Kittie's Surprise

Today, being Monday is one of my favourite days.

T and B are in... and seems we order lunch too. We have a new place thanks to L's recommendation. Today I was starving... I still have not recovered from Friday's lack of food.

T ordered and being a weight watcher I insist we share... its always nice when someone else orders for you and your lunch is a surprise. We had a Turkey BLT and it was delicious.

A guest remarked that she thought we had a litter of kittens under the pool shed. I have seen a cat coming and going when I am in the pool... as we all know I like to enjoy this perk!

This played on my mind all day, I am a lover of the animals and had to rescue them and get them to the SPCA. I had not seen the mother in a few days.

Lots of sexcercisers today.... seems that 100 degree weather is a great day to be doing indoor sports. I would like to report that NONE of them made use of the pool facilities.

After a busy morning, Mr PP politley reminded me about the amount of fruit he liked in the breakfast room and kitchen. Today he requires less than I have been having. I politely reminded him that last week you requested I upped the fruit to at least 10 pieces of each. This happens a lot, the mind changing. I guess he really has nothing else to worry about! I just take it in and make a note... I am sure tomorrow it will be something else.

At the end of my shift I went out to the pool shed. To my surprise there were at least 5 kittens, possibly 6 and NO mummy cat.

I came home and went back with cat food and my cat carriers. After 40 mins I had caught 4, they were very hungry and very cute... I easily led them to my trap with a can of 9 lives!

Seems the others were a bit smarter... the storm came and I had to leave... I think there are 2 more to catch.

I popped back this evening, I didn't want them to be scared or hunted by a raccoon. I was unsuccessful and will be heading back to catch them tomorrow. Whilst I was at the hotel a guest confirmed there are in total 6 kittens, he has not seen a Mummy, but has been feeding them shrimp!

Tomorrow sees us enjoying another perk thanks to the lovely B... T, Mr PP, B and I are taking our families to see a Baseball Game !

I will be driving and you bet I will be eating a HOTDOG!

Perks of the Job

I am very fortunate to receive some 'Perks' with my job.

The pool is the best, I am able to bring my family to for a refreshing swim on a hot day.

The Fitness Center I have not used at all.

Costco Membership I am looking forward to making use of.

B she was very lucky this week, she tweeted on something and the Westside Theatre on 43rd street sent her tickets to see Love, Loss and What I Wore. It was unfortunate that B was busy and she offered me the tickets.....oh How I love the city, of course I would use them!

The night was all planned in my head.... My BFF R at my side we were meeting at the train and then heading for dinner and then to the show.... I could taste the Guinness I was going to drink from about Friday 6am.

Being a Weight Watcher the food was exciting for me... I saved all my points and ate light for the big pig out.

As the day went on my excitement grew. What to wear was a challenge, but I got there in the end.

We met as planned at the Train Station when R says to me

"Why are we not Driving?"

"I never Drive in to the NYC, I always take the train."

"Well I drive and I LOVE to drive in the city... Let me drive!"

Who was I to argue with her.... I wasn't man enough!

So off we go... on our jolly way.

Until we hit the Lincoln Tunnel.

Seems that every one was going to NYC last night...

We sat in Traffic, We laughed, We sang.... she mentioned something about slapping her for deciding to drive.

I Did.. seems not hard enough!

We joked we may even miss the Show and just eat... I was starving and I needed to eat, I was thirsty and needed a Guinness, but I sang on!

By the skin of our teeth we arrive in front of the Theatre 3 hrs after leaving the station and I dash out of the car and to the box office to pick up the FREE tickets.

I call her to tell her its OK, I got them and we have 10 mins to spare. She tells me she has parked and we head to our seats.

The line for the ladies room was very long... Good Job I didn't have a Guinness yet!

The show started, it was 100 min long.. I was already thinking I want Thai Food...

Maybe Sushi....

Great show, wonderful group of celebs telling hilarious stories about clothes and life events.

By the time we leave I could have eaten a f'ing horse, and drank its pee first. My Head was banging... I was dehydrating and famished...But hey I looked good!!

We head out to eat.... but where should we go...

