I am not sure I get what makes Calistoga so desirable in the eyes of travelers. Sure, there are wineries all around the area and yes, you can get a massage and a mud bath in Calistoga and there are tons of places to eat. But really, that can be said of any town in the wine country, with the exception of the promise of a mud bath. (I had one inn guest in Healdsburg who said "....and I found mud for weeks in places I never knew existed on my body and I don't mean that in a good way.") As you drive into Calistoga it is a collection of ramshackle, faded cottages that appear to never get sun, surrounded by dense foliage. As you get closer to town some of the cottages turn into quaint (i.e. old) lodging establishments. Once you are in the town, there are more places to stay here in this town of around 5,000 than one can imagine. Probably about 50 commercial inns, cottages, lodges, spas, hotels, motels. Prices from $20 a night to over $900 a night. Something for everyone's budget, obviously.
But you drive down the main street, Lincoln Avenue, and before you know it you have done the entire town and it is as if you are nowhere. Or it is like you could be anywhere. It is a collection of shops and eateries and specialty stores and cute things like dream-catchers but it all seems so unnecessary and trite. Oh, wait, that could just be my attitude about things like dream-catchers and needless commercial junk. So perhaps my lack of feeling about Calistoga is more about my dislike of over-buying and spending money (that I clearly don't have) on gratuitous "stuff."
Ah, I feel much better now. Imposing my value system on a small town is silly. Better to let the hoards of tourists impose theirs and thus generate revenue for shop and restaurant and spa and hotel owners. It is, after all, the American way. Go free enterprise! Go personal debt! Go heedless and needless purchasing power of the masses!
Cynical? Me? No. Just in awe, once again, of how the world really works.
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I am not going to write about how we all have so much to be thankful for. But I am going to write about how great my Thanksgiving dinner was! Two stuffings, a really delicious turkey with moist and flavorful white meat which I usually never eat. Excellent cranberry sauce, silky mashed potatoes, brussels with bacon and delicious pumpkin pie, everyone was happy. Gabe and Annie, Steve and Martha and me. Small group, great food, relaxed, got to talk to each other without tons of people around, had good wine, no one drank too much and we all got leftovers. Very nice.
Working at the inn in Healdsburg this weekend, there's a little family staying with us, a Mom and Dad and two sons and a daughter-in-law. Possibly Russian, definitely at least Eastern European, and quite odd. (No worries, I am sure they will never read this blog. But then, there is that Eastern European Mafia thing.......) Mom drinks only decaf with skim milk but after brewing an entire pot she only had about an inch of coffee in her cup and filled the rest of her cup with hot water. Dad drinks green tea, uses the same tea bag for three cups, thrifty! Son one has his own tea leaves, uses the hot water, eats an avocado for breakfast and the fritatta I cooked. Son two eats without restraint, drinks nothing. Daughter-in-law eats the fritatta and one piece of toast (none of the three bread eaters want butter) but spurns my fruit in favor of her own tangerine. I was informed, politely, that daughter-in-law and son will leave early tomorrow morning to avoid french toast. Son one might eat it as well as the Dad. Mother will only have scrambled egg whites. No toast. Fruit, perhaps. Gosh. At least there will be two other couples tomorrow morning who will be happy to have bacon and french toast and fresh fruit and coffee.
Ah well..... who cares, really. Come to a bed and breakfast inn and you get what they cook. It was requested that I make poached eggs and whole grain pancakes. Sorry, not on my watch.
This is the time of year that we all need to figure out what we spent on a turkey and wine and all the accouterments and then send that amount, or some amount, to a favorite charity. Even me, with a depleted bank account, is sending some money to St. Anthony's Dining Room. So come on, pony up, and give. Just a little. Even ten bucks makes a difference.
OK, time to mind my turkey soup, which I wasn't going to make but I figured, "hey, free food!" And the broth is friggin tasty. I think the key is browning the leftover bones and then deglazing the pan with white wine and letting it simmer very slowly for a couple of hours. I will add sauteed garlic, fresh ginger, some hot peppers tomorrow, along with red pepper, snap peas, mushrooms and perhaps some rice and have dinner for several days.
