3 Work Travel Stories

I travel for work from time to time. I am not complaining about it. It is just part of the job. Here are three quick stories I have from my work travels.

Eat more fiber

I had to go to Indy. It was my first trip there of many I have taken in my six years with my company. I wound up working late. They stuck me in a La Qunita on the out skirts in Indianapolis. I was tired so, I settled for the TGI Friday's across the street to grab a quick meal for dinner. I devoured a full slap and went back to my room for some R&R. Of course a half hour later I need to make a deposit. I thought I was okay but the La Quinta toilet had absolutely no flushing power and sure enough I backed it up. I debated whether to call and ask for the plunger or just leave the mess for the cleaning crew in the morning, but Catholic guilt got the better of me.

So, I call down and since it was so late the girl (who of course was rather attractive for an Indy girl) who was working the late shift at the desk was the only one there. Meaning, I would have to trek downstairs and pick up the plunger from her. I am telling you it is a walk of shame as you head back to your room with the hotel plunger in your hands.

You don’t have to turn on the red light

I have to go to Milwaukee for work. I am only staying one night. My usual hotel I pick was booked as were most of the nicer hotels in town for some reason. So, I am setup in a hotel a little off the beaten path. First issue was I got lost going there but that was my fault and Mapquest’s. A ten minute trip wound up taking an hour.

I at long last arrive at my destination. When I looked online the hotel looked nice. It even had some good reviews with a few negative sprinkled in but like I said I was desperate to find a vacancy. I notice a shady looking guy standing outside the entrance. I don’t give it too much thought, and check in. I then get in my room kill a little time and decide to go grab a bite. It had been like an hour and a half at this point. Sure enough as I leave shady guy is still there this time he is talking to a girl who is quite clearly a hooker.

Now my eyebrows get raised. It’s a tough economy and who am I to say anything. Live and let live and as long as they are not bothering me why should I care. But this was a drugged out, dead eyed looking, STD carrying street walker. I am not thrilled that quite obviously she is taking her clients back to the very hotel I am staying at and doing her business. But, what can I do other then go and grab a quick bite and put it out of my head.

I come back from dinner and shady guy is still there, this time with a different girl. So, now it occurs to me he is running some sort of hood brothel out of the hotel I am staying at. This is not a pleasant thought. The desk clerk who checked me in had to either be on his payroll or the dumbest person alive. This was all happening in plain sight and if I could notice it how could the clerk not?

I again put this out of my head and try to settle in for the night. I finally start falling asleep when I awake to the sounds of police sirens. I then hear some banging of doors and a ruckus in the hallway. I don’t know all that went down but as I looked out my window I saw a paddy wagon and one of the working girls being led there in cuffs. Needless to say I did not stay at that hotel again.

Past Bedtime

I had to visit a base near Lacrosse, Wisconsin. There is not much near the base and I had never been there so, I picked a Country Inn and Suites and crossed my fingers. I wound up having to stay at the base until like 8:00 and I wanted to get the job done so I just worked through dinner figuring I could eat once I was done. By the time I get to the hotel and check in and get myself ready to eat it is nineish. It was then I realized I am not in Chicago.

I went downstairs and asked what was open to grab a bite and I am not kidding when the clerk told me nothing was open within a twenty mile radius. The gas station was already closed for the night. Room service was not offered either. I asked if a pizza place would deliver and she told me not at this hour. So, I was directed to a vending machine. There I looked over the menu and went with a bag of Munchos, a package of Famous Amos and a water. It was probably better then the nearest pizza place anyway.