oh well

Tonight went pretty much as expected. We had a white party at Nikki Beach - apparently White Parties are the thing to do??? I much rather would have done a black party since I own a lot more black clothes than I do white but oh well

I know it looks cloudy but it really wasn't

and then dinner at Pearl. I have to say the set up is really cool and aparently they get quite a few celebs there. Some of the people that where at the Pearl side thought we were someone and started to take pictures of us I thought that was funny but then we all were wearing funny glasses and white outfits ...
So I know you are all dying to know if I won - well as these faces of the announcers tell you ... I lost! I didn't even make it in the first 4. I wasn't to surprised and as the evening went on I had people walking up to me and telling me how great my video was. The only reason I am not to upset about this is that none of the people I thought would win - did. The four winners were the boring ones made by LCC's that had been with the company for years and were located in big cities. So as I predicted people voted for who they know. Here is my what I got (and everyone that submitted a video)

My very own little oscar (or is it emmy not sure)

After dinner we moved inside for the "Spirit Awards" of course I didn't get one of those either. But then they only handed out 4 (there are over 600 of us). I did however let some of the important people know that if they need someone to go overseas and recruit au pairs to call me. I may also have found an AP for one of my families so it wasn't a total bust.

Oh and since there wont be any australia pictures for you guys I stuck around the fashion show at the club so I could give you something else to look at. Please note I tried to be fair so I took pictures of male and female models. Check out the abs!!
For more pictures click on my flickr icon on the left.

not happening

So after finally getting here yesterday and spending cash on a track phone that I had not counted on I was glad I had brought crackers and a noodle cup. See Grumpy and I never made it to breakfast so I was starving. Mhh there was only one thing I had not thought about - utensils. Mhhh what to do. So I settled on using the stir straws they give you for the coffee and used them as chop sticks. Of course I took a picture first!

I am such a loner its pathetic. I was so not into learning salsa or playing games last night at dinner. The food sucked big time - my dinner ended up being 2 rolls with butter. Aside from maybe 4 other people here I really could care less. So after taking some fabulous pictures for you and tipping my toes in the ocean I headed upstairs.

the water was nice and warm
Did homework made some follow up phone calls and went to bed at 10pm.

Pretty moon

Today went as expected the meeting was okay and they are working on some cool upgrades but we were also told that pretty much we have to move our websites over to the company issued one. That totally sucks because I have had my site for 4 years and worked hard on it. I really don't want to move it. Right before lunch we watched all the video finalist. If they vote by laughs I loose but then if they vote by the person and not the video I lose too. There are a few of the finalists (one of them the son of the coorporate office staff) that have done some heavy campaining - flyers and so forth. Like I said before the thing is rigged but I am trying to be positive about it since I did learn a lot and had fun making it but the unfairness of the whole thing just ticks me off.

Anyway its friggen hot outside and since I refuse to be seen by my "coworkers" in a swim suit I decided I will finish homework and work on a solution for the AP blog and website. I may venture out more later when its cooling down.

I am losing it!!!!

Oh man I need a vacation. So I finished most of my packing last night and got some sleep. I wanted Grumpy to take me to the airport and we could stop on the way there to get some breakfast. Well somehow it was 5am all of a sudden (the plane leaves at 5:25)! So we rush to leave the house and go to the airport - as we pull up (5:15am) I realize shit I forgot my phone. OMG this my lifelyhood I can not be without my phone. With all the AP drama and stuff. Well nothing to be done now - I run to security cut in line and make it to the gate just as they close the doors. Once on board I start thinking about my options - check my voice mail a lot, email everyone not to call but email or get a track phone. Mhh track phone - Grumpy and I had talked about getting one some time back for visitors but never got around to it. Once in Charlotte I go to the Palm store to see if they have one. And they did a virgin mobile one. SO I spend about an hour on the stores phone to set it up and activate it - they were so nice and since it was about 7am not busy. So now all my calls from my cell are forwarded to this number here. And sure enough by the time I get of the plane I had 5 voice mails. Arggggggg

So I arrive in Miami and get stuck on the same shuttle as the chick that submitted 2 videos - she tried to chat with me but I just ignored her as I would have totally bitten her head off for submitting 2 videos when it said "submit a video" a implying one!

Anyhow let me snack on my crackers and go to the beach here are some pictures from my room.

Looking to the left looking to the right.

More pictures will follow later I am sure. Oh and they will show the 8 videos tomorrow and then the winner will be announced Sunday.

Yeah - I am going to miami!

