The Ramblings of a Batty Bard

Good Evening, Thank you for calling my Hotel (and giving me something to do in the middle of the night) this is your Friendly Night Auditor, how can I help you?"

 

"Is this Pizza Hut?"

 

Why do I even bother?

 

*headdesk*

 

Insert sweet voice here (now you should be frightened..)  "I'm sorry, it's not."

 

"Then what is it?"

 

SERIOUSLY?!?

 

"You've reached my fantabulous hotel."

 

"O, I think I dialed the wrong number"  click.

 

D'OH!

I catered a wedding this weekend.

I have to say that it was a most interesting experience for me. Not because of anything that actually had anything to do with the job itself. It was one of those situations where my commitment to do this job conflicted with a family obligation. The commitment to this wedding won out.

It was more painful than I expected.

Before you decide to yell at me, please realize that in this case, the chicken totally came first (no.. I am not calling my friend a chicken, LOL). I was asked to cater this wedding quite some time ago.. before my nephew decided to set the date for his wedding. Once he did, and the two events conflicted... while it hurt.. I told my family that I had accepted this job and I had to follow through.

From the rest of it... well.. I won't bore you with the minutae of the everything.. but we got all the shopping done (I soo should have gone to Restaurant depot instead of chefsmart) and did some final shopping at the most ghetto supermarket in all of winston-salem. It was.. um.. an interesting shopping experience.

Once done with the shopping, things safely tucked away in coolers, I went to find my hotel. along the way I found a friend (Hi M!) and The Boy, M and I went to a fun dinner at Red Robin. Nummy burger goodness and a drink called "Sand in my Shorts" that didn't hurt either!

Great company and even better conversation and then we all picked up and actually checked into the hotel. Boy oh boy. I got my employee discount and even at $25.00 I wanted my money back. Just sayin.

Why? Well..let's see..
1. Bed had ripples in it (no joke)
2. Mattress was only marginally softer than the floor.
3. let's not even TALK about the bathroom
4. The "professionals" working in the room upstairs was, if nothing else, an amusing topic of conversation for later in the evening.

Saturday morning at OMG early in the morning we headed off to the venue to unload the coolers and do some last minute running around. Back to site with my staff (who is Made of Awesome) and quite literally hit the ground running.

The kitchen at the site was pretty rocking (warmer, convection oven, grill, good counter space, freezer and reach in) Only thing it didn't have was a dishwasher (ok.. well.. a mechanical one, that is).

Food was prepped, cooked and plated. I was happy with the layout (could have used one more table, though) The Boy played Bartender for me and did an OMG job.. plus he helped cook and prep in the kitchen.

Bride looked beautiful, groom was b lissfully happy and the 'rents were very happy with the food. It's all I can ask for.

After cleanup, went back to hotel and quite literally fell down. Every muscle ached.. and sleep came swiftly.

Today was a joyful day... got together with some friends and had a kick tail lunch and some rocking coconut flan and then back up the road we go. Home again home again.. and now I'm back to the bread and butter job.

But.. ya know it went well when they approach you about another possible wedding in the near future! :-) Yay

Super uber thanks to my dear friends .. D, P and their kids for being a rocking staff.

And a special big thanks to the Boy for putting me back together after I fell down, even though he was exhausted as well and had worked just as hard.

It's exhausting and sometimes mind and body numbing.. but .. i love to cook.. and this plating thing ain't bad either!

NO NAKED FOOD!!

:-)

We've all done it. We've watched that movie and said those same words. Sometimes with lots of expletives and bleeps (ok.. so I've done *that*). For me, I guess it depends on how far the story has deviated from the original material. I am a huge Stephen King fan. Turning one of his books into a 2 hour movie is pushing it.. but most times I got to the movie knowing that there are going to be some changes and I roll with punches.

Sometimes.

Then there are *those* times. The times when I all but walk out of the theatre.. or.. if I missed in on the big screen and get to see it later, when I yell at the television set. A lot.

Let's see.. the remake of the Jason Bourne trilogy springs to mind. I was livid. Beyond livid. I get that they "modernized" the story some.. sure.. that's great. But the changes that they made to that movie made a mockery out of the original book. At that point, you might just as well have said "loosely based on" (and I mean.. VERY loosely based).

Ok, so I'm a Ludlum fan.

Seriously though... there's no simple answer.. not for me. It's really a situational dependant kind of thing.. most times I can deal. I may be slightly irriated, but I can understand why they cut this or that out. I mean, what's important to me in the book may not be important to someone else. Or, I can turn into a crazed bainsidhe, frothing at the mouth and wanting to wring someone's neck for the dreck that they have just turned out.

Guess there just ain't no pleasing some people!

Hello again... it's been awhile, hasn't it?

Oftentimes, as we change shifts, we tell our relief if there is anything interesting going on. Somestimes "interesting" comes in the form of explaining the idiosyncracies of some guests.

Tonight when I walk in, I get told to watch out for the crazy lady. Sure.. no problem.. I see a lot of unusual guests so I am not too worried about it and go about my business.

Little did I know.

So here I sit, innocent as all get out and this crazy woman walks into my lobby. At first, she seems pretty nice and normal. That changes fairly quickly. She stops by the front desk and talks to me for a few minutes. No problems.. that happens fairly regularly.. nothing out of the ordinary there, for all of about three minutes.

The crazy woman is in my lobby. The crazy woman has decided that I am her new best friend. In half an hour she has told me her entire life story, she has changed topics about half a dozen times in ten minutes. She is talking a mile a minute.

Now don't get wrong... I'm not only originally from New York.. but I'm Puerto Rican... we talk like squirrels on Fast Forward.. but even I was having a hard time keeping up with her. I am trying desperately to not get the wild, wide eyed Deer in a Headlight look, but I am failing miserably.

I finally resorted to getting online and asking a friend to save me from the psycho lady by calling me. Saved by the bell.. or so I thought. before I knew it.. she decided that she wanted some ice and came BEHIND MY FRONT DESK to get a cup that we had in the back office. How she knew they were there, I have no idea.. but I was incredulous... the minute she got her cup I locked the front desk office door.

I have NEVER felt the need to lock the front office door.. seriously!

Well.. I thought that I had been saved by the bell when I got my phone call (1000 thanks to my friend that c alled me) because the lady went up to her room... called me and asked for a wake up call.

Phew.. bullet dodged... right?

WRONG!!!

three am... I leave the desk shortly (restroom) and as I come back to the desk I hear the telephone. I did not make it in time... next thing I know... Crazy lady is BACK in my lobby.. telling me that she called down to the desk and because I didn't answer she thought that there was something wrong with me and that she had come running down to check on me.

Now I am being regaled with story after story... complete with sound effects. I am trying desperately to be nice.. but patience.. running ... thin.

The last thing that she just told me is that she liked one of the floral centerpieces in the lobby and she wanted it and wanted to take it home.

OMG!

I am developing a migraine.

Dear Crazy Lady,
Please go to bed. I can no longer keep track of your crazed prattling. I really could do without your re-enactment of people hacking up, coughing and throwing up. You have been talking NON STOP for over half an hour (Dude, take a breath!) If you do not go to bed soon... I am going to stab you with my pen.

Your very irritated Night Auditor
Me.

So I've moved to the back of beyond. I seem to be drawn to these places, LOL. But I'm happy in my bright yellow little house. My pupper dog and crazed kitty seem to have acclimated, and while everything is not quite completely moved over or situated yet.. it's done enough that it feels like home and not like I'm camping out, LOL.

One thing about the house.. I live five miles from a paper mill and Boy and I, when we first drove out here by ourselves braced ourselves for the noxious fumes coming from the mill. Boy oh boy, noxious was right. I hate to be crass, but it smelled like stale farts. Seriously. Luckily the smell doesn't reach our house (yay!) and it only lasts for a few minutes while we drive past the plant.

Recently, however, we made an interesting discovery. The smell "changes" from time to time. We have identified 3 different smells. The only thing that we can figure is that they are making different types of paper.. but I don't know. So, every time we come up on the plant, we brace ourselves for the "smell of the day".

Smell one is the ever so lovely stale fart.
Smell two is old refrigerated roasted turkey.
Smell three is salt and vinegar potato chips.

No.

I'm not kidding.

The other day some good friends of mine (Hi D, Hi P) came to visit. They drove out to the house and P mentioned the smell coming from the plant. She started commenting on the fact that it "reminded" her of something and I brought up smell three. She looked at me and laughed and agreed that that was the exact smell.. so no. .not kidding. So far those are the only three smells that we have identified.. but I guess that we will see, LOL.

In other news.. I don't know what the hell hit me yesterday, but about 8-9pm I got hit with a major migraine. Was in total migraine hell. Boy was awesome, attentive and bundled me into dark quiet room. Cancelled my plans for the day and spent the day in quiet and still environment. There's only so much one can do about the bright daystar .. but I stayed away from it as much as possible.. parked in front of fan with cold water, gatorade and ibuprofin. Finally, late this evening.. I feel human again. Slight headache, but not incapacitating, like it was earlier, thank goodness. Still ...taking it easy. Pupper wont' leave my side and even kitty has been more affectionate that normal.. must realize momma isnt quite right.

Well.. its late and bed calls me. Later ya'll.

See the Baronesa.

See the Baronesa put on armor.

See the Baronesa get clubbed like a baby harp seal.

Laugh.

