store was an experience in and of itself. The building is glass with a hanging and glowing Apple logo. You walk into this box and take either the circular glass elevator or the stairs that wrap around said elevator down to the coolest basement I've ever seen.
We headed back towards the hotel, but as we neared I decided I wanted cheesecake that one of my guests recommended, Junior's. They closed at one and it was 12:50 as we made our way I called twice for directions- I couldn't find them and they were in Times Square! They were just past it on Broadway actually. The guy on the phone promised that he would let us in since we would barely miss closing.
Upon arrival to this little shop, they were closed and the guy was not up front. We were incredibly disappointed that we had walked so fast when we were so tired and for no cheesecake. All of a sudden some guy came out and asked if we needed anything. I checked his nametag- It was the guy! He let us back to choose some cheesecake graciously. I got strawberry shortcake, Yum!!!!!!
As we headed back, the police quickly moved in to congregate around a subway station. We decided to be nosy and ended up witnessing the arrest of 4 people. Pretty cool to see the NYPD in action I guess, ha!
After a minor key dilemma, we all headed to bed. Happy with cheesecake!
Hopefully I will get to see Tara and Kayla despite my poor planning and communication abilities.

Alright- gotta run!!!

Fireworks

My favorite part about music are those songs that come along and give you goose bumps. Sometimes they seem random. If I was to compose a playlist of these songs it would be an incredibly varied list. From rap to classical, pop to classic rock, the selection can be inspiring no matter the genre or production year. These songs bring goose bumps, encouragement, tears, plain old emotion.
God forbid.
In a world full of technology, we forget how important our emotions are. They reveal the purest information we have about ourselves. They are the strongest indication of "your path," so to speak. We have become detached.
I was watching a documentary called "Objectified" the other day.
It is done by Gary Hustwit. Excellent. Well done. Interesting topic. He explores these everyday objects and the designers behind them. Designers who have such passion and inspiration to continuously improve our everyday items not only functionally, but aesthetically as well. You can't image the process and careful attention to detail that goes behind a potato peeler. They brainstorm together, creating mind maps and observing our interactions with said potato peeler to see how one could most improve the object. The things they say sound redundant, but their important observations that cannot be overlooked.
Google does this as well. When they decided to go into either "notebook" or maybe their calendar application, they broke down the pros and cons of paper versus online. They made the most ridiculous observations. Paper requires a pen, but online requires internet and a computer. Paper is also physical, you can carry it and view it instantly. Design is easier. Access is easier. Although managing paper is also harder.
Petty yet thoughtful observations.

Karim Rashid (Umbra designer) opens the above clip and questions why we have not advanced further. In the documentary he presents the idea of balancing functionality with emotion. We are not robots. We cannot be reduced to factory education filled resumes.
We are more than that.
Removing your emotions completely removes getting to know yourself.
I feel like we've been told to suppress and "act professional" all of our lives. Professionals are people, too. People who are balanced in emotions and functionality.
Have the users of these output based computers been held to the emotionless, consistent product of the objects their using?
I love that Katy Perry (okay, actually her songwriter, but, I will pretend she is actually a worthy writer for this bit) uses Fireworks. They are so simple and, honestly, cheap. Easy to come by. But it takes someone with a flame to make them spark. And everyone loves seeing the show. I mean, Magic Kingdom's key event is the nightly firework show, Wishes. I won't lie, it makes me cry. If you broke it down, it is simple references to great movies, generic orchestrated music, and a computer set fire show. But we love it.
We are amazing people when we are set afire. Everyone loves to see someone "in their zone." It is inspiring. Incredible. Useful to the world.
We are emotion filled people.
Moved by music.
And fireworks.

A Day with the Wilsons

Hospitality is definitely a lifestyle.
Yesterday I had a itinerary meeting on New York (less than two weeks!) followed by a breakfast get together with the Kemmons Wilson Family.
The Kemmons Wilson Family funds my largest scholarship. Five guys and myself are the lucky recipients of these funds, but the money isn't the greatest part. Don't get me wrong, it really helps! We get personal time with our director of the school to ensure we stay on track and such, plus we meet with the family once or twice a school year, which is NEVER a disappointing experience. They are such a wonderful and character-filled family. If I were to ever go down the path of raising a family of my own, theirs would definitely be a model. They are so involved in our community, and the scholars as well. They are even paying for our New York trip to the international hotel convention. For such important people, they are so down to earth. Their lives are case in point of excellent leaders, genuine Christians, and pure hospitality. It isn't just their business, it is who they are.
It has made me realize that my job is a lot about who I am and that most of my day to day activities are NOT listed on my job specifications.
I just checked-in a man who is moving out of Memphis to New Orleans, without a job to go to. I am NOT a risk taker, so I was interested to say the least. He has been here for ten years and the first thing he said was, I don't have any friends. I almost cried. Seriously. If you had seen his face, his mannerisms, the way he came in and spoke- you would have, too. No friends? Really? And he didn't like his job. He has been doing that job for TEN YEARS! What took so long? He said, "The years just go by. You make good money and you feel like you can't leave."
You feel like you can't leave.
Would I stay at a job I hated for ten years even if I hated it? The way I have been acting lately, ensuring job security and what not, probably.
He went on to say, "I have been going to the same church this whole time and I know people there, but I don't have any friends. At least in New Orleans, I have family to keep me company."
He must really be committed to that congregation or the pews must be extra comfy. If I were to end up back in church, and stick with it for ten years, I would have to be with passionate people who sought out sowing friendships. It breaks my heart. Part of me wants to say, what cold-hearted people. But, like he said, you get comfortable with your friends. Bringing new people in displaces that comfort. I guess that is what Jesus is for, comfort. Answer your comforting prayers so you don't get laid off from your comfortable job so you can keep your humble abode in the suburbs.
He left me with a pamphlet on Jesus.
That man has had such an awful experience in the church, yet he still took the time to write his own pamphlet and gives it to some random front desk person. It was all he brought in to check-in. He had a goal to share with someone. No fear at all. What a strong person. He is a Christian everywhere he goes. Not just at church and then a worker at his desk job and then a father at home.
Hospitality is like that, too.
The Wilsons are on-call Christians and Hospitality leaders, 24/7. Things like that move you. They should. We get comfortable easily and things like that shake us, and they should.
Christianity is a movement of hospitality.
An incredible tool that can shake the world through the simplest means.