Chicago Update: Hotels

Okay, a quick update on the Chi-Cocoa Scentsation – while you are making your plans, we want you to know on Saturday evening there will be cocktails and that´s probably when Liz and Neil will be presenting their stuff so be sure to work that into your travel schedule. It´s bound to be a great wrap-up to what is shaping up to be a pretty fabulous day!

Also, we´ve been working on the hotel angle. If you need a hotel or a flight, feel free to call Musette´s travel agent, Roberta, at 602-482-9779 or email her at corptravelaz (at) cox (dot) net — she´s working (checking her email) this weekend.

Roberta has made my reservations at The Inn of Chicago, which was offering rooms for $199 and $229 for a room with two queen beds on Priceline, and I think Roberta can match that. The problem with Priceline and Hotwire, etc., is, I don´t believe you can change or cancel your reservation once you book, and they won´t guarantee the specific sleeping arrangements, just that there´s room for two people. Which is how Patty and I ended up sleeping together in NYC – our requested double beds weren´t available. So somebody ends up on the fold-out couch or a roll-away cot, which stinks. Booking through a travel agent offers some flexibility. If you have anything useful to add, please stick it up here in comments and/or in the Scentsation message board.

She´s also working on a group rate with the Allerton, which is supposed to be nice and close by and recently renovated. She needs a head count by Wednesday; I think initially we were looking at $228 per night (and yeah, it´s downtown Chicago – everyone needs a roommate!). But when she checked rates for me the Allerton was weighing in at closer to $329 (ugh) for Saturday so I´m not sure we´re getting much love there.

Sorry, this is all I´ve got for you right now – I jumped into the pool today (in my clothes) to bail Buckethead out of the water, where he was thrashing around right under the chair of the teenaged lifeguard, who looked at him like, dude – that kid is drowning! Buckethead was totally fine, have no fear. However, I did something ugly to my foot in my haste to retrieve him, and am now gimping around on crutches, and can I just mention how much this sucks with the Cheese out of town for another 2 – 3 weeks? Mobility: something we take for granted until it´s compromised. I can´t even get upstairs to smell my perfume! There must be some kind of samples sitting around down here, have to nose around … I hope you all are having a lovely weekend.

  • Teri says:

    So sorry to hear of your heroic injury, but ever so happy about the happy ending. Foot ‘things’ can be tricky to diagnose and can take a while to heal, so don’t hesitate to insist on something for the pain.

    I’m hugely excited for the Chicago trip. I have lots of friends in the area (it’s my home town) so I won’t need a hotel room, but I definitely want to take part in all the fun.

    I’ve put my nostrils on a daily exercise routine in anticipation! :d

  • Francesca says:

    Phooey, I didn’t realize you’d be blogging on Memorial day, you conscientious blogger, you. Sorry about the foot, glad your boy’s OK.

    • March says:

      Blogging, but lame blogging. 😉 In both senses. I hope you had a nice weekend! We sure had the weather for it.

  • sariah says:

    Oh no, sorry to hear about the foot!

    • March says:

      Gah, it’s so ANNOYING. You have no idea. :-w Everything takes 5x as long. And I am (I know this will shock you) not really a sit-around type of person. I guess slowing down a little for a few days won’t kill me, but it’s tedious and then I’m cross with everyone.

      Great to see you last week. Wonder if you went to Art W/Flowers?

  • Vidalicious says:

    Can totally relate to the panic that ensues when your child is floundering in the water…yeesh! Spent a few months working in a pediatric ICU in the summer, and water accidents are not fun. Glad you were watching so closely, you Mommy-Hero you!

    Musette, I’m sooo looking forward to the ChiC Scentsation (I think that’s an appropriate nick name, eh?). How early will “festivities” begin? My sis lives in the ‘burbs and we’d like to save our pennies for fumes and chocolate. (Although parking in the city is nearly as much as staying in a hotel, for crying out loud!!!)

    • Musette says:

      It is planned to start @ 9:30 or so at the Bloomie’s building so you should be okay with parking, between earlybird and validated stuff…but make sure you can stay for the cocktail party, which is where the real funs will be!

      I will have the whole itinerary in place in a few more days, I hope!

