Working!

Somewhere down south in May during our vacation - I know how to work one of these!

As regular readers of this blog have probably noticed, I've been absent for the past few days.  "What happened to Ron?" you might ask.  Then again, you might not ask but I digress.

So here is where I've been....WORKING!  Yep, I'm working full-time again,  Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.  Well, maybe not FULL-TIME (like five days a week) but four days in a row is enough to knock me for a loop.  Especially in the middle of the summertime tourist season.

Good Old Ron, he can always be depended on to fill in for all the absences caused by the life dramas of his co-workers.  That's the way it has always been that way my whole adult life.  No complaints here though although at times I haven't felt appreciated for plugging these absences and keep the business running wherever I happened to be working at that time.  I'm glad I have a job.  I'm glad I'm alive.

I've been working since I was ten years old when my Mom sought a job for me as a paper boy.  Daily I delivered sixty Philadelphia Evening Bulletins and about ten or twelve local papers.  I also delivered the Sunday paper which usually required two trips home to load up on newspapers.

Over the years since then I've had such jobs as (in this chronological order) mowing lawns, orchard picker, meat market clerk (the real meat market - not the other "meat market" which came years later), shoe salesman, dishwasher, waiter, soldier, hotel night auditor, clothing store salesman, accounts payable clerk, trust remittance clerk, trust operations supervisor and manager, bank project reconciliation manager, gardener, trust operations manager, trust operations consultant, and now to take me to the Finish Line.....hotel front desk clerk.

Not for me the privilege of having mommy and daddy pay for my college education (I joined the Army and went to college on the G.I. Bill).  Not for me the privilege of having mommy and daddy pull strings to get me a plum job.  No folks, all my jobs I got the hard way by asking and proving.  On my own folks, by the bootstraps and yes, I'm still and liberal Democrat and not one of those crazy assed Right Wing Republican Nut Jobs.

Now, at the grand age of seventy (of which I am very proud), while all of my peers are NOT WORKING and enjoying the fruits of retirement, and whose major decision of the day is deciding what restaurant they're going to feed their face that evening; Good Old Ron is still working.  Folks, that's just the way I'm made.  So while they're all lazing around, getting fat I'm staying fit and trim both mentally and physically by still getting my ass out the door every week and doing real work.

Again, I am not complaining.  I am glad that my Mother put me to work when I was only ten years old.  It's like Bill said "You HAVE to work Ron, you would go crazy if you didn't."

Now, granted if I had many more weeks like I had last week with the constant inflow and outflow of the guests in the hotel and all their needs, I WOULD go crazy.  "Do you have a pool?"  "Do you have any playing cards at the front desk?"  "What time is checkout?" "Can I get six in that room?"  "What time is breakfast?"  "How far is Annapolis?"  And all the while the phones are ringing from folks who waited until the last minute seeking a room for the weekend.

Caller:  "I know this is last minute (do you think?),  but do you have any rooms this weekend?"

Me: "No, we don't have any rooms this weekend.  We're full."  

Caller:  "Do you know where they do have rooms and how much and what are those rooms like?"  

Me:  "No, I don't know where they have rooms and what those rooms are like.  Perhaps you should CALL THEM and find out. "

Yes folks, it's been THAT kind of week.

I'm supposed to only work two days this week (we'll see how that goes) and then next week it's another FOUR DAYS IN A ROW.

I'm looking forward to fall folks, really looking forward to fall.  Get those kiddies back to school and have life return to normal around here.

Self-portrait of me at Rehoboth Bay

Rainy Saturday

The view from our deck a few minutes ago - a Wet Day for sure

Here I sit at my favorite spot in the house; my desk in front of my iMac computer with the 27 inch screen.  "What will I write about today?" I ask myself.  Well, that is easy.  As the rain is beating against the windows of this small bedroom which I have converted into my home office, I'm thinking that I really don't want to go to work today.  Yes folks, I'm working again filling in for a co-worker.  This time it is Robert.  He is taking a mini-vaca to Orlando, Florida this weekend so I am filling in for his shift 3 pm to 11 pm today and tomorrow.  Then on Monday I am filling in for Lisa who wants to take her daughter trick or treating.  No matter that I was planning on staying home on Halloween Night myself to personally hand out bags of goodies to the children in my neighborhood.  Lisa asked me if I could take her shift and I just couldn't say "No" because a Mom only has her little girl once for these occasions.  Such is the life of a single man like me who has no children.

So here is my frustration from yesterday.  I bought an device to extend my wireless signal from my home office here to my bedroom on the other side of Casa Tipton-Kelly (our house).  I want to take advantage of Netflix's streaming movie services on my new Sharp 60 inch TV.  I tried to set it up a couple of days ago but the signal wasn't strong enough.  So either I get a 200 foot Ethernet cable to snake through the entire house or I get one of these "extenders" which increases my wireless signal.

Bill took me down to Staples and after I explained my situation to the Staples sales guy, I bought the Netgear Range Extender.  I get it home and of course I can't get it to working.  I call the Netgear Help line and after plowing through the automated menu options I get "Heidi".  In fact I got a "Heidi" with a Chinese accent.  And of course she is reading from a script.  I tell her my problem and she's giving me a solution to a different problem (wrong script Heidi).  Plus, half the time I couldn't understand her because of her baby doll, little girl voice and her heavy Chinese accent (I thought they taught these people to speak Engie when Corporate America outsource their Help Line centers).  I tried, I really tried with Heidi but we weren't getting anywhere especially when she told me to "hook your computer cable to the extender."  That was when I knew Heidi didn't know what she was talking about because that is WHY I GOT THE EXTENDER because I didn't have a 200 foot computer cable!  Oh My God.

Plan B.  I called the Computer Guy that my workplace uses.  I left him a message. I haven't heard from him.  I doubt if I will.  He was here once to set up our network and did a great job but when I subsequently called him, he never returned my call.  Of course the first thing I'm thinking is that he doesn't want to be in the same house with two gay men (we're harmless, we really are).  My previous Computer Guy was gay but he blew up my Dell computer while he was messing around with it so I don't use his services anymore. The only thing I can thank him for is because he crashed my new Dell computer, I decided to get this iMac which I haven't had any problems with since!

The next person I call is the neighborhood geek.  He's a teenager and knows all about this stuff but I felt uncomfortable with him in the house being as young as he was/is.  I called and left a message but I doubt if I'll hear from him.

I'll check with my boss at work (he's good friend with the Computer Guy I called yesterday) and ask him if he is avoiding me/us.  That's fine if he is, I just have to know so I don't waste any more time calling him.  If that's the case then I'll call Anton, who is a Russian and also knows computers.  I won't call the Geek Squad.  They're too expensive plus I don't think half of them know what they're doing.

So that's my Bitch of the Day.  I just want to get my new TV set up so I can downstream movies from Netflix.  I'm so confused with what Netflix is doing now, I just want to simplify things and get back on a coasting course.  I've had too much going on recently with my Prostate Drama.  Which by the way, I'm scheduled for my Biopsy Party at 10 am in the doctor's office on January 6th.  Can't wait.

