"...In the end, people either have excuses or experiences; reasons or results; buts or
brilliance. They either have what they wanted or they have a detailed list of all the rational reasons why not."

~ Anonymous
(taken from Matt Erbele's, It Takes Time to Get Good)

Friday, February 22, 2008

Hiding out in Lompoc


Ok, so I love booking hotels on the internet you can search see pictures, look for specific amenities, etc. I am relatively new at it since I usually don't go anywhere, but my new race running addiction seems to be taking me all over. Sometimes you can get burned booking this way. Well, this time I am feeling a little like a crispy critter.

We are staying at the Travellodge in Lompoc. I needed a modestly priced (read: cheap-ish) motel that allowed dogs and had wireless internet so I could work on my project. At $79.00 a night it was at the max I wanted to pay for this trip, but since it was only about 15 miles from Solvang and fit the other criteria I booked it.

When we checked in the first thing we noticed was the large number of derelict cars in the parking lot. Either they were starting their own jalopy salvage yard or they had some permanent hotel residents. When we went to our room we found that non-smoking room, wasn't. It reeked of stale cigarette smoke, then I noticed the coup de gras of class, gang tagging etched on the mirror. After settling in I went to check my email and that is when I noticed that the wireless wasn't working. After about four trips to the office, modem rebooting, and countless attempts to reconfigure my wireless settings, they agreed to move us to another room in the morning.

Now I am here in this alone shit hole hotel trying to work on my project. I was planning on running 3 miles today. NOT going to happen. It is icky out there and there are several, less-than-savory characters hanging around the office (apparently friends of the management. Awesome.), so I think I will just stay put. The upside is that they are blasting their music so, I have a free concert with enough bass to vibrate the bed, another free service.

If I click my heels together three times, do I get to go home?

3 comments:

Southbaygirl said...

Been to Lompoc-it's a scary place! But it's very near my favorite place to camp-Jalama Beach!!! They take dogs!!! Sounds like it was a very entertaining few days!!!!

Was there nothing in Buellton or Solvang for around the same price? The problem is always "dog-friendly"...I always travel with Velcro too.

Tracy said...

Hilarious post - everything from the neighborhood to the bonfire photo (that actually made me laugh out loud).

~ Tracy

Willie said...

Sounds very yucky! I tried clicking my heals three times to STAY in California, it didn't work for me either.