Gorgeous weather. Go for a walk.
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Brought back to my attention by a short article in the SF Chronicle, and by Jenn and Stacey, I must comment on my love for the glass elevators at the Westin St. Francis Hotel. When the kids were little we would take BART into SF (or sometimes drive) and I would get my hair cut on Maiden Lane or at the old I. Magnin (closed in the early 80's.) Jenn and Gabe would wait for me and then we would go to the Westin Hotel on Union Square and slowly stroll through the lobby, like we belonged there. We would look at some of the jewelry on display, especially the case of charms that would have gone on a charm bracelet and we would have a little conversation about which ones we liked, the small dog and the tiny house and the one with the little arrow through the teeny heart. We would then mosey over to the elevators. Not just the regular ones, but the bank of elevators that were glass! You had to know where they were and we did.
We were very happy when we got the entire elevator to ourselves. Sometimes if there were other people on with us we would get off at some random floor and catch the next one going up in the hope it would be empty. We would take it up to the top floor and push the "STOP" button to try and make it stay there, just for us. The view from there was and still is incredible. That was when the Embarcadero freeway was still there and before the SF Giants ballpark was built, of course. (It would be cool to see it now.) But you could see all the way across the city, across the bay and a good portion north and south and it was as if you were suspended in midair. It was such a floating feeling, like we could reach down and pick up cars and buildings, they seemed so small because we seemed so high above them. We would take the elevator back down to the lobby and if we were lucky again no one would be on the elevator with us and we would ride it straight down, we could simply free fall (it seemed) through the floor to the lobby. Just watching the ground racing up to meet the elevator was quite the rush, like we were plunging into darkness and into the depths of the unknown.
The three of us could spend a good half hour or more amusing ourselves this way, going up and stopping at a floor, then getting back on and continuing to the top. The best thing was that it was FREE! It still is, of course, and I hope the hotel personnel don't patrol the lobby enough to thwart others who want to enjoy the ride. (We eventually found the side entrance, in case we felt like we needed to sneak into the hotel.) Just to be in that elevator, hanging out on the side of the building, nothing underneath us, glass all around us, it was one of the best things you could do in the City.
Makes me want to do it again, right now. I can't wait to take Sam and (a while later) Henry and introduce them to the joys of riding the glass elevators at the Westin. The other ones to see are the inside glass elevators at the Embarcadero Hyatt Regency which are pretty amazing and beautiful too. They don't have the same attraction because they aren't outside but they are still fun. At Christmas time their huge lobby is lit up with thousands of lights hanging down like brilliant strings of vertical stars.
check the Hyatt out: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kumasawa/5280227021/
Go find free and fun things to do, no matter where you are. Every city has them, whether it is Fort Worth or Chicago, NY or SF. We just have to look for them.
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While I was imprisoned in Texas (just kidding, Jenn) I had the privilege of watching the second season of "The Big C" and loved it. I am just now watching the first season and it is equally as good. The acting, the dialogue, the entire premise is perfect, at least to me.
First we have Laura Linney who has never been better and honestly I have never seen her turn in anything but a stellar performance in any role. In this, she seems like all of us, trying to deal with cancer (duh, no spoiler there, it's the Big C) on her own without telling her family but knowing she will have to clue them in pretty soon. Every thing she does, every move she makes, every stilted conversation she has seems like how we would act and talk. She makes us identify immediately with her character from the first episode, wanting to dig a pool in her front yard so she can teach her teenage son how to goof off in the pool and do silly dives.
Then we have Oliver Platt, not the obvious choice (to me) to be her husband but the difference in the two characters makes it work and it works fine, at least up to this point in the first season. They are living apart because she is tired of being his mother-waitress-servant-cleaning lady. He can't figure out why she doesn't want him in the house. The two butt heads and reasonably so. He is the kind of guy who shows up at the house with flowers but then wants you to go find a vase to put them in and, while you are at it, get him a beer.