Retirement? What's That?

Me meeting the daughter of my first cousin Barbara K. for the first time at the reunion

Last Sunday I had my family reunion.  I asked my friend Mark to take pictures for me.  He took over 800 photos.  I had planned to post these photos to my blog and Facebook account in the next few weeks.  But again my part-time job has interfered with my activities in retirement.

The original plan was for me to work two nights a week at the hotel.  I said I would fill in as needed.  I'm flexible that way.  However, due to circumstances this past month I've effectively been working full-time.  Even worse, I  can't plan anything because almost every day I get a call from my boss asking if I can come into work to take over the shift for one of my co-workers.  I again got that call today.  I just got off from working this weekend plus last week.  One of my shifts ran back to back (3 pm to 11 pm then 7 am to 3 pm).  Talk about a sleep pattern being disrupted.

I just got up from my nap this afternoon and I had another text message from my boss asking me if I could work the next three nights.  I don't even get two days off like normal people.  I said "yes" but I will have to have a talk and resolve this situation.  I don't need this stress while I'm trying to decide how far I want to go with invasive tests to determine if I have prostate cancer.

Just today I read an article in Time magazine entitled:

 "Just Say No - The case against PSA."  The article said:

The PSA test is the most common way to screen for prostate cancer, and millions of men over 50 currently get at the blood-based test at every yearly checkup.


But in many of these men, positive PSA tests may signal slow-growing tumors that don't need treatment or may be false positives; PSA levels can also rise when the prostate simply gets bigger as part of the aging process.  These men often undergo unnecessary and invasive biopsies and surgeries which can be dangerous: the panel noted that from 1986 to 2005, 1 million men who would not otherwise have been rested had surgery, radiation therapy of both after positive PSA results.  Of those, 5,000 died because of complication from those procedure and 300,000 developed importance or incontinence.  


One thing I know for sure is that when I was 17 years old I had a hernia operation that was unnecessary from which I developed a staph infection which almost killed me.  So I have to think this through.  Being on call at work like a fireman doesn't help.  I need to lower the stress levels in my life.  

Family Reunion

My cousin Rita and her new grandson, Wes (three weeks old)!

Okay folks, I had all good intentions of posting a well thought out blog entry this morning but wouldn't you know it, I got a call from my fellow worker at the hotel asking if I could take her shift tonight and tomorrow morning.  There goes my time off.  I just got off two days of working.  Believe it or not, I am SUPPOSED to work two night a week (Wednesdays and Thursdays) but this past month I've basically been working FULLTIME. I did have a meeting with the owner of the hotel requesting a raise (the first one in almost five years) and he did grant it.  Since I've never turned down a request to go in on short notice (like this morning) I think that was the least he could do.  Thank you.

So here is the shortened version of my "thoughtful post" about my family reunion.  I'll be doing several posts about my family reunion.  Just to back up a bit, a couple of reasons I haven't been posting much lately is because of the stress of the preparing for the family reunion and my situation at work which I think has been resolved...at least for now.  And, a big "AND", in a few hours I have my long awaited appointment with my urologist to find if I have prostate cancer.  That has been preying on my mind too, what with all the options for treatment if in fact I do have prostate cancer.  I was planning on having a few days off to deal with this but apparently that is not the case...again.   So much for working part-time.  Hey, I don't mind filling in....occasionally, but this is getting to be a regular feature of my job.  I can't make plans to eat (I only eat crackers for dinner when I work at the hotel - have to be available for the guests don't you know).

Enough with my bitching about my current situation.  Here is the good news.  My friend and fellow blogger Mark took pictures for me at my family reunion.  He took over 800 photos.  I asked him to take pictures because I noticed how wonderful his photos are on his blog.  Well, he didn't disappoint.  He took fabulous pictures which I am now sharing with my family and friends on Facebook.  I'm going to post some on this blog also.

Thanks Mark!



P.S.
My apologies to all for my hurried and rushed posting.  I wish I had more time but until I get back on a regular work schedule and get this medical question resolved, I will be in a somewhat unsettled state.

A Short Work History

Me at work at Mellon Bank 1986 - Philadelphia, PA

As the title of my blog says "Retired in Delaware."  Actually, I'm not retired. What I am retired from is my slave labor job that I had at banks for forty-one years.  That job was to bring in money and establish a certain lifestyle for myself.  It was also to earn enough time to secure pension payments to supplement my Social Security income.  That I did by working at a total of five banks during the forty years from 1965 to 2006.  I now receive three bank pensions.  Not a whole lot of money (only bank presidents make a whole lot of money) but the three pensions together supplement my modest Social Security payments which in total keep me and Bill afloat in our home and the lifestyle (modest middle class) that we prefer.

Me at work now at the local "boutique" hotel

As regular readers of this blog know, I work part-time at a local boutique hotel.  All the "boutique" means is that they charge a LOT of money and only have a few rooms (22 rooms and 2 suites.)  I began working part-time at hotels in between one of my banking jobs because I got bored collecting unemployment insurance.  Ironically, my first job out of the Army in 1963 was working for the Pittsburgh Hilton as a night auditor.  I only worked their three months before I left Pittsburgh because I was homesick for the Philadelphia area and got a job as an accounts payable clerk at Lipsett Steel Products, a scrap metal producer in Coatesville, PA.  I had that job for 2 1/2 years until I got a job at Girard Bank in Philadelphia n 1965.

Me at work at Girard Bank 1982

I worked at Girard Bank which became Mellon Bank for the next 22 years until I was job eliminated.  I was making too much money and could be replaced by someone who made half my salary.

Me at my job as Data Entry Unit Supervisor at Fidelty Bank, Philadelphia, PA 1988

My next job was at Fidelity Bank, which was just up the street from Mellon Bank.  I worked there for seven years before I quit.  This time I wasn't job eliminated but one of the ones left behind.  I was doing three jobs and getting burned out.  I quit.  No job.  My next job was pulling weeds for a very nice businesswoman who had a small estate.  She called me her "gardener" but actually all I did was pull weeds and lay mulch.  I made $8.45 an hour. I loved doing what I was doing but I couldn't meet my bills.  I was living off of my savings.  I saw an ad in a local paper for a trust operations manager at my hometown bank.  I applied and got the job.

Me at my part-time job at First Financial Bank in Downingtown, PA 2001

I loved that job.  I ran the whole trust operations department for this small bank.  I went home for lunch.  I loved my job.  I didn't have to commute to Philadelphia nor pay the high city wage tax for my banking job.  People liked me.  That was until we got a new department head.  We got along fine for the first two weeks until one day I introduced him to Bill.  He asked "Who is Bill?"  I told him he was my "partner."  Well folks, that was the beginning of the end of my job at my local bank.  Within two weeks time I was called into his office and presented with a Written Warning for job performance.  To make a long story short, my new boss was homophobic (something I found out later quite by accident from another person he had done the same thing to when he worked at a Philadelphia bank) and started a campaign to get rid of me.  I lasted about three months until I was fired.  That was when I was unemployed and collecting unemployment insurance.

