My Mexicans

My relationship with Mexican workers began my first year (2002) here at the Dixie Belle. We had only been here a month when I drove into the parking lot one afternoon to see a van towing a flatbed trailer with a porta-potti on board. That particular group worked for a forestry service. I let them put 4 to a room and from them I had my first lesson on the habits of Mexican working men. #1 They will always cook. In those days, my rooms did not have microwaves, and they traveled with small charcoal grills which they set up outside the rooms.

Now that we have microwaves, I do allow nuking stuff, but still no serious cooking odors or grease in the rooms. Let me qualify this by saying that we only allow this in our smoking rooms. Non smoking rooms are off limits.

It has taken 7 years to discern which Mexican workers were going to work out here and I had to come up with my guidelines. They must be clean, respectful, and quiet and I make that quite clear. If a month or longer stay is needed, they have to go through a trial period where I decide if having them is going to work out.

That said, I have had 2 work crews since early February. They are working on our new deep water port. Their spokesman is Juan. He's a charming young man. There's another crew working on the hospital project. They come in from Mon thru Fri every week. The first week, they got white paint on a brand new bedspread, but after I went ballistic on Mario they have been towing the line. My newest 2 are also early week and very respectful.

Here's what I've learned about my Mexican men: They bathe faithfully with girly soaps & gels & use those big fluffy bath thingies, (extremely vain), they will burn up a stove cooking at high heat, they leave food sitting out unrefrigerated & then eat it! Hello???? They never refrigerate mayonaise, or raw eggs. They eat them & don't die. They never turn down the bedspread. They sleep on top. They wipe their butts with TP & put it in the trash can, not down the toilet.

These are not generalizations. These are facts & true across the board. I have not encountered an exception. I have, however, tossed out those who didn't fit in. We can never eat at the local Mexican restaurant, because when they first opened, one guy rented a room then moved several more filthy people in without asking or paying. I called the restaurant on opening day & made them come clear out the room. I'm sure they'd spit in our food.

Just this past winter, we accommodated 2 rooms of forestry workers & told them they could prepare their food at the fish cleaning station out back. They did that, but I found uncovered dishes of food in my dresser drawers. They were actually nice guys, but just could not get with the program around here. I felt bad when I had to send them down the road to the roach motel.

I'm grateful for the business my Mexican guys have given me during my slow months & I'm cutting Juan and his crew a break until their job is over at the beginning of June. One thing they don't know about me is that I really don't speak spanish, but I understand more then I let on. That gives me an edge.

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.

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

How Many Tickets Do you Want?

The Ho & I did such a great job last year on the basket of cheer for St. Patty's Day at the VFW, that we were called upon this year to outdo ourselves. What you see is the result. We went with a pot o' gold theme. The array of goodies is in an ice tub from the local party store and on the gold base we put irish whiskey, Bailey's and a 6 pack of Guinness along with a ceramic beer mug and foil covered cocolate coins. I think this baby is going to generate big bucks!

On the motel front, it's been one of those weeks. In #9 the 220 line fried, putting the ac/heater out of commission. #3 leaned on the bathroom sink & it came away from the wall and he somehow overloaded the electric effectively blackening out both his room and #1. The repairman fixed #9, Dan spent 2 days replumbing and replacing the sink in #3 and the issue with the electric in #3 and #1 is temporarily ok, but need some serious looking into by a real electrician. Hopefully, he'll get here tomorrow.

The guy staying in #3 was asked to leave his previous motel, I don't know why, but I have my suspicions. Since he's been here, he broke the coffee serving table in our lobby, the sink in his room, and screwed up the electric in his room. I don't think he does these things on purpose, but we're feeling he's got a major rain cloud over his head. Just like that character in the old Lil Abner comic strip. What was his name?

Bob Dropped By

Last night, one of our guests saw a bobcat in our driveway. Then this morning my neighbor tells me that in the middle of the night she heard a scuffle on her roof and her domestic cat, Mau Mau,screaming like a banshee. I myself have never heard a banshee scream. However, I do believe we had this visitor and just sorry I didn't see it myself.

It's easy to forget that the Florida panhandle is still home to lots of wildlife. We're very rural in a lot of places and there's plenty of critters, most being driven out of their natural environments due to development. A mile west of the motel there's a bear crossing sign. My guess is that the state wouldn't have paid for that sign if there weren't some bears nearby. Bobcats are plentiful in our area, but by nature rather reclusive. I'm guessing that Dan's fish cleaning station might have been an attraction.

