Its been very hectic and stressful in my life lately, ok, its usually hectic and stressful in my life, but this month, beginning the week of June 6 was unbelievable.
First, my cat, Zeus, was feeling poorly. He couldn't jump like he usually does, not eating well and seemed to have trouble breathing. I make an appointment for him to see the vet. I can get in on Wednesday.
On June 8, I had to get diapers for my granddaughter who was at my home. I drive over to Target, its raining a bit. I pull into the parking lot and start looking for a parking spot. All of a sudden, BAM! someone hit my car! Ms. Lexus was pulling out of the spot and didn't see me. We exchange information, she profusely apologizing for hitting me. I'm ok, no injuries, passenger car door is hit, along with the wheel well in front.
So...Wednesday begins with me first going to Gerber Collision to get an estimate on my car(over $2000 damage) and then rush to the vets....just to be told that Zeus is very ill, he has a mass in his abdomen and really can't be helped...I make an appointment to have him put to sleep on Monday. See, I have to go to Springfield for a meeting this week!I go home, get packed for my trip and am not sure if I'm supposed to be there today or tomorrow...I call the coordinator, but she's out of the office. That's ok, I'll call the Hilton where the reservation is...I call, give them my name and that I'm with AFSCME Retirees and that I need to know when my reservation is....the gentleman tells me I was supposed to be in town YESTERDAY and that the reservation is still open because it was for 3 days! HUH????? Are you sure this is for Kim ********* from AFSCME? Yes...OH *&()&)_! I coulda sworn it was for just one day.....
So after I get packed, I try to call the coordinator again, but can't get hold of her, well, of course, she's probably in meetings. Start the trip to Springfield, IL. Its about 3 hours from my house and I'm thinking I'm gonna need that drive....which was pretty calm, until I got to the hotel.
I park my car in the parking lot and go to the front desk. I say my name and they give me a key for room 1015 after I sign all of the paperwork. I had left my bag in the car, but had brought in my camera case and laptop. I go up to the room and find that someone else's luggage and stuff are already in the room! We always get single rooms, so I thought that maybe something had changed...I go back to the front desk to find out there are 2 Kim ******* and she is the one that has the reservation for 3 days! So, now I just lose it, and start to cry---just too much stress. Can they put me up? Sure for regular prices on the rooms(for over $120 a night)..I don't have that kind of money...but they do assure me that I have a reservation for the NEXT NIGHT. I tell them again, I had called and made sure that there was a reservation under AFSCME for me for tonight. I really felt they should comp me a room, but I was too tired and out of it to really make an issue out of it. Now I have to make the decision on whether I want to ride all the way back and come back tomorrow or find a cheap hotel. I decided I'd look for a cheap hotel.
At the Hilton there is a computer that guests can use to access the internet, their email and some Office programs. I sat down, got on ebates, went to expedia(I actually tried a couple of different sites, but expedia found the best price) and booked a non-smoking room at a Super 8...just a bit farther down the hotel experience, but under $50--which was less than I would pay for gas if I went home and returned the next day. I get over to the Super 8 only to find out that I was given a room on a smoking floor(which I thought were all illeagal since the law changed) because they didn't have any non smoking rooms left! I get into my room, take the filters out of the air conditioner and run them under the tub faucet---they were very nasty! I don't think anyone ever cleaned THAT part of the room! I had to go out and met one of the other customers on the elevator...she had been drinking a bit....enough to make the whole elevator smell like the aftermath of a bachelor's party at a bar---the gin was oozing out of her skin! Then we had the teens with the church group who like to roam the halls....they didn't bother me, just thought it was sort of strange. Maybe they were just trying to get their cardiac in before bedtime.
On Thursday, I decided that since I had extra time in Springfield, I'd go see the Lincoln Memorial and the Veteran's Memorials at Oak Ridge Cemetery. It was the best part of my trip. Have photos, will post when I've completed them. Will continue in another post.
