Working Weekend

For those of you who follow this blog regularly, you'll notice there's been a blip in my usual daily posting.  That's because I worked the day shift at the hotel this weekend.  My regular hours are Wednesdays and Thursdays, 3 pm to 11 pm.  Occasionally I am asked to work for one (or two) of the regular full time front desk agents (we don't call them "hotel front desk CLERKS these days don't you know).  This weekend was one of those weekends.  

Wasn't so bad although I do have to get up before the birds (5 am) in order to get to work in time to set out the breakfast by 7:30 am.  Usually I like to sleep in until about 7 am or later.  But as I said, working this weekend wasn't so bad, helped a lot I'm sure by a hotel almost full of very pleasant guests.  

Our guests are usually retirees for a weekend getaway, or soon to be retirees looking to move to Delaware and the occasional newlyweds (which we had this weekend).  These folks are almost always pleasant, non-demanding and a pleasure to be of service to.  Plus, it helped that this weekend we had almost perfect weather.  Clear blue skies and a brisk bite in the air.  We could've used maybe ten degrees warmer but brisk air felt good.

My daffodils in full bloom today!

Bill misses me terribly when I'm gone from the house all day, even though when I am at our house I'm either on my computer, eating or taking a nap. At least I'm in the house which seems to give him some comfort.  I have to admit it is nice to be wanted and cared for and to care for someone.  

The only problem I have with working these irregular hours is that it throws off my digestive system (I get constipated because I can't go to the bathroom at work - yeah, I said it).  Other than that, and missing my daily blog entries, not a bad weekend of work at all.

Now I do it all over again in two weeks.  Then I work the night shift (3 pm to 11 pm) for my other full time co-worker.  Don't cry for me (Argentina) though, I'm taking off two weeks at the end of August to visit…….guess where?  Yep, Canada (read prior blog post for context).  

Time to watch more episodes of "The Good Wife" now (oh I am addicted to this show, it is SOOO GOOD).

Have a good night!

More Adventures of a Hotel Front Desk Agent

As regular followers of this blog know, I work part-time as a front desk clerk agent at a small, upscale boutique hotel in Lewes, Delaware.  And as I have often said I love my job, my co-workers and where I work.  However, as with any aspect of life there is always the occasional fly in the ointment, so to speak.

Folks, as long as I've been at this job (15 years now, hard to believe these past fifteen years tacked on to a prior 36 year banking career), I always encounter a new challenge.  Always.

Of course there is the always present chance of encountering a Guest From Hell, who, nothing you can do, will please them.  However, I am happy to say that kind of guest is very rare.  Oh yes, they do happen and when they appear in front of me with their nastiness, my professionalism is tested to the max.  But, as I said they are few and far in between, thank God.  I look upon them as a challenge. 

Then something happens like what occurred last night.  As long as I've been at this business I think I've encountered just about any situation and have been able to handle it.  But tonight I was thrown yet another curve ball. Yet another challenge.

So here is what happened: 

I get a call from a man who wants to make a reservation for next week.  The phone connection is bad.  He's probably on his cell phone.  He asks me what rooms are available next Tuesday.  I tell him the availability and give him the rate for the room.  He wants to make the reservation.  So I snap into my routine that I've done thousands of times before.  I asked him his first name.  He says "BUMFUCK."  I begin typing then I realize what he said.  As I began to boil, icily I say "Are you kidding me?"  He said "No.  My first name is Bumfuck."  I . AM . MAD.

Now lets back up so I can put my mindset in context folks.  I have to explain to you why on several levels this made me so angry so very fast.  A few years ago one of my co-worker's husband was using her Facebook account.  He didn't like a video I posted to my Facebook account of two men (brothers) dancing the tango. He posted a rude and offensive and homophobic comment under my co-worker's name.  We got into a big verbal to do.  The situation was finally resolved by me unfriending all of my co-workers from my Facebook account so such a thing wouldn't happen again.

Secondly, someone called me a few weeks ago at work and said "How's that burning ass?" and hung up.  I have NO IDEA who called but I didn't appreciate the humor. I think the "burning ass" comment was in reference to one of my uncomfortable side effects from my brachytherapy surgery for my prostate cancer.

Thirdly, as you regular followers know, my longtime partner Bill and I got married on July 3rd, our 49th anniversary. Our wedding was on the news and the local newspapers.  I was very pleased that I hadn't received one negative reaction to our marriage.  However, when I received the anonymous hang up phone call I assumed the worst.

Now back to our regular programming, I get "Mr. Bumfuck" making a reservation tonight. 

I asked him his last name.  There was a pause and he said "Wait a minute! What did you just say to me?"  I said "I asked if you were kidding with that first name?"  Very angrily he said "Did you just make a racist comment to me?"  I said "I asked you your first name and you said Bumfuck."  He said "No!  My first name is Bumsuk!"  OMG! 

As I extracated my size 12 foot from my mouth, I quickly apologized to him.  I told him I thought he said a "different word that I didn't want to repeat to him."  His anger subsided as quickly as it rose just a few seconds prior.  I apologized to him again and completed the rest of his reservation. 

