Oma's Trip ~ 03/07/03
Dateline: L.A. (Canoga Park), CA
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Got a nice early start this morning departing at 7am... lost about
1/2 hour just outside of Phoenix to a wreck -- a "cement truck went
thru a guard rail" and off the side of the road. Once I was past
that, though, it was smooth sailing. Even when I got into L.A.
traffic, I had great instructions from my oldest friend in the
world (who lives nearby) and made it to the motel without a hitch.
Drove into California and changed to Pacific Time Zone at 9:26am PST.
I simply MUST tell everybody reading where NOT to stay if you're
ever in the area, though:
Warner Center Motor Inn
7132 De Soto Avenue, Canota Park, CA 91303
For starters, there's glass (probably bullet proof?) between me and
the check in clerk. Hadda pass my drivers license and debit card
under the glass thru a little hole -- like he was in Fort Knox!! Now
there's a slight language barrier (Middle Eastern), so I asked him
to clarify... "You mean 'No visitors' over night, right?"... Nope,
he means No visitors. Period. And if they catch me with a visitor
they charge my "credit card" $10.00 extra... and he told me "$59.95
and no visitors." I asked him how I can see my friend who I haven't
seen in 40 years... he said "no visitors inside at all." I was
still trying to get him to help me figure out how I was gonna get to
see Kathie and I *think* he got frustrated over the whole thing and
gave my I.D. and card back to me like he wasn't gonna rent me a
room. Where the hell else am I gonna go now? I don't even know where
I am! He even suggested I go to the Ramada Inn next door and told me
they would charge me $20.00 for a visitor. Like I CARE what Ramada
Inn does!!
OK... nevermind... I'll figure something out... just give me a
single for the night.
The room's not cleaned yet... he told me to wait... then he came
back and got me checked in... and one of his buddies told him they
saw a dog in the car, so he asked about that... I told him I had a
dog... whopping 7 pounds... so he told me that would be $8.00 more
for the dog... no problem... total came to $76.43 -- I stood there
trying to figure out how he added 8 bucks to $59.95 and came up sith
$76.43 and I just decided there was tax in there somewhere and just
give me the damn room key, dude!!
He gave me the key and reminded me that the room hadn't been cleaned
and I'm pretty sure that he told me he didn't want to hear any
complaints about the room not being cleaned yet... Just give me the
key, dude...
Hung around about 25 minutes and finally called and asked him when
the room was gonna be cleaned. "Housekeeping not finished yet?" No,
they hadn't even started... and the bathroom was disgusting... you
know it hadda be pretty bad if I think it's disgusting. Desk clerk
told me he'd give me another room. Told me to bring the key back and
he'd give me another key.
OK... this one is MUCH BETTER -- but no chair for the desk.
Called the desk clerk and asked about a chair. "No chair in the
room?" "Not one for round table?" WHAT round table? No round
table... No chair... He said he'd check on it.
Now, I didn't wanna open up the computer and get everything all set
up and have somebody pop in with a chair and see what I've got here.
Despite the fact that they don't allow visitors, I believe there are
some serious security problems here. So I called back and asked
about the chair. He got kinda short with me... I *think* he said
something about me not being the only guest in the motel tonight. I
told him "Not a problem... I'll just pull the desk over and sit on
the bed." THEN the guy asked me (just like it was any of his
business) "What you gonna do some paper work?" I told him "Yes." and
he said he'd hang up and "call her right now". Wasn't long before a
chair arrived and what a sad chair. I got a pillow off the bed,
doubled it over and stuck that in the chair so I'm sitting high
enough to reach the keyboard... After she left, I got the computer
set up.
Still haven't dialed up -- they charge 50 cents for every local call
-- wonder how he's gonna get that 50 cents added to my debit card?
Wonder if he's gonna charge me 50 cents for an INCOMING local
call???
I think Kathie's gonna come pick me up to go to her house for
dinner... and then she'll bring me back..
Tomorrow: Vacaville, CA...