The trailer for X-Men Days of Future Past dropped recently, and it's shaping up to be a merry Marvel mutant epic. See it here for yourself! (Check to Wolverine poster ... Logan ages into Clint Eastwood!)
Thursday, October 31, 2013
X-Men Days Of Future Past Trailer: Marvel's Mutant Melange
The trailer for X-Men Days of Future Past dropped recently, and it's shaping up to be a merry Marvel mutant epic. See it here for yourself! (Check to Wolverine poster ... Logan ages into Clint Eastwood!)
Monday, October 28, 2013
Marvel's Captain America The Winter Soldier Trailer Hints At A Cold Warrior
The trailer for Marvel's Captain America: The Winter Soldier dropped recently, and it appears to take a darker look at Cap's involvement with SHIELD. As Cap clashes with Nick Fury we can detect hints of a conspiracy brewing within the super spy organization. So who better to portray the big kahuna of SHIELD (and apparently Fury's superior) than Robert Redford, who starred in Three Days of the Condor, one of the all time great conspiracy thrillers. (Click here for an interview with Redford that might reveal a SPOILER)
Redford's casting brings some gravitas to the screen and manages to ground Cap in a more politically charged espionage role; one in which he may have to choose between the Company's agenda and following his own instincts. If nothing else, the addition of Redford infuses this Captain America sequel with enough star power to rival that of Marvel's The Avengers. Along with Chris Evans as Steve Rogers/Cap, Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury) and Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow) reprise their Avengers roles, while Anthony Mackie (The Hurt Locker) makes his debut as The Falcon.
Other things to look for in the trailer: A new variation on Cap's costume, a hellacious display of hand-to-hand combat inside an elevator, a SHIELD Heli-carrier taking a massive swan dive, and the return of Bucky Barnes.
Marvel's Captain America The Winter Soldier opens April 4, 2014.
Saturday, October 12, 2013
Grand Canyon Definitely Reopens (for a Week -- Maybe) During Government Shutdown
So the good news is, the park has reopened during the government shutdown. The bad news is, the park may only stay open for a week. Read the link here which explains how the GC and some other national parks and landmarks have found a way to reopen in the midst of this political deadlock. Most of the deals involve the individual states coughing up the cash to the feds in order to make this happen. Kind of makes you wonder if the individual states shouldn't run their own parks systems.
But enough of that fluff. What you really want to know is: How do these events affect Your Humble Narrator? Well, as of this writing, I've received no word as to my (re) employment status. Understand, too that my base of operations (El Tovar) won't reopen until this evening. I usually operate the banquets for the tour buses (most often from Caravan Tours) that roll through the park; as of yet there's no word on when they might be arriving).
.
In the meantime, I guess YHN will content himself with video games and, ah ... various forms of adult entertainment.
But enough of that fluff. What you really want to know is: How do these events affect Your Humble Narrator? Well, as of this writing, I've received no word as to my (re) employment status. Understand, too that my base of operations (El Tovar) won't reopen until this evening. I usually operate the banquets for the tour buses (most often from Caravan Tours) that roll through the park; as of yet there's no word on when they might be arriving).
 |
| It's a long road ... is there an end in sight? |
In the meantime, I guess YHN will content himself with video games and, ah ... various forms of adult entertainment.
Friday, October 11, 2013
Saturday, October 5, 2013
Holding Up During A Government Shutdown
So you've no doubt heard all about the federal government shutdown. Yes, there are far-ranging effects and impacts that will ripple out from the deadlock in DC. Naturally, the most important question you're asking yourself is How, exactly, does all this affect Your Humble Narrator? Well, read on and I'll try to give you some insights into life in a national park during a government shutdown.
Realize this is my first experience of being directly affected by the gears of government grinding to a halt (and being caught in the gear teeth). In the past I had always joked, "Hell, even if there is a government shutdown ... how can you tell the difference?" Realize, too, that the Grand Canyon is more than a mere national park ... It's considered on of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. As such, the GC receives on average approximately 5 million visitors annually. As you'd expect all those visitors generate a lot of noise and traffic; indeed, the clots of tourists jamming the narrow sidewalks and crowding the cafeterias, restaurants and buses can become downright frustrating.
So the second thing you notice upon park closure is the sudden quiet that falls over the area. Once guests were barred from entering, the GC and its small community (GC Village) quickly resembles a ghost town. The sidewalks are bare. The shuttle buses have stopped running, leaving only sparse local traffic on the roads. The majority of restaurants, gift shops and other businesses have been shuttered. And because of the sudden quiet, the deer, elk and other creatures native are less shy about moving about the park. Kind of ironic in that all these animals are on display and there's no visitors here to see them!
By the way, the first thing you notice is the sense of disbelief among the employees that the GC was actually closed for business. I doubt anyone here seriously expected the government shutdown to occur. (As one co-worker eloquently stated: "There's no way they'll shut this f**kin' park!" Well, live and learn.) So it's taken a few days for the realization to settle in. And that begs the question. How are we settling in?
The first day of closure (Wednesday October 2) actually occurred on a payday. So for the first night there was a lot of partying. Regular readers of this blog -- both of them -- might recall the circumstance in which most of us workers live: In dorms, usually two in a room with communal bath and showers. While the housing provided by our employer Xanterra are certainly cost efficient, it also presents its share of challenges ... you might say you get what you pay for.
A quick recap on the subject: I've never been a fan of roommates to begin with. Many of your dorm mates tend to be, unkind as it may sound, challenged either physically or mentally. There is a lot of alcoholism and drug abuse in the dorms. Many of the workers are culled from the streets (as in homeless) and often bring their unhygienic habits and oddball behaviors with them. Because of this, bedbugs are rampant in the dorms, along with a lot of shouting and yelling (usually an outgrowth of these guys talking to themselves) Many of these people have difficulty with the English language, either because of speech impediments or too many missing teeth.