Laugh at the Baronesa (it's ok, she's laughing too).

Laugh at the Baronesa as she drops her shield and gets clubbed like a baby harp seal. (again).

Count the bruises.
1.. 2.. 3...

Ouchie! (especially when you poke at them.. silly Baronesa, don't poke at the bruises!)

Look...

Look at the tired Baronesa trying to figure out event she is going to fight at next!

Dear crappy little trailer,

So Long! FareWell, Auf Wiedersehen, GOODBYE!!!! I will not miss freezing in the wintertime or run the risk of LIBUS's (Light Bills of Unusual Size). I will will not miss roasting (quite literally) in the summertime.

I will not miss the crappy little maintenance/management company who thinks that it is perfectly appropriate to leave the denizens of the house without water for three days. More than once. Or leaving us without heat on and off for almost a week.

I will not miss the screens that do not fit. The door that barely shuts or the scarily uneven EVERYTHING.

You were a means to an end. I needed a place to go and you afforded me with a great location and the ability to keep my pupper dog and my crazed kitty. Oh.. and the two car storage garage out back. It's sad when your storage space is bigger than your house. Just sayin.

I haz found new little place. Cute. Out in the country (??Really??) that will let me keep my pupper dog and crazed kitty. It still has 60s paneling on the wall, but it is light and bright. I can put more than two people in the kitchen at any given moment in time. I HAVE AN ICEMAKER (ok... it's the little things that make me happy!)

There are things I will miss.. but... in the long run.. this is the best decision for me. Because if I don't move.. I will probably ring the property managers neck and I am not sure that my friends have the bail money right now, with Pennsic looming, LOL.

So it's back to playing House (no... not the TV show) and setting up t he new space. :-) Maybe sometime down the road, Pathfinder will get a little playmate. MAYBE. (oooo I just re-read that..of the fuzzy four legged variety is what I meant).

By the way.. the new house (as in stick built, not trailer) is Black Diamond yellow. The Boy keeps talking about painting little black diamonds around the house as trim. He ran away laughing as I looked for something to throw at him. No management company but a nice man is the owner. He and Boy get along great. Boy gets to mow the lawn (something we didn't have to do at the old place) but Owner provided us with rider mower. (!!!) Gotta love it.

No dishwasher. Yet. That, however, is in the works. anyone got a serviceable dishwasher? LOL. I'm lurking on Craigs list.

Well.. back to the Daily grind. Another day, another audit.

Yes, the obligatory Sapphire Joust post!

I will start out by saying that I had a great weekend. It was spent surrounded by wonderful people, some of whom I knew and some who I got to meet for the first time this weekend and enjoyed spending time with.

Learned some pretty interesting things this weekend... like the carrying capacity of my van. I quite literally did not have enough room for ANYTHING else. I could hear the tetris music. The rear springs/shocks are screaming AVE MARIA and I am actively searching the ground for potholes because one pothole could ruin my whole day.

Got set up friday night before the rain (yay!!!) and got the Baronial up before it got bad (thanks to all those wonderful gentles who hustled to help). Saturday morning saw us heading to the field and finding that the table was set up, the banners up and all was ready (Thank you, secret helper!!)

The fighting was fun to watch. Boy did well and I enjoyed watching him fight. Roomie came in third in his list and did well, also. One of our Rapier fighters made it to the top 8 on the rapier side. That rocked. It was funny because when I found out I was with Allegranza. We had stopped to chat with some great people from our Barony, who were the ones who informed us. I didn't even stop to think. I sprinted for the Rapier field to watch the final fights. Left poor Allegranza behind. I was doing the "Gracie on a mission" stride, which is sometimes amusing to watch.

Saturday night was our engagement party. OMG.. so many people stopped by to congratulate us. Boy and I were all smiles, especially since some great voices came out and sung for us.. Margarita, Fennic and Sir William Thomas. We sang, we ate some nummy nummy food, courtesy of my "little sis" Magdalena, drank some rocking Sangria and generally had a great time. January 1st, here we come!

Sunday morning I woke up with butterflies in my stomach. The St. Aiden's tournament. I watched our 5-man rapier team from the edge of camp and they were awesome! Go Black Diamond, Go!!! Well.. then the 5-man ended. Our team came in third, which was awesome. Then the butterflies came back.. cuz pretty soon we saw them getting ready for the St. Aiden's tourney.

WHY was I nervous.. well. cuz I was armoring up to fight for the first time in real combat at an event.

The most fun part of that was getting armored up in front of the tent and watching Bess from House Blackspear's head just about swivel off of her shoulders. It was most amusing. A lot of people realized I was armoring up and thought it was great. We handed out the new tabards and they looked AMAZING (thank you thank you thank you to all those who helped out with those)and we processed in. Dianora made a belt from the spear pennons and a lot of the ladies but some in their hair around braids. It was fantastic. Estienne did a great job as our herald! When they asked for our cheering section a large cheer went up.. but His Excellency Mungoe asked if we had something else. So I looked back out over the cheering section and began the chorus from "Sable Blades" which everyone picked up after a second or so. They started laughing and waved us off!

Then the fighting began in earnest. The teams were great! I fought and got clobbered by my dear Cousin from Ponte Alto (I might have to remember that for future reference, LOL) and so it goes. Later on in the Tourney, We faced off against Blackspear.. that was scary.. but we did good and then His Grace Blackhammer took the field. He was alone and asked for single combat. I looked to His Excellency Mac Con, because I had no problem with granting it.. but we tend to talk about stuff like that. He nodded and I thought HE was going to go out there. He said he would prefer ME to meet His Grace.

Two thoughts went through my mind...

1-- Had Mac Con lost his mind (seriously?)
2-- THIS IS GONNA HURT!!!!

Funny how in retrospect.. not going was not an option. So, I smiled, lifted my sword and shield and went out there.

BANG.-- there goes my arm
BANG-- that was my head

When it was safe, I got up to leave the field to be addressed by His Grace.. he asked if I had had single combat during the tournament, to which I replied that I had not. Within a split second his Grace had hit his knees and yielded the field to Black Diamond. I was touched and grinned all the way back to seat by the side of the field. His Grace then came to me fieldside and said some words that about brought tears to my eyes, and a huge goofy grin to my face.

Note: Bruises are like Bulls-eyes. People will hit them square on every time. It was great!

Pack out was fun because we had some great people stay to help us get everything loaded. More tetris and I'm trying to figure out how we came home with more stuff than we took? but it got done, had a nummmy lunch and home again, home again.

I have slept, showered (oh the joy) and slept some more. Now.. just got off of work and am going to sleep again... I think I'm gonna get into armor tonite and do some work w/ the Boy and the Roomie.

Like I said... Sapphire was AWESOME and I haz my first "war wound". Never thought I'd be proud to be bruised up, but there you have it.

Next up... Highland River Melees.

I have not, quite literally, stopped moving since February. Roomie and I had a plan and we have pretty much stuck to it as best we can.

As usual, of course, life has a funny way of sneaking up on you.

Early last week the neighbor lady moved out. I have to admit I was kinda glad to see her go. I can usually be polite and civil to most people.. comes from a lifetime spent as an administrative assistant and in customer service. This one finally got me to the point that I could barely say two words to her and the disdain was pretty evident. *That* list of people is pretty short. Less than 1/2 dozen names on it. Well.. the property that I live in was once part of that house. Kinda like two houses on same property owned by same family. So the well runs to both locations. The well pump however runs off of the electricty to the OTHER house.

chickie turned off the power - - - and our water. We called the management company, we called the power company. Power company says... up to 72 hours. No guarantees. Management company basically says.. Sucks to be you, we will re-imburse you for some water so you can drink and flush the commode.

WTF?

Much drama ensues ending with a thinly veiled promise to call the Health Department and several other organizations. They responded with an offer to pay for a hotel room and an immediate inspection of the property. Really? the only real thing we have to do is fix some holes the pupper dog has done. Ok.. and re-arrange the garage which looks like a tornado hit it, but there's a reason for that, LOL...

But that, coupled with a few lousy days at work and some other stuff, managed to make this Hell Week. It was offset by a few things. Boy is, as usual, his wonderful self that makes me smile. Roomie is the same. And my dear friends from Mebane came back up to visit. So.. after spending Mother's day with Boy's mom and friends, I came back to some great friends of my own.

Spent the week with them.. but by Friday, when we were supposed to get ready to leave for St. Aiden's, all three of us realized we were done in. The energy level was zero, the motivation at negatives. The management company has just sucked it all out of us. So.. after looking at each for several minutes, Roomie and I just said.. it will be better for us to just take a weekend off.

it was the best decision we could have made. I slept all weekend. And I mean I SLEPT. Recovered some serious sleep deprivation. Got some stuff done around the house. spent QT time with Boy, with Pupper and with HellCat. Made some revisions to future plans and feel much more rejuvinated. Next weekend was a planned weekend off and that gives us two weekends before sapphire. AWESOME!

Although..there is evilness afoot for Sapphire. Let's just see if we can pull it off. If not.. more than likely Pennsic.

Oh.. and remember awhile back when I said if was going to survive the next few years I needed new shoes? I HAZ NEW BOOTS -- and no, Dianora, they are not the stupid little boots.. to be honest, those disappeared and I have NO idea where they went, LOL. New boots are made of total comfy!