Me my job at the Hampton Inn, Lionville, PA 1998

After a few weeks of feeling like a bum collecting unemployment insurance I saw an ad in the local newspaper at the Hampton Inn for a night auditor.  I answered the ad and got the job.  The night auditor position eventually turned into a front desk job during regular hours.  Staying up from 11 pm to 7 am is rough.  Try it sometime.  5 K runners have NOTHING on me.

Me at my "day-job" at First Financial Bank - I left everyday at 4 for my job the hotel in the evening

After about a year of working at the hotel another local bank got in contact with me and wanted to know if I could work for them part time.  I said I could but I also wanted to continue working for the hotel because I liked that job.  I worked both jobs for about two years.  I was able to save a lot of money because I rarely had time off to spend money.  I would go to work at the bank from 8 am to 4 pm and then work at the hotel from 4 pm to 11 pm.  It sounds like a strenuous routine doesn't it but once you're used to it, it isn't so bad.  It's almost like running a marathon race.  You get a second wind.

Me getting my "second wind" at the Hampton Inn after working at the bank during the day

I continued that routine for 2 1/2 years, turning down the offer from the hotel to become the assistant general manager and manager several times.  I didn't want to be on call 24/7.  Eventually a new assistant manager was named and she felt threatened by me.  I had been at the hotel so long and knew so much that most of the returning guests would ask for me.  I trained all the new front desk clerks.  I was the "Go To" person at the hotel.  Betsy (her name) did not like this.  She started sabotaging me.  Life became very difficult.  It got to the point where I did not enjoy working at the hotel anymore.  I didn't need the two jobs. I quit and worked only at the bank.  I worked on a consulting basis which really only means that I paid both sides of my FICA tax.

Trust Operations Manager 2003

I continued to work at the bank until I put my house up for sale in 2006. By this time I was collecting Social Security so I quit my bank job to concentrate on selling our home in Pennsylvania and building a new one in Delaware.  Of course I ran into problems because the housing market was just beginning to nosedive in 2006.  I had to get another job to keep our heads above water until I could sell our Pennsylvania house.  I got a job at the Residence Inn by Marriott.  After only a few weeks working at the Residence Inn, I sold our house.

Me at the front desk at my "short job" at the Marriott Residence Inn 2006

We moved to Delaware.  I took about three months to unwind.  Paying an equity loan on our Pennsylvania house and mortgage payment on our new Delaware house and depleting our funds almost did me (and Bill) in.)  Other than a terminal illness, this had to be the worst time of our life.  But we survived.  After three months I was getting cabin fever.  Plus I now had a mortgage (as a result of selling our Pennsylvania house for a lot less than I had planned on selling it for) to pay.  I had to get another job.

Front Desk Manager - the Hampton Inn 1999

I made the rounds here in the Summer Capital of Washington D.C. and applied at five hotels.  The only hotel that I got an interview hired me.  Something interesting that I didn't realize until a few months ago, any job that I ever personally interviewed for I always got.  I didn't realize that until I happened to meet a man who checked in the hotel who interviewed me over the phone for a banking job over 25 years ago when I lost my Mellon job.  He didn't hire me.  I kidded him that if he had interviewed me in person he would have hired me.  Yes, I am THAT charming.  At least I make a good first impression.  What goes on later once you get to know me is another whole story that we won't go into here.

Well, I got the job where I work now.  Part-time, sort of.  I just got a call yesterday could I come in tomorrow, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  Well, yes I can.  I'm only supposed to work two days a week, Wednesdays and Thursdays.  However, a month rarely goes by that I'm not asked to work extra.  Either filling in for someone who is on vacation or sick.  Happens a lot.  I'm not too bad these days with working an extra day or two but this six days in a row.  I am going to be knocked out after this is over next Monday.  I'll sleep well.

Old Ron here is pushing seventy Big Ones now. I have to tell you that I'm not used to working five days in a row let alone six days in a row.  And to think that I used to work like this for over forty years.  Hard to believe.

No complaints from me though. I've often thought of retiring COMPLETELY but the thought hits me with panic.  Not that I don't have enough to do, because I do.  In fact I don't have enough hours in the day to do what I want to do.  But I have the need to "go to work" at least a few days a week.  Plus, the extra money helps.  I can do special things like buy gifts for friends and have expensive subscriptions like Ancestry.com (which just renewed at $299 per year, thank you).

Most of my friends and peers no longer work.  They are retired.  Lately I have been giving considerable though to retiring completely but then I back away.  Ever since my Mom pushed me into a job as a paper boy when I was in third grade, I've been working.  That was in 1951 and this year marks sixty years that I've worked non-stop.  I guess I'm just programmed to be a worker bee.

Perhaps the best job I ever had - Paperboy from 1951 to 1956

Note:

Although I do have a lot of pictures, I actually don't have any for the time I worked at the Pittsburgh Hilton, at the scrap steel yard, pulling weeds on an estate (you think I would have pictures of me doing that?) and the local bank (which I won't name because I was fired from there).  One of the few times I missed taking pictures.

Strawberry Fields

Yes folks, that is how I spent my early morning hours, picking fresh strawberries.  My boss and his wife told me about this farm in Lewes that you can pick your own fresh strawberries.  He told me that about three weeks ago.  I've been working so much that I haven't had time to even look for the farm let alone spend an hour or so picking fresh strawberries.

I love strawberries.  I have them on my breakfast cereal every morning.  The strawberries I eat are those faux strawberries that they sell in the supermarket for $4.99 a plastic container.  The strawberries look like strawberries but they have the consistency and taste of the plastic container that they come in.  Well, after all, they had to make the long trip from the fields of sunny southern California.  We have our own sunny fields here on the eastern coastal shore of Delaware.  So I made an extra effort this morning and got my behind down to the Magee Farms on Wescoats Road in Lewes and picked me a batch of strawberries.

Picking the strawberries brought back memories when I used to help my Mom pick strawberries out of her personal strawberry patch at her home in Pennsylvania.  With the sun, warm breezes and fresh air, and memories of Mom, I had a super morning picking strawberries.

Now it's time to go to work again.  I work tonight then tomorrow at 7 am and the next day and then, hopefully I go back to my regular schedule.  The new guy is working out fine.  In fact I like him very much.  As my former co-worker says "Sometimes one door closes and another door opens."  It's going to be nice working with a normal person for a change.  She was such a drama queen.  I need to get back to normal.


.

A Breather

Still working full blast at the hotel.  I have a little window of opportunity here on this warm, sunny Friday morning to update my blog.  Of the four front desk clerks at the hotel - one quite which was why I was working full-time.  Another (full-time) had a family emergency which caused her to be missing in action from work all this week.  The third front desk clerk, who is part-time like me, also had a family emergency (her dog was dying).  So you know where that left me.....working EVERY DAY.  Both the manager (who is doing day duty this morning) and I have been filling the void.