So back to that first day. A lot of these guys blew their paychecks on booze and other illegal substances, which kept them partying until the wee hours. I that heard a few fights broke out and National Park Service rangers had to be called (a common occurrence -- at least the rangers are still on the clock) The following nights have gotten quieter; I expect many of the partyers are running low on cash as so many of them seem to live paycheck to paycheck ... and there are no cash loan companies up here.
On Thursday (October 3), Xanterra took a neighborly step in announcing free meals for its employees (breakfast, lunch, dinner) and suspending dorm rent for three weeks. The meals are served in one central location (Maswik Cafeteria) as other facilities have been closed. It's over a mile away from where my dorm is located but the weather is brisk and clear these days and I don't mind walking. Besides, it's free food, right? I've tried to take as much advantage as possible of the offer. (Interestingly, I've heard complaints from co-workers about the limited menu and lack of 'acceptable substitutes' available. I reiterate: it's free food. Besides, they set up free wi-fi and resumed limited shuttle service for employees.
The cafeteria was packed the first couple days but attendance seems to be falling; maybe the novelty is fading or people are getting tired of the food. Or it could be that people are just getting antsy at having to adjust to a strange reality: Trapped in a limbo of being out of work while still being employed. Along that line, there was a recent meeting about how to file for Arizona unemployment benefits if the shutdown keeps dragging on.
If you remember the 1978 film "Days of Heaven", one of the characters remarked that she's "been thinking what to do wit' (her) future". I think that quote applies to many of us here in the GC. Particularly as this federal impasse persists, I'm examining my options. While many here pass the time arguing about who's to blame (Republicans, Democrats, etc.) it's all a moot point in my opinion. The fact is, Your Humble Narrator is losing money every day and, frankly, misses the routine of going to work. If nothing else he has discovered how important a regular routine is.
What happens in a closed community like this is that you tend to see the same faces over and over. That happens even when things are operating normally. Now, with the majority of hourly workers left with nothing to do and nowhere to go, those faces are in your face constantly. You see them in the cafeteria, in the dorm, in the rec center, and so on. Apply this to dealing with those *ahem* eccentric dorm-mates I earlier mention and you can connect the dots: Familiarity breeds the utmost contempt.
The free food/free rent deal is good for three weeks. I asked one of my managers what happens if the government shutdown goes on longer than three weeks. "Then they start laying off managers" was the reply, and that's bad news for hourly employees. Only essential services and workers would remain, and that would likely be comprised of skeleton crews. Hopefully, there'll be some progress in reopening the national parks and we can all get back to work.
For now, there's a lot of people holding their breath because they've got families to feed and bills to pay. About the only thing that's certain right now is that despite how events turn out, the Grand Canyon will still be here. At least you can count on that.
Unless the government shuts it down ...
Realize this is my first experience of being directly affected by the gears of government grinding to a halt (and being caught in the gear teeth). In the past I had always joked, "Hell, even if there is a government shutdown ... how can you tell the difference?" Realize, too, that the Grand Canyon is more than a mere national park ... It's considered on of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. As such, the GC receives on average approximately 5 million visitors annually. As you'd expect all those visitors generate a lot of noise and traffic; indeed, the clots of tourists jamming the narrow sidewalks and crowding the cafeterias, restaurants and buses can become downright frustrating.
So the second thing you notice upon park closure is the sudden quiet that falls over the area. Once guests were barred from entering, the GC and its small community (GC Village) quickly resembles a ghost town. The sidewalks are bare. The shuttle buses have stopped running, leaving only sparse local traffic on the roads. The majority of restaurants, gift shops and other businesses have been shuttered. And because of the sudden quiet, the deer, elk and other creatures native are less shy about moving about the park. Kind of ironic in that all these animals are on display and there's no visitors here to see them!
 |
| Sign(s) of the times |
By the way, the first thing you notice is the sense of disbelief among the employees that the GC was actually closed for business. I doubt anyone here seriously expected the government shutdown to occur. (As one co-worker eloquently stated: "There's no way they'll shut this f**kin' park!" Well, live and learn.) So it's taken a few days for the realization to settle in. And that begs the question. How are we settling in?
The first day of closure (Wednesday October 2) actually occurred on a payday. So for the first night there was a lot of partying. Regular readers of this blog -- both of them -- might recall the circumstance in which most of us workers live: In dorms, usually two in a room with communal bath and showers. While the housing provided by our employer Xanterra are certainly cost efficient, it also presents its share of challenges ... you might say you get what you pay for.
A quick recap on the subject: I've never been a fan of roommates to begin with. Many of your dorm mates tend to be, unkind as it may sound, challenged either physically or mentally. There is a lot of alcoholism and drug abuse in the dorms. Many of the workers are culled from the streets (as in homeless) and often bring their unhygienic habits and oddball behaviors with them. Because of this, bedbugs are rampant in the dorms, along with a lot of shouting and yelling (usually an outgrowth of these guys talking to themselves) Many of these people have difficulty with the English language, either because of speech impediments or too many missing teeth.
 |
| This portion of the South Rim Trail is usually packed with visitors |
So back to that first day. A lot of these guys blew their paychecks on booze and other illegal substances, which kept them partying until the wee hours. I that heard a few fights broke out and National Park Service rangers had to be called (a common occurrence -- at least the rangers are still on the clock) The following nights have gotten quieter; I expect many of the partyers are running low on cash as so many of them seem to live paycheck to paycheck ... and there are no cash loan companies up here.
