Friday in Maryland

While I was there, the AC in my hotel room went out. They were nice enough to offer to move me to another room but I was too lazy to collect all my stuff before I absolutely had to. Don't get me wrong, if it had been hot I would have been all over that. But the weather was so nice (after Monday).

I loved the food at The Matchbox. I ate there several times and everything I had was yummy!!

Man the cab driver that took me to the airport was so chatty. I guess he never has anyone to talk to because he would not stop asking me questions. Where was I from? [Usually when someone hears I am from Texas, the next question is "are you a cowboys fan?" This guy guy at least changed it up a bit and asked if I like football. I should start keeping a tally of this for my travels] Where did I go to college? What was my major? What do I do? Do I like it? I have found that if you close your eyes, whoever is talking will stop.

My flight home was delayed by an hour. They had to change a tire on the plane. Weird to think of but I guess they do have tires. I need to invest in noise canceling headphones for all this travel.

Things I forgot to pack: hairbrush & headphones

Monday in Maryland

The Hilton Washington DC/Rockville is very nice. The only thing I remember from the last time I stayed here was that my first room was in a high traffic area and I had to change rooms. Apparently I am a light sleeper because I could hear every noise outside of my room.  I hate to be that prima donna that needs a better room but they were very nice and moved me. So this time, when I heard the room number I knew it was not that same high traffic area from before.

Here is something I don't understand and this is not specific to Hilton. Why do hotels have doors that slam? Can't someone come up with a design like those kitchen drawers that close quietly? And if they exist, can we make it mandatory for hotels to use them? Slamming doors are so loud and rattle the walls of all the rooms nearby. And when I'm half asleep at 10:30, those slamming doors and rattling walls wake up this light sleeper. Another thing I think should be required is sound absorbing materials in the hallways. I am a loud person. I know this. I have been told this my whole life. If I am not making a conscious effort to not be loud, I could disturb everyone on the way the my room if I were speaking. I know people don't think about that as they walk down the hall but again . . . light sleeper.

Back to the Hilton. Cold and rainy means dining in the hotel restaurant. I wasn't super impressed with the food but today was the start of a new menu so maybe they will figure that out. The service was great though.

Sinus issues are waning but my voice has been affected. Someone actually told me today that they could barely hear me. Ha!

What I forgot to pack: Hairbrush

Off to Maryland

The last time I went to Maryland, it took 3 tries to get there due to bad weather. Original flight for Sunday afternoon was cancelled. Rebooked on a flight for Tuesday morning. Cancelled. Third flight on another airline from and to neighboring airports for Tuesday. Finally made it.

So it was not surprising that on this trip, the flight was delayed by an hour which caused me to my interview for Global Entry. But hey, I made it out on my first flight.

I was able to have my interview with Global Entry when I finally arrived and I have to say, those CBP agents are so nice. The process was simple and quick. Very impressed.

Also, my checked bag was free. So maybe Citi has figured out their stuff. Or it could be a fluke. Only time will tell.

U-Verse gripes

Out of nowhere on Thursday evening, the TV in my den stopped working. I called AT&T and performed a few test with a "tech support" representative. He determined that the receiver needed to be replaced. Since it's the DVR receiver that meant I would lose anything on it. Super.

Saturday the new receiver came and when I plugged it in, it didn't work either. Another call to AT&T and this "tech support" rep determined that it was my wall jack that didn't work. And by the way, they don't cover that. So if I chose to have an AT&T technician come, it could be a $99 fee depending on the outcome of the issue. OR for the low-low price of just $6/month for the next 12 months, I could add their line protection plan to my account and they would come for free. Ugh!

I signed up for the stupid plan and had a technician scheduled to come. I changed out the Ethernet cable to the receiver, tracked the cable back to the gateway and there didn't seem to be anything I could see wrong with it. Then I looked at the gateway. The light on the port to the den receiver wasn't on. Hmmm. I switched it to anther port and low and behold the dang thing worked.

So it appears that the port just went bad. So now I have a new reviewer, I lost my recordings, I have a new monthly fee and a technician coming.

Why the heck isn't checking the gateway part of their 180,00 steps they make you perform before they determine the receiver is bad?

I called back to cancel the technician and this new monthly plan for line protection and the new "tech support" rep said ok, done. Sweet! How easy was that!

Nope.

She called back to tell me that she couldn't cancel the new plan and I'd have to call the sales line during normal business hours. . . . . .

Sleeping Hard

Blogger

This service is starting to tick me off. The app isn't very good. I'm getting random errors. I can't seem to add a "gadget" of other bloggers I'm following . . . . Researching TypePad and WordPress. Any suggestions from anyone?

City Kitty

Since Murphy is such a little genius, I decided to see if I could potty train her. I ordered the CityKitty Cat Toilet Training Kit and it arrived today. We shall see how it goes.

Spring!

Planted some bulbs (dahlia, freesia, peony) and weeded the front beds. Added some mulch and they look gorgeous.








Next up, plant the new roses and finish that last bed in the front.

New Guinea Impatiens

New hanging baskets. Amazingly colorful and incredibly expensive.