All in all.. a lousy week was made bearable by the presence of great friends.. both online and those who came to visit and the decision to take an extra weekend off has left me a bit refreshed and ready to once again take on the world.

LAY ON!

Dear Mr. Impatient Construction Worker...

As it clearly states on the display board, on your registration slip and in several other areas, breakfast is from 6:30am to 9:30am. Hollering at me from across the lobby as to "Why isn't breakfast ready" at SIX IN THE MORNING is not going to get a good response from me.

Especially since I am the one who has to set up breakfast... ME.. See, last time I checked the title was NIGHT AUDITOR not BREAKFAST PERSON. I have been asked to put out breakfast while we fill this position. Which means, remember when you came to the desk to check out? Yea.. that would be why I wasn't working on breakfast.. was working on answering the phone and helping YOU get your receipt.

No the stupid egg and sausage patties are not out yet... they take time to cook/reheat. I am out gravy for the biscuits. Truck doesn't come in until tomorrow.. so sorry. No, don't roll your eyes at me, I am not the one who does the ordering.. See again.. AM NIGHT AUDITOR!!!

Do not get snarky with your other little worker types because I used to be a waitress and I will "accidentally" spill something hot in your lap. Just sayin. Sweet as spun sugar but as ornery as a mule if you get on my bad side. Yes.. I am sitting behind the desk doing "computer stuff". Some of that is my reports. Some of that is what I'm doing now.. but.. imagine this...

At six when you started gripin about breakfast.. EVERYTHING ELSE WAS OUT... The bagels,the pastries,the cereal, the waffle mix, the yogurt and fresh fruit, hot coffee, juice and fruit cups. so, it isn't liked you starved to death. So.. I'm sitting here doing the work Im SUPPOSED to be doing and waitingfor the other stuff to cook. Imagine that. Multi-tasking. The utter audacity of me!

Seriously dude, get a grip or I'll stab you with my pen.

Your lord and master...
I mean your "friendly" night auditor..
ME

(hrm..too much Foamy the Squirrel)

The last few weeks have seen a whirlwind of traveling. This weekend, in some ways, was no different. After spending a week on property while GM and DOS were out of town, The Boy and I headed up to MD to visit his mother for Mother's Day and to visit with a dear friend.

We left late late late on Friday and got into MD at about 6:30am. It was one of the best road trips ever. Packing and getting ready for any trip can be stressful and this one, in its own way, was no exception. Yet once on the road, with the radio turned waaay up, we were driving down the road, singing like mad monkeys and laughing like children.

Too awesome.

Later on Saturday, on our way to his mom's house, we pulled up at a stoplight. On the median were some beautiful wild roses in bloom, bright and vibrant. I was thinking, as we came to a stop, how pretty they were. Next thing I know, he is hanging half out the window (red light) and before the light turns green has cut me some roses. I smiled so big I thought my face would split in two. I then promptly stuck my roses behind my ear. (intersting color combo with the ruby red hair and black dress I was wearing, LOL)

A bit later, I looked at him and said "I haz a purty flower!" to which he replied.. "YOU are the pretty flower".

Too sweet for words.

We then met up with the family who fed me Rockfish Alfredo (new and interesting flavors, let me tell you) and much fun was had.

Sunday came and went with Boy doing some plumbing work for a friend, then a FABOO brunch with lots of NOM NOM food (scallopped potatoes, asiago and ham.....mmmmmm) and a brief nap before we hit the road.

Drove home, happy, chatting and then back to the grind.. only to have two dear friends come up and visit. They will be here for most of the week.

Life is good.

I smile because even though I have to stay on property all week while my GM is out of town, *he* is staying here with me. Tonight he brought me the puppy, who was wondering where in the world momma had gotten off to.

I smile because he makes laugh.

I smile even when he drives me crazy.

It's the little things that mean a lot.. he calls me everyday on his way home from work. He stops by to see me every night, regardless of how tired he is. He always takes time to ask me how my day went, even when the answer is invariably the same.

He is attentive, yet he gives me space.

I smile. Every day.

There are those events that just re-energize you. That lift you spirit and make you smile. Grinning like a goofy monkey!

Blackstone was one of those events.

It was nice to be able to arrive early on friday and get set up. No rush to get stuff done... no pulling in at o-dark thirty. I've actually missed a bit of that here of late.

Got sleeping space set up and then went to field and got baronial set up. Then it was just some lovely down town hanging out and waiting for the rest of the Barony to arrive.

The Jugger tourney was a lot of fun. the Black Diamond team went out onto the field and did very well. In the final bout, they were defeated but I was told later that the team that DID win had watched them play and had started taking serious notes and talking strategy. Much fun was had by all, though.

Saturday was a great day. We were up early to cook breakfast (thanks to all those that helped!!!) and then it was off to the battlefield. while I admit I didn't get to see MUCH of the field battle... the bridge battles were awesome. Both H.E. and our Warlord came back with reports of how well our unit did. It was not a huge unit.. but they worked together as team and functioned as a cohesive unit.

They did a "last man standing" ... many of our guys broke through, and H.E. and Casey made it to the next bridge. And when the dust settled... Casey was the last Black Diamonder left on the second bridge. A little battered (legged) but definately not bowed or broken!!

I have to admit, I was excited and grinning like a crazed monkey! Next thing I hear is that H.E. took command of the army for one of the gate battles. ROCKING!!!

Atlantia won the three man rapier tournament. Two of three were from Black Diamond and then later in the afternoon, I get a request that the Head Marshall for Rapier wished to speak with me (uh-oh). Lord Antonio was kind enough to escort me over and then I get compliment after compliment about our Rapier champion. My heart swelled with happiness and just a touch of pride.

Not long after that, I get visited by Ladies Maerwenna and Ismee.. who bring back prize ribbons. 1st, 2nd AND 3rd place in the Calligraphy and Illumination Arts and Sciences competition. Can we say.. rocks like socks in a box!!!)

We even had several people come to us throughout the day complimenting the field presence that had been set up.

All of this took hard work.. everyone chipped in. It has been this way event after event.

I love my Kingdom. One might say I bleed Atlantian Blue.. have for many years. Our combatants on any field are never to be underestimated.

I love my Barony. Not because I am its Baroness... but because it is a true gem. And like the stone for which it takes its name, it is rare and precious.

They say that customer service is a lost art. "They" are actually not all that far from the truth. In today's world, companies are more interested in how little they can pay an employee and still maintain "some" level of service than being willing to pay for someone who can do the job, maintain a smile and try to keep the customer happy.

There are those times, however, when you realize that the art of customer service is also being lost because the customers themselves suck the ever-living soul out of us poor beleagured clerks.

Seriously.

One of the courtesies that we provide our guests is Breakfast. My hotel started out with a continental breakfast. Corporate had us add in the "Make your own Waffle" thingie. That is ALL that we are required to do.. per our corporate flag. We are not a Suite Hotel. We do not have a restaurant.

Our former general manager decided, that in order to stay competative with some of the other hotels in the area that we were going to provide more of a "hot" breakfast. We still have muffin/danish thingies (that taste like flavored cardboard -- no joke) and we still offer waffles, cereal and bagels. But now we also offer biscuits and gravy, egg patties and sausage patties.

This is provided "free of charge". We did not raise our rates when we started providing this. So now we come to this morning's debacle.

We are out of just about everything. We were much busier over the weekend than anyone expected and people have eaten the food like they were afraid that this was going to be the proverbial "last supper". What does this mean for poor little old me?

1 guest spent ten minutes (no joke... I looked at the clock) telling me how inconvenient and inconsiderate we were to be out of orange juice. That this was a vital part of breakfast and that if we were out that we should run to the store and go buy some more. He, quite literally, followed me from the breakfast area, back to the desk and harangued me until I was seconds away from losing my cool. I smiled and politely offered him a comment card.

Next guest calls me from his room and said that he didn't find anything that he could eat and could I please find him some oatmeal and bring it to his room (really? Can I charge you room service rates for that?) When he was informed that we had none.. he asked if we had grits (shudder) and when I said no, he proceeded to try and make me feel guilty because he was developing a headache and might go into a hypoglycemic attack.

Next guest gives me hell about the fact that we only had two percent milk.

Next guest wants to know why we have bagels but no bread. All of this delivered in that particular tone of voice that just totally sets you on edge. I was looking at the clock, counting every second until my relief arrived.

Ok.. so this time the confession is mine... it's times like these when I quite literally have to get ahold of myself to not lose it. I am a social critter and I travel a great deal myself.. but seriously? It's days like today that I just don't like people very much. (Can I stab you with my pen now?)

Ah.. my relief is here... I get to go home. Maybe there I won't get fussed at (ok.. except for the cat.. who fusses at just about everyone).

Yes, it's me again. Sitting behind the desk, type type typing away.

There is a statement that people in the service industry are invisible and that is largely true. You watch television shows where the janitor quietly slips in and wreaks all sorts of havoc on unsuspecting people and no one notices. The "spy" who dresses as the repairman or "maintenance engineer" or what have you.

People just tend to avert their eyes and quite literally forget that we are there. Yes.. I said "we". Because while I *do* sit at the front desk, sometimes I have to put out breakfast or do other things in the hotel.

Yesterday morning was one of those days. Breakfast Lady never made it in, never called and after several frantic phone calls, I sighed and just set out breakfast myself. While I am in the lobby making the coffee, a couple of people come bleary-eyed into the breakfast area and begin talking...

