Three Years Ago Today...

Three years ago this very day I reported for my first day of training with my current employer, IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group).   This post may be a little boring but seeing as I've never written the story of how I am where I am I thought I do that now.

I started in training to be a reservations agent for the general reservations department, nothing super special, on February 12th, 2007 though I had originally applied and been interviewed for a guest relations (customer service) position.  The reason I was in a reservations class was I needed employment and they weren't hiring a guest relations class for another month or so.  Anyway, so training lasted four weeks (two weeks in class and two weeks on the job, paid of course) and at the end of the four weeks we were able to take calls with minimal questions about the process of making reservations.  During the last week of training I was again interviewed and offered a job in guest relations which I accepted.  I spent one week actually on the floor taking calls as part of a regular team rather than a training class before I began training for guest relations.

Guest Relations training lasted five weeks (two weeks in class, a week of on the job, then another week in class and another week on the job).  After those 5 weeks I was assigned to a regular team and began taking calls like a regular guest relations agent.  During the training for guest relations I had applied for several openings (I knew going into this job that I had to get off the phones as quickly as possible or I wouldn't have a job for very long, phone jobs really aren't my cup of tea) and been interviewed for two of them.  The second one I applied and interviewed for was Developmental Global Workforce Analyst and after only two weeks on the phones for guest relations I was called back for a second interview/presentation.

As I prepared for my presentation I was given the topic "Everything an Agent Needs to Know About Workforce Management" and the only stipulation was that I could not talk to anyone currently in the Resource Planning department.  So I set out doing my research on the programs I knew IHG used for workforce management, I also asked my team manager for any recomendations she had.  She sent me in the direction of a reservations team manager for reasons I didn't know.  When I arrived at the desk of this reservations team manager she listened to my story of what I was doing and why, picked up her phone, called her husband and asked him.  I was a little confused thinking how is your husband going to help with this.  When she got off the phone with him she turned to me and gave me tons of information about what our Resource Planning department does and told me that her husband was one of the graveyard Global Workforce Analysts in our company. (Remember the stipulation was only that I couldn't talk to anyone in Resource Planning)

So the day came and I left my station dressed in my best and with my presentation in hand.  I stopped by my managers desk to let her know where I was going, she wished me luck.  I walked into what I now know as the megaplex and gave my presentation at the end of which I was asked a few questions, thanked for my time, and told that they would make a decision and let me know by Monday (which is when they wanted the position to start).  I gathered my things and set off to my station back in guest relations.  Upon arriving in the guest relations department my manager called me to her desk to see how things went.  I told her that I thought things had gone really well.  Little did I know that Brad Johnson, one of the Resource Planning managers, had already called her (between me leaving their office and arriving in my managers) and informed her that they would be offering me the position.

As I recall the next day was a Friday and one of my days off, I was in the back yard of my house doing yard work when my phone rang and it was work.  When I answered Brad Johnson was on the onther end and he informed me that they had made a decision, he didn't make the offer right away which caused me to  think
I'd be stuck on the phone forever,  but he finally told me that they'd like me to start on Monday which again if memory serves me right was May 7th, 2007.  I was beyond excited I could hardly wait this meant three things: First, I was getting another promotion, the second in less than three months.  Second, I was off the phones! I had reached my goal of being off the phones as quick as possible. Third, I had the weekend off as I was to start training again which is Monday - Friday.

So a quick summary I started with IHG on 2/12/07 and twelve weeks later was no longer in a position where I was on the phone.  Lets also keep in mind that of my first twelve weeks I only spent three weeks out of training and nine weeks in training and here I was going back to training for four more weeks.  So thirteen of my first sixteen weeks were spent in training.  Needless to say I am very pleased with my progression up within the ranks of IHG.

Since becoming a Global Workforce Analyst I worked in that roll for about two years before the department openend a new position known as Global Planning Analyst for which I applied and was one of only four applicants chosen.  I have been employed as a Global Planning Analyst for nearly a year now and I must say, I enjoy my job and the people I work with.

If any of you are seeking employement I would encourage you to see if IHG is hiring and if they're not keep you're eye on it cause they will be...I know remember I'm one of the ones with the plan! *hahah*  Anyway, check out their jobs site at: jobs.ihg.com

A Full Year and Another Wolf Moon

It was just brought to my attention that the Full Moon which occurred on January 30th was again the Full Wolf Moon which was the first entry of this blog.  I must apologize that I have not written much, a mere seven posts in an entire year, I had hoped and expected to do better than that.  Well, here is the update.