The supporting cast is equally as good, everyone is fleshed out and given some foundation to work with as tangential characters.
It could just be me, I could be reading something into this first season that is too deep or too important. But I am loving it for all the right reasons: acting, script, editing, filming and music. And I can't ignore the emotional context. It is very good. It isn't maudlin, it isn't gratuitous and it certainly isn't sad. Poignant at times, yes, but mostly real and sometimes just purely funny. Check it out. It is available on Netflix so it is probably in the library system as well.
Two thumbs up from here.
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Trying to keep things as simple as possible, I am moving very few things into my new tiny place. I have a new bed which is quite comfortable, a few pots, pans, dishes, glasses, towels and clothes. One wooden folding chair and a very small bedside table that is about 18 inches square and serves as my personal dining table. No other furniture right now. I have emptied out most of the boxes and have a few to return to Gabe and Annie's garage or Tom's barn because there is only so much silverware one person needs and I don't have room to store very much stuff. My goal is to get a small couch, a bookshelf and a table that can seat more than just me. I am in no rush to get any of this stuff, other than for comfort. Sitting on the new bed and reading is fine but I know a comfy sofa would be better. And it would be awkward to invite someone over for dinner and have no place for them to sit. "Hey, you want to come over for dinner and bring your own table, chair and perhaps a small sofa for the evening?" Just doesn't smack of hospitality.
But otherwise, it's fine. It is quiet at night and a space heater keeps it warm. It has, of all things, a real flush toilet and the water in the shower is hot! These small things are not so small after all and I am enjoying their availability.
The neighborhood is great, all single family homes built around 1930 or so and up to the 1950's I suppose. Most are older, little bungalow houses and there are wonderful tree-lined streets, perfect for walking the dog. There is a church a block away that chimes the hours, quarter and half hours all day long, which I love. Leaves on the trees are changing so it is quite beautiful right now. There is a small corner neighborhood market three blocks away and downtown Santa Rosa is about a half mile away, so quite close. Cooper and I are taking a lot longer walks than we did previously. He seems to like the place, or at least he likes the bed. There are squirrels and cats he would prefer to chase but I keep him on a short leash, literally, in that regard.
That's it. Just an update. Will post some photos soon.
Having worked in the lodging business off and on for more than 20 years, I am still astonished by some of the requests of guests. Actually it becomes laughable after a while because if you didn't laugh at them (behind their backs), you would have to punch them in the face. Today a woman wanted to know how early she can check into her room. "Check-in is anytime after 3:00" I politely told her. She wanted much earlier, of course, like 11:00 am. "But check-out time isn't until 11:00." She responds: "So I could check in at 11:00 if they are out at 11:00, right?" The concept of cleaning the room hasn't entered her mind. I point that concept out to her. "So then maybe we could get in at 11:30 if they clean the room right away." I point out that there are many rooms to clean and promising her that her room would be the first one cleaned and promising that it would be done in a half hour isn't something I am willing to do. She can't understand why this can't be accomplished. She is determined to get me to agree that she can check in NO LATER than noon. I won't agree to that. She is not happy. Too bad, neither am I.
I did what any part-time employee getting paid less than $14/hour would do: I told her to call the front desk the morning she is scheduled to arrive and discuss it with the manager. HA! No longer my problem.
But honestly, why does everyone think their scenario deserves to be handled in a special manner? So many people want to be the exception to the rule, no matter what that rule is. Checking in early, checking out late, getting a single night on a busy weekend, demanding a better room, a special breakfast, free wine, bringing their cat, the list goes on and on. Innkeepers love the guests who are not demanding and who are grateful to be staying in a nice place and are happy that someone makes them a delicious breakfast. Those are the guests who get the extra care. We go out of our way to get them a reservation at a crowded restaurant or we put a bottle of wine in their room or sneak them extra bacon at breakfast.
My favorite request over the years was a guy who wanted to know if we accepted pets at one of the cottages I was managing. I said we would allow a small dog. He countered with "can I bring my parrot?" For a second I was speechless. A parrot? Really? Bird poop on the floor, on the couch? I said no. He hung up.