On Thursday (October 3), Xanterra took a neighborly step in announcing free meals for its employees (breakfast, lunch, dinner) and suspending dorm rent for three weeks. The meals are served in one central location (Maswik Cafeteria) as other facilities have been closed. It's over a mile away from where my dorm is located but the weather is brisk and clear these days and I don't mind walking. Besides, it's free food, right? I've tried to take as much advantage as possible of the offer. (Interestingly, I've heard complaints from co-workers about the limited menu and lack of 'acceptable substitutes' available. I reiterate: it's free food. Besides, they set up free wi-fi and resumed limited shuttle service for employees.
The cafeteria was packed the first couple days but attendance seems to be falling; maybe the novelty is fading or people are getting tired of the food. Or it could be that people are just getting antsy at having to adjust to a strange reality: Trapped in a limbo of being out of work while still being employed. Along that line, there was a recent meeting about how to file for Arizona unemployment benefits if the shutdown keeps dragging on.
 |
| Your Humble Narrator seems to be a bit lonely these days |
If you remember the 1978 film "Days of Heaven", one of the characters remarked that she's "been thinking what to do wit' (her) future". I think that quote applies to many of us here in the GC. Particularly as this federal impasse persists, I'm examining my options. While many here pass the time arguing about who's to blame (Republicans, Democrats, etc.) it's all a moot point in my opinion. The fact is, Your Humble Narrator is losing money every day and, frankly, misses the routine of going to work. If nothing else he has discovered how important a regular routine is.
What happens in a closed community like this is that you tend to see the same faces over and over. That happens even when things are operating normally. Now, with the majority of hourly workers left with nothing to do and nowhere to go, those faces are in your face constantly. You see them in the cafeteria, in the dorm, in the rec center, and so on. Apply this to dealing with those *ahem* eccentric dorm-mates I earlier mention and you can connect the dots: Familiarity breeds the utmost contempt.
 |
| Hopefully there's some brighter days ahead! |
The free food/free rent deal is good for three weeks. I asked one of my managers what happens if the government shutdown goes on longer than three weeks. "Then they start laying off managers" was the reply, and that's bad news for hourly employees. Only essential services and workers would remain, and that would likely be comprised of skeleton crews. Hopefully, there'll be some progress in reopening the national parks and we can all get back to work.
For now, there's a lot of people holding their breath because they've got families to feed and bills to pay. About the only thing that's certain right now is that despite how events turn out, the Grand Canyon will still be here. At least you can count on that.
Unless the government shuts it down ...
Sunday, July 14, 2013
Canyoneering XI: Names Have Been Changed
I've remarked upon this before but it bears mentioning again: Time seems to pass at a slower ace here in the Grand Canyon. Likely it's due to the relative remoteness of this location, or the fact that I don't have a TV to keep me abreast of daily happenings. But when you live here it's not uncommon to completely lose track of which day it is. Living in larger cities certain days had their distinct 'feel'; Monday felt like you had a Vise-Grip clamped around your head, while Friday and Saturday felt like the Grip had been released. In the GC one day feels pretty much like every other day: Bland and immobile in its passage. Difficult to say what accounts for this chronological phenomenon ... Maybe it has to do with the very timelessness of the Canyon itself.
Looking back over this course of this blog it's evident how m. intermittent my entries have become. There are a few reasons for this, actually. Admittedly, I'm not as desperate now as I was in 2011 when I started to chronicle my struggles with homelessness and my attempts to regain a 'normal' life. If you believe that desperation breeds creativity then you likely buy the idea that comfort breeds complacency. I expect you can make the argument for or against that idea. Probably more the case that I've gotten settled into a routine and have been either too preoccupied or too lazy to make regular updates to this blog.
Another reason is less airy and perhaps complimentary after a fashion. It seems that several of my fellow employees here in the GC have actually been reading this damn thing. Yes, it seems that Your Humble Narrator has garnered a few new recruits to this blog. I usually post updates via Facebook more out of habit than the expectation that anyone will actually follow the link. To my surprise, a few co-workers (including a manager where I work) remarked to me that they had read this blog; one had seen the link on FB after all, and told a few other people -- never discount the power of word of mouth, I guess.
I felt a flush of pride when told they enjoyed reading the entries here. A few asked me confidentially if all these events had really occurred (they did) and how I managed to turn things around (still a work in progress to be honest). I'll admit I briefly had visions of myself reading accounts of this blog to a rapt audience in some theater (off-Broadway in NYC if you really want to know). But a manager said something that broke my literary fantasy: "Hey, you're not gonna write any shit about ME in that fuckin' blog of yours, right?"
While he said it in an amiable manner, the remark did raise a few flags: If co-workers are actually reading this thing, then I'll have to be much more selective about the events I choose to relate here. That means carefully editing locations, people, events, occurrences (and attendant dates/times), etc. so as to ensure as much anonymity as possible. While I might be overreacting, I'm very much aware of how people have sealed their fates by relating too much information(personal, professional, etc) online. Indeed, I know of a few folks here who were fired after managers saw postings on Facebook (and other online forums) concerning how much weed they smoked before going to work in the park. (One genius even posted pics of his custom-made bong collection. I'm tempted to say that worker's career went up in smoke ... but I won't.)
I'd like to believe I'm a bit more circumspect that that. Still, I prefer to err on the side of caution, which is why my productivity has waned over the past few months. Rest assured, I'm still recording my day to day activities and dutifully logging daily events. But most of that is being transcribed offline. Hopefully I can manage to relate more stories by creatively editing names, events and circumstances to the point of overall anonymity. It might make for storytelling that seems a bit generic by contrast but at least the stories can be related to my readers.
And for any co-workers who might be reading this, allow me to paraphrase the announcer on Dragnet: The story you're reading is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent -- and Your Humble Narrator!
