"Start Your Engines!"

Greetings to All from Maine!

The weather is to be warm today (yes, a whole 38 degrees!). This means the snow piles will sink a bit and I can pull down the winter wreathes that adorn the inn's windows. I would have preferred to have gotten to them earlier, but it has been bitterly cold. Standing on a ladder in that type of weather, Winter wind whipping your frozen skin, is refreshing...but not made for outside work!

My assistant, Gail, is off this week and is at the Providence Flower Show. Having no reservations this upcoming weekend, I had planned on closing the inn and heading out of town (wasn't sure where!). And...I kid you not that as I was putting up the "We are closed until March 3rd" sign on the inn's front door, a lady was walking across the porch needing rooms for this weekend. A local had passed away and her family had to come for the services. It was one of those situations you just couldn't say "no." Anyway, plans dashed for the moment, I am glad there is business and keep forging ahead on the Innkeeper's List of Things to Do.

Tim & Jay came over last Sunday and we watched episodes of RuPaul's Drag Race on LOGO Tv.

Now, none of us are crossdressers (for the record) but how we do enjoy a few things about shows like this---the backstage, reality TV drama, the determination (and common insecurities) of the contestants, and, most importantly for me, the ability of each contestant to create variations on themselves (with different looks of drag artistry). Plus, there is plenty of RuPaul music throughout the show and that alone is fun!

This format can be seen on many television shows. Whether it is us watching Top Chef to stretch our own foodie knowledge and application, or The Amazing Race teaching us that within each of us is the potential for courage and adaptation, I think that we enjoy seeing others apply themselves---perhaps with the underlying need for us to improve ourselves.

How often we might chat about wanting to make a meal other than the "same ole'?" DO IT! A change may mean watching a different cooking show that you'd might never watch (I like "Spice Goddess"--the hostess is beautiful, encouraging, and uses interesting spices I might have never used regularly). What have you always wanted to LEARN how to make in the kitchen? How closer are you to actually doing it? Is it easier to watch others do it ALL the time?

Today is Recipe Day for me (and the aforementioned outdoor work). I use a program called MasterCook that is pretty good. I hope everyone has a great day (it can happen every day). Thanks for stopping by the Inn at Long Lake blog!

Your Innkeeper,

Keith A. Neubert