Tag Archives: #gifts

Go Big or Go Home

machoSo I’m here at work, trying to pry my eyes open and make it through the day. I’ve only been here an hour. What did i do last night? Well it was Halloween Duh and in my house that means its bigger than Christmas. I left work 2 hours early just to prep, was dressed before my kid even made it home from school and then it was go time. We train for this night all year. Teaching ourselves to handle the sugary goodness by training and eating small amounts of candy leading up to the big day. Watching our steps on the FitBit to make sure we push a little harder because come this amazing night- its go time. This is not time for amateur hour at the Ruiz house. My son had about 22,000 steps on his last night. It’s enough to make a mother proud.

Keeping in tradition with our themed costumes, this year he chose WWE wrestlers for us. He wanted to go as Kane but with the outfit from 1999 Attitude Era days. Totally up for the challenge i scoured the internet and found articles of clothing worthy of such a feat and then spent an entire Sunday hand painting his costume. After he was all set and done, it was time for mine. I decided to pay homage to a childhood favorite fo mine and my brother Macho Man Randy Savage. I must say that im quite pleased with the outcome and all night – dads around my age kept shouting out their approval. Even though i was robbed in the neighborhood costume contest– it was clearly a popularity contest- i still feel like i left that night the victor.

mic-and-macho

Now my body hurts and i think i need coffee intravenously pumped through my veins as all the magic was poured into last night. It is the one thing i live for all year, and the reason why is this: Halloween is the one holiday where you can let go and pretend. You can be anything you want and no judgment is passed. You don’t have to spend money on presents or feel left out if someone didn’t get you anything. We are all brought together by the common bond of candy and fun. There are no political or racial differences behind the mask and for one night we all join in for fun and laughter.

And as if the Halloween gods nodded in approval this morning i was given a teeny tiny little high-five from the Universe- in the form of a tweet. I saw that The Mindy Project was following me on Twitter. Why is that a big deal? Well she’s only an amazing writer and comedian and bad ass woman which frankly we need to celebrate more. But that was pretty cool and for today, I fully intend on acting like im better than anyone else here at work, because after all, I’m kind of a big deal 😉

big hat derby hat the mindy project mindy kaling mindy lahiri

And for your enjoyment….a little impersonation of the Late great Macho Man. You made our childhood better ❤

Gifts from the Universe

OK so the most happiest thing just happened, Hotel people will understand. We meet thousands of people a week working here and a few stand out good and bad. Mostly bad I’m sad to say. In my 17 years working at a hotel i have only been moved by 2 people. 2 whole people out of millions that stood out. One in 1999 and one in 2011. When i met the guest from 2011- he had come in to plan a party for his wife’s father, as we got to talking i found out he was terminally ill. Mold exposure and it had gotten to his brain. I remember sitting and talking to this guest in the lobby for over an hour and forever being changed by his positivity and humor. I thought about him often throughout the years wondering if he had passed and how i wish more people had his outlook on life. Especially when we get cussed out over beds, eggs and towels on a weekly basis. Face it most humans are poor ambassadors for love and are frankly assholes when they travel. Anyway, this morning I’m helping out at the Front desk and i see a familiar face, he comes up and asks me “Are you Denise?” and i say “Yes” and he says “Not sure if you remember me, I’m ______ i was here in 2011 and booked a party with you” Instantly i light up- its him! My guest who made an impact and i say “Yes! of course i remember you- you and i spoke forever you were terminal and here you are!!” and so he goes into detail about how hes at the Mayo clinic and he’s still terminal but he’s outlived 83 people!” fast forward and hour later and he passing on some more nuggets of humor and stories and all i can think is how amazing life is. This man who is terminal has beaten the odds so far and has the amazing outlook on life and here i am complaining about little things and listening to assholes complain about pillows. However i consider seeing him again a gift from the Universe and i humbly accept.