My adventure in Austin, TX
February 8th, 2012It’s been a long day in Austin, TX, After a day of cold calling in Austin…
I’m sorry, I’m already getting ahead of myself.
This morning at 6:30am, I left Dallas, TX for Austin. Hoping to be there before the stores opened at 10, I gave myself about a 30 minute grace period that was quickly eaten up by my GPS- telling me I was going south but directing me north on I-35; followed by a refuel at Country Boys that, after a few unsuccessful tries to pull up close enough to the pump while still being able to open my car door and shimmy out, it became a battle of wits between me and the credit card swiper, and then me verse the overfilled trash -as i attempted to dump the first round of today’s caffeine in the trash to make room for the 32 ounce soda and liter bottle of water I’d purchased inside.
With those two time wasters behind me, I roll right into standstill traffic, which I eventually find to be the result of rubber necking.
On a seemingly good note, the traffic did afford me the time to check an email from hotels.com advertising a deal on a hotel, which I purchased. A king bed,a gym, and complimentary breakfast are included. Perfect.
I arrive to Austin a little late, but with lots of hope, and begin my cold calls.
That part was just fine.
Then, I drive to my hotel. To find that it doubles as a condo community. Doors on the outside. Not my first choice when traveling alone.
I wonder if I’m walking into a leasing office or a hotel, and find a nice hybrid of the two. I get in line to check in, and after a few minute wait, I receive my room key that looks a lot like the key to my Crown Victoria rental car I’m driving around.
The parking spots are tight, and the turn radius on the Crown Victoria is not. After I do a 15 point park, I carry my bags up a flight of stairs that leads only to my condo/hotel.
I put my stuff in the bedroom, and notice a huge closet and the kind of hair dryer that plugs into the wall.Then I remember: I left my treasured hair dryer in Dallas. Shoot.
Anyway, I head to the living area with a full kitchen, and feel a little bit overindulgent as I am here for one night and will not be cooking. But as I look behind another door, there is another bedroom, with a bigger closet and bathroom, that is so large I almost wonder if it closes off like an adjoining room that they are going to rent/sell to someone else. The safety factor of that situation, as well as my overwhelming feeling of wasting all this space over ride my general question of “how did I end up here?”
Anyway, I’m looking forward to using the gym, and as I change I realize that the slightest movement has made the room seem almost 1000 degrees. I try turning on the A/C, but it’s the condo type, and won’t budge.
I do realize that my history with buttons and electronics is relatively shaky, so I thought it best to call the front desk for a walk through. But there is no dial tone. I plug in the phone, take out and put back in the batteries, and it’s working.
Maintenance is on the way, and I figure I’ll look up some order in spots near me. But the Internet is not working.
I check back with my friend at the front desk. Ah, not available till 7:30pm. Ok. And what about any recommendations for dinner? He has none. Not one? No. Do you live in Austin? Ma’am there is a list at the desk that you can look at.
A/C is on 64, and maintenance shows me how to jiggle the unit in case of another emergency. I head to the Gym, which is not a gym, but a small room with a bike that doesn’t work, an eliptical that does not work, and a treadmill that I can get up only to the walking pace.
It’s also 1000 degrees in the gym, and though I’ve burned 30 calories in 8 minutes, I’m covered in sweat. I decide it’s not worth it, and that I’m going to shower and find a place to eat.
The shower head produces a sputter and then a trickle, and laughing, I take a shower under the drip.
I get dressed, and feel instantly better, as I’m wearing a new scarf I bought in Dallas from Christy M. Boutique that makes me feel like a million bucks. I put on some new, green Mary Janes and a link rain-or-shine coat.
$25, Christy M Boutique
When I get to the crown vic I find a note, asking me to park closer to them next time.
But alas, in the comfortable police car, and donning a beautiful scarf from Christy M in Dallas I stumble upon the most delicious Thai food in the world.
Hosting some of the finest jewelry I’ve ever laid eyes on, Sally Bettes has an eye for fabulous. I remember saying to her “If I didn’t have my own line, I’d shop here!”