I welcome Mr. Bobcat. They're pretty much nocturnal like most domestic cats and they feast on rodents and other small prey (like Mau Mau.)

Nascar Room

I know, I know, it's not HGTV worthy, but I do have a Dale, Sr throw coming for the futon. Karen & I finished a deep clean and checkered flag kitchen curtains on Monday. We were very proud.

Tuesday, a couple of workers checked in for a two night stay. Wed. morning, everything looked good, but this morning when we went to turn it over we found that the new bedspread on the twin was dotted with white paint. I tried to scrape it off with my fingernail, but no go. I washed it hoping the hot water would soften the spots, but no go. I put it back inside out. So, so depressing. The carpet was also spattered with paint spots and 2 water glasses were missing from the kitchen. These same guys have a reservation for 3 days next week in a different room. I'm going to let them know that guests who cost me money are really not welcome.

Introducing Miss Violet

Yesterday, she became our newest family member. I hadn't seen her. Dan picked her out at the Gulf County Humane Society the day the VFW went to donate the money raised on Dan's Nascar doggie pool. I was pretty much expecting your average tabby alley cat. What a surprise to find that she has obvious long haired ancesters. Her coat is long & silky and she has a tail like a fox. Big and bushy. Terrific personality too, so I think we're all going to get along great. It's possible however that Wally, our betta fish, isn't going to love her quite so much.

How did I settle on the name Violet after Dan nixed all my other suggestions including the brilliant Earthakitty??? Well, I'm a fan of author Jan Karon's Mitford series and one of the protagonists has a beloved cat named Violet. I waited until I met her & realized that, yes indeed, she was Violet.

We had custody of another beautiful animal for a short while this morning. Some guests found a stunning male pit bull wandering the parking lot this morning. My god, what a prince he was. Caramel in color and an obvious pure bred with a gentle disposition. I called animal control, because this gorgeous guy was wearing a collar and I'm sure his owners were very anxious to get him back. Mid-week housekeeper, Minnie wanted to take him home & all of us were sorry to see him go.

Catamaran Couple

A couple of days ago, Dan checked a couple into unit #6, but didn't say there was anything unusual about them and I didn't ask. I have very little curiosity. I'm pretty much a live & let live person.

Yesterday morning, I went in to collect the towels and was shocked to see the room jam packed full. Not just suitcases, but boxes, appliances, a computer printer still in the box and a table set up with a sewing machine, bolts of fabric and an ironing board. Now, my rooms are small to begin with, so I was wondering how this woman was actually doing sewing projects & why.

When I told Dan what I found, he, being the more inquisitive of the two of us, knew the whole story. These folks are from Washington state & they bought a used catamaran to travel on. It has a cabin for living and sleeping. But the boat was used & in need of refreshing. They are moored in the canal down the road while they paint, recover all the cushions (hence the sewing machine) and generally remodel the interior to make it liveable.

They've been working from dawn to dusk, so I haven't had the opportunity to talk with them. I went out this morning to try and find their boat, but couldn't, so in the meantime, I took a couple of pics at our marina which is about 2 miles from the motel.

Multipurposing

I don't check the pots & pans in my kitchen units after every check out. I sorta rely on my housekeeper. Today, though, I went in #11 to strip the beds, collect the towels etc. & one of the frying pans was in the dish drainer. I noticed that the teflon was pretty scratched, so I decided it needed replacing. When I picked it up, I saw that it was quite dented and the middle was pushed up from the underside.

I brought it in to Dan, showed it to him and asked, "how do you suppose this could have happened?" After one look he told me that someone had obviously used it as a hammer. I don't know about you, but I would never, ever treat someone else's property with such disrespect. Am I in the minority?

When we first bought this place, I wanted my guests to have the best I could afford, so I splurged on dishes, pots, flatware and linens. But today I went to the dollar store and bought a set of frying pans for $10. How naive I was then. I've learned the hard way, but am still capable of being shocked by peoples' behavior.

No Vacancy?

I'm truly amazed. Here it is, traditionally one of our slowest months of the year, a midweek night at that, and we are completely sold out. We have some workers on extended stays, but a surprising number of travelers as well. I think our lower winter rates have really appealed to a lot of people. Of course, our cleanliness and cuteness doesn't hurt either.

Since the winter specials were such a success, I just went through last year's spring rate schedule and lowered all prices for March and April across the board. Just call it the Dixie Belle economic stimulus plan. If we stay busy, I can keep my housekeeping staff (all 3 of us) working and pay the bills too. I'm good with that.

