Get me out of Texas

Well I can’t say I was sad to fly out of Washington today – I probably stayed a day longer than I needed to but I couldn’t have known that 3 months ago when I booked the trip.  I used my last day to spend $200 on long distance phone calls from my hotel to California – they would have cost the same on my mobile so you can’t really win when you’re travelling.  I just wish people would answer their emails and then the calls wouldn’t be necessary.  So I made a few calls to voice mail services and spoke to one or 2 people and sorted out about one thing – maybe 2 so $200 doesn’t really feel like good value.  But then it’s not really been a day for good value and at this end of the trip value is becoming rather important as the money is alarmingly nearly all gone.

So I get to check in for my flight and of course my baggage is over weight – but just how much I can’t really tell because it weighs in pounds not kilograms and I have no idea what the limit is in pounds and I also have no idea how much my cases now weigh excepts that I car barely pick it up (and I’m strong).  So I hand over $50 for excess baggage.

Then I get on the plane and unsurprisingly my camera bag won’t fit in the overhead locker – American airlines again.  So I have to hand it over for check in.  It’s the first time I’ve had to check in my camera so I’m a little nervous but I also realise that if I keep the bag with me until the last minute they don’t charge me to the additional item of luggage ($100 excess instead of $50).  So do I have to continue this charade of not realising that my bag won’t fit in the overhead lockers  for the next 2 flights? – oh it’s all too tiresome.  This is a bag that’s fitted in Jetstar overhead lockers and even Easyjet in Europe where they don’t even reserve you a seat – but at least the overhead lockers are big enough for my bag.  AA no way.

So my flight from Washington to Austin stops in Dallas so I come over all Sue-Ellen Ewing and need a drink but that’s nothing compared to how I feel when I arrive at my hotel in Austin.  Now Austin is supposed to be a very cool and groovy place and I must say I was looking forward to hanging out and possibly catching a bit of the music scene and whatever other grooviness Austin has to offer.  Well I can tell you I won’t be catching anything of anywhere at this hotel I’m stranded in – miles out of town right next to 8 lanes of mainline traffic and air conditioned by two of the noisiest air conditioning units on the planet with a decibel level to rival the local music scene I’m sure.

While the hotel itself is newish and smart to look at, I can only recommend it to deaf people with their own cars – who like spicy Chinese food as that’s all that’s on offer to eat – no shop nearby and no minibar.  Nothing except traffic within walking distance.  The only way to get out of here is by taxi.

I spent 2 hours online trying to find alternate accommodation but it’s the weekend and everywhere that’s reasonably priced is fully booked so I feel I can only stay put and blow the budget on taxis.

I have just one interview tomorrow with Bob Kafka.  Bob by all accounts is a legend and an important figure in the disability rights movement but I’m having trouble getting a really good handle on his story and all I have is a handful of scattered ideas and topics for our interview.  I just hope he turns out to be one of those great speakers who makes it easy for interviewers because if he’s not I could be in trouble and feeling more depressed about this diversion to Austin.

The view from my hotel - worse than it looks