Nyaah Nyaah Doubletree!

So I ended up staying in Bethesda an extra night due to the extreme stupidity of my jobular circumstances. Last night I stayed at the Doubletree about a third of a mile down the street from the National Institute of Health where I worked yesterday and today, for a rate of $167.

I checked with the front desk when I left this morning to see if they would have a room should I return tonight and was assured they would. When I got back at 8PM they said, "Sure we've got a room, but for $269. We've only got 8 rooms left". That's my definition of gouging.

They did call the Hilton down the same street 5 miles and found a room for $149, so I moved my butt 5 miles down the road and told the Hilton desk clerk my tale of woe. She said "I have a special rate for you." I thought that meant the $149 quoted by the Doubletree clerk, but no. Now, instead of the small single king room for $249 I am in a two room king suite with two TV's for.....................................................wait for it....................

$109!!!!I'll bet that Doubletree room is still empty. Sometimes justice prevails.That's my story and I'm stuck with it.

Smee

????

Well here's a new one:I was supposed to take a flight out of Houston Hobby airport at 6PM. Of course the Microscope Gods have too much time on their hands and made me miss my flight, so I had to fly out of George Bush Intergalectic Airport at 9PM. Not so bad. At least it's a non-stop. So I'm looking for my gate, which is listed as B84H. I found the B84 area which is not labeled A through H, but rather 1 through 5. I had to ask the stupid question: "Where is Gate H?", to which the answer was of course "Gate 1". Which led me to the subject line of ????? If gate 1 is A thru H, a third of the alphabet, what the heck is gate 5 for, # thru *?

It's a laidback world they live in...

Up North - where the snow blows, the temps drop and the people act French. Oh, wait a minute, they are French, maybe that explains it. I stand at the baggage belt with 125 other suckers, thinking that the fact that it's running means something. After ten minutes a bag appears. Eyes light up and the mood brightens. For a second, until we all realize it belongs to no one in the crowd, followed a hundred yards of belt later by two more bags about 20 feet apart, also unclaimed.

Murmering in the crowd. The belt continues to run for another five minutes then stops. After 10 more minutes, murmering turns to muttering. People are now sitting on the belt - perhaps in hopes it will accidentally start and carry them to the scene of the crime. Just another wearying end of another wearying day in a long tiring week.

Good news! "Je lai tout la plue esque vous une "short delay" pour le deliverage du les baggage". We've already had two or three short delays. At what point does it constitute une "long delay"? At least the belt has started again. Spoke too soon. It stopped once more with alerts blaring. Now we're back to moving belt but no new bags. Could it be? I think I see my bag on the horizon. More news at 11!

Ok, it's 11:00. That wasn't my bag. Either that or the guy who picked it up now has the tools to go into the microscope repair business. Ah, here we go again. The hour plus wait is bound to pay off this time. Yea! Here it comes! Only an hour and 20 minutes! The bag looks like it's been to Iraq, but it's here.

It's a Laidback World They Live In

Up North - where the snow blows, the temps drop and the people act French. Oh, wait a minute, they are French, maybe that explains it. I stand at the baggage belt with 125 other suckers, thinking that the fact that it's running means something. After ten minutes a bag appears. Eyes light up and the mood brightens. For a second, until we all realize it belongs to no one in the crowd, followed a hundred yards of belt later by two more bags about 20 feet apart, also unclaimed. Murmering in the crowd. The belt continues to run for another five minutes then stops. After 10 more minutes murmering turns to muttering. People are now sitting on the belt - perhaps in hopes it will accidentally start and carry them to the scene of the crime.Just another wearying end of another wearying day in a long tiring week.Good news! "Je lai tout la plue esque vous une "short delay" pour le deliverage du les baggage". We've already had two or three short delays. At what point does it constitute une "long delay"? At least the belt has started again. Spoke too soon. It stopped once more with alerts blaring. Now we're back to moving belt but no new bags. Could it be? I think I see my bag on the horizon. More news at 11!Ok, it's 11:00. That wasn't my bag. Either that or the guy who picked it up now has the tools to go into the microscope repair business.Ah, here we go again. The hour plus wait is bound to pay off this time. Yea! Here it comes! Only an hour and 20 minutes! The bag looks like it's been to Iraq, but it's here.
Smee

Don't forget - DST ends tonight at 0100. Set your clocks back one hour. Or if you are in Prague, forward 8 hours or something like that. I just know I'm going to screw this appointment up in Prague on Monday because I couldn't figure out what time it is! Had a great time strolling around Zurich today. 'Stuff' is VERY expensive though. I think I spent my allowance already and I'm not even to Prague yet. I think I'm going to try mailing a package home from the airport tomorrow so I don't have to carry extra bags all over Europe.
Don't get your hopes up. It's all for me!
LU

Bathe at the Golden Tulip Hotel

Welcome to the world of bathing at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Konstanz, Germany, where I can stand in the middle of the bathroom (or slightly off center) and touch all four walls, including from inside the shower to the mirror over the sink on the opposite wall!

Ah, yes, the shower......a two foot square shower base in the corner with a curtain around it. Try this sometime: attach a seven foot piece of hose to your shower outlet (I call this the Temperature Delay). Next, wrap a bedsheet around yourself, step into the shower and let 'er rip. Taking care not to bump into the super touchy controls so that at any moment (actually about 15 seconds after you ran into them, thanks to the Temperture Delay), you are treated to a totally unpredictable flavor of pain; either ice cold or skin peeling hot, depending on which faucet you ran into during your dance with the freezing cloth bandage you are wrapped in.

Of course another 15 seconds elapses before you determine if you have improved your situation or only made it worse. Girls would love the sink. There is a handprint area of space on either side to place toiletries or more like toiletry. I do like the heated marble floor and you might want to stand up before flushing or you could go down with the ship if you know what I mean. Anyway, just a few morning observations before I leave for work.

BTW, I accidently drank a yogurt at breakfast. Who knew?

Swiss.......not just a cheese anymore!

Greetings from the hills of Switzerland. Lots of rolling hills with big farms. Big Alpental looking farmhouses too. And REALLY long tunnels through the hills - like 2-3 miles for one of them. And the leaves are turning all colors. Looks kind of like Leavenworth this time of year.

Of course all is not rosey........ That would be too easy. Got into Zurich after a mere 14 hours of flying. Did get some sleep on the plane. Rented my Cadillac (kind if a mini Dodge Magnum). I found out that if you ask for a GPS you end up with an automatic caddy with GPS in the dash. It's saved many times already.When I finally found the account and parking only a few blocks away (and free). I found the p............aaaaannnnnddddddd he falls asleep on the bed of the hotel for 2 hours. I've GOT to get some sleep. I'm here and all is OK. I promise to tell more after some SLEEP!