A man I know walked into the Inn today and said, "Oh I forgot you work here. You should go back to singing." As if I'm working this hard for FUN! Yes, I did choose to work my butt off outright as opposed to working one more job than I'm working now plus assistanceships, plus classes and lessons, and teaching in order to afford to pay for grad school. Nope -- I decided to give up my dreams to work behind a desk. Right.

Thanks to all of you who responded! YAY!

I work a double shift today, but it's a double 4.5 hour, so I'm off by 4 or so this afternoon. Aren't days like that nice. I'll work double shifts all weekend through tuesday, then I'm OFF FOR A WEEK!!!!!!!! Ah, the sweet knowledge that a much needed vacation is coming. It's getting so I look forward to being sick so that I can have a legitimate day off. Sad, no?

So my sister and I were driving to Santa Barbara a few days ago to meet our grandmother at the mall. Shopping and all that! Five newsvans passed us going the opposite direction, back to Los Olivos. Drea and I laughed and said "Neverland must be burning, Michael Jackson is the only person around here to merit this much attention." As I'm sure you've heard on every station around the world, we were right. What do you all think from your side of the world? My boss said the last few days you couldn't walk down the street without having a camera in your face asking for "your reaction to the raid." I do say, Kudos to the police for hauling him in, and shame on the lawyer wanting "advance notice" of police action. More brownie points to the opposing commentator who said "if some Joe down the street had a warrant for their arrest, they wouldn't get advance notice. Neither should he."

Roll Call!!!! Who's Reading these days? Let me know!

Actual Phone Conversation with Morning Guest:

Me:Front Desk, how may I help you?

Him: Hello. I need a bellman.

Me:I'm sorry sir, there's not a bellman on duty yet this morning. Let me see if I can find someone to help you with your bags.

Him: There's not a bellman?

Me: No sir, he's scheduled to be on in a few minutes, though. I'll send someone else right over.

Him: I need the bill.

Me:Of course. I'll have that ready for you at the front desk.

Him: I'm not coming down.

Me:Sir, I really need you to sign a copy for me.

Him: Just send it with the bellman.

Me: Of course sir.

Him: *hangs up*

Two minutes, and three people on hold while I try to find someone in the kitchen to help the man with his bags, later.

Me: Front Desk, how may I help you?

Him: It's been two minutes. Where's my bellman?

Me: I'm sorry sir, someone will be right with you.

Him: A bellman?

Me: No sir, but I'm sending someone right over.

Him: With the bill?

Me: Yes sir, no problem. Someone will be right over.

Him:*Hangs up*

Less that one minute later...

Him: I'd like to speak with a manager, or an assistant manager.

Me: Of course sir.

Him: You're really incompetant.

Me: Thank you sir. *I hang up*

35 seconds later, and several irate customers who have now been on hold through this whole exchange...

Him: Is anyone coming?

Me: Yes sir, he's on his way over with your bill.

Him: And what's his name?

Me: Oscar.

Him: And he's really coming?

Me: Yes sir. With your bill.

Him:*hangs up*

And people wonder why I want a vacation....

Ok, so last night I bartended, with another bartender, at a special event. Splitting the tips we both made $122. That's crap really for a bartender, but as a cocktail waitress I MAYBE, on a GOOD night, take home $30 extra. So why do I stay at my job, you ask? $100 a month rent and everything-but-optical benifits. But I think I'm going to haul my tushie to bartending school at some point in case I need a job besides singing (and who here doubts that I'll have to work like a dog for a while...). Bartending, even at the alisal, is excellent money!

Go see ELF. It's silly, it's cute, and tis the season to throw off our pretentions, and enjoy a good cheesy, get-you-in-the-spirit Holiday Movie! It starts out a little slow, but it picks up once he gets where he's going...

So after throwing a MAJOR hissie fit at work last week, and threatening to quit (who knew I could be such a diva? No comment Jeff) They changed everything about the horrible continental breakfast delivery by the time I came in this morning. YAY to my job for fixing the thing that has caused more complaints than anything since I started working here. Now the guests can come down themselves if they want breakfast, and we have a way to accommodate walk ins if they are desperatly dissappointed that no one serves anything around here! KUDOS!

A note to my email carrier:

Dear Internet service provider,

I want to thank you for the excellent level of junk mail protection you provide. Directing all of my personal mail to my junk mail box does make sure that I actually look over that inbox before deleting. And I so appreciate the excitement of thirteen new messages, only to find four letters guaranteeing me cheap flights or hotels, two Victoria's Secret coupons, Several half.com/ebay/amazon.com promotions, and at least one website offering enlargements for anatomy I do not currently possess...nor could I without some serious surgery. It does, however, make life interesting I must say. Thank you for anticipating the spice that is so missing from my life!

Ahhh the silly things we do when bored....

I'm a Shirley Temple, discover your ALcoHoLiC personality!

Today has been the day from Hades

I woke up this morning with Chloe having an accident all over my bed. Lovely. I'd just gotten the place cleaned up from the last mess....

I got to work, and everything was chaotic. The breakfasts were all running late. Then they ran out of orange juice. Then people who weren't supposed to have breakfast because their wedding party was having a hosted brunch decided they wanted room service anyway. Then people who did have breakfast were calling because it was late, or there wasn't enough coffee...and they wanted it right now, and hung up on me when I told him it would be a little while....So, in other words, I caught the brunt of it all morning. Occupational hazard of sitting by the phone labeled as "operator." I'm a little stressed. And I have to go to the Alisal at 5:00. Drea and I didn't work out the car schedule well, so I'm stranded here until Drea gets off at the Alisal....which leaves me less time to nap.

On the plus side, the sleeping pills kind of worked. It took forever to get to sleep, but once I was asleep I only woke up once...which is about 10 times less than the night before. So tonight I'll take two, and see if I can't get both benifits....yay health food store.