      [-o<

    • March says:

      Um, yeah. Even though they have life guards (and honestly, she’d have gotten him out in time), I figure nobody’s more invested in my kids’ survival than I am, right? Water is one thing we don’t mess around with casually, for good reason. I am surprised at the cavalier attitude of some folks around water. People who can’t swim who go out on boats with no life preservers fascinate me.

  • alba says:

    March, I can guess how you’re feeling after the fright and moving around in crutches. Chicago is something to look forward to. As I told you, it’s too far away from where I live. You’ll all keep us informed, will you?

  • Judith says:

    Oh, dear!! I hope the foot is better soon; take care of yourself!:x Still not sure I can make Chicago (though I’d sure like to). Mr. Lily is a big fan of last-minute Priceline (though you are right; one can’t choose kinds of bed on it–though I think the not-last-minute, not-as-cheap version allows this). Anyway, it would probably be cheaper with a roommate. Wondering if you are offering a matching service for this. . . :d

    Thanks to Musette for all her hard work!!!

    • March says:

      Actually …. :d ….. we have been encouraging folks who want a roommate to look for one in the Chi-Cocoa message board to the left under Message Boards.

  • rosarita says:

    Oh, crutches are such a pain. So sorry, yikes, what an experience, glad Buckethead is ok.

    Thanks for the CCScentsation update! 🙂

    • March says:

      You’re welcome. Musette has done a TON of work on this, it’s going to be fab.

    • Debbie says:

      Crutches on stairs are just another way to kill yourself. Highly suggest crawling around on the stairs rather than using crutches. Maybe I’m just a klutz, though. As in fragrance, YMMV.

      • March says:

        ain’t.going.down.there. 😉 [-( I suspect current conditions in the kitchen area do not meet my standards.

        • Debbie says:

          Good. I’m glad you’re not. It will help your injury so much.

          No, the kitchen probably isn’t. It’s okay. And if the little monsters (oh…sorry….kids) have left a nightmare in there, when you get better, they’ll simply have to clean it up. Under supervision, while you’re sitting in a chair. :d

  • Louise says:

    March! You know to call me in an emergency. I will run up your stairs as needed to get you properly perfumed 😡 Also will deliver pastries

    Lord, what a jerky lifeguard! I guess when he got hired, he figured that it was all about the tan. Brave mommy, you.

    Thanks for the Chicago updates. Still working on my budget….:-?

    • March says:

      Yeah, but you were busy yesterday HIKING. Which sounds so wonderful. The Cheese and I used to do stuff like that all the time with just the dog, back in the day. Sigh.

      Chicago: Make It Work. :-w 😉

  • tmp00 says:

    And then please tell me that you are suing the a## of the place for hiring lifeguards like that…

    • tmp00 says:

      That should be a$$ OFF the place

      • March says:

        Nah, it’s really hard to get into a private pool in these parts (too many breeders with rugrats [-( oh, wait … that’s me)

        Really, though — my foot was already injured, I aggravated it running. I was just happy he was fine, and the rest is survivable. Do wish I had better drugs.

        • Debbie says:

          Missy. I am 50 y/o and have had more broken bones that I care to recount…in addition to a few bad injuries and sprains. (Jujitsu’ll do it to you. :d ) If you need serious painkillers, um, have you seen a doctcor? Just to be sure it’s not a break? Yes, I know–what can they do for a foot fracture. Are you sure it’s not in the ankle? Because there’s a small bone in there that, if fracatured, you need to know about. It can rub up against a major vein and cause deadly blood clots. I think they put you on bloodthinners (like coumadin, but I swear home injections of the other luvanox or whatever it is would be better as coumadin is so d**** hard to titrate correctly). Anyway, you need to get a better painkiller. It’s not like your an addict (I, er, assume since you do such a bangup job on this site) and you only need a few days’ worth. It makes a big difference. :d In exchange for just a little fragrance, I could come up, take you to the doctor and take care of those kids. My bona fides consist of my husband, a police officer, whose dept you could call. Huh, huh? What do you say? :d

          • Debbie says:

            I wish we could edit these. I am hanging my head in shame–shame, I tell you–over all the misspellings. Sigh. I’ll go to the corner in my dunce cap now.