I decide that we should head in the direction my BFF parked the car so that she needn't walk further than her back would allow.

She said....

"There it is over there"

"Over where" I replied as I could not see her car.

"THERE over THERE!"

"R, that is not your car"

The nice Limo driving standing by asked if her car was a Mazda... if so it was towed!

TOWED!! Holy Shit.. I am starving and now we have to go and release the car!

Have you ever tried to get cab in NYC... I have many times and find it difficult... Not tonight a 2 second wait and one stopped.

Off the the NYPD Car Impoundments... smells of horse shit... maybe there is one I can eat cos I am by this time hungrier than 10 bears!

What a place that was.. I have never seen the inside of this building before. It was a new experience for me.. all walks of life, but NO food, NO drink and NO vending machine.

To get your car back from the pound you have to have your Drivers Licence, Reg, Insurance etc. Well R had left all of the above in the car.

I had my licence so I had to give it to have access to her car to retrieve the documents she required....

After they call me and we walk to the next holding cell...I am allowed to go rummaging in her car, escorted by the NYPD blues!

Back to holding cell #1

5 or 6 times we had to tell them that it was not my car, even though they kept calling me. Eventually they work out it is R's Car and after 2 hrs we leave.

I nodded off in the car, lack of nourishment I think.

It was a very quick trip back without traffic....

We stopped at McDonalds Drive-Thru and R got Nuggets, I got a small Fries. They were cold and I didn't eat them... but I did hold her nugget tray for her so she could dip her nuggets in a combo of Sweet and sour and BarBQ sauce and drive at the same time.

When I got out the car R reminded me NEVER take free tickets again.. there is no such thing as FREE!

Today I can sit a laugh about it, even though I feel slightly robbed... a trip to the NYC without FOOD and Guinness is only half a trip.

I am owed and will go again very soon, just to eat and drink.

I may have to go alone, R is hiding in the bedroom.

But, What a great story I have to tell my grandchildren...

Me and my BFF "R" ( Big Frigging FOOL) went on an adventure to the NYC, took us 3 hrs to get there... 100 mins of a show... 2 hrs at the NYPD... 1 hrs home.

A Lifetime memory is a perk of my job.

or as Mastercard would say...

Tickets to Show $0

Cab $7

Car release fee $185

Food on Highway $10

Memory of a life time... Priceless!

Mariellen, this is for you!

Cheese Danish is back on the menu.....

Rm # 107 departed quickly and early on Saturday morning.... only to be followed by the arrival of 2 men in blue who were looking to arrest Mr J.

I guess they got a tip off, hence the swift departure.

Rm # 231 has once again ran out of money... seems the dog isn't coughing up today either. How can these people sleep at night?

Designs for a Lego hotel need to begin. Do you know how many people book a smoking room because thats all that is available and in the special requests box type NON Smoking?

Special requests are things like... Early check in, Late arrival, Pet, Rollaway Bed, Ground Floor. NOT a different room type.

So it seems they think that I can magic them out of a box and attach them to the end of the hotel?

I will keep you updated on the plans for my lego hotel.

I have ventured into the pool.... it is lovely and is my new exercise regime.

B seems to have broken workstation 1 over the weekend,. I am sure it was an accident but this is my favourite workstation and I was completely out of whack having to sit somewhere else and walk to the back office to collect my printing! I am sure it helped with my exercise though. I hope things are back to normal tomorrow. T was fixing it when I left.

I have been asked by a friend to answer the question. How often do the bedspreads get washed at a hotel?

I can only answer for my hotel... and from what I hear we are above average on this...

The bedspread is what I call the covering on the bed when you enter your hotel room. NOT the comforter/duvet/blankets underneath.

We wash ours 4 times a year, unless they have something spilt on them.

So when you arrive at a hotel...and you are a germ a phobic like me.. remove the cover before sitting on the bed.

I hope this answers your question !

Thursday Happenings.

This lady called today to say she was unhappy where she was staying and was looking for another hotel. I was not the one to answer the phone or tell her to come to us, but Mr PP gave her a rate and talked us up she couldn't refuse.

After making her reservation online so she can get a few extra reward points she called to tell me she would be arriving soon, with her 2 children.

