Clocking In
Last Monday was our first day of workamping here at Valle del Oro (a.k.a. VDO). We received our badges, signed paperwork, and were shown how to "clock in." Now, we haven't clocked in for a job since our college days, so it was a novel experience. And fast forward 40-45 years later, the "time clock" is a state-of-the-art facial recognition terminal where you stand in front of the screen while it scans your face. Move your head up, to the side, down, and voila, you're clocked in.
We were warned not to smile while it initially scanned our faces because then you'd look like an idiot because you'd have to smile every time you clocked in and out...
What They Didn't Tell Us
Later that day we were taken over to the Activities Office where we were provided our Cal-AM Resorts logo polo shirts. We each received two navy blue shirts to wear while working Wi-Fi Support.
Then we were given a white version to wear while working at resort events. Huh? That wasn't mentioned in the phone interview last February. We asked what it entailed. Essentially, for large lunch and dinner events, it is mandatory we show up, clock in, and help either serve food and drinks to the masses and clean up afterwards.
Oh, by the way, we were told, our first event is on Wednesday.
Hmm. Not pleased. But, being team players, we kept our mouths shut and hoped it wasn't as crappy as it sounded.
Antennas and Routers R Us
On Tuesday, we worked a few hours and met a fellow Wi-Fi Support Team member, Andy. Andy has been on the job only about a week longer than us, so we are all getting up to speed together. There was a six-page document of notes that a former workamper left. That was it. So it's been mostly learning by doing. So far, Cliff had to climb ladders to re-adjust the antenna on several residents' roofs. But mostly, it's been re-configuring and/or rebooting antennas and routers (All the while the resident is talking non-stop, driving Cliff bonkers. "Hey, do you want the problem fixed this century or not?").
At the end of the week, Anne Marie wrote a VDO Wi-Fi Support Team Guide that describes the specific tasks and steps for various procedures. That should help enormously with troubleshooting and resolving issues for us and for future support team members.
NO ONIONS!
On Wednesday, we clocked in to work the "Welcome to Valle del Oro" dinner event. On the menu: Chicken teriyaki sandwiches, coleslaw, and a bag of potato chips. This was the first event of the winter season and the meal was free, so we were warned that it would be well attended. And it was. 2000 people. Yes, indeedy. Slinging hash for 2000. Living the dream.
After washing our hands and donning rubber gloves, we were pointed to an assembly line of pans and given our jobs. Cliff had coleslaw duty. Anne Marie was to place sandwich garnishes (a tomato slice, sliced purple onions, and lettuce) on the plates.
We were told not to allow guests to "customize their orders" because it would slow the line down. They got what they got. Yeah, right. "I don't want a bun." "I don't want coleslaw."
But it was the onions that turned out to be particularly problematic. Many, many guests did not want onions. When Anne Marie explained they were put on the side, not in the the sandwich, they didn't care. They did not want the damn onions on their damn plates.
At one point, a sweet little old lady came toddling down the line. She, apparently, told Anne Marie that she didn't want onions. Anne Marie didn't hear. Anne Marie put the onions on the plate. The little old lady screamed "NO ONIONS!!!!!" so loudly that people from across the room looked over.
Yikes. On the fun to nightmare scale, this was leaning heavily towards nightmare.
Another Event
Today we worked the Thanksgiving lunch event. Because it was a paid event, not nearly as many people showed up. Only 600 this time. Guests were allowed to pick and choose what they wanted so there was no screaming involved as Anne Marie served the candied yams.
Cliff got "sanitation duty." We were a bit wary what that meant. If it involved toilets, we were going to pack up and hit the road. ;-)
It didn't.
Cliff and Anne Marie signed up for two yoga classes this week. We need all of the flipping Namaste we can get.
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Aren’t old people run! Oh that’s right you live and now work in one. Sooo sorry.
Old age seems to be contagious.
Wow. Just wow. If it had been me working that first event, I'd be gone! Points for perseverance. We have mentioned to you that all the cranky, mean old people in our community end up moving to Arizona, haven't we? Yoga helps.
But honestly, onions?!? And old people?!? I know from just about any entertaining I do that the majority of people I know here can't eat raw onions anymore. And they made people take them, whether they want them or not? Seems like a passive-aggressive form of revenge.
Bet you miss Anderson Island. You’re welcome back in Indio anytime. I won’t even yell at you. Although the next time we see you I’m going to have to yell No Onions!
If you keep serving up great grub like you did two weeks ago, you can yell at me all you want. 🙂
Omg! Laughing our buts off. Obviously 'I' can relate to your thoughts regarding the toilet duty. And a couple of weeks ago, on a lovely warm day, we made up a carafe of water, with ice, which we brought out to the table for a group of tasters. One minute later, one of the men walks back in to the tasting room to exclaim that he needs water with no ice! Gotta love the chance to squelch the ability to act on ones thoughts.
Robert says Hi. And he is concerned and curious as to whether there is enough alcohol available to get you through. BTW, is cannibus leagal in AZ?
Michelle, you had good control dealing with the water guy. 😆
We still have 4 cases of Amador wine. We should be good for the next week or two... 😉
Fortunately you guys ship to AZ. So when we do run out, we won’t be forced to drink supermarket wine. 🙂
And yes, AZ also believes in better living through chemistry.
Keep up those yoga classes--it sounds like you're going to need them! Remember, your house is still here waiting for you. Having an "out" often makes the difficult times bearable.
Very true! And having a home on wheels provides us with lots of flexibility.
OMG! This doesn’t sound good. 2,000 old farts in the same place & time, oh fuck! By the way, hold the onions🥴😜
Your plants are doing well, me not so much. I got bit my a German Shepherd. No, it wasn’t Honey. I hope things improve & that the worst is over, If not, we’ll be glad to have you home sooner😀
you should get jobs on below deck tv show
Raj, Great idea! How about you try it first and let us know how it all works out? 😉