Lansing (Holt) Michigan 2012
Image by Counselman Collection
It is amazing how spoiled we tend to get being so used to having nice services when traveling, but when someone advertises a nice establishment, and after you arrive it turns into being a dump, sometimes it takes a little extra effort to tolerate it. Going to our spring circuit assembly this month was really an adventure since all the hotel rooms close by were booked for a big basketball game and the only thing we could find was the Avalon in Jackson, Michigan. This hotel was originally an old Holiday Inn but has been advertised as being totally renovated and new, so we bit since everything else was full, and they showed great photos in the advertising. We had made reservations, requesting six rooms, for a full weekend, and we wanted them all adjoining rooms so the children could sleep in the adjoining rooms with their parents close by. Since we were paying for the whole family we checked in and waited for the children to arrive. When the children got there about an hour later, we found only one set of rooms were actually adjoining. When we told them we only wanted five of the rooms then because the rooms were not adjoining as they were supposed to be, the second shift woman Sandy would not give us a refund for turning in that one extra room because we did not complain within fifteen minutes of arrival. We told her the kids just got there and they do not want to leave their children in a room not joined to their room, but she was so mean and stubborn. This is a total rip-off joint from the photos on their web-site. The rooms were full of smoke smell even though they are marked non-smoking, the TV's were all snowy, you have to ask for these dinky towels to get any towels for your room, the security lock was broken off our door, and I could not believe how run down it was. Every other door around our room had tape marked DNR pasted on the door, which probably meant 'do not rent', but we figured it meant do not resuscitate, and they were waiting for the coroner. This turned out to be one of the most adventurous camping trips we had been on in years. We even had invited a sister from our congregation with her two girls to stay with our group, and we were so embarrassed. My only recourse is to put the credit card in total written legal dispute until we know it has been adjusted properly. Since we had a hard enough time just turning in that one room back in, which also had the most horrid mold smell in it, we figured we were stuck. If you want a great camping adventure, check this place out. We just decided to make the best of it, headed for the store, and bought towels, toilet paper, Lysol wipes, and other misc camping gear. Just watch out for that grouchy woman called Sandy on second shift desk; I really feel sorry for her, a quarter would buy her a much better personality than the one she has. Since the cops showed up to serve a warrant on one of their regular guests while we were there, we just figured she was used to being a tough bouncer. While we were there I witnessed several families walk out outraged saying they were not going back, but you could tell they heard this so much at the desk, they would just apathetically say, oh well. This is not the first inside camping trip we have been stuck in, but we just wanted to warn everyone so you do not make the same mistake as we did at this place. All you can do is; the best you can, and then laugh it off. Since we had to go purchase our own towels, we figured we might as well laugh it all off by buying flamingo towels for everyone. When life hands you lemons, we just make lemonade. Psalm 68:19 Everything was worth it to be able to attend the convention.
Flamingo Towels we bought for camping at the Avalon
Image by Counselman Collection
It is amazing how spoiled we tend to get being so used to having nice services when traveling, but when someone advertises a nice establishment, and after you arrive it turns into being a dump, sometimes it takes a little extra effort to tolerate it. Going to our spring circuit assembly this month was really an adventure since all the hotel rooms close by were booked for a big basketball game and the only thing we could find was the Avalon in Jackson, Michigan. This hotel was originally an old Holiday Inn but has been advertised as being totally renovated and new, so we bit since everything else was full, and they showed great photos in the advertising. We had made reservations, requesting six rooms, for a full weekend, and we wanted them all adjoining rooms so the children could sleep in the adjoining rooms with their parents close by. Since we were paying for the whole family we checked in and waited for the children to arrive. When the children got there about an hour later, we found only one set of rooms were actually adjoining. When we told them we only wanted five of the rooms then because the rooms were not adjoining as they were supposed to be, the second shift woman Sandy would not give us a refund for turning in that one extra room because we did not complain within fifteen minutes of arrival. We told her the kids just got there and they do not want to leave their children in a room not joined to their room, but she was so mean and stubborn. This is a total rip-off joint from the photos on their web-site. The rooms were full of smoke smell even though they are marked non-smoking, the TV's were all snowy, you have to ask for these dinky towels to get any towels for your room, the security lock was broken off our door, and I could not believe how run down it was. Every other door around our room had tape marked DNR pasted on the door, which probably meant 'do not rent', but we figured it meant do not resuscitate, and they were waiting for the coroner. This turned out to be one of the most adventurous camping trips we had been on in years. We even had invited a sister from our congregation with her two girls to stay with our group, and we were so embarrassed. My only recourse is to put the credit card in total written legal dispute until we know it has been adjusted properly. Since we had a hard enough time just turning in that one room back in, which also had the most horrid mold smell in it, we figured we were stuck. If you want a great camping adventure, check this place out. We just decided to make the best of it, headed for the store, and bought towels, toilet paper, Lysol wipes, and other misc camping gear. Just watch out for that grouchy woman called Sandy on second shift desk; I really feel sorry for her, a quarter would buy her a much better personality than the one she has. Since the cops showed up to serve a warrant on one of their regular guests while we were there, we just figured she was used to being a tough bouncer. While we were there I witnessed several families walk out outraged saying they were not going back, but you could tell they heard this so much at the desk, they would just apathetically say, oh well. This is not the first inside camping trip we have been stuck in, but we just wanted to warn everyone so you do not make the same mistake as we did at this place. All you can do is; the best you can, and then laugh it off. Since we had to go purchase our own towels, we figured we might as well laugh it all off by buying flamingo towels for everyone. When life hands you lemons, we just make lemonade. Psalm 68:19 Everything was worth it to be able to attend the convention.
