8/3/2011 - The "incident"

To the Management Executives of the La Costa Resort and Spa,


On Wednesday, August 3rd, 2011 my husband, an associate of ours, and I attended the Mercury Insurance Open at your venue. To say that it was our pleasure to attend this event at your venue would be inaccurate and quite the opposite. In fact, it was very well one of the worst experiences that each of us has ever had due to the horrid treatment we received from your staff.

As a Human Resources and business professional, I am well versed on discrimination and the protected categories outlined by the law. I often advise my clients on best practices to ensure that they are not discriminatory towards their employees, customers or vendors. This is important not only because it helps mitigate risk and avoid law suits, but it is also the respectful and right thing to do.

I am very fortunate to have had the opportunity to live in various parts of the United States and to have traveled to various places in the world. Until I had the opportunity to attend an event at your venue, I never personally experienced such obvious and blatant racial discrimination. On at least three separate occasions your employees ignored me, my husband and my associate, proceeded past us, and offered their services to the Caucasian individuals surrounding us.

Your company boasts of deluxe accommodations, world class amenities and premier services available at your resort. I am not privy to your company's marketing strategy, however I assume from my experience this is a white-only venue, and therefore you should clarify that accordingly in your communications to the public. If this is not the case, I strongly encourage you partner with a third-party vendor to conduct diversity training with every member of your staff immediately to help ensure that no one else experience the flagrant racial discrimination that we did.

We have shared our experience with many of our associates who are disgusted with your practices and they have insisted that I write this letter to you. Should you desire a conversation with me to discuss this experience further, please do not hesitate to call or email me. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Floremy San Mateo, SPHR

So true...

The Dalai Lama, when asked what surprised him most about humanity, answered "Man. Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived."

Bye Bye - Love You!

I love the end of the day when it's bedtime for my son.  We read a couple of our favorite books, say our prayers, sing a few songs, exchange kisses and cuddle before I put him down.  Tonight was a very special night that I must remember, because for the first time he said "Bye Bye - Love You!" as I laid him down into his crib. 

I was so so shocked!  Normally when I put him down, he just rolls over, hugs his stuffed animal, and goes to sleep.  Tonight, while I was giving him his last three kisses (don't know why, but I always have to give him 3), he kissed me back, said "Bye-Bye" and when I said, "I love you" he responded with a very clear "Love you!" 

Oh my gosh, my heart melted and there were tears in my eyes.  The joys of motherhood!!! 

We're Going to London!

So excited - we just booked our trip to London - hooray!!! 

I can't remember exactly when, but more than 5 years ago we purchased time share with Marriott.  Originally we were just going to take advantage of the free night's stay at a Ritz Carlton hotel and say "no thank you" at the presentation... until they explained how the "points" program worked and how we could use these points for airfare and hotel stays.  SWEET!!! 

We only paid $509.10 (which was $169.70 per person) to the airline for taxes and other misc. airline fees for round-trip airfare for 3 and 7-nights at a Marriott hotel in the heart of London.  Again, SWEET!!!! 

Can't wait - whoo hooooooo!!!!!!!  (insert image of us dancing here!!!!)