Conversatoins with guests: Holiday Edition!

Phone rings, I answer:

Thank you for Calling the Eden Roc Inn & Suites. This is Tara, how may I assist you?

What's the name of this place?

(In a louder volume, thinking maybe they just couldn't hear very well) The Eden Roc Inn & Suites.

Oh, okay. It's the right place. Umm, can I talk to Mr. Luis.

Okay, (checks the computer for a guest by that name) I'm sorry I don't have anyone by that name here. Is that his last name?

No it's his name.

Okay, well what is his last name?

I don't know, his name is Luis.

Okay, well without a last name, I can't find who you are looking for.

Well, he works there, the guy at the desk.

I don't have anyone that works here named Luis, not even anything close to Luis.

Oh, well I want to make a reservation but I was to talk to him. He's a mexican guy, with brown hair. he speaks spanish.

Okay well that describes all but 2 guys that work at the desk.

Oh, but I need to talk to him. He's the guy that works at the desk.

Well "Luis" doesn't work here. And I am the only girl that works in the front office, so I don't really know who you are looking for.

Well can you tell me all of the names of the people that work there, maybe I will remember his name.

(Didn't she just say his name was Luis?!) I'm sorry ma'am, I can't give the names of all of our employees to you. You can call back later and see if you get a hold of who you are looking for.

Okay, well can you tell me when he's going to be there?

Ma'am, I don't know who you are looking for so how can I tell you when he will be here?

But I need to talk to him!

Ma'am, I'm sorry, I can help you make the reservation if you would like.

No, I need Luis.

Then I am sorry, I can't help you.

Okay, well I will call back later for him.

Okay, have a great day.



Serisouly, I'm not kidding, this is how my Independence Day has been since 7am. Nothing but interaction like this, both on the phone and in person. Its been a rough rough day, and I still have 2 hours left.

Three strikes!!!

So an elderly gentleman drives up to my hotel, gets out of the car, and comes into the lobby. He was searching for a fellow traveler of his and wasn't sure if this was the correct hotel. He gave me his friend's name, I located him in the computer and offered to call the room for him. Of course, his friend was not in the room. So the gentleman asks if he can leave a message for his friend. I immediately grab a pen and paper for him to write his message, place it in front of him, and attempt to had the pen to him, and say "Here is a pen and paper for you to write your message sir." The man looks at me (or at least I think he was looking at me) and says, "Oh hunny I'm legally blind. I can't write it. Will you write it down for me?" Completely dumbfounded, I take down the information he gives me, he thanks me, and turns toward the door to leave. I mean, turned and FELT for the door, and hopped back in the car, and drove off.

Please go back and re-read that first paragraph and see if you catch on to why I was dumbfounded.

Yes, that's right, he's legally blind, and DROVE HIS CAR HERE AND DROVE AWAY!!!!!

Beware folks, this man has three strikes when it comes to driving

1. he's legally blind

2. he's old (and I mean old, like got to be in his late 70's)

3. he's a tourist from Indiana

Sorry sir, there's a three strikes law in California, please hand over your driver's license and refrain from operating any motorized vehicle except maybe a hoveround/scooter type mode of transportation that is not really considered a lethal weapon.

I mean really! I swear it felt like the scene in the beginning of House Party 3 when the group of blind guys get in the VW Bug, one sits in the seat on the hood of the car, buckles his safety belt, and sits there with his walking stick out hitting crap with it as they drive off! (I know this because sadly I watched House Party 3 yesterday! Don't judge!)

But truthfully, in all honesty, I worry for his safety and the safety of the other thousands of drivers on the road, and pedestrians on the sidewalks in the city of Anaheim tonight! People like this man are how people get run over, or hit with cars, or the wrong pedal gets pushed and people end up pinned between cars or litterally run down at a Farmer's Market. Why doesn't his family care enough to tell him "Grand-dad, its just not safe for you to be driving anymore!"

Remind me not to go to Indiana anytime soon if they still allow people like this man to drive.