Now I have to be honest that I kinda tune out the conversations. I am going about my business (rather grumpily I admit.. I HATE setting out breakfast) but this one woman's exclamation just sort of stops me in my tracks...

"Oh HI! I didn't recognize you with clothes on!"

It was all I could do to keep from falling over laughing. The gentleman that she was speaking to had just checked out, so I KNEW who she was talking to. This gentleman had just finished telling me, as he checked out, that he, his lady and several of his friends all worked in the medical field.

That being said.. and me doing the hobby that I do on the weekends, I TOTALLY understood what Coffee Lady meant. However, when you first hear it.. that is NOT how it came across.

At this point, I have finished making coffee and am bringing the carafe over to the stand when Medical Dude realizes that I heard every word. He turned bright red (much to my amusement) and sputtered and stammered that "it was NOT what it sounded like."

I let him off the hook, smiled and said that I understood, placed the coffee and went about my business.. but I could not help but chuckle to myself as I watched him beat feet out of my lobby. Even the woman looked mortified as she realized just how her statement could be misinterpreted.

Tonight has been a quiet night, which I am grateful for. When I first walked in the door, I had the panicked moment of "Do I just want to go home and go back to bed?" One does NOT get the warm fuzzies when the clerk you are relieving says "O HELL NO... I'm outta here!"

Apparantly *that* drama came from the hotel's wireless internet not working. One particular guest was very upset that it did not work, even though we do have a lobby computer with internet access. The desk and lobby computers were working fine.. something about our wi-fi (even after reset) just refused to cooperate. Luckily for me.. guest must have vented most of his frustrations on 2nd shift.. cuz I was in the drama-free zone! This, my friends, is sometimes a good thing.

But, fear not. Remember when I said that we hotel clerks all talk to each other? Yea.. wasn't kidding.. and since the warm season approaches, even if I don't have the um.. "colorful" guests staying with ME.. I hear about everyone else's and have no problems sharing!!

Ah, the sun seems to be peeking at me from over the horizon... Sun comes up, I go down (to sleep you perverts!).

Catch you on the next go-around...
Same Batty Bard Time
Same Batty Bard Channel!

When did today turn into Monday, I ask you? Hrm.. that would be right about the time that the hot water heater decided to die.

You know.. up until about the last half hour of my shift, things had gone swimmingly. Quiet night, no real problems and the only aggravation in my life is the Dell Laser Printer that decides it wants to continuously jam while I am running my nightly reports.

No "major" malfunctions there (although I would so desperately love to throw the darn printer out of the window).

Yet there comes that dreaded moment when the switchboard rings. Ok.. so its not so dreaded when it *first* rings. It's usually the morning call-arounds or a guest asking you to have their bill ready because they are getting ready to leave. No.. the cold sinking feeling of dread comes when you hear the words.... don't you have any hot water.

Now I must admit.. my first reaction is the whole Bill Engvall "Here's your sign" moment. "No.. we don't have hot water, but there's a large copper tub and a fireplace down the hallway.." here's your damn sign! But then that little finger of dread begins to creep down into the pit of my stomach.

Is Precious acting up again?

Precious, in case you are wondering, is the Hotel's hot water heater. And yes... it is named Precious. There is a piece of paper taped to the front it where it proudly bears its name. Our Chief Engineer.. who has been with us since rocks were soft, named her and if anyone has the right, it's him. This thing has, quite literally I'm told, exploded and technically blown him up. He's managed to fix it time and again and she still cranks along like a stubborn old lady that refuses to give up the ghost.

Well.. if you've ever been on a troubleshooting call, you know that sometimes it is WE poor customer service reps that have to ask the stupid Bill Engvall questions... "Sir.. did you let the water run for a while".

I know.. asinine.. but we have to ask. Guest says yes, that he let it run for quite some time before he called.

Ok... I can't do anything immediate so I apologize to the guest for the inconvenience and that I will look into the matter. Right around this time, our Breakfast Girl is in the lobby setting out "schtuff". while I gather the keys to go up to the 2nd floor and check on Precious, I ask her to turn on the hot water and check. She does.. and while she is waiting, a guest comes up and asks to check out. He has heard our conversation and tells me that I should inform the guest that just called to...

"Suck it up and take a cold shower, like he had to last night".

*blink blink*

Me: sir, you did not have any hot water yesterday evening?
Guest: Nope. Had to take a cold shower
Me: (*facepalm*) May I ask why you did not let us know of this inconvenience ... (yes.. the filters were on my tongue.. what I WANTED to say was... WHY THE HELL DIDN'T YOU TELL ME... if you HAD we might have been able to fix it LAST NIGHT!!! O GRRRRR)
Guest: O.. I didn't think about it. It wasn't worth it.
Me: *blink blink* (internally thinking.. I'm going to stab you with my pen)

Like I asked before..

When did today turn into Monday?

It's the little things in life that make you smile. That brighten your heart and put a little bit of zing into your step. These drips and drops add up and meld into a continuing joy that just makes everything else fall by the wayside.

Yes, I had one of those weekends.

Saturday, Roomie and I headed down to St. Urho's and had a wonderful time among friends, some whom I had not seen in quite a long time. We had a lovely time chatting and catching up. It's great to see so many of my friends. It was a laid back event with some wonderful fighting, some fun competitions and a great pasty dinner.

Unfortunately for me, Boy could not go due to work. His job means that he has to work most weekends unless he specifically requests them off, which means picking and choosing the events that he WANTS to go. That can sometimes be hard.. but ya know.. the more things change, the more they stay the same. I am so used to working around having people in my life who do not share the same schedule as me that it just becomes second nature and you adapt as you need to.

Came home Saturday night (yea.. Urho's was a daytrip) and went to check in on a friend... and when I came home...

I came home to a clean kitchen (ok.. cleaner than it was.. ) and clean sheets and clean laundry because Boy had been uber productive while we were gone. Ok.. I admit it. I felt guilty. I am at an event and he is doing housework. But I was also grinning like an idiot. I put some laundry away and made the bed and emptied the dishwasher and was just amazed and very thankful.

Today was a quiet day of just hanging out and watching television. And being entertained by the dog and the cat. Now if you know my animals, you understand that Pathfinder is just a big old Mama's boy and mellow to the extreme. Bainsidhe on the other hand.. is the psycho cat from hell. Well this afternoon, Pathfinder is lying in his favorite spot in the hallway, just chilling.. Bainsidhe comes from the office and decides that she is bored. Her method of entertainment is to throw herself down in front of the dog and nuzzle his front paws.

Have you ever seen a dog with an "O s#@t!" look on his face? Cuz that was pathfinder. He looked completely confoozled. The cat, taking no notice of the dog's discomfort, decides that she wants to sniff him and rub her whiskers against his face. I think, at this point, that the dog is traumatized and he isn't moving an inch. (because bainsidhe has played this game before and it usually ends with Pathfinder getting swatted on the nose by a hissing and spitting maelstrom of fur) This goes on for several minutes. You can tell the dog desperately wants AWAY but the cat is just loving on the dog.

Then, without so much as second thought, the cat decides that she is done with the dog. She gets up, turns tail and marches (ok, waddles) imperiously away. The dog quite literally cocks his head and then decides that he wants to come and sit by me, head in my lap. I couldn't help but snicker.

Yea.. it's been a good couple of days I hope that there are more of them on the horizon.

There are many things that define happiness. There are many things that can bring a smile to your face. Sometimes it is a touch, a look. Sometimes it is someone doing something unexpected and sweet.

I have been reminded, yet again, how truly blessed I am. Some dear friends of mine from the Mebane area surprised me with a visit this Sunday. They have spent the week here, laughing and hanging out and it was like time fell away. These friends are never far from my thoughts and our contact sometime can be sporadic due to our lifestyles.

This week it has been like no time has elapsed at all. They got to meet the Boy and we all have spent many an evening together playing cards and just generally hanging out.

And The Boy himself is just... well.. he is just. He knows just what to say and just how to say it, even when it is a necessary "smacking of the nose" so to speak. He can always make me laugh.

Life is good, the sun is out, the birds are singing and the weather is no longer freezing (wootness!!!) Now the only thing left is to win the lottery (of course, one would have to play first) or just find that briefcase with the million dollar in it... I know I left it around here somewhere, LOL.

It's time to revisit the 80s.

It takes all kinds to fill the freeways. No one knows this more than me. Especially as when you work in the hotel industry. Really. We see it all - conventioneers, sports fans, party animals. We see street thugs, hood rats and their floozies.

Guess what walked into my hotel tonight?

Yup. You betcha. Hood Rat, complete with (I swear she had to be) underage looking, gum-cracking, hair teased Jersey girl with tight leggins and oversized belted sweater.

HoodRat Boy is yammering away on his cell phone while Jersey Girl checks rates. Oh yea.. full price, all the way. Jersey girl looks over at HoodRat Boy to confirm that he wants to spend the money. He takes no notice of her until she very pointedly says "Helloooooo". I almost fell off of my chair laughing.

HoodRat decides that he wants the room and begins to peel bills off of his roll. I am trying to figure out just who he is trying to impress, cuz it sure as heck ain't me. When I see the money hit the counter, I inform them that if they are paying cash, it is the hotel's policy to get an additional $50.00 security deposit. I desperately wanted to make it $100.. but things have been slow, so I decided to be nice.

