Friday, May 27, 2011

This Is A First ......

Just when I think I have heard everything. Just when I think there are no more surprises to be had............

Even though my morning routine was interrupted by the very early arrival of kampers who disregarded the rules set forth, I decided to be the bigger kampground hostess with the mostest. I managed to clean the restrooms and fill the Dr. Pepper machine with 6 cases of cans and keep an eye on the entrance to the park. Then I cleaned the popcorn machine and got it going while baking the cookies. I even made a few snow cones.

So, I was just settling in here at my desk for a little rest before the onslaught of those who will be leaving work a little early to check in. A man pulls up in a car with a young boy and enters the store with a sheepish grin. If I have ever seen him, I don't remember it. He says "hi" and just stands there grinning. I ask if I can help him and he says that he will be camping here this weekend and he needs to know where he can drop off his firewood. Do you have a reservation?
"No, but Drew used to work at the station with ****** and my wife is related to her brother-in-law ...." What????? I can only stare back at him, as I am at a loss for words (and that doesn't happen often). "I gotta go to work and we ain't coming til tomorrow, so I want to leave my firewood here. Where can I put it?" I am booked pretty solid, will you need a tent site or an RV site? "We want a tent site, but we need a plug in (truer words were never spoken, he was pretty ripe smelling ......... oh, sorry, he means he needs a site with electricity to plug something in. I was thinking Glade plug-ins .......) I consult my reservation book and find that I have a precious few tent sites left and ask if he would like to reserve one of them. While he ponders this, I call Drew, since, after all, they are acquainted through the in-law system of being friends with someone he had worked with briefly, and ask what I should do with a car full of firewood.

He, who should learn to have patience with his wife if he wants to have supper tonight, spoke to me in less than kindly tones and reminded me that the DNR had requested that all campgrounds discourage firewood from being brought in, due to some bug infestation. I had already relayed this information to the gentleman, who, then wanted to know who the DNR was. As tempted as I was to tell him it meant "do not resuscitate", I didn't and told him it was the Department of Natural Resources. He was confused, because firewood has nothing to do with fishing ..........
I simply told my husband to report to the office and he did. He did not know this man any more than I did. He looked at the wood and told him that we couldn't let him bring most of it in the park, but that some was okay (my man knows his trees, let me tell you).

This issue being settled,he made the reservation and paid for the first night. I told him that if he chose to put the wood on a site that I could not guarantee that it would be there when he came back. This is when he decided to call his wife. In my store. Standing in front of me. He tells her how much it is going to cost, then after a moment, tells her that they have to pay for the extra people ( a total of eight people). After a very long moment he tells her that he did tell her who he was. That was fun, being privy to the butt chewing I could tell he was receiving from his wife.


Then he tells me he wants to see the site. I give him a map and a receipt and he leaves. I spray some air freshener and think I am done. But ....... no, he is back. He thinks the site to be inferior to the one next to it. I explain that it is reserved and he tells me it is empty. By now I want to pull my hair out, but I very calmly explain how reservations work. I give him another option, in fact give him two. I only have three tent sites left. Off he goes again. I watch as he drives away. I can see the firewood in the back seat! The back bumper is very close to the ground.

He comes back and is closing his cell phone as he enters the store. He is grinning that sappy grin again as he tells me that his wife, who is friends with the brother-in-law of a person my husband once worked with, doesn't like to camp around a bunch of people. She is claustrophobic, it seems, but they might try again around the 4th of July and maybe we won't be busy then. I was happy to refund him and then fumigate my store again. I seemed to have dodged a bullet of stinkiness. But, ......... I can't help but wonder how that claustrophobia works in a tent ...........

15 comments:

SkippyMom said...

:laughing: You sure do get them all.

Glad you dodge the bugs in the firewood. I would still be worried about that even after being checked.

Anonymous said...

I would think the 4th of July would be pretty packed with campers, too. Sounds like this couple has a few lose screws or marbles. Maybe they will find them by the 4th and get them back in place.

Brian Miller said...

hahahaha....your life is like a soap opera...you totally need a camera in the store to capture there moments...i want a VLOG!!!

Just Stuff From a Boomer said...

What a great story. I'm actually surprised you had anything to offer him, but being "connected" and all, I guess he wasn't too worried. I will tell you he will be back and still not have a reservation. Too funny.

ellen abbott said...

at least you get some entertainment out of it.

Teresa said...

not sure how you maintain your sanity... lol...

so, my 2nd cousin's half-sister's boyfriend's uncle's best friend said your place was the place to be and that you'd cut me a deal. right? heehee!

Kathy's Klothesline said...

Skippy- I think I would rather have the bugs than the people in this case. I can kill the bugs, but they won't let me have a gun ......

dkzody- I told him the 4th is already booked solid, nary a site left to be had. Even if they found those screws, it wouldn't matter.

Brian- There is a liability issue with the whole vlog idea, but I will try to be more descriptive. I left out the shirt he had on. There were so many holes in it, I wondered why he bothered. Hoping they will take the opportunity to do a little laundry this weekend.

Kathy- He will no doubt come back with that same silly grin adorning his face and I will never have a site available ....

Ellen- I have to admit, it is entertaining ..... if a little disturbing, knowing that these people vote!

houndstooth said...

Those ash bore beetles are not to be messed with! I'd have told him what he could do with his firewood alright! I'm sorry you have to deal with all the morons, but it does make for entertaining reading!

Cathy said...

Oh Kathy - your 'clents' get weirder and weirder but the week. If the season has only just begun what are you going to be like at the end??
Are you able to have security cameras in the shop? That way you will have it all on tape, not to show but to recall more easily for us
Good luck with your big weekend coming up in a few weeks time
Cathy

Jo said...

The sad part is that he had a young boy with him. Oh, goodness.

Save me a snow cone. :-) I LOVE snow cones. And I hear your cinnamon buns are pretty good too.

Lorenza said...

You are amazing!
My mom would not be half of patient as you are!
Happy weekend
Kisses and hugs
Lorenza

Sanetha said...

I am sorry you have to put up with the stupdity of mankind on such a frequent basis!!

mamahasspoken said...

I can't help but sit here and shake my head at this man. Mainly for the fact that knowing so and so is suppose to make it all right in the world. Can't wait to hear the part two when he shows up around the 4th!

labbie1 said...

ROFL!!!! Yeah--let's try for July 4th!!! Shouldn't be busy then! harhar har double hardy har har...

labbie1 said...

Did I mention we miss the Mother Ship and you guys???? Wish we could slip in under cover of night and the parents none the wiser, but dad has been acting up with the keeper away!!!! Certain people hope I hurry up and get back--welcome to my world I say! LOL