By the way, his last name was Korean (which I won't repeat out of respect for his privacy) but I guess "Bumsuck" is probably a very common name in Korea.  How would I know?  Probably "George" in Korean.

So folks, seems like Ron was a bit paranoid tonight.  What do you think?  Can you blame me?

I thought for sure that I was being punked tonight.  Either by a homophobe or one of those idiots who work for the Howard Stern radio show.  I'm one of those people doesn't get the humor in these radio shows making obsence calls to people trying to make a living. 

So it was a legit call and I have another hotel antecdote to add for book "More Adventures of a Hotel Front Deck Agent."  And the beat goes on.

"Déjà Vu All Over Again"

Yep, that's me in the path of Hurricane Sandy.  I live in the middle of the Delmarva peninsula.

We're still here.  Our house is still intact.  Still have power.  So far anyway.  One can only hope.

I called into work a while ago.  My co-worker Robert told me that everything is cleared off of the first floor, including the lobby.  Deep cleaning time!  He's staying there overnight with his cat...on the second floor.  Our hotel is located right next to the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal and about a half a mile from Rehoboth Bay.  Hurricane Sandy is expected to make landfall tomorrow night just at high tide.  Lovely, just lovely.  I can see all those canal jelly fish floating around the hotel lobby now.

I was scheduled to work tomorrow evening but I decided not to go in, with not a "little help" from Bill.  Bill goes bonkers every time one of these "storms of the century" rolls around, which seems like every year.  Didn't we just go through this last year?  And the year before?

As a matter of fact I won my all expense paid, four day, trip for two to Disneyword in 1999 because I risked life and limb to go to my job at the Hampton Inn in Lionville PA.  I really did risk life and limb.  I tried several different routes to the Hampton Inn only to find five of them flooded.  Finally I wound my way up through a heavily wooded housing development to Rt. 113, past several downed power lines that were dancing sparks on the highway!  At one point I was even racing my car ahead of flood waters that I saw rapidly approaching the bypass I was trying to make an escape.  Thank goodness the Hampton Inn was on high ground.

As soon as I got to the hotel the power went out.  The hotel lobby was full of panicked travelers who detoured off of the Pennsylvania Turnpike.  My co-workers didn't know what to do when the power went out.  "How do we check in the guests?" Without hesitation I said "By paper.  Just write their name and credit card numbers on the form and we'll update it when the power comes back on." Now mind you, my co-workers were in their late teens and early twenties.  I was fifty-nine years old.  I remembered the old fashioned way to check in hotel guests.  We got everyone checked in and even had guests sleeping in the lobby because all the rooms were full.  No doubling up on the rooms either.

Imagine my surprise four months later when I received an award for "Best Guest Service Representative".  The president of the Hampton Inn called me personally to congratulate me.  I told him "I was only doing my job" which is what I thought I was doing.  Still, I was glad to win the award because I WAS GOING TO DISNEYWORLD for the first time in my life!

Me and "The Mouse" (Mickey is on the right)

I won't be going into work this time.  Robert is taking care of the guests (of which there are none in the hotel as I write this).  Hey, maybe the owner of the hotel will send Robert to Disneyworld for his over and above dedication to his job.  Thanks Robert!

Vacation Week

This was the week Bill and I were going to take our trip south to visit my ancestors' graves up there in the hillbilly mountains of western North Carolina.  However we decided last Friday (we were to pick up the van rental from Enterprise on Saturday) not to go.  We usually go in the spring, when the days are warmer and longer.  I thought it would be a good idea to go this year for the fall color in those glorious mountains.  But when we checked the weather (rain and showers) and knowing that the days would be shorter, we both decided to stay here at Casa Tipton-Kelly.  Well, I'm here to tell you I'm having a grand old time!

Even though I only work part-time (Monday and Tuesdays 3 to 11 pm) I'm still working.  Two of my days are taken, thus interrupting the smooth flow of JUST DOING NOTHING ALL WEEK.  And the past month or so I've had a series of doctors' appointments sprinkled in my weekdays also just to spice things up.

Don't get me wrong, I love my job at the hotel but it sure is nice to go a whole week without a guest asking me any or all of the following questions:

• "Where is the best place to eat?"-The Buttery
• "When is breakfast?" - 8 am to 10 am
• "Where do I park?" - outside where it says HOTEL PARKING
• "How much are your rooms?" - depends, what kind of room? They're all expensive
• "What are you rooms like?" - nice, what else do you expect me to say? Crappy?
• "Can I get an AAA and AARP discount at the same time?" - Uh....NO
• "How do I connect to the Internet?" - choose "Internet connection" duh
• "Can I have two more towels?" - gladly, I'll be up in a moment
• "I'm allergic to feather pillows, can I have a foam pillow?" - do you want the stained one?
• "Do you have a wine bottle opener?" - booze hound
• "Where is the ice machine?" - where it says "ICE MACHINE" to your right
• "How does the TV work?" - by remote control...hockey puck
• "Can I check in early?" - depends if previous occupant isn't checking out late
• "Can I check out late?" - usually asked by the same guest who asked to check in early
• "What time do you get off?" - 11, got something in mind?