Cute little girl holding red heart - a 1910 Valentine greeting
Image by IronRodArt - Royce Bair ("Star Shooter")
Since we are only five days away from Valentine's Day, I thought I would share this recent restoration of a cute little girl holding red heart - a 1910 Valentine illustration - with the greeting, 'My Heart's Best Love.' I love all her ribbons and bows. The image was scanned from my personal collection and the color restored (digitally remastered). I also retouched it to remove scratches, cracks, smudges and age spots. This is typically about a 3 hour process.
Here are four additional images I have restored as free Valentine eCards. Enjoy!
FREE for Personal Use Downloads: This image is offered through a Creative Commons license. You can also obtain PRINTS or a commercial use license (and even larger downloads) at my SmugMug site. NOTE: Personal use requires attribution to my stock agency (credit ''Stock Solution Photo Agency'') and a link to my Web site: ''The Stock Solution'' -- where you can also find more free downloads.
Half Security is No Security
Image by Counselman Collection
It is amazing how spoiled we tend to get being so used to having nice services when traveling, but when someone advertises a nice establishment, and after you arrive it turns into being a dump, sometimes it takes a little extra effort to tolerate it. Going to our spring circuit assembly this month was really an adventure since all the hotel rooms close by were booked for a big basketball game and the only thing we could find was the Avalon in Jackson, Michigan. This hotel was originally an old Holiday Inn but has been advertised as being totally renovated and new, so we bit since everything else was full, and they showed great photos in the advertising. We had made reservations, requesting six rooms, for a full weekend, and we wanted them all adjoining rooms so the children could sleep in the adjoining rooms with their parents close by. Since we were paying for the whole family we checked in and waited for the children to arrive. When the children got there about an hour later, we found only one set of rooms were actually adjoining. When we told them we only wanted five of the rooms then because the rooms were not adjoining as they were supposed to be, the second shift woman Sandy would not give us a refund for turning in that one extra room because we did not complain within fifteen minutes of arrival. We told her the kids just got there and they do not want to leave their children in a room not joined to their room, but she was so mean and stubborn. This is a total rip-off joint from the photos on their web-site. The rooms were full of smoke smell even though they are marked non-smoking, the TV's were all snowy, you have to ask for these dinky towels to get any towels for your room, the security lock was broken off our door, and I could not believe how run down it was. Every other door around our room had tape marked DNR pasted on the door, which probably meant 'do not rent', but we figured it meant do not resuscitate, and they were waiting for the coroner. This turned out to be one of the most adventurous camping trips we had been on in years. We even had invited a sister from our congregation with her two girls to stay with our group, and we were so embarrassed. My only recourse is to put the credit card in total written legal dispute until we know it has been adjusted properly. Since we had a hard enough time just turning in that one room back in, which also had the most horrid mold smell in it, we figured we were stuck. If you want a great camping adventure, check this place out. We just decided to make the best of it, headed for the store, and bought towels, toilet paper, Lysol wipes, and other misc camping gear. Just watch out for that grouchy woman called Sandy on second shift desk; I really feel sorry for her, a quarter would buy her a much better personality than the one she has. Since the cops showed up to serve a warrant on one of their regular guests while we were there, we just figured she was used to being a tough bouncer. While we were there I witnessed several families walk out outraged saying they were not going back, but you could tell they heard this so much at the desk, they would just apathetically say, oh well. This is not the first inside camping trip we have been stuck in, but we just wanted to warn everyone so you do not make the same mistake as we did at this place. All you can do is; the best you can, and then laugh it off. Since we had to go purchase our own towels, we figured we might as well laugh it all off by buying flamingo towels for everyone. When life hands you lemons, we just make lemonade. Psalm 68:19 Everything was worth it to be able to attend the convention.
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