the hamptons...

i seem to have a love/hate relationship with the hamptons.

the loves:
--i love that it gets me out of the city.
--i love that i get paid to come here because it's actually a great getaway.
--i love that it comes once a month and it comes just when i need it to come (after a month of being in the grind of humidity and congestion of everything imaginable...).
--i love that there are specialty restaurants everywhere.

the hates:
--i hate that i can't just teleport myself over.
--i hate the insane cost of everything during "the season."
--*i hate that it seems to attract certain types.

i guess there really are more positives than negatives--but that last hate with an asterisk? can really be a downer. it just sours the mood.

*so here's the explanation:

so, the last time i was here, while waiting to check into the southampton inn, one of those "certain types" walked in. she proceeded to step in front of me and another couple as if we were not there waiting for help as well. the front desk people smiled apologetically to us and proceeded to help her.

it seems the rooms she was given, were unacceptable. she didn't want anyone stepping on her head so required a top level room. she didn't want to be on the parking lot side, but poolside. she had booked 2 rooms, and wanted them to be right across the hall from eachother as well. she proceeded to float the fact that the last time she was here, they accomodated her every wish and she expected the same this time around. she made sure they knew that she was willing to wait right there until she got her list of demands.

now. i might be more understanding if the broad hadn't cut in line in front of me and an older couple. and i might have been less judgmental had she listed her demands in a less cavalier way. but she was just a bitch. and that just elicits no sympathy from me.

flash forward to today--at dinner. a family of four is sitting next to me but below me a level--so afforded me the ability to hear everything without trying. as i am alone, i have a book with me (the audacity of hope by barack obama) to read inbetween servings. anyhow, i was pretty suitably waited on until the end of my meal. when the father below made a ruckus about how they charged him twice for his coffee. the waitress explained that she had refilled his coffee when he asked for it. makes sense. it's hard to get free refills these days--and honestly, at a restaurant like this, expected. he says he doesn't think he should have to pay for that refill since the coffee already costed $4 and how could they charge $8 for 2 cups of coffee? well, let's see here--you didn't seem to mind that cost when you ordered it. why make a big deal now? he proceeds to say, it's not the cost that matters--he's happy to pay for the entire bill--just not that extra cup of coffee that he drank because it's the principle that matters. seriously, what principle??? so then all of the waitstaff had to disperse to look for the manager to get the ok. which means i had to wait awhile to get my own bill taken care of. thanks man. thanks.

maybe i am being slightly too harsh but it's just annoying to me. just suck it up. your bill was most likely over $100-$200 anyways. what's 4 more bucks if you've already spent that much anyway?