Service with a Smile

Conversatin' with the Guests

Disgruntled Customer: Miss, I don't like my room. I wish to move.

Marvelous Employee: Certainly, what seems to be the problem?

DC: It has beach decor.

ME: (cough) I'm sorry?

DC: It has a tacky seahorse lamp, seashells on the bedspread, and a beach ball sign by the front door pointing me to the beach!

ME: Is this your only complaint? Is the room in good shape, otherwise? You like the leather couch and granite counter tops?

DC: Er, yes, but I don't like the room and I want you to move me.

ME: Ok, well, all of our units are individually owned and we rent them out for the owners. This particular owner updated their unit 3 months ago and because we are at the beach, they decorated accordingly. We are pretty full. I have 1 unit left  in addition to this one and this is by far the most newly updated.

DC: I wish to look at the other room available.

ME: Certainly. Right away, sir.

Different Customer/Different Day

Upset Guest: I was promised a beautiful room and I HATE it!

Marvelous Employee: Oh, I'm very sorry. What seems to be the problem?

UG: It's decorated like my house! If I wanted the same decor at my house, I'd stay home!

ME: (cough) I'm sorry?

UG: It's beautifully decorated but it's much too dark for the beach. I want something light and bright and decorated with beachy stuff since we're at the beach and all.

ME: Ok, well, all of our units are individually owned and we rent them out for the owners. This particular owner updated their unit a month ago and because it is their home away from home, they chose to give it a homey feel. We are pretty full. I have 3 units left in addition to this one but your room is hands down the most recently renovated.

UG: I wanna see the other rooms, please.

ME: Certainly. Right away, ma'am.

Objects May Be Closer Than They Appear...

Gold star to whoever can tell me what this fool was doing...

Yes, it's summertime and I thought I would update this blog more often.

Perhaps the more crazy I encounter, the more I shall post...

Beach Bites: Wok on the Beach

I apologize for not managing this site as first promised. In my Beach Bites posts I promise to give a no-holds barred assessment of area restaurants. I'm not being compensated for my recommendations (no matter how much I may wish it were so), merely going out with my partner in crime (my husband) and reporting our honest opinions.

Our first "victim?"

Wok on the Beach

After much lamenting about a lack of a good quality Chinese restaurant in our area (the north end of Myrtle Beach)we finally have a candidate worth competing. Wok on the Beach is located at 6001 North Kings Hwy in Myrtle Beach where Bamboo Café was located. Although we were very sad to see Bamboo Cafe' close shop, we were thrilled with Wok on the Beach's improvement to the small but neat and tidy space.

At first glance, the menu offerings seem small in number but diverse. When you walk in you are greeted with a friendly chalk-board message letting you know they will make anything you wish if your choice isn't on the menu. That's a huge plus: willingness to keep customers happy!

The space is small: very long and skinny with tables on the right wall and open cook space on the left with an eat in bar area attached. We have eaten there twice now with each of us sampling the Double Mushroom Chicken (a lunch special offering they will also let you order in the evening.) Like it sounds, it is served with 2 kinds of mushrooms (fresh and shitake), sauteed chicken and veggies in a savory brown sauce. My husband has also tried General's Chicken. This was served with no vegetables (his only complaint) although I am sure they would add some for a minimal charge. On our 2nd outing, I was feeling adventurous and ordered out of my normal comfort zone. I am not usually a fish eater but decided to try their tempura grouper. The sauce is listed as partially sweet and sour but it was still plenty sweet, although not too much. The fresh lemon juice in the sauce was definitely detectable. The fish was amazing! So tender, cooked to perfection!

On our first visit, we had just ordered when an employee from DHEC popped in for a surprise inspection. I am assuming they passed. ;) Her presence only slowed them down for a few minutes and they got our lunch ready quickly. While the young woman inspected their cooktop, I received a wink, a smile and a 'thank for your patience' gesture from Mama Tse. We definitely give this place 2 chopsticks up!

Tips to Surviving Driving in Myrtle Beach-Winter of 2014 Edition

Here's your driving tip for the icy roads in a southern locale with no salt, no plows, & inexperienced drivers:

1. Don't.

Pictures are from snow January 29, 2014 and ice February 12, 2014.

Five Tips to Surviving Myrtle Beach Traffic

Fact: Myrtle Beach is a tourist town. The locals all think they are the best drivers in the world. Unfortunately, the tourists think the same about themselves. In order for us all to avoid getting squished, let's abide by a few basic rules, okie-doke? True, this may read as a cross between a smart-aleck's guide to survival and a course in Common Sense 101 but one never knows when entertainment could actually save one's life. Just sayin'...

1. This one is for locals and tourists alike. There is this lovely little invention in your car called a blinker. Use it. It tells the folks around you where you intend to go. We are a fickle group and have the right to change our minds. No biggie. Just make sure we are wise to your game plan. Some of us may not know exactly where we are going, especially when Miss Garmin Tom Tom is having an off day and may be having trouble expressing that , yes, the intended location was 3 blocks ago. No problem. Just turn that little 'ol blinker on, preferably BEFORE your brake gets pressed all up into the bottom of your floorboards Flintstone style. Then Miss Ten Minutes Late For Work knows that yep, you are about to perform an illegal U-turn in the middle of 17 Business AKA Kings Highway.

2. Turning Lanes are your friends; use them correctly. Now, I know it may be inconvenient to angle your gas guzzler into a narrow turning lane but blocking the “fast/passing” lane is most definitely a hazard to your health. Watch your six at all times or it may become a 3 real quick! Oh and for heaven's sake please don't be the one who embarrassingly lands themselves draped horizontally in a turning lane (oh yes, this happens frequently in Myrtle Beach. These tired eyes have seen this particular maneuver performed by vehicles sporting license plates from SC , Indiana, and New York.) But maybe you really LIKE compact cars.

3. Use your lights when necessary. We do have a lot of polite drivers in the area that just LOVE to wave people on. “Go on and turn, honey. I can wait.” These dear souls forget Myrtle Beach is a sunny place and one can't always see through the windshield to see them waving their little 'ol hearts out. Confusion ensues and both cars just sit at the stop sign waiting for the other to go...until they both get fed up at the same time. Oh bother. Flash your lights a couple of times instead.

4. This one is for tourists: Most cities and towns have rush hour around 5 or 6. Myrtle Beach isn't most towns. The hospitality industry usually has shift changes at 3pm or 4pm. Plan accordingly or you may find yourself facing down Mr. I Just Made $3.25 In Tips and If I Don't Get Home Soon I'm Gonna Mow a Tourist Down. Of course this may be a step up from an encounter with Miss Oh My Gosh I Have 2 Minutes To Get To Work and If I'm Late Again I'll Get Written Up.

5. Stop Lights: Wait 2 seconds after the light turns green before you proceed or else you may get nailed by Miss Thing from Number 1. However,do not wait more than 2 seconds or you risk a rowdy horn exchange with Mr. Thing/Miss Thing from number 4. Not life threatening, just “Grrr” inducing.

You're welcome! Happy Driving! :-)