HoodRat Boy gives me this smug toothy grin and says "that ain't no problem" (Again, biting lip to keep from laughing) and peels off some more money. I begin the check-in procedure, take the money and as I am waiting for the registration card to print, I hear HoodRat Boy (who has been on phone this entire time) say to whomever he is talking to that he will be right over to get some steak. That his girl could "chill in the room" or "come with him, if she wanted". I thought Jersey Girl's head was gonna pop.

A few minutes later, it seems HoodRat boy has gone off to "get his steak" because Jersey Girl is furiously cracking her gum talking to someone on HER cell phone about how truly pissed off she is while she asks me for some matches.

I felt like I was in the middle of some C-grade 80s movie and began wildly looking around the desk area for the hidden camera. Really?

Jersey Girl was cast pretty well, but HoodRat Boy is as impressive as a six year old waving a neon orange plastic toy gun. I should introduce him to some of the people I knew back in the day.

I love my job.

This weekend was the Tournament of Love and Beauty and I spent it happily -- in the kitchen. I was mentor/expidter for Lord Brennian. We have had a great time in the lead up to the event. Lord Brennian has been wonderful and put together a nice German feast from period sources. Many a night was spent discussing his choices and fine-tuning certain details.

Saturday was laid back and a lot of fun. My real job was to act as backup and then to plate. Brennian and crew handled the cooking and did a great job.

When plating time came, it was off and running.. I had some great help and we got dishes plated and garnished in about record time. By the time it was all over and done with, I was happily exhausted. At some point during the day, I must have zigged when I should have zagged and my knee ended up doing some serious unhappiness. ah well.. time to load up on Ibuprofin. And icy-hot. Good thing I was wearing my sneakers.

The bestest part of all was when it came time to clean up. The very tired and weary kitchen/plating crew tromped downstairs after we were called in front of TRM/TRH and TE of Ponte Alto and nibbled on some food as well. We were not sure who, if anyone, was going to come down to help clean up so we ate what we could and prepared to haul ourselves back into the kitchen to begin the herculean task of cleaning up.

Enter His Majesty.

After my head went 'splodey, I decided I really didn't want to be banished one week after my Investiture, so I didn't argue. (Scary, isn't it?) Hard on his heels was the Roomie (who sort of pointed me in the general direction of a chair ) and then the rest of High Table. Their Majesties, Their Highnesses and our fair cousins from Ponte Alto all rolled up their sleeves and got to work. No arguments allowed.

Not very long after I lost track of the wave of people who came downstairs and things were cleaned, packed and loaded up in short order. Much happiness!

I am grateful to all who gave up going home just that much earlier and worked their tails off to clean up the kitchen, allowing myself and the rest of the crew to just sit. One underestimates the joys of just :sitting:.

In other news... I was happily informed in the late afternoon that the Black Diamond scriptorium had been awarded a Fountain by Their Majesties. I was thrilled to death and we sent word back so that it could be posted on our e-list. Happy happy smiles!

Ok.. must go do work work.

Stay safe!

This weekend was a most excellent weekend. My face hurts from smiling!

Friday recap --

*arriving at hotel to find that many friendly faces were staying in the same location
*dinner with Boy, chezRobear,and guests. Much laughter and counting of how many times the staff dropped and broke stuff. I haven't laughed that hard in a long time. I soooo needed that.
*realizing, yet again, that I am blessed with great friends
*getting turned into an "alien" by Mama Lion. (yea.. don't ask, LOL)
*girl time with Mama Lion. all that was missing was the toe nail polish and the pink jammies.

Saturday --

*Getting dressed in my new garb. I felt like a doggone princess! Allegranza ROCKS somewhere between AC/DC and Metallica!
*Being bullied by MamaBess from Blackspear before Court. That was nothing short of hysterical. She won, though. :-)
*Investiture! -- although I must admit that handing my belt back to my Peer had to be the hardest thing I've ever done. I know that we will always be family... and that we are under contract.. so.. he is still Papa.. but I had a massive lump in my throat. Thoughts of ... "cant cry.. can't cry.. will look like raccoon" kept going through my head. But we moved on and when I knelt with MacCon to take pledge our Oath of Fealty to TRM, I spoke loud and proud.
*Baroness Tea -- lady Juliana put out a kick tail spread and it was fun to sit and visit with other Baroness'. It was a great time!
*Watching Black Diamond shine -- Sir William winning the Heavy Tourney, Lady Ismee and Baroness Metylda becoming Royal Notables, having several of our new fighters authorize, and seeing well deserving members of our Barony be recognized by the Kingdom. I was kept warm by the pride I felt in being a member of this Barony, let alone it's newest Baronesa.
*Feast -- it's weird to not be in the kitchen or serving. Fun to be at High Table, but .. weird.

Sunday was pretty laid back. Breakfast with the family and the Boy and then home again. Had enough energy to pet the dog, feed him and fall down and go ZZZZZ for several hours before work.

I will say this much... I have realized that if I am going to survive the next few years, I totally need to invest in a new pair of shoes. My stupid little boots are soo not going to cut it. I hurt so bad today that I can barely walk. The good part of this.. heh.. I get to go SHOPPING!!!!

so Next Up is Tournament of Love and Beauty. Once again, this event will hold new experiences for me, but I will go into more details about that a bit later. Let's just say that stepping up as Baroness has made me re-evaluate certain goals and commitments. New approaches must be/are being taken. I look forward every day to what is g oing to be around the next corner.

But...

Must go work now.
Stay WARM!

Sort of...

No.. not really talking about anything deep or earthshattering (unless by deep you are talking about the friggin snow).

I am talking about my "drug" of choice. Pepsi.

Nope... no substance here, LOL. I went to the store the other day and picked up a drink. I am, once again, trying to cut back on my soda intake. I have stopped buying/keeping soda in the house to remove the temptation and am subsisting on my instant diet tea (yea yea.. I see you shuddering). But I am well and truly addicted to caffeine and get downright.. um..mean? when I don't have it, not to mention serious headaches and the like. So.. I allow myself at least one can per day.

I indulged in a Pepsi Throwback. Talk about time-travel. The only thing missing is the glass bottle (cuz you can never actually get rid of that damn plastic taste). ZOMG YUM. You know it's bad when you are contemplating buying (and hoarding) a few bottles of that stuff.

I know.. I'm silly.

And boy oh boy am I in a state!

I am so DONE with this weather that it is not even funny.. and no.. probably not for the reasons that you think.

I am done not because I can't go play with my friends..because honestly.. there is always ANOTHER weekend somewhere down the road. Yes, putting off plans may not be ideal, but life and weather really do happen...

Nope.. my frustration comes from the fact that getting just getting in and out of my driveway is a frakking chore. I have to slog through da crap to get to my car at the top of the hill and STILL hope that Ican make it back the next morning.

I saw asphalt on parts of my driveway today only to go to work tonight and almost not be able to get my car out of the spot I left it in. My driveway is a mess, the yard is a mess and everytime I think the snow is going to go away... Poof.. here comes more crap.

I get depressed enough during the winter months (yes.. I get mean and cranky with no sunlight) and would really really really like a few clear days with no white stuff, whether fluffy powder or crystalline what have you to muck things up.

Yes, I understand that it happens... suck it up, right? Sure.. but every once in a while, when a new "there is stuff getting ready to dump on your head" report comes through, that I just want to go.. really? Are we not done yet?

*sigh*

but on to more fun things (sort of )...

The Furkids are great, although Pathpuppy managed to get himself into trouble today by eating Boy's slipper and my poor cat had a psychotic break a while back which ended up in her doing not so nice things to the Roomie and his chair. Bainsidhe cat is fine.. she really is just a hellion and puppy was banished to the outdoors for most of the day for his transgression, but we will all survive.

Boy is great, fun and I still smile every day.

Roomie is what he has always been -- a dear dear friend, silly and fun.

Is life perfect? I would be lying if I said yes.. but then again, no life ever is. I can, however, say that aside from the weather, I don't have a whole lot to complain about. There are some good friends that I would really like to see that I have not seen in a while... but we will see what we can do to rectify that.

And every day I give a silent thanks for those things that make me smile...

Snow. I hate snow. I used to love snow, but not so much these days. I work a job that requires me to be there and over the last few years snow meant that I spent more time in the hotel than I did in my own home.

I *like* being home. I enjoy the company of the Roomie and the Boy. I love snuggling with the pupper dog and the silly psycho cat. X used to say that Bainsidhe cat was not Bi-polar, she was just both poles all at the same time. There are days when that statement is very very true.

The weekend wasn't a total loss, however. An outpouring of love and support from my friends and family just made me smile. Two dear friends being crazy enough to continue driving in my general direction just had me shaking my head. So the weekend was spent laughing and joking with good friends. We celebrated Roomie's birthday on Saturday with an extra special dinner and his favorite German Chocolate cake.

After we got home, however, I noticed that my nose was trying to run away without me. ??? I popped some cold medicine and tried to go to sleep. That was totally made of fail. I tossed and turned all night long. I went from being too hot to too cold. I tried to get up and play on the computer... that lasted for an hour or so and I was able to snooze.. some.. but all in all, by the time the sun (or what passed for it) came up today, I had gotten no sleep, my head felt like it was trapped in a vise and my nose was raw from blowing. It could not decide whether it was stuffed up or running away.

