Elevators... confining, nauseating, crowded, with annoying music. I hate them. I use the stairs whenever I can.
The conference is not exactly exciting but it gets me away from the office for a few days. And I love to visit new places, alone is not the most fun, but I am away. Most professionals in my field are boring; type A personalities, that think adventure is learning a new technique for improving quality assurance. These are not the wild party conferences that you see in movies. Morning sessions begin at 8, free lunch, last session ends at 6. My fun begins then. Most trips I walk around the city aimlessly and taking in the sights and sounds of a new place, going to new restaurants, shopping, or even going to the typical tourist traps. It could be anywhere, from Miami Beach to Akron Ohio. I would rather not be alone in a new city, but he couldn't come... work.
I flew in this morning, went straight to the conference, so I needed to check into the hotel. My room was on the on the 23rd floor of a huge hotel, an elegant place that I wouldn't have chosen for myself, but it's for work, so what the hell. Guess it's the elevator, and not the stairs for this trip.
After I check in, I go straight to the bar. I am hungry and in desperate need of a drink. The hotel lounge is fairly empty. Too early for a late dinner and a drink, but too late for the early birds. I prefer it like this. Service is quick and I can get up to the room to watch some exciting network television, or maybe, I will buy a movie. Exciting first night in a new city. I would do some site-seeing but I am completely exhausted from the early flight and conference all day.
While sipping a glass of wine and trying to enjoy a not so delicious chicken marsala, I had the strangest sensation that someone was watching me. Paranoia for a woman alone in a hotel in a strange city. I keep fidgeting with my wedding ring, making sure everyone knows that "I will be missed" if they try to kidnap me. I watch way too many movies!
Anyway, I walk through the lobby to the elevator, dragging my suitcase behind me. Too many bags for two nights! Just as I reach the elevators, I feel someone brush past and go into the stairwell. Lucky bastard probably has a room on the 3rd floor. I push the up button, palms starting to sweat. Nervousness sets in. I start to pace. Finally "bing" and the doors open. Empty. Good. I step in quickly, dragging my luggage, praying the doors shut before someone jumps in.