Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Business tripping

Last night was my first night in DC since we moved to Denver eight months ago. And can I say that it's a little weird to be staying in a hotel in a city I'm used to calling home? And even weirder to be here without Torsten?

Though I will say, if one of us is going to be on a business trip, I think I prefer it to be me. I don't like sleeping alone in our house. It starts feeling so cavernous and creaky. A hotel feels more secure.

But speaking of the hotel... well, it's conveniently located. And the room that I'm staying in was just remodeled, and is lovely. However, I have three complaints I'd like to file:
  1. The price of the hotel is exorbitant, and yet breakfast is not included.
  2. The price of the hotel is exorbitant, and yet they charge $12.95 a day for Internet access.
  3. The price of the Internet is exorbitant, and yet it ISN'T EVEN WIRELESS. AND the hotel-provided wire (which cannot be switched out) is very short. So, no laptop in bed. Or even in the armchair. Only at the desk.
I think I would prefer a slightly shabbier room with free wi-fi. Right? Am I being unreasonable here?

It does suck to spend the week away from Torsten, and I'm still irritated because I was really hoping we'd be able to schedule our business trips simultaneously so that we could come to DC together, and that didn't work out. However, it's kind of nice to come in to my office and see everyone again. We have, I believe, nine people who were hired after I moved, so it was good to meet them, and great to catch up face-to-face with colleagues I've been working with for the last couple of years.

It feels a little funny to be in an office again, though. Plus, I've become a tad paranoid that I'm going to pick up germs and get sick. Working from home creates a nice little germ-free cocoon, you know?

Still, it's good to be here. I think a week will be just about the right length.

Also, luckily, we have Skype video chat, so we could watch each other and the Broncos game at the same time:

16 comments:

  1. I've noticed that about hotels I've stayed in for business trips - the more stars, the fewer useful amenities (wifi, breakfast) for free, and the squishier the towels. It's a trade off I'm not sure I like.

    So you kept your job after you moved? That sounds lovely... do you like working from home? I've been writing my dissertation from home for the past 4 months or so and I get so stir crazy!

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  2. I have never stayed in a hotel by myself. But I'm okay with that.

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  3. Oh - And we sometimes pay extra for a hotel with free breakfast, just because we like the idea of breakfast being free. Heh.

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  4. I know a few moms who completely isolate their children for fear of germs. And you know what? Those kids always get sick more often than the kids who are rolling around in the dirt. Just saying, I think it's good for your system to get out and about! Enjoy your trip!

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  5. Cute picture! And no wi-fi means no repeat business for me.

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  6. Cute picture! I hope you have a little fun on your business trip. I went to a conference for work yesterday and people were refraining from shaking hands because they were worried about the flu. My work has passed out "flu kits" which include face masks. I think it's a little overboard.

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  7. I swear the Super 8 is better for business travel, if not as cozy and comfy. Ridiculous, right? (Of course, in DC, god only knows where those hotels would be....)

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  8. I just got back from a holiday where we stayed in various hotels in a few different cities. We found that the higher-priced fancy hotels came with cushier rooms but less amenities (no free breakfast, no free internet) while the less expensive (and admittedly less cushy) rooms came with free breakfast buffets and free internet. It seemed a bit backward, considering how much we paid to stay in the fancier hotels.

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  9. It's such a pain in the rear to stay in a hotel without wireless. When I was travelling, all I did at night was watch TV and play on the internet.

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  10. Enjoy your trip. I agree with you on the lack of breafast and wifi. Come on people. When you're charging hundreds of dollars a night for a room, don't charge for wifi. It looks stingy.

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  11. Awww you guys are the cutest!!! And that hotel sucks!!!

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  12. How 'bout them Broncos? :)
    Hope you have a great trip. It looks like the weather is better than when we were there this past weekend!

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  13. I agree: for a schmancy hotel, it is definitely missing some perks. On the bright side, as least your company put you in a schmancy hotel? My company's official place to house out-of-town employees coming to the office is the Super 8. I'm not kidding.

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  14. Strange how HIGH end hotels offer you less than the smaller chains. But sometimes free internet access isn't quite as important as a clean room...

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