My throat was raw, and I felt like my entire face was swollen. You're joking, right? I AM NOT SICK! At least.. that's the lie I told myself. But Boy woke up and he was feeling like dog poo right along with me, which means.. Yup.. we iz sick. Grrr.

I sat down in the living room and Boy made me some hot soup, wrapped me up in a blanket and I tried to watch tv. Actually ended up sleeping again. I actually slept most of the day, which is probably a good thing since I had to go to work.

I feel "marginally" better right now.. and hope that another round of meds and another good night/day of sleep will have me right as rain again.

Have I mentioned that I hate winter?

So right now.. I am looking forward to Ymir and seeing all of my friends and family.

Stay warm and safe and hope to see you there.

There are times, when you work the desk, when you get the most interesting questions. Questions that, while innocent enough, are just odd enough to make you tilt your head. Then later, after you've actually had some time to process you just go... "Wow".

I had one of those surreal conversations today.

My last guest of the evening comes in tonight. We begin the standard check in procedure and she looks over the desk to a sign that we have posted on the corner... "We are a Pet Friendly hotel. Please make sure to register all pets at time of check in".

Pretty straight forward, right?

the guest looks at the sign, and while I am waiting for her r egistration card to pring she motions over to the sign and asks "so, you guys are pet friendly, right?" I smile and I nod my head. Then the guest says...

"So, do you mean ALL kinds of pets"?

*blink
*blinkety blink blink blink

I know I have to respond.. ah but the waters are murky. I soooo want to be smart-ass. I can't help but smile... after a moment or three the little devil on my shoulder wins the battle (he clubbed the little angel on the other side with his pitchfork)

"Well.. " I say, trying not to laugh. The guest is grinning broadly at this point, knowing it's a little bit of an unusual question... "I would figure that this would encompass "most" pets. However, if you try to walk a Siberian tiger through my lobby, we might have an issue. I would say a pet horse would be right out... and if you own a snake or any other reptile type... well.. just keep them away from ME and we will be just fine."

At this point, I am actively laughing and so is the guest. A moment or two later the guest responds with.. "Well.. I was actuall thinking more along the lines of bunnies and a bird."

Ok... this is cool.. Just keep em in their cages... I don't think housekeeping would appreciate the whole chasing a rabbit down the hallway thing (or even a bird.. that would sooo not be fun).

Guest thanks me and goes about their business.. but I am left smiling... it's funny how a simple question can just make for a wildly amusing night and some real interesting mental visuals, LOL.

* * * *

And on another not so much fun note...

calling your friendly hotel night auditor for a wake up call at two in the morning is not a big deal.. part of my job, right? Right. Thinking that you are cute when you ask me "I'm sorry if I woke you up" when I answer the phone is not so much. Actually.. if you MUST know.. the reason it took me a minute to answer the bloody phone is that I was in the lobby making coffee for a guest who didn't want to be bothered using the coffee pot that we provide for them in the room. So when the telephone rang.. I had to sprint across the lobby to answer it. Just sayin.

Working at a pet-friendly hotel can sometimes be an interesting experience. It is something that quite frankly, I have never had to experience before now. There are days, when I wish I didn't have to at all.

I understand that your poor little FiFi is neurotic (owning a bit of a neurotic pupper dog myself) however, no matter how traumatized poor FiFi is going to be... you cannot take the dog into the breakfast area. I mean, really.. you would not walk into Outback with Fifi, would you? (Ok.. maybe you would.. but you're not supposed to) so what makes you think that we are any different.

Throwing an absolute hissy fit in my front desk area with how I am inconveniencing you because you have to take said FiFi BACK to your room.. well, in the words of Shania Twain (I know people.. be afraid) "That don't impress me much."

We haz elevator. And it's not like you have to walk five miles uphill in the snow (both ways).

You are on vacation and want to not do any more than you have to--- I get that. Your poor little Fifi is sick and traumatized and needs to be coddled -- I empathize. FiFi will be scarred for life if you have to leave him/her back in your room alone for any length of time -- I am totally sorry. Still doesn't change the facts... Fifi is sooo not getting into the breakfast area.

And by the way.. if Fifi is small enough to fit into that suitcase you call a purse and you try to sneak her in... you really, really aren't going to like the hefty fine that is going to be added to your room bill.. because yes.. sometimes.. I *am* that mean.

The unmitigated gall of some people leaves me so irate at times that all I want to do is howl in frustration.

I love my FurKid. I spoil my FurKid rotten. Both my furkids. And yes, sometimes I am a "Bad Momma" but I love my critters. And if ever it came down to I eat or they eat, guess who goes without... me.

So to hear that "someone" (who will remain nameless - for now) has the audacity to suggest that I give Pathfinder up because he is kept on a 30 foot run and "deserves a better quality of life" leaves me quite literally shaking with rage.

Pathfinder spends quite a bit of time indoors. If the house was not quite as small as it was (especially with three humans of not necessarily small stature) he would be in the house even MORE often. We bring him in almost daily in the evenings.. you know.. in the pm, when I am actually AWAKE. The dog is on a 30 foot run, has a rather large doghouse which Roomie built for him under the porch stairs, water and food. He eats two good size meals per day and scraps (told you I spoil him). There are dog treats on the dryer just inside the door and most days we bring him in, he gets a doggie bone.

But either way... he has his shots, he is healthy and (except for the occassional bout of whining) a very well-behaved pupper. The mere fact that this person has the temerity to even suggest that I mis-treat my dog has me so riled up I can't even see straight.

I have promised a dear friend that I would hold my tongue (hard as it may be) because while I may hate confrontation (no, seriously.. avoid it like the plague) if I feel that I am being impugned I have no problems going straight to your face.

I just find it ironic that the same person who has the nerve to throw crap in my direction..

a. has run over her own dog when the dog was running around the unfenced property WITHOUT A LEAD
b. has been warned repeatedly that their FEMALE dog spent her unsupervised outdoor time with my MALE dog who is not fixed and if the female ended up pregnant, that since my dog is ON A LEAD that we would not be held responsible in any way, shape or form

c. has been threatened to be reported to the local authorities for allowing her dog to run, without a leash and unsupervised. The dog has left the property and headed toward the street several times, almost causing an accident.

d. has almost had the dog run over by me as the, once again, unrestrained animal ran toward my vehicle as I was headed toward my driveway. I locked up the brakes and stopped just in time. It's a good thing I was not going very fast or I would have run the dog over.

Seriously.

People in glass houses should not throw stones at those of us who live in stone castles. Cuz she has stones. I haz a trebuchet.

Just sayin.

*ding ding*

Round one of Holiday fun is over and done with. Thanksgiving was a blast. The Boy and I went up to DC to spend the day with his family and let me tell you that I had a great time. I know his brother and SiL from SCA and they are always a hoot to hang out with, but the rest of the family is just great. It was awesome to be there and laugh and joke and smell all the really great food.

And the dessert board was to die for!

So after waaaaay too much food, Boy and I go back to crash (he is feeling not good and is running a fever) and Friday dawns with us planning to spend it with another SCA friend of mine. We get treated to a great lunch (ok.. it's Johnny Rockets, but I love me a good burger!) and "Ninja Assasin".

OK.. so I enjoyed the movie.. all I have to say, though, is that I didn't know that you could get tracer fire from Shurikens! And I sooo want the lead dude's weapon, although the training accidents with that thing have got to be interesting. LOL... After that, I got to spend some time hanging out with some other really cool peeps that I don't get to see very often (waves at Badouin, Griele and Jeanmaire) made of awesome!

Saturday I woke up thinking it was Sunday and realized that yup.. I actually had an extra day off this week. Something that I totally needed. We got up, puttered abit and then went to the House Blackspear Thanksgiving where once again, waaaay too much food and I got taught how to play Euchre.

I have to say one thing... I have known and been friends Sean and Elisabeth as well as some of the other members of Blackspear for a few years. But one thing I can say is that the household - as a whole- has always made me feel welcome and being among them is like being with my own family. It's a nice feeling. Just saying.

Sunday was a lazy day and then headed home so I could go to work. OMG.. I think people forgot how to drive on Sunday. We sat on I-81 for forty-five minutes. quite literally parked there.

All in all.. wonderful holiday weekend. Would have been better to not have been sick.. and to be able to sleep for more than three hours at a stretch - it was actually sort of funny.. you could almost set a watch by me.

Oh.. and a funny (now) moment...

I am once again up at some ungodly hour after sleeping for 3 hours (its got to be about 4ish or so am) My back is screaming Ave Marias and so I sit up. Apparantly.. I fell asleep, sitting straight up. I'm a goof.

Ah well. Hope everyone else had a good holiday.

Now on to round 2 and Christmas, LOL.

It was one of *those* weekends. It was. Boy and I drove up to Holiday Faire for to visit friends, family and the like.

From the word "go" it was up and down... mostly because I felt like unmitigated CRAP. Thursday night I sat at work feeling myself get progressively worse. Raw, sore throat, body aches that felt like I had been hit by a truck (and since I actually HAVE --ok so "we" hit the truck, still.. I know what that feels like) and just a general feeling of ick.

Boy was sweet. He caught me online about partway through the night and I told him how I felt. Next thing I know he is at my job with sore throat spray and cough drops and just a warm hug. He sat with me for a while and then went home to take a nap.

Got home and both Boy and I took some Ibuprofin.. whatever this was it was trying to kick both of our tails... and had already gotten me pretty good. Ibu seemed to work... we both napped and by 10am he is up, bright eyes and bushy tailed--- (oooo morning people) and raring to go.