I was so exhausted two days ago after completing my shift, I could even see straight.  I had just finished shoveling dirt for over two hours (I thought I had the day off that why I made that major physical expenditure) to complete the dirt island for our three new river birch trees.  By the time I was done my shift, every muscle in my body ached.  Even my bones ached.  My body hasn't felt like this since I went out for the track team in high school and my then young body was subjected to hours of intense physical workout.  It was different then because I was so young (16).  Hey, when you're 69 years old the ole body reacts in a whole different way to extreme physical workouts.  One benefit, I finally lost that ten pounds I've been trying to shake for a couple months.  I'm down to 158 (from 168), lean and mean pounds.  Hardly a trace of the spare tire ("love handles") are left.  Big whoop!

Pictured is my first asiatic lily bloom of the season.  I actually had a chance to tour the backyard this morning and I caught this beauty in the early morning sunlight.

I'm off to work again today, the eve of Memorial Day weekend.  The kiddies are already in the hotel (I checked them in last night).  I've already had one of the guest who are coming in tomorrow ask if there is a barbecue grill in the suite.  EXCUSE ME?  It never ceases to amaze me what some hotel guests expect.  The answer I gave is NO.  I suggested that they go to Gilligan's Restaurant which is about twenty steps away from their suite and order their grilled hamburgers (or whatever) THERE.

Have a great weekend!

Hanging On

Ryan contemplates "How am I going to do this?"

Last night I worked until 11 pm.  Headed home in the rain.  I got up this morning at 5 am to be at work by 6:30 am.  I have to set up the breakfast buffet at the hotel.  I just got off work from a very busy day.  I do the whole thing over again tomorrow.  Usually I work Wednesday and Thursday nights 3 pm to 11 pm.  However, the past week and the next three weeks I'll be working five days a week, Tuesday through Sunday.  This weekend is the Big Wedding, which is always a fun bonanza.  Actually, the wedding guest haven't been too bad.....so far.  We'll see what tomorrow brings, the day of the Big Wedding.

Ryan unties the ropes

What got me today was one lady who called to make a reservation for next week and wanted me to assure her that there would be NO STRAWBERRIES at the breakfast.  Well folks, we DO HAVE STRAWBERRIES.  She said "I can't even have strawberries NEAR any of the food!"  Well, you know what dearie?  Don't stay at any hotels or go out an eat, that's my advice.

Ryan unloads...the first tree

This is just one example of why I like working at a hotel.  I never ceased to be amazed at what hotel guests request, ask or do.  I've been in the hospitality business for over ten years now and there is always something new that I haven't faced before.  Someday I will have to write a book about my experiences.

Ryan delivers...the first tree.  Beautiful....tree.

For now I'm trying to keep my life in balance and not being too successful.  I have a couple of tons of top soil that is to be delivered next week.  That delivery was delayed because of all the rain and the compost people rightly believed I would be paying for wet dirt.  I need the top soil to build a mound around my new river birch trees.  I had those delivered last week by "Ryan" (a hunk and a half thank you please).

Ron digs a hole (not the first or last he will ever dig)

Sometime next week we have to go to Pennsylvania to my brother's to pick up my Mom's wheelbarrow that is almost brand new and now not used by my brother (he's not a gardener like me).  And to top everything else off one of our sprinkler heads in our irrigation system popped yesterday.  I got home too late to call the irrigation people to come out and fix it.

And cleaning the house?  Forget it.  Now that my whole schedule is disrupted by working full-time, our normally pristine abode will have dust bunnies abounding.

I'm trying to keep up on my blogs.  Stream of consciousness here.  I was talking to my brother about working full-time and he understood completely.  He's also retired.  He said he couldn't do it now.  I'm doing it but I'm struggling.  It's hard to believe that in my previous life I used to commute back and forth to Philly every day and come home and do yard work until dark and on the weekends do all my chores.  Who was THAT PERSON?

Touching Base

White Rose at the Inn where I work

Just touching base here folks to let everyone know that I am still alive and well.  I worked at the hotel last night 3 pm to 11 pm then in this morning from 7 am to 3 pm.  I don't have to tell you workers out there that I'm operating on exhaust fumes at this point.


Thank goodness my manager hired the replacement full-time front desk clerk today.  This time it is an elderly man like me.  That's good news because unlike the front desk clerk who left, who was a single Mom with two female children, I probably won't have to be called in on short notice like I have been in the past.  You know how it is with the single moms, always one of the children is sick or she can't get a baby sitter.  Us single guys, rarely a crises unless we're passing kidney stones (which happened to me a couple of years ago causing me to miss a week's worth of work).


So here I am folks, pushing off of of these blog postings that I hate to do.  Little content and nothing clever to say for you all to remember and gush over.  Just touching base letting you know I will be on this schedule for at least another two weeks.  The new front desk clerk doesn't start until May 27th.  At least his training will be minimal, he is coming from a job as a hotel front desk clerk.  Thank God for small favors.


The hotel is full this weekend.  As I left today at 3 some  of the kiddies were already in, screaming and talking non-stop.  I can forsee a LOT of calls to the front desk for extra pillows and blankets.  Hopefully I don't get THAT call for the clogged up toilet (a not unusual occurrence when the kids are in the rooms - they tend to throw towels down the toilet - probably one of the reasons our major competitor hotel in town doesn't accept children).


I'm in tomorrow afternoon 3 to 11 and the same hours for Sunday.Then I have two WHOLE days off until I do it all over again...for the next two weeks.


Hold all my calls.

Full Moon Day

Five o’clock rolled around early this morning. I had to be in work by 7 am to open up the hotel on this Labor Day weekend. Looking out my Wall of Windows in my great room I saw a full moon hanging in the sky. That portended the day to follow.




First thing I do on the way to work on the morning shift is to stop at the Food Lion in Five Points to pick up the morning papers to place in the hotel’s breakfast room. At this early in the morning, everyone is moving slow, including yours truly. At quarter to seven I burst through the doors to Food Lion looking for the papers. No papers. Right behind me is a rough looking gal delivering the papers. I quickly grab the papers I need and I’m off to work. I arrive shortly before 7 am, clock in and immediately encounter a Needy Guest.



Now my job at the hotel is the front desk clerk. I check guests in the hotel, I take reservations, I answer questions like which restaurant serves the best crab cakes, where can they rent bicycles and other many and varied questions. That’s my job. That’s what they pay me to do. But, as all hotel front desk clerks know, there are those guests who find it impossible to pass the front desk without asking a multitude of questions and requesting special treatment. These guests are called Needy Guests. Well, we had one this morning. Oh Mother of God did we have one this morning, afternoon, and all day long. “How do you get to the beach?” “Can I walk to the beach?” “Do you have towels?” “Do you have a bag for the towels?” “Where is the library?” “How do I get to the library?” “Can I feed my child in the breakfast room?” The questions continued on and on ad infinitum. If it sounds like I’m complaining, well I am. This woman wore me out. Oh yes, the biggie was could I wash her baby bottles and have them ready at 12 pm in time before her little darling’s nap. Oh yes, that’s what we specialize in at the hotel, using our dishwasher to wash baby bottles.



