The Dis-Comfort Inn

This hotel, if you can call it that; (roach motel might be a better descriptor) so disappointed the two of us weary travelers that we decided to laugh it off. Sort of.

D an I traveled all day yesterday; flew to Houston and then on to Ft. Lauderdale, arriving around 10:30 PM. The weather was lovely, breezy and 60ish and we enjoyed the feeling we'd finally arrived, had one night to spend and then.....off on week long cruise.  Although we were hungry (no food on airlines these days), that was the only vaguely uncomfortable feeling. We figured we'd find someplace to catch a quick bite before turning in for the night.

Ahh,  The "Dis-Comfort Inn" looks nothing like this quaint exterior view, even in the light of day. The driver who picked us up from the airport was 30 minutes late, the check in staff surly and distant, and the icing on the cake of displeasure was the room. OMG. I'm drenched in memories of motel rooms from my younger days (think 1970's style) and images from movies (think Psycho, Thelma and Louise, maybe even Little Miss Sunshine).

Nothing in this room of ours worked properly; from the lock on the door to the bathroom sink. A funky musty smelling cramped space with an air conditioner that required a stiff kick periodically to quit making a grinding sound, a bag of a prior guest's food in the microwave, and burned out light bulbs were but some of the wonders of room 127. If this was an inexpensive room for the night, I'd (maybe) understand but this was not the super cheap deal of the season by any means. We've staying in Comfort Inns in Washington that were no four star resorts but were at least well maintained and functional.

Loose hardware on the locking mechanism

5 minutes after the water ran in the sink

Top the stay off with watered down coffee and orange juice this morning and we're off to the cruise terminal where vacation begins.  We're laughing about our overnight adventure but will be glad to archive this one away in the "remember that awful hotel?" file.

This is our third stay in a Ft. Lauderdale hotel; next time we'll finally get it: no more overnights in places adjacent to the cruise terminal.

Bon Voyage!

Leave-Taking

Me: Hi, Dad (he's seated in his chair in the living room of the family home).

He: Hi, sweetheart!  So good to see you.

Me: I came to say goodbye before our trip; brought a written itinerary for you so you can see where we'll be on which day and all.

Have you had a good day today?  (I  always ask and hold my breath because ofttimes it's just an "OK day", or "Not too good" day.

He: Hey, it's been a great day, honey.

Me: How so?

He: There was nobody here today that made us do....(brief pause) stupid things.


Me: Ha! I get it Dad.

The stupid things are activities supervised by the activity coordinator for the home. Sometimes they throw a huge red balloon around the living room, or sing songs, or (the worst) roll out cookie dough and make cut out shapes. He, being the only one at the home without dementia, finds them tedious and well, dumb but he puts up with it because that's who he is and always has been. But he'll let you know about it later.

I stayed to sit with him at dinner.  Poor guy, he's getting used to blenderized food.

He: See this?  (pointing to his tall glass of something resembling a caramel milkshake (but savory, I'm sure....)  They take what's on the plate and grrrrrrrrr, they blend it all up in the blender. Sometimes they
add milk to make it smoother. I drink that for my meal.

Dad's meal in a glass

What everyone else at the table ate

Me: Does it taste OK, Dad?

He: Pretty good most of the time.

Me: Do you want any salt on it?  (laughing)

He: No thanks, honey. I'm used to it. (such a stoic guy, especially considering eating was a serious passion for him back in the day).

Meanwhile the staff offered me a plate of food; "We have lots left", they said invitingly. But me? Well, after seeing what it looked like all pulverized in a glass, I just couldn't do it. Just couldn't.

Me: Bye Bye, Dad. Love you much. I'll see you again soon.

He: Love you too.

Spooktacular Stats for 2011

Chinese numerology and Feng Shui for 2011: 


This year we experience four unusual dates: 
1/1/11, 1/11/11, 11/11/11, and that's not all;


Take the last two digits of the year you were born and
the age you will be this year and the result will add up
to 111 for everyone!