My last post had a wedding update and since we're down to just 12 weeks between now and the wedding that's probably all you're going to get until after the happy day.  So here it goes: The day has changed, I last told you it was set for May 5th (yes cinco de mayo) but has since been changed to May 1st for several reasons none of which will be addressed here.  A venue has been chosen and reserved, the University of Utah Alumni House, Flowers by Cheaper by the Dozens, Photography by Angie Gurney, a dinner the night before at Spaghetti Mama's, Niki has her dress (it just needs to be altered).  Wow, it's been an interesting last couple of weeks that everything has started to come together.  We have a meeting with Angie about the photography tomorrow at 5pm, I've been in contact with a mortgage broker and am in the process of qualifying so we'll have a house (that's been one of the most surreal experiences driving home just how close all this really is and that it's really happening).  Oh, thank you Dan and Emily for recommending Adam he's been absolutely wonderful to work with!

Alright so that's what has happened, here's what still needs to happen: Find and secure a Tux rental for me (I'm thinking Clarks Tuxedos), Get pink ties for the groomsmen (7), Find a caterer (We are thinking of doing an Ice Cream Bar with eclairs and were originally thinking Scoopology but were recently informed that they have just closed as of last weekend. So we're thinking and exploring Brown Brother Catering and Meier's Catering), Announcements with Dinner, Ceremony and Registry inserts (Niki met with a company that she really likes and we'll probably go that route), Find a house and close on said house.  I am alomst certain that there is something else I'm forgetting to mention that we still need to do but that's really close to where we stand right now.

We're both kinda starting to freak out (which as a dear friend of our's Brother Dave Smith said really means that we're just getting more excited) and the feeling just grows as we get closer and closer.  My biggest fear at this point is that I don't really feel prepared for any of this, and maybe we're not supposed to be yet at 12 weeks out but I had always imagined; What am I saying I'm a male I haven't really ever imagined this; I had thought that this would be something big enough that we'd have it all put together and just ready to go well in advance.

Anywords of comfort, advice, excitment, or encouragement and anyother words for that matter are welcome and appreciated.

Thanks!

The Full Cold Moon

The Full Cold Moon; or the Full Long Nights Moon - December During this month the winter cold fastens its grip, and nights are at their longest and darkest. It is also sometimes called the Moon before Yule. The term Long Night Moon is a doubly appropriate name because the midwinter night is indeed long, and because the Moon is above the horizon for a long time. The midwinter full Moon has a high trajectory across the sky because it is opposite a low Sun.

The above information is brought to you by the frigid evening tempatures that aided in me contracting this cold which currently plagues my sinuses and by the Farmers Almanac.

I've been crazy sick for the last week for so, with what started out as a simple head cold which I thought I was over by last weekend. Suprise! Monday morning hits and I'm so congested I can barely breathe. To make matters even worse, I wasn't just congested in my sinuses but also in my lungs wheezing terribly everytime I coughed oh and most of you know that my job usually requires me present something in several conference calls every week and you can imagine the impact that this illness has had on my ability to speak.

Finally, one afternoon, my beloved Niki introduced me to DayQuil which seemed to work well for a time but also seemed to have some bizare side effects. I'm not entirely sure if what I felt were side effects of the DayQuil so I intend on taking another dose at some point to determine that. For now I'm treating mostly my sore throat with 1000mg of Tylenol, 400mg of Ibuprofen, and 2000 - 4000mg of Vitamin C. My cocktail of drugs and vitamins (inspired by my Mother) seems to do very well in treating everything except my stuffy nose.

Wedding Update: Niki's decided on a date and I've informed her that I'll support whatever decision she comes to. She has decided and contacted the Salt Lake Temple for May 5th, 2010 at 11:00am. Other plans are still in the planning stages but we're both so excited...I've even started counting down 145 days, or 4 Months and 24 days, or 20 full weeks and some change. I know I'm crazy it's ok.

Back to some full moon observations, I discovered sometime ago that December has the blue moon which just happens to land on New Years Eve. That's right December 31st, 2009 is a full moon. What does this means for all of us?...We need to be extra careful when traveling on New Years Eve. Not only will we have the usual brash of drunk or buzzed drivers but also the added unnecessary risks of the full moon. Please everyone, be extra cautious this Holiday Season.

TTFN

A Pack...or Start of One Anyway...

Recent events in my life have had me wondering what exactly constitutes a pack, as it relates to a 'family' or pack of wolves. Is a paring of wolves a pack or does it require more than just two wolves to be a pack and for humor sake is it possible, should a paring constitute a pack , that it be a paring between a wolf and monkey (very few people will get that reference but I'll explain it later).