Looking back over this course of this blog it's evident how m. intermittent my entries have become. There are a few reasons for this, actually. Admittedly, I'm not as desperate now as I was in 2011 when I started to chronicle my struggles with homelessness and my attempts to regain a 'normal' life. If you believe that desperation breeds creativity then you likely buy the idea that comfort breeds complacency. I expect you can make the argument for or against that idea. Probably more the case that I've gotten settled into a routine and have been either too preoccupied or too lazy to make regular updates to this blog.
Another reason is less airy and perhaps complimentary after a fashion. It seems that several of my fellow employees here in the GC have actually been reading this damn thing. Yes, it seems that Your Humble Narrator has garnered a few new recruits to this blog. I usually post updates via Facebook more out of habit than the expectation that anyone will actually follow the link. To my surprise, a few co-workers (including a manager where I work) remarked to me that they had read this blog; one had seen the link on FB after all, and told a few other people -- never discount the power of word of mouth, I guess.
I felt a flush of pride when told they enjoyed reading the entries here. A few asked me confidentially if all these events had really occurred (they did) and how I managed to turn things around (still a work in progress to be honest). I'll admit I briefly had visions of myself reading accounts of this blog to a rapt audience in some theater (off-Broadway in NYC if you really want to know). But a manager said something that broke my literary fantasy: "Hey, you're not gonna write any shit about ME in that fuckin' blog of yours, right?"
While he said it in an amiable manner, the remark did raise a few flags: If co-workers are actually reading this thing, then I'll have to be much more selective about the events I choose to relate here. That means carefully editing locations, people, events, occurrences (and attendant dates/times), etc. so as to ensure as much anonymity as possible. While I might be overreacting, I'm very much aware of how people have sealed their fates by relating too much information(personal, professional, etc) online. Indeed, I know of a few folks here who were fired after managers saw postings on Facebook (and other online forums) concerning how much weed they smoked before going to work in the park. (One genius even posted pics of his custom-made bong collection. I'm tempted to say that worker's career went up in smoke ... but I won't.)
I'd like to believe I'm a bit more circumspect that that. Still, I prefer to err on the side of caution, which is why my productivity has waned over the past few months. Rest assured, I'm still recording my day to day activities and dutifully logging daily events. But most of that is being transcribed offline. Hopefully I can manage to relate more stories by creatively editing names, events and circumstances to the point of overall anonymity. It might make for storytelling that seems a bit generic by contrast but at least the stories can be related to my readers.
And for any co-workers who might be reading this, allow me to paraphrase the announcer on Dragnet: The story you're reading is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent -- and Your Humble Narrator!
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Canyoneering X: Adapt And Overcome
It's a funny thing about human nature. It seems that no matter how bad things get, or how good things get, we usually manage to adapt to the situation. I mention this because it's been nearly a year since I arrived in the Grand Canyon. At the time I wasn't sure if I could last one month, let alone an entire year.
As my readers (both of them) might recall, I was recovering from some major disruptions in my life: Major depression and, more seriously, the homelessness that resulted from said condition. Despite the sudden shift in lifestyle -- going from being a successful, self-sufficient professional voice actor to being cast adrift in the street and finally washing up on the shores of the Salvation Army -- I found that, somehow, I could adapt to the situation. To be honest, I admit this with a mix of pride and horror. Yet it might explain how many people seem to stay mired in desperate situations: Somehow they adapt, and eventually accept those circumstances in which they find themselves.
In my case, I knew I wanted to turn things around. So to an extent I couldn't accept certain adverse circumstances. I expect that's what led me to follow through with SA's rehab program and continue through with this gig at the GC. Still, I found myself settling into the everyday routines of SA and their classes. I seemed to adapt and accept everything that came with it. Indeed, Your Humble Narrator came to accept things which, in his former life, would have too extraordinary to fathom: Being friends with ex-cons, druggies and oddballs of all sorts would be an example.
And along with that acceptance came a kind of subsumption in terms of attitudes and emotions. When I first arrived at SA I was emotionally numb and oblivious to the 'personal static'' that surrounded me (and surrounds all of us in our own orbits). By that I mean the everyday interference of events ranging from the personal (dealing with friends or loved ones), to the professional (dealing with co-workers or deadlines) to the relatively minor (dealing with the asshole at the grocery store who insists on pushing a a full cart through the 10-items-or-less aisle).
At first I ignored all that stuff. Gradually, it seemed to filter into my awareness. Then as now, I find myself paying attention to all that static. Including but not limited to all the attendant gossip, petty jealousies, backbiting, hand-wringing, disappointments and other manner of distraction that goes along with living our everyday lives. In a sense, I guess you could call it a return to normalcy, as it involves a kind of social interaction and communication. Maybe all that distraction is necessary to function in our society.
Here in the GC there has been much to adapt to as well. The 7000+ feet elevation, the relative isolation of the park itself (nearest 'major city' Flagstaff being 80 miles away), and ... another collection of oddballs, weirdos and freaks who inhabit the dorms provided by Xanterra. It's no secret that many of these guys (and gals) exhibit any and all manner of social improprieties. This can be evidenced by maladjusted behavior ranging from profane and/or physically violent outbursts in public (one cook, when dealing with an elderly customer, called her a "sack of shit") to extreme partying in the wee hours or using their rooms as a toilet. Their social skills are so lacking you might say they have a social disease -- so to speak.
In the dorm where I live, we have a guy who apparently showers 6 times a day (while having loud conversations with himself) and another guy who takes around 45 minutes to rinse and gargle (again, several times a day). Another guy limps around with a hideously deformed foot (which looks leprous) and whose job description must include sitting around all day and blasting music as loud as possible, because that seems to be all he does -- and of course he's my next door neighbor.
Many of these guys like to bitch and moan about how unfair Xanterra is and how much they hate their respective jobs. Interesting, because most of those whiners have been there for at least 3-5 years. I and others have conjectured that many of these oddballs probably can't cope with the outside world. So they hole up in the GC where can find a community of similar eccentrics (to use a kind term) and where their quirks are tolerated, to a degree.
