Ruidoso, New Mexico In the Summer... Absolutely Divine

We've always gone to Ruidoso, New Mexico in the winter to ski, so it was a truly wonderful experience staying at the Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort & Casino during August. We've been having triple digit heat here in Texas, so 80 degree weather was like Heaven.

Ruidoso has had a blessed summer of much needed rain which has made everything look like something out of a brochure. The above picture was taken from our balcony, of the tenth hole. The rest of the 18 hole championship golf course is even more beautiful than this picture. Every single day you could see the course crew out grooming from sun-up to sundown. It was breathtaking. It was quite challenging playing with at least half the holes being uphill and we were told no carts on the course until 10:00AM... We teed off at 9:00 AM. So, for an hour we played aerobic golf since it was mostly uphill. Needless to say, we were thankful when 10:00 rolled around. Luckily, we had a fast five-some playing ahead of us and a slow five-some playing behind us. It was like we had the course to ourselves.

This was taken at twilight.

This was the 9th hole looking down at the Inn of the Mountain Gods.

One day we had lunch at the golf course grill which was nothing special, but it was good and the drinks had ice so we were happy. We also had drinks at the Buffalo Bill Bar and enjoyed the lovely views from the patio as we enjoyed them.

We were also able to do the Apache Eagle Zip Rider which was a blast! The zip line is accessed by ATV and you can go two at a time. Thankfully, hubby stayed at the bottom to record my ride. The man going at the same time as me was heavier so he went across much faster than I. Still, it was a total rush of adrenaline and such a frightening joy, if that makes any sense. You go all the way across the lake in less than 3 minutes. Video will not show here because it's too big by 34 MB. Sigh. So, here's a picture of where you launch from. I never have received my one and only picture I paid for. 

The ATV ride up to the launch was another adventure unto itself, I kid you not. There is another Zip up at the Ski Apache Ski Area called the Apache Zip Tour that is one of the 10 longest in the U.S.A. Unfortunately, it rained the day we were scheduled to go, so we cancelled. Might be more fun in the winter anyway.

Apache Indian Teepee across the lake.

All of their rooms have been updated this year and the room was lovely, the restaurants were better than ever and the room service is still outstanding. We never even saw the need to leave the hotel. We didn't gamble but we did walk through the casino to have lunch at the casino restaurant one day and it seemed pretty dead.

I think I'm back to blogging since it is the best way to recall what I've been up to and when I did it. Yes, I'm old and it's a huge help....

Ruidoso, New Mexico... A Deceptive Mystery of Sorts

We just returned from several days of skiing at our closest ski area, Ski Apache, owned and operated
by the oh-so-often deceptive Apache Indian Tribe. Let me explain by number.

1. After 25 years the website for Inn of the Mountain Gods STILL DOESN'T WORK properly. After making online reservations, one must still contact reservations at the hotel to secure a room. They add new pictures, new menu items, remodel the entire hotel, adding more rooms, and still the website can't seem to deliver even the smallest improvement, or just retain the info for that matter.

2. The hotel still boasts fine dining at their upper end restaurant "Wendell's". Although we had an amazing Caesar Salad made by our waiter at the table, dinner still took more than two hours to deliver. There were only 9 tables of people (2 tables of which were 4) and 3 waiters. Unacceptable. I could have handled at least half the tables even though I haven't done so in more than 40 years. (Shut. Up.)

3. The web cam at the ski area website boasted great and plentiful snow. The reality was that there wasn't much snow and what there was, was *made* snow. It was slush in the sun and like black ice in the shade. I have certainly skied better snow, even in Ruidoso. It's not a new concept. Had I known how truly dangerous the skiing was, I'd have gone shopping in town instead of wasting a whopping $115.00 for less than 30 minutes of skiing. Enough said there.


4. When I first checked the Ski Apache web cam (on the Ski Apache website), the gondola was running. When I arrived at the ski area 45 minutes later, no gondolas were running and there was no wind nor extreme conditions preventing it from operating it during normal hours. Hmm. Color me confused. So, if I wanted to get to the top of the mountain I had to ride 3 exposed (to the elements) lifts. Did. Not. Happen. The huge parking lot was nearly empty upon my arrival, which shocked me, although I'm not sure why. I've been there many times before when the ski area was void of skiers.