No folks, I didn't miss THE QUESTIONS this week.  Oh don't worry, Dependable Ron will be back at the front desk, sincere smile and all ready to field the SAME questions with aplomb.

So where was I going with this posting?  Oh yes, talking about how much I'm enjoying my vacation this week.  I - AM - HAVING - A - BALL!  Yes folks, this is what freedom is all about.  

Back to the grind next week.  I wonder if anyone missed me?  

"Thank You"

Sometimes a simple, sincere "Thank you" is the best part about working. 

As regular readers of this blog know I work parttime, two night a week at a small hotel in downtown Lewes, Delaware.  In my previous life, I worked as a trust operations manager at a major Philadelphia bank.  Since retiring ten years ago I began working parttime as a hotel front desk clerk. 

Those of you who work with the public know that it can sometimes be frustrating.  Sometimes I wonder "Why am I doing this?"  Yet there are other times like this evening when I knew exactly why I am working in the customer service/hospitality business.  It is because my nature is to serve and please. 

The way a stand up comedian get reinforcement by the laughter from his audience from a joke he tells or an actor receives applause, I get my reinforcement from a guest who looks me in the eye and says "Thank you very much Ron."  Why it's almost as nice as a raise.  ("Almost", I said.  I'll still take the raise.)

This afternoon when I came in on my shift at 3 p.m. I got a call from room 304.  The guest told me she didn't have any glasses in her room.  I apologized for the oversight and told her I would take two glasses to her room right away.  She also asked if she could have "some milk or half and half" for her coffee.  I told her I would also take that up to her.

A few minutes later I knocked on her door.  After what seemed like an interminable length of time, she opened the door.  I handed the tray to her with the two glasses and the covered stryofoam cup of half and half.  I told her it was "half and half."  She said "Whatever."  Uh oh.

When I returned to the front desk I asked my co-worker "Is there a problem with 304?" (we usually refer to our guests by their room number - hotel talk).  He said "She's not happy with her room."  I said "What's the matter with her room?"  He said "She doesn't like the view, she wants a clearer view of the water." Note:  Our hotel is located next to the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal and not all rooms have an unobsturcted view of the water/canal.

These guests were staying four nights and we are full this weekend (The Lewes Car Show) so I couldn't offer them another room.

Later on, as I was passing through the lobby, I saw the couple sitting in the lobby reading newspapers.  I asked them if they had dinner and how was it.  The lady put down her newspaper, slowly looked up at me and said "It was fine and thank  you very much for asking."  She seemed somewhat surprised that I even asked her.

I went back to my front desk and noticed that a room with a better view was available the next three days.   I offered the room to her (at no increase in cost, the room is more expensive because it is on the top floor with the best views and a king sized bed).  She looked at me again and for the first time I saw a smile come to her face like the morning rising sun.  She said "What is your name?"  I told her "Ron."  She said "You know Ron, you're the first person since we've checked in here that has shown an interest in our situation.  You're the first person who cares. I thank you for that."

I was a bit taken aback by the unexpected compliment and momentarily at a loss for words.  After all, this is my job to take care of our guests and to make sure they have a pleasant experience during their stay at our hotel. 

I thanked her.  I told her that I operate on the theory that I treat the hotel guests the way I would like to be treated when I am a hotel guest.  To me this is a no brainer.  She said "You are the exception.  Most people in the customer service world don't seem to care."  I told her that I've experienced the same thing. I also told her that when I did receive good customer service, it was a rarity instead of the rule. 

She was reluctant to move to a differnt room because they were already settled into their room.  I offered to have one of our staff move their things to the new room with the better view.  Her eyes perked up at my suggestiong.  She said she would get back to me after she asked her husband. 

A few minutes later she called down to the front desk and said "Yes, we will move."  I said "Good! I'll take care of everything." 

About fifteen minutes later I heard the elevator bell ring as it opened it doors on the first floor.  The same guest I was just talking too exited the elevator with a smile on her face.  She said "I just happened to look out our window and saw that my car light were on.  I'm glad I looked out.  There is a God!" 

She turned off her car lights and came back in the door by the front desk.  She looked at me, again with that same smile on her face and said "Thank you for everything Ron and have a good night." 

And that folks is why I work.

Hotel Work

As my regular followers know this former bank trust operations officer (thirty seven year career in THAT business, thank you) now works part-time (two days a week 3 to 11 pm every Wednesday and Thursday night) at a small boutique hotel in the beautiful, quaint, rustic, laid-back, town of Lewes, Delaware on the eastern short of the Delmarva peninsula.  That's right folks, I am in the Service Industry.  Long gone are my days of reconciling daily bank trust operations and riding herd over a bunch of clerks.  Now I am the guy behind the front desk of that expensive hotel who checks you in and provides the BEST SERVICE you ever got on this side of the Mississippi!


