Yesterday was one of those days where the surprises don't stop. They say bad luck comes in threes - I wonder why that expression was ever created? I started a web search but gave up when I realized I was wasting my time. As I am, writing my blog?
I work at the motel on Wednesdays. We got in at 8 and I proceeded to do "opening up" tasks, including counting the cash box. Immediately, I noticed that two $100 cash deposits were missing - they are paper clipped to receipts and the receipts were there, but no money. This is the second theft in two weeks. The other was exactly the same, but for $300. It means that someone had to unlock the front door sometime between 11 PM and 8 AM, and unlock the cash box. Only staff have keys to the front door. And, after the first theft, we started a double lock system. We have keys hidden outside, but only staff know where. The day before, we learned that a
staff's boyfriend (mentioned in a previous blog called The See Hell) had robbed the staff person's daughter of jewelry and was
ID'd by the pawn shop owner who bought the jewelry and charges are being pressed. And, that the boyfriend has a history of drug abuse, and has been in jail.
Hmmm, doesn't take too much of a rocket science brain to see where this is going. But, when confronted with this information, of course, our staff person fits the description that love is blind. Dilemma - this staff person does an excellent job and we don't want to lose her. But, as I told her, her personal life is bleeding onto her job and hurting us. I have no ability to help her make good choices, or influence her. People do what they want.
Our solution - to install five video cameras and change all locks. I am going to be able to see everything that goes on at the Sea Dell and I think it is going to be very interesting - I might have some juicy blogs in the future!
Number two bad luck came after all the theft drama, when our manager and her husband got their notice that the husband is to be deported to Guatemala to await his citizenship hearing. We tried everything in our power to get him to stay in the States but the government works one way, that's it. Never mind if you have children. You go. Our manager will go with him to wait since they have a baby and do not feel the separation would be good for the family. Once they go, he can NOT come back until the hearing is completed and there is no way to know how long it will take - months to over a year. They have to sublet their house, and we have to find substitutes for the fabulous job they do. I will miss them. Harry was
instrumental in finding them an immigration lawyer and he is also a sponsor for one of our housekeepers who just got her citizenship papers last week. Harry likes to talk, but Harry also does.
I would say the after those two pieces of bad news, number three was minor. A scorpion in a guest room. Do not freak - scorpions are common down here and not lethal. Just nasty stings. but in a room is a problem and so good old A&B Exterminating was out early for a treatment. Fortunately the guests took it in stride. Don't get the wrong impression - our place is very clean and still rated #1 out of 16 small properties in Marathon, Fl. on
TripAdvisor and we are very proud of that.
Of course considering what REAL bad luck is, this is minor. Everyone is healthy, no one is hungry and we all have shelter. How can we not be appreciative of the wonderful country we live in? People are
desperate to come here - so much so, that they say goodbye to family and friends and live in fear of discovery and deportation once they get here. We are extremely naive in our understanding of what other governments are like. For our friend to come here from Guatemala, he had to go through Mexico and pay off the police along the way. If you are a women, rape is common if you are trying to emigrate from Central America through Mexico. Did he know he would meet someone here, and fall in love, and want a better life with her here than he could have where he was born. He is a productive worker, thoughtful and decent husband and loving father. We need people like him here. Let's deport the jerk, who is a citizen, that steals from our cash box.
n imagine, with irridescent greens and blues that are actually lit up in the clear, blue Gulf stream. They are a prolific growing fish, so there is no fear of depleting the species - and, they are delicious! They hit the bait aggresively, jump and fight like crazy and when you bring one to the boat, the school often follows so you can cast with light rods and bait and continue the action. When you are trolling along, and the rod bends and the drag screams, and you hear someone yell "fish on", then it gets exciting. With multiple hook-ups and people all over the back of the boat trying to keep lines uncrossed, it can really be chaos. And, in the slow times, there is nothing like being out on the gorgeous ocean which is always full of surprises. Even the slowest fishing day is an escape from worries and a contemplative experience.
My fishing buddies were my son, Capt. Matt, my brother, Tom, and Rune and Johnny -two former fishing clients of Matt's who flew over from their home in Norway. Poor Rune suffers from seasickness, yet it didn't deter him from fishing every day, green to the gills or not. They brought us bottles of Aquavit - a liquor that is drunk in Norway to accompany rich meals and aid in digestion. HOOWEEE, firewater! I really enjoyed the company, the jokes, the laughs, the philosophizing, the political debates, everything. Good times.
