Signed, SEALed, and Mermaided....I'm Yours

Dear Lou,

Ok. I admit it. I have been aloof. I have been distant. I don't know what else to tell you other than, I will try to do better. I have this tendency to say that I will do something or that I want to do something. The follow through on those dreams and wishes are usually about 75% and then I become embarrassed. I make up excuses for why I can not do things: school is so busy right now..... but Alias is being featured on Netflix and I haven't seen it in forever....and the like. I am here to tell you though, Lou, that this attitude will change. It may not change over night, but I have some really great memories to share with you and decided not to waste another minute. So, here it goes.....

Lou, if there is one thing I really enjoy, it is seeing new places and familiar faces at new places. In March, the School Social Work Association of America had a conference in San Diego. Can you picture any better place? The city is beautiful, the beach is near by, and not only was there tons of water, but there were SEALs in that water! I was in love. Even better, my sweet love was able to come along with me and we were able to meet up with some dear friends. Upon meeting my best friend on the last day of the conference, we decided to go to brunch near the beach and were surprised to find that not that many places were open on a Sunday (go figure.) We landed in this eccentric spot in Shelter Island called "Fiddlers Green." When you walk in, you have to let the ambience settle in because it can be a bit overwhelming. There are trees coming out of the bar, gigantic fire pits in the middle of round tables, dolphins, and every single model of sailing boats that you could imagine. I look at my friend Erin and say, "well, if only I blogged about the ambience of restaurants." Boy, I did not know what I was in for. We are seated as the only customers in there, enjoy a lovely brunch, and right on cue, I have to use the lou.

As I return to the table, I immediately reach for my phone to return to take pictures. You know that you are using the appropriate restroom by the signage: "gulls" and "galls" (quite original.) I enter into the gem that would be the restroom, I just tickled pink. I am quite enveloped with the pink wallpaper that welcomes me to my restroom using experience. It is hard to describe this wall decoration as anything but something that I might see when I visit a grandparent who has not updated her wall paper in the past 4 decades. Yet, there is something comforting about the dancing wall attraction that I embrace it.

This way to the Lou!

In addition, I am greeted by a little Mermaid who leads me into the stall. I wanted to start signing, "Under the Sea" from Disney's the Little Mermaid, but decided that I would spare any other patrons that may be hiding behind the stall doors. Inside the stall is pretty normal outside of the literature you can read about upcoming sail racing and the different sailing ports in the San Diego area. On a side note, I enjoy literature in bathrooms, as long as it is informational. It gives me something to do and you learn while also using the restroom. (and I digress.) Upon my exit, I am comforted by fake plants that give the counter a home like appeal. I also giggle to myself as I push that magical lever that gives me the foam soap that I so dream about when I am in New Orleans. The paper towels are a nice commodity considering that air blowers providing some conflicting emotions (a later post, I promise).

On the Fiddler's Green website, owners Steve and Debi Rock invite their patrons to have a "touch of merriment." Well, I must say, Lou, with some good breakfast food, fantastic company, and mermaids who show me the way to a stall, I must say that there was a touch of merriment indeed. Indeed!