Thursday, February 25, 2010

Update

2/25/2010

Heading to the venue for a 10 - 6 shift. The women are playing today, so the crowds will be much smaller. However, we will sell more coke products. Beer is not really big with moms and their children.


4 more days of events.

Talk to you soon.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Update

2/24/2010

Cuba Gooding Jr. sighting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No camera, but I did scream his name. He turned around and I got the biggest smile and wave from him.

We are tired now, but we have 5 more busy days left. It is hard to believe that I have been here almost a month.

For those of you who are wondering about me and those boots, "Misery Is Optional". I chose to buy some black crosstrainers and I am wearing those to work. My feet feel better, but it will take a couple of weeks of rest before I am 100%. My Mom told me when I was a little girl, you do not have to wear shoes that hurt your feet. Thanks Mom.

I will see you all soon.

Monday, February 22, 2010

Update

2/22/2010

I'm off to work.

As you know, I work at the hockey venue. The way to silence Canadian hockey fans for a while is for your team to win.

GO TEAM USA!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Update

WOW!!!!! I did it. The suspension bridge was amazing and scary at the same time. The bridge is 230 feet above the river. The scenery is breath-taking.

The zip line did not work out. The wait is in excess of 4 hours. Maybe I will try it before I leave or maybe not.

I'm back on midnight shift. This shift zaps my energy like no other. I have to make tonight, then I'm done with that shift.

Take care.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Update

2/17/2010

I saw Matt Lauer at the hockey venue. I had my camera, but he was working and so was I. I actually had a case of product in my hand.

I know I did not make my sister proud. She would have screamed out his name. Sorry, sister.

I was not working during the USA hockey game, but I was for the Canada game. Canadians love hockey, beer, and Coke products. We worked hard during that game. The last hockey game was a lot slower.

Today, we have another 3 games at the hockey venue. I will be there for the last 2 of the day. I'm off tomorrow. I am going to find the suspension bridge and walk across it and there is a zip line that I may try.

Let's see. I may loose my nerve on the zip line.

Take care. Things are good here.

Monday, February 15, 2010

Update

2/15/2010

Well, we made it through opening ceremonies. There was a lot of product purchased.

Did you see the snowboarder entrance and the whales? I thought that was the most amazing part of the ceremony. I got to peep in a few times, but the few was actually better on the TV.

I worked Saturday, Sunday, and today. I work the next 2 days on the 4pm - Midnight shift. I am scheduled a day off on Thursday. Guess what? I am going to take that day.

Downtown Vancouver is booming. There are spectators walking the streets all day and half the night. When they are not walking, they are riding the skytrain and there are lines to get on it. I have waited 20 - 30 minutes to catch a train. If it is after an event, I'm sure the wait is longer.

I have tickets to some events. I will try to make them if work does not interfere. I have 2 medal ceremonies , 1 curling, 1 hockey, and 1 event in the mountains.

I'll let you know how that works out.

I will keep you posted.

Friday, February 12, 2010

Showtime

2/12/2010

It's Showtime.

I am working from 1pm to 10pm. I have been assigned to the opening ceremonies venue for tonight. I will not get an opportunity to see the opening ceremony, but I hear it is an amazing event.

As I stated in one of my earlier posting, it will take all of us working together to pull this off. All 60,000 spectators will be there, and they will come hungry and thirsty.

Before now, I had no idea what a product merchandiser went through in a course of a day. I now have a greater appreciation for them and the job they do everyday to get Coke products to our consumers.

Fighter jets just took off from the airport. Security is high.

If you see a product merchandiser today, tell them thank you for all they do and let them know that the Vancouver product merchandisers are working hard to make them proud.

It's hard work, but I'm having a great time.

My battle cry for today is "Feet Don't Fail Me Now". I will be auctioning off my steel-toed work boots upon my return.

I'll keep you posted.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Update

2/11/2010

Not sure what my work schedule is today, but I worked at the B.C. Place Stadium last night.

The stadium is the home of the opening and closing ceremonies and the medal presentations. Last night was dress rehearsal. We had about 30,000 people in the stadium. The stadium holds around 60,000. The product was moving from the coolers quickly. I walked back and forth between sections 433 and 441 to make sure we had product. Several teams were called in to help the Coke stadium team keep the coolers stocked. We managed to keep the coolers with product. Hopefully, the vendor ordered enough product to satisfy the demand.

I expect all 60,000 will show up for opening ceremonies.

