So okay, I gave up and called maintenance.
I decided to make the couch up with the flat sheet, as I could tuck it securely and the couch was pretty comfortable. The problem was that I couldn't watch TV and couldn't read because of the lamp. I changed light bulbs and the lamp still didn't work. I carried it to another room and plugged it in and then it worked. So I knew it was the outlet. I saw another outlet at the other end of the couch and thought I could just change ends of the couch and set the lamp on this room divider thing buy that outlet didn't work either. I knew it had to be a breaker, but I couldn't find the box. I searched the villa, then went outside to hunt. I found a little electrical room with the meters, but no breakers. Then I gave up and called.
The maintenance man told me the breaker box was in the laundry room and acted like I was a dunce. Well, he couldn't find it either! He finally found it behind a picture in the kitchen. I would never have thought to search behind pictures. We had to flip all the breakers off and on, but finally were able to restore electricity to the living room.
End of the story. I slept great and this morning my throat is just a little bit scratchy. I'll be home tonight, but not in my own bed. I'm staying at Hillary's because my refinished hardwood floors won't be ready for my foot steps. Hillary went over last night to look at them and deemed them 'stunning'. I can hardly wait to see them myself.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
The Villa
This week I am at a Retirement Community in Pompano Beach, Florida. They wanted to save money and asked that I stay on the grounds in guest accommodations rather than in a hotel.
Here is my Villa.
Here is my Villa.
Now before you go getting all impressed with the accommodations, let me tell you the down side. When you stay in a hotel you usually have one room with a great bed, from where you can watch television, a hair dryer, and lots of hot water, but you don't have the ambiance and space that you get in a Villa.
Consider the trade off. The bed was an inexpensive mattress (Queen) with no mattress pad and made up with flat sheets, which means the sheet comes loose and wads up when you turn over in your sleep. I was up three times remaking the bed during the night. The next morning, I turned on the shower, and went to the kitchen to make tea. When I returned to the bathroom the water was still cold. I manipulated the dial every way possible, but after 15 minutes still could not get hot water. The sinks 'hot water' handle only produced luke warm water. I had anticipated the hair dryer issue and brought my own.
A maintenance ticket was promptly filled out the next morning and I had hot water from thence forth.
Tuesday, I developed an intense sore throat and by the middle of the afternoon had a temperature of 102. I went back to the Villa, took 4 Ibuprofen and laid down on the couch, as the television was in the living area and not in the bedroom. The couch was really okay, due to the wadded sheet issue on the bed. I ended up sleeping on the couch and was much more comfortable than I had been in the bed the previous night. This morning I reach up to turn on the lamp and the light bulb crackled and went out. Then I picked up the remote for the TV and it did not work. Grudgingly I arose and walked to the TV to push the power button. It didn't work either. I really don't want to be remembered as the whiny consultant, so I am just making do without television tonight.
I haven't yet decided where to sleep tonight. I may work on the sheet issue and try the bed again since I will not be able to read on the couch without the lamp....but I guess I could switch out the light bulb with another lamp?
The decisions one has to make...............
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Everything from my Very Worst Nightmare
This flight had everything from my "Very Worst Nightmare". (A concept borrowed from Molly’s description of Disney World at Christmas.)
I arrived at the gate about an hour before the flight was scheduled to leave. A lady was trying to console a screaming 3-4 month old baby, with the assistance of another lady I assumed was the Grandmother, but later discovered she was just a helpful traveler. This baby continued to scream for at least 15 minutes regardless of what they tried to do. I was thinking that it was okay; because by the time the flight boarded the baby would be so tired he would sleep. I noticed the volume begin to decline, and then realized they were leaving the gate area and that she also had a 4-5 year old little boy with her. They came back in a few minutes carrying a McDonald’s sack. The baby was still fussy, but the screaming had subsided.
The plane was late, but we finally started boarding. I discovered she was on my plane when she pre-boarded with her small children. The very nice lady who had been helping her told them she would see them later.
Now, I know this will be hard to believe, but as I navigated down the aisle of the plane to my seat, I discovered that this little family was going to be sharing my row. Of note is that when the ‘very nice lady who had been helping’ passed by on her way to her seat, she had a rather smirky smile on her face when she met my eyes. I am not an overly personable traveler. I like to be left alone to read or doze and I do not normally engage in small talk. Whenever I end up in a row with children, it amazes me that the mother seems to think I should make over the kid. I smile and try to read, and make every effort to let my non-verbal communicate that I am not at all inconvenienced, but do not wish to socialize. Carolyn would have been the ‘very nice lady’. She would have known the kids names and how old they were, played games with the annoying little boy, and been singing to the very fussy baby. I really thought about that, but I just couldn’t make myself DO it.
