Sunday, October 4, 2009
Monday, August 17, 2009
TAKING THE WATERS
On August 14th, rented a car at the Little Rock Airport and drove one hour to Hot Springs. Check in at the Clarion Suites took a little longer than expected. There are 2 highway 270s. One is a business route and the other is a thoroughfare around the southern edge. I should have taken the thoroughfare route. Once checked in, drove to the downtown area. Walked along Bathhouse Row to the Arlington Hotel. This historic hotel frequented by Al Capone opened its doors in the late 1800s. Checked out the Bathhouse at the hotel. (the entire downtown are is over a natural hot springs - thus the name of the town). Decided to eat at the hotel for their Friday Night Seafood Buffet. Many choices but I don't recommend the oysters on the half shell.
Saturday morning August 15th called a booked a mineral bath and body and foot massage at the Arlington. There were a few white attendants, but most attendants are African Americans who historically were the only attendants since the town's founding. The expression "taking the waters" was used in the 1800s to refer to coming to bathe in the hot springs.
Sunday returned to the downtown to visit Bathhouse Row. First stop at the Fordyce Bathhouse which is now part of the Natural Park Service and a museum depicting scenes from years gone by. The bathhouse rooms are maintained in the way they looked dating back to the 1920s. I took several photos. I decided to continue "taking the waters". I visited Buckstaff Bathhouse which opened in 1912. It turn out to be a disaster. It could have been a better experience had the mood by the staff had not been "HURRY UP AND RELAX". The first attendant Dr Bob began by rushing me to get undressed then took me into the bathing area and set "take a seat". I realized I still had my watch on so I returned to place it the locker. Dr Bob said give me your key and I'll lock it up for you. I didn't feel comfortable with that so I followed him. After receiving my key back, I sat down. My assigned bathing attendant suddenly appeared and said "FOLLOW ME". At the mineral bath tub, he said "STEP UP, GET IN, FACE THE GREEN PUMP, SIT DOWN. Not once did he return to check on me like it was done at the Arlington. I did notice that a black customer was greeted cordially using his surname. I guess racism is a live and well at the Bathhouse. After a shower I approached a person I thought was the massage therapist, I was told by a white haired older white gent in white shirt and faded blue jeans "GO BACK AND STAND WHERE YOU WERE". I received a massage by an Eastern European man with what turned out to be of little therapeutic value because I was feeling distressed by the whole experience. Even though I told the massage therapist that I have an arthritic right ankle, I had to ask for a bolster pillow for my feet once I was face down. I left the bathhouse before all service was completed because I was left standing with my left hand in a container of hot wax because 4 black clients entered and Dr Bob had to attend to them first. My advice is don't visit the Buckstaff Bathhouse. I visited one more Bathhouse, because I didn't want to end my day on such a negative note. I highly recommend the Quapaw Bathhouse. It is more modern and the staff both black and white are friendly courteous and helpful. I didn't do a personal mineral batrh or massage . but the hot spring pools were great. The attendants continually offered cups of cool spring water to drink.
Saturday morning August 15th called a booked a mineral bath and body and foot massage at the Arlington. There were a few white attendants, but most attendants are African Americans who historically were the only attendants since the town's founding. The expression "taking the waters" was used in the 1800s to refer to coming to bathe in the hot springs.
