Some things to smile about

Justin and I have each had some exciting things happen in the past week.
Justin has been training after work since he arrived and took the Level One final exam on Wednesday for his ski instructor certification. Congrats! So proud of you!
For myself, I have been working hard at work with several co-workers injured and home sick we've been short staffed. On one occasion we were short and had to stay late and thanks to the help of the cooks and dishwashers we were able to serve over 300 guests. We were given coins to recognize our hard work called "you've been caught doing something good" coins. The deal is you then are recognized at the next Staff Salute(recognition party held monthly) and given a pin to put on your uniform. I had my invitation to the party thinking that was it... but I was also nominated as employee of the month from Market Station. I was not selected, but as a nominee I get a $200 bonus on my next pay check, 10 tickets to our staff cafeteria, and 2 tickets for dinner at the Pullman Place restaurant in the hotel. I was very surprised and happy to have my work acknowledged. I'd also like to say thanks to my co-workers for working together as a team so we can serve those who are serving our country.

Bayerische Motoren Werke Welt aka BMW World

Yesterday Justin and I took the train to Munich and then the subway up to the Olympic Park and the BMW World. We took a tour of the Welt(World) building which had a show room like area, 3 restaurants, a learning/technology section, a teen area, and the delivery area. We got a chance to see a brief motorcycle demonstration which included one driver going up and down the stairs and along the catwalk suspended overhead. The only area that we got to access as part of our tour that wasn't open to the general public was down one level where we watched a video of some of the cars and motorcycles driving around and then an animation of what the delivery process entails and then a view of the holding area which has an oxygen level of 14% to reduce risk of fire due to all the cars having full tanks of gas. We then went into the double cone section and ended our tour. Justin and I then walked around for a few min and then headed across the street to the Museum. The building is nicknamed the salad bowl because of the shape which we decided it's appropriate. After several hours looking at cars and motorcycles I'd had enough and we headed back via subways to the main train station and got a bite to eat before the train back to Garmisch.
As usual, some pictures...
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2088294&id=44801562&l=a010cf4860

The Faces of Edelweiss Lodge and Resort

As a thank you to the employees the management of the resort put on an appreciation party for us right here in our building. The buffet was Bavarian style foods and there was a slide show through out dinner with quotes from guests thanking us and snapshots of employees making funny faces. There was a short presentation of the Employee of the Year award and then it was time to dance. The DJ played a mix of songs and we danced until they closed down just before 11pm.
Holly and I hiked up to the Halfway House on our day off and had some lunch at the restaurant before making our way back down. On the way up we were so warm we took off our jackets and had on t-shirts. The Germans were looking at us funny as they were hiking with their sleds all bundled up. The way back down we were freezing though.
Then we went out to celebrate a birthday and to have some fun. The owners of the restaurant that the birthday was at gave us some free shots and beer in glasses that are shaped like a knee high boot and almost big enough to wear.

Some pictures... http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2088293&id=44801562&l=5768bb15a1