Hotel living or how I learned to use the waffle maker

So I started a new job in Texas last week and I’ve been living in a hotel.  If you’ve never spent extended time in a roadside hotel you’re probably thinking, hey that’s pretty cool.  In reality, it’s not that bad, but it’s not all that great either.   I’ve spent a variety of time in hotels over the years.  The Eastland Suites in Urbana,  The Ramada Limited off I-80 in Joliet, The Best Western off of I-55 in Joliet, The Ramada Limited in Lafayette and now this place.

The Eastland was nice, it was more of a suite that came with a kitchenette, a desk, a sitting area and a bed.  The Ramada in Joliet was OK, but it was a smaller room and the beds were horrible.  At the time though, they had free local calls so I could plug in my computer.  The Best Western, no free calls, so I didn’t have access to the computer there.  By the time I stayed in the Lafayette Ramada, most hotels had free high speed internet so that was easier.  By far the place I’m currently staying is the nicest longer term accommodations I have ever had.  Flat screen HD-TV, sitting area, comfortable bed, softer sheets.

That said, when you’re living in a hotel for an extended time it usually signifies a couple of things:  One, you’re in a new town starting a new job.  Two, you’re away from your family.  In my case, the reason for hotel living is simple.  I’m wrapping up a lease commitment back in Indiana and also my wife and I needed time to pack up the apartment.   Most radio salaries aren’t fantastic, and it can be difficult to cover two rent payments, and when they want you in the job yesterday–hotel living happens.  Conventional wisdom says why don’t they just help you pay rent, why the hotel?  Well, in many cases—if they’re paying your rent they’re paying cash.   Hotel accommodations, can be bartered in a trade for commercials.  So in essence, the station is giving commercial inventory as opposed to cash.

There are difficult parts of hotel living.  One, no matter what kind of room you get.  Even if you get a sitting area.  It’s designed for business, not pleasure.  For example, I could have people over to my room to discuss business and sit in the sitting area just fine.  Or I could have people over for cocktails It’d work.  That said, for lounging around and watching TV, not so much.  Sometimes the desk isn’t in a good place to see the TV.  Sometimes the sheets and towels are scratchy.  The most difficult part about hotel living for me is being away from my wife.  It’s hard to be in a new place, learning a new job, trying to make new friends, yet not have your partner at home.  Not having someone to talk to.  Not having a sense of normalcy in your life.

You can make your own waffles!

There are perks to hotel living though.  Like the flat screen TV with HD.  That’s something the Creighton’s don’t have yet.  And the free breakfast.   Doing mornings, I don’t get to take advantage of free breakfast except on the weekends.  One of the latest trends in free hotel breakfasts is the make your own waffle stations.   I ignored it yesterday because I had to work and wanted something lighter.  So I opted for a small bowl of cereal and some toast.  Being Sunday, I decided I try to use the waffle maker.

So I poured the batter in a dixie cup, poured it in the waffle maker, closed the lid and it started beeping.  The waffle maker should have started counting down but it didn’t.  So I stood in front of the thing beeping, beeping and beeping.  Probably for about two minutes until the woman keeping an eye on the breakfast nook told me when it beeps like that to turn it over.  I turned it over and it stopped beeping and counted down from 2:30.

No where on the directions did it say when you pour the batter in to turn the griddle over to start the count down.  Boy did I feel like an idiot.  That said, I got a very good waffle which was delicious.  Frankly, it’s nice to enjoy a hot meal that didn’t cost me anything.  And now I know how to use the waffle maker.

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