Every now and than I am asked to go above and beyond the Call of Duty.  This week was just such an occasion.  My fellow front desk clerk, Robert, who works full-time, asked me if I could "take his days" while he jetted off to Orlando, Florida to attend his brother's wedding (second one at that).  I said "Sure!" I am about the best co-worker that you'll ever work with regardless how some others may hate me (and I do have a Hate Following, believe me - something I haven't been quite able to figure out).  


So I work my usual hours Wednesday and Thursday night from 3 pm to 11 pm.  Now here comes the hard part.  I had to show up this morning by 7 (after getting off last night at 11) open up the hotel and set up the breakfast.  Said breakfast is featured in the short video at the top of this blog.  Bragging on myself again (and risking increasing my enemy list - I actually think they're jealous of me) I do set out one damn good breakfast.  


Of course this schedule totally screws up my digestive system (think constipation - sorry, nothing but the facts here ma'am), and my sleep schedule (no NAP today).  I just know as soon as I sit down in that big easy chair in my bedroom and flip on a "Judge Judy" episode I've recorded earlier, I'll be off to Dreamland, mouth agape (it isn't pretty folks when I zonk out while watching television).


This disruption in my schedule of course also plays havoc with my regular blog posting not to mention keeping up with my favorite fellow bloggers.  


So bear with me folks while I get though this temporary, high intensity work schedule.  No need for alarm. I'll be back soon with my usual catty witty comments on fellow blogger's posts, and my daily blogs enlightening you all to the Meaning of Life.


I'm still here folks!

Why I Love Working a Hotel Front Desk Job

Ron in a bemused state - 1980

I wrote this last night while I was working the front desk at the hotel in Lewes, DE where I am gainfully employed.  Usually I write my blogs off the top of my head after I get up in the morning and have breakfast.  Occasionally I will write a blog post in the evening but that is rare.  I almost never write a blog post in the afternoon, that's when I take my nap.

I'm going to start something new.  When I'm working at the hotel, especially during a slow period (like the off season), I'll write a blog posting and save it to post later.  In the past I didn't like to post this way because I thought my postings would be stale and not up to date but I find that while working, many great ideas flow through my head that are gone the next morning.  So what I have decided to do (if I have the time) is write a quick blog entry during those down times and save it in my file for editing and posting later.

I believe I can still have fresh and spontaneous blog postings plus I will be able to expand my range of subjects and, hopefully, make my posts more interesting.

So here is my blog post from my experience last night at the hotel.  By the way, the picture at the top of the blog post probably won't have anything to do directly with the post, especially the ones at the hotel because I have to respect the privacy of the hotel guests.  But you know me, I simply cannot post without putting some kind of visual display and almost all of mine are of photos that I took myself.  The one at the top of this blog is one I discovered recently that was taken 31 years ago (yes, THAT long ago) when I used to visit my friend Big Bob at his Ranch (uh huh) outside of Georgetown, Delaware in the late 70's and early 80's.  It is of me in a pensive mood which is somewhat appropriate to this blog posting.

So here goes:


There are many reasons why I like working at a hotel front desk but the best reason is you just never know who you're going to meet or what situation is going to confront you. 


I know this unpredictability would drive some of my friends to a state of frazzled state of aphrehension but not me.  I love the challenge! 


Tonight is a good example.  We had guests check in last night.  Tonight the female half of the two guests wanted to surprise her boyfriend with a gift.  She asks me to make a reservation for the two of them at a local upscale eatery which I do.  Then she surreptiously slips a boxed gift (I saw the Mac apple on it) and asks me to get it to the restuarant and have it on the table when they arrive for dinnr. She sees her friend approaching and whisks away from me to join him at the elevator to go to their room.


I'm thinking "How am I GOING TO DO THAT?"  The logistics I mean.  I give the box to the cab driver who is driving them to the restaurant.  But won't the gentleman think it's odd when the cab driver goes into the restaurant WITH them?  Uh huh.  Think Ron, THINK! 


I call the restaurant and talk to "John" and tell him what I'm trying to do which is accomodate my guest in surprising her male companion with gift from Apple.  He states the obivous "How are we going to get the gift/package on the table without them seeing it?"  I DON'T know.  My mind is a blank.  Talk about challenges.  I asked for it didn't I?


The cab driver arrives at the hotel.  I give him the bag and tell him what I'm trying to do.  I tell him to give the bag to John.  The cab driver makes a suggestion.  He says "I'll let them out and wait until they go in and then I'll go in and give the bag to John."  Superb!  Ralph the Cabdriver figured out what this 70 year old head coudn't figure out.


After I hang the phone up I hear the bell of the elevator and her male friend steps out and heads towards me.  He asks me "Do you have tape?"  I do and I give it to him.  He heads off into the lobby with HIS package and the tape.  I see my opportunity and I call her in her room and tell her that the restaurant host will approach their table with The Package/Gift after they are seated.  Does this sound like it's getting complicated?  Talk about World Peace.  Hey, this is what makes the hospitality industry go 'round.


She says "Oh no, we're going to the bar first.  Just have the package placed on the table where we are to dine."  Viola!  Done! 


Her friend comes back to the front desk and asks for scissors.  I give them to him.  He returns to the lobby to finish wrapping his gift.