Tomorrow is the day. Cheer the Coke and US Teams on.

GO USA!!!!!!!!!!!

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Update

2/10/2010

Back to work today. 1pm - 10pm.

My day off was good. I did a little sightseeing, but I did not take a lot of pictures.

I saw the US Luge and Bobsled team in the hotel lobby.

The highlight however was a picture with the 1996 Gold Medal Decathlon winner, Dan O'Brien. He looks as amazing in person as he did on TV.

I will keep you posted.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Update

2/9/2010

I'm off today. I am out to see a little of the city.

Have a great day.

Monday, February 8, 2010

Update

2/8/2010

I made it through my midnight shift. We loaded all the coolers and vending machines.

The night actually went by quite fast.

The USA Olympics Athletes are all coming through our hotel to get processed. I have gotten a glimpse of a few. I met Vonetta Flowers, Bobsled Gold Medalist in the 2002 games, in the hotel restaurant.

We are only several days away from opening ceremonies. The pace will speed up at the venue and cases of Coke products will move as quickly as we stock them.

It is time to rest now.

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Working

2/7/2010

Yesterday was the first day back in the venue after the lockdown. Security is extremely tight now. We are scanned prior to entering the venue and you must have the right credentials.

Yesterday was a 10 am to 6pm day. A lot of walking. We only filled a few coolers yesterday. We will fill most of them tonight. I am working tonight from 12 midnight to 8am. With filling the coolers tonight, I should be busy enough to fight off the sleep.

Unlike some of the other associates, I can not play all day and work all night. I need my rest. So, as my body dictates I will venture out.

BTW: The gel inserts are working out ok.

Friday, February 5, 2010

Update

2/5/2010

I am a certified Pallet Jack Operator. I may actually have to load product from the reefer and get it to the coolers.

My team came in 2nd in the amazing race team builder event. It was fun.

Today is an off day. I will venture out a little today a take a couple of pictures. My camera has a mind of its own, so I will see if it fails me today or not.

Tomorrow is back to work.

I will touch base soon.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Update

2/4/2010

Yesterday was the second day in the venue. We set up the concessions areas, added labeling to the coolers, and moved things as needed. There was a lot of walking.

Those who know me understand how I feel about shoes. I like sassy shoes. These boots I'm wearing violate everything a shoe must be. FYI, an expensive boot will hurt your feet as well.

Today and tomorrow the hockey venue is shut down for the security sweep.

We are training today on a pallet jack machine (4 hours), then moving on to our team building exercise. Our team building exercise is the Amazing Race. We must find our way through downtown Vancouver and back to the meeting spot. It should be fun, if my feet hold out.

Joy Gayle, tell Dr. Kevin my back is in good shape. The treadmill, elliptical, and my plank exercises have prepared me for the demand that is being put on my body. I hope the Dr. Scholls gel inserts will help my feet.

It's hard work, but I am having a great time.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

First Day In The Venue

2/2/2010 Cloudy High 50

Today was the first day in the venue. We left the hotel at 7:00 and returned at 6:40.

There is a lot of work for us to complete before 2/12. It will take everyone on the team to pull this off.

To my CBS NPAT colleagues I have seen many EMO's today. For those not familiar with EMO, it stands for Equipment Move Order. There is a ton of equipment in the hockey venue. Each of the coolers we are responsible for cleaning, labeling, and loading.

I'm tired and my feet are on fire, but I will rest up and do it again tomorrow.

A couple of Aleve with dinner will help.

Monday, February 1, 2010

Venue Assignment

2/1/2010 Cloudy High 46

I'm trying again. I typed in my update earlier, but did not post it so I lost everything.

So, the moment you have been waiting for.

I hoped for ice skating, but did not get it. I really did not want Curling, and I was lucky there. What I did get however is a venue that many are envious of, I am in the Canadian Hockey Place. It is a 24/7 venue, so shift work is in my future.

I don't know yet what my actually duties will be, but I have been trained on how to use the handheld equipment. I hope I remember how to load out my inventory, service an outlet, invoice them, and load in my inventory at the end of the day. Did you know that a "Reefer" is a place we store product. Who knew?

Don't look for me on TV, because there are very strict rules for us. So I will be behind the scenes.

I do have a roommate and she is an associate from Great Britain. She is very friendly and her accent is great. I have to listen carefully to understand some of her words though. Who knew that vitamin would be pronounced as "Veet A Min".

Until the next update.