Preface to NYC: Starting to really freak out

Part 1:

I am staying at the Sheraton Hotel in Columbia, Maryland.  Aside from staying with family and friends, I have only stayed at Best Western's, La Quinta's, and Quality Inn's on this trip.

I just went out in the bitter cold to have a cigarette,  and  looked up at the hotel sign

and it hit me.

When my Mother and I moved back to New York after our stint in Texas, I was 11 years old. 

I remember we stopped in New Jersey, and spent the night. 

At a Sheraton.

I am almost my mother's age when she moved back to NYC with me.

Am I doing this for my Mother? Am I retracing her steps in hopes of reclaiming the life that she should have had?

Instead of me and my daughter, it is me and my dog.

Part 2:

NY D DAY

I am sitting in my hotel room in total denial that I have to get in the shower, walk my dog, pack the car and drive into NYC. 

I am exhausted. 

I slept 4 hours.

Originally I wanted to arrive at 11:00 AM. 

Not happening. 

I am leaving here most likely at 12:00 for arrival into NY at 4:00. Just in time for sunset.

I have freaked out on and off - mainly since Holbrook, AZ - Holbrook was where it really started to hit me that I was doing this.

BUT, the fact that I have my apartment in Los Angeles has aided me in maintaining my calm. And knowing that I have a full bottle of Xanax (untouched at this point) in the suitcase doesn't hurt either.

All psychological stuff, I know. 

Mind over whatever. Or so, I thought.


I turned on the TV to try and calm my nerves


and this is what was on:

WHAAAAAAA?

Really?

REALLY?

Part 3:

The time: 10:34 AM. The place: The Sheraton Hotel in Columbia, Maryland. Check out time: 12:00.

And that's it. I am driving to NY TODAY.

And, I am slowly starting to freak out.

I have not stepped foot in NYC in over 10 years.

TEN YEARS.

I know I won't recognize the city.

At least, that's what everyone tells me.

Over the years when watching  various programs on TV,  I would see the city skyline and it would prompt me to utilize my DVR:

I would Pause, Rewind, Freeze Frame and Slo-Mo the skyline shots so I could see how my city had transformed.

It was like studying a long lost friends face and tracing the lines of aging to see how and what had changed.

I am emotional. This whole trip has been emotional, but up to this point I have been pretty okay with my moods  and my ability to keep things in check.

I don't know how I am going to react - like I have said to family and friends along the way - I may absolutely HATE it.

I may say uh-uh.

This is NOT for me. Not at all.

Get me the fuck out of here. STAT.

I may turn around in a few weeks and head west. I don't know.

I am intimidated scared, excited, nervous, freaking out. I like to think I am like every 22 year old kid that moves to NYC from their hickety pickety town - I sometimes think that is what I needed. To come at it with fresh eyes, and a new attitude.

All I know is right now, I am schvitzing like nobody's business.

I can't find my deodorant nor my toothpaste.

I refuse to enter NY smelling.

REFUSE I TELL YOU.




              

My dog with her blanket at the hotel. 

She has NO idea what she's in for. 

Neither do I.

Trying to breathe here.

Preface to NY: Columbia, Maryland: Stink Bugs & Perfume

Trying to find a place to stay between D.C. and NYC that took dogs and is affordable is no easy feat.

My friend in NY tried for over an hour scouring online looking for a place that was safe, and would take my dog and not be crazy expensive.

Baltimore apparently was out of the question - it seems Baltimore has a reputation of being not so safe. Maybe Baltimore would be alright if I stayed at the harbor, or I could stay at the airport.

My friend in Durham came to the rescue once again, and found a room for me at the Sheraton Hotel in Columbia, MD. They took dogs. They even had room service!

I was thrilled. I needed a good nights sleep, as this was it.

This is my last night before arriving in NY.

Walking into the hotel, I knew I was on the East Coast.

I could smell perfume.

I loved it.

On the West Coast, you rarely smell perfume or cologne. And if you do, all your alarms go off:

"WARNING! Alien in the midst!"

It's true! You are very suspicious - you know those nice smelling people are not from "these parts".

Anyway...

I should have been suspect when I checked in. They sent me to the "lodge" which was not part of the main hotel. I drove over, parked, and took my suitcases out only to realize there is no elevator. Clunk, clunk, clunk, clunk up the stairs. Bump bump bump over the door jams.

I walked in.

It was glorious!

There were cookies waiting for me!

Yes!!!

After two weeks of being on the road, I couldn't have been happier.


                                                   Then I started to notice little things:

Hmmm. 

I ate a cookie. 

Then I saw this:

Okay, looks like they started - or is it finishing up a renovation?

Who cares, I'm exhausted. 

All I want to do is eat and go to sleep. 

And then there was this:

Now I am annoyed.

BUT, like I said, I'm hungry and exhausted.

So, I ate some food. 

And, anyway, my dog was in heaven:

A long hot bath will do me well.

And then I saw this on the floor:

Okay, housekeeping didn't catch it. Two dead flies. Whatever.

Long hot bath ahead. Flies will not bother me.

And I walked into the bathroom and saw this above the mirror:

ACCK! What is that?!

I walked into the main room, to call the front desk and, oh look!:

Obviously, his partner in crime.

Now. it's 10:30.

They told me on the phone they were sorry. 

They could maybe move me to the room next door. 

But wait, if the bugs are here, they most likely will be next door, won't they?

Well...

They would send an engineer to the room.

I waited for 15 minutes, 

then took matters into my hands.

I captured the two living bugs, 

scooped up the two dead flies, 

placed all four of them into the oh so trendy stainless steel ice bucket, 

grabbed my dog, 

and 

walked across the compound to the main building 

and 

delivered them to the front desk.

When I returned to my room, 

the phone was ringing; 

the hotel was offering 

 to move me to the main building.

At midnight, we arrived in our new digs.

At 2:30 AM I was still up. 

Panic was setting in.