Well it has been a month almost since I left for Paducah and I am just now posting. This is a shot of the booth. It was already into the third day when I shot this so things are a little picked over. How was it? Well, here is my story.
Drove 5 hours to Paducah, four of them were in the rain. I was alone so I listened to a book on tape and really enjoyed it. The book was The Postcard Killers by James Patterson. (I have loved James forever.) Got to Paducah and set up pretty quickly. FYI my booth was all packed into my Ford Focus. Headed to my hotel to relax.
I had made my hotel reservations way back in November via Orbitz so I got a fantastic rate. I show up at the hotel with my confirmation email all ready to go. They check me in and ask for almost $200 more than what my guarantee was. I tried to explain to the manager but he was the absolute nastiest person I have EVER encountered. He informed me that he had nothing to do with Orbitz, Priceline or anything else and he would absolutely under no circumstances let me have the room for that rate. He refused to look at my papers. In the meantime a couple from Oklahoma had arrived. Apparently they had already been there and ran into the same thing and they were back with their confirmation info. I promptly got on the phone to Orbitz to get some backup. While I was on the phone the manager guy told the couple from Oklahoma " I don't care if you flew 15 damn hours, you will not get the room". Direct quote.
Long story short, I stayed on the phone with Orbitz and they backed me totally and he finally relented and gave me my room. I recommend using Orbitz for your reservations. If I had not I would have been out of luck. They were not backing down and that saved the day.
I drove home on Sunday and unpacked. Ran errands on Monday. Worked my real job on Tues. and Wed. On Thursday I got up at 5 am and headed to Paola Kansas. I did 2 trunkshows with the lovely folks of the Miami County Quilt Guild. Drove home in a BLIZZARD! May 2 and I am caught in a blizzard. It took an extra hour and a half to get home. Since then it has warmed up and everything is growing like crazy which has kept us super busy with the new place.
I sat out spring market for the first time in several years. We had so much going on here at home and I really didn't have enough new stuff to warrant a trip to Portland. I am working on some really big patterns and plan to have a booth in the fall in Houston. I am also working up a book proposal so new stuff is in the works.
Now you know where I have been and what I have been doing. Hopefully it won't be so long between posts next time.
Happy Quilting, Dawn
I knew you have been crazy busy since I hadn't heard from you or seen blog post. That is such a crazy story about your hotel and after that long drive to deal with. Perhaps he pockets the money from weary travelers? Your booth looks wonderful! Holler if you need help!
ReplyDeleteWow - what an ordeal with the hotel room. Glad you stood your ground and that it worked out. Sounds like you have had a crazy month! Looking forward to your new stuff!
ReplyDeleteWhew what a month you have had.
ReplyDeleteYour life has been pretty busy to say the least and the last thing you want after a long drive is hassle over your hotel room.
ReplyDeleteAny chance you could let me know by private email what hotel it was?
Well, your booth looks beautiful! Glad to hear it worked out with your hotel room. I suppose they know that rooms are scarce, and can therefore, get away with that kind of behaviour. Hope you found Paducah worthwhile.
ReplyDeleteWow -- thanks for sharing your terrible experience with the hotel. I am hoping to make my first trip there in 2014. Please let me know which hotel. I really don't think I would be able to handle the manager as well as you did and would have been without lodgings. By the way, I loved your presentation at the Calico Cutups in Bella Vista, AR !! Thanks
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