This is also the year of MONEY. (not sure about that one yet...)

Also, this year October had 5 Saturdays, 5 Sundays, and 5 Mondays. 
This happens only once every 823 years!


I hope everyone enjoyed their 5 weekends this month!
Happy Halloween!

Wine Tasting in Walla Walla

Earlier this month, D and I spent a weekend in Walla Walla in the midst of some of Washington's greatest wineries; some 140 and growing. Of course we could only visit a few but oh, my; the wines were wonderful. Eastern Washington is red wine country; cab sauvs, merlots, and fabulous blends. We tasted many great wines and bought more than we had planned.

At L' Ecole Winery 41, our last stop the day we returned to Seattle, some lovely tasting wines greeted us in an old schoolhouse converted into a tasting room and retail facility. What made me laugh was a letter posted on the wall, from a youngster who was likely dragged from winery to winery as his or her parents tasted Northwest reds and whites.

Check it out. It'll make you smile.

Do Cell Phones Give You Acne?

I overheard this conversation between my two kids yesterday.

He: Why do you use your Iphone on "speaker mode" all the time?

She: I have to; if I listen and talk into it, I get acne. Bad. On that side of my face.

He: (sighing) You should wipe your Iphone off with special wipes that won't hurt the screen. Everyday. Then it'll stay clean and you won't get acne.

She: That' won't work. It's really bad.

He: But you can't hear what the other person is saying very well; it's all garbled. That's why no one can ever understand you.

She: No, it isn't.

Sigh.  What do you think; do cell phones give you acne? Turns out they are both right.

3 Days in Spokane

Some of this, a bit of that, too much of another; laughter, tears, hard work and take-a-break interludes; last weekend wound down. She and I flew back to Seattle last Monday.

Here's some of what went on in Spokane

An introduction to the "furries", the 3 new guinea pig babies born to "Midnight Noni". Mama, babies, Daddy, step-Mom, and half brother make 7.  The one thing I can say right now is these balls of allergy on a stick bring her joy, real joy.  For me, walking in to her apartment stirred up the allergies. I prepared myself this time around with a supply of prednisone, albuterol inhaler, claritin, benadryl, and anti-histamine eyedrops  There was need for all five in various sequences and combinations all weekend.

Scott holds the babies

We attended a baby shower for a friend who dressed accordingly. There were other pregnant women around as well and the Halloween spirit infused the festivities. Nice.

Spooky Baby Shower cake

And babies make four!

Then there was a trip to Greenbluff for those amazing pumpkin donuts and a stop by Townshend Winery for a bit of tasting.

We cleaned and sorted, pitched and organized.

Oh, and I signed on with the Quibids penny auction site and stayed up into the wee hours winning Vera Bradley products for cheap.  Sigh. More things to keep track off....

Back in Seattle. Moving forward.

A Heavy Heart

Mom used to talk about having a "heavy heart". I've experienced the same many times in my life. The heaviness comes not so much from the emotion of grief but rather an overwhelming sadness that permeates the mind and body leaving a heavy, lethargic feeling. The heavy heart is my constant companion today.

Sitting at the airport, I'm waiting for my flight to Spokane. The weather outside is foggy, moist with dense fog and light rain; perfect for a heavy heart sort of day.  Although I dread flying in any weather, this overcast stuff bespeaks of a probable bumpy ride. I could do without that added stress right now. At least this is a short flight and far easier than driving the nearly 300 miles to get there.

When we are blessed with adult children, the roles, rules, and responsibilities change. I'm finding it increasingly evident that sometimes, all we can do is listen. Sometimes that is enough. Sometimes, advice is the last thing to help forge a path through a messed up situation. Despite my ideas and suggestions, I won't spout off unless invited. A simple presence, at least for now, is probably the best I can hope for.

I ask for grace.

If my heart is heavy, hers is heavier. How we hate to see our children hurt and struggle with life's problems.