As I thought about food... a vehicle draws in, within seconds there are 2 small children running through the flower beds outside the breakfast room...

"Oh please god NO!" my inside voice squeaked.

It took a while for an adult to come to the front desk, but sure enough she announced herself as the guest I was expecting for the other hotel.

She was agitated, who wouldn't be with those kids!

She started to tell me she was having a nightmare trip, nothing was going right, the other hotel was so bad and her kids were driving her crazy, her mother, whom she doesn't really get along with was with her and she just needed to relax.

I am thinking, check them in as fast as you can and get her out of your area.

Well, its not hard to check someone into their room... but this was!

First I ask her to fill out the highlighted areas on the card. Second pass me your method of payment. This was the tricky part.

" I will pay cash, but when I leave"!

Unfortunately, that is not possible without handing me your credit card for authorization.

She see where I am coming and hands me her card to authorise.

I had not had time to hand her the room keys when her telephone rang....

Her mother comes bounding in the front door and launches herself over the front desk demanding matches....

I was completely freaked by the weird woman.

Mrs. R finished her telephone call and asked me to reverse the authorisation I have just completed... that is not possible if you are paying cash.

She started crying and took herself off to the bathroom... by this time I had already called the B Team for backup.

Whilst standing waiting, her kids are running a muck and taking all my candy. Eventually she comes back... big black mascara streaks down her face.

She takes the room keys and wants a dolly for her luggage.

We don't have a dolly! This threw her into another tizzy.

B kindly offered to help as the lady stropped off to the car, whist the mother sat, the kids jumped on the sofa, she came back and took b's offer for help.

Poor B was a pack horse whilst the kids continued to jump on sofa in the lobby.

Why did they need so much stuff for one night?

I started thinking about how tomorrow morning is going to be, I am sure those kids are going to as well behaved in the breakfast room as they were waiting around today!

Food fight maybe?

Lets Groove Tonight!

My day started and by 8.30am I knew it was going to be a challenge.

Rm 107, Mrs J. Called me from her mobile telephone device to inform me that once again we had charged her twice for her week stay. No we have not charged you twice, there must be a Credit Authorisation hold on the account that should drop out any day as your payment was posted Sunday.

Well as you can imagine, she wanted me to deal with it right there, right now. I politely informed her that no-one was here that could authorise me to clear the hold right now and when someone came in, which I assured her would be before 10am, I would call her and sort it out.

I head to the breakfast room, because it was busy. Rm# 107 had cleared me out of most things... I needed to restock and make more coffee before another batch of departing guests wish to check out.

RING RING!!!

I dash back to the Front desk to answer the phone....

This is Blah Blah Bank calling, I have Mrs J on the line and I understand that you are unaware that you are holding money for her.

So I start.... "I can see that we posted the payment, and what you are referencing must be the authorisation which has not dropped out as yet"

"Yes said the bank. we require you to fax me a letter authorising a release on the funds."

"I have already spoken with Mrs J. and I will tell you what I told her less than 10 minutes ago... I am not authorised to do that. However if you give me a fax number I will sort it when someone who is arrives I will call her and get this sorted"

" What, you are telling me YOU are THE only person there?!"

" Yes, I am!"

I wanted to add.... "It is before 8.30.. Mrs J just left with her family and cleared me out of food in the breakfast room, she knows damn well I am the only one here!"

Now I am irritated, I have lots to do before E arrives... wanting Housekeeping reports, and here I am repeating myself. I know the coffee has brewed and now 3 people are waiting for it, Dr K is at the desk waiting to check out and the other line is ringing!!!

Please let me hang up and deal with the other things.

I hang up.... check out the Dr. and answer the other call... make a dash to put out the coffee and refill the milk jug.

RING RING !

" This is Mrs J. Are you from London?"

My mind said..."You have to be F'ing kidding me, you called me back to ask me where I am from?"

I confirmed that I am in fact from South England.

"I thought as much"

I ask Mrs. J if there is anything else she needed, I have a line of guest wishing to check out... she never gave me time to deal with them from our previous conference call with the bank. She let me hang up!

OMG its not even 8.30!!!

