December 11-14th
NCAA Div. II Championship –Minnesota Duluth vs Northwest Missouri State -ESPN2 -1p ET – CFB Week 16
Had to fly into Huntsville, AL and then drive a little over an hour to Florence. Ran into some delays so got in a little later then planned. It was pouring rain on the drive to Florence. It got dark around 4:30pm as the rain slowly turned into freezing rain.
A few miles from the hotel, I stopped at a WalMart for a few items as I realized I had forgotten to refill some of my 3oz bottles (hairspray, etc)
I was inside for 15 minutes max. When I came out the slushy rain had turned into a blizzard!
It was snowing crazy hard. To the point that it took 10 minutes for the frost to clear enough from the car windows for me to drive.
The couple miles to the hotel where a gamble. The roads were sloshy and it was evident that the Florence drivers where not accustomed to driving in snow, let alone seeing snow!
Once I got to the hotel, I attempted to order pizza since even I didn’t want to go out into the mess. It took 4 tries and found a place willing to deliver with a 2.5 hour wait. What else are ya gonna do but wait :)
Got it, cold. But it was better than nothing.
On Friday morning, when Xris and I went to leave, the cars where of course covered in frost. And guess what? No scrapers!
We ended up using our room keys to scrape enough off for me to see out the windshield.
Found the stadium okay and the weather had improved greatly overnight. Most of the snow melted in the morning sun.
On Friday evening, we had our end of season crew dinner at a local steak place. Endless rounds of drinks and food for all! A fun time had by all!
Saturday was good until my laptop got hurt. A monitor was accidentally dropped on it and ruined the screen.
After the game, I drove back to an airport hotel in Huntsville.
Being the good girl that I am, I had asked at the National counter on Thursday if there was a gas station at the airport exit and the lady said, “yes”. (It’s an ESPN rule that we return the car full; however, a lot people ignore that rule)
So as I got off at the airport exit in Huntsville, I realized that the National lady had lied to me. There was not a gas station at that exit. Of course, I had to circle around the airport to get back onto the interstate.
I asked Linda (my GPS) where the nearest gas station was – 4 miles back in the direction I had just come from! AGH!
I was in no hurry, I was just in a bad mood. But I went ahead and drove to the gas station and filled up. Only to be rewarded with a pump that wouldn’t print a receipt! (I need the receipt for my expenses)
Cursing, I hopped back into the car and headed back to the airport. It was around this time that I remembered that the hotel I was staying in was attached to the airport – which is a good thing!
However, that “good thing” quickly turned into my latest reason to scream expletives.
In an effort to help co-workers with a quick flight, I had agreed to transport “the bin” to the hotel this week for Production. This “bin” contains various items that get shipped each week back to ESPN in Bristol, CT. Because the majority of the contents are tapes – it is typically very heavy.
As I pulled up to the hotel, I realized there was not anywhere to quickly drop bags since it was also the terminal. So I kept driving and called the hotel explaining my dilemma.
(ie: I had a heavy package that I needed to drop because I couldn’t carry it and my luggage from the rental car parking lot)
The lovely front desk clerk asked “why don’t you have someone else in your party help you carry the items – or – drop them off in front of the hotel with the bin and luggage?”
“BECAUSE I AM ALONE!”
Seriously, did she think I was THAT stupid?
She then informed me she had a guest at the front desk, so she would have to put me on hold. I said, “Sure, no problem, I can circle the airport for a third time while I wait.”
In the mean time, I am trying to find where the National return is. The garage was under construction and was not clearly marked. I ended up driving around the airport a for a 4th time before the hotel lady came back on the line.
“Mam, we do not have bellmen at this hotel. So I guess I could call the airport and have them page a luggage Skycap to meet you at the curb. Then that person could hold your items while you return the rental car.” I replied, “I don’t have that kind of patience lady! I will figure something else out!”
On my 5th circle of the airport, still not finding where to return the car, I decided to return the car on the 2nd floor of the parking garage, where I had picked it up. National could take it to the appropriate return lot since they didn’t care enough to post sings. Doing this however, required me to go up the down ramp of the parking garage – a chance I was willing to take at this point.
I got to the National pick up counter and as I was getting out of the car, the guy working the counter had the balls to say, “Are you picking up a car Mam?”
Are you kidding me? I am getting out of a clearly marked National rental car – do you think I returning or picking up?
I may have yelled at the man explaining I had circled 5 times now and could not find the return lot and he could take the car himself!
In retrospect, I should of walked away from that car then. But no, I am too nice and got back in and drove to the return lot that had signs for every freaking rental agency except National and parked in the middle of the ‘road’ of the lot. I got out and started throwing my belongings out of the car onto the muddy lot.
A National agent tiptoed over to me and printed a receipt. He knew better than to speak to me.
Of course this particular lot is at the furthest point from the hotel. There is no way in hell I am making 2 trips. So stubborn me, piles my stuff onto the top of my suitcase, put on my back pack and hunched over, dragging the bin with one hand and the luggage in the other. It was easily a half mile.
People cleared out of my way as I approached. The look on my face must of scared them away.
I went up the elevator that was for the hotel and followed the signs to the Sheraton. I ended up at the end of a dead end hallway – which I had passed a couple of banquet rooms filled with cheerful people enjoying their holiday parties. So I had to turn around and drag my shit back to the elevator and eventually found the lobby – which there were no signs for.
I nearly strangled the perky front desk clerk.
After numerous other mishaps, I found my way to the lobby bar and proceeded to drink away the woes of the day with my co-workers.
That 6am flight on Sunday morning really hurt!
What did I miss this weekend?
Having a normal job