          • March says:

            You crack me up. First off, I misspell things ALL THE TIME and never notice anyone else’s, so don’t sweat it. It’s a blog comment, not your thesis. :)>- I’ve got the 13YO and 11YO on the job, which really isn’t a bad thing for them at all. And it’s definitely better. Don’t worry, I’d just seen the doctor on Thurs. about the existing problem, I’ll call tomorrow for a referral to go get it xRayed or what have you. I just can’t stand the thought of sitting around in our local hellhole ER for the rest of this beautiful day. I think I’ve aggravated a bone spur, and another 24 hours of home care isn’t going to make that much difference. I look hilarious — blogging and living large in my king-size Tempur-Pedic, like Jabba the Hutt. /:) Food, phones, etc. all in the bed, along with the occasional rugrat. What do you think it looks like downstairs? :-ss Eh, I don’t wanna know…

          • Debbie says:

            Ah, good. It is all under control there, and you’ll get the xray tomorrow. I don’t blame you for not wanting to go the ER. I would just about rather die than go there. However, it *is* okay for catbites, as they get you in quickly for those.

            I had a Tempur-Pedic; I felt as if I were drowning in quicksand when I tried to turn over. The very stuff of nightmares. I hope it’s serving you better! When I took it back to the b&m store, they would only do a trade-in. As a result, I bought a super-comfortable pillowtop. However, not buying beds frequently, I didn’t think to consider the height of the mattress set. I now have to use a little stepladder thing to get into bed. It is not fun, but a little funny.

          • March says:

            LOVE my Tempur-Pedic. 😡 Would list it in Top Ten Favorite Things in My House. Like sleeping on a firm marshmallow. The only problem is I’m so used to it, if we travel the regular box spring beds feel peculiar. :”>

          • Musette says:

            Your emoticon is……scary/different!…for a hot minute there, looking at the ‘recent post’ clip, I thought you’d gone on the attack!

            I’m a simple soul, but I get a kick out of how the emoticons just take on a life of their own sometimes.

            Hope your foot is continuing to heal – sounds like you’re on the mend!

  • Debbie says:

    What a good mom you were to rescue him even at the expense of crippling yourself! Okay, so it’s just temporary, but it still counts. BTW, when I first started reading this, I thought Buckethead was a dog for some reason. It was a jarring switch in mental imagery when I realized that he is a *child*.

    So….I guess you already know ice for the first 48 hrs and then heat, right? You are so right about taking mobility for granted until we lose it. My sympathy on having a multi-level house. I hope you heal quickly!!

    • March says:

      Yup, right now I have it up — RICE — rest, ice, elevation, compression. Weird, it’s not swollen at all, but UFB painful. Can’t touch my foot to the floor.

      Not sure it was much of a sacrifice — it’s all instinct! 😉

      • Debbie says:

        RICE is absolutely correct. With the descriptions you’ve given, however, I am wondering about a broken bone. (I’ve had several.)

        Instinctual sacrifices are among the most deadly. In fact….

  • sylvia says:

    oh no! hope it feels better soon (with the help of wonderdrug vicodin… or not. i guess its not smart when you have kids running around lol)

  • Erin T says:

    So sorry to hear about your foot! The things we do for our children. Hope you get help until the Cheese comes homes. My little one is finally on the mend, but gave her first day care illness to me, too. So currently, I’ve got the death rattle cough, some serious bad balance and a perforated ear drum. But I can claim no heroics. So glad Buckethead is okay. How did the pool handle it? They are seriously lucky you were alert.

    • March says:

      Oh, that’s terrible! I am so sorry. I remember when I went back to work and the girls were in daycare, they were sick all the time that first year. Plus we didn’t have the chicken pox vaccine yet and Diva got chicken pox which is HELL. I hope your eardrum is on the mend?

      The pool mgr did come over to make sure I was okay, which I wasn’t, but it wasn’t their fault, really. There was already something wrong with my foot. I wasthisclose to having someone drive me home though, I hopped to the car and left before my foot stopped working entirely.

      • Debbie says:

        Yes, it kind of was their fault. If they had a lifeguard that hadn’t panicked, perhaps you wouldn’t have had to kill yourself getting over there?