I was on the aisle, the Mom and baby were in the middle and the very annoying little boy was at the window. He never shut his mouth. The Mom would be very tolerant and patient, and then would just loose it and tell him to be quiet or she would smack him, although she never did. He obviously knew she never would, because the threats didn’t deter him at all. The baby never did go to sleep. She fed him a red liquid (I assume some kind of juice) throughout the flight to keep him quiet, but it didn’t always work very well. When she wasn’t trying to get the baby to drink the juice, she was jabbering to him and/or yelling at the other one. I really did have empathy for her. She wasn’t having any more fun than I was and she had to change planes and repeat the process. I was a little fearful they were continuing on to Kansas City and I would get to share my row with them once again, but God knew I would never have the patience to endure it, and sent them to Nashville.
Right now I am in traveler heaven. The flight is fairly empty and I have the entire row to myself. I figure it’s my reward for keeping my mouth shut and maintaining a pleasant demeanor during my very worst nightmare.
I arrived at the gate about an hour before the flight was scheduled to leave. A lady was trying to console a screaming 3-4 month old baby, with the assistance of another lady I assumed was the Grandmother, but later discovered she was just a helpful traveler. This baby continued to scream for at least 15 minutes regardless of what they tried to do. I was thinking that it was okay; because by the time the flight boarded the baby would be so tired he would sleep. I noticed the volume begin to decline, and then realized they were leaving the gate area and that she also had a 4-5 year old little boy with her. They came back in a few minutes carrying a McDonald’s sack. The baby was still fussy, but the screaming had subsided.
The plane was late, but we finally started boarding. I discovered she was on my plane when she pre-boarded with her small children. The very nice lady who had been helping her told them she would see them later.
Now, I know this will be hard to believe, but as I navigated down the aisle of the plane to my seat, I discovered that this little family was going to be sharing my row. Of note is that when the ‘very nice lady who had been helping’ passed by on her way to her seat, she had a rather smirky smile on her face when she met my eyes. I am not an overly personable traveler. I like to be left alone to read or doze and I do not normally engage in small talk. Whenever I end up in a row with children, it amazes me that the mother seems to think I should make over the kid. I smile and try to read, and make every effort to let my non-verbal communicate that I am not at all inconvenienced, but do not wish to socialize. Carolyn would have been the ‘very nice lady’. She would have known the kids names and how old they were, played games with the annoying little boy, and been singing to the very fussy baby. I really thought about that, but I just couldn’t make myself DO it.
I was on the aisle, the Mom and baby were in the middle and the very annoying little boy was at the window. He never shut his mouth. The Mom would be very tolerant and patient, and then would just loose it and tell him to be quiet or she would smack him, although she never did. He obviously knew she never would, because the threats didn’t deter him at all. The baby never did go to sleep. She fed him a red liquid (I assume some kind of juice) throughout the flight to keep him quiet, but it didn’t always work very well. When she wasn’t trying to get the baby to drink the juice, she was jabbering to him and/or yelling at the other one. I really did have empathy for her. She wasn’t having any more fun than I was and she had to change planes and repeat the process. I was a little fearful they were continuing on to Kansas City and I would get to share my row with them once again, but God knew I would never have the patience to endure it, and sent them to Nashville.
Right now I am in traveler heaven. The flight is fairly empty and I have the entire row to myself. I figure it’s my reward for keeping my mouth shut and maintaining a pleasant demeanor during my very worst nightmare.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Lost and Found
After I wrote the title, I realized it could be interpreted in more than one way. The first is as I intended--my lost phone and computer. The second--my lost months on this blog. Hopefully this will be the initial post of my renewed effort to keep in contact!!
And so....... the lost phone. I was at the Detroit airport in January and early for the flight by about two hours. I stopped at a restaurant for dinner and to kill some time. During my meal, my sister called and I chatted with her for a while, then disconnected and placed my phone on the table. Once I finished eating, I booted up my computer and surfed the Internet for a while to entertain myself. Then I decided it was time to head to the gate and put everything away (except the phone) and headed out. When I reached my gate, I sat down and checked to be sure I had my wallet, phone, and broadband card. I am somewhat paranoid about those items. Alas!!!!!! I did not have the phone, and remembered it was on the table at the restaurant. I immediately headed back and arrived back at the restaurant in less than 10 minutes after leaving. The waitress I asked about the lost phone said they had it and went back to retrieve it. She returned with the manager who told me they had checked the monitors when they found the phone, as they were pretty sure to whom it beloned, and the hostess headed that direction to find me. GREAT!!
As I had no idea what she looked like, I told him to order me a glass of wine and I would wait for her to return. About 10 minutes later someone tapped me on the shoulder and asked if I was Sarah. She said my phone was at my gate. My question was--how did she know what gate was mine? No problem......Hillary had called her! She answered and they discussed who I was and where I was going. She checked the boards for the next flight to Kansas City and took the phone to the gate, where they were able to tell her, YES, a Sarah McGinley is schedule to be on this flight.