~

I think I might have figured out why the Americans cannot pronounce Yoghurt.... It seems they spell it wrong... They spell it yogurt... of course they are going to say yow-gurt if they spell it that way.

Please let it be known that Yoghurt is how it is spelt, and you pronounce it YOG-HURT.

~

Seems Mr. PP spoilt the Russian girls by making them a waffle yesterday. They came to the front desk at 9.45 and requested I make them Porridge.... HAHAHA!!

I point them in the right direction, but make them stir it themselves.

~

Earth, Wind and Fire took 6 rooms tonight... 2 for the tour bus drivers and the others for showering and resting....

So Lets Groove tonight.. Sing along!

Weird Happenings over night....

This morning when I arrived, I picked up the journal to have a little read of the over night happenings...

L reports weird happenings!

A smartly dressed male arrived with 3 Russian girls. He did not want to give his address or telephone number, and paid CASH for the room.

L thinks we have some newly imported Prostitutes staying with us!

At about 10am I was going between the Front desk and the Breakfast room and I saw Mr PP instructing the girls on how to use the waffle machine. I commented on what L had said and he said..." That's not them, they are too young!"

I replied..."Russian Pro's are generally YOUNG"! Well there are in the movies!

Anyway the doubting Thomas should never doubt a girl with ESPN!

He confirmed they were the residents of Rm #255, they ate and I didn't see them again. There is always tomorrow.

B and I had a hungry day... thankfully she bought her walking shoes and was able to go to the store and gets us food.

A visit from our neighbour and World Cup football. It was a good day, but lacked a visit from T!

Football is here !

As I have said before, I do like Mondays!

T was in, but we were missing B today. We shared lunch from Panera... yummy yummy!

The hotel has become Football Central... I make sure every game is on in the lobby and the breakfast room.

I love the world cup and yet again, you never know what is going to happen.

1st ENGLAND TIE WITH USA

then.....

Greece lose to South Korea, Cameroon lose to Japan and Italy tie with Paraguay.

T had some football training, she had to ask me what a yellow card was...she know understands that the game last 90 mins and yes it can end in a tie. There are such things as red and yellow cards. I haven't even touched on the off side rule yet!

I can't wait until tomorrow.

A New Record?

A couple checked in to Rm # 112 at 8.13am today, proudly handed back the keys at 8.53. When they checked in they didn't hide the fact that they were here to sexercise... but WOW, that was a short, but lets hope worthwhile workout!

Sexercising is the most expensive fitness program I am aware of at $106 for a 40 minute session, but yet so many are enjoying it!

Rm # 107 clearly dislike the other Danish flavours... way less consumed today, however 32oz of Apple Juice! I hope it whistles through you, you cheeky bugger.

I was starting to think that B has a day off today, but her smiling face arrived later after her Gold Medal Breakfast.

We decided to try a new place for lunch, what with it being payday. We were treated to delicious sandwiches and Panini, more than I could eat. B however managed to finish every morsel including the extra pickles! How does the skinny mini, stay so skinny?

We have a help wanted sign outside... and a lady popped in today to fill out an application. After siting on the sofa and completing the application she felt she needed to share her work experience with me, so that I may pass it on to the person who really needs to know. She explained she may not be able to meet the hours required, not that she doesn't want to work the hours required, her Husband may not like it. She explained how she had hotel experience... this could be a plus I guess if you decide to piss your hubby off and work the hours required. When she had finished her tale, she explained to me that she was very pleased to hear that the person hiring was female. She preferred that because she was NOT Pretty, NOT thin, basically not at all pleasing to the eyes, which apparently is what all male employers want these days!

Mr P was in the office behind and when she left and I went to put the application on T's desk, I could see he had not heard our conversation... But boy was she right, it had nothing to do with her looks, I just think he thought she would break my new chair!

I had to giggle to myself. Lets see what T thinks

Can someone please tell me why everyone wanted to check in at 2.45pm? My shift finishes at 3pm, please wait for the shift change in future L is much more fun at this hour!

Saying "NO"

Rm# 231 = A 40 something spoilt brat. I bet her mother wishes she had said "NO" 40 something years ago!

