Dreamland

As I mentioned in my last dispatch, which I am shocked to realize was written only 24 hours ago, I ended up on an impromptu business trip to Houston last night. The partner I was traveling with wanted to leave as late as possible (1) to avoid traffic and (2) to let me put the kids to bed. So after a day spent frantically preparing for the witness interview, I got to go home and spend a few hours with the kidlets (while packing, answering emails, and organizing depo prep binders, but still, with the kids!). We ended up leaving Austin at 8:30 and drove up to the hotel about 11:15 p.m. We had to check back out at 7:30 a.m. for the 8:00 meeting and I was exhausted. I just wanted to strip, crawl in bed, and squeeze as much sleep out of my 8 hour stay as possible. I was also considering brushing my teeth and taking out my contacts, but honestly, as I was riding the elevator up to my room on the 22nd floor, those actions seemed negotiable.

Then I got up to my room. I had thought it odd that I needed to insert my room key into a slot in the elevator to select my floor, but figured maybe it was an after-hours thing. Then as I was walking down the hall I noticed the room numbers weren't going up near fast enough for me to ever hit mine. But suddenly after 2210, it jumped to 2222- a large mahogany door that stood out starkly against the others. I inserted my key and walked in.

Once past the foyer, I was greeted by this (and sorry for the terrible quality, it's my blackberry phone):

A dining table set for 10 with a huge stone fireplace, TV, and additional benches and seating.

Holy crap.

A kitchen, stocked with my own ice maker.

A TV room and sitting area.

And, lastly, the only thing I really wanted and needed, the bedroom:

and a very nice bathroom which inspired me to do the whole wash my face, brush my teeth, take out my contacts routine after all.

It was amazing and I only got to spend 60 waking minutes in it. I didn't even sit in more than 2 of the 39 seats available in the space. Now that I'm back at my desk in Austin, it pretty much just feels like a dream that I was ever there at all.

Back to work.