Oh on the innkeeper for hire thing...I got this attitude after a totally full house for 3 days and I spent MY TIME sharing maps, directions, brochures with these two couples who never smiled, never were friendly in the least. I provided glassed and ice for their evening booze hour on the porch. I GAVE much to them, when I didn't have the time or energy.
(Sorry if you all have heard this one before)
So two seatings, means first gets served, we bust our butts to get it all cleared and reset and the food our HOT and fresh to the next group. I AM BUSY. I AM COOKING, I AM CLEARING, I AM CLEANING UP. Guests talk at the table, it is full, that is what happens, they laugh and talk and it is fun.
After check out...I send them a nice thank you email, LIKE I ALWAYS FLIPPIN' DO, Why? Because I AM NICE. I AM NICE AND TELL THEM THANK YOU AGAIN and WE APPRECIATE YOUR BUSINESS!
They reply that they expect to see the innkeepers at breakfast. (I was in and out bringing food, clearing plates, cleaning up...) They said They expect to have innkeeper interaction and discussion while seated at the table. Those were their words. Therefore my donning this term "Innkeeper song and dance routine." I felt ABUSED by this statement. I felt USED AND ABUSED. I was so angry and hurt, I gave so much and for them to say that to me was a huge slap in the face, head on slap! Other rooms got LESS of me.
So for that, YOU PAY FOR THE B&B experience - you bloody well did not pay my hourly rate you freakin' Johns! As you can see, I am a bit miffed by this ...still.
We give WHAT WE CAN and WHAT WE WANT TO GIVE. No one is hiring this innkeeper, if I had a sit-inn then they would get a hired innkeeper in my place. They do not pay for me, ever. I am about as adamant about this as I ever can be.
And yet at the same time, we have very lovely gusts and I go beyond the call of duty. The room that checked in tonight is here visiting this town where she grew up 40 years ago...In her room is a card that says "WELCOME HOME!" On the table brownies with walnuts, plums from our tree, sodas, an ice bucket with ice for drinks, a fresh bouquet of flowers, and in their room a vase of flowers. Their room is spaciojs and comfortable, and clean! I added a new comfy chair for reading recently. There are robes in the closet. An iPod docking station. Cable TV. Central A/C. An electric fireplace. A sofa. What more do you want? I think I am pretty nice. I think they have a pretty nice set up here, with nice innkeepers who care and share..