As a 38 year young woman I would be embarrassed to ask my mother to pick up my hotel bill, let alone stress her out and suck her dry of her savings. This mother really should say "NO" and mean it!

My children will thank me for teaching them at a young age that "NO" means NO, no matter how much you beg and how big you get!

Shall we take bets on who will be paying when Rm # 231 doesn't check out tomorrow?

Rm # 107 ~ Quiet, but a whole tray of Cheese Danish comsumed. I know I was taking them off the menu. Seems I should have remembered to tell Housekeeping about my evil plan!

Rm# 159/162 incurred a fee for smoking in a NON-smoking room and putting fag burns in the mattress pads. Do all smokers, smoke in bed?

Rm#114 as per our communication system at the front desk I have been warned of a bad BO problem. I have yet to see the guest and pass on the SURE.

Tuesday will not the same until September.... no more visits from T.

What a difference a weekend off makes!

I was lucky enough to spend the weekend at home.

I sometimes think about what is going on when I am not there... but you can be sure on a Monday morning I get to find out the good stuff!

I like Mondays because T and B are there...we do enjoy each others company (I think!)

As you can imagine, E was a little sleepy and cranky.

My friend Mrs M was in town this weekend, it was nice to see her this morning. She was the author of my famous comment card, she asked if I had received a pay rise yet. I informed her NO, so await another comment card soon.

Room 107 seems to have been giving everyone some entertainment. Seems they no longer can afford to Rollaway bed they had in the room, so they are down to 2 beds and seems like 6 people...How?

They eat for 10... each. I cannot believe how many Danishes these people consume. I could barely eat one they look so sweet! Seems the Cheese is the flavour they are partial too... so I am taking them off the menu this week!

Orange/Apple Juice... I think I have refilled the juice machine more times since they arrived than I have since I started working here back in Feb.

They also seem to love loud music and coffee after the hours of 9pm. Lots of complaints about the noise levels in their room. If you are going to party in a hotel, it really is best to invite your neighbours!

We have 2 other long term guests at the moment. Miss F, is going to be remembered, she is heading along the same path as Mr S from #110. She cannot communicate with the Front Desk. Seems telling us before 11 am check out that you wish to extend your stay is not going to happen, and payment.. Oh you want paying also! We tried to get the dog to pay, but it seems he forgot his wallet.

Sexercising started early this week... involving over night workout for one couple.

Regular sexercising for the others.

Holiday Weekend & Life Savers....

The Holiday weekend was a busy time for us.

Yes, the Pool is officially OPEN !

It was a full house, all rooms had bodies, which is the aim of the game everyday. Just lately it has been quiet, just like most businesses the recession has hit us.

So Sunday, over the busy period of the day I helped out. It was an eye opener for me to see people everywhere. The breakfast room completely jam packed, and people in the lobby waiting for a table in the breakfast room to open up.

What a bunch of filthy pigs! It is amazing how messy these people are. They are not the business travelers I have been so used to seeing. They are vacationers... and expect to be picked up after!

This however does not give them the right to crap in the urinal in the Mens toilet!

Seems sexercising still takes place on Holidays...

There was a car in the Car Park on Monday morning covered in Neon Post it notes, maybe notes from his friends?

Which brings me to my next tale!

Someone in their 20's came to the front desk at 5.30am asking for a pillow and a blanket. When questioned he said he was staying with his friend in Rm# 237. He was asked to confirm the name of the guest staying in the room to which he said " I don't know.... there are many of them!"

He was told we would call the room to verify to which he said " NO, everyone is asleep, do not wake them."

Obviously NO Pillow or Blanket for you!

This is not the 1st incident I have come across where guests do not know the name of the friend they are staying with!

Rm# 107 is a long term guest... I already sniff trouble brewing. Be sure to check back for more antics!

I am sure you are wondering who's life I had to save. Well, it was me who was saved... and not really my life, but my lunch. At 1pm today I was shocked to find I had left my salad dressing at home and my salad was naked. Thankfully the Manager at the Restaurant next door, lovely chap, came to my rescue with some Fat Free Tangy Tomatoe. My Salad was dressed and bloody delicious thanks to Jesse!