Hello, Work Ethic!

When I left off, I was getting ready for bed in my birthday hotel room for the night. Such a fantastic night! I don't remember the last time I slept that well, but it was much needed. The next morning, I woke up early to have breakfast with my aunt and uncle. Then, I met my parents down at the docks right as their boat came in! Definitely long awaited. After we went to church that morning (which darn near put everyone but me to sleep...) we went up to have lunch at Carleton's, per usual for my days off. We hung around the hotel for a couple of hours and then went to dinner in the main dining room. Dinner was fantastic! My friends were playing in the band across the room, plus I finally got my birthday cake! I had the lamb shank which was fantastic! Minus the mint jello. Who decided mint and lamb go together...?
Anyway, the next day I unfortunately had to work until 8 p.m., but after I got off we all went into the China Suite where my aunt and uncle were staying. This room is easily the coolest one I've seen at the hotel so far. There's this enormous raised four poster, canopy bed in to the left when you walk in. All of the wood is a dark stain something (i'm not an expert on wood types, so that's all i've got). There were two huge dragon head lanterns on each side of the bed, an enormous desk intricately carved on one side of the room, and various other exquisite chinese accents throughout the room. Why did I try describing this room? It's probably the most difficult one in the whole hotel to put into words. Just take my word for it that it was really really cool. Also- you had to climb on a two-tiered step stool in order to get into the bed. Cool! Once we got to the room, we talked over a glass of wine, and chatted with my aunt and uncle, mom and dad and Kendra. It was so nice having everyone together.
I'd love to say that the last night my parents were in town I stayed up late spending time with them and catching up on everything, but here's the honest truth- I was so exhausted from over working and under-sleeping that when I went up to the Cupola Bar with them to play cards and chat, I pretty much fell asleep in my chair within about 30 minutes. Luckily, by leaving and going to bed early I was able to wake up early and spend a few hours with them before they left. While I was beyond sad to see them go,the time until I go home at the end of the summer is going faster and faster each day.
Since then, I have done very little but work work work. 12 hour shifts pretty much every day, catching up on filing and forms and backed up phone calls. It's truly never ending. Speaking of never ending - my schedule for next week.... My next (and perhaps last) day off is this coming Thursday. I'm hoping to spend the day laying in the sun, but we'll see how the weather holds up. Ironically enough, as the weather has cooled off by about 20 degrees, the air conditioning in my office broke...so while everyone outside is shivering and bundling up on their furs and blankets, we're sweating like pigs. Its fun stuff, really. Oh yeah, the schedule... So we've got a very busy week coming up. I can't specifically say why, due to confidentially stuff, but basically starting this coming Friday, our schedule is 8 a.m. - ? every day. No days off. Based on past years, the average end time per night will be around 11 p.m. I'm trying to just not think about that.


The greatest thing that this job is teaching me, really one thing that I think I'll always be thankful for, is the work ethic I'm gaining. I used to groan at the thought of a 6 or 8 hour shift. The time went by slowly, I was always tired and spent most of my time looking at the clock, dreading my time there, and praying for days off. Going from that, you'd think working the kind of hours I've been working here would be impossible. Instead, it's just changed the way I think of work. Now, work isn't something to keep me from doing other, better things, it's the only way to usefully spend time. It's hard to describe. But, basically I'll put it this way: I love this business. So, when everyone else in the office leaves at 8 p.m., I don't mind staying until 10 to file and enter forms, because I love where I'm at. Also, I'm on an island where there is very little to do that is free which you haven't done 100 times. I'd rather spend my time racking up that time and a half. And finally - I'm planning on staying in the hospitality business for a long time. Now is the time where I create my work habits and work ethic. I don't want to be the type of person who groans at having to work an 8 hour shift 5 days a week. I'd rather be the person that willingly takes on 3-4 extra hours every day 5-6 days a week without complaining. And I'm not complaining...seriously, I work because I want to.
It also doesn't hurt that the owner of the hotel walks through my office every once and a while around 10 p.m. when the front desk manager and I are the only ones left. When I come back here looking for a job in 2015, I'd like to be remembered as someone who is devoted to their job and willing to put in the extra time to get stuff done, especially when no one else does.
But again, I love it. Nothing makes you enjoy a day off like knowing you really worked for it.
Well, and knowing that your next one may just be on August 31st.