So I've learned to adapt to that as well. And to be honest it can be fascinating. Where else could I find such a collection of guys who look like they wandered straight outta Middle Earth?
As my readers (both of them) might recall, I was recovering from some major disruptions in my life: Major depression and, more seriously, the homelessness that resulted from said condition. Despite the sudden shift in lifestyle -- going from being a successful, self-sufficient professional voice actor to being cast adrift in the street and finally washing up on the shores of the Salvation Army -- I found that, somehow, I could adapt to the situation. To be honest, I admit this with a mix of pride and horror. Yet it might explain how many people seem to stay mired in desperate situations: Somehow they adapt, and eventually accept those circumstances in which they find themselves.
In my case, I knew I wanted to turn things around. So to an extent I couldn't accept certain adverse circumstances. I expect that's what led me to follow through with SA's rehab program and continue through with this gig at the GC. Still, I found myself settling into the everyday routines of SA and their classes. I seemed to adapt and accept everything that came with it. Indeed, Your Humble Narrator came to accept things which, in his former life, would have too extraordinary to fathom: Being friends with ex-cons, druggies and oddballs of all sorts would be an example.
And along with that acceptance came a kind of subsumption in terms of attitudes and emotions. When I first arrived at SA I was emotionally numb and oblivious to the 'personal static'' that surrounded me (and surrounds all of us in our own orbits). By that I mean the everyday interference of events ranging from the personal (dealing with friends or loved ones), to the professional (dealing with co-workers or deadlines) to the relatively minor (dealing with the asshole at the grocery store who insists on pushing a a full cart through the 10-items-or-less aisle).
At first I ignored all that stuff. Gradually, it seemed to filter into my awareness. Then as now, I find myself paying attention to all that static. Including but not limited to all the attendant gossip, petty jealousies, backbiting, hand-wringing, disappointments and other manner of distraction that goes along with living our everyday lives. In a sense, I guess you could call it a return to normalcy, as it involves a kind of social interaction and communication. Maybe all that distraction is necessary to function in our society.
Here in the GC there has been much to adapt to as well. The 7000+ feet elevation, the relative isolation of the park itself (nearest 'major city' Flagstaff being 80 miles away), and ... another collection of oddballs, weirdos and freaks who inhabit the dorms provided by Xanterra. It's no secret that many of these guys (and gals) exhibit any and all manner of social improprieties. This can be evidenced by maladjusted behavior ranging from profane and/or physically violent outbursts in public (one cook, when dealing with an elderly customer, called her a "sack of shit") to extreme partying in the wee hours or using their rooms as a toilet. Their social skills are so lacking you might say they have a social disease -- so to speak.
In the dorm where I live, we have a guy who apparently showers 6 times a day (while having loud conversations with himself) and another guy who takes around 45 minutes to rinse and gargle (again, several times a day). Another guy limps around with a hideously deformed foot (which looks leprous) and whose job description must include sitting around all day and blasting music as loud as possible, because that seems to be all he does -- and of course he's my next door neighbor.
Many of these guys like to bitch and moan about how unfair Xanterra is and how much they hate their respective jobs. Interesting, because most of those whiners have been there for at least 3-5 years. I and others have conjectured that many of these oddballs probably can't cope with the outside world. So they hole up in the GC where can find a community of similar eccentrics (to use a kind term) and where their quirks are tolerated, to a degree.
So I've learned to adapt to that as well. And to be honest it can be fascinating. Where else could I find such a collection of guys who look like they wandered straight outta Middle Earth?
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Canyoneering 9: Active Effects
No sooner did I title the previous installment "Winter in the Rearview Mirror" than we got hit with a late blast of snow and sub-zero temps. To be sure, Your Humble Narrator was not pleased at the prospect of digging through the white stuff and slipping yet again on icy pavements. Yet, the sudden storm lasted only half a day and all snow and ice were melted away within 48 hours. Now the Grand Canyon appears to be in springtime mode -- I think -- with high temps in the 60-70s range and clear, sunny skies. At any rate, the deer and elk seem convinced of nice weather; herds of the beasts are popping up everywhere I look.
Business has been picking up lately as well. In my capacity as a Banquet Steward I'm seeing many more tour groups arriving regularly for breakfast and dinner. The job basically entails setting up and breaking down eating areas for the guests. We also bus tables, serve coffee/tea, and refill water. I was recently cleared to run a cash register for the purpose of overseeing a cash bar run on the premises. Given that I've never run a register in my life and will be dealing with weary, booze-craving tourists, I'm curious to see what happens.
Being a BS (as such) isn't the most difficult job I've had. As far as day jobs go, it's fairly routine and sedate. There's a lot of detail work, such as setting tables, changing linens, restocking items, and so forth; simple enough but can be very time consuming. Preparations for the next days events are usually completed the night before. The work can be tedious but the gratuities help me maintain my interest. To be sure, however, there is a lot of manual labor involved with this gig.
We must carry large tables and chair up and down stairs. We must push and transport food and utility carts loaded with dishware and utensils to and from our serving area to the El Tovar Hotel where the items are unleaded and reloaded. In this higher elevation such exertion can take its toll on YHN. Indeed, I make no bones about the fact that I am no longer a young man. I figure such physical strain as this job entails would mean a year at most serving as a BS. After that, many of my favorite body parts may cease to function properly. Hopefully, that will give me the time necessary to reach my savings goal and push on.s
I admit that I have of late been thinking more often about leaving the Grand Canyon. The strange thing is that I have an odd sense of regret at the prospect of departing. You see, I actually do like it here ... well, sort of. The place offers some majestic scenery, to be sure. And I like the wide open spaces, the sharper air, and the sense of freedom such a huge national park offers. Still, the GC as a working/living environment offers some unique challenges. There are a number of, shall we say, unique personalities with which to contend.
