I don’t know how to still be likable, and yet admit to you how spoiled I have been – and still am. I hope you won’t hate me too much. As a county office employee, I attended three yearly statewide meetings, and represented our region of 5 Central Valley counties sharing ideas and bringing back ideas and information from the other 11 regional leads. Since my job hasn’t been filled, I had the privilege of short-term employment to attend the first meeting of the year.

Embassy Suites, Downey, CA
For me this means driving 4-5 hours often after work, spending the night in a hotel at a government rate of about $89, having a free breakfast at the hotel, attending a meeting with friends I have made from around the state from 9:30-3:30 (or so), coming back stimulated meditating on all my plans and ideas as I drive home 4-5 hours depending on traffic.
Here comes the spoiled part. When I was working I didn’t give TOO much thought to the lodging. I stayed at Embassy Suites the last time I went to Los Angeles County Office of Education. When I got around to registering myself – on the way down to LA, Embassy Suites didn’t have any more rooms at government rates. I didn’t want to spend $179 for the room, so I got out my trusty iPhone, and started looking for hotels. Quickly I found the American Inn. The icon looked ok, and it was only $69, just $20 less than the government rate for Embassy Suites. Not too bad. Tonight if you are looking it up online it’s an even better rate.
My first clue that I might have made a poor choice, and that I was SOOOOOO spoiled was the lobby. There wasn’t one. Registration took place at a carved out space in the wall with a window, and a little pass through hole like a ticket booth at the theatre into which I entrusted with my identification . The attendant looked carefully at my driver’s license (about 5 minutes) until I began to wonder if he found a warrant for my arrest. Finding none, I guess, he finally gave me back my license, and passed through a detailed information card to complete. Once I had filled that out he passed out the KEY and I was on my way. No cookie, no smile, no complimentary snacks, drinks or breakfast. Oops!
The sad thing – and the most spoiled of all – is that I had no one to blame but myself for the plight I had gotten myself into. And it was only my spoiled attitude that made it a plight.
My new front door, Room 102, was the second door away from the busy street called Imperial Highway. I didn’t feel queenly or imperial in any way. There was a plastic foot-shaped clear plastic sack that must have blown down the street and landed right outside my door. Step right up. I hoped that those walking down the street wouldn’t decide that my room invited a knock on the door. I stayed outside in my car until it got almost dark because the room was dark with the heavy curtain that didn’t quite close, but I was uncomfortable leaving it open
I did finally have to go into Room 102 because after traveling for 5 hours to get there I had to use the bathroom. I prayed that the outside door held shut because the bathroom door was broken. I finally scraped it shut, but it bent a little along the crack around the hinge as I did so. As I sat there briefly, I counted the long hairs left on the shiny clean bathroom floor, and I wondered how many more I would find in the tub. By the next morning I was only worried about whether hot water was going to EVER come out of the shower head.
Of course, since there was no lobby, there was no place to grab a bite to eat in the hotel, either – at least that I found. Actually it was a motel, and I thought about going out for dinner, but then I thought about driving or walking down Imperial Highway, and decided I could skip dinner. Fortunately I had plenty of reading material, and a knitting project. Who needs calories anyway?
The bed at the American Inn was firm, but comfortable, and the traffic stopped about 1:00, but I have heard traffic in some of the most expensive places, so considering that I was only a few steps from the traffic, it was not bad at all.
So here’s the deal. I took my camera to record my trip, but decided not to take pictures. It wasn’t that the American Inn was all that bad. I hate being honest, but the truth is that I AM spoiled. I had to be my own secretary, and I have a few things to learn! So can y’all forgive me and still like me not just because I’m spoiled, but I enjoy being spoiled better than not being spoiled?
You’re not spoiled woman! Ok, maybe you’re a little spoiled…But when I’m traveling alone, I require a certain amount of comfort to feel secure. Secure=good trip; Insecure=crappy trip. Not to mention the bed bug phobia I’ve acquired when I travel for business now-lol! I think I might have had to de-camp… 😉
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My real problem isn’t that I am or I’m not spoiled. I’m like you there are certain comforts and even friendliness that I enjoy. The hole in the wall to pass your driver’s license through – no lobby. Bummer. That was huge! I like humans!
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If you’re spoiled – that makes me a brat! I would hate to stay in a dodgy place like that. When we go travelling I always say to hubby, ‘let’s find the nearest resort’. He say’s ‘what about a hotel?’ and then notices the look on my face and finds a resort. Truth is, I don’t feel safe in places that aren’t 99.9% secure. I can’t sleep and I listen for every sound in the night wondering if my picture will be slapped all over the newspapers with the words ‘Woman murdered in dodgy hotel bed!’
I love this post 😀
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You are too funny. Good news! Here I am, dodgy, but safe!!!
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I don’t think expecting quality is being spoiled, I think that makes sense. 🙂 I also don’t think expecting security is bad, if it is then I am the same as you. I think I have learned with hotels and motels, if its cheap then there is usually a good reason. Great story Marsha. 🙂
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How true. It looked better in the picture than it was. It wasn’t awful, but I wouldn’t go back.
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I’m also very spoiled. 🙂
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YEAH!!! I’m not alone!!!
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Be careful!! I am glad you made it back to write how spoiled you are………..We might not have ever known. 😦
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