Day Off

Ah relaxation. Today was my first day off from work after a five day stretch. That's the good thing about having a job. One does appreciate the days off so much more. When I first moved down here to Delaware after a horrendous experience in selling my previous house, I took about three months off. I did nothing. However, after a time I realized I needed a job. Not only to help with my new mortgage payment (as a result of selling my previous house for a lot less than I had planned), I needed a job to structure my life around. However, the trick was to establish a balance between work and leisure. Working two nights a week and every other weekend, I have established that balance. Recently I was asked to temporarily work full time for the day time front desk clerk who is on maternity leave. I agreed without hesitation. I was anxious to see how I could handle working full time again. It wasn't bad. However, it wouldn't want to be doing it for the next 40 years like when I began my adult working career. But, at the end of my five day stretch I didn't want to "play" anymore. While I love my job; giving restaurant reviews, answering the phone, giving directions to everything from the way to the beach to the best manicurist, taking reservations, and telling the curious guest which side of the Cannon Ball Building the cannon is lodged (I really did get this question last week and when I answered "I don't know", I was informed by the guest "You should know") I was ready for a day off. Today the weather was just about a perfect day for my day off. A friend asked me to join him for dinner at a local gay restaurant. I was reluctant because of several previous bad experiences. In the past friends and I had enjoyed their $5.95 Burger Night. Their hamburgers were delicious as well as their French fries. However, we soon discovered that their once delicious hamburgers had degenerated into grease burgers. My last visit in December was to take a friend to celebrate his birthday. Disaster was averted at that time when the waiter replaced my almost inedible eggplant entree with a generic chicken dish, which was at least edible. I thought I would give them another try during this visit. Alas, they are still serving grease burgers. The French fries were even terrible. Undercooked and tasteless. However, all was not lost. Prior to being seated in the almost empty dining room (always a bad sign, especially at the height of the summer tourist season), I had an Appletini at the bar. It was the best Appletini I've ever had, bar non (no pun intended.) An almost perfect ending to an almost perfect day. One more day off then back to the races.

Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Summer Day

Yesterday was a typical lazy, hazy, crazy summer day here in my little oasis on the coastal plain of Sussex County, Delaware. Peaceful, relaxing. I am enjoying these few days off from work at the hotel before I begin working full time at the end of the month. I will temporarily replace the full time front desk agent who is going on maternity leave for six weeks. It's been awhile since I've worked five days in a row so this should be an interesting experience. It will be a much needed learning experience for me, working consecutive days. I will undoubtedly encounter all kinds of circumstances (working the front desk at a hotel isn't as easy as it looks folks) that will sharpen my skills as the front desk person. Even though I've worked off and on for the past five years at three different hotels (the Hampton Inn, the Marriott Residence Inn), there is always something new to learn in the hospitality business. New challenges. Never underestimate the complexity and vagaries of the guest (as we in the hospitality business call the "customers".) Someday I will write a book about my experiences in the hospitality industry. Many of my experiences have been stranger than fiction. The old saw "you just can't make this up" really does apply to this job. I guess that's why I love the job so much. I never know who is going to walk through that door or what new question they are going to ask me. When I think I've encountered every situation that is possible and answered every conceivable question, the next guest will ask me a new question. They will provide me with a new hoop to jump through. But, for now, those stories will have to remain with me because I hear several guests now read this blog. However, one thing I will say on this blog is that I love my job and I always look forward to seeing returning guests as well as meeting new guests. I not only have a lovely home here in Delaware and wonderful friends, I have the best job for me at this time in my life. I am indeed blessed.