The shorthand would be to say the employees comprise a lot of freaks and geeks. A fairer assessment might be that many of the employees here are lacking in the social graces. Such people seem to have trouble with holding casual conversations or managing to maintain their composure when dealing with higher-stress situations. Other people have a tendency to act unnecessarily rude or say inappropriate things (especially bad when dealing with the public. There's a lot of partying that goes on in the dorms, mostly drinking to excess, to the point where National Park Service rangers (the local police force or Barney Fifes as they're referred to here) are called to quell the disturbance.
I tend to turn a blind eye and/or deaf ear to a lot of the nonsense that goes on around here. After all, I've encountered many of these types of misfit personalities before, at Salvation Army. The difference was that the characters there weren't allowed access to booze. And there was much less tolerance for aberrant behavior than what Xanterra tends to exhibit. Still, to my employer's credit, they do have a zero tolerance policy on alcohol and drugs. If an employee tests positive during a random check (or upon any suspicion), that employee is summarily discharged on the spot.
If you recall the TV show Green Acres, and the town of Hooterville with all its oddball characters, you'll have some notion of the people you deal with here in the GC. And if you recall big city Oliver Douglas's (Eddie Albert) frustration and exasperation at dealing with the small town yokels, you might have some idea of how I feel when dealing with some of my Xanterra compatriots. All that's missing is Arnold the Pig (although we do have Bucky, a domesticated mule deer who roams outside our dorm). Now, if only I had a hot Hungarian babe, I'd be set!
At any rate, I do feel the desire for civilization puling at me ever more frequently. I do miss the voiceover work I left behind in Vegas. In a sense I've started a new career -- perhaps even a new life -- here in the GC. And you know something? It can be a good career, and a good life. But I don't know if it's necessarily my career or life. Were I a few decades younger, maybe so.
At this point, I find it rather late in life to make a true career switch into the food/restaurant industry. Sometimes it feels as if I've made a detour in my life, a temporary stopping off point. Maybe it's been necessary to gain some perspective; to take a breath, one might say. Interesting, because I seem to have garnered a rep here for being a good co-worker, easygoing, with a sense of humor. My performing background has allowed me to easily converse with guests and I've even thrown in a few celebrity impersonations (people tend to like my Sean Connery bit). I've met many people from all over the world, and made a number of friends in the process.
Yet I'm still chafing to get may to my real career(s). I've taken a small step, in managing to re-establish some of my writing contacts. The lousy Internet service here in the GC kind of puts a stopper on that, however. Still, it's been nice to resume some of my former work, if only on a small scale. Baby steps, I guess. But the time is coming for me to take a leap out of the Canyon. Funny, because I initially intended to stay here for six months, maximum. In all honesty, YHN finds that leaving the GC is a decision he is not so anxious to make.
Business has been picking up lately as well. In my capacity as a Banquet Steward I'm seeing many more tour groups arriving regularly for breakfast and dinner. The job basically entails setting up and breaking down eating areas for the guests. We also bus tables, serve coffee/tea, and refill water. I was recently cleared to run a cash register for the purpose of overseeing a cash bar run on the premises. Given that I've never run a register in my life and will be dealing with weary, booze-craving tourists, I'm curious to see what happens.
Being a BS (as such) isn't the most difficult job I've had. As far as day jobs go, it's fairly routine and sedate. There's a lot of detail work, such as setting tables, changing linens, restocking items, and so forth; simple enough but can be very time consuming. Preparations for the next days events are usually completed the night before. The work can be tedious but the gratuities help me maintain my interest. To be sure, however, there is a lot of manual labor involved with this gig.
We must carry large tables and chair up and down stairs. We must push and transport food and utility carts loaded with dishware and utensils to and from our serving area to the El Tovar Hotel where the items are unleaded and reloaded. In this higher elevation such exertion can take its toll on YHN. Indeed, I make no bones about the fact that I am no longer a young man. I figure such physical strain as this job entails would mean a year at most serving as a BS. After that, many of my favorite body parts may cease to function properly. Hopefully, that will give me the time necessary to reach my savings goal and push on.s
I admit that I have of late been thinking more often about leaving the Grand Canyon. The strange thing is that I have an odd sense of regret at the prospect of departing. You see, I actually do like it here ... well, sort of. The place offers some majestic scenery, to be sure. And I like the wide open spaces, the sharper air, and the sense of freedom such a huge national park offers. Still, the GC as a working/living environment offers some unique challenges. There are a number of, shall we say, unique personalities with which to contend.
The shorthand would be to say the employees comprise a lot of freaks and geeks. A fairer assessment might be that many of the employees here are lacking in the social graces. Such people seem to have trouble with holding casual conversations or managing to maintain their composure when dealing with higher-stress situations. Other people have a tendency to act unnecessarily rude or say inappropriate things (especially bad when dealing with the public. There's a lot of partying that goes on in the dorms, mostly drinking to excess, to the point where National Park Service rangers (the local police force or Barney Fifes as they're referred to here) are called to quell the disturbance.
I tend to turn a blind eye and/or deaf ear to a lot of the nonsense that goes on around here. After all, I've encountered many of these types of misfit personalities before, at Salvation Army. The difference was that the characters there weren't allowed access to booze. And there was much less tolerance for aberrant behavior than what Xanterra tends to exhibit. Still, to my employer's credit, they do have a zero tolerance policy on alcohol and drugs. If an employee tests positive during a random check (or upon any suspicion), that employee is summarily discharged on the spot.