5. Following our last excursion to stay at the IOMG, I refused to even enter the casino during this trip. The Apache Indians may shun us if we wear anything made of snake (or reptile), but I in turn, refuse to lose my money to their obviously shoddy gaming establishment. They do not deserve any of my money, thank you very much. If I'm going to gamble away my money it will be to people (like the best hotels in Las Vegas) who treat me well and kiss my fine derriere while I'm losing my hard earned money. IOMG is not that place. Furthermore, they allow smoking at the tables but do not allow drinking at the tables. What kind of crazy ridiculousness is that? Get me drunk for free and I'm all about losing money. What part of this seems confusing? Oh. Dear. It must be that devil firewater they all seem to find so addicting. Since I'm 1/16th Cherokee I do not understand this craziness. I can handle it. Why can't they? C'mon. Really?


6. Inn of the Mountain Gods also offers NO PAY PER VIEW movies in the rooms nor spa services. In my opinion this is sheer idiocy. We would have watched multiple movies (at whatever price), and I would have totally accessed the spa and all its services, and they would have made money. (Can we spell revenue lost through laziness?) I simply do not understand this absurd oversight. Stupid non-marketing, really. Even in Las Vegas I can get BOTH AMENITIES. Uh-Huh.

7. Our last night there we ordered room service filet mignons and all the sides for dinner (only one side was offered for your effort of showing up in the dining room) and it was more prompt and much more delicious than our first night in the restaurant. Seriously? What's that all about?

8. I did ski one day but the conditions were horrendous and I didn't ski very well. Being a fair weather skier I'm convinced that had the conditions been better I'd have been Hell On Wheels Skis. The sun was out and it was seasonably warm, but the snow itself sucked. It was scary and it was dangerous and I didn't like it.

9. I so wanted to do the Apache Zip Tour until I discovered that it can reach speeds up to 70 MPH. during your *tour*. WHAT? Umm... No. Not I. I'm brave if I reach that speed with my car. I'm no longer a speed freak in any way, shape, or form. Besides, the PRACTICE ZIP LINE is located at the bottom of the mountain, something like 30 to 45 minutes away. Honestly, I just feel that they don't have all the kinks worked out yet (yes - excuses, excuses), so I'll wait until I'm sure they are good to go.


10. Yes, I've become a wimp. I can live with that. Also, I can't stand the Apache Indians and their mistreatment of their clients bread and butter, the tourists. I'm now looking for whiter slopes with friendlier folks, still within reasonable driving time... I'm a tree. I can bend. I can also pray.

In addition to all I've stated above, Ruidoso and the surrounding area have been devastated every year for the past five years (maybe it's been 10 years). Fire. Flooding. Drought. Fire. Drought. Very, very sad indeed. Lost businesses, lost homes, lost valuable employees, lost friends, lost forest, lost wildlife, lost ski area terrain. The list goes on, as must I. Ski Apache will, I'm sure, continue to to let what they've built deteriorate as well as discourage future tourists by continuing their deceptive ways. Not much has changed in the last five years, nor the last 30 years. The Apaches still run the only game in town and I'm Cherokee. Perhaps that is my problem and I am at the end game with Ski Apache, as well as being done with the entire tribe....

Now, it's time to get back to golfing... Just as soon as the weather warms up.

Must Be Time For Another Road Trip... 2015 Edition

Lately I find that I just don't have the patience for much of anything aside from keeping my nose to the grind, as it were. I don't know if anyone else goes through phases like this, but I certainly do. I feel restless and the things I normally derive joy from doing on a day to day basis, are either boring me to the verge of tears or causing me a great deal of frustration. It's the same feeling that you would educe from taking one step forward and three steps back in a walking race. Uh-Huh.

I have no patience with long stoplights or people who seem to be asleep for the first few seconds after the light changes to green, because they are talking on their freaking cell phones. I have no patience with people who ring my doorbell unannounced. I have no patience for neighbor's dogs who bark for hours on end, nor do I have the patience to suffer through visits from Jehovah's Witnesses or anyone selling anything. The people who block grocery store aisles are now on my hit list. I'm beginning to scare even myself. And today, a neighbor child is blowing an industrial size whistle, seemingly non-stop and I'm envisioning ripping it from her mouth and tossing it to Kingdom Come. You know. Right after I ask the parents if they are deaf or something (like stupid).

