Serendipities and the Food Service Weight Loss Plan!

Today was full of small serendipities! Some have asked what I mean by "A Series of Small Serendipities" - my blog title. Well, serendipity is the development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way (Thanks Webster's). Serendipities are blessings, God things and divine interventions on my behalf. My life seems to be filled with small serendipities. Big ones come along from time to time, but almost daily there are small chance happenings that work out in my favor. Charmed life? Maybe. Too blessed? Most likely. Sometimes I do think it's too good to be true!

I've heard it said that having a positive attitude breeds positive outcomes.  I don't always have a positive attitude or positive outcomes but, on the whole, I'm pretty optimistic! Today I was feeling particularly cheerful - positive results ensued. Here's what happened to me today: 

I was up early this morning to go to a child abuse prevention training class in preparation for my volunteer work. The walk to the meeting was going to take me about an hour, considering I had never walked it before and had little clue where I was going! So, I was heading out of the guarded staff quarters where I live and had walked about a block when I stopped to let a car pull out of a driveway. The lady in the car rolled down the window and asked if I would like a ride. She was British and looked a little like Christiane Amanpour from CNN. I'm a fairly good judge of character and she seemed really great so I got in the car. Turns out I was right - she was awesome!  She saved me from a  long walk and from getting very lost and potentially being late for my meeting. Turns out she works in the conference center at the Resort (where I think I might like to transfer later). She gave me lots of helpful suggestions about future career moves, at Edelweiss and beyond, as well as some tips on life here and travel. Her name is Sue and she's my new buddy! It was definitely a small serendipity that I ran into her this morning!

So, Sue dropped me off at the hotel. Since I was much earlier than I anticipated I was able to get breakfast - this was great because in my rush to grocery shop yesterday, I didn't buy any breakfast food - oops!  Then I walked over to the base/garrison for my meeting. There were only three of us in the class and the other two guys have been here for more than 2 years. After the class, they showed me around and offered lots of advice. And one of them offered to teach me how to snowboard and to give me a tour of the mountain on skis - score! Serendipitous meeting, I think so!

This afternoon I went in for my first day of work. This is a little less positive but, I'll put a spin on it at the end, don't you worry! Remember, I'm a consummate optimist! Alright, so the first day of work started at 3:30pm with a meeting with the Restaurants manager of the resort. He went over the basic HR stuff - time off, leave, harassment policies, etc - and gave us a tour of the kitchen. Then we went to work and now  I'm in so many kinds of pain I don't know where to start! Want to hear me complain a little? Continue reading otherwise skip this paragraph:
<Rant> Today Ashlinn and I, the two new girls, were scheduled on the dinner shift. 2 people called in sick leaving one person on the floor who wasn't new. Talk about flying by the seat of your pants! Luckily, I worked in a restaurant the summer after my freshman year in college. I really thought this experience would never come in handy (Other than the understanding I gained of how difficult the food service industry can be). Well tonight I felt a little like I knew what I was doing. I already know the lingo and understand the pace and the fact that yelling isn't a bad thing at certain points in the evening. HOWEVER: we were basically doing two people's jobs since half the staff called in sick.  I feel bad for our supervisor and the one guy who wasn't new. I'm sure we really stressed them out - not our fault, we are new but still!  I guess this will make my next shift seem pretty easy! All of this was in addition to the fact that I couldn't sleep last night. The jet lag finally caught up with me - or maybe I'm just getting back on "Kacey Time" (Kacey time is the freak time zone where staying up until 3am every night is normal). So now I have aches in all kinds of new places! It will get better but it's not going to be a fun first few days! Also, I'm suffering a little from walking in the snow! You know how after walking on the sand at the beach for a few days your legs begin to feel a little sore in weird places because you are using different muscle groups. Yeah - the snow is just like that. I need a yoga class stat! </Rant> So what's the upside? Well, I think I did really well! Or maybe the supervisor is just really nice? It went swimmingly for sure. Though I'm a little sore from standing on my feet for 6 hours, I'll get used to it soon and, if I can do well in this position, it will be easier for me to be moved to another position that is more desirable. Also, I'm thinking working on my feet like this will be a good weight loss program! No eating for 6 hours while walking, bending, lifting... it's going to be good!