If you recall the TV show Green Acres, and the town of Hooterville with all its oddball characters, you'll have some notion of the people you deal with here in the GC. And if you recall big city Oliver Douglas's (Eddie Albert) frustration and exasperation at dealing with the small town yokels, you might have some idea of how I feel when dealing with some of my Xanterra compatriots. All that's missing is Arnold the Pig (although we do have Bucky, a domesticated mule deer who roams outside our dorm). Now, if only I had a hot Hungarian babe, I'd be set!
At any rate, I do feel the desire for civilization puling at me ever more frequently. I do miss the voiceover work I left behind in Vegas. In a sense I've started a new career -- perhaps even a new life -- here in the GC. And you know something? It can be a good career, and a good life. But I don't know if it's necessarily my career or life. Were I a few decades younger, maybe so.
At this point, I find it rather late in life to make a true career switch into the food/restaurant industry. Sometimes it feels as if I've made a detour in my life, a temporary stopping off point. Maybe it's been necessary to gain some perspective; to take a breath, one might say. Interesting, because I seem to have garnered a rep here for being a good co-worker, easygoing, with a sense of humor. My performing background has allowed me to easily converse with guests and I've even thrown in a few celebrity impersonations (people tend to like my Sean Connery bit). I've met many people from all over the world, and made a number of friends in the process.
Yet I'm still chafing to get may to my real career(s). I've taken a small step, in managing to re-establish some of my writing contacts. The lousy Internet service here in the GC kind of puts a stopper on that, however. Still, it's been nice to resume some of my former work, if only on a small scale. Baby steps, I guess. But the time is coming for me to take a leap out of the Canyon. Funny, because I initially intended to stay here for six months, maximum. In all honesty, YHN finds that leaving the GC is a decision he is not so anxious to make.
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Canyoneering 8: Winter In The Rear View Mirror
Well, I'm nothing if not consistent in my tardiness regarding this blog. Just noticed that the last time I posted was the end of December. At that time the Grand Canyon was in its Arctic tundra phase: Snow, ice, overcast skies, ice-cold winds whipping right through you. All the cold weather crap I've always striven to escape. Still, the months rolled over, the season changed and somehow I managed to survive the winter. Maybe that Midwestern hardiness got me through the tough times. Whatever, it seems that the GC has entered spring time mode, and not a moment too soon for Your Humble Narrator. Save for a last blast of snow and frigid temps a few weeks ago, winter is likely done. (Hopefully, this isn't famous last words concerning the cold weather.)
The GC has got spring fever; that is, we've been hit with a sudden influx of tourists thanks to spring break. After those winter months where the park was essentially deserted, it now bustles with people from all over the world. That means congestion: crowds everywhere and their kiddies running amok all over the damn place. It's really kind of a shock, almost like an invasion of our privacy; after all, we basically had the park to ourselves over the winter. Now we have to share it once more with these characters and put up with their crowds and noise and constantly asking us where the restrooms are? (I'm often tempted to answer, "Follow your gonads" to that last. Either that or suggest they go au naturale like the deer and elk and just do their biz in the woods) But of course we must tolerate them, because they not only bring their annoyances but also their cash.
YHN has been keeping busy over the past few months. Indeed, where many of my Xanterra brethren carp about the lack of hours during the slow season (anywhere from 5-10 hours a week is not uncommon; one guy got a paycheck totaling $20; it likely cost more to print the check) I've logged 30-35 hours per week and experienced a fairly minimal drop in pay. Much of this is due to my 'multi-tasking': In addition to working for the banquet/special events department, I also take advance dinner reservations and tackle hosting duties for the El Tovar dining room (which happens to be located in the fabled El Tovar Hotel, imagine that). Dinner reservations aren't bad since I wear street clothes; hosting duties require we wear the penguin suit: White tux shirt with bow tie and black pants. Remind me to post a pic sometime; people tell me I look like a maitre d'.
Even though banquets require a lot of physical labor, I prefer it to my other chores since the activities can vary. Sometimes I'm preparing room for various functions; other times I'm driving around like a delivery guy. Hell, I even deliver cakes around the park, usually only for corporate events -- they add gratuities in as well. The hosting duties can be interesting but I couldn't do it full time: Too much standing around. Plus, when they get busy -- as they are now -- the restaurant managers call me in to help the bussers prepare tables. I can do it, but he bussers can be a surly lot. They often view my assistance as an accusation that they aren't doing their job fast enough. But I'm diplomatic about their often-resentful attitudes: Fuck 'em. If you don't want me around, then do your goddamn job better.
Like all restaurants, the ET dining room assigns numbers to all their tables, and each are has a section number. It's incumbent upon the servers, bussers and hosts to know all these numbers and locations. In the beginning I was so turned around it's a wonder I didn't seat people on the roof. Nowadays YHN has a pretty good grasp of all these tables and sections. Even so, I can get turned around. Sometimes when I make a mistake, I simply blame the guest: "Oh, they should have gone to table 25? Well, they said they preferred table 61." (which is actually on the opposite side of the restaurant) The lead host, who actually orchestrates all the seating assignments, rarely takes issue. It's commonplace to take a guest halfway to their table before they complain for a different table.
You see, the ET dining room has 9 tables that are actually against windows that overlook the South Rim of the GC; these are the coveted view tables that everyone desires. Understandably, if people travel from around the world to eat at the ET dining room, they want the best view possible. Curiously, this attitude holds true at night as well. I say 'curiously' because at night you cannot see the canyon at all. All you can see is the reflection in the window of the restaurant. Yet, evening guests will still demand a view table when all they'll be able to see is their own reflection. Go figure.
Hosts will work either an early shift (6:30 am-2 pm) or late shift (4:30 pm-10 pm). Depending on the guest volume we can be cut loose earlier, which is often the case. I prefer mornings because the overall vibe is more laid back. Evening can get intense, due to all the dinner reservations creating a time crunch. (reservations aren't required for breakfast or lunch at ET) When someone arrives at 8 pm for their table and the guests from 7 pm are still lolling about, there's not much you can do but put that party @ 8 on a wait list -- which usually provokes impatience, annoyance and/or outright hostility. (They could always take my approach: Give the lollygaggers the bum's rush and toss 'em into the canyon. Bet people would finish their meals quicker then!)