In Sunday school I heard the following quote which cracked me up and I share it now with you all because of the source I'm about to quote: "I found the following on Wikipedia, the source of all misinformation." With that out of the way I will now share with you the information which I found to title this story.

Normally, the pack consists of a male, a female, and their offspring, essentially making the pack a nuclear family. The size of the pack may change over time and is controlled by several factors, including habitat, personalities of individual wolves within a pack, and food supply. Packs can contain between 2 and 20 wolves, though 8 is a more typical size.

If you recall in my previous post Out of Hibernation (I know, Wolves don't hibernate) I mentioned a girl I was dating named Nicole Holbrook (who has made fun of me for calling her Nicole since she usually goes by Niki). I did not previously elude to the seriousness of our relationship but wish to do so now. If you will recall I mentioned that I thought things were going just about as amazing as they could be. What I didn't tell you is that from the first moment I knew there was something special about Nicole, and discovered within the first week of dating that I felt she was the one to spend the rest of forever with.

Don't worry I didn't propose right then and there, if I had been engaged in my last post I'm certain I would have mentioned it. But I did start planning a few things like, I started looking at rings and more closely examining my finances and such. About four weeks ago I called Nicole's father and set up a time where he, her mother, and I could talk alone. Obviously I asked for their permission to marry Nicole, which can I say was the most nervous I had ever been to that point. To my relief (not really cause I already knew the answer) they granted their permission and I was able to start the rest of my plans.

I went to a custom jeweler who is family friends with the Holbrook's, Jonathan's Jewelry, and discussed with Jon the design I had in mind and he presented some other alterations which were agreed upon. About a week later I picked up the completed ring and was shocked at how beautiful it was (I knew it would be but to be honest it literally took my breath away). The plan was to get into Nicole's car the day I was going to propose and leave several flowers inside each with a reason I loved her or other inside joke tied around the stem. So I contacted Becca Holbrook, Nicole's sister-in-law, who is a florist on the side and made an order of two dozen Gerber Daises (Nicole's favorite) and two dozen red roses.

November 19th (I had that date in mind for several weeks prior, no there really isn't anything spectacular about that date until now) finally rolled around and the flowers were there, I picked up all of the daises and seven of the roses, returned to my residence where I began to prep for the delivery of the flowers. My dear friend Preacher arrived to assist me and soon we were off for Nicole's work. I had informed her brother, who also works with Nicole, what we would be doing that afternoon and requested his help in keeping Nicole from noticing we were outside in her car. Mission Complete: after fleeing the scene and giving Jeff the all clear Nicole finally (90 min later) left work and discovered the flowers in her car. Strategically I had placed a note on one of the flowers that said, "Happy 3 Months (9 days early)" which I hoped would throw her off of what was going to happen later that evening...It Worked!

At 8:00pm that evening an event hosted by my chapter of SGC known as Iota Idol commenced. Iota Idol is a pageant like competition where the ladies of LDS compete to be the Iota Idol for the year. The events included an American Gladiator: Assault style blue ball war, a Q&A session, a Charades session, and finally a grilled cheese cook off. To my enjoyment Nicole had expressed a desire to compete in this years Iota Idol. Taking advantage of the Q&A session I quickly notified the few members of my fraternity what I had planned to do. The following took place.

Despite the fact that Nicole was competitor number 2 she was called up last, out of order, for the Q&A session. As she approached the MC for her question two of my frat brothers appeared from either side and handed her half a dozen roses. The MC then informed her that her questions would be delivered by a special guest. As I approached from the side and was handed the microphone my knees were shaking as though we were in an earth quake. I thanked the MC and then told Nicole how much I love her, reaching in my suit coat pocket I took a knee, produced the ring and some how managed to ask Nicole if she would marry me. She took the mic from me and said... "YES!" (I had you worried for a minute huh?). I stood while being smothered in kisses and somehow was able to place the ring on her finger.

Everyone there was going nuts. We were finally able to escape and decided to return to her house to share the news. We arrived at her house and shared the excitement with her family. After a few moments I suggested she go look in her room where she found the other seventeen roses in a bouquet on her bed.

We have not yet determined a date but you know I'll let you know when that happens. For now I sign off no longer a lone wolf. Till the next howling...

Out of Hibernation (I know, Wolves don't hibernate)

Well I thought maybe it was about time that I post something new since my last post was clear back on February 15th. What has happened since then...well normally my answer is not much is new but seeing as we have to cover a whole eight months there is some new stuff I should write, so here it goes!