Had made plans to see dublayz and brockk for lunch so that was our first stop. Well.. we had a fabu visit and lunch turned into dinner (roller coaster goes up) and then, as we were having dinner, my throat starts acting up again (roller coaster goes down) Our ride levels out as we head the rest of the way up north and Boy and I are having a nice time of it in the car with Lord Fuzzy Butt (aka Pathfinder).. but the ride comes crashing down as we get to MD.

My throat is so bad I am about in tears and nothing is working. Ice-cream had helped earlier so boy goes out and buys me yummy Dulce de Leche ice cream (my total favorite). I make it through about 4 spoonfulls before I can't handle anymore. And then all of a sudden my core temp drops. Or something... all I know is that I developed a case of the shivers like no one's business... wrapped in three blankets and a sleeping bag and I am still COLD to the touch. can't get warm to save my life. What this translates into is that I turned into a bratty five year old. Boy was sweet, kind and patient... although firm. He finally gets me to lay down.. after he has cranked the heat in the room to tropical jungle status... so I can get warm.. and the pendulum swings the other way.

I lay down and within 20 minutes I am burning up... can't win for losing, can ya? Thank the heavens for ibuprofin. Got regulated eventually but it meant I got little to no sleep.

Saturday was Holiday Faire. It was the first time I got to see the event and it was nice. Might have to try and make it again when I don't feel like horse manure. but what I got to enjoy of it was nice. I had NO commitments or anything so I watched some of the heavy and rapier fighting, wandered around a bit, talked to some people about upcoming stuff, and generally networked and chit-chatted. Was made of much awesomeness! But by 4ish my goose was quite literally cooked.

Boy was, again, my total hero. Did not put on armor (although I could tell he was jonesing to) so that he could stay with me and make sure I was ok. He kept me warm and looked after me. After that was dinner with friends, which as very nice, and back to the house.I could barely keep my eyes open on the ride back and apparantly feel promptly asleep on the couch. Which of course, only lasted until I actually tried to get to bed and sleep.. then I could not sleep and was up at 4am. go figure.

Sunday my throat was at its worse. The decongestants were helping some.. but by this point the damage had been done and my throat was hamburger... I muddled through it and we went to see the Redskins game with family. That was fun. Then home again.. where again, I could barely keep my eyes open, which made me feel bad cuz Boy had to basically drive back by himself with me zombiefied next to him.

Work was t orture, as usual.. but thank goodness the end is near... hopefully I will be able to sleep. There is light at the end of the tunnel and hopefully it's not another roller-coaster car headed in my direction. Throat hurts, but not hear as much, body aches gone, headachethere, but manageable... other little nit-picky symptoms, there but manageable. As long as I can swallow again.. I think I will be ok.

will say this much.. Boy was an angel and my t otal hero this weekend....

"When I show you that I just don't care...
When I'm throwing punches in the air
when I'm broken down and I can't stand
Are you strong enough to be my man..."

The answer, most loud and clear...

Yes.

:-)

After what seemed like forever filled with rainy days and chill weather, I believe I actually saw the sun on Friday! Woot! The Boy and I had plans to go see some friends and after he took care of a work commitment, on the road again we were...

It was a pleasant day, filled with laughter and friends. I cooked dinner and we all ate until we about hurt ourselves!

Saturday was spent just lounging around, although I did get some time in the hot tub (it was most awesome). Later that evening, the girls went back into the 'girlie cave" and we spent what had to have been three hours "window" shopping via the internet at this great website. Must start saving the pennies NOW, let me tell you.

Today we headed home and as we left, I got the wild hair to call some other friends who lived sort of on the way home... don't get to see them near often enough.. so we dropped by there for a couple of hours.

Also real nice.. we had some fun, had some good conversations and now here I sit, back at work. I"m tired as all get out, but in a good way. Pleasant weekend with g reat friends. Can't beat that!

the only "sadness" was that I was going to try to go to the ren faire today.. but that didn't happen. I don't think I am going to make it this year. The only "major" loss in that is the fact that I have a friend who works the Carolina Ren Faire and I won't get to see him.. but mayhaps some other time.

Still and all, while this is a sadness... it is but a brief cloud in a weekend filled with much sun.

Four years.

I have been working third shift (this time around) for four years now.  One would think that certain things would be just second nature by now.

Yea.. not so much...

I still say "Have a good night" when I'm checking people out in the morning.  I get some really funny looks at that one.  I sometimes catch myself and say.. Day, night... whatever... LOL...

I still forget what day of the week it is, let alone what DATE it is.  Trying to close out some of my reports is rather amusing sometimes.

Maybe it's just been one of those "Do Over" kind of days.

.

No Crown Tourney for our intrepid Sidhe-Wolf... not this time.

It was "The Boy's" birthday this weekend, so we spent it with family.

Weekend was made of Win..

It was decided that Friday was going to be Date Night.. just the two of us, which was very nice.  We went to the mall to have dinner and play "movie roulette".. You know movie roulette, don't you?  You just sort of show up to the local theatre and pick something that's playing.  Well.. since we don't live there.. we had no idea what was playing or when...

Hrm.. decisions, decisions.... we finally narrowed it down to a Jamie Foxx movie or a movie with George Clooney -- The Men Who Stare at Goats.

Yes.. yes... when we pulled the trigger, we got the chamber that had the round in it. 

We left the theatre two hours later in fits of hysterical laughter...  "We want our two hours back!!!"  Describing this movie is best done wit the following sentiments...

1. This is what happens when people try to write scripts hopped up on LSD
2. OMG are Kevin Spacey, George Clooney and Ewan McGregor desperate for money?
3. At least the Goats were cute.

Saturday was spent with his family, his Mom and his siblings, where we had dinner and the most unbelievable cheesecake EVAH!  I loves me some cheesecake and one bite of this had me all but swooning!!  The homemade apple pie was to die for as well... Some great conversations and joking around and a night  that was spent in the warm embrace of family...

I miss that -- Mom and my sister being in Florida and all.. but that's a story for another day.

Today was getting ready to come back home... Lazy day spent enjoying the weather (seriously gorgeous) and talking about plans for the Thanksgiving Holiday... a quick stop to the local restaurant depot (woot!.. spiral pig!!) and then we headed home. 

I have to say that even though it was his birthday... it was so sweet to come home and see my flowers in their vase on the dresser... all pretty and red.. the room smelled like roses.. and it was just a pleasant end to a great weekend.

I did miss going to Crown (a little) and seeing many of my SCA friends and family... but there is always another event and another time... and I would not have missed or changed a single thing about this weekend for the world.

Sweet:

I have been a baseball fan for as long as I c an remember.  And for ALL of that time I have been a NY Yankees fan.  Memories of watching the games with my Dad flow through my brain.  Memories of calling my dad throughout baseball season, in the middle of a random game, going.. "OMG, what the HECK was that!!!".  Dad would laugh at me and we would chat for a while.  Watching them tonight was awesome.  Nine years since the last World Series Title...

Like a friend of mine said.. I've been away from NY for almost 20 years.  I've never wanted to be back home as badly as I do right now.. because NY will always be home.  The Bronx Bombers will always be my team.. through thick or thin.. and it may seem like a small thing.. but its MY thing.  I can watch and enjoy most other sport s (with the exception of Basketball) but I am and always will be a rabid NY Yankees baseball fan. 

Sweet is also being told that are missed, even when you are only five minutes away.  That someone would rather have you near (even if you are sleeping) than have to be away from you.  Maybe that's just the newness... maybe not... but it's still sweet and still brings a smile to my face.  It really is the little things.

Bitter:
While I try not to dwell on the things that leave a sour taste in my mouth.. some are strong and violent enough to shake me to my core.  I love my mother.. I do... but she has the uncanny ability to infuriate me to the point where my temper wants to have a small    nuclear meltdown.  Her recollection of certain things changes to suit her needs.. and t here's no arguing with her.  Ok.. so be it...  Her ability to tear me down without even thinking about it has led to countless of arguments.. some more heated than others.  Today's takes the proverbial cake.

I am 38 years old.
Like good old blues eyes said...
Regrets,,, I've had a few, but then again to few to mention
I did what I had to do and saw it through without exemption...

Yes there were (are) times I'm sure you knew
That I bit off more than I could chew
But  through it all, when there was doubt
I ate it up and spit it out
I faced it all and I stood tall.. and did it...
My way.
 - Frank Sinatra

As part of an old-school Hispanic upbringing.. there are some things in which I don't argue with my mother... (ok.. maybe a little, but not really)  and there are some areas in which my mother can stand firm and while I may not like it.. it is her right and she is mother and I respect that... but there IS a line... it was crossed tonight and as angry as I am.. I am hurt beyond belief.   I've always been the black sheep.. and the baby of the family.  Never has that been made more obvious than it was today.

I love my mother.  I do.  Right now, though.. I don't like her very much.

But.. I will take comfort in other things... and smile.

You better stand tall when they're calling you out
dont bend, don't break, baby don't back down...
It's my life.. it's now or never
and I ain't gonna live forever..
I just wanna live while I'm alive
My heart is like an open highway..
Like Frankie said "I did it MY WAY"
I just wanna live while I'm alive
Cuz it's..  my life!

