Orient Express Reveal

After 2 days of intensive labor by Karen & myself, we're feeling pretty good about our results in room #8. The benches look so much better than the old outdated chairs and the lamp is fabulous.

Only the little night stand still needs to be replaced. It's a leftover from my blue period. Cute, but too small and still too blue.

Something more substantial and in a neutral shade is what I need to find at the right price.

Next project will be adding benches and lamp to the blue dolphin room. We're going to add the punch of of yellow to that room. I'll publish before & afters of that one, but for the time being, I'm resting on my laurels.

Adieu to Blue

Karen & I spent most of today painting #8. It used to be blue.

To recap. This has been my Orient Express room done mainly in shades of blue. I originally felt that blue would make my rooms feel cooler in the hot summer months. That may be true, but the monochomatic scheme is very confining in a small room. I began to feel depressed when I walked in, so decided to liven thing up a bit.

So, today we did the walls a pale gold, the headboards and new benches (thanks, Eddie sweetie), in a medium sage. We have guests coming in tomorrow, so the room has to be put together in the morning.

Isn't this just like one of those decorating TV shows? They let you see only so much until it all comes together for the grand reveal. Tune in tomorrow evening for the reveal of the new Orient Express room at the Dixie Belle.

Whew! I'm beat.

I Got What I Deserved

When one compromises one's principles one usually gets screwed. Our rooms are small and we have a maximum occupancy of 4 people in 9 out of our 10 rooms.

About 2 months ago, I took a reservation for 1 adult & 3 children in room #1. Not crazy about children (because parents generally do not teach their children manners or respect anymore) these days, but I bit the bullet and hoped for the best.

The woman called a few weeks later & added another child. I made an exception and allowed it. This same woman arrived last week on a separate reservation with some adult girlfriends. On her last day, she told me her husband would be joining the next group, making it 6 people in one room with one bathroom. I had a sinking feeling in my stomach, but because I accepted the original reservation, I'll didn't feel I could turn her down. So wrong. I so should have.

I got what I deserved. The room, after 3 nights is trashed. The carpet covered in dirt, and I'm talking piles of dirt. I don't know where they're getting it. My driveway is stone. There are half empty soda cans and food wrappers all over the place. They're getting fresh towels every day, but I only supply replacements for the used ones. Six people got 6 of everything plus one bath mat. We're now down to 5 bath towels, 4 hand towels and 4 face cloths. The bath mat is gone.

All I can say is that if we give the impression that we disrepect ourselves by compromising our principles, then we are giving permission for others to disrespect us. I got what I deserved.

Last One, All Done

Almost. Dan finished converting the last room from in-the-wall gas heater to a combo heat/air unit making room for a fridge, micro and stand with coffee maker. With all the reservations this week, there was no time to redecorate. I got the carpet shampooed, but that's it for now.

The new comforter sets I picked out will have to wait until next week when there's time to paint the walls a pale gold. When I first started redecorating, I thought blue would make the rooms feel cooler in the summer, but the more I see them the more I feel smothered by the blue.

When I was a Phys Ed major in college, one of the requirements in swimming was to pass the Red Cross Life Saving course. Did everything except the underwater requirement. I couldn't swim a distance of 12 feet under water. As soon as I put my head under the water, I need to take a deep breath.

When I walk into one of my blue rooms, I have trouble breathing. I'll keep the dolphin room blue, but this one is going gold & green. Is it the last one? Am I all done? Hmmmmm

No More Duct Tape

I installed this door mural in unit # 6 today. Let me give you the backstory. A couple of our rooms had connecting doors which had been nailed shut way before we bought the motel. Last season, some guests attempted to open the door anyway & damaged it beyond repair.

A month ago, another guest in the room called the office to complain that smoke from the smoking room next door was seeping in around the now ill fitting door.. My DH in his infinite wisdom, took a roll of duct tape over to the room & told her to seal it up. Oddly enough, she did.

In the past two weeks, guests in that room have cut their stays short & my guess was that the duct taped door was creeping them out. I personally would have my doubts about a motel that used duct tape to seal the door between two rooms. Hello....Bate's Motel....

I tried to remove the tape, but it was pulling the veneer off the door, so I needed plan B. I'm so pleased with the result that I may do the same in other rooms. Perhaps I'll duct tape them first.

Best Ever Corned Beef & Cabbage

After years of boiling corned beef & cabbage for St Patrick's day I needed to take it up a notch. Dan is a traditionalist, so I was a tad concerned. Being a member of the on line cooking club Recipezaar, I came across a recipe I felt would work for both of us. Oh Wow. It exceeded both our expectations.


