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Thursday, May 15, 2014

The Thing That Wouldn't Leave.... Dealing With Guests that Don't Take Hints!

It's about a week to go till all hell breaks loose here in the Hamptons.    We're of course talking about the official beginning of the summer season.   So while we trumpet the return of warm weather,  the traffic jams and Lyme disease there's also something else on the horizon.   As anyone who lives on the east end can tell you..... it's the return of the house guests!

Now, I know that my house is definitely much more fun now that ice has finally melted on the driveway.     So, it comes as no surprise to me that the casual requests for weekend visits increase ten fold when the mercury starts rising.      

While I love the guests there are times when having visitors can become a scene more frightening than a Steven Segall movie marathon!     In fact it reminds me of the old Saturday Night Live skit (back when it was funny) of "The Thing That Wouldn't Leave" (see the video below).     So, what do you do with guests that really believe "mi casa is su casa?"    Can you get them to leave with out being insulting?   Of course you can and I'm here to tell you how to do it!   It's a simple three phase tactic that Martha Stewart would love and yet you'll still have them running for the doors.  You might even get a thank you note later too!


The Thing Wouldn't Leave from AFTRS Radio on Vimeo.


Phase 1:  Internet Interception - It's a fast paced world and one would think that when visiting one of the most beautiful locations on earth, visitors here would actually enjoy shutting the world off!   HA!  Right!   In the Hamptons where dinner tables are silent only because everyone is texting someone else more interesting at another table, staying in touch is like air to breathe.    So what better way to give a guest a gentle nudge then to cutting off their connection to the world in addition to severing them from Netflix and sending their "House of Cards" addiction into a tailspin.... unplug the wifi router!    The fear of actually having to carry a conversation is often all you need to get your life back again and send your guest fleeing.  By the way, if my sister is reading this it actually did go down when you were here last time!  I swear!
The breakfast of chumps!

Phase 2: The Morning Jolt -  They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day.   So what better way to suck the energy out of the overly intrusive guest then starting their day on the wrong foot!  Here's how you do it!  You hide the Keurig, the Starbucks and the bagels and instead replace them with something terrifying;   Instant coffee, generic cereal and tang!    Nothing says you couldn't care less than spending less!     After day one of having to run to town to actually get something potable and edible your guest will be dreaming of a blanket in Sheep Meadow!   "Trust me guys, Toasted Oats are actually better tasting than Cheerios!  Really!"

Yes, they'll have a headache and you'll get rid of one!
Phase 3: The Cold Shoulders - After a day of Soulcycle, beach combing and a walk down Ralph Lauren Boulevard....errrr... I mean Main St. East Hampton,  there is nothing more refreshing than a hot relaxing shower.   So what's a guest going to do when the hot water runs out before they have a chance to freshen up!   But alas you won't have to fib to your guest about a faulty hot water heater, you'll merely tell them it's part of your fitness routine.... you know using the cold to burn fat!     Think about this way, you're also helping them prevent their skin from drying out and invigorating their day since they didn't have any coffee that morning!     It's the alternative to Canyon Ranch and the only cost is you leave the house a day early!

In summary, this blog was done in the name of helping OTHERS.   All of the guest in my house are welcome to stay as long as they want... family is welcome to stay the entire month of July..... and guests of guests of relatives of guests are also welcome!  ANYTIME!

MY FINAL THOUGHT OF TODAY:  I see they're advertising a "new" production of Les Miserables on Broadway.    I was wondering do you get a choice of fish or chicken with this production?!
It's so good you'll drop your fork!

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Pat, SURELY you can't mean me ;-)
Seriously, love this post! All points are great.
My vulnerability would have to be technique #2 - 'no real coffee'.
OUCH!

xoxo
See u soon,
Marge