I tell Ralph the Cabdriver our Plan of Attack.  I call John at the restuarnt and tell him.  He's just a tad annoyed with all my phone calls but he graciously accedes to my request. 


Her friend returns the scissors and the tape to me at the front desk.  He takes the stairs to their room on the fourth floor of the hotel, thus giving me time to call her and confirm our Plan.


I call her and tell her.  She says "Great!"


Fifteen minutes later I hear the bell of the elevator go "RING!"  They both step out, she's dressed to The Nines and he doesn't look bad either with his black T-shirt outlining his well developed pectorals.  Hey, I am gay after all you know.


As they're headed out the door she turns on her 5 inch stilletoes and makes a circle with her thumb and forefinger and winks at me.  I give her the same sign back sans the wink (I'm not a winker). 


I just had a call from Ralph the Cabdriver.  He said they just went in the restaurant.  He asked me to tell John to come out and get the bag.  I call John again.  Actually I'm starting to feel like a Pain now. 


A woman answers the phone. Her name is Jen.  I decide not to both John again.  I think he's one of the cooks or otherwise disposed because he didn't sound real enthused the last phone call.  I tell Jen of my Plan.


I tell her that Ralph the Cabdriver is out in the parking lot waiting for someone to pick up The Bag.  I explain to her to take the package out of the bag and place it on the table while the couple is at the bar.  EXCITMENT!  SUSPENSE!  DRAMA!  SERENDIPITY!  (actually, I don't know if that last word fits this situation but I like the word).


Ralph just called!  He said a woman came out and picked up the bag.  I told him that I talked to a woman and it was alright.  Then I thanked him with a MISSION COMPLETED!


No I sit here at the hotel front desk with Christmas music playing in the background.  The hotel is empty, the only other guest having left earlier for dinner at another one of our fine local dining establishments.


I think this is a good time to mop the floor.  My reinforcement for a Job Well Done comes later when the guests return and thank me profusely for being such an oustanding conceriege.


That's what it's all about folks!  I create MAGIC!

Happy Thanksgiving 2011

Me at Command Central

Another Thanksgiving is here (my 70th) and I am wishing every one of my blog readers and followers a very happy thanksgiving!

I will not be celebrating Thanksgiving in the traditional manner at home like many families.  Someone has to work!  I'm not complaining though.  For most of the past twelve years I have worked at the hotel (I've worked at three different hotels since I retired from banking) on Thanksgiving Day.  I don't mind.  Really, I don't mind.  Actually, the guests in the hotel seem to be extra nice on Thanksgiving Day.  Most of the guests are older folk who are in town to visit their adult children and grandchildren.  For understandable reasons they prefer to leave their adult children's house after the Thanksgiving Feast.

I, as the hotel front desk representative par excellence provide a welcome and comfortable respite from the hustle and bustle and the rambunctious, screaming kids at Thanksgiving.  And yes, I did say "par excellence" in reference to my work at the front desk of the hotel.  How many of you can say that you won a trip to Disneyland (for four days, for two, all expense paid, check for $500 and $100 in Disney money?)  Uh huh, that's what I thought.....NONE.  When I worked at the Hampton Inn in Lionville, PA I was awarded the Best Guest Service Representative Award for the fourth quarter of1999.  The first and only guest service representative to win that award at that hotel.  Hey, I can't service a car or lay bricks but I can provide the BEST guest service experience and for that work skill I am forever thankful.

Ron on duty Hampton Inn, Lionville, PA 1999

The Hampton Inn Team Lionville, PA 1999

Two of my favorite Thanksgiving guests - Bonnie and Barbara from NYC 1999

Ron settles the cash drawer - my job wasn't all charm and smiles - lots of HARD WORK.

My Award - the only time in my life I ever got an award (or "thanks") for a job well done

I was going to provide a list of everything I am thankful for this year but I'll just shorten it down to one (or two) items.

I am thankful for reaching the age of 70 in reasonably good shape (brain and body still working, albeit slowing down and getting progressively creakier).

I am also thankful for my Bill.  We've been together a long time (47 years) and we still enjoy each other's company tremendously.  Both of us are part of a whole.  One without the other cannot exist.

As regular readers of my blog postings know, I write just as thought come into my head thus the screed about my BEST GUEST SERVICE AWARD.  Hey, if I can't toot my horn, who can?

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Ready for work at the hotel 1999 (from my home base) - I go to work again today

Adventures in the Hospitality Business

The Hampton Inn Team 1999 (I am the second from the right in the back)

As regular readers of this blog know, I work part-time at a local boutique hotel.  Since retired from my chosen career in the banking business (manager, trust operations) I have worked in the hospitality business.  You ask "hospitality business, what is that?"  That my friends is that I am that person behind the front desk when you check into a hotel.

Me with Barbara and Bonnie, two New York City Jewish lesbians
See those smiles?  Guests don't get any tougher than these two ladies.
All my other front desk co-workers were scared to death of these two women.
Not me.  I bring out the smiles.  Not for nothing did I get the Best Guest Service Award (not that I'm bragging or anything I actually am because I am DAMN GOOD!)

