The mid‑level manager wheels his carry‑on down the identical beige hallway, swipes a keycard, and steps into the cool sterility of a Hilton Garden Inn perched off the interstate, a full twenty‑five minutes from anything resembling downtown.
- Thermostat: 62 °F
- Curtains: blackout.
- Of the two queen beds, one is instantly designated “work,” piled with laptop, charger snake, and tomorrow’s presentation; the other, “pleasure,” destined for crumbs and regrets.
general tso's and shark tank in here is pure hedonism https://t.co/HhIrN8hq9b
— Mohammad (@MargBarAmerica) April 16, 2025
Dinner isn’t a search for local flavor but for reliable comfort. A glossy carton of General Tso’s chicken arrives via delivery app, joined by a six‑pack of convenience‑store IPA. Or, for a real sense of adventure, a harrowing journey across a four lane highway to the Ruby Tuesday.
Cable surfing locks onto Shark Tank—nothing pairs with sugar‑lacquered chicken quite like small-time entrepreneurs bartering equity. During ad breaks, the screen flips to Wicked Tuna, then Forensic Files, then Impractical Jokers.
No one actually wants to stay here, but the room rate is within company policy and you dream of the SLH hotels the Hilton points will get you-if you ever find the time.
Ong do people actually like their rooms that cold? I was at the lex Hyatt and could not get it above 62!
I’m usually down-to-clown, but what even was this post about, Gary? Bah!
I too am a little confused but I could certainly go for some General Tso’s! Reminds me of the New Orleans Downtown Hilton Canopy that serves a very tasty General Tso’s Alligator dish.
That is my life!
Is this an outtake from the John Varley short story “The Flying Dutchman”?
Now make it into a haiku
Are you feeling okay, Gary?
I love this. Somebody make it into a should make a short film.
Ps lalf also published. Matthew’s story of repeated flight cancellations at lax.. It ends with Matthew playing a mournful Ode to Joy at 2:00 am . Put them together and we have an Oscar.
Forgive the errors please. We have no power : /
Gary clearly got himself into a few bags of discounted Easter candy at the CVS near the hotel and started writing this before abruptly posting it before he passed out in a coma.
@Maryland — Just curious, by “(w)e have no power” are you referring to ‘power’ literally, as-in, ‘electricity’ (like the ‘blackouts’ recently in Puerto Rico), or figuratively, as-in, ‘control, authority, or influence’ here? Either way, please take care.
Love the post. Lightens the mood. More of these, please.
@vike — Are you one of those ‘don’t get political’ types? Because, power, money, and culture is in everything–it’s unavoidable, especially in travel–so, yup, it might be ‘convenient,’ if your ‘team’ is in power, to silence anything critical. Hmm. Curious. Ah, anyway, more nonsense, please. Good one.
I will never forget an evening in the old Ambassador East in Chicago. I’d had a light dinner with colleagues and was walking back to the hotel. As I walked, I passed Gibson’s and got the idea of grabbing a slice of their delicious chocolate cake. I return to my room, cake in hand, turn on the tv, and have a seat on the bed, only to discover I have no FORK.
Front desk was useless so I ate that cake with my hands, but it’s been a cautionary tale about in-room dining ever since.
I once walked into a hotel room that was set to around 65.
It was the lowest the thermostat could go. Obviously the house cleaner walked into a hot room and turned the thermostat as low as possible without thinking about consequences.
The only reason I can come up with to support the European-style motion-sensing thermostats is it will put a stop to this abuse.
As a businessman, Donald Trump ran 6 businesses that declared bankruptcy because they couldn’t pay their bills. We’re now watching Trump’s seventh bankruptcy unfold – the United States of America. It turns out that immigrant labor makes America richer and tariffs make us all poorer.
Lol. Great post about a very sad lifestyle (but at least the sad sap is “elite” to the airlines)
Fun stuff & an uncomfortable relevant observation for many roadies in the current & evolving / devolving work environment.
Whenever I see or hear an airline, hotel or rental car ad I think to myself…I don’t do that no mo.