When leaving work, the one guy who wasn't new who had been working with us, offered to drive us home. His roommate is out of town for the week and let him use his car. Thank goodness for this! Otherwise it would have been a 45 minute walk back to my room at 10:00 pm in 4 degree weather. Again with the serendipity!

To sum it all up: My life is stinkin awesome right now, I'm happy as a lark and am certain that I am in the right place at the right time with the right intentions.

I'm not working on Saturday or Sunday so I'm trying to come up with something to do this weekend. I could continue to get acquainted with Garmisch but I could also go up to Munich or to Salzburg or something... oh the possibilities! I don't want to waste any of my free time! I have a to-do list I need to start hacking away at! Leave some comment love about what you think I should do this weekend!

Goodbyes & Great-buys

I just experienced the world's best Birthday! I saw so many wonderful friends and was on the receiving end of an outpouring of B-day love. Last year I was a bit apprehensive about my birthday so, I wasn't sure how I would feel this year but so far, 25 is fantastic! I'm pretty certain that my impending move spurred elevated levels of emotion.  I had to say goodbye to a lot of fantastic friends for a while-it wasn't easy. There were a lot of hugs and some tears... It's going to be a great year and it will fly by but it's hard, nonetheless, to part ways with good friends.

On the happier end of things, I made off with some sweet swag! My friends (and family) know me pretty darn well! Check it:

 

That's right! I can now use phrases like "Your outfit looks really cheap" (dein outfit ist echt billig), "No thanks, Meth isn't my thing!" (Nee Meth ist nichts fur mich) or "Shut your trap" (Halt die klappe), among other really offensive and potentially useful terms. Awesome! 

Check out this precious houndstooth computer case! The red zipper/piping makes it the perfect companion for this Alabama fan and her MacBook Pro! Plus, it's big enough to hold all of my cords and things! Roll Tide!

There's nothing scandalous in that bag - just some really awesome tights and tops to keep me warm this winter. They are SO soft! I'm going to be one warm and comfortable lady! 

I received a few very unique and sure-to-be-useful notebooks.  The one that says "Traveler" is actually "A Voyager's Notebook" (this might have been a fantastic blog title now that I think about it...). I've never seen anything like it. It has tabs inside for: Itinerary, lodgings, restaurants & cafes, exhibits & events, markets & shops and addresses. It will certainly be handy. The standing notebook is simply amazing! My dear friend Amy gave me this unlined journal and filled the first 15 or so pages with pictures of us and our adventures together as well as extremely thoughtful notes. It made me cry!




I received a handful of other fantastic gifts too but, some of them were pretty hard to photograph (like the super cool hooded scarf with pockets or the uber festive holiday apron!). I am so thankful for my thoughtful and gracious friends! They made some great-buys and made my day very special!

If you noticed, I mentioned crying more than once in this blog post. If you know me, you know that I'm not much of a crier! This week is going to be tough and has already been a bit of an emotional roller coaster. Beware of the tears - they are on the loose! I'll try to rein them back in but I can't make any promises! I'll be back to my normal, stone cold, tearless self in a few days! :)

Fantastic Friends

I am so blessed! It's a little unfair, actually. I have so many amazing friends that I feel I may be hoarding these great people. I hope everyone has the kind of support system in his or her life that I am fortunate enough to have! If you don't, maybe I could lend out some of my folks! On the other hand, you can't have them, they are mine, get your own (Just kidding...maybe...)!

If you see me in the next few days and by brow is furrowed, I'm not angry, I'm just in deep thought about how I can go above and beyond on some thank yous that I need to dole out! I find myself saying a lot of "Thank Yous" lately and I need a larger gesture, some word with greater significance, some grandiose nicety... something. "Thank You" is said too often with too little meaning. How do you convey that you mean it more at this moment than you did before? How do you make "Thank you for saving my life!" greater than "Thank you for holding the elevator for me!"?  I'm looking for a solution that is better than a thank you note. Suggestions are both welcomed and appreciated!

P.S. I'll introduce you to some of my fantastic friends if you ask nicely :)