road trip/catch up

i always enjoy going to jacksonville. it is always a trip where you have to find some humor or go insane.
the hotel we stay at is the hyatt on the st. johns river. beside the hotel, they have designated "bus parking only". never had a problem except for the margarita lime i found on the side of my bus last year, but, that is another story i believe i posted about.
anyway, we arrived in jacksonville wednesday night and i park in my usual parking spot. no problem, until saturday night.
after the game, i pulled up to the hotel, dropped off the players, and then went around the block to park. as i pull up, hotel security comes running up. she tells me i can't park here. here is the cliff's notes version of our conversation:

guard: sir, you can't park here.
me: why not?
guard: guests can't cross the road to get to the parking garage.
me: but that sign says "bus parking only".
guard: yes, i know. but you can't park here.
me: but the sign says "bus parking only".
guard: yes, i know. but you have to move or we will have your bus towed.
me: why do i have to move?
guard: because the guests can't get across the road to the parking garage.
me: okay, who came up with this?
guard: the hotel management.
me: let me get this right, "bus parking only" does not really mean bus parking?
guard: that's right.
me: ok, where do i park?
guard: up there in front of that police car.
me: you mean the one that has been parked in the no parking zone since we got here?
guard: yes, that is what i am saying.
me: so i am supposed to park in the "no parking zone-violators will be towed at owners expense", not where it says, legally, "bus parking only"?
guard: that's right.
me: last year, you told me i could not park there because i had designated parking that says "bus parking only" and that is the only spot i have to park.

at this point, she walked off. i parked (no parking spot) and went in to see the front desk manager. he and i have had known each other for 3 years and Michael is a very nice guy. i told him what happened. he laughed and told me if i did get ticketed, bring him the ticket and the hotel would take care of it. i had no problems from then on.

i got home about 0330, and i was tired. i unpacked, took a shower and had a quick snack. got to sleep about 0415. i set my alarm to get me up at 0630 so i could see my daughter and then take my son to school. i was planning on coming back home and sleeping until i went back to school to pick them up.
i got back home about 0845 and set my alarm for 1345. i put a note on my front door that read "do not disturb-i am sleeping" in case someone decided to come visit. my property is posted so unless i know you, yes, i can shoot your @ss and if i am tired enough, i might just do it. survivors will be shot again.

turkey season is open. about 1030, someone hunting in the field next to me must have seen a trophy. i woke up to a shotgun blast. i looked outside and he was about 100' from my bedroom window and was on his property. waking up to a shotgun blast will keep you up. i tried to lay down but my heart would not stop racing.

i decided to get up and finish my paperwork and i could not help but think about the trip and how good it was. we went 2-3 and for a road trip, that is not too bad. the players this year are hungry and they are playing well. i can't wait to see how they develop over this season. future posts will tell how it goes.
until next time...