Jim's Trip

There are loudenboomers going on outside right now, and flashes of lightening. The storm has passed by our house, but it's still nearby. The plants needed a drink tonight, and I thought it probably wouldn't rain, so I was out there this evening with the hose and watering can giving everybody a drink. Now they had a pretty good soaking from the rain.

I've been working upstairs in my craft room for several hours today. Went up again after dinner and listened to an audio book while I worked. I have to watch myself, because I often find myself dropping what I'm doing and sitting back and listening. I had kitty company as well, and they seemed to be lulled by the Scottish accent female voice, as I was.

Jim kept a low profile today after his busy weekend in Richmond. He stayed inside and read quietly most of the day - all his literature he brought back with him. The wood turners symposium was a huge success, with thousands of people from all over the world in attendance; classes, demonstrations, vendors, and tons of information to soak up. He was very impressed with it. There were people famous in the wood turning world - craftsmen, inventors, artisans, and authors who were mingling with the attendees. Some of them Jim has seen on DVD videos or read their books. His brain was on stimulation overload, and he was pretty exhausted when he got home. He brought home a couple of pieces of special wood and a turning tool that he was able to try on a lathe. He also learned about some dangerous or toxic woods that can cause various reactions, some severe.

He stayed at the Marriott right next to the convention center. Turns out we had enough Marriott points that he was able to pay for his 2 nights with points. For a nice hotel, he thought there were quite a few chintzy aspects to it. For example, although there were newspapers outside the doors of other guests doors in the mornings, none was delivered to him. Also, no water fountains in the hotel - only bottled water sold for $1.75 each. Parking was $14.00 a day, and extra if you removed your car from the lot and came back. And no TV without paying for it. If you wanted to catch the news or just a program, you had to pay for 24 hours and it was $12.00 a day. Who ever heard of a hotel without free TV? I know some charge for "adult" programming, but I've always seen free TV in the rooms. It makes me wonder if those who are paying with points are in some rooms without normal amenities, TV and newspapers. It seems as if good service isn't something we can expect in a quality establishment any more, and that's too bad.

PHOTO: Moss-covered stump in Youghiogheny State Park, MD.