Expectations...

Someone told me one time that where expectations and reality meet is where frustration lies. Well as of late, maybe my expectations were too high. There seems to be disappointment left and right today and it's hard to keep feeling so let down.

Not much else I can say, I guess. Here's hoping for less frustration.

Customer Service

I've finally come up with the most accurate definition for what it means to have excellent customer service all of the time...

Being able to pretend that people don't annoy you when they're actually bugging the crap out of you.

Yes, today I am a cynic. Days like today are the ones where it seems as though all the world's people decided to all annoy the same person. Obsessive calls, obtrusive visits, and the "it's all about me" bridal complex plagued the Villa Parker. And because I was alone at the Villa this past week, it all fell on my shoulders.

Most days I love my job. I have an amazing view, great bosses, a great assistant, the worlds greatest preferred partner association and the best opportunity to grow in photography. I love my clients and take a point of pride that I know more about my clients than the typical director of sales at wedding venues.

But just because I shouldn't complain, doesn't mean I can't! I'm so glad there's a wedding tomorrow to remind me why I love my job!

Waiting (not so) patiently...

Do I have this yet?!

Contracts

When you sign a contract, you are legally BOUND to an agreement with another entity. So if you sign a contract saying that you don't get a refund for canceling your event, it means.....

YOU DON'T GET A REFUND WHEN YOU CANCEL YOUR EVENT!!!!

You can plead and beg all you want, but beginning the argument with "I know I signed a contract but..." You agree that you are legally tied.

Sorry.

Got it.

So, there's a big difference between being an adult and being in college. Aside from waking up every day and ACTUALLY going to work instead of ditching class... none of the differences have been too horrible to deal with.

Until now.

Even my most difficult summers weren't really that bad. I still managed to get time off and had time to lounge around and do the things I wanted to do. But this summer is a complete 180 from my last. I went from working 10 hours a week and doing 4 hours of school/homework to working 50+ hours a week with hardly any time to myself.

The last two weeks have been so frustrating and I realized that it's been constant work work work. To go from such a relaxing summer to working everyday, it's been quite the adjustment and I'm not sure I'm doing it very well. Today, however, was great. I gave a quick morning tour and was off to a Rockies game with my Pops. Afterwards the folks and I went to dinner and came home to relax and watch a few movies before bed.

I'm hoping that things get a little bit more under control with the wedding season and that I can grab some more fun time and not get burnt out on weddings. (However, I am enjoying all the opportunities to get better at photography!)

Can't I just take pictures?

It's officially been 10 days since my last post and every day I pull up this page to enter a new post. I look at it for a few minutes and then return to facebook. It just feels like every day it's going to be the same story with a different date stamped on it.

Seriously-- this is all I have to say... My job is awesome but somedays the "bridal attitude" is a bit much. (At my house they're no longer referred to as "bride-zillas" but now "bride-villas.") My boyfriend is still in Germany and I'm still in Colorado. I meet the same friends for girls night at the same three places. Week in, week out, it's the same thing over and over... The only part that seems to keep me alive and well right now is taking pictures at events. It gives me something different to do, it gives me a creative outlet and it's something I still not good at so I

have plenty to learn.

Add in learning about SEO and some Glee and there's my life in a nutshell. Particularly for the last three weeks and for the next 4-5 months.

It's NOT all about you.

There's really never very much I have to complain about with my job. Every now and then there's a "My legs hurt" or "I need a day off" but other than that, I have a pretty amazing, cushy life at the Villa.

However these waves come in of brides where it's ALL about them. At least in their minds. They reschedule their tours 80 times, they book a tour and don't show up and never call or email. It's this attitude that our lives don't matter and we should just be here whenever they'd like us to be.

Short of asking them on the phone "Hey, are you actually going to show up, or are you going to waste 2 hours of my life on a Sunday afternoon that I could use doing something fun...?" there doesn't seem to be much I can do to prevent it. Which might be the most frustrating part of the whole ordeal.

GR.