if the Fairmount asks, my name is Annabelle.

There's a funny Sex and the City episode (OK, most episodes are pretty fun) where Samantha finds a rooftop pool membership card of a Ms. Annabelle Bronstein in the restroom and proceeds to use it with the girls.  They sneak into the exclusive pool club (that had originally rejected Sam due to a waiting list) to escape the NYC heat wave under this stolen identity and eventually end up getting busted.

This episode was my inspiration for Saturday.

The thought process:

- It's going to be chilly in SF this weekend...rarrr...oh look, 75 and sunny in Sonoma...which is only 40 minutes away...

- Man I'd really like to sit by a pool...but don't want to pay a high hotel fee...I wonder how we can make this happen...

So, Jenny gave the Fairmount a buzz to see about potentially paying a spa fee of sorts to utilize their pool and patio and the gentleman that she talked to basically gave us the green light for an Annabelle maneuver.  He told her that a) he used to live in SF and honey, he totally understands wanting to escape the city and b) so long as we didn't bring our own towels, ordered drinks and snacks and paid with credit cards no one would ever know we weren't hotel guests.

After an easy 40 minute drive and a stealth parking job on the street to avoid the valet, we ordered snacks and drinks (a fun 21+ twist on an Arnold Palmer that included sweet tea vodka...YUM):

Brought only our purses and our books (I don't think Dre is loving the book I loaned her...) and let the pool boy set up our chairs...

And acted like heck yes, we totally belong here...

Wait that's more Jersey Shore than Fairmount spa and pool.  Let's try that again...

And acted like heck yes, we totally belong here...

Five  hours, 2 drinks, a veggie wrap and a crab quesadilla later I was sun kissed, relaxed and pretty impressed with our ability to avoid a "the jig is up" moment. It's funny what you can get away with using just friendly smiles and confidence :) Oh, and of course *gratitude*; we thanked the staff repeatedly for their services (unlike most of the other pool patrons around us).

What a fun and sunny day. We may have to put on our Annabelle swim suits again this summer...

In Gratitude,

Trish

ps- on our way home we passed this funny sign:

Ahh, California moms.