I'm Home!!!! And I Had a FABtastic Time With My Fellow Trainees!!

So, I really need to get on a regular schedule with this whole blogging bit!! This is ridiculous! lol. So, I'm finally home, and so glad to be here! However, it's bittersweet, because I won't see everyone from training too much now that this is over! :( Six of us go back at the end of June for IHG certification, but I won't see my Redd, Broadway, or Tpain anymore!! That makes me sad! But we're gonna try and have a "Micros Reunion" and meet up somewhere in the next few months. Kristy and I flew back to Miami together, and made some buddies on the way! We're a trip and a half together, I'll tell you that much!! I've found a fabulous new friend in that chick!!

So, these last two weeks were really fun! I experienced a lot of new things, and finally had crab cakes! Last Friday night, we went to Luckie's Tavern at the Power Plant in BMore, and had a ball! It wasn't exactly my kind of club or my kind of music, but I must say I had an amazing time!! Then Saturday, Amalis and I went to Alexandria, VA and had Dr. Fish pedicures. Little carp fish nibble away at the dead skin on your feet, and boy, did they have a feast!!! lol! I was such a drama queen! But I made it through and it was quite an experience! Loved it!

Sunday, we went to a cute little church in Ellicott City, and had lunch at Red Lobster. Then, we went to Annapolis for the rest of the day. Absolutely beautiful city!! Love it, love it, love it!! This is where I finally had my little mini crab cake sliders at The Federal House! They were awesome! We also went to the Naval Academy, and saw some cute sailors! I picked up a few small trinkets for the fam in the gift shop, and we headed back to Columbia.



Phase II Training was a lot of info in such a short period of time, and I am glad it is over!! The next few sites are Support sites which mean I only help with questions they have and not with configuration, which right now, is fine with me!! The biggest thing I think I have to learn right now is how to frickin' pack, because I had to pay $50 for my overweight luggage, which sucks!! Lesson learned that's for damn sure!!!

Back In Maryland! Next up is... Drum Roll Please!!!

It's nice to be back in Maryland, but I'm definitely looking forward to going home next Friday! I just found out that my next site is in Bellevue, NE... YUP! That's right.. Nebraska! Now, on my own, I would have never ever EVER planned a trip to Nebraska, but I feel that this is what this job is about. This is my adventure, and I plan on experiencing new things; Nebraska included! I feel like I do pretty well getting along with people, so even if I only meet the people at the Candlewood Suites we're opening up, it will be an experience in itself. From what I gathered from my dear friend Google, there are Mormons, and churches in Bellevue... that's 'bout it!! However, it is 8 miles away from Omaha which is Nebraska's biggest city, so I should get a nice little adventure out of that! It also looks like it's a very gorgeous city!

Being in Maryland this time around is a lot more comfortable. Being in Niagara Falls made me appreciate the 8a-5p schedule that I have here, and the downtime. I can also relax in my room, or hang with my classmates. In NY, Bill and I were literally the only two guests staying in the hotel. Maryland just feels a lot more familiar. I missed my crew, and I was glad to come back and hear all their shadow experience stories. Some good, some bad, all necessary! I really am enjoying this new gig so far. It's not at all what I ever expected myself to be doing... installing computer equipment OR traveling, but nonetheless it's so far pretty good. I have been blessed to have very smooth travel plans and sites set up, with a few days off in between. Let's hope it remains that way!!

So Long Niagara!!

So, technically, this is my last day in Niagara Falls, NY, and I still have yet to get a fabulous picture of the actual Falls. I'm kinda sad for that, but at the same time, I'm ready to go. I went out there a few days ago, and it was sooooooo cold I tought my ears were literally going to crack off! Hopefully, once I become a lead or start doing support, I can come back and hang out a bit more. I heard the Canada side is way better, but I don't have the proper docs to go over there. (I'd hate to get stuck across the border!) This last two weeks have been quite a learning experience, and I can't wait until I'm comfortable enough to be on my own. I really miss my fam and friends, but I'm also actually really enjoying my time alone. I think I get a lot more done, and I focus on what I need, instead of what everyone else needs but for some reason, the last two days, I've spent A LOT of time on the phone. I finally found that authentic NY style pizza I was looking for at Doug's in Downtown Niagara. The Niagara River is also breathtaking! I never realized how much I enjoy being by the water until I came here. Who would've thought!! And to think I live in Miami, and it took Niagara Falls to make me realize something like that!!

I'm really excited to see my "classmates" and see how all their shadows went, but I just realized only 6 of the 12 are returning!! :( Kinda sad, but the show must go on! I also just realized that I arrive at the hotel first tomorrow, I do not get a car, AND it's Easter Sunday, so most everything will be closed!! Looks like packaged food for breakfast, lunch, and dinn tomorrow!! So much for a fabulous Easter dinner!!

Niagara Falls~Week One

So, I arrived in Niagara Falls on April Fool's Day, and I must say, it's not what I expected. My lead Bill and I arrived at the Holiday Inn Express and Suites, and since of course we're doing "new builds" only, we are the only guests staying here! A little creepy at first, but it's cool. The owners greeted us, and they are the sweetest people ever!! I went to the Falls the first night I was here, and I could have literally stayed there alllllll night. The sound of the water is so relaxing! There were so many people out there with coffee or hot cocoa just sitting, talking, and enjoying the sounds of the water. Mind you, it was probably 40 degrees outside!! I can't wait to go during the day so that I can get some great pics, but I've just found out that I'll be working all 12 days that I'm here, so the earliest I will be able to go is at 5 or 6pm.

Food here hasn't impressed me much. One of the ladies in the training class informed me that the mafia was really big in the Falls back in the day, hence why there are so many Italian restarants here. There is literally one on every frickin' block! And I love pizza, but I have yet to find amazing pizza here! Go figure!! I'm very excited to get this show on the road, and learn something new, and I'm so happy that my lead takes his job seriously, is passionate about what he does, and doesn't mind having a shadow! I'm trying to get him to go out and explore a little bit more, because he's fine with going to his room for the rest of the night after training. I want to explore and see what the city has to offer (which here in the Falls isn't much!) It snowed this morning which I thought was awesome, but I'm not prepared for this weather!! My mom bought me the cutest winter coat, and I left it in Miami because it's too bulky and I figured it wouldn't be too cold in April. Boy was I mistaken!! I still have another week to go, so hopefully it warms up a bit so I can spend more time outside!!