My Favorite Place

For all my world travels, there's a place I love the best. I can't shake the connection I feel to the landscape, the people, and the way of life. I think about this place a lot and wonder if I will ever feel at home somewhere as I have here.

I just finished watching Out of Africa, which is an amazing movie. I love the Columbia Basin and Washington like Karen loves Africa and her "farm at the foot of the Ngong Hills." People didn't understand her, and they for sure don't understand me, and that's okay.

Dad

Happy birthday Dad!!

It was my dad's birthday on the 21st, so yes this is a little late. I heard this song over Christmas break, and even though it is a song for the holidays, it describes my dad quite well. Click on the picture to get the link to the song.


Here are some reasons my dad is super cool:
-He can fix anything. He can even tell you how to fix it over the phone.
-He's super smart. He's the only one that can compete with my mom in Trivial pursuit. But it's more than that. He's an engineer, physicist, mathematician, chemist, architect, brick mason, entrepreneur, and lots of other things. You know MacGyver? He's got nothin on my dad.
-He's really athletic. Thank goodness, or else all us kids would be hopeless. Sorry, Mom.
-He's looks like Harrison Ford. They even have matching scars on their chins.
-He takes good care of his family.
-He wears flip flops. He's very chill and laid back.
-Whenever I see a Chevy Silverado, I think of my dad.
Love ya dad.

Deer Valley

So I've been quite the slacker. I haven't posted anything for more than a month. But I need to realize I can post even if I don't have anything profound to say.
I'm in the groove, listening to some piano music, and most importantly, it isn't my bedtime yet, so blogging it is.

I started at Deer Valley Resort almost a month ago and it's been my life these last couple of weeks. It's been my life not only because I really enjoy it, but also because it's required. Most of you who read this already know that. Here's what's been happening.

4:30 A.M.: I wake up and try not to bang around too much as I get ready so that my roommate, Holly, can still sleep.

6:10 A.M.: I catch the bus that takes me to Park City.

7:25 A.M.: I get to work and eat breakfast. Deer Valley treats their employees very well. We have our own employee dining room and there is free breakfast, cereal and bagels, every morning.

7:45: I go to work. My official title is "Skier Services Sales Agent." This means I help guests who come in book rentals, child care, lessons, and whatever else they might need.

The people I work with are great. Most of them are women and none are under 35. I'm the only full time agent in my area. I work 40 hours a week while everyone else works 20 or less.
I remember the first day of training and having that lost feeling that I've had at all of my jobs, and then reminding myself that in a week or so I would have it all down. And I was right. I now have the hang of things. But everyday I learn something new, which is great for fending off the boredom/routine feeling one can get.

Noon: I eat lunch in The Spoon, the employee dining room. We have all the menu options the guests do, but at a discounted rate and we pay by swiping our ID cards. I've had Tilapia, Rack of Lamb, Prime Rib, Crab, Risotto, and lots more. I've started to look like it too. I now pack my own lunches to save calories and money. I do have the lunch once a week when they have fish, because it's good for me. I can't get Mahi Mahi for $3.50.

1:00 P.M.: The afternoons are spent conducting "marketing research." I ride up the lifts with guests and ask them questions about the resort, which I record on a Palm Pilot. Then I ski down by myself, whichever runs I choose. Yeah, pretty rough, I know. ;)

5:20 P.M.: Work is done. I catch the bus back to Provo.

7 P.M.: I get home. I have a couple of hours of freedom to check emails, spend time with friends, or whatever.

9:30 P.M.: Lights out to be ready to do it all over again the next day.