 Nora's
Carolina
Moon Tour 2000
Portland, OR
Friday, March 31
So, as I prepare to leave the Mark, I call the
bell desk. No answer. Call the front desk. No
answer. Call the operator who apologizes and
promises to send up a bellman. She does.
When I'm in the elevator I hear a distressing
beeping alarm, and when I get to the lobby, it's
full of fire fighters. Cute ones. <g> There
are two, maybe three big fire trucks outside and
the lobby and general area are swarming with
firemen.
All I can think is thank God I'm leaving.
Driver tells me it's a false alarm which confirms
in my mind that the hotel has a serious systemic
problem with their alarm system due to the rehab
work. Wonder how many other guests found a suit
with a fire extinguisher outside their door the
last couple days.
And, I should add, the stone sawing started up
at eight am. Also a lot of hammering yesterday
afternoon and this morning. So much for not being
able to hear the workmen. Hear them, hell. If I'd
opened my windows we could've had a conversation.
Get to Portland--easy flight with the guy beside
be passed out the whole time. Just the way I like a
seat-mate. Weather is lovely. High sixties and
sunny. Escort gets me to the hotel where all I can
think about is getting in my room. I'm brutally
tired, just strung out and everything hurts.
I get up to my room, and it's like a little
cave. My windows face a wall, cutting off any
chance of light. I turn to the bathroom, open the
door and it smacks right into the john. You can't
open the door to the bathroom all the way, even
half the way. This is where I nearly broke. A
couple weeks ago this would have been a minor
annoyance, or an amusement. Now it's a catastrophe
in my mind. This is not acceptable. I call NY.
Bellman comes up to change my room. Basically I'm
moved across the hall to a new cave, but the
bathroom door does clear the john, barely, in this
one.
Talk to NY again. In minutes there's a rep of
the hotel at my door, with keys to another room.
She shows it to me. There is light! There is a
bathroom you can actually turn around in without
risking physical damage. Oh happy day!
She is warm and efficient and sympathetic. I
want to kiss her, but I restrain myself. She brings
me a bottle of wine and a pretty little chocolate
and a cool bookmark. I fall in love with her, and
realize I've been away from home too long.
I take a looong shower, order room service which
comes promptly and cheerfully. Get myself a bottle
of champagne, and feel human after the first sip.
I believe I turned a big corner.
However, I got a good look at myself in the
bathroom mirror. Putnam is going to owe me a face
lift. LOL
Nora
ADWOFF > NORA'S
TOURS >
CAROLINA
MOON
TOUR >
Portland
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