Join Me in Snarkville

I got back from Victoria, BC yesterday afternoon.  I felt a little overwhelmed as I got back into the US and turned on my cell phone and it wouldn’t stop getting e-mails.  WOW, I get a ton of junk.  But that’s not important let’s move on.

I took the Victoria Clipper over to Victoria.  It is a two and a half hour trip up there and it was a blast.  I met the head of the group department for Victoria Clipper who will be important to my little Sea Socks cruise.

Once we got to Victoria, we went to Butchart Gardens.  It is an old family gardens, huge, in bloom and frankly not my thing.  So, when the tour ended, I headed off to have lunch (VERY good fish and chips).  However, since I went to lunch quickly, I ended up eating with the Victoria Clipper guy AND the head of Marketing for Butchart Gardens.  Needless to say, I also didn’t PAY for my lunch (probably good karma to make up for my dinner the night before).  I also didn’t spill anything on myself.  It is so rare, that I felt I must share.

We stayed in the Empress Hotel overnight.  My room was delightful — including a walk in closet.  If it wasn’t so dang expensive, I’d suggest everyone go stay a week — but alas, if you have that kind of money, please adopt me.

Now I was not without my embarassing moment.  You see, after the gardens, we got to go shopping in downtown Victoria.  I was off to find a yarn store that I knew was there.  I walked.  I walked.  I walked.  Ultimately it turned out to be 7 blocks north and then 5 blocks east before I found my shop.  My word, I was tired.  We had about an hour to shop, check into the hotel, and meet back for afternoon tea.  At 5 minutes before I was supposed to be back for tea, I was leaving the shop.  Hmmm — last I checked, I could not bend the space/time continium, so I was going to be late.  Ok, no biggie — let’s just try to get there.  Well, as I walked at a brisk pace back, I remembered that during lunch I had a long conversation with the “guys” about tour groups who leave people who are late and what they really say about them.  Let’s leave it at eye opening — and caused me to pick up my pace more.  I was horrified that I was going to be so late.  I walked in, walked right past the group, walked around the group 4 times before realizing that’s where I was supposed to be.  I got squished into a table and then they brought me the sandwiches, pastries, and sweets for TWO — since I was late.   Ok, I ate; laughed and enjoyed my tea.  It was delightful.

We were then told we were on our own for the evening.  I promised to introduce one of mynew friends to my favorite bath store, Lush.  I checked in; got to my room and changed my shoes.  We went shopping and I turned in for the night.  The next morning, I followed directions and brought my bags to the bellman.  When I explained who I was, he looked at me like I had three heads.  Ok, I explain I’m part of this group.  He asked for things I didn’t have — namely an Orange tag on my bag.  But he found a list with my name on it and sent me on my way, saying “I’ll take care of it.”  I tried not to worry.  When I got to the Clipper pier to return to Seattle, I was greeted by others in the group who had been quizzed by said bellman if I was REALLY in the group.  I tried not to worry.  We sat with the Clipper guy, and I shared my little twinge of concern — it went something like: “If my bag isn’t there, I blame you.” He tried to laugh it off and promised if it wasn’t there they would bring it to me.  Ok.  Now, why was I missing the Orange tag you might wonder — because I was LATE to tea!!!

My bag did arrive.  I made it to my new hotel (For those counting it is three hotels in three days).  I’m without roommate because my roommate missed her flight.  I’m about to head off to breakfast.

Last night we had a cocktail hour.  I asked the bartender to make a favorite drink of mine, a cosmopolitan.  He looked at me and asked, “What’s in that?”  I responded, “How long have you been a bartender?”  I taught the man to make a good cosmo.  I’m *SO* useful in that way.