Photo courtesy P. Rickrode
So, we’re coming up on two years now since we made the big cross-country move and relocated to Mississippi. Innkeeping has been rewarding and challenging and . . . a real learning experience that will forever change the way I stay at hotels, motels, and/or B & B’s in the future.
I’ve met some amazing people, lots of foreigners, and a few folks I hope to never see again. Yes, there are THOSE people in the mix.
While my life is never boring, I go to bed exhausted, and I rarely have leisure time any more, I enjoy this new lifestyle a lot. Because I am also trying to be a writer (I really am a writer, but some days it feels like eons since I’ve visited my manuscript; today is one of those days), I pay attention to certain things that most folks probably wouldn’t spend two seconds pondering.
Here are a few interesting things I’ve observed over the past 24 months:
Number 1: Men eat faster than women.
Number 2: Rarely are husband and wife both early risers. Usually one is up at the crack of dawn wanting coffee while the other crawls down to breakfast at the last possible moment.
Number 3: More people, a lot more, use real sugar than Sweet and Low.
Number 4: Hardly anyone pushes a chair in when they’ve finished sitting in it.
Number 5: Foreigners, particularly Europeans, almost always turn off the air conditioning units. (I know – 90 degrees outside with 95 percent humidity and they turn the cooling units OFF. Weird.)
Number 6: Military vets keep their rooms cleaner than the average guest.
Number 7: Everyone loves dogs. Truly. I’ve not had a guest yet who was afraid of our dog or upset that we have a dog. And they LOVE our old guy to pieces. Some people go in search of him to say good-bye when they leave.
Number 8: The most commonly asked questions is: “Where’s a good place to eat?”
So there you have it. My keen eye for the oddball stuff. What observations have you made in your day-to-day world? Anything that you find interesting that the average person probably doesn’t even notice?
Word of the Day: Savin(e)
Fun fact about me: I don’t think I make a very good boss.
Original post by Jansen Schmidt, June 2017. Photos courtesy Google images and P. Rickrode.
jansenschmidt 
Good morning sunshine! Your too for where to eat was spot on – it was close and had that feel of the south we were looking for… at first J balked and wanted to grab a bite to eat when we got home, but it would have been too late. Intersting observations, though II usually eat slowly, unless I am alone and I would be up early, too. And yes, I’d probably need to say good night to the puppy even though I know he’s no longer a pup. I enjoyed my short visit and hope to get back and visit again. Have a great week and keep finding intersting words. One final comment – is the photo of you a recent photo or from the time when you moved in? Just wondering.
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The photo of me and my husband in front of the welcome sign was taken about a week after we arrived in Mississippi.
I sure enjoyed your visit. I’m glad you took the time to come in search of me. It’s always nice to put a voice to a face. I hope to see you again soon.
Take care and have a great week.
Patricia
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Has it been two years already?! I salute you for sharing your minutes with guests, some deserving and others not. I can’t imagine not having weekends and evenings off from work, or dealing with a revolving door of people every day. I hope you get some writing downtime soon!
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(sigh) I am so discouraged lately with regard to writing. Every time I think I’m making progress something shuts me down. We’ve been so busy since February that I haven’t had hardly any time to do anything. Even with housekeeping help now, I’m still doing something every minute of every day. Something’s got to give real soon. I feel like I’m prioritizing, but apparently I need to re-examine again.
Anyway, enough about that. Running a successful business is nothing to complain about. And, yes, two years has flown by. I hope we stay this busy and successful (at least until the mortgage is paid off) for many more years.
Thanks for your support. I appreciate seeing you’re lovely smile every Monday.
Patricia
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Interesting! Though most of those don’t surprise me. Especially about your dog.
I notice poor design and typography, especially on signs. A side effect from years of working in graphic design, I guess. Also typos, or incorrect punctuation. That’s a writer thing. 🙂
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I know what you mean about noticing bad grammar and typos. I see that stuff all the time. My husband responds to all of the reviews people leave on Trip Advisor and such and he’s often guilty of bad grammar and such. I try not to say anything, but sometimes it’s embarrassing. Oh well. What’s a girl to do?
Thanks for stopping by. I hope things are moving along smoothly in your relocation endeavor.
Patricia
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Wow, two years already! Have really enjoyed following your journey. I know one other person who’s an innkeeper and she said the same thing, never a dull moment but exhausting! Hoping you get some more writing time in this summer (hardly, it’s high season, right?)
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Debra, it is hard to believe that it’s been two years. Time flies by and we’ve learned so much about old houses, antiques, Vicksburg, the South, lots and lots of stuff. It has been a good change for me and I’m loving it here.
I do wish I could find some more time to write, but running a successful business is nothing to complain about. It’s takes hard work and dedication so I know I’ll carve out the time somewhere. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.
Thanks so much for visiting and for you support. It means a lot to me knowing that folks are following my journey.
Have a fabulous week.
Patricia
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Loved your list! I can’t imagine why anyone would sweat in the heat on purpose. Ha! Takes all kinds.
Thanks for bringing this to the party. Have fun “mingling” with the guests. Lots of new faces this time!
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Thanks Susie. I love your blog parties. I almost always meet someone new.
Thanks for doing that and welcome home!
Patricia
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We are so dog people and will always play with them if staying at a hotel or B&B is they have one. Cats too. OMG – we must have the AC on! Yeah, I don’t get how people can sleep in a sweaty bed!
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Right? If it’s too hot I can’t even think about anything except how hot I am. I’d rather have it freezing and huddle under a blanket.
And, I am glad to know you’re a dog (and cat) person. I thought we might have a few folks upset about the presence of a dog, but nope. Everybody loves our Sherlock.
Thanks for visiting.
Patricia
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I love all animals. It’s so hot and humid here. Writing a blog post about it right now.
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I love this!
I am European (at least until the Brexit mess is finalised) and I am sitting in a hotel room with the air conditioning off right now! It’s not that I have it off the whole time, I just don’t want it on the whole time either…it really dries out my skin as I’m just not used to it.
The main thing I’ve asked about wherever I stay is where the best food is…so I am totally stereotypical. How uncool of me!! 😀
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I don’t mind at all that you’re stereotypical. We love meeting all the foreigners who visit. Everyone has something cool to talk about. One day I hope to get to Europe. Who knows, I might even turn off the air conditioning.
Thanks for swinging by. I saw you over at Susie’s party. I hope you’ll stop back again sometime.
Patricia
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Thanks Patricia!
I have a friend who is just starting a new B&B in York. I’m going to send her your link so she knows what to expect. 😉
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[…] About three years ago I wrote a blog post about some interesting things I had noticed about innkeeping and inn guests from my two years experience in the business. If you’re interested in reading that, here’s the link: https://jansenschmidt.wordpress.com/2017/06/26/observations-of-an-innkeeper/ […]
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