It's a miracle...and I got my phone back. I will eat there again.
Then the computer. I was in Las Vegas for our annual meeting the last of January. I arrived home late Friday evening. I left my bags in the car, washed my face and went to bed. The next morning I carried everything in and when I opened my briefcase discovered I did not have my computer. My stomach was in knots as I tried to remember where I could have left it. I finally realized the only place I could have left it was at security screening at the airport. When I was going though security I was behind several people who were amature travelers. They were unable to get through the metal detectors due to too much jewelry, belts, and such. As a result everyone was backed up, with items moving along through the screener and backing up on the conveyor. Once I got through, I stacked my two bins and moved away from the crowd to put my shoes on and return my identification to my wallet. Since I stacked my bins, I obviously did not notice my computer and it never made it back to the briefcase.
I called Southwest, who gave me the number for TSA at McCarren, who gave me the number for Lost and Found. I called them and got a recording which required me to provide a recorded message about my lost item for which there would only be response if they had my item.
Then I called my boss. He was great, saying it wasn't the first time such a thing had happened. I was pretty sick about the lost information in the computer, but figured I could replicate most of it over time via the files at corporate. As our formats for reports are maintained on the company web site, I would be able to continue to work using Hillary's computer.
Around two hours later I received a call from the Lost and Found people. They had my computer and for a mere $75 dollars they were able to overnight it back to me. I had it Monday morning before I headed out for another week of travel adventures.
And the third concern.....my lost months. I have no excuse except laziness. I am sorry I have been so remiss. If you have returned to this blog, continue to check in occassionally. I will try to keep you informed about the craziness of travel.
And so....... the lost phone. I was at the Detroit airport in January and early for the flight by about two hours. I stopped at a restaurant for dinner and to kill some time. During my meal, my sister called and I chatted with her for a while, then disconnected and placed my phone on the table. Once I finished eating, I booted up my computer and surfed the Internet for a while to entertain myself. Then I decided it was time to head to the gate and put everything away (except the phone) and headed out. When I reached my gate, I sat down and checked to be sure I had my wallet, phone, and broadband card. I am somewhat paranoid about those items. Alas!!!!!! I did not have the phone, and remembered it was on the table at the restaurant. I immediately headed back and arrived back at the restaurant in less than 10 minutes after leaving. The waitress I asked about the lost phone said they had it and went back to retrieve it. She returned with the manager who told me they had checked the monitors when they found the phone, as they were pretty sure to whom it beloned, and the hostess headed that direction to find me. GREAT!!
As I had no idea what she looked like, I told him to order me a glass of wine and I would wait for her to return. About 10 minutes later someone tapped me on the shoulder and asked if I was Sarah. She said my phone was at my gate. My question was--how did she know what gate was mine? No problem......Hillary had called her! She answered and they discussed who I was and where I was going. She checked the boards for the next flight to Kansas City and took the phone to the gate, where they were able to tell her, YES, a Sarah McGinley is schedule to be on this flight.
It's a miracle...and I got my phone back. I will eat there again.
Then the computer. I was in Las Vegas for our annual meeting the last of January. I arrived home late Friday evening. I left my bags in the car, washed my face and went to bed. The next morning I carried everything in and when I opened my briefcase discovered I did not have my computer. My stomach was in knots as I tried to remember where I could have left it. I finally realized the only place I could have left it was at security screening at the airport. When I was going though security I was behind several people who were amature travelers. They were unable to get through the metal detectors due to too much jewelry, belts, and such. As a result everyone was backed up, with items moving along through the screener and backing up on the conveyor. Once I got through, I stacked my two bins and moved away from the crowd to put my shoes on and return my identification to my wallet. Since I stacked my bins, I obviously did not notice my computer and it never made it back to the briefcase.
I called Southwest, who gave me the number for TSA at McCarren, who gave me the number for Lost and Found. I called them and got a recording which required me to provide a recorded message about my lost item for which there would only be response if they had my item.
Then I called my boss. He was great, saying it wasn't the first time such a thing had happened. I was pretty sick about the lost information in the computer, but figured I could replicate most of it over time via the files at corporate. As our formats for reports are maintained on the company web site, I would be able to continue to work using Hillary's computer.
Around two hours later I received a call from the Lost and Found people. They had my computer and for a mere $75 dollars they were able to overnight it back to me. I had it Monday morning before I headed out for another week of travel adventures.
And the third concern.....my lost months. I have no excuse except laziness. I am sorry I have been so remiss. If you have returned to this blog, continue to check in occassionally. I will try to keep you informed about the craziness of travel.
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