 Nora's
Carolina
Moon Tour 2000
B&N
Chicago, Illinois
Friday, April 7
Tour Reports
Katie
|
Avis
I think I've gotten my 32nd wind.
Anyway, plane was delayed, weather in Chicago
sucks big time. Cold, wind and rain on arrival.
Crept from airport to hotel. Ridiculous traffic in
the early afternoon. As a result arrive at hotel
well passed scheduled arrival time. I had
guaranteed early check in. Hotel requested escort
call when we're ten minutes away so they can greet
me with my key. Sounded great.
Doorman cheerful and tells me they're all ready
for me.
Little did he know.
Get to desk. Wait. Get to desk clerk who begins
the playing with keyboard game. I'm desperate for a
shower and a horizontal position, and would
cheerfully take both simultaneously. First he can't
find my reservation. I tell him I was told the keys
were waiting. He looks in another department, finds
them, goes back to keyboard. Insists on reading me
a text message when I tell him I'll just call for
it when I'm up in the room.
He's stalling.
Says he's just going to check and see if my
room's ready. I tell him I've been assured it is.
He concentrates on keyboard, then tells me it's
just going to be a little while while the
supervisor checks the room. I tell him I was told
fifteen minutes ago it was good to go. So sorry, he
says. I suck it in, ask him not to string me along.
How long is it going to be. He stumbles, stutters,
just maybe fifteen minutes. Maybe twenty or a
little longer.
I call NY. NY calls hotel. In minutes the back
office comes out with my keys and takes me upstairs
to my suite. Learn later that, haha, someone didn't
check out as expected. Then why did they
specifically say my room was ready?
Oh well, got my shower. Got a quick lie-down.
Got dressed. Met escort.
Crept out to Skokie. Took a full hour in vicious
traffic.
This B&N was well prepared. Did stock, got
drink, did a taping with a local cable station with
very well prepared and enthusiastic interviewer.
Lovely crowd even in the filthy weather. Had fun
there. Got to sign and chat and see on-line pals.
When I left it was blowing snow. Damn, I'd
nearly gotten through the tour without a snow day.
But the drive back was quick, and I called the
hotel and ordered a bowl of chicken soup and a pot
of tea.
It got here only minutes after I did. Perfect.
Going to bed and anticipating nine hours sleep.
Its such a treat not to have to set the alarm and
drag my sorry butt out of bed. Signing in the
'burbs tomorrow, then the flight to NY.
Yay!
Nora
ADWOFF > NORA'S
TOURS >
CAROLINA
MOON
TOUR >
Chicago
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