Well, enough about her. Another guest comes to the front desk and tells me he’s not happy with his room. He says he doesn’t have a balcony. I check his reservation and find that his wife made the reservation over the Internet. He tells me he feels claustrophobic and “can’t breath” because he doesn’t have a balcony and asks me if I could move him to another room. I tell him I cannot because we are sold out. He asked me again if I could “do something.” He tells me that he wasn’t told that his room (actually a very nice suite with a sun room) didn’t have a balcony. Mind you, his wife made the reservation herself over the Internet. On our website if the room doesn’t have a balcony we don’t say “Room doesn’t have a balcony.” He isn’t happy with this explanation and says to me “Would you rent a room without a balcony?” Uh, actually I have. In fact I think every room I have ever rented in my life did not have a balcony. But I could tell what he was trying to do my challenging me with his confrontational questions. He was trying to make me defensive.  He wanted to make HIS mistake MY mistake. I wasn’t going to permit that to happen. Even though my main adult business career was trust operations, since 1994 I’ve worked part time as a hotel front desk clerk. I’ve seen this movie before. I know how this game works and I wasn’t going to be drawn into it. I told him he could sit on the Waterview Room deck which faces the canal. He still wasn’t smiling but he realized that I wasn’t going to pull a private room for him out of you know where that had a balcony.



The rest of the morning continued in a similar vein. My manager said “There must be a full moon with all the weirdness.” I confirmed to him that yes, indeed there was a full moon. I was so glad when 3 o’clock rolled around and my shift came to an end and I turned over the reins of The Full Moon Inn to my relief, Monica. I just got off the phone with Monica. As the readers of this blog probably surmised by now, the weirdness continues. She related to me some truly strange tales that happened since I left this afternoon including that same guest who felt “claustrophobic” in his room. He spilled a can of soda on his bed, expensive comforter and all. Nice. Thank goodness Monica was able to get the comforter in the washer before the soda dried and she was able to remove the stain. She has about four hours to go before her shift ends. I don’t go in again until Monday afternoon at 3 PM. By then all the guests will be gone.



Oh, one big fact I left out. There were at least 14 kids under 5 years of age that went into our breakfast room this morning. And these little darlings didn’t walk quietly either. They ran screaming, both ways. Later on one of the guests brought down a bag of “trash” for me to dispose of. Yes, you guess it. The bag of “trash” was a bag of dirty diapers. Ah yes, all those years of night school to get my college degree and all those years of Mr. Big Shot Operations Manager in the Trust Department and here I am today disposing of a bag of s..t. I’m good.

Walking at the Bottom of the Pool

On hot, humid days like today I feel like I’m walking on the bottom of a pool. We’re going through a period of hot and oppressively humid days punctuated by ferocious thunderstorms in the evening.

My boss called me yesterday afternoon to ask me for a “big favor” (his words.) He wanted to know if I could come into work the second shift (3 pm to 11 pm) yesterday. I checked my calendar and I had those hours open (no surprise) so I told him I could come in. Even though I was cut back to one day a week last month, I’ve been called on frequently to fill in for my co-workers, who are either on vacation, sick or on personal business. Tomorrow and Saturday I’m filling in on the 7 am to 3 pm shift. My regular schedule is Mondays 3 pm to 11 pm. When I got into work yesterday my manager asked me if I could also work Tuesday 7 am to 3 pm. I’m glad I have the opportunity to earn the extra money but I’m starting to feel like my friend, The Cajun who works almost seven days a week at his two jobs. If I’m not careful, with all my traveling back and forth to work, I’m going to get rear-ended by one of these crazy drivers who have descended on our beautiful seaside resort. He’s been rear-ended twice in the past month traveling on Rt. 1 to work. I only have to travel on Rt. 1 for a short distance before I make a left turn on New Road. However, just last week a crazy driver who was impaired and speeding at 90 mph rear ended a van which resulted in the death of a 64 year old passenger. That accident happened near Cave Neck Road and Rt. 1, a short distance from where I live and before I turn off on New Road. This is proof that danger lurks everywhere, not just in the heavily congested stretch of Rt. 1 between Lewes and Rehoboth Beach. The more I'm out on the road the more I increase my chances of being involved in an accident. I would like to keep those chances at a minimum.

When I left for work the sun was out but I’ve learned I can’t count on the sun staying out. A short time after I got into work yesterday afternoon, the skies opened and a heavy thunderstorm dumped about five inches in half an hour. I had to call Bill and ask him to bring in my rain parka. One of my jobs last night was to clean up the Waterview Room after a meeting of a business group that has been in the hotel for the past several days. It’s no fun carrying a bin of dirty glass and meeting paraphernalia back to the main building and getting soaked in the process. My Eddie Bauer rain parka with a hood helps to keep me dry so I don’t look like a drowned rat after several trips back and forth between the Waterview Room and the main building. I have to look my best behind the front desk. First impressions you know. Thunderstorms are forecast for the next ten days. That’s good for the farmers but not so good for the hotel business. My parka will go into work with me every day now.

Business has finally picked up at the hotel. Last night we were almost full. This weekend we are sold out as we were last Saturday night. That is good. I can feel that the economy is starting to take a turn because more potential guests are calling the hotel to inquire about availability of rooms. But now there is a change because almost all of the callers are shopping around for the best rate. I don’t blame them, I would probably be dong the same thing if I needed a room. However, even at a discounted rate, I couldn't afford a hotel room.

Another sign that the economy may be improving, albeit slowly, is that more For Sale signs are going up for houses in my development. I wish them the best of luck. I’m still not over the nightmare of selling my house way back in 2006. Someday I will write a blog posting of that worst time of my life when I was carrying two mortgages at $3,998 a month from April to November of 2006. I was standing on my financial precipice. It was close but I survived by getting a mortgage for the difference in the purchase price of my new house and the sale price of my old house. This was my first mortgage since 1976 which I will pay off when I’m 95 years old. I would prefer not to have a mortgage but I am thankful I found a way out of avoiding foreclosure on my new house. It was real scary there for awhile. I hope I never go through an experience like that again in my life. I'm still recovering from PTSD from that nightmare.

This morning I ventured out to do some weeding of the flower bed in the front of my house. It wasn’t too long before I was sweating. Working outside on a day like today is like walking in the bottom of a swimming pool. I hear heat and humidity like this is normal summertime weather for Florida. That’s why I would never live in Florida or any other southern state like Georgia, Tennessee or South Carolina that has energy draining heat and humidity like we’re having now in good old coastal Delaware.

A friend in Pennsylvania sent me an e-mail a short time ago telling me he is on his way down to Rehoboth Beach for the weekend. He is staying with a friend in Rehoboth but is stopping by here first. We’ll take lunch today at my new favorite restaurant, The Flying Crab. That will be a nice interlude before I jump back into the (work) pool.