        • March says:

          Well, okay, kind of. In hindsight it’s quasi-funny — his thrashing was like a training video for “drowning kid.” Not sure whether she was scared, or just baffled — the pool’s been open for 3 days, maybe it’s her first year as lifeguard? All of which is, I know, explanations and not excuses.

    • Musette says:

      OW! Okay – all of you: GET WELL!!!! that’s a Memorial Day Order from General Musette!**==

  • Disteza says:

    Oh no! So sorry to hear of the injury and the potential drowning. There were a few of us early on at Art With Flowers for the Ineke thing wondering if you and Louise were going put in an appearance (you web celebrities, you!). I hope you got to attend later; I feel bad having missed the opportunity to meet you though. 🙁

    • Louise says:

      Ah, I had to miss the Art with Flowers jaunt. My SO decided to take me hiking in Pennsylvannia, and once in a while, I gotta go with another hobby :d/ I hope it was a great time!

    • March says:

      Nah, I couldn’t find anyone to fob the kids off on. And somehow the thought of Hecate and Buckethead running around in that store, surrounded by all those precious china breakables… :-ss

  • Musette says:

    Good Grief!

    So Happy! to know Buckethead is fine. Has your heart stopped hammering yet?

    Please tell me you smacked the lifeguard? Pleeeze?

    OW! on the foot. OW!

    <you didn’t take your new bag into the pool with you, didyou? Not that Buckethead isn’t worth it….:-)

    CScentsation IS shaping up to be a fabulous day! I wanted to let everyone know there will be airbills and boxes/pouches for those who are flying back (just as much trouble as flying in, alas) and want to send their goodies back home rather than fight with TSA.

    But more on CScentsation later. In the meantime, take care of your foot and do some deep breathing. Send the kids upstairs for some samps! Hey, I think that stupid lifeguard ought to be made to come over and fetch and tote for a couple of days, whaddaya think?

    xo

    @};-

    • Debbie says:

      Airbills? Boxes/pouches? As in it gets mailed or it’s checked as luggage?

      • March says:

        I think it’s mailing stuff. We’ll need to check and make sure UPS/FedX/etc. aren’t covered by the USPS perfume regs… anyone know?

        • Musette says:

          They don’t have the same regs or else I simply ignore those regs:-?. In fact, I never tell them what I’m shipping, unless I am doing it internationally. And you can ship other stuff – we just have to make sure it’s properly packaged. I’ll have a thingy full of ziploc bags which really eliminates a lot of worry. I just sent two honkin’ bottles of shampoo to Amsterdam (long story) and the only thing my Postal guy made me do was ziploc ’em in addition to the bubblewrap, etc.

      • Musette says:

        I’m thinking mailed. When I fly these days I tend to Fedex my stuff ahead of time, to avoid the TSA nonsense. In fact, that was a trick I picked up from one of my producers, to avoid having to schlep all my work gear through the airport. Then, when it got so stupid at the airport for things like conditioner and shampoo, etc (not to mention the time I had to dump my brandnew Prescriptives makeup, which nearly sent me into apoplexy)….I decided that Fedex (or UPS Ground, if I had enough lead time, cause it’s cheap-ola) was the way to go. Sent it to the hotel with a HOLD FOR XXX arriving on xx date label…..called the concierge ahead of time and Bob’s your uncle! I could swan through security with nary a care. Same coming back, especially from SF where I buy olive oil and wine like Armageddon’s around the corner! SF security used to find my once a month grocery shopping amusing, with me pushing Cowgirl Creamery cheeses through the x-ray. Not so much now, alas…so it’s UPS forever!

        xo

        xo

    • rosarita says:

      Hey, Musette m’dear, just want to say thanks for all your hard work in coordinating the CCS! I know we’ll all have a fab time; can’t wait to meet you. 😡

    • March says:

      Awwww, Enigma and her friend just brought me in breakfast in bed — pancakes, coffee, a rose from the garden.. I’m verklempt. Need to fall apart more often.

      Yeesh, it doesn’t hurt as much this morning, but still can’t put any weight on it.

      Nah, didn’t lose anything valuable in the pool … well, other than my ability to walk :d — I did have the sense to put down the NYTimes before I hopped in. My cheesy watch still seems to be working!