So, despite the quiet room, comfy bed and the super quiet air conditioner, last night’s sleep? was less than stellar. Still keyed up from the hectic past week, I still had hope of a decent sleep, so we could complete the final 10 hour drive home. Not to be! Somewhere around 1:00 AM, I was awoken by the sound of a car horn in the parking lot beep, beep honk, honk, honk. This went on for some 20 minutes by some sadistic moron playing silly buggers with a guest inside the hotel. Delivery person, hired companion, spurned spouse locked out of his room. Who the H— knows? Just when I thought it was over, it got worse. Loud conversation between this moron and his intended communicant commenced and went on and on and on for an hour. Oh, to be a night owl.
Up early, I was assigned the task to go down and check out the situation in the hotel breakfast room (breakfast included). I donned my face mask (no longer required) and went to see if this would be a bagged breakfast, like at our first night’s stay or if the still cautious staff would be serving the buffet to guests. It was neither. Mobs of guests with unvaccinated children were crowded into the room, all serving themselves with the same spoons from the same warming dishes. Sigh!!! They may be back to normal, but we were not. Reporting back to the duty sergeant, we opted to do a Timmie’s drive thru (ahhhh, fine cuisine). How would you have tackled this situation?
Since we were up early and packed up early and ready early, I charged myself with loading up the chariot. On one trip with my camera, I snapped these pix showing the nights particulate settlement on the car. No wonder our lungs felt like crap.
Same smoky sky, just in the EastSo much smoke haze, the autofocus would not even kick in. Kinda describes my eyes after my night’s lack of sleepHazy hillsides to the WestAnd againAshfall on the windshieldClose upAsh on the mooneroofI felt this upside down shot reflected in the windshield described the conditions perfectlyOne more time – Note the charred pine needle at right centre – Hmmm, that did not bode well
Not much to tell. After working for 3 companies over 43+ years (38 years 7 months with my last company), I finally got that promotion I had waited my entire career for……retirement.
I have been exploring this new career for the past 7+ years and while it is not always exciting, the chance to do what I want for myself and my family instead of what my company wants has been very fulfilling. Early on, there was a long list of projects in my “to-do” hopper and I attacked these projects with a vengeance for the first 9 months of retirement. Eventually, my brain told me that this was not what retirement was about, so it took me another 5 months before my industriousness again took over and I attacked another line of projects, this time somewhat shorter and less complicated, as well as many new projects related to the family weddings in 2016. After going hard for 6 weeks and 3 weddings, my body was telling me to relax, then the flu bug hit and as soon as that was done with me, my sciatic acted up. No rest for the wicked. In 2020 and 2021, the Covid 19 pandemic changed the whole retirement gig. I was lucky to not be still working, for sure.
I enjoy photography, gardening, working with my hands, walking, cycling, skiing, travelling, reading and creating special photo and video productions obtained in my first pastime. I may never become wealthy in any of these pursuits, but I already feel I am rich in life experiences far beyond any expectation.
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23 thoughts on “Fallout”
What a nuisance that you were awoken with car horns and people talking loudly, very inconsiderate. Since May all our the hotel’s we have stayed in have returned to offer full buffet or table service breakfasts. We have been pleased about that as we disliked the bagged option and it seemed wasteful to pay for breakfast to get offered that but I can understand that some people may still be cautious.
I often wonder what some people think when they make so much noise at night or do they even think? I think our mindset will be averse to buffet style service for a while to come yet. We are only just getting used to proof of vaccine indoor dining here now and once cases come down and the anti vax thinking changes to working together, it will all be much better. The bagged breakfast is an option, but the food is so mediocre. Thanks for reading Marion. Have a fabulous week. Allan
You are optimistic that the anti vax thinking is going to change. I’m just basically adverse to any kinds of crowds these days it seems and the buffet line – maybe never again. They weren’t my fav to begin with
Yup. The crazy movement will hang on in Alberta and Sask. I can’t even talk to my sister any more. Buffets were probably never a good idea, but during Covid, they need to be avoided. We are finding it tough to mix with crowds. Small groups socially distant are OK. Thanks for reading. Allan
N95 masks are very useful in that situation. Even before the pandemic, my parents and I had a stash of them for wildfire season. That sucks about your hotel breakfast room. I learned you can tell a lot about how careful places how that serve food are by watching the employees there
Agreed. The air quality in Kamloops was no too bad on the return trip, but there was fallout. I do not think any of us is ready to go back into a buffet line just yet. The bagged option is good, but the food quality is not. Thanks for reading. Allan
Buffet lines are not our first choice, either, but we didn’t encounter any over the summer. Loud people outside your door at 1:00 a.m.? I have to agree; the temptation to just clock them is pretty great. So rude. We experienced a lot of ash all over our vehicles; it was so bad at times.