Citi Aadvantage

On Monday, when I flew out, I thought I had this neat benefit with my new Citi Aadvantage card of getting a free checked bag. Except the kiosk made me pay. I called Citi and it appears that you must purchase the American Airlines ticket with your citi aadvantage card to get the free checked bag. I thought I would save my company the $50 but alas, I don't pay for my own air travel. So there's the answer to that question. 

North Carolina - Day 2

Well the convience of the Embassy Suites wasn't so convient today. I usually choose to stay here because it's close to work and they have a shuttle that will take you to and from. Then I don't have to get a car and get lost trying to figure out which way is North.

Haven't been impressed with the shuttle this trip. (Remember standing in the freezing rain yesterday?) They supposedly leave on the half hour. I asked at 40 after where the shuttle was and the front desk guy said he won't be back until 9. Um, what happened to the 8:30 run? He asked if I would like him to call me a cab. The words seemed nice but the attitude seemed irritated. Maybe it's because I'm sick. Maybe because I didn't get any sleep last night. 

After work, I called the hotel a total of 4 times over the course of 15 minutes. The first 3 times, it rang and rang and no one answered. Finally on the fourth try, I got a person and told them I was at this building and hey, can come one come get me. She put me in hold for a while to I guess confirm that someone could come to this building. She did ask if the driver dropped me here this morning. Well yes, which is why I assumed I could get picked up as well . . . 

Man Embassy Suites, you are wearing me out. Next time, rental car. 

I have to say the restaurant (yes a restaurant in a hotel) was very redeeming today. The staff was friendly and pleasant. The food . . . Oh my. Well the soup anyway. The soup of the day was something called three pepper chicken soup and quite frankly the name does it no justice. If they hadn't brought me a sample, I would have turned my nose up at it. Of course seeing and smelling made all the difference. It was creamy and slightly tomatoey at the same time with diced bell peppers and chicken. So very good in fact, that while the shrimp and grits weren't exactly to my liking, I didn't even care. Because I had eaten that amazing soup. I want to say that I remember thinking the shrimp and grits weren't worth it but I don't know where that was. Guess that's why I'm writing about my travels, to remember this stuff. Well, this and the drunk guy that thrown off the plane. 

North Carolina - Day 1

Well the trip started off ok with the exception of my medicine head. I previously signed up for the Citi Advantage card to get the benefits of group 1 boarding and a free checked bag when I travel. This was the first trip since I had it and I was curious to see how well it worked.

It didn't. I checked in on the American app and used the kiosk to check my bag when I got to the airport. The little computer told me I had to pay $25 so I thought well maybe they recognize a Citi Advantage card so I used it. But I got a reciept. So I guess I'll need to call them because I have a suspicious feeling it's not a reimbursement kind of thing.

The agent had to ask me for my boarding pass and my ID because, like I said, medicine head. I even left my phone in my pocket at security. I felt like such a rookie. 

Then was the flight. It was fine but I hate MD-80's. I had a seat that's classified as main cabin extra. Yes there was extra room for knees but side to side is absolutely no different and the under seat area was weird. The bars weren't aligned with the seat. Plus this new rolling laptop bag I have seemed cumbersome. But it fit so it guess I can't complain. The guy sitting next to me had on a short sleeve button shirt and his sleeve kept touching me. I was falling asleep and that little tickle from his sleeve jerked me wide awake. I did notice that there was a DC port under my seat so if you happen to be flying with a car charger . . . 

At baggage claim, another woman picked up my bag and took what I felt like was a long time to determine it wasn't hers. I finally said yeah, that's mine. Seriously, there are names on them. It's not rocket science. 

Oh man, the weather. At RDU airport, you wait outside on the curb for the hotel shuttles to come. When it's 32 and raining, this isn't the best system. My hotel's shuttle was pulling away as I walked up and I just knew that wasn't a good sign. It took about 25 minutes freezing in a much too lightweight jacket for the next one to come along but man was I glad he did. 

When I was cheking in at the Embassy Suites, the rep attempted to confirm my choice of a smoking room. Uh, hold up. "You actually have those?" Then I realized I needed to tell her no. Under no circumstance would I be in a smoking room. Like my week long sinus infection hasn't been enough fun, let's go ahead and make it worse. She asked if I booked it and I said yes but not really. I put in the request in some system and then I don't know what happens. (I did go back and confirm it was for a king, non-smoking room). She said my company does this a lot. Really? I've never had that happen. She was probably just getting to pass the buck. So she moved me to another room which was not a king so I guess I'll have to limit the amount of rolling around I do in my sleep. 

I do like the Embassy Suites. I come often enough that it feels familiar when I return. I especially like the convience of the hotel being so close to work. The separate living room and bar area are really nice and spacious. The only small negative is the age if this facility. The tiles on the bathroom floor are cracked and the shower needs new fixtures. But it's not near as bad as some of the other hotels I've stayed at. More to come as this is only day 1

Longing

She found the toilet paper roll!

Sleepy

Count Murphula

Resting

Glitter Ball

Crinkle Ball

Upside Down