Sunday returned to the downtown to visit Bathhouse Row. First stop at the Fordyce Bathhouse which is now part of the Natural Park Service and a museum depicting scenes from years gone by. The bathhouse rooms are maintained in the way they looked dating back to the 1920s. I took several photos. I decided to continue "taking the waters". I visited Buckstaff Bathhouse which opened in 1912. It turn out to be a disaster. It could have been a better experience had the mood by the staff had not been "HURRY UP AND RELAX". The first attendant Dr Bob began by rushing me to get undressed then took me into the bathing area and set "take a seat". I realized I still had my watch on so I returned to place it the locker. Dr Bob said give me your key and I'll lock it up for you. I didn't feel comfortable with that so I followed him. After receiving my key back, I sat down. My assigned bathing attendant suddenly appeared and said "FOLLOW ME". At the mineral bath tub, he said "STEP UP, GET IN, FACE THE GREEN PUMP, SIT DOWN. Not once did he return to check on me like it was done at the Arlington. I did notice that a black customer was greeted cordially using his surname. I guess racism is a live and well at the Bathhouse. After a shower I approached a person I thought was the massage therapist, I was told by a white haired older white gent in white shirt and faded blue jeans "GO BACK AND STAND WHERE YOU WERE". I received a massage by an Eastern European man with what turned out to be of little therapeutic value because I was feeling distressed by the whole experience. Even though I told the massage therapist that I have an arthritic right ankle, I had to ask for a bolster pillow for my feet once I was face down. I left the bathhouse before all service was completed because I was left standing with my left hand in a container of hot wax because 4 black clients entered and Dr Bob had to attend to them first. My advice is don't visit the Buckstaff Bathhouse. I visited one more Bathhouse, because I didn't want to end my day on such a negative note. I highly recommend the Quapaw Bathhouse. It is more modern and the staff both black and white are friendly courteous and helpful. I didn't do a personal mineral batrh or massage . but the hot spring pools were great. The attendants continually offered cups of cool spring water to drink.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
PIONEER CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS
On the first day of the conference August 12th, Karen Schoeneman, Deputy Director, CMS Division of Nursing Homes with Bonnie Darwin, CCCC and Steve Chickering, CMS Western Consortium among others conducted an all day panel discussion " Coming Together and Creating Community". The message from CMS was loud and clear - Nursing homes need to become homes. Even if the SNF is a short turn rehab, it needs to feel like home. The preferred terminology is: Community Living Center. The following are items which are not yet mandated but suggested by CMS: drastically reduce paging to emergencies only, remove nurses stations, remove food and beverages from trays, elminate traditional medcarts, remove signage and don't have all furniture look like it has been mass produced. CMS is currently working with representatives to allow the LSC to be changed so that door can be decorated, chairs can be allowed in a hallway that is 8 feet wide.
On Thursday August 13th
On Thursday August 13th
TRAVEL DAY TO THE PEABODY IN LITTLE ROCK
Tuesday Morning August 11, 2009, arrived San Diego Airport with time to spare. Didn't recognize Michele at first. She was seated and busy studying a paper in the waiting area. Flight on Southwest left on time and arrived in Las Vegas early. Bonnie and Mary Margaret arrived from Sacramento catching the same connection to Little Rock. Arrived in Little Rock 20 minutes early. Southwest is smart to post arrival times later than the actual arrival. A welcoming committee from Pioneer organization greeted us in the baggage area with Mardi Gras beads. Sandra and Lucas, the Labradoodle was waiting for us curbside. She and Lucas were staying at a different hotel that allows pets. It was a short ride to the Peabody hotel. The layout of the Peabody Hotel was a maze and a little difficult to follow even with a diagram. A volunteer from the Pioneer organization assigned to provide information at the Info Desk was also stumped. Met Michele's associates Robbin and Gay. The bell hops were very helpful and friendly at the Peabody. The tradition at the Peabody is that the pet ducks owned by the hotel are excorted at 11:00 am with fanfare down the elevator from their roost off the ballroom floor to the hotel lobby indoor pool via a red carpet. At 5 pm, the ducks are escorted back up the elevator to their roost. Viewed a video in the Conway Auditorium called "The Big Uneasy: Katrina's Unsung Heros". Had Dinner with Michele, Sandra, Bonnie and Mary Margaret at the Flying Fish, a popular Little Rock eatery within walking distance from the hotel. To bed at midnight - 10 pm SD time. Even paying extra to be on the concierge floor, I slept on the floor because the mattress was way too soft (damn Pillowtop). The floor in comparison was perfect!
In two days Michele and I will present "Recreation, Activities and Culture Change- Collaborating to Create Community and Redefine Activity, Recreation and Responsibilities".
In two days Michele and I will present "Recreation, Activities and Culture Change- Collaborating to Create Community and Redefine Activity, Recreation and Responsibilities".
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)