Just another day in the fiery pits of Hell

...uh Paradise, I totally meant Paradise.

Parenting disasters  troubles this mutha-fahkin' week alone:

1.  The little one declares he wants a "maynades" sandwich.  When I insist it also have ham (which he loves), he throws a whopper of a tantrum and refuses to do anything but lick the bread.  This goes on for roughly 1172 hours.
2.  The big kid lies about whether or not he has finished his chores.  Then he fahking rolls his eyes at me.  My head spins around Exorcist style and pea-green soup shoots out of my mouth-head-hole.  Uhh, I mean I had a totally appropriate and mature reaction.  Needless to say he is grounded with extra chores to do, one of which he appears to be simply incapable of completing.  This further enrages the seven beasts from Hell living inside me righteous mother rage I already have and he agrees that it's ridiculous and says he thinks he should just be grounded longer.  Ya think?  I realize he is struggling with some anxiety and anger and abandonment issues so I'm being as patient and understanding as possible.  But you don't throw rules and respect out the window just because the kiddo is struggling with some emotional stuff.  That's why I give extra snuggles and love.  And why he sees a counselor.
3.  The big kid is doing Scouts this year.  I wasn't expecting to be the person doing the majority of the work on the parenting side for that.  I don't have a lot of time to give to an extra activity, especially not one this involved if he wants to catch up (last year's Scout master was relaxed and by "relaxed" I mean lazy ... to the point that I had no idea Stomp was supposed to be working towards badges, etc at home...now we're trying to do that).  But here I am, doing it, because someone has to and that someone is always me.
4.  Baby kid is working on some regular old pre-school curriculum stuff.  Which would be fine, except that he already knows all the pre-school curriculum stuff.  So we've moved onto Kindergarten curriculum stuff.  Since he's, y'know, *3* and already reading and stuff.  So working on that with him has led to him wanting to potty train which is supah-mutha-fahking-fantastic!  But it *does* mean trotting to the bathroom with him every time he feels the slightest inclination or urge or, occasionally, when he just wants to sit on the toilet and read Curious George books in there.
5.  I can access Stomp's grades from home.  In doing so, I have several concerns about classes he's taking, but I'm also terribly confused by this state's grading system (an 80 is a C? a 70 is a D-...WTF?).  So I have emails into the teachers of classes he's having trouble with and hoping to get a handle on that before things get worse.  It's hard for me.  I loved school.  I'm confused by a kid who doesn't love school.  And one of the classes he's struggling with is writing.  I stared at him and said "why didn't you ask for me help, Stomp?  I'm a writer".  He said, I shit you not, "I didn't think you were a REAL writer".  Thanks a fahk-ton, kid.
6.  I don't have the boys for Halloween but I'm still responsible for finding their costumes (Stomp wants to be a Patriots player and the baby wants to, naturally, be Big Papi...Papi's a designated hitter, so we told him he could be a Red Sox player, just not Papi..No one wants to give that kid a bat) and for decorating the house and making it feel like Halloween is happening here.  Even though it isn't.

Motherhood is exhausting, y'all.  And to think, I add even more shit to my plate starting in less than a week.  But, before I do that, I get to trot up to my niece's house for a day of beauty.  It will be nice to be pampered first.  I deserve it after this last week.

Sing-a-Long Sunday.......Shake it off!

As usual I am putting a lot of thought into what song to post today, while this song just keeps playing over and over and over in my head.

So after that whole thing about how much I love my job, I come in today to find that someone is talking trash about me. Because this certain someone is very anti-confrontational, this person places blame on everyone else to make sure that nobody is upset with them. Unfortunately, I am the one who is getting all the blame, because I am the manager......so much for that power......can we say hangover??!!

Then I realized that's why I keep repeating "shake it off!" Haters gonna hate hate hate hate hate, and fuck yes, I am gonna "SHAKE IT OFF!" I try my hardest to do right by everyone, and if that crap is what people want to believe about me, then so be it. I'm here to do me!

Friday Five......On Sunday......(Again!)

        I been having a lot of stress lately with a family member that I haven’t even mentioned thus far. (One day I’m sure a post will be all about her!)  However, I have realized that my job has seriously kept my sanity in tact lately. So I decided to dedicate my Friday Five to reasons why I love my job.