( Are you Serious? )

I hate migraines.  I really do.  Today was a beautiful day... Boy and I were out running errands and doing schtuff... when all of a sudden (and I mean all of sudden) out of nowhere , my head just begins to hurt. 

It got bad enough that I was in the "I need a dark room" phase.  Home I went, into said dark room.  Nap happened while my head and neck and shoulders were being rubbed.

When the work alarm went off, I still hurt, but I could at least function (albeit like a zombie)

Ibuprofin isn't touching it and I am at the point where I can no longer take anymore.  Oh well..thankfully, all of my check-ins are here and tonight seems to be a quiet night.

But 7am can't get here fast enough.

Guess what?

I stayed home today.  And Yesterday.

Can you believe it?  I spent the entire weekend AT HOME.  It is almost frightening.  Especially when I can't seem to rememer when the last time I did that was.

So Fri I went to As house & we had a girl hair day.   After that we just came home and I was able to catch up on some of my DVR TV shows.  Spent some quality time with the pupper dog & played with the kitty. Late dinner with the Boy... it was nice.

Tody was  total work day, but it started out with a very nice treat.  Roomie took the Boy & myself out to lunch at this new Chinese buffet place not far from the house.  Once done, we came back home and the work began.  We reorganzed the garage.  OMG... that project took most of the afternoon... but it was totally needed.  I'm still not quite done with my half and neither is the Roomie, actually... but.. we got a metric shiet ton of crap out of there.  Old boxes, stuff from Roomie that just needed to go elsewhere.... There is even SPACE in which to walk now.  LOL.

My next task is to set up my event stuff in some semblance of order so that when car packing time comes... there is rhyme and reason and its easier to pack the vehicle.  At some point in the near future, it will need to be redone again (Boy stuff)  but for now.. at least there is some kind of established order in the garage.  It was getting bad enough that I was beginning to dread going into there for anything.

So now I am done... dinner was grilled London broil with simple seasonings &  hint of caraway with rice... nummy (least I thought so..)  and its early enough in the night that I can just veg for awhile.  I am content.  Sitting here in the office, playing with the kitty, checking LJ and such.  The Boy and the Roomie are in the next room watching some TV show about guns and discussing various types of firearms.

Yup.  I can honestly say... life's pretty good right now. 

*happy contented sigh*

I am one of those people that subliminal advertising was MADE for! 

From time to time I get these bizarre food cravings (stop it.. get your minds out of the gutter RIGHT NOW!)  Seriously.  From time to time I randomly have the urge for different types of food.  Sometimes it is because I realize I have not had something in a while and sometimes.. well.. sometimes I see something (like a commerical or the like) and just get this overwhelming urge for a certain type of food.

Had one of those tonight.

I am sitting at home with the Boy and the Roomie, having dinner and watching television.  After awhile, i start doing some straightening up and pick up an empty box of soda crackers.  I stare at the packaging and it's like someone hit the flash back button.  I remember nights of hot chocolate and buttered crackers w/ cheese at my mom's house or even MORE bizarre.. I remember mom making deviled eggs, sliced ham and serving them with crackers.

Mmmmm... deviled eggs.

Yup.. serious craving for deviled eggs right about now.  Tomorrow is grocery day.  I guess I know what ingredients I'm picking up!

Like I said... sometimes.. I'm just totally bizarre!

It's the little things in life that make you smile.  Then there are the not so little things.. but the moments of kindness that make you smile whenever you think about them.

I had one of those moments today.

The day started out like any other.  Home from work, nappage and then the mundane tasks of getting dinner ready and the like began.  The Boy and I took care of some errands and the Roomie came home from work as I was beginning to cook dinner.

No biggie, right?

I am in the kitchen, making dinner when I hear a noise outside.  Roomie comes out of his room and we troop outside.. to see what I lovingly referred to as a "gaggle" of Tech students making their way to the house.  While I am thrilled that they have come to visit, this is not exactly a normal occurrence ... and then.. then I have that moment...

When I get handed a bag with my birthday present...

A Wusthof Meat Cleaver... OMG.  It's awesome!!!   A bunch of the students had chipped in to buy this for me.. and presented it to me along with a CD of the "Black Diamond Bards!"

I could have cried, although I laughed and held the cleaver aloft, saying... "I will not be defied by dead bird EVER AGAIN!!!"

We laughed...

The Tech students are AWESEOME!

It's been awhile.  Not that I've given up LiveJournal for Facebook.. although most nights you can find me there (heck.. it's one of the things that keeps me awake while I am at work..) but there just hasn't been much going on, except for the routine day to day.  That... and to be honest.. I've been trying to save all my dear friends from sugar overload, if you know what I mean, LOL.

Life continues apace.  Work is work and we are slowly but surely getting in some new people.  I realized the other day that sometimes it sort of sucks to be me.. because there is, quite literally, no one to work for me if I get sick... either the GM needs to come in or someone is totally inconvenienced.  I learned this the hard way.. but oh well.

War of the Wings was a blast.  I ended up spending most of my time in the Black Diamond Baronial encampment doing the meal plan stuff, but I had the help of many wonderful hands.  Black Diamond is awesome and the spirit of camraderie and willingness to help the permeates throughout the people that live here is a joy.  Not to say that I didn't find or feel those same things in Sacred Stone when I lived there.. but .. you know how it is.. new place, new experiences and you wonder.  I wonder no longer.

The schtick at WoW was funny and as a joke on Saturday morning (before procession) I was jokingly chained to the grill.  There's a picture of that floating around somewhere, LOL.  It was funny.  I played with some new recipes over the weekend (the apricot and orange glazed pork seemed to be a hit) and had some minor and not-so-funny-THEN-but-sort-of-funny-NOW snafu's with the grill (bad flare up and tortured chicken... but we won't go there)

The only sucky part of War of the Wings was camping in one spot and cooking in another.  Things sort of just worked out  that way... and I will say that I will endeavor to make sure that this doesn't happen again.  Or at least make sure the camps are closer, LOL...

The Boy, during Court, looked great in his new black G-63 and he seemed happy with it (thank you Allegranza!!!) and we spent the rest of the evening singing and hanging out with friends.  I think I changed clothes more times in one day that Saturday than I do at most events.  It was kind of funny.

Monday was my birthday.. it was a bizarre day of highs and lows.  We will s tart with the fact that my car died a horrible death.  Needed a new starter -- grump and growl.  Next came the fact that I got bitten by some typle of miniscule critter on the corner of the mouth and I looked like a Botox/Collagen injection gone horribly wrong by the end of the day.  My lips were painfully swollen as was, to be honest, most of my face.  I swear I looked like the Creature from the Black Lagoon.  The Boy was sweet about it... until I ended up going to work anyway (he was less amused then) but that's the part about there was quite literally no one to work for me.

I got lots of B;day wishes (woot!) from my friends which made me smile (which hurt, by the way, LOL) and then The Boy, The Roomie and myself went out to have a b'day dinner.  I have to say... I LOVE Wallaby Darned's!  Go Outback.  I also hadn't had a blooming onion in like forever.  I also got a dozen Roses from The Boy (snoopy dance).  OK.. I honestly got those on Friday.. but still.. 

Today (ok.. last night for the rest of you on Normal People Time) was better.  Car got fixed (it's AMAZING.. you stick the key in the ignition and it goes VROOM!! as opposed to just clicking and sitting there stupidly) which made me happy, and there have been some developments at work which might make me very happy.  I won't know the whens and hows of this until a little later.. but when I know.. you'll know.

So what's the State of Sidhewolf these days...

Happy. 

Ok.. so it wasn't *really* a weekend... worked 1/2 day on Friday and got Saturday off (with about 2-3 phone calls from work about various and sundry).

Friday was a nightmare... Overbooking problems and an irate guest.  *sigh*.  Saturday was being called because we were once again overbooked (really people.. does no one but me check these things?!?)  and rooms being dirty when they shoujld have been clean.  But... I will not linger on these things... these were but mere vague clouds on the horizon of what was a great day off.

Boy and I took off to Charlotte on Saturday to visit Da Boss and Mama Lion.. Mama was at University.. Boss, Boy an I hung out and had fun on Saturday and the took of late Sat. Night to grab a bite.  Today was a brief shopping trip to the mall and a quick visit with C & A, whom I have missed a great deal!  thank goodness I had no apron strings for him to tie into a corset!!!

It was a great time and I really needed a bit of decompression...  could totally have used more.. but.. it is what it is and I am grateful for what time I did have.

The best part of the weekend was arriving in Charlotte and getting out of the car to hug Boss... as I walked toward him he got up and was saying how glad he was to see him and then went "Wow!!! you are looking great!"  Yup.. Gracie is still shrinking.  Maybe not at a high rate of speed but it was noticed by everyone that saw me this weekend. 

WOO HOO!

Ok.. it's the little victories that somehow mean a whole lot. 

Now I need to get back to my walking regimen.  I know the weather is getting colder, so doing it in the mornings is sooo not gonna happen. 

But.. back to work I am and getting ready for War of the Wings.  Am doing a bit of cooking that weekend so much shopping and finalization of plans needs to happen over the next few days. 

And monday is the birthday.. don't know if I'm happy about that or not.  Getting older sort of sucks.. but man.. these days.. I feel like a teenager! 

guess that's it for now.. luckily I had nappage and think I can actually manage to survive the shift tonight so long as it stays quiet!

See ya'll at War!