Poking My Head Up For A Moment

[mmerriam]

I know I've been quieter than usual. I'm locked in a do-or-die struggle with the end of my novel. I know how the novel ends, I'm just not sure of the path. Until I get these last 8k of so words down, I'm going to be a little distracted. I'm pretty sure I've haven't killed enough characters or blown up enough stuff.

I've got everything set to finish the repairs to my walls, I just need to fax the quotes over to All-State tomorrow. The bad news is, I've got the bill for the plumbing (after hours Saturday rates) and while the pipe that broke was only half my responsibility, according to the Home Owners Association rules, I have to try and get the other half from the other owner myself. The HOA will provide arbitration and mediation, but that's all. This after they told me they would pay the bill and then bill me and other owner for our halves. I am…unamused.

Working on reserving a room at a B&B in Stillwater for careswen and I. We need a little getaway. If any of my flist has stayed in Stillwater, your input about a good place to stay would be welcome.

Changed the Reverend's diet on the recommendation of a vet. She seems to be adjusting easily enough.

I did not get the job at the café. I do have an interview tomorrow with a place that sells memorials, monuments, urns, and that sort of thing for a customer service and shipping position.

Now I'm off to do a little writing, sort out my notes concerning all the home repair, and prep for this weekend's trip to Bay Lake. We are staying with friends at a cabin on the lake for a weekend-long birthday party.

Dark Water Blues

Comments

[bondo-ba.livejournal.com]

GO, GO, GO! Novel is nearly done! We're rooting for you!

[mmerriam.livejournal.com]

I'm slogging along, but I'm getting there...

[mehub.livejournal.com]

Good luck on working out the kinks, and with the billing issue. And I love that you are listening to Josh Ritter, who hails from my home town!

[mmerriam.livejournal.com]

Some friends introduced me to his music last year and I've been hooked ever since.

[paraselenic.livejournal.com]

I've worked at several of the b&b's in stillwater.

1.The william sauntry mansion is wonderful-- whttp://www.sauntrymansion.com/

they've changed ownership and rooms since I worked there, but it's still a beautiful location and very quiet. (when I worked there, Eunice, Joseph, and Beltrams' rooms were haunted-- got some good stories about those, but since they've updated, Eunice doesn't even exist anymore, and Joseph and Beltram's rooms have changed quite dramatically, so I don't know if that's still the case) They are close to the library (maybe 3 blocks?) which is BEAUTIFUL and about 10 blocks from mainstreet stillwater, about 5 blocks from pioneer park, which has a lovely view of the st croix river

2. The Ann Bean Mansion is fairly nice as well, and it appears to have really upgraded since I worked there:
http://annbeanmansion.com/

I never had any ghosty experiences there, but they used to have an upstairs room with weird wallpaper that guests would comment on faces coming out of-- something about the king's ghost-- this is also from 1991 or 2 when I worked there and I would suspect that the wallpaper has changed(still looks similar from the web pics though...) it's further away from main street and shopping, but not by much. Probably not walking distance like the sauntry.

3. I haven't worked here, but lots of people like the elephant walk:
http://www.elephantwalkbb.com/

it has very interesting decor, some kinda african-safari like. it's less victorian get away than the others, but still really neat, very very unique if you and Sherry have done the b & b thing before...



Those would be the three I recommend. STAY AWAY from the Lowell Inn.

[careswen.livejournal.com]

Wow, thanks for the inside info!

The Sauntry looked awesome, but it appears pricier than the others we considered. Any tips for getting a good deal?

We missed the other two you suggested, because they weren't in the B&B guide I found. We'll research them too.

I didn't vote for the Lowell because it looks kinda big and impersonal to me, compared to the other options. Any other reasons to avoid that you'd like to share?

I didn't even think about looking for a haunted B&B! Awesome idea.

So far, our top three are (without looking at those others yet):
The Rivertown Inn
Aurora Staples Inn
Water Street Inn (was the Lumber Baron Hotel)

We went to a B&B for our honeymoon, but haven't done it since, so I'm really excited at the prospect. I'm worried that we waited too long to decide to do this, so I'm hopeful.

[pezwitch.livejournal.com]

Well, we've stayed at the Ann Bean twice now, and enjoyed it.

[careswen.livejournal.com]

Oooh, it looks like they have an opening... hmm!

[paraselenic.livejournal.com]

i've had several friends and relatives of friends who have worked there-- I sang there in high school for the x-mas season.... the lowell inn has been owned by the same family for a looooooong time, and they are not very good people-- they underpay all of their staff and cut corners on service, etc. whenever they can. their restaurant's kitchen is horrifying as the owner won't update equipment and some SCARY things have come out of there... cut corners have resulted in some weird half-jobs in electrical crud, etc, and they pay the hostess to be condescending (I know because one of my ex's moms was-possibly still is- a hostess there) to all patrons who don't fit a particular bill-- one couple came in (bikers) and she had to take out an additional $500 on their credit card as insurance that they weren't going to fuck anything up in the room.... just not a good, open, friendly experience that you expect from a b & b.

[careswen.livejournal.com]

Ugh, that's awful!! Definitely not the kind of establishment we want to patronize.

[mmerriam.livejournal.com]

Thanks for all the good information!

[careswen.livejournal.com]

And while we're at it, if anyone has recommendations for activities in Stillwater, we'd love to hear them. There looks like lots to do, and our time will be limited, so the inside scoop is welcome!

[careswen.livejournal.com]

I still say that we ask the plumbers to re-bill the HOA instead of us, since that's what they said they'd do.

[mmerriam.livejournal.com]

That's the plan.

[janradder.livejournal.com]

Good luck on finishing that first draft!

[mmerriam.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[catherineldf.livejournal.com]

Our friends say this one - http://www.rivertowninn.com/ - is well worth the price. I'm eyeing it for our anniversary.

[mmerriam.livejournal.com]

I've heard good things about the Rivertown Inn. I think we are going to be staying there or at the Ann Bean Mansion, which has also come highly recommended by friends.

[careswen.livejournal.com]

The Rivertown rooms looked kinda small to me, and it is pricier than Ann Bean. Also, almost fully booked for September.

[queenofillusion.livejournal.com]

I don't know about a good B&B in Stillwater, at least enough to recommend one over another...but they did just open a Caribbean restaurant and "Pirate Bar" there that I'm planning on checking out. If you decide to go there, let me know if its worth the drive, wilya?

BTW, you're planning on attending the Harvest Workshop this Sept, right?

Cheers,

Garnet(Veronica)