One of the things I do like about my job is meeting so many people from all over the world. Recently we've had workers arrive from Ecuador, Thailand and the Philippines (the largest contingent). In the next few months the Europeans and Chinese will land upon our shores. A Filipina girl named L recently joined the host staff. While she's a bit sketchy on her duties, she's very nice, very cute -- and very young at a mere 19. Nevertheless, she and I are friendly and like to joke/flirt with each other. Indeed, YHN was getting some, shall we say, provocative thoughts about L after she complimented me: She said, "I think you must have many girls who like you. You are very nice looking." Ah, what a coup! I was feeling rather good about myself when she offered this follow up: "You are like my father."
It hit me like a spray of cold water on a pair of dogs humping. Ah, I guess it had to happen some day, a comment like that. Still, there might still be something salvageable here. I'm like her father? Maybe I'll adopt her.
The GC has got spring fever; that is, we've been hit with a sudden influx of tourists thanks to spring break. After those winter months where the park was essentially deserted, it now bustles with people from all over the world. That means congestion: crowds everywhere and their kiddies running amok all over the damn place. It's really kind of a shock, almost like an invasion of our privacy; after all, we basically had the park to ourselves over the winter. Now we have to share it once more with these characters and put up with their crowds and noise and constantly asking us where the restrooms are? (I'm often tempted to answer, "Follow your gonads" to that last. Either that or suggest they go au naturale like the deer and elk and just do their biz in the woods) But of course we must tolerate them, because they not only bring their annoyances but also their cash.
YHN has been keeping busy over the past few months. Indeed, where many of my Xanterra brethren carp about the lack of hours during the slow season (anywhere from 5-10 hours a week is not uncommon; one guy got a paycheck totaling $20; it likely cost more to print the check) I've logged 30-35 hours per week and experienced a fairly minimal drop in pay. Much of this is due to my 'multi-tasking': In addition to working for the banquet/special events department, I also take advance dinner reservations and tackle hosting duties for the El Tovar dining room (which happens to be located in the fabled El Tovar Hotel, imagine that). Dinner reservations aren't bad since I wear street clothes; hosting duties require we wear the penguin suit: White tux shirt with bow tie and black pants. Remind me to post a pic sometime; people tell me I look like a maitre d'.
Even though banquets require a lot of physical labor, I prefer it to my other chores since the activities can vary. Sometimes I'm preparing room for various functions; other times I'm driving around like a delivery guy. Hell, I even deliver cakes around the park, usually only for corporate events -- they add gratuities in as well. The hosting duties can be interesting but I couldn't do it full time: Too much standing around. Plus, when they get busy -- as they are now -- the restaurant managers call me in to help the bussers prepare tables. I can do it, but he bussers can be a surly lot. They often view my assistance as an accusation that they aren't doing their job fast enough. But I'm diplomatic about their often-resentful attitudes: Fuck 'em. If you don't want me around, then do your goddamn job better.
Like all restaurants, the ET dining room assigns numbers to all their tables, and each are has a section number. It's incumbent upon the servers, bussers and hosts to know all these numbers and locations. In the beginning I was so turned around it's a wonder I didn't seat people on the roof. Nowadays YHN has a pretty good grasp of all these tables and sections. Even so, I can get turned around. Sometimes when I make a mistake, I simply blame the guest: "Oh, they should have gone to table 25? Well, they said they preferred table 61." (which is actually on the opposite side of the restaurant) The lead host, who actually orchestrates all the seating assignments, rarely takes issue. It's commonplace to take a guest halfway to their table before they complain for a different table.
You see, the ET dining room has 9 tables that are actually against windows that overlook the South Rim of the GC; these are the coveted view tables that everyone desires. Understandably, if people travel from around the world to eat at the ET dining room, they want the best view possible. Curiously, this attitude holds true at night as well. I say 'curiously' because at night you cannot see the canyon at all. All you can see is the reflection in the window of the restaurant. Yet, evening guests will still demand a view table when all they'll be able to see is their own reflection. Go figure.
Hosts will work either an early shift (6:30 am-2 pm) or late shift (4:30 pm-10 pm). Depending on the guest volume we can be cut loose earlier, which is often the case. I prefer mornings because the overall vibe is more laid back. Evening can get intense, due to all the dinner reservations creating a time crunch. (reservations aren't required for breakfast or lunch at ET) When someone arrives at 8 pm for their table and the guests from 7 pm are still lolling about, there's not much you can do but put that party @ 8 on a wait list -- which usually provokes impatience, annoyance and/or outright hostility. (They could always take my approach: Give the lollygaggers the bum's rush and toss 'em into the canyon. Bet people would finish their meals quicker then!)
One of the things I do like about my job is meeting so many people from all over the world. Recently we've had workers arrive from Ecuador, Thailand and the Philippines (the largest contingent). In the next few months the Europeans and Chinese will land upon our shores. A Filipina girl named L recently joined the host staff. While she's a bit sketchy on her duties, she's very nice, very cute -- and very young at a mere 19. Nevertheless, she and I are friendly and like to joke/flirt with each other. Indeed, YHN was getting some, shall we say, provocative thoughts about L after she complimented me: She said, "I think you must have many girls who like you. You are very nice looking." Ah, what a coup! I was feeling rather good about myself when she offered this follow up: "You are like my father."
It hit me like a spray of cold water on a pair of dogs humping. Ah, I guess it had to happen some day, a comment like that. Still, there might still be something salvageable here. I'm like her father? Maybe I'll adopt her.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)