Tales of Living Out of a Suitcase

Because what else am I going to do here? Kidding. Sort of.

I’ve been traveling for work recently and staying in a hotel every week. Because I have some extra time on my hands during the evenings, I thought it would be fun to chronicle the little things I’ve found annoying or amusing. Lots of things feel like a dumpster fire right now, but I’m just going to keep creating things and doing my best to hold on to the glimmers.

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Week 1

My first week of work travel life is a short week, right after the holiday. I’m grateful for the shorter stay to test the waters and ease into this new routine. I head straight to work and check in at the end of the day. I’m situated on the 2nd floor right by the elevator, which seems less than ideal, but I don’t really notice much noise. I immediately discover that I’m missing a bar of soap to wash my hands, but was promptly provided one after notifying the front desk. The toilet flushing situation is disturbingly precarious, with a flimsy handle and weak water flow. I notice later in the week that a hair dryer is nowhere to be found, but I didn’t end up needing it anyway.

The weather is bitterly cold, and I’m exhausted, so I decide to order in from an Afghan kabob place. I take Uber Eats’ suggestion for a tipping level that says, “You’re my hero!” because honestly, that’s how I feel. The food is also delicious, and I’ll definitely be ordering from them again. I also discovered delicious chili from the local brewery nearby that warmed my soul in the final frigid evening.

Week 2

This week I was moved to the top floor and am far away from the elevator. This feels like a desirable situation, so I guess they realized I might be staying here for a while. The room has a Keurig coffee maker vs. the generic one I had in my room last week, which feels like an upgrade. I didn’t use it, but it’s nice to know it’s there.

I realized on the drive up that I forgot my toothbrush, but remembered my travel-size hair dryer because of last week’s situation. As luck would have it, there actually is a hair dryer this week. And bar soap. And a toilet that flushes without extra prayers. Score! The mirror on the back of the bathroom door is missing, which is a bummer because it’s useful for doing my makeup in good lighting. Can’t win em’ all! Maybe the odds will be in my favor next week.

The weather is much better this week, so I actually feel like exploring a little. I had to venture out to get a toothbrush, so I made a quick stop at CVS and had a solo dinner at Cava (IYKYK).

After returning from dinner, I discovered I had a guest in the room with me: a stink bug. At first they were too high up for me to reach, so I thought about leaving them alone…but then had images flashing through my head of something crawling on my face while I slept. I briefly thought about smashing them with the Gideon Bible or the Book of Mormon, but that felt…wrong somehow. Now’s not the time for bad karma. And also, the stink. So I lay in wait until they came to rest on the lamp, then trapped them in a coffee cup, rode the elevator down, and freed them outside. I’m pretty sure they died shortly after anyway. Sorry, little one.

I’ve decided that I need to make a playlist of the epic 90s/early 2000s music they play in the elevator here. I should ask the front desk who manages the playlist here and give them my compliments. Speaking of throwback music, I found out that Jack’s Mannequin is going on tour this summer, and I spent the better part of one evening texting Bryan trying to convince him to take a trip to one of the nearby cities to see them. I also discovered that the hotel restaurant has a decent burger, after a recommendation from a guy that seems to stay here a lot.

Week 3

This week I’m on the 2nd floor, but far away from the elevator. I have a hair dryer, soap, a Keurig, AND an extra mirror on the back of the bathroom door. The toilet flushes well, but the handle seems a little loose. All in all, I’d say we’re at an 8 out of 10 for my room this week. That’s a win!

The nicer weather persists, so I ventured out to the nearest Target to pick up some essentials, like coffee drinks and some sparkling water. Obviously essential. I tried a variety of canned coffee and energy drinks, so here are my reviews:

• Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew in Vanilla Sweet Cream: This is really good! It’s not too sweet, and it’s a pretty generous amount at 12 oz. I almost got sprayed in the face when opening, so exercise caution if you’ve been moving about before consuming. 9/10

• Slate Mocha Latte High Protein Iced Coffee: This is also a pretty generous can at 11 oz, and unfortunately it was my least favorite. There’s 20 grams of protein and no added sugar in this drink, which is a big plus for satiety while also getting your coffee fix. However, the combination of stevia and monk fruit extract made it a little too sweet for my liking. 6/10

• Celsius Oasis Vibe: This was my first ever Celsius, and honestly I’m not sure how I feel about it. The flavor was decent, but it was a bit too sweet. Where this drink really shines is the energy boost. I drink coffee more for the taste and ritual than the caffeine, so I don’t usually notice much difference in my energy levels. With this, I could feel it. I wanted to use the stand feature of my standing desk more often, and I didn’t experience a crash. Honestly it reminded me of the same kind of boost I’d get from a pre-workout drink. Definitely a great option for when you need a sustainable pick-me-up.

• Sang Vietnamese Coffee: This is the smallest drink at 8 oz, but it really packs a punch, both in flavor and caffeine content. It’s a bit sweeter than the Starbucks, but it’s very well balanced overall. 9.5/10

I finally created my elevator playlist on Spotify, and it continues to grow with songs straight out of a 90s/2000s fever dream. Check it out below. :)

In other news, I attended a happy hour at the local office and met a bunch of great people in the division I just joined. I just found out my promotion and raise will take effect soon, so it feels like a fitting way to end my week here. :)

Week 4

I check in after work for another week, asking the general manager if there are any penalties for checking out early because of the impending winter storm. As a frequent business traveler, he assures me there will be no penalty. I also ask who’s in charge of the awesome playlist, and tell him that I love all the throwbacks. This stay ended up being for only one night due to impending weather and office closures. I’ll be back next week, but I’m thankful for the extra time at home.

This is a bit of a departure from my usual content, so let me know what you think. Do you want to hear more about my random adventures? Drop a like or a comment to let me know!