Rewarding Myself

Went to Panama City today on a mission to find new doormats for the rooms. The old sisal mats are falling apart & look horrible. Mission accomplished at my first stop. The new mats are made from recycled auto tires & will probably still be looking good after I'm long gone. Hit Sam's for necessities like detergent, bleach, TP, softener and of course a couple of paperbacks at $4.88 each. Gotta love that.

Stopped in Kohl's just to look mind you, and spotted this tunic top with a price tag of $56. Uh Uh, no way. It looks purple here, but it's actually dark navy with just the right amount of bling. I decided to be undecided about it. Walked around, came back. And as I was looking at something on the front of the same rack I noticed a 40% off sign. Went around the other side & there it was. I didn't see it the first time. 40% off! Got something I really love & will look terrific with my skinny jeans. When I got to the register, guess what? Another 10% off! I'm a happy camper.

Love The Deep Clean

Karen & I have been bustin' our butts since Fri morning. Oddly enough, we were no vacancy on Thurs nite. 7 turnovers Fri morning and 5 this morning. This is not a complaint, although my back is screaming at me after making all those beds.

Our biggest pleasure is doing a deep clean & today was the perfect opportunity. #6, my "dolphin" room was vacated after a 7 week stay by a latino woman and her adorable 2 year old son. We stripped that room down to the bare walls, scrubbed everything, laundered everything, including the shower curtain, shampooed the carpet, washed the windows, light fixture etc. etc. This is a routine we do on a regular basis, but when there's a long term stay, we can't get in there to do so. Just imagine how you feel after a good spring cleaning. That's how I feel this evening.

All this room needs for now is the new lamp and benches I aquired from my dear friend Ed at Atlantic Liquidators in Hammonton, NJ. As soon as my dh clears a trail in the store room I can get busy on that project.

What's in a name

I was lying in bed a 3 AM two nights ago and I heard what I thought was scurrying in the walls behind me and the ceiling above my head. I could'nt sleep thinking about what disgusting vermin were up to while we were laying there oblivious. I was so creeped. I said to Dan , "do you hear that?" ZZZZZZZZsnort was his response.

The upshot is that the next morning I told Dan that I would give in to something that he had been trying to sell me for awhile and let him adopt a cat. I want a huntress in the house. However, I have these serious litter box, fishy food odor issues, so I haven't been a huge cat fan. He went to the Gulf County Humane Society & picked out a tabby about 9 months old. He bought food, a litter box, litter, scoop, canned food, (Ycccch) , stinks. Anyway, she will be spayed on Friday & after that, she can be picked up & brought here.

In the meantime, I discover that the "scurrying" I was hearing was not my imagined vermin but the wind blowing branches of the lemon tree against the walls directly behind & above our bedroom. Too late. I'm committed, or should be.

Once I became committed however, I become obsessed. I'm picking out the perfect spots for bed, eating, litter box etc. I want a scratch post, healthful food, toys, jeweled collar etc. My obsession however seems to have centered on a name. Dan nixed my first four suggestions. Would you immediately dismiss Fiona, Francine, Gracie, Mercedes?

Ok, regrouping, my mind went on a different tack. Who were the catwomen on the Batman series?

Lee Meriweather, Julie Newmar and Eartha Kitt. That's it!!! Earthakitty! There's no way I can turn Lee Meriweather into a cool cat name, julienewmar isn't bad, but earthakitty is brilliant. If Dan doesn't agree, I may suggest Wong Foo. Not exactly feminine, but so evocative. Besides, yesterday was Chinese New Year, so that alone would make Wong Foo appropriate.

This whole discussion is moot until I actually lay eyes on this girl. I'm going to leave this issue on the table until I meet her. Still thinkin' though.

Red Sky At Morning

When I went out this morning to get the paper, this is the sky that greeted me. I ran in for the camera so I could share this lovely sight. I take that back, I didn't run, I strolled in to get my camera. I'm slowing down. By design, not by necessity. Somehow, I haven't been able to shake that NJ hurry up mind set. It really doesn't work down here.

Two years ago, there was nothing but forest across the street. Developers came in and these "condo cottages" went up in about six months. They just came in & started stacking boxes on top of boxes. They're not ugly, they actually have that "old Florida" look, but they sure are close together. We were laughing about the residents being able to pass cups of coffee from balcony to balcony.

Tonight's sunset wasn't nearly as spectacular. In our location we do experience some dramatic sunsets, but in my experience, the best ever were from the deck of our home overlooking Lake Oneida in upstate NY.

Oh, Happy Chinese New Year! Our spiritual selves put great stock in Chinese tradition & we look forward to a steady upward trend in this year of the Ox.