(Note: pictured is a Swallowtail butterfly pupu. This is the last one in my garden. They love parsley plants. I planted extra parsley plants for them this year and about a month ago I had a number of Swallowtail pupu on those parsley plants. But alas, I think my backyard population of birds (Purple Martins, swallows and bluebirds) found the pupa and they are no longer. Bill and I are carefully monitoring the safety of this lone pupa. I hope he/she survives.)

Thoughts on a Late Spring Night

Ronald Walter Tipton, Downingtown High School Class of 1959



After a good day at work, things fell apart at home this evening. Bill came in from mowing the lawn (which has to do every three days with the weather we're having down here on the Delmarva peninsula) and I told him he was "stinking." I guess I could of been more diplomatic (you think?) but I apparently wasn't thinking. Why Bill got mad was that he had just taken a shower but apparently was wearing the same shirt that we was wearing when he mowed the lawn. He wasn't really "stinking" but did smell of sweat. As I age I am losing some of my faculties but one that I have not lost is my sense of smell, much to Bill's displeasure. I apologized to Bill but he's mad and probably won't speak to me for a while. That's how he deals with his anger. I sometimes lose my temper but I quickly get over it. Bill is different. I hurt his feelings and it will take him a while to get over it.

This episode tonight just shows you how fast things can go awry after a good day. I was working today filling in for a co-worker who had other plans. I am not scheduled to go back to work until the Fourth of July weekend at which time I'll be working three days in a row. Normally I work every Monday night but another co-worker wants the Fourth of July weekend off so she can be at her son's graduation from infantry school and see him one more time before he ships out to Iraq. This means I have the next three weeks off.

Next week I was planning on going to Pennsylvania to see my Mom and attend the Downingtown High School Class of 2009 as a special guest. Each year the Downingtown High School invites members of the 50th anniversary class of Downingtown High School as guests to their graduation ceremonies. It doesn't seem like that long ago that I graduated but it has been half a century. Hard to believe. I'm not sure that if the kids of today's graduating class is even interested in seeing old fogies like us but I'll go anyway. It will be interesting for me. The picture on this blog is of yours truly 50 years ago when I graduated from Downingtown High School. My Mom took the picture. I was the first person in my family to graduate from high school (also the first to graduate from college.) This is the only picture of me at my graduation. So young and innocent. So much ahead of me. So fast the time has went by. And now I'm here, checking the weather forecast for next week because I don't want to make the 2 1/2 drive to Downingtown, Pennsylvania in the rain.

A few years ago I decided I don't like to drive in the dark. Now I avoid driving in the rain. I doubt if any of the members of the Downingtown High School graduating class has even given one moment's thought to those self-imposed driving restrictions. If anyone asks me to speak, I'll tell them this is just one of the "benefits" they can look forward too when they are guests at the DHS graduation of 2059. One thing is for sure, I won't be there.

Super Bluebird

Lots going on here in Ron's World. Today I'm going to stick with the progress of my baby bluebirds in their bluebird house which is guarded by the biggest bluebird I've ever seen. It's a Super Bluebird! He's been fighting off swallows and sparrows from his five baby bluebirds. So far he has been able to repel all attacks from the barbarians.

As you can see from the picture I took a few minutes ago, the baby bluebirds haven't opened their eyes yet. That will probably happen in the next day or two. I will keep the readers of this blog posted when that event happens. In about a week they will be covered in a soft down of blue hued feathers. In about a month they're out on their own in the big world.

I always feel guilty when I open the front of the bluebird box to take my progress pictures. But I think Super Bluebird understands because he goes away a short distance and watches from his perch from my neighbor's screened in deck. As soon as I finish taking my pictures and turn around to return to the house, he flies back to his perch on top of the bluebird house. He looks at me and I can sense he understands that I am not a threat to his babies.

One more day of work then I have a few days off until Saturday when I go in to fill in for another co-worker who has a class. Tonight I'm filling in for a co-worker who is vacationing in Ireland (must be nice.) I have to get up to Pennsylvania to visit my Mom. I also have to return some genealogical items to my cousin Elsie Mae. I borrowed her parent's funeral books back when the winds were blowing cold. The trees are now green and the temperatures are warmer. I haven't been able to travel to Pennsylvania recently because I had a cold, too much rain, and my erratic work schedule at the hotel. I foresee sunny days and a clear work schedule in my future and I better make the trip soon. If I don't my family members may disown me.

This is a short post because I have to get ready for work. These four day work schedule are a bit much for me. I've gotten too used to the freedom of only working one or two days a week, Mondays and Thursdays. Four or five days in a row is a killer. I guess I got out of practice. I'm glad I have a job and a job that I like. Except perhaps for the issues I'm having with the owner but that is another whole story. I haven't decided yet whether or not I want to post that drama on my blog. Right now I'm going to put all of that out of my mind and enjoy this sunny, warm day.

Census Training - The Aftermath

Three days after my last day as an address canvasser for the U.S. Census Bureau I’m finally getting back on track. I’m writing this blog after just having read a very critical comment to my blog posting “Census Training Day Five – I Quit.” I’m not posting the text of the comment because it was full of incorrect assumptions and vitriol but I did want to address my reasons for quitting again. The writer called me a “lazy whiner who wasted the government’s money...."The writer is also an address canvasser and obviously the job is a good fit for him/her. I’m happy for them. It wasn’t a “good fit” for me and I decided to quit before I wasted my time and the government’s time. When I gave my resignation I suggested that they should give the job to someone who needs the job. I don’t need it. I thought it would be good fit for me because I like to get out and drive about. I enjoy immensely finding cemeteries and taking pictures and posting them to FAG (Find a Grave.) That aspect about the job is what appealed to me. However, that I didn’t account for were the more immediate problems like:

1) Parking
2) Safety
3) Weather conditions
4) Training

5) Bathroom needs

These are not problems I encountered with FAG. If the weather was bad, I didn't go to cemeteries. I didn't have to worry about my safety at cemeteries unless the dead decided to rise. Also, parking is never a problem at cemeteries. And, I have yet to encounter a dog in a cemetery. (note: this is another "tongue in cheek" reference in case "Census Taker" is reading this blog.)

While I’m aware these aren’t problems for some others, they are for me. I didn’t receive sufficient training. The trainer favored her group over our group. Our first day out in the field, we were on our own because the assistant crew leader quit (because she didn’t have an HHC was too stressed out to train – is she a “whiner” too?) The first day out in the field on my own was my first learning experience. Perhaps if I had an experienced person with me for an hour or two it would have made the difference. But, that didn’t happen. I'm not a dummy but I do need a basic run through in the field. It was promised to us but it didn't happen.

I respect the Census workers who are address canvassers, trainers, crew leaders and assistent crew leaders. In fact I have a renewed respect for the men and women who are our postal carriers. At work yesterday at the hotel, with all the wind and rain outside, our mailman came in to drop off our mail. I looked at this wind blown and rain soaked mailman and now I realize what he has to go through everyday. I have a new appreciation for him and his daily rounds in "rain, snow, wind, and sleet."

