Darkspace Press

Category: work

  • A quick trip to Tampa

    5/6/2013-5/7/2013 Miles MPG Average Speed  
      233 47.8 43  

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    Driving listening:

    This was a business trip just for one night, but it adds to the stats, so here it is.

    On the way to the hotel I stopped at the Seminole Hard Rock to make a donation to the tribe.  I have a lot of ancestral guilt about how the Native Americans were treated — despite, I think, most of my ancestors not arriving here until the 20th century – so I consider the money I left there to be a charitable contribution.

    Yeah … you know, I wonder if I can write it off on taxes …

    		  
    5/6/2013-5/7/2013 Priceline Retail $ Savings % Savings
    Wyndham Westshore (3.5 star) $76.29
    ($61 bid)    		 $151.37
    ($135.15 base rate)    		 $75.08 50%

    The hotel itself was a little dated, but had some nice touches.  Like dueling M&M dispensers at the front desk (plain on one end and peanut on the other) and a rack of hardcover bestsellers for loan to guests.

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    Free candy and books goes a long way.

    Unfortunately the room was subpar.  The bed was memory foam and I think it was remembering a 400-pound previous guest.  Deep divots on either side had me trying to sleep in the middle and waking up periodically. 

    There was also a serious lack of hot water.  Took a long time for the shower to heat up and then only at its highest setting – which continued to heat throughout the shower, so had to be continuously adjusted .  Frustrating, but only for one night.

    Jimbo's Pit Bar-B-Q on Urbanspoon I only had time for one real meal this trip and made it at Jimbo’s Pit BBQ.

    I got the combo platter with sliced beef and pork ($10) and a sweet tea (very good).

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    The pork was a little fatty for my taste, but the beef was lean and tasty.  The bottom of my beef pile had been cut from the end of the meat, so it was a little dry, but I like that.  The hush puppies were a little undercooked and doughy in the middle.  But the beans were delicious – homemade and thick.  I like baked beans, but in moderation — I’m not normally one to eat them by the heaping forkful, but these were fantastic.