So I got the call - I am one of 8 finalists. So now I am packing my bags and go to Miami this Friday. There I still have 6 people to beat out for either the computer or trip to Australia. So wish me luck!

It's rigged

So I feel petty bitching about the stupid video contest again especially in light of this weeks events.
But I swear the damn contest is totally rigged. So the finalists have to go to Miami 27-29 and where to be announced tonight right? Okay no biggy a week is enough notice for those that where not originally going to the meeting. So I just got an email saying

Due to popular demand, we have decided to extend the YouTube Video VOTING deadline through the weekend. Please make sure to vote for your favorite videos by Monday, April 23rd at 9 AM EST.

And the winner will be announced Monday night?!?!?!?!

So I guess they are hoping that people can't come to the meeting (they have to pay for the attendance) if they keep delaying it. Honestly how many people can get a flight and get off to go in a matter of 3 days? Tell you what even IF I have to drive, if I win I will show up just to despite them, this is bull! I am so mad I can hardly type

OMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
(listening to deep forest)
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Okay I am calmer now. Sorry about my pity party I think I am just really high strung these days - with all the stress. Between new AP drama, working at the office and restaurant and facing AJ's situation its taking a lot out of me. I told Grumpy that I want to go to the mountains in a few weeks just to catch my breath and relax a little bit. But sadly not this weekend. Tonight I work at the restaurant. I was to be off tomorrow but my Scottish friend had thought I wanted her shift - so I ended up with it but then there is a reservation requesting me too. In the AM I got to go and do an exit interview for a family. The AP wants a different family the the family is leaving the program (for now). Sunday I have the AP meeting and after that I got to go take one of the AP's home and do a 2 week interview with her family. I think I just need a weekend off. I tell you.

I am screwed

So I get this email tonight

Dear LCCs and Staff,

Vote NOW for your favorite YouTube LCC Best Practices videos! Click on the link below for instructions on how to view the videos and vote for the finalists. Voting begins immediately and closes at 9am EST on Friday, April 20th. Voting is open to all active LCCs and CCAP staff. Only one vote per household...or cubicle for that matter.

Finalists will be announced by the end of the night on Friday, April 20th!

Damn so much for a shot. They divided the videos in 4 categories and mine has 7 others in it. The 2 in each category with the most votes go to Miami where there they will vote for the winners. What sucks about this? Its totally objective if you like someone you gonna vote for them not the video. I don't know many other LCC's because the area I am in does not have many LCC's. So my chances are pretty low. But thanks for hoping with me I'll know by Friday night if I go to Miami.

And I can't even go to you tube to vote and see the competition!

Adendum 9:54pm

I just went through the voting process and noticed 2 LCC had 2 videos up. That just sucks I had 2 copies up because you tube was being a pain and was told I can't do that so why can they???? I also checked my stats and noone has seen my video yet so I guess its save to say I haven't gotten any votes despite mine.

done!

Here it is. Thank you everyone for your help - be it telling me what video editor you use (Sony rocked once I figured it out!), finding me the music video so I can download it or helping me by answering my constant annoying questions (poor Hippo I think he was ready to scream at me in the end).



So what do you think? I don't know how long the voting process will be - but it should not be to long since the top 3 have to go to the Miami meeting April 27-29.

my video

so since I have seen some of my competition I felt I needed some more to my video - a great sound track. Okay here we go I don't remember songs and stuff so I called my friend Paul. He told me to go check out Crazy Frog. He said their song Alex F. may work and to check out the video (for a clearer version go to yahoo music).





Mhhh love it, its fun upbeat and goofy. Now I want to include it. So I am playing with a few ideas either have it run in the background and have slides appear in front of it or have it go small in the corner while my stuff plays over it. However since I have no idea on how to get the video, how to use it legally and how to integrate it you all have to help pleasssssse. I am competing against cute cats and 4 year old princesses.

still here - Australia here I come!

I am still around, I know its been almost a week.

I have been working a lot and nights that I didn't work I am over at my friends AJ's place. Then last week I decided to participate in this contest the AP agency has for us coordinators - first price a trip for 2 to the land down under. All I have to do is submit a video about AP stuff by this Sunday. Easier said than done. It has to be funny, smart and helpful and I have no clue about video editing. So I went and bugged all those I know. Hippo has been super helpful thank god. We have been on the computer back and forth nights on end tying to come up with a cute, funny short video. I will post it when its done. Wish me luck. A more detailed post shall follow one of these days when I have more time - I promise!

one more video

Here is the video I took on top of one of the mountains with my camera. Sorry its an older model so no sound