The corned beef was roasted in foil with orange slices, onions and celery on low heat for 4 hours. The cabbage was simmered on low heat with a sliced apple. butter & a bit of water. I boiled red skin potatoes & added them to the cabbage and apples before serving. I topped them off with the meat juices just before plating.


Best St Patrick's day dinner in years. We'll do this one over & over again.

I'm Tired

One of my idols, Candace Bergen, was on Rachal Ray this evening. When she came down the elevator as the "mystery taster," at first I didn't recognize her. This 2008 picture shows her a tad chunky, but tonight, I couldn't believe what I was seeing. She was beautifully dressed, but a beautifully dressed fat lady. Sorry, Candace.

Every day, I beat myself up for being 15 lbs overweight and developing a belly I don't want. If Candace can let it go & accept what age is doing to her body, why can't I? I'm tired (OMG, my mind just flashed to Madeline Kahn singing "I'm Tired" in Blazing Saddles.) I'm tired of trying to look younger & thinner. I'm tired of denying myself & still seeing the scale inch upward, while my clothes shrink.

I remember when grandmothers were allowed to provide cushiony laps for grandchildren. I actually looked forward to that time. When did things change? Why does society now expect us to look good right up to the grave? And why do I still care? It's taking more effort than ever & frankly, I'm tired.

Wherever The Car Takes Us

A young couple checked in a while ago, obviously watching their budget. I think that's why our business is so good lately. Our rates meet the needs of budget conscious travelers and our cleanliness makes our rooms even more attractive. When I asked the guy a few questions, he told me they were on a road trip & just goin' wherever the car took them.


Being an inveterate road tripper myself, I find myself very envious. Love, love, love an adventurous road trip. I don't know about the other earth signs, but as a Virgo, I'm never more content than when the rubber is meeting the road. Give me a road map & I'm in my element. Sidebar: Mapquest is better than Rand McNally.

Some of the more memorable jaunts were the pacific northwest, Vancouver & Victoria, California gold country, California wine country, tenting NJ to Dallas & back, NJ to the Grand Canyon & back with son Nick and New England. Dan & I never did New England together & I so want to show him one of my favorite areas of the country.


There's so much more to see, taste, experience and feel that I'm chomping at the bit with anticipation. As Dinah Shore sang to us: See the USA, in your (dodge caravan) Chevrolet, America's the greatest land of all.

It's Not Wally

The last fish photo I published was my darling betta, Wally. This one shall go unnamed, because it's my dinner tonight. I know, I know, I'm gagging as we speak.

However, Dan went fishing yesterday & caught the little headless flounder you see here. He remembers that in NJ I was a big fan of flounder.

At the risk of offending all southern fishermen, I have to say that there is no resemblance whatsoever. #1, this sucker has all it's skin on (too small to filet.) #2, where cold water flounder is firm and flaky, the same fish from southern waters is soft and mushy. #3, warm water fish have a fishy taste regardless of variety, not to mention all the pollutants and mercury they've sucked up in their lifetimes.

I am going to do my best to disguise the fishy flavor with a heavily herbed mayo and vermouth topping. I'll do as the local restaurants and score the top skin so my spread can seep in while it bakes in the oven.

When DH goes fishing I alway wish him fun rather than luck. Now you know why.

Culinary Diversity

We've had guests in two different rooms this past week with very different dining agendas & I've found them both very interesting.


In #9 is a man alone from Tennessee, who grew up in this area and came back to eat the foods he remembered from his childhood. He never leaves his room until dinnertime. Most of the day, I smell cigarette smoke emanating from his door, but we never see him. He's been in there for 5 days, leaving only for his evening meal.


On the other hand, in #10 we have a french couple from Quebec. They are travelling with a complete kitchen. They have a plug in cooler, state of the art compact gas grill and all the necessary cookware, and dining accoutrements. Each day, they spread a blue tablecloth on our deck table and enjoy a tres elegant breakfast, lunch & dinner complete with wine.


They've been towing 2 bicycles and a motorcycle on a flat bed trailer. Each morning they take a bike ride & every afternoon they double on the motorcycle for another jaunt. It just strikes me that these people have planned very well & have taken full advantage of the attractions at every stop they've made. Their stay here started with 2 nights & grew to 4.


It was with regret that madame told me tomorrow morning they were heading north to get their Quebec marine business ready to open for the season.

The Other Violet

Yesterday, I caught kitty Violet taking a bite out of my first violet love.
My choices were, duct tape the kitty to a table leg or move the plant.
My first love is now living in a bathroom, safely behind closed doors. She seems to be happy there & I visit her often.

I've had this stunner for 3 years now. Every spring she surprises me with her incredible color, vitality and health. No one would ever accuse me of having a green thumb, but apparently, I do have a violet one.