In 1998 I began work as a part-time night auditor at the Hampton Inn in Lionville, Pennsylvania.  When I got out of the Army in 1963 my first job was a night auditor at the Pittsburgh Hilton Hotel.  After getting fired from my job at the Downingtown Bank (I was fired because I was an out gay man, a subject worthy of a book), I was collecting unemployment.  Bored with collecting unemployment and unable to find another trust operations banking job, I saw an ad for a weekend night auditor at the local Hampton Inn.  I applied and was hired immediately.  Then the Adventure began.

With my co-worker Angelo Vasquez at the Hampton Inn
We had a lot of fun working together (can you tell?)

I worked at the Hampton Inn for four years.  I eventually left the night auditor job (an awful job by the way) to full time at the front desk.  I was also an associate sales clerk which meant that I took the sales director's place on weekends because she didn't want to work weekend (she was a princess.)

Me, Mickey and my Aunt Mabel at Disney World April 2000

I was successful at my job eventually winning a Best Guest Service Representative Award and a trip to Disney World for two.  Yes, I actually could say "I'm going to Disney World!"

Me with the vice president of Hilton Hotels Corp at the Epcot Center, Disney World accepting my award as Best Guest Service Representative 2000 

During my four year run at the Hampton Inn I thought I encountered every situation there was possible as a front desk clerk. Little did I know.  One of my goals is to write a book (a la Dave Barry) about my experiences at the Hampton Inn.  That task is still on my back burner.

Me taking a load off of my feet at the Hampton Inn

I left the Hampton Inn in February 2001 and worked full-time for a local bank (in the trust department again).  For a short time I worked at the Marriott Residence Inn but left after a month because of the reason stated below.

In November of 2006 I sold our house in Pennsylvania and moved to Delaware for my retirement and to save what little money I had left after the Great Stock Market Rip-Off.  Three months after I got settled down I felt like I needed to get out.  So what did I do?  You got it, I looked for a hotel job.

I got my list of hotels and made the rounds and put in my application.  The last hotel (and the one nearest my home) hired me.  That hotel is where I have been working the past 3 1/2 years.

This morning I read a very funny blog posting by a good (and very talented writer) friend of mine about his past week's experience as a restaurant host in downtown Rehoboth.  I almost fell off my chair laughing reading of his encounters with the restaurant customers and the tourists (aka The Horde) who are replenishing our local coffers with their money this summer season. That brought to mind that I have similar experiences in my job as hotel front desk clerk.

I won't identify where I work to protect the innocent (and me) but here are just some of the questions I got in my job working the front desk:

• The phone rings and the question again is:  "Do you have any rooms this weekend?" 
• My answer is "No."  Then the next question is "Do you know anyone who has rooms?"
• Now this is a trick question because if I answer "Yes" they then ask "What are their rooms like?  Are they nice?"   
• Now, what do you think I'm going to say?  Lewes is a small town.  Do they really think I'm going to say "No, they're awful and I wouldn't send my worst enemy there!
• If I fall into the trap of saying their rooms are nice then they ask "How much are they? Do they have a pool?"  This last question "Do you have a pool?" drives me crazy.  If I had a quarter every time someone asked me "Do you have a pool?"  You know what that question means don't you?  That means they have kids and want to unload them in the pool, the little darlings. 
• Now, while I'm on the phone with this person who is too damn lazy to look up the hotel and call then directly, I have guests waiting to check in and the other line is ringing, probably from someone else wanting to know "Do you have rooms this weekend?"
• So what I do now is make the suggestion to the person on the phone that PERHAPS she (almost always it's a "she") call the hotel DIRECTLY.  Do you think?  
• The response I get to this suggestion is usually "Oh.......Okay."  Sometimes I get "Can't you tell me?"  I explain to them that I have guests I have to checkin MY hotel and I have another line ringing.  This explanation never is satisfactory to the person on the other end of the line.  After all, it is ALL ABOUT THEM.

Now, this is just one "experience" as a hotel front desk clerk at the height of the summer season at a seaside resort.  And mind you, I work in a small, laid back town.  I don't work in Crazy Town (aka Rehoboth Beach) where there are true horror stories that would dwarf my little frustrations at the front desk.  

Every day I go to work I never know what to expect.  What truly surprises me is the new questions that I've never had to answer before and the response when I don't have the answer.  For instance last week a man (not a guest of the hotel) came into the front desk.  He wanted to know where the office was to the condo complex that is located next to the hotel.  I told him I didn't know (I found out later there is none).  He wasn't satisfied with that answer.  He then asked "How much do those condos cost?"  I told him I didn't know.  With a disgusted smirk on his face  he then said "Why don't you know?  You work right next to 

them?" Now understand I work mightily not to be one of those smart assed guys who work in the customer service business.  But, I admit sometimes it is very hard to remain professional especially when confronted by an arrogant bastard gentleman like this.  I answer "No sir, I don't know."  Of course this isn't the answer he wants to hear so then he asks "Well, do you know WHO DOES KNOW?"  Hey, how about the Lewes Realty Association?  I give him that advice which is none to happy to receive because he wants an answer NOW.    

