The view from here 2.15.10 and thoughts from the cabana

Here is Chris, coming down the long, long water slide. All these little kids were coming down one after another, fairly slowly.... and then here comes Chris....like he was shot out of a cannon... water, splashing everywhere, almost propelling himself off of the side of the slide itself while coming around a turn. Yes, he had fun.

Thoughts from the cabana:
Where do I begin. First of all, down here, if you smile at people, they do not smile back. It's a little disheartening. I went out of my way to smile at every person I saw, and I'd say only about 20% returned the favor. I think that these people consider niceness as a weakness...

Anyways, here are a few rules from the pool that I have observed:

-Heaven forbid a person carry their own towels to their chairs.....and to have to place chair covers on your own chairs, is a travesty.

-If you feel the whim to move your chair even the slightest to catch a different ray of the sun... Oh, but you can't get off your butt to do it yourself... you must call a pool boy to do it for you.... and just for affect, make sure you speak in a really condescending tone, and then throw him a single to make yourself feel better.

-If you see a chair with some one's stuff on it, but you, in fact want that chair for yourself... you must then summon a pool boy to move said person's stuff off the chair, get you new chair covers and towels and then assemble the whole shebang for you.

-If you get the urge for a drink or maybe some food while you are sitting by the pool. Raise your hand and wave it vigorously. If as much as a minute elapses and no one runs to your aid... begin to raise your voice and call each pool attendant by name over and over and over until your immediate need is met.

-If you have children and have brought them with you to the resort, first of all, you must not only have a bugaboo stroller, but one designed by none other than kate spade, burberry or juicy couture. Also, you must have a nanny with you at all times, and if you don't have your own, the Fairmont will supply one for you. (at a small additional cost. wink. wink)

-If you go down to the restaurant for breakfast in the morning, you must make a scene and call the manager because the hostess dared try to seat you at a 2 top table, when in fact you would prefer a 6-top (even though there are only 2 of you in your party.)

-If you bring your small, tiny, fancy dog to the resort with you, make certain that you smuggle him (or her) into the restaurant, disregarding all hints otherwise, and feed him from you plate whether directly or indirectly.

-If you have teenage daughters that want to sit down at the pool patio for lunch (at peak lunch hour) and all the tables are full you MUST make a scene and throw a fit. Because of course, it is the staff's fault that they have not set out enough tables and made sure that one was open at all times just in case your daughters got hungry. Heaven forbid they wait for a table to open up.

I could go on and on, but I won't. I have to say one thing though, the staff here is so gracious, patient and attentive. I have gone out of my way to be nice to them and you can tell they are not used to that.

Another guest mentioned to me that people from Tennessee 'are SO NICE.' I've heard that before, but I totally get it now.

Wow, after this week, I feel like I live in a little 'nice' bubble.