What’s that bouncing sound you hear?

It’s my check from our Derby renter [Travis Heaton who stayed here with Rita Condrat] bouncing all the way from Salt Lake City.

We thought we were awfully clever, making money for our trip this way. We picked them up and dropped them off at the airport, drove them to places in Louisville, made a nice dinner for them, stocked the house with food and beverage, did everything we could to make them comfortable. We wanted them to get their money’s worth. And they wrote us a rubber check.

Lesson learned here: We took their check to the bank the morning after we got it, to verify that it would clear. It was early morning though, and banks weren’t open in Salt Lake City. We took a dumb leap of faith and deposited it, and wrote them a check for their security deposit refund. So not only did they stay here 5 days for free, we *paid* them!

Next time (if we do this again) cash only. That’s it.

This disgusts me. Could it be an honest mistake? Perhaps. It happens. But sheesh, the guy won a Trifecta at Derby, I think he can cover the cost. And if it’s an honest mistake, you’d think they’d answer either of their cell phones or their home phone when we called repeatedly yesterday, or reply to their email.

Now it’s time to decide what I really have to cut from the trip budget. I’m afraid the cooking class in Provence just isn’t possible now. There’s not much else I can cut – train, car, flight … these costs are all set. We leave in 24 days, I’m all ears for creative ways to make back that money. Lemonade stand? Car wash? Hmm, dog wash?