Sometime back in April or May, I cant remember which and I don't have my letter readily available to verify, I received the blessing of full fellowship again which was followed promptly a calling I had come to expect. I met with Dash (the 09-10 IOTA president) and our advisor Bob Fotheringham and was asked to serve as the VP of Brotherhood which I naturally accepted since I love IOTA so much!

Serving as VP of Brotherhood has been quite an adventure and I've gained so much respect for all of the work that the past presidencies have put into the program. I never could have imagined all the stress, long presidency meetings, planning meetings, general work and preparation that goes into running a successful fraternity. For those of you who don't know, I'm in the IOTA chapter of Sigma Gamma Chi at the University of Utah (it's the LDS fraternity) and I credit them a great deal for my returning to church membership.

Amongst the planning and work for IOTA we did manage to have a few parties this summer, We threw a 4th of July party which actually occurred on the 3rd. One of the stipulations we received for where the party was hosted was that the police had to get called on us. Well I was all set for that and even expected that to happen but it didn't (I blame that on the fact that our VP of Activities turned down the music). As punishment for this (since we were using his house) his parents informed him that we had to have another party there, some punishment right? So later in July (I don't remember exactly when) we decided to throw a massive birthday party for something like seven Iotians. At this party we had a great turnout and some great burgers (Thanks Dallas!), some unplanned illegal fireworks (Thanks random backyard neighbor), and in the spirit of making up for no police appearance at the previous party we managed to have them show up TWICE, with in about fifteen minutes of each other.

Sometime in there I managed to begin dating again, nothing serious just a few casual dates here and there. Which brings me to the story of a couple dates to the Sun & Moon Cafe up emigration canyon. So my date had informed me that she enjoys trying new places and since neither of us had ever been to the Sun & Moon Cafe we decided to give it a shot. It happened to be a Tuesday night as I recall and there was a group of local musicians playing at the restaurant so despite the fact that we had finished dinner we stayed and enjoyed the music. We stayed so late in fact that it was about 10:00 or maybe even 10:30 before we left, and we left when they stopped playing (One should note that the Sun & Moon Cafe closes at 9:00 on week nights). As they were cleaning up one of the musicians stepped up to the now dead mic and started into the "Woman, Woe-Man, Whoa-Man" poem from So I Married an Axe Murderer however he couldn't finish it. But being the crazy movie lover that I am I could and did finish it, softly and somewhat under my breath...or so I thought. Several of the artists heard me but graciously waited for me to finish before reacting. Their reaction was... I don't really know how to explain it, I'll guess I should start by saying that they had been drinking all night and were slightly inebriated but in short they absolutely loved it, and told me that I "Had to come back the next time they performed and close them out with that". Well I agreed and they looked at the books and let me know what day they would be returning. My date informed me that she was accompanying me on that night as well (like I didn't have a choice, but that was fine cause I really didn't mind). So the night of their and my return came and my date and I were there but they didn't remember ma right off, so my date took the liberty of speaking with one of our favorites of the group and all she got out was Woman, Woe-man, Whoa-man and this musician instant remembered, looked up at me and gave me the thumbs up. About a set later I got my 30 seconds on stage and got tons of laughs cause no one else knew what was going to happen. It was great times, wish I had had more supporters...*cough* Red Baron!

Alright, to continue through our timeline, back to some parties. Through some of the summer events that IOTA had I met and dare say became friends with Bryce (the Delta Chapter president) who later invited tons of people to his parents house for a pool party. At this party I was asked to bring Rock Band as he couldn't find his sister's copy. So after a bit of socializing out by the pool myself and a few fellow Iotians decided it was getting a little crowded and headed inside to get Rock Band set up and play a bit. We quickly were joined by several other people and we began switching out who was playing what. As we finished one set I stepped off the guitar and scanned the room seeing who all was there and one person stood out, to the fact that I cannot tell you anyone else who was in the room at that moment just her, Nicole Holbrook.

I left the room, went and found some other friends of mine who were just sitting on the couch socializing. I sat down and began talking with them, but I must admit I wasn't very attentive and I couldn't stop wondering about Nicole. Knowing that she was friends with Boris (IOTA VP of Activities) I whipped out my phone and inquired her story of him. He asked me what I meant, and I was a little shocked. When someone asks what a member of the opposite sex's story is that generally means they're interested and want to know if they are single, taken, or should just stay away. After explaining this to Boris he in turn tells Nicole that he knows someone who is interested in her and she gives her consent for him to give them (me) her number. To shorten the story I'll provide the condensed version of this part. After that night when I was not able to secure her number myself I received it for Boris and about a week and a half later finally used it (Give me a break it was rush week and we were all crazy busy).