I used to refer to this strange emotional phenomenon as PMS and later, I thus blamed menopause. I no longer have either *condition* among my repertoire of excuses for foul moods, so I'm fairly perplexed as to what I can blame this on. Am I really just a total bitch after all is said and done? Possibly, but hopefully not that uncomplicated. Perhaps it's just *crotchety old age syndrome*. Whatever. I think I'll go with Early Spring Fever.

Mr. Snoots, the poor dear, doesn't really understand but in an effort to prove his allegiance he feigns sympathy and understanding. I cannot say that I blame him for that ploy. Were I in his predicament I'd probably resort to the use of a sledge hammer, so I must praise him for his acumen.

Oh patience, where art thou?

Sensing this, Mr. Snoots, in his infinite wisdom, has suggested a road trip. I'm always game for a road trip! So, we're headed to our favorite little ski town. Ruidoso, New Mexico. We'll only be gone for 4 days but usually that's all I need to set me right with the world again. As I've said before, all work and no play makes Snooty a very cranky entity indeed. Very. Cranky.

Mr. Snooty plans to stay at the hotel and take care of business on the computer, which will keep him busy. Then, we can go to dinner in the evenings. Normally, when I go skiing alone, I have room service, watch a movie and go to sleep. So, this should be tons more fun! However, when the hotel removed my person from the casino for taking pictures, they completely squashed my pension for gambling. I wouldn't give them my money even if they begged me and rolled out the red carpet.

Of course, Mr. Snoots doesn't ski anymore but I don't care. I'm just thrilled to not be going alone. I went alone for so many years once the kids were gone and after a while, it just wasn't fun anymore. We humans need contact with other humans and he's my #1 choice, so it will be nice to have him along.

Did I mention that I'm now considered a senior and can ski for a discount price? When I turn 70, I can ski for free! That's my goal. So, I'll finally be getting a *deal* after skiing HERE all these years.

Anyway, I'm out of here as soon as I can gather all my ski things but that might take a while. I promise to try take lots of pictures but I'm more forgetful these days. Two full half days of skiing is probably more than I can handle in my out-of-shape condition. It might well kill me, but I doubt it. Only the good die young.... Most likely I'll be as sore as a two bit floosie on payday. Besides, I ski like an old lady now. You know. Because I'm an old lady now. I can only dream about how I used to ski but, I'm perfectly good with that. As always, I'll take my bottle of champagne, a jar of Icelandic caviar, cream cheese, chopped red onion and toast points to have for my afternoon snack. It became a ritual for me about 20 years ago and I'm not one to break tradition. Well, not this one anyway.

See you soon!
 

Snooty Primadona Banned From Hotel Casino For Taking A Picture Intended For Blog.... Go Figure

The last night we spent in Ruidoso was wonderful until I was physically removed from the hotel casino for taking a picture for my blog. However, they forced me to erase my two casino pictures before they had me escorted from the casino by a security guard. Apparently, I was some sort of threat to their security, or perhaps something they were hiding that I accidentally captured on my digital camera. Uh-Huh. Whatever. A 57 year old housewife who has stayed at this particular hotel at least 24 times in the last 35 years. Oh, yes. I'm sure I was a major threat to their security for taking a couple of pictures. Not only was it humiliating but it spoiled the entire trip for me. Frankly, it spoiled the memory of every stay that I've ever had there.



We dropped a ridiculous amount of money at this hotel (The Inn Of The Mountain Gods) in their restaurants, in the casino, and on our room, valet parking, tips and room service. This will never happen again. Ever. It will not happen again even if they kiss my lily white derriere and offer me free lodging for the rest of my life. There is nothing they can possibly do to redeem themselves after having treated me (a long time hotel guest) so shamefully. And guess what? They don't care, which is not the way to run a hotel or casino.


The strange thing is that I'm always so nice to everyone and I do mean everyone. I tipped all of the nice dealers as well as the drink cart lady, our waiters, and our housekeeping person. I made so many new friends at the blackjack tables that I was literally having the time of my life. That is, until the mishap that clouded the last night spent there.