Hi Lynette. We have never enjoyed buffets, since our kids grew up. Before that, we went quite often. As to noisy, I guess there are those who are considerate and those who are not. The ash was actually less than I thought it would be. In 1985, we were in Kagoshima Japan, right next to an active volcano. Every morning there was a thick layer of ash over everything. Thanks for reading. Allan
Now that’s a lot of haze! That’s crazy that you found some ash on your car as well. Sorry to hear about your restless night. Loud people (and their loud cars) are the worst. You’d think they’d have some common sense to be quiet during the middle of the night?!
Yes, I suspected I might. The fires were only 40 km away, and to our West, so the winds carried the ash in our direction. I guess the loud folk think others should be awake too. I will never understand it. Thanks for reading. Allan
Now loaded — LOL! I would have opted to skip breakfast as well and would have done Tim’s if I could not find a local bakery open that early. Freaky upside down reflection picture!
Yup not a fan of self serve during a pandemic. That has stopped during the current restrictions. No bakery nearby, so Timmies had to do. That upside down photo was a real surprise. Thanks for reading Bernie. Allan
Ah Allan, I totally relate to the hell of a bad night’s sleep, especially when it’s due to the idiocy and selfishness of others. We’ve had an amazing month here in Montenegro, in spite of “people” who do their very best to make life as difficult as possible. Car horns…. cacophonous motorbikes… the kids across the road using our front door as a goal post… on/off drilling from a workshop next door… American guy shouting on his phone in the next apartment at 05:30 in the morning. Your description of the breakfast station at the hotel would have had us doing a 360 too… Glad you’re out of there and hopefully onto better things.
There is some truth to the thinking that some people just do not think or perhaps do not care. A sad state of affairs for humanity. Your situation sounds worse given the duration. Glad you are enjoying Montenegro, nonetheless. In the long term, if all we have to complain about is a lack of sleep, we are likely in pretty good shape. Our take out breakfast was much more in style with the current situation and got us on the road sooner to home. Thanks for reading Leighton. Enjoy the day. Allan
I’m sorry to hear you didn’t get a restful night, Allan 🙂 Staying at a hotel can be the relaxing escape we all need every now and then or the necessary place to rest while on the road trip, but sometimes the hotel stay can be tainted by a noisy neighbour. As the hotels are always looking to improve and treat their guests with top-notch service, there is nothing wrong with calling the front desk to advise them of noise that is disrupting your stay. Either way, I can never understand people who disturb others in the middle of the night! 🙂 Aiva
Given that the noise was mostly from outside and we are living during the time of Covid craziness, there may not have been much that the night clerk could do that would not have seen them abused. Most times these days, you do not want to attract these people’s attention. We had great hope for humanity when the pandemic first came, but are not so sure any more. Either way, sleep is a precious commodity at any age. We all suffer when what sleep we get is interrupted. Thanks for reading Aiva. Have a great week. Allan
JOn and I aren’t big breakfast people, so we usually just start our day with coffee and then grab something on the road. I definitely wouldn’t have wanted to eat around all the unvaccinated children, sounds like chaos.
Unfortunately, we get up far too early, so breakfast is a necessary evil. I do agree though, coffee is far more important. I just wish there were more grab and go bakeries around. I think Covid restrictions have been hard on them and many have not survived. It was chaos in the breakfast room and we were shocked about HIE’s cavalier attitude. Thanks for reading Lyssy. Allan
When we travel, we use the same precautions that we use in our own city. We mask up inside, and avoid areas with too many people. I think you made the right choice.
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What a nuisance that you were awoken with car horns and people talking loudly, very inconsiderate. Since May all our the hotel’s we have stayed in have returned to offer full buffet or table service breakfasts. We have been pleased about that as we disliked the bagged option and it seemed wasteful to pay for breakfast to get offered that but I can understand that some people may still be cautious.
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I often wonder what some people think when they make so much noise at night or do they even think? I think our mindset will be averse to buffet style service for a while to come yet. We are only just getting used to proof of vaccine indoor dining here now and once cases come down and the anti vax thinking changes to working together, it will all be much better. The bagged breakfast is an option, but the food is so mediocre. Thanks for reading Marion. Have a fabulous week. Allan
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You are optimistic that the anti vax thinking is going to change. I’m just basically adverse to any kinds of crowds these days it seems and the buffet line – maybe never again. They weren’t my fav to begin with
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Yup. The crazy movement will hang on in Alberta and Sask. I can’t even talk to my sister any more. Buffets were probably never a good idea, but during Covid, they need to be avoided. We are finding it tough to mix with crowds. Small groups socially distant are OK. Thanks for reading. Allan
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The idiot with the horn should have been arrested. Your experience disproves the notion that staying at a Holiday Inn Express enhances intelligence.