After using her number we began texting on a regular basis, she invited me to come visit her at work that Friday which I did and we spent the rest of the day together. The next day, Saturday, was our first official date.

We were enjoying a few episodes of Supernatural when she got a text from a friend in Omega (Chapter of Lambda Delta Sigma, LDS sorority) asking if she wanted to see Post Grad. We agreed that we would see it with them and decided to get some food first. Nicole discovered that I had never been to Luna Berry so that's where we went. We returned briefly to the "Iota House" where she paused on the step, turned to hug me, and then planted a kiss firmly on my lips which I promptly returned. From that moment we've been in a relationship and this have progressed.

So for a quick recap and over all update, I am currently serving as VP of Brotherhood in the IOTA chapter of SGC, I've been dating Nicole Holbrook for two and a half months and things are just amazing!

Anyway, I've rambled on for long enough. I'll repost just the story of how Nicole and I got together later and some more things as they unfold.

S.A.D.

Well yet another Valentines Day has come and gone, this one however makes what I believe is my first Single Awareness Day in the better part of a decade. It was relatively uneventful, once I got out of work that is. Work was much busier than normal and certain busier than expected which brought some unwanted stress...is there such a thing as wanted stress? Anyway, after work I just went home and chilled for a bit the Nate and Robs showed up and we opted to go see the movie Push. That pretty much sums up S.A.D. for me, I didn't realize how little I actually did probably due to the busy day of work.

In other news, I finally received the letter from the department of public safety that I've been looking for. It arrived on Wednesday the 11th of Feb which just so happened to be day 51 of the 60 days they said it could take, needless to say I was a little more that anxious. Not a whole lot else going on, just living life and trying to keep my head above water.

As always, questions and comments are more than welcome.

"This Isn't Where I Parked My Car"

WARNING: This post may at first or throughout appear critical, pessimistic, or even anti-relationship. I wish to assure you that I firmly believe in relationships, love relationships and wish with all my heart that every individual fall happily in love. This being said, I also believe that there should be, to maintain a healthy relationship, balance.

I've recently received a heavy dosage of my own medicine. Granted it's medicine that I've not given out recently and have vowed to never give out again. The names have been omitted from the following to "protect the innocent".

Several weeks ago a friend of mine, one who played a rather large roll in getting the group of guys together, contracted a "relationship", one may wish to describe this as a parasite. Upon his ailment, we began to see less of him, which I honestly expect for the first couple weeks at most. Then things start growing and taking more time and suddenly we're all hanging out together (which I think is great) except that the "happy couple" disappear for moments at a time while the rest of us are left to do whatever it is that we do. Now we all know that these two doves are completely infatuated with one another and naturally we all come to the conclusion that they have disappeared to go "feel each other up". As you may have guessed we all act as though this doesn't really bother us, cause we're there in his home with mixed company and no one wants to be "difficult", but inside (I know because I've spoken separately to several individuals who were involved) we were disgusted with the lack of respect and/or manners displayed by our host.

Since this event this individual has almost completely disappeared and is spending every waking moment nursing his condition. Also, certain "conditions" have been applied to hanging out with the individual and are listed below.

1. He is no longer an individual, but rather a couple and seem never to be separated (Be prepared to spend time with both of them, or be asked to leave should the phone ring).
2. In the event that you are invited to come over it is only permitted on the basis that one is accompanied by a member of the opposite sex.
3. Should one desire to surround themselves with said company they must always, and I mean ALWAYS, make the effort and take the time to arrive where ever this individual or couple may be.

While there may be more than the three conditions listed above it is those three that most readily come to mind. The symptoms of this condition have brought to my attention the selfishness of this individual and the harsh realization that while I did not necessarily have the exact same problem I did on many occasions regularly alienate my most beloved friends for the company of a female. For my previous actions I humbly beg my friends forgiveness. I pray that my dear friend who has contracted this "social cancer" will soon see the power of the friendships he is alienating and strive to find the ever elusive balance of relationship and friends.

In light of this I offer my solemn oath to all my friends and friends to be: I will make every effort within my power to find, create, and/or maintain a balance of relationship and friends. I will always make known to my friends how much they mean to me that you should not have any doubt. I will strive to have a relationship that is based of friendship that we might all be able to hang out together (like one such couple we know).

In return I would hope that my dearest friends would also recognize that we are merely human and do make mistakes, often being caught up in the moment. As recognition of this I ask from my friends that they aid me in remembering and keeping my promise.

As always any comments, or questions will be well received. Thank you all for letting me vent.