Believe it nor not that that wasn't the first time I got that question.  So I made it my business to find out if there was an office and how much those condos cost.  I found out.  There is NO OFFICE and the condos cost A MILLION DOLLARS ON AVERAGE!  Also there is NO TURNOVER unless one of the occupants dies.  So the next time I got the question I gave this answer. You should have seen the look on his face.  I LOVED IT!  

So there are just a couple of the fun things that happen at the front desk at the delightful local boutique hotel where I work part-time.  One thing I want to make clear though, most of the guests and the folks I encounter every day are pleasant, polite and respectful folks.  It's that 1% that are rude, disrespectful and ignorant  But you know what? I see them as a challenge which I welcome.  I love my job, there is always something unexpected.  Keeps me on my toes.  Keeps me alive.

Me today, ready for business

A Simple Act of Kindness

My dinner at the Event
Spring Roll, crab dip, chips, marinated veggies,
and Reuben sandwiches

At my advanced age (and man oh man I am really old now),  I sometimes think I can no longer be surprised.  But every now and then someone of something happens that catches me off guard and momentarily speechless.  Such an occurrence happened this past Wednesday while I was at work at my 3 to 11 shift at my hotel front desk clerk job in Lewes.


I arrived at work at my usual time of 2:45 pm and clocked in.  I noticed everything was cleared away in the kitchen where I clock in.  I asked Mike the maintenance man "Is something going on tonight?"  He said "Yes, we have an event."  For those of you who don't know what an 'event' is in hotel terms I'll explain it to you now.  


An "EVENT" is a gathering of people at the hotel for an "EVENT."  Pretty straight forward huh?  The event could be anything from a wedding reception to the local Rehoboth Film Society meetings.  The hotel where I work at in Lewes has twenty-two rooms and two VIP suites for guests to rent.  We also have two meeting rooms for 'events.'  Tonight an event was scheduled for the Lewes Chamber of Commerce 'mixer', which is nothing more than a gathering of local businessmen and women to get together and network.


These events are almost always catered by a local caterer.  Sometimes the event organizers bring their own snacks but that is a rarity.  In the Lewes/Rehoboth Beach/Milton area we have several fine caterers who serve up some mighty fine horse dervies which is washed down by red or white wine which is provided by the hotel.  Tonight was such an event.  


Events are good news and bad news for the front desk clerk.  First it disrupts my normal routine.  Since tonight's event was running from 5 to 7, that meant I wouldn't be able to eat my dinner at 6.  Also, it means I would be standing behind the front desk for hours.  When the event attendees arrive, the owner of the hotel prefers that the front desk clerk be standing behind the front desk to greet the guests as they arrive.  I understand that, it's part of my job.   A big smile and a friendly greeting, I'm good at that.  But I knew my back would be killing me later plus my stomach would be aching from hunger.


Thus it was with some surprise that after a couple of hours standing at attention, greeting and smiling, Lorraine, the wife of the caterer placed something on the desk in the back office.  I questioningly looked back at her.  I wanted to know who it was for.  She said "Here is something for you."  For a few seconds I was puzzled.  "For me?"  She said "Yes, it's some of what we're serving tonight.  If you need more, let me know."  


Well, my heart was touched.  Here is one of those rare moments where I didn't have to ask, plead, beg or demand something.  Someone saw my situation and took pity on me and provided me with sustenance.  Hey, that simple act of kindness by Lorraine just knocked all the cynicism out of me for the whole day.


Thank you Lorraine.

Entertainment at the Philadelphia Flower Show

I'm still on the Philadelphia Flower Show theme.  Below is a little video of some of the French flavored entertainment at the flower show.  Now that I've posted it, it doesn't seem that interesting but I found it fascinating that I could record this high definition video from my iPhone.  

Philadelphia Flower Show Entertainment

I arrived at the flower with my Cannon Sure Shot 560 digital camera.  I also had along my Flip video camera.  I didn't use the Flip video camera at all.  I didn't need it.  I used the Canon a few time but I actually didn't need it either.  I can do all my digital and video picture taking with my iPhone!  And it also has a GPS.  Know what else it has?  Something called "Grindr."  I'll let you figure that one out.  It sure does have my interest.

It's raining hard outside now.  I just returned from work at the hotel about a half an hour ago.  I earned my money tonight.  I was only in a half an hour and I got a call from Room 115.  They wanted their room cleaned, "Send somebody over from housekeeping!"  Well folks, that 'somebody' is moi.  Apparently there was a miscommunication earlier in the day and housekeeping got the message that 115 didn't want any 'service.' Well, they wanted it now.  

So I troop over there and there is the WHOLE FAMILY, dog included.  Oh lovely.  Dad gathers the Little Princess up and wifey, and they take off and leave me with the family dog, Bruce.  This is Bruce.

I took this picture while I was making the family bed.  Thank God Bruce was a mild mannered Golden Retriever.  The next tenants are bring their BULLDOG with them.  Oh Lordy, I dodged a bullet on this one.  