Enough Said

Today, Karen & I cleaned unit #3 after a 4 day stay by the filthiest, most ignorant people who have ever stayed at the Dixie Belle in the entire 7 years that we have been the owners. Other than saying that when they checked in, they looked like cast members from "Deliverance," I shall keep my mouth shut.
Enough said.

I forgot

I forgot murder was a crime. Kidding....... I forgot that I was a lousy seamstress. Aside from making curtains, lately I've not sewn anything of a wearable nature.

However, there's a memorial service at the VFW next week for a girlfriend who left us when she was way too young. Judy had just turned 70. A very classy lady.

All auxilliary members wear their vests to the services in honor of a departed member & I don't have a vest, so I needed to embark on this sewing project. Here I'm thinking, wow, I can whip that simple thing out in a day. I forgot. Cut it out, cut out the facings, cut out the interfacing. Just one disagreeable task after another. After two days of factory type labor all I have left to do at this point, is hem it and do the dreaded topstitching. (Need to be sober for that) Then I can take it to the embroidery lady in Panama City to do the logo.

I was always told that the mark of a good seamstress is that the garment looks as good on the inside as on the outside. Giving myself a C for the outside, you don't want to look inside. Trust me.

The vest pictured belongs to The HO, but don't think for one moment that she made it. She got lucky when her friend moved away & left it to her. Bitch.

I

Armed & Dangerous

Yeah, that's a cat in my inbox.

Yesterday while Dan was on the phone taking a reservation, she sat smack in the middle of the reservations book. The day before, she ripped a page out of the same book. Violet also likes to sit on the newspaper while I'm reading it and helps (her word for it...) me with my crossword puzzle each morning. Just like she helps me make the bed.

So, yesterday I went to the local arsenal, otherwise known as the Dollar Store & stocked up on compact & colorful weapons. The store was filled with old ladies (oops! crap, I forgot, I'm one of them). One of them remarked on my weapons purchase. When I told her they were intended to tame an unruly feline, she, as well as several of her friends followed suit & filled their baskets with pistols of every size and color. I was asked what ammo I used & recommended the least lethal, h2o.

This morning, while I was in my business checkbook, my darling Violet knocked it to the floor causing the rings to open and a year's worth of check stubs to scatter all over the office.

I pulled out my trusty purple water gun & let her have it right between the eyes. She may be a slow learner, because she returned to my desktop several more times & several more times took a hit in the face. Right now, she's not speaking to me. I can live with that.

Margaritaville

This is going to sound like an advertisement for Margaritaville & it probably is. I love the one in Panama City Beach! Been there twice, this time with girlfriend Joyce & her hubby Chuck from Oregon and as for Joyce, in the distant past NJ. She was Joyce Carpenter, Miss Margate 1961.

The last Margaritaville I went to was New Orleans & Dan & I enjoyed it very much. Danielle tells me the Orlando Mville is pretty awesome. The newest one in PCB is just too much fun. It's two levels with a mainly nautical decor to include faux boats as seating. After our second visit we felt the employees were unusually friendly and actually seem happy in their jobs.

It's hard to miss Jimmy's seaplane hanging from the ceiling or the spanish fort replica on the wall, replete with cannon. The upper level sports a conning tower and on the ceiling is a map of the Americas with all the Mvilles depicted by red stars. Both levels have outdoor decks, but the best sunset view is from the upper deck.

As you are sitting there enjoying the island ambience, suddenly every monitor in the place starts showing Jimmy's "Jamaica Mistaica." You know something is happening but are still surprised when the spanish fort cannons fire on Jimmy's plane. Boom! Boom! The smoke is pouring out from the cannons when the plane itself begins to smoke from the engines. When the bomb bay opens, down comes a disco ball and from the disco ball emerges a giant shaker of salt. The crowd goes wild and the music segues into Margaritaville.

Ya just can't beat this place for fun.

Rant

Last week I had a dr appt. I was sitting in the waiting room with another woman around my age when the male nurse, at least 20 years younger than either of us, stuck his head out & said Ok young lady, come with me. I looked up & said, "which young lady are you speaking to."

The "young lady" thing irritated me, but I didn't give it a lot of thought until I got home. Then I got even more irritated. Was he my father? NO Was he an older than me by at least 20 yrs? NO Then where the hell does he get off calling me or the other woman in the waiting room "young lady."

When a younger man calls an older women "young lady" it connotes disrespect. It's demeaning and insulting. We deserve a certain amount of respect when being addressed. I'm OK with Ma'am, Mrs. McDonough and the southern tradition of calling an older woman miss, as in
Miss Michele. Calling me by my first name is presumptious but I will accept that.

Due to my age and experience, I feel I deserve a certain amount of respect from those younger than me. A girl would never, ever refer to an older woman as "young lady," so why should we accept it from a young man.