Michigan Girl

(Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes)
Breath Taking Isn't It?!!

     I have done my fair share of traveling already.  I've been to Greece twice, Mexico three times, a large chunk of the fifty states, and probably several other ideal vacation spots.  There are so many places I would love to go: Australia, Colorado, Paris, and much much more.  But honestly; with money be a concern these days, and traveling being on high security, my current ideal vacation would just simply be to explore Michigan.  


    We take for granted that we live in a beautiful state; home the Great Lakes, the U.P., gorgeous coasts, Traverse City, Mackinaw Island, Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes, and countless other remarkable locations.  I would love to travel to the furthest west location in the U.P. during the dead of winter, and build the largest snow man.  I can picture the creative ice sculptures during the Frankenmuth winter festivities.  Taking a drive up north during the fall when the leaves are fire red and pumpkin orange.  Breathing the fresh air at the top of the Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes.  

    I can't wait wait to be at the mouth of the river during Salmon fishing again, or be checking for food scraps in the tent, before lights out, to insure no black bears will be knocking.  I love Michigan!

 BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE!  MICHIGAN IS HOME OF MANY IDEAL VACATION SPOTS

    


    I've never been to Mackinaw Island before.  I would really love to stay at the Grand Hotel.  The Grand Hotel is located on the island and is only accessible by boat or plane.  It's the closest I'll ever get to feeling like a real princess: Arriving to an enchanted hotel, built in 1887, by horse drawn carriage.  Staying in a luxurious sweet, waking up to bell hop service and breath taking sights.  Most people, when asked what there dream vacation would be, would answer some place tropical, but not me.  Sure, "the first day of winter" is approaching, and sunshine mixed with sweltering temperatures sounds delightful, but truthfully I'm a Michigan Girl; There's no place like home!  

Horror Junkie (Blog # 6)

            I am a horror film junkie.  A new show, “The Walking Dead”, recently premiered on AMC, reminding of my addiction; I have been on a horror flic binge ever since.  I plowed through all the flesh eating zombie movies: Screamed through the Friday the 13^th series: Stayed awake for the whole Nightmare on Elm Street set, and am currently stock between seasons on the Michael Myers serial killings during Halloween.  

            I’ve always been a fan of the classics:  A sucker for the predictable topless dumb chick running up the stairs instead of out the door; so frantic she can’t feel the hot breathe on her skin, and screeching, so ear piercing loud, that she can’t hear the killer that’s been stomping behind her and is now a breathe away. The tough guy with the rolled up sleeves, tight stonewashed jeans and hair that clearly states he’s ready to get stabbed repeatedly while embarrassingly attempting to defend himself.  You know, “The classics!?!!”, the movies that become chronological, never ending series because the killer comes back from the dead.  I’m talking the good classics, where no matter how many times you burn them, drown them, gut them, damn them, freeze them, cut their heads off and scatter the body parts; they still will never die!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qH3QktkuVg8&feature=related

            I am not judgmental; I’m no snob; I’ll watch any movie, dated or not, that can make my heart beat rapidly and my body jolt.  I’m not shy to the “scary movies” that take the classical route and spin it with a comical twist.  Who doesn’t laugh when Freddie cackles, “now that’s a wet dream”, after adding to his kill count.  Zombieland (2009), classified as Horror, makes me squeal more laughs then screams.  Bill Murray plays himself as a “zombie” and had me laughing so hard, I cried. It’s really not a hard question to answer, when asked what’s my favorite genre of movies.

College Fortress (Blog # 5)

            When I was younger, I always thought my parents had some secret volt where they stashed money; Money that would accumulate overtime and eventually the stockpile would be substantial enough to fund an out-of-state college of my choice.  The reality was that my parents didn’t have a hidden piggy bank marked Emily’s College Fund: we were just your average working class family, faced with rising tuition rates and myself approaching High School Graduation.        

            My parents help me considerably and god willing would do more.  I don’t fault them; in today’s society, financial aid seems to pave the path to higher education.  Being the heir of this financial hinder makes me accountable for my success or failure.  I feel more accomplished for my achievements and more embarrassed of my failures.  Hypothetically speaking, “It’s easier to spend someone else’s money and feel less guilty not passing a class.” So, being the largest shareholder, I’ll be damned if I waste money retaking classes.        

I imagine more of these leisure-some activity
slices would be replaced with work hours
and diaper duty, if they updated this chart.

            A college degree is demanded: Unemployment rates are high: Competition is fierce.  These are the realities facing students today that are trying to obtain a competitive edge.  Most students, including myself, have several other pairs of shoes to fill simultaneously.  Some are parents; most have jobs, and a considerable amount have all three to juggle.  I almost feel fortunate to only being juggling homework and “bill paying” work.  Well it’s time for me to return to stage for my juggling act.

Growing Up (Blog # 4)

I use to be more concerned with what outfit to wear and who’s party I was going to attend; But it’s time for me to grow up.  My priorities have shifted and my current focus is to obtain a Bachelor in Business, followed by an MBA.  I feel it is necessary to land my dream job in Human Resources.  HR can be defined as the persons responsible for health benefits, payroll, accounting, environmental and/or personal issues. An HR rep might also be responsible for the hiring, firing/exiting, training/orientation and the maintenance of the company’s objectives.  As you can see it is difficult to pinpoint to precise roll of a human resource representative.  Some may find it hard to distinguish the difference between an HR rep and a controller of a company; the problem might be that some companies only have one qualified person in charge of both departments.  Having your master’s in business qualifies you for either position.  Although controllers typically are associated with accountants, a controller is not required to have a CPA. 

            Ok, so take a breath and recap, I am just as confused as you.  I want to go into this field but need to be more specific of what genre or HR I wish to go in to.  I would prefer to be the one recruiting, training and mentoring.  I would love to travel for a company, hold seminars, and reinforce the company’s objectives.  I want to be the person holding the company meetings that stress the importance of teamwork and tackle any glass ceilings that may still exist and need to be handled. 

            With the economy in the dumps, and most of the labor force finding themselves taking on multiple rolls due to downsizing, I narrowed my research question to simply explore, “if there’s still a demand to uphold employee moral or have business switched gears, eliminating “HR”, and focus more on profit and not employees?”  It costs money to properly train a new hire; Health benefits are being cut, the number of disgruntle employees are rising, but the economy remains unstable.  The unemployed are a dime a dozen, leaving those valued employees vulnerable to the vultures.  There’s the door, put up, or shut up are the new guidelines for the employed.