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I was ready to go out and smack him one. But I was too tired. Not one of my finer stays, to be sure. Thanks for reading John. Allan
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N95 masks are very useful in that situation. Even before the pandemic, my parents and I had a stash of them for wildfire season. That sucks about your hotel breakfast room. I learned you can tell a lot about how careful places how that serve food are by watching the employees there
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Agreed. The air quality in Kamloops was no too bad on the return trip, but there was fallout. I do not think any of us is ready to go back into a buffet line just yet. The bagged option is good, but the food quality is not. Thanks for reading. Allan
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I get it. I actually find small restaurants safer because you can actually see what the servers are doing to be safe
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Buffet lines are not our first choice, either, but we didn’t encounter any over the summer. Loud people outside your door at 1:00 a.m.? I have to agree; the temptation to just clock them is pretty great. So rude. We experienced a lot of ash all over our vehicles; it was so bad at times.
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Hi Lynette. We have never enjoyed buffets, since our kids grew up. Before that, we went quite often. As to noisy, I guess there are those who are considerate and those who are not. The ash was actually less than I thought it would be. In 1985, we were in Kagoshima Japan, right next to an active volcano. Every morning there was a thick layer of ash over everything. Thanks for reading. Allan
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Now that’s a lot of haze! That’s crazy that you found some ash on your car as well. Sorry to hear about your restless night. Loud people (and their loud cars) are the worst. You’d think they’d have some common sense to be quiet during the middle of the night?!
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Yes, I suspected I might. The fires were only 40 km away, and to our West, so the winds carried the ash in our direction. I guess the loud folk think others should be awake too. I will never understand it. Thanks for reading. Allan
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Now loaded — LOL! I would have opted to skip breakfast as well and would have done Tim’s if I could not find a local bakery open that early. Freaky upside down reflection picture!
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Yup not a fan of self serve during a pandemic. That has stopped during the current restrictions. No bakery nearby, so Timmies had to do. That upside down photo was a real surprise. Thanks for reading Bernie. Allan
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Ah Allan, I totally relate to the hell of a bad night’s sleep, especially when it’s due to the idiocy and selfishness of others. We’ve had an amazing month here in Montenegro, in spite of “people” who do their very best to make life as difficult as possible. Car horns…. cacophonous motorbikes… the kids across the road using our front door as a goal post… on/off drilling from a workshop next door… American guy shouting on his phone in the next apartment at 05:30 in the morning. Your description of the breakfast station at the hotel would have had us doing a 360 too… Glad you’re out of there and hopefully onto better things.
LikeLiked by 1 person
There is some truth to the thinking that some people just do not think or perhaps do not care. A sad state of affairs for humanity. Your situation sounds worse given the duration. Glad you are enjoying Montenegro, nonetheless. In the long term, if all we have to complain about is a lack of sleep, we are likely in pretty good shape. Our take out breakfast was much more in style with the current situation and got us on the road sooner to home. Thanks for reading Leighton. Enjoy the day. Allan
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I’m sorry to hear you didn’t get a restful night, Allan 🙂 Staying at a hotel can be the relaxing escape we all need every now and then or the necessary place to rest while on the road trip, but sometimes the hotel stay can be tainted by a noisy neighbour. As the hotels are always looking to improve and treat their guests with top-notch service, there is nothing wrong with calling the front desk to advise them of noise that is disrupting your stay. Either way, I can never understand people who disturb others in the middle of the night! 🙂 Aiva
LikeLiked by 1 person
Given that the noise was mostly from outside and we are living during the time of Covid craziness, there may not have been much that the night clerk could do that would not have seen them abused. Most times these days, you do not want to attract these people’s attention. We had great hope for humanity when the pandemic first came, but are not so sure any more. Either way, sleep is a precious commodity at any age. We all suffer when what sleep we get is interrupted. Thanks for reading Aiva. Have a great week. Allan
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JOn and I aren’t big breakfast people, so we usually just start our day with coffee and then grab something on the road. I definitely wouldn’t have wanted to eat around all the unvaccinated children, sounds like chaos.
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Unfortunately, we get up far too early, so breakfast is a necessary evil. I do agree though, coffee is far more important. I just wish there were more grab and go bakeries around. I think Covid restrictions have been hard on them and many have not survived. It was chaos in the breakfast room and we were shocked about HIE’s cavalier attitude. Thanks for reading Lyssy. Allan
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When we travel, we use the same precautions that we use in our own city. We mask up inside, and avoid areas with too many people. I think you made the right choice.
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Agreed. It is best to stay within your own comfort zone. Otherwise we would worry too much. Thanks for reading Ann. Allan
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