 

Top Five Reasons I Love My Job:

1.    I get to interact with lots of people, from all ages, and all walks of life. I am a social person, and have always excelled at customer service, so I absolutely love this aspect of my job.
2.    I have an opportunity to run this hotel completely from top to bottom. I had never worked at a hotel/motel before I started here about 6 months ago, and I got promoted to manager after 2 months. My boss wants to send me out of town for general manager training in January, and told me she can see me in her chair running the whole shebang within 5 years.  I give it 2.    
3.            I’m the boss. I never really saw myself as power hungry….but wow. I got a taste, and let me tell you….I’m drunk yo…..so so drunk!
4.       My co-workers. They all have their good points, and not so good, but overall I work with a lot of really awesome people. Even my bosses are really good people. They are cheap as hell when it comes to money, and buying things that are seriously needed for the hotel, but they are really good people. They have helped me a lot, and for some reason have taken a real liking to me, something that I really appreciate.
5.     And last but certainly not least…..the attention. My hotel is right next to a truck stop, so we get a LOT of truck drivers staying there. We also cater to broke down truckers who stay with us until their trucks are fixed. This can be for upwards of a week or more. So I get to know these guys and gals a little bit, I mean we are their home while they are with us. So yeah, I get hit on a lot. Now let me just say, my heart belongs to someone very special, and nothing is going to change that…..but damnit I do love to be complimented. I make it very apparent that I am not “available,” I even wear a ring on my ring finger to make sure this is known. But I feel like the queen, and Microtel is my kingdom. I love it, and I absolutely love that my job is something that I enjoy, instead of something I dread. It makes at least this part of my life so much easier.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           I don’t really want to do a top five things I don’t like about my work, cuz there isn’t much. However, I will dedicate the whole 5 to this one…..and I’m sorry for the rant, but fuckin aye people….really???!!!
    
   1.       Did I make you come to my hotel? Ummm No! Did I tell you that there wasn’t a XXX book store in front of my hotel….ummmm NO! Yet you show up at my hotel and want to be upset because theres  a truck stop  across the street. Do you not have Google Earth? Are you not aware that not every hotel you google or yahoomap is the perfect 5 star accommodation you may think it is. No….some places are conveniently located for the broke down truck drivers that didn’t quite make it to their destinations. Or the travelers that wanted to get as close to the edge of town as they could so they didn’t have to deal with traffic in the morning on their way out of town. Or you know what…..maybe, just maybe, we have an awesome hotel that just isn’t your cup of tea.  I think my hotel is awesome. Not the most updated place in the ABQ, and not the cheapest hotel without a pool. But maybe, just maybe, you will get the best customer service you have ever had. Maybe just maybe, we are a little worn, but have the best scrambled eggs served in the morning (I know because my momma makes them).  Maybe if you’re stuck here for a week, this will be the most hospitable hotel this side of Coors Ave. Maybe not. Maybe nothing I do will satisfy your snobby taste. Maybe the fact that the carpet hasn’t been replaced in 2 years is going to make you want to post a review that our hotel is old and out of date, and not acceptable to your 5 star taste. But you know what? I have 97% of my guests realize that we are a small business. We struggle to make ends meet, just like every other person in America right now. Those are the people I’m worried about pleasing. These are the people that I strive to make happy every single night. I will do everything in my power to make sure that your towels are clean and crisp. That your sheets are clean, and that your breakfast is hot and delicious. Because I know that you are the people that appreciate how hard I work. You are the people that know my struggles, because they are yours too. I bust my ass every day to make sure that every person who walks through my doors is comfortable and happy. If you aren’t, then you are from a different plane of comfort than I come from, and I’m sorry, no matter how hard I try, it’s not going to be good enough. But the people who have struggled my struggles, the people who haven’t been served from a silver spoon, they are going to appreciate the bronze forks they get to eat breakfast from. If you want a 5 star hotel, don’t come to Microtel. If you want a 2 star, one with the best customer service and hospitality that Albuquerque has to offer, come see me, because I guarantee you will leave with a smile on your face. If you don’t, call the manager (which happens to me) and I will tell you where you can shove your silver spoon!!