The following is a portion of the comment left on my blog who accuses me of being a “whiner.”

I could have misread you, but my impression of you from this post was, "what a lazy whiner". You should have known the job was not a "good fit" before you wasted a week of time and $16 an hour of taxpayers money. What did you think it would be like walking door to door? I wondered what your work ethic was and if you felt bothered when a person came into your hotel office and made you have to look up from the TV or your paper :) Again, apologies since you probably are not that guy, but from just this article, that's was my initial take.

To Census Taker, I accept your apologies because I am not the person who you are referring to when you say: “I wondered what your work ethic was and if you felt bothered when a person came into your hotel office and made you have to look up from the TV or your paper."

You are wrong in your assumption that I am the type of person you referred to in a hotel office. I am the ONLY person ever to win the President’s Guest Service Award for the Hampton Inn in Exton, PA. My job at the hotel is a good fit for my personality and skills. Just because I don’t do as well in another area of the job market doesn’t mean that I’m a “lazy whiner.” I write my blog with complete honesty. If I attempted a job as a brick layer, I would quit too because that isn’t a job suited to my personality or skills. That doesn’t mean I’m a “lazy whiner.” Just as I wouldn’t call you a “lazy whiner” if you quit a hotel front desk job from where you have to be everything from a restaurant reviewer, give driving directions for a 150 miles radius from the hotel location, do hotel laundry and kitchen chores, set up breakfast, help set up special events, check in and check out guests all the while maintaining a happy disposition no matter how tired your are or what is going on in your own life, and work shifts from 3 PM to 11 PM and come in the next day and work 7 AM t0 3 PM all the while staying fresh and new to make the guests’ stay at the hotel a pleasant experience.

Census Taker states:

My first day out I did over 100 map spots. I had a tough area that had been developed, abandoned, and then picked up again. The addresses were listed by where they 'thought' things should be based on computer mailing records, not on the ground observation; that's why they need us! I had to move apartments from one block to another and add and change roads that did not get developed according to the original plan. It made it more fun and challenging. Most blocks are much easier than that and "boring" as you say in that I am just validating an address and entering a map spot.

I commend you for completed for a job well done. You are the type of person who should be working as an address canvasser for the Census Bureau. You find the challenge as I did. However, I don’t understand why you thought I said it was “boring.” I didn’t say that. If you got that message from my blog post then I didn’t write clearly. I didn’t consider anything about the address canvassing job boring. In fact, I thought the job would be quite interesting. That’s why I applied for the job. Not to repeat myself, what I didn’t take into consideration was juggling both jobs and the lack of training.

Census Taker further states:

I don't find the work boring, thought I am really just moonlighting because I wanted to be out in the beautiful spring weather and meet people. I think I brighten their day. I don't go in with fear and I don't come across as a salesmen or "Jehovah's Witness". The few people who look like they are going to stare me off their property are quickly smiling and wanting to chat when I give them my smile, my opening line, and my sense of humor. So you are right in that you definitely needed a different attitude for the job and the government needs a lot more forward thinkers and a lot less "typical government employees" that everyone complains about.

Dear Census Taker, obviously you misunderstood that I my comment was tongue in cheek (look up this term in Google if you don’t understand what it was) that I went in with fear and coming across as a salesman or Jehovah’s Witness. The people that I did encounter on my brief foray were friendly and helpful. I have no complaint with them. Perhaps if I didn’t have my job at the hotel, I would have toughed it out on the training part and stayed with the job. When I applied for the Census job my hours at the hotel were cut back to one day a week. Once I began training, the hotel called and increased my hours. I felt obligated to go through with giving the Census job 40 hours a week. When I realized how difficult it was going to be to juggle the two jobs in addition to dealing with the elements, I decided to resign the Census job.

I’m sorry that my blog posting was so poorly written that it came across as a post of a “lazy whiner” who epitomized all the worst stereotypes of government workers. I meant in no way to disparage the individuals who are working as address canvassers for the U.S. Census. I have a great deal of respect for them because this is a hard job (as our regional leader reminded us every day.) The message I attempted to convey with my blog post was that this job wasn’t a “good fit” for me (and hopefully with some humor.) The people who are doing this job should be like you, committed, hardworking, and willing to take on the challenge of this very important job. However, I don't see the purpose in disparaging me by calling me a "lazy whiner" because I posted a blog stating that the Census job wasn't one for me. Please take time to explain to me what you hoped to accomplish by calling me a "lazy whiner." You seem to have a deep seated anger over some issue. Maybe you should address that problem instead of making sweeping assumptions about someone you don't know.

Earlier today I received an e-mail from a friend of mine who took the Census job test as a result of me taking the test. She told me today she was asked to attend training. She said she was having second thoughts now because of the warning about taking pepper spray with her. She has a legitimate concern. However, I urged her to take the training and see for herself if the job is a “good fit” for her. I certainly am not discouraging anyone from taking this job. Last I heard, this was still a free country and we have the freedom to chose. Just because I quit a job that I didn’t feel I could give my all I don’t think that warrants calling me a “lazy whiner.” As my Mother always said, someone who calls someone else names says more about the name caller than it does about the person who is being called the name.

To the commenter of my blog who called me a “lazy whiner”, I wish you much success on your job as address canvasser. Remember what our regional director promised: if you’re good enough you’ll sent to Newark to help them with their address canvassing. Just make sure you take your pepper spray.

Christmas Party 2008

Tonight was our annual Christmas party for all of us Inn employees. I’ve worked at several hotels over the years (Pittsburgh Hilton, Hampton Inn, Marriott Inn) but I have never worked for a hotel that treated its employees as well as the small boutique hotel that I now work for in Lewes, Delaware. The reason is because the owner of the hotel takes a personal interest in his property and employees.

This year the Christmas party was held at the Second Street Grille, an upscale eatery on Second Street in Lewes. While I frequently recommend the Second Street Grill to my guests in the hotel, I’ve never eaten there myself because of the price range. My budget is more Bob Evans than Second Street Grille.

Everyone was there tonight. Many brought guests. I took my neighbor Barbara. She is always delightful company. The restaurant set up two tables for our private party. I’m not sure, but I think we were seated at Table B. The owner and the manager, assistant manager and sales director were seated at the owners table. That had to be Table A. How did I miss that? Oh well, I had great company at my table.

I was working on my second Apple Martini when our entrees arrived. Most of the folk at our table ordered the prime rib which looked wonderful. The Second Street Grille’s reputation is well deserved. I had Chicken Palliard (or something spelled like that – it was grilled breast of chicken with some kind of fancy mushrooms and a delectable sauce over mashed potatoes and broccoli.) DEELICIOUS! Maybe a $21.95 entrée is worth it.

Yes, I did eat the whole entrée as did both of my fellow diners on either side of me finished their prime rib steak. Dessert was a warm apple crisp served with ice cream. This was a palate pleasing ending to a perfect meal. Coffee was also served and was excellent. Smooth and soothing; something to take the edge off of the two apple martinis (I was driving.)