Today I am in Calistoga working at a small inn and as I write this a car is driving up, probably guests who want to check in early. Shall I let them or shall I lie and tell them their room is not ready? Heh-heh......
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Got the keys to my new digs, going back today to measure the small rooms and figure out a usage plan for them. Something creative, hopefully. I bought a mattress two days ago, the first mattress I have purchased in about 25 years. A had no idea they were so pricey now! Last time I bought one the cost was around $200. Today that doesn't even get you a pillow. But I scored a great deal on a really nice floor model mattress that they (Sleep Train) will dry clean, sanitized and deliver to my door for about half of its regular cost. I am excited to have a new mattress for my Gramma's old bed frame.
I was signing a year lease yesterday with my new landlord and the thought of committing to a year's rent without a regular income was rather daunting. I did express that concern to him and he was fine about the hesitation, said that if it didn't work out we would work together to find a new tenant and he wouldn't keep my deposit if he didn't loose a renter for several months. It would be nice to stay there for a year (or more) and I might feel more confident once I move in and get settled. Right now it just feels a little scary.
However, the thought of only two or three more tepid showers in the trailer cheers me up enormously. I will be in the trailer tonight and tomorrow night, then down to Daly City for a night or two to see friends and gather some of my stored belongings, then back to Santa Rosa to get my stuff moved in. Hopefully Monday night will be the last night in the trailer. Sigh. It did serve a purpose and kept me warm and dry but I will be so happy to be living on solid land, not feeling the entire "building" moving when I get in and out of the shower or sit down on the pseudo-couch too quickly. God knows what would happen in an earthquake, the entire trailer would probably fall over.
That's it for today. More to follow. Photos, too, coming soon.
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The good news: I found a non-trailer place to live! A place actually with a foundation and real walls, with hot water and a toilet that flushes, with a small yard (shared) and a teeny gas stove and large outdoor gas grill! It's small, no doubt about that but I think it will be fine. Part of a duplex, main house in front, two conjoined units in back, single woman living in the other one. Martha volunteered to go with me to look at it and we were the first people to see it and I rushed my paperwork over the next day and lo and behold, it is now going to be my new home.
I still have doubts, of course, about the wisdom of committing to something for six or twelve months when I have no income except a two day a week, low paying job. The gig here at the inn runs out at the end of this week because there are no more bookings, and I don't anticipate the big winter special promotion to fill up the house in the near future. (Yes, pessimistic, I admit.) Once January 1 arrives, the previous manager will be back at work and thus, adios to me. Until it gets really busy, perhaps in late spring, it isn't a job that is demanding and so is easy for one person to handle. Without a good income, renting an apartment almost seems financially foolish. But onward I go, into the breach. If no work materializes by January 31, I can always walk away from the lease, forfeit my deposit and ....... do what? I don't know. Go back to Texas for a couple of months, I suppose.
But the thought of having a place where I can hang a picture, where I can have some of my own stuff, in a neighborhood, walking distance to downtown Santa Rosa, it makes me momentarily happy. Perhaps happy for several months, who knows? We'll see what transpires.
Other than that, my little Monday-Tuesday job in Calistoga is fine, it's easy and quiet and no one bothers me. I am still learning the system, of course, but so far things haven't been too tricky, their computer reservation system isn't very complicated and even though they are full most of the time, the guests are all out doing touristy things and they thus leave me alone. It pays crap but I get all the yogurt and granola and fresh fruit I can eat. Yumm. Check it out here: http://www.eurospa.com/ Come and stay! I can get you a really good deal, especially in the winter, seriously.
That's it. I will let you know how the move goes. For the first time in 25 years I need to buy a mattress and perhaps a small couch. A place to sleep and something to sit on, the rest of what I need I already own and is stored somewhere. In Gabe and Annie's garage or out in Pt. Reyes in the barn.
Over and out for now. Thank all of you who have been so supportive for the past few months. The journey continues........