Well, I finished the room and smelled like slept in human sheets the rest of the night.  I earned my $10.75 an hour tonight.  

Just another day in the Life of Ron or as my friend Don calls it, "My Life as a Saga" (and he's worried that he's going to run out of things to write about on his blog?)  

HA!

Hotels Where I Have Worked

Pittsburgh Hilton Hotel, Pittsburgh, PA

As regular readers of this blog know, I work part-time at a hotel in Lewes, Delaware.  I have worked at this hotel since April of 2007.


After I got out of the Army in January of 1960, my first job was at the Pittsburgh Hilton Hotel, on the Golden Triangle, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  I work as a night auditor at the Pittsburgh Hilton for three months.  I was paid $250.00 a month, payable on the 15th and 31st.  I worked in the basement of the hotel with five other auditors.  Our hours were from 11 pm until we were finished which was usually about 1 am in the morning.  I didn't make enough money at this job to support myself living in Pittsburgh even though I was only paying $8.00 a week rent on a one room efficiency on Roup Street in Shadyside, Pittsburgh.  I was also lonely for my hometown in the eastern part of the state in Downingtown.  I quit and took the bus back to my parents home outside Downingtown.


After a two year stint working as an accounts payable clerk at the Lipsett Steel Products Company in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, I got a job through the recommendation of my friend Ron Hampton at the Girard Bank in Philadelphia, PA.  For the next twenty-two years I worked at Girard Bank in center city Philadelphia.  I was now a banker.


Mellon Bank came along and purchased Girard Bank.  I was "right-sized" out of my job.  Fortunately for me I got another job at the Fidelity Bank right up Broad Street in Philadelphia.  I worked there for seven years and then I quit that job.  


Then began a series of jobs at Downingtown National Bank in my hometown of Downingtown.  I left Downingtown National Bank after four years and then worked for First Financial Bank also in Downingtown.  I also left that bank after about five years.  


In between jobs at Downingtown National Bank and First Financial Bank I got a part time job at the Hampton Inn in Lionville, PA.  I applied for the night auditor job but was told I also had to work the front desk.  At first I hesitated but I was assured it "wasn't too bad" because there wasn't that much business during the early morning hours.  They were wrong.  But all was not bad because I discovered that I liked working the front desk at a hotel.  It was fun meeting people.  I also enjoyed the challenge of customer service.  After all my years in the banking world in which I worked in the back office (trust operations) I had found my niche with customer service.  I loved it.

Me and my co-worker Bill Castaldi at the Hampton Inn 2000

I worked at the Hampton Inn for a little over four years.  I did so well in customer service that I received the President's Award (Hilton Hotel Corp. owned the Hampton Inn - I had come the complete cycle in my working world).  I won a trip to Disney World. "I'm going to Disney World!" just like the winners of the Super Bowl. 

Me, Mickey and my Aunt Mabel at Disney World April 2000

I left the Hampton Inn to work full time at the First Financial Bank.  Then came the time I decided to sell my house and move to Delaware.  I ran into a problem selling my house so I had to get a job to help pay the bills until I could sell my house.  I got a job at the Marriott Residence Inn.  I only had that job a month until I sold my house and I had to quit because I was moving to Delaware.

Me at my short-lived job at the Marriott Residence Inn 2006

Once I got to Delaware and settled down (about three months) I felt the "itch" to get back to that hotel front desk job.  I applied at every hotel I could down here in good old LSD.  Those hotels would include The Sands in Rehoboth, the Hampton Inn (which wouldn't even see me the three times I asked to see their manager), and the Sleep Inn (I was getting desperate).

Then I saw an ad in the Cape Gazette for a front desk job at the Inn at Canal Square in Lewes.  The Inn is an upscale boutique hotel of twenty-two rooms and two suites.  It was a much small hotel that I had ever worked at before.  At the Hampton Inn I was responsible for 96 rooms.  Now I would only be responsible for 22 rooms and 2 suites.  I could handle that.  Plus, I would be dealing with a different type of guest.  No more sports teams of destructive kids.  They were the worst.  Instead I would be dealing with a more refined and professional guest.  Yes, I could definitely deal with that.  

Me at my present job at the Inn at Canal Square in Lewes, DE

So that my friends this is where I now work.  And, I might add I work with a mighty find group of coworkers.  I also work near the water which is the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal. 

The Inn at Canal Square, Lewes, DE

I have come full cycle because when I worked at the Pittsburgh Hilton I worked at the Golden Triangle which is the central business district and the urban downtown center of Pittsburgh.  It is located at the confluence of the Allegheny River and the Monongahela River whose joining forms the Ohio River.  "The "triangle" is bounded by the two rivers.  The area features offices for major corporations such as PNC Bank, U.S. Steel, PPG, Bank of New York Mellon, Heinz, Federated Investors and Alcoa.  It is where the fortunes of such industrial barons as Andrew Carnegie, Henry Clay Frick, Andrew Mellon and George Westinghouse were made.

The GoldenTriangle, Pittsburgh, PA