Yep, I'm talking about the folks who leave the light on for you.  Motel 6.  Last week, my friend and I headed to Burbank for a girls trip to the Ellen show and she suggested we go for the affordable motel option and stay at the "6".  Not wanting to be the un-adventurous one, I quickly agreed inspite of my own concern about the safety of such an establishment.   (The show was broadcast on Monday, if you're interested.)

As a frequent traveler and former Girl Scout counselor, I'm pretty comfortable just about anywhere.  I can even learn to live without a separate bottle of conditioner and shampoo - it's ok with me if I have to use the conditioning shampoo once in a while.  But those outside facing doors just don't give me a warm-fuzzy feelin'. 

But my friend Betsy is the adventurous, always-finding-fun-in-the -moment-type and I couldn't be the wet blanket on this adventure.  And she was only spending the day in town at my insistence that she accompany me for the second time to the Ellen Show. 

I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised.  The room was certainly spacious, clean and even had a working color TV.  I did think ahead and bring my own hair dryer and we did have to supply our own shampoo but hey for $60 it was quite the bargain.   That left us plenty of funds for food and Diet Cokes which were handily located right next to the room.  I will gladly put up with an outdoor entrance to have my own personal vending machine right next to the door.  

My first real earthquake.  I don't think I need to experience anything stronger. 

 Last week I was sitting at the computer and thought I felt a large truck rolling by the house (or a teenager with the bass turned up too loud on their car.)  Then I felt the front wall bend toward me and saw my poor southern-raised Basset Hound heading for the hills.  She didn't know what hit her.  I didn't either.

For a few more minutes the floor rolled underfoot and then it was calm again.  Quite an exciting adventure which I was glad to observe from the comfort of my own home, rather than the comfort of a bridge, overpass, or tunnel.