For many years I have overlooked various forms of mistreatment by the Mescalero Apache Indian Tribe even though I am myself 1/16th Cherokee Indian and have always been a champion of Indian Rights. One year, while skiing at their ski area called Ski Apache, a certain lift operator slammed me in the back of my calves with the chair so many times while I was loading on the chairlift that I had blood contusions up and down the back of both calves by the time I returned home. Did I file a complaint? No. And frankly, I should have but I've always just loved skiing there, so I held my anger in check.


One year an out-of-control snow boarder (who just happened to be a local Mescalero Apache Indian) ran into me and bashed my knee (causing me to have a second knee surgery) I still never filed a complaint. It took me over a year to go through physical therapy and return to normal. And yet, I never treated even one tribe member badly in retaliation. It never even crossed my mind.


Well, it has certainly crossed my mind a few gazillion times since the other night when I was treated like some kind of criminal for taking a picture that was intended to be included in a sterling review of the entire resort. I mean, were there SIGNS ANYWHERE stating that pictures weren't allowed? NO! So much for leaving them a positive review among the hundreds of negative reviews on Trip Advisor. I'm on the Negative Review Bandwagon now, and believe me, there are many minuses, most of which I won't even mention. However, the food at Wendell's (once a five star restaurant) was nowhere near the caliber of meals I'd had there for so many years, which was an extreme disappointment. The menu said Caesar Salad for two was served in classic style, at table side, which it was not. It also had bottled CREAMY dressing, which we both detest. I'm sure that the creator of the Caesar Salad (Cesar Cardini) is rolling over in his grave as I write. Our entrees were overdone every night and the side dishes were perfectly awful. You can read the entire food review HERE, on my cooking blog.


When the pit boss came over to me, telling me to erase the pictures, I had to go and ask why. He refused to answer me and tried to take my camera. I told him I could do it and he could watch me delete the pictures but that he wasn't taking my camera. I then put my camera back in my purse, wished the rest of the table good luck (their jaws on the armrests), intending to go to the room and to bed. This is when a security guard appeared out of nowhere and ordered me to come with her, telling me that they needed to make a copy of my drivers license for their wall of criminals files. I suspect that I'm now banned from their casino. Banned for my horrible crime of taking two digital shots of the casino, then abiding with the request to erase them. I thought I at least had the right to know why, since there had been no signs saying that pictures couldn't be taken. I tried to explain that I was just taking it for my blog but my words fell on deaf ears. Then, I had to wait for almost 15 minutes while the security guard tried to figure out how to work the copy machine.



Before our stay I read the reviews on Trip Advisor and talked with Mr. Snoots about the fact that I thought that if you treat the hotel staff well, you'll receive the same in return. This will not happen at the Inn Of The Mountain Gods. I'm sorely aware of that fact now.



We've been to hotel/casinos in Las Vegas, Reno, Lake Tahoe, and Laughlin, where I have never been practically arrested for taking pictures. The people always smiled when I said "Cheese!". This picture was from when we were staying at The Wynn in Las Vegas, which is by far a superior hotel to TIOTMG. Go figure.


The Mescalero Apache Indians definitely have a bad attitude toward everyone and everything, which, if they were smart, they would change. Unfortunately, one must want to change in order for it to happen. The Indians will never change...

Snowed In On Vacation? What More Could I Possibly Ask For?

We were scheduled to leave for home today but something wonderful happened. It snowed more than a foot here in Ruidoso, New Mexico (within about 36 hours) which means there have been road closings and weather alerts all over the place. If you click on the link above you can see what it looks like here today on the Ruidoso Web Cam. It's like being in a fairytale.

By the way, I am in the old stomping grounds of my friend Jeri, who writes In The Gutter and is currently living in England. So Jeri, just wanted to let you know everything is right here in the world of Ruidoso. Wish you were here...

Although I would have once upon a time jumped in the 4 Runner and gone in spite of the warnings, I know I'm no longer bullet proof, so we chose to stay another night. Yippppeeeeeeeeeeeee! I also got to ski another day and the fresh snow was as light and powdery as it gets.

Everything is covered in snow and looks like a perfect Winter Wonderland. However, no more storms are in the forecast, so we'll be going home tomorrow. *sniff, sniff*

Still, an extra day here has been like a little slice of Heaven....

I have lots of pictures to show you but meanwhile, check THIS and THIS out!