Sunday, December 19, 2004
The Suitest Thing
Ladies and gentlemen, if ever the opportunity presents itself to stay in a hotel suite without paying through the arse, then for God's sake, do it.
The Cognito Clan went into Boston last night for purposes of Father Cognito's business Christmas party. While the parents suffered through rounds of bad karaoke and Yankee swaps, Brother Cognito and I were to have free reign of Boston. So went the plan as it was discussed weeks ago. Then yesterday, I found out that we only had free reign of the South End (for purposes of dinner), Newbury St., and any shopping centers attached to the hotel. Needless to say, we were slightly cranky when we got to the Copley Marriot.
Then we saw the suite.
Three rooms, complete with mini fridge, multiple TVs, a Murphy bed (in the central room), and a view of a sizeable chunk of Boston. We had a grand view of the Christian Science headquarters, the Prudential, and that building that kinda looks like the Daily Planet. All I could think was, "Wow. Rock stars have probably peed out of windows like this."
Everyone went to Anchovies in the South End for an appetizer, then the parents took off, leaving Brother Cognito and I to freely roam about the designated areas. In Newbury Comics, I was able to help a passing customer and an employee by explaining that the Joe Sacco book he was looking for was Safe Area Gorazde, and if Newbury didn't have it, he could try the Million Year Picnic in Harvard Square. I then realized that I have matured to full geekhood.
After returning at 9 (beaten by the normally-wild-at-heart Brother Cognito, who'd run out of things to do), I collapsed into bed to read the freshly purchased Jingo by Terry Pratchett. Yeah, when satiric art created in 1997 starts to have the slightest resemblance to modern life, you've got problems.
This morning, everyone enjoyed the breakfast buffet at Gourmali and, after dealing with incompetent elevators and damn stupid valets, returned home. I do believe we have a new Christmas tradition.
The Cognito Clan went into Boston last night for purposes of Father Cognito's business Christmas party. While the parents suffered through rounds of bad karaoke and Yankee swaps, Brother Cognito and I were to have free reign of Boston. So went the plan as it was discussed weeks ago. Then yesterday, I found out that we only had free reign of the South End (for purposes of dinner), Newbury St., and any shopping centers attached to the hotel. Needless to say, we were slightly cranky when we got to the Copley Marriot.
Then we saw the suite.
Three rooms, complete with mini fridge, multiple TVs, a Murphy bed (in the central room), and a view of a sizeable chunk of Boston. We had a grand view of the Christian Science headquarters, the Prudential, and that building that kinda looks like the Daily Planet. All I could think was, "Wow. Rock stars have probably peed out of windows like this."
Everyone went to Anchovies in the South End for an appetizer, then the parents took off, leaving Brother Cognito and I to freely roam about the designated areas. In Newbury Comics, I was able to help a passing customer and an employee by explaining that the Joe Sacco book he was looking for was Safe Area Gorazde, and if Newbury didn't have it, he could try the Million Year Picnic in Harvard Square. I then realized that I have matured to full geekhood.
After returning at 9 (beaten by the normally-wild-at-heart Brother Cognito, who'd run out of things to do), I collapsed into bed to read the freshly purchased Jingo by Terry Pratchett. Yeah, when satiric art created in 1997 starts to have the slightest resemblance to modern life, you've got problems.
This morning, everyone enjoyed the breakfast buffet at Gourmali and, after dealing with incompetent elevators and damn stupid valets, returned home. I do believe we have a new Christmas tradition.