The owner addressed us briefly. He thanked us for our work this year and told us of the challenges we all would face the next year. Yes, the recession is also affecting our business at the hotel. Not as many travelers are making the trip to Lewes, Delaware to spend a relaxing time in our historic town shopping in its quaint shops and dining at our many fine restaurants. There are less than 20 of us employed by the hotel but we are a diverse group. From the housekeepers, to the maintenance man, to the sales director, to the plant lady (Kerry would love me calling her “the plant lady”), to the lady who gets out supplies, and finally to the four of us who work the front desk. Oh yes, I can’t forget the manager and assistant manager. We all keep the place going by teamwork and genuinely liking one another. I’ve worked at many places during my long career. I never thought I would consider working for a small hotel one of my better work places but I do. I genuinely look forward to going to work.

Many years ago when I first began working at Girard Bank in Philadelphia, I assumed this would be my job until I retired. Well, life didn’t work out that way. I’ve worked at many banks and now I have returned to the hospitality industry, where I first began working when I was discharged from the Army in January of 1963. At that time I worked as a night auditor for the Pittsburgh Hilton Hotel. After three months I found out I would have to work holidays. That’s when I decided to quit working for a hotel. I chose a new career, working for a bank. No working holidays at the bank, that was for sure. However, after a 37 year career in banking, I decided to go back to hotel work. Now, for a reason I can’t explain, I don’t mind working holidays. Interesting how time and age changes one’s priorities.

So here I am in my 67th year, officially “retired” but really working part time at a local hotel and loving it. As the current slang says “I’m good.”

The Afternoon Nap

Growing up, my Mother often talked of her grandmother’s fond habit of taking an afternoon nap. I thought at that time, that’s what little kids and old people do, take afternoon naps. Because I missed kindergarten (I went straight to first grade, my Mother didn’t know to sign me up for kindergarten), I wasn’t introduced to concept of a nap.

Fast forward about 35 years (1980) to when I worked full time as a 40 year old bank operations manager. I was in the process of having a house built in Downingtown, PA. I had sold my previous house and thus didn’t have a place to live until my new house was completed. My partner Bill retired early from his job and lived in the basement of the new house while the men building our new house worked around him. I rented a fourth floor walk up apartment so I would have a place to live while I worked at the bank.

One afternoon I had a cold that I just couldn’t’ shake. I left work early. After walking up the four flights of stairs to my apartment, I was exhausted from the body weakening effects of my cold and the physical exertion to climb those stairs. I opened the door to my small apartment that was located on the top floor of the old Victorian building at 2224 Walnut Street. To my left I could see the afternoon sun streaming through the windows to the back bedroom. The sun drenched room looked so peaceful. I had a small, comfortable platform bed in that room. I was so tired from my usual stress filled day as a back operations manager at the bank. Ringing phones to answer, urgent questions requiring immediate responses, and deadlines to meet. I left that all behind me at the bank and I was ready for a serious wind down. I took my off shoes and collapsed on that incredibly comfortable platform bed tucked into the corner alcove of that small back bedroom, only intending to lie down for a few minutes to regain my strength.

An hour later I woke up, totally refreshed. My body was refreshed. I was like a wooden soldier with a big wind up knob on my back that had wound down. After my nap this wooden soldier was rewound. I was ready to go.

From that day on, when I had the opportunity, I would lie down in the afternoon. Sometimes I would drift off to sleep, and other times I would occupy that sweet land between consciousness and unconsciousness. Because that first adult nap took place in the middle of the afternoon with the bright sun streaming in the window; that became my preferred time to take a nap. I don’t take naps in the late afternoon or early evening. I have done so occasionally over the years, but taking naps at those times either left me groggy when I woke up or I slept right through to a few hours before I would go to bed at my normal time. So, my nap was and is officially an Afternoon Nap.

This afternoon I had another good afternoon nap. Originally, today I was supposed to go to Pennsylvania to visit my Mother for my annual Christmas Visit. While visiting my Mom, I was planning on taking her to visit her older sister who resides in the dementia unit of a Downingtown nursing home. Hopefully, I could squeeze in some visits to some other older relatives that my Mom hasn’t seen in a while. Mom doesn’t drive or get around too well these days. On December 24th she will be 85 years old. I planned to stay at Mom’s two or three days. Unfortunately, the weather forecast for this week did not look promising. Although the sun was out today, rain and snow showers were forecast for the rest of the week. I don’t like to make that 2 ½ drive to Pennsylvania or back to Delaware in this kind of weather. I’ve done it before and it is not a pleasant experience. In fact, it is dangerous. The last time I visiting Mom, I got away later than I had planned and drove back in the dark, light snow, and fog. I might as well have had a blindfold on me with little pinholes in the blindfold for my line of vision. Bill and I arrived at our home in Delaware, thankful that we survived the journey. My trips to and from Pennsylvania are meant to be pleasant experiences, not a Trial by Fire. I decided not to make the trip to Pennsylvania today. In retrospect it was a good decision. I didn't know how bone tired I was. I keep forgetting that I'm 67 years OLD. In my mind, I'm always that 40 year old, full charge ahead manager, who can go all day long.

I just got up from my afternoon nap. I was knocked out! Every now and then I am so exhausted that my afternoon nap is a necessity. Today was such a day. I must have napped for a good hour and a half today. I was way off in Never Never land. I didn’t realize how tired I was. I feel like I was rebooted.

Having just come off of five straight days of work at the Inn, I should have realized that I was bone tired. The past five days at the Inn were busier than usual. We have a contingent of lawyers in the hotel for a case in Georgetown, Delaware which is the country seat of Sussex County. They are not only using our hotel as sleeping quarters as their “war room.” That is they are using one of our conference rooms as their temporary law offices. My job, when I’m on shift, is to provide the setup and cleanup for the food catering that they require. I also provide directions, restaurant reviews, replace burned out bathroom light bulbs, forwarding incoming phone calls, and fixing cable TV channels that whistle, among other things. Suffice it to say, I’m kept jumping during my eight hours shift. Particularly grueling was Thursday when I worked until 11:30 pm and had to be at work in the morning in time to have their breakfast set out by 7 am. That was a long day. The next two days I worked the 3 to 11 pm shift. On my feet most of the time, answering phones, cleaning up dishes, folding laundry, mopping the lobby floor, vacuuming the lobby rug; yes indeed, it’s been a long five days.

I am now off until December 24th, when I do another five day stretch. My original part-time work schedule was Mondays and Thursdays at 3 pm to 11 pm. During the holidays I work different shifts to accommodate my co-workers who have family related activities. I don’t mind working the holidays. It is not as much a hardship for me as it is for others. I don’t even mind working five day stretches. I don’t even mind working for the lawyers (actually they have been quite nice to me.) As long as I can have my afternoon nap I’m happy. I had a good nap today. Oh yes, it was a good nap. I'm good now.