The routine has set in for now

No travel for the last month and a half.  Back into the routine of working, shuttling kids to different activities, waking up, sleeping, cleaning the house, grocery shopping.  Oh the joys of being a single father.  Everything falls on me.  I don't mind it.  Just different.

Travel will pick up in March -

• Vegas for Colin's testing
• Pinehurst

April -

•   Marrakesh for Mandarin Oriental opening

May

• Oceanside, CA - taking the boys to Disneyland
• Rush home and then off to Milan for Mandarin Oriental opening

June

• HITEC

I did something last night that I have never done before.  I drove to Wendover, NV.  Now, this is not a big deal, driving-wise, as it is only 130 miles and most of it is at 80mph posted speed limits.  However, I have never gone out there by myself.  In fact I have not been out there in over 14 years!  I entered a nightly Texas Hold-em Poker tournament.  For the first one of these in a casino, I felt I did pretty good.  I lasted for about 3 hours with 70 entrants.  Not sure what number I was knocked out at, but it was a good experience nonetheless.  I drove back into town at 3 am.  Note to self, in the future, take the bus...It is only $22 and includes a buffet...Then you will not feel like you are driving in the middle of nowhere by yourself at 3am! 

I am thinking about joining Christian Mingle again.  Just to get out on some dates and meet some new people.  I have tried Tinder (not for the random hookups, thank you very much) but to meet real people and to see if there is a connection there.  Interestingly enough, most women in the Salt Lake valley put on their profiles that they do not want hookups.  Good, because if you want that, just slide on over to craigslist.  I am sure there is plenty available for you there.

Hotel Stories that I need to write about at some point -

1. Guy using business center as a bathroom
2. Drunk guys stealing Mayor's golf cart in Shreveport, LA and getting arrested for DUI
3. Construction at the Flamingo 
4. Climbing out on the roof of the Flamingo 
5. Room Checks at the Flamingo
6. Dirty rooms at 3 am at the Flamingo
7. 300 Garden rooms left for 400 arrivals at the Flamingo on a Friday night at 11pm
8. Jesus at the Flamingo
9. Tank/Street Sweeper at the Flamingo on New Year's Eve 2am
10. Mr. Nakamura
11. Bachelor Parties
12. Strange health calls when MOD at Flamingo - Colostomy bag, dead bodies
13. Working the elevators at the Flamingo
14. Manager on Duty at the Doubletree on that fateful day
15. Christmas party at The Grand Summit
16. Opening weekend at The Grand Summit
17. Golf and Sushi after work at The Grand Summit
18. Best work day ever - 
1. Worked half day at Killington
2. Golfed nine holes at Killington
3. Red Sox and Fenway that night

I am sure there are more so I will eventually add to this list and will devote a post to each story.  Some are longer than others, but still worth telling. 

2015 Here I Come!

2015 is shaping up to be a very busy year for me...Potential trips are as follows -
Milan, Italy
Marrakech, Morraco
London, England
New York, NY
Los Angeles, CA

Seattle, WA

Definite trips include
Austin, TX for HITEC
Orlando, FL - for a good friends wedding in April
Las Vegas, NV in March to watch my oldest test for his 4th degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and watch my middle son compete in Nationals for ATA in Tae Kwon Do.

Oceanside, CA in May.  I am taking my boys on a week-long vacation to the coast.  My parents are getting the condo and 3-day park hopper passes to Disneyland.  The two youngest boys have never been and it has been 14 years since the oldest was there.  I am really excited about taking them.  To see Disneyland through the eyes of an eleven and five year-old?  Is there anything better?

I am excited to start off this year for a number of reasons but really it is just a fresh start.  A new me, trying to figure out who I am and what I want to do with...relationships, school, teaching.  All kinds of thoughts and nothing really solidified yet. 

I am so very happy for the Seattle Seahawks!  They stuck together and played amazingly well in the last 5 minutes of the NFC Championship game yesterday.  And now they are going back to the Superbowl for the second straight year.  I am proud to be a 12!

So here is to a new year, and to see where life takes me on this grand adventure!

Hello Blogger World - Watch Out - I am here!

My Blog

First Entry
12/14/2014

Here it is, my first ever blog.  

The idea here is to explore me, to write out so many of my thoughts that have been floating around in my head.  Feelings, emotions, hurts, pains, triumphs, the journey of Mark.  This blog will cover many things.  Indulge me if you will, while we explore things in this life of mine that I am both passionate about and that interest me.  My goal will not be to offend, but to inspire curiosity about topics.  The topics will range from religion (you already know where I lean on this one - very much a Christian) to sports (I love the Seattle Seahawks), to idiocy when it comes to people and their actions (why would people think that they can riot, cause damage, break into stores, steal, beat others, burn police cars, because they think that an injustice was done)?  When did this become OK anywhere in the world?  When did we as Americans think this is OK.  And to travel.  Something that I have been doing for quite some time, all over the world.
I am just a regular guy.  I work, I play, I have children, and I am divorced, twice.  I am a son to two wonderful parents.  They have defined a lot of who I am.  We will get into that as well. I will explore all of these throughout the blog. 
Throughout the past 14 years, I was married for a good portion of it.  It had ups and downs as most marriages, but I was completely blown away when I was told that she did not love me and perhaps never did.  Can you imagine the heartache, the pain, the suffering this caused?  Perhaps you have been pierced by something sharp in the past?  Perhaps you have felt the heart wrenching agony that losing someone close to you comes from?  Perhaps you have lost a loved one?  Perhaps you have had a best friend who you cared for and was caring for you and then suddenly they said nope, not going to do it anymore.  Can you feel that?  Can you understand where I am coming from?  All I wanted to do was to love and to be loved.  We will explore this more as well. 

Let's start with my likes - golf, although I do not play enough.  My best round was only 78.  I have only had a couple of eagles in my life, and it has been more than a year since I last played.  I love to watch Tiger, even if he is playing poorly.  His focus and dedication to the game are what draws me to his game.

God has finally become the forefront of my life.  For so many years, I tried to control my life.  I tried to be in charge.  I tried to focus on me.  But that is not really where my heart lived.  God is the one true thing in my life, the One that I can count on every day, every hour, every second of my life.  10 years ago I entered into the church that I have called home since then.  Shadow Mountain Church in West Jordan, UT has been the home away from home where I can truly find friendship, faith, and love from those that also have a faith in God.  My pastor, who happens to be a very good friend, has a faith in God that I have not seen in a long time.  Again, another part of my life that I will explore here.

Finally for today, I want to discuss my desire to teach.  To let others know my love of the hotel/hospitality industry.  Many stories will come from this. 
Who would have thought I have a knack for writing?