sábado, 21 de julio de 2012

Love is not fragile

Who taught you
to be sparing
with your love

as though your heart was a bank
as though love could dry up

nonsense

it is as if the ocean complained
it was too
wet

love is not fragile
it is as common as breath

it is play money
it is a race
to give more

go first
say it with impunity

you think you will ache
with vulnerability
but the strangest thing will happen

you will nearly drown
with peace.

Samantha Reynolds


Thanks to Laura F, pen pal extraordinaire for sending this to me a few months ago.  It's on top of my dresser in front of a painting.  I read it often and think of it even more.

miércoles, 18 de julio de 2012

Business mode: I've shaved my legs

I spent the day operating in "Important, Not-Urgent" mode.   I like operating there the best, I think.  It leaves room for wondering and pricing, creativity and planning, R&D, list consolidation, and spring cleaning.

Took a nap after work, woke up at 8:30 pm, showered, shaved my legs, and took off my chipped red nail polish.  I'm not getting ready for a night on the town, making up for a low self-esteem, or dressing to impress. I've realized that most times I shave my legs, it's time for BUSINESS MODE.  Begin.

domingo, 1 de julio de 2012

The big 2-5

I wasn't sure how it would feel to have my birthday on a Sunday (aka turnover day.  aka chaos)

After finding the staff room covered with Kristen's birthday themed post-its with cartoons, different languages, and Lord-knows-what-else,  countless birthday shout-outs on the ranch radios, 4th of July costumes, an.... ecclectic... bag of gifts including 2 dead mice from all the housekeepers, and dinner accompanied by a St. Germain cocktail in town with two good friends in place of the otherwise mandatory welcome dinner with guests, I wouldn't have chosen to celebrate any other way.

Thanks to all for making my birthday such a special one.


jueves, 28 de junio de 2012

Trick of the day: Bickmore "Bick 4" Leather Conditioner

Conditions, Cleans, Polishes, and Protects without darkening leather.   CC, a guest this week, brought me her bottle of Bick 4 at lunch today since I asked her advice on leather maintenance a couple of nights ago at barn dance after scuffing up my riding/line dancing boots pretty badly.

I've thought for years that the more people you meet, the more you know about the world, and the more "little tricks" you pick up on.   Tricks that make life easier, better maintained, more efficient, more enjoyable....

Bick's is the latest one of these tricks.  My boots haven't looked this good since the day I arrived to the ranch.

sábado, 23 de junio de 2012

A day off


I cleaned cabins in the morning, sorted out a dysfunctional system or two in my department, finished up my first one-month-employee eval and meeting, and worked on pricing and ordering new kitchen towels, a ceiling fan duster, and assorted cleaning supplies.

Thursday was kebab day for lunch.  I had a cup of coffee on my porch and changed into boots before Horse Olympics.  I sat in on the event with some of the guests since I would like to learn more technical riding.  Sitting on a couch-horse on a trail ride without even trotting and looking at trees makes me want to just be on my own feet, and I've only ridden a handful of times.

Went on an evening stroll with a girl on staff named Brandi from Purdue and a Coke that ended up with us bushwhacking back through some trees, walking up part of a river in tennis shoes, and climbing along a fence to avoid stepping in boggy-snake-land.  Had some friends over to my little nook/cave/treehouse/room and shared a bottle of wine.

Went on a 12 mile hike yesterday to Three Island Lake and hung out by the lake reading a book, eating a PBJ and chatting w 2 coworkers for a few hours midway.  Fried Pickles and Dale's Pale Ale with live blues music and dancing 5 year olds at the Clark, CO local bar that evening.

Today I was back to work.  I have some really good employees.  Had a couple conversations that weren't pleasant but were necessary, so that's good.   Just got from an after-work hike to the cliffs behind the ranch.  I want to know what caused them.

Tomorrow's the big housekeeping turnover day, so as my friend Evan likes to remind me, I'll be "the lady of the hour" all day.  Each week has been smoother than the week before.  Partly practice, partly new ideas/systems that I'm coming up with along the way to make things easier, more organized, and more efficient.

Life is busy but good here. I think I'm where I'm supposed to be for right (as I tend to think about most places.)

domingo, 10 de junio de 2012

Turnover Day: Take 1

10 cabins, 3 lodge rooms, 33 beds, 20 people, 5 hours between people leaving and the next guests arriving.   Done.  Managed.  The people involved don't appear to hate their lives.  And the laundry room doesn't look like a tornado hit it anymore.

I'd call it a success.

#breatheinbreatheout

Week 2 here we come!