Brought to you by the letter "B"

This post is being brought to you by the letter "B".  As in "Broke-Ass", which is exactly what my accounting software is right this second.  You may not know this about accountants, but without our software, we're often dead in the water.   Lucky for me, this represents a small reprieve from the 14-15-hour work day that is typical for me just about now, and THAT means that I finally have two seconds to catch up here.  Hell, I may even be able to answer some emails/comments!  Sweet!  Oh, sure, I SHOULD be filing and cleaning up the eleventy-million piles of crap from the desk/floor, but I'd rather do this instead.  So there.

Let's see......when last I was here, we were heading off for a romantical adventure.  It was fun, it was romantical, and best of all, it turns out that there was indeed snow (note to self: never trust a native New Hampshireite when they seem non-committal and unimpressed about the amount of snow on the ground.  That apparently only means that you don't need your XC skis to get from your house to your car.), and we did indeed get to ski.  I was even able to temporarily, um....'modify'....my ski pants to fit - IF I pulled them way up over the belly such that the waistband was situated perilously close to the bottom of the bra.  I know.  Can't you JUST imagine how sexy that was?  Once the jacket was on it was fine and we had a lovely morning of XC fun, but I do kind of wish we'd thought to get a picture - what with it being the HEIGHT of ridiculous fashion "don'ts".   We did, however get a few photos of the glorious day we had, but, since it never occured to me that I'd have time to post today, the camera is at home.  I'll try to remember to post them later tonight.

Fast forward a week filled with more sad worky-works and a nasty ice storm, and then it was time for SPA.  I love SPA, I do. I love the whole fabulously casual idea of it, and each year I come back more and more in awe of this community we share, this gaggle of knitters that I so accidentally fell into.  The fun, the friendships, the shopping.  I can't ever imagine missing it, no matter HOW hard the crowds are for my little claustrophobic self to take, and no matter how many people I end up not getting to sit and chat with because my little system goes into 'shut down' and I have to run screaming from the room. :)  Even with all of that, I love the energy, the sharing, the people, the new faces and the old familiar ones, and maybe I love the shopping a litle too much.  Maybe. As a matter of fact, I love pretty much everything about SPA.

.....everything, that is, except the venue.  Now, before anyone gets all up in arms about what I'm about to say, know that I realize that this group has expanded EXPONENTIALLY in the last couple of years.  I recognize that we have definitely outgrown the Portland Doubletree's facilities, and that it is probably time for the group to move on to larger digs.  All of that being said, no matter how nice the staff is, as a former worker in the hotel industry (and a restaurant manager for the Doubletree chain specifically, among others), I can tell you that they could not have been LESS prepared for us.  If this were our first year there, it would be easy to cut them some slack, but it wasn't, it was the 5th.  The gross lack of preparedness and staffing was insane to the point of being insulting, and after the service debacles LAST year, there is NO WAY that they can say that they didn't know what to expect.  With any luck, the organizers can find a new place with more space for us all, but if that's not feasible, I can only hope that this hotel can get it's act together and staff appropriately next year.

But even if they don't?  Even if it means that I have to sit in a corner in the lobby by myself with my wheel?  I'd still have to keep going.  It's just too damned much fun to miss. 

Comments

[Ella]

If I ever make it to SPA, I'll be joining you in the lobby! I was trying to explain to my 14 year old son today, why going into our huge bank makes me feel claustrophobic, or I sometimes just have to get off the city bus for no apparent reason.

[Sara]

I was only a daytripper to SPA this year but I did notice that the staff seemed rather overwhelmed by all of us attendees!

[Juno]

ski pant wedgie?

[Beth S.]

Gah, you're making me so envious! Next year I'm going, dammit.

You must be feeling pretty good if you're out and about in your ski gear. This is excellent news. :-)

[Martha]

Completely agree with you about the Doubletree. The service was beyond appalling, esp in that lounge/bar at lunchtime. Yes, there were a lot of people, but it's not like they didn't have 5 years experience and a sold-out hotel. Still, it was fun.

[Laurie]

I cannot picture the XC ski stride AND the position of those pants co-existing. It must have been...uh...invigorating.

The Doubletree? Yeah. Classic muggles. But what are ya gonna do?

[elisa]

Amen, Sistah! You expressed everything I've been feeling about SPA perfectly.

And seriously? I am so sad that you have no pictures of the XC outfit. So. Sad.

[Chris]

Hee hee - the mental image of the ski pants is pretty good. I desperately want to come out for SPA sometime - but maybe after the venue thing gets sorted out.

May the rest of the tax season treat you kindly...

[Helen]

Thank you (really and truly) for good, constructive criticism and thoughtful comments on SPA '07. The planning group hears you and at just the right point in the planning process for next year.

[frecklegirl jess]

Glad you had a lovely romantical trip- love that word. (so far away now, huh)

I definitely felt the same way about the location of SPA- it could be so much better if there was actual room for everyone to sit and spin. I did have fun in the room with you guys though. :)

[blogless sharon]

I agree with you spa is great but the service was poor.We waited two hours for lunch in the bar.

[Kim]

I completely understand the claustrophobic thing! Even in Walmart, I tell my DH, that I just can not go in the deep end...eekk! I like those corners close to the door too...LOL.

Glad you had fun skiing in NH...even with a wedgie...haha!

[Elinor]

LOL. I like the image of the belly with ski pants. I'm sure I looked pretty silly in my running clothes when I was pregnant!!!