I really need to come up with a canned response to a few common questions.  The current system of trying to think of something on the spot just isn't working.  The questions are usually variations of the following: 

What's new?
How's work?
How was your weekend?

They're simple questions.  And they have answers.  But I'm not good at communicating under pressure, and my brain equates conversation with pressure.  I'm sick of sitting there trying to think of an appropriate response to an otherwise unimpressive question, only to come up with "Not much" or "Pretty good".  My goal for the next few weeks or months is to come up with acceptable answers to these questions.  Then I'll be complete. #psychology

I don't think the current state of hotels is optimal.  I always feel like I'm wasting money and resources by being the only person in my room.  I'm definitely not sharing a room with my co-workers, but I feel like hotels could change things around a bit to get with the times.  I always feel like I'm overcharged for my stay and accommodated with unnecessary things.  I don't need a couch in my room, nor do I need 85 channels of cable TV or furniture made of exotic woods.  Without further adieu, here are my suggestions: 

1. Adopt a modular pricing system.  Have options to select when reserving a room, such as with or without cable, internet, phone; number of beds; number of closets and amount of storage space.  Have prices to reflect these options.  When I'm traveling by myself, I definitely don't need more than one bed, nor do I need a kitchen or a living room.
2. Adopt a variable pricing system.  Reward people for conserving water, electricity, heat/AC, etc.  This will not only reduce the average room bill, it'll encourage people to be nicer to the environment.  With the current system, I pay the same price whether I turn on all the lights, run the air conditioning full blast, and take 12 showers.  This is stupid.
3. Have budget rooms.  This is sort of a combination of (1) and (2).  Like I said, I don't need cable TV and oak furniture.  All I want is a bed and a bathroom.  And I'd like to be able to pay 1/3 the price of a normal room if I can get just the bare necessities.  If I wanted luxury, I wouldn't be staying at a low-to-mid-priced hotel.
4. Do what your environmentally conscious signs say you do:  Don't wash my towels if I hang them up.  I don't understand why hotels put up a facade and then waste water and energy when you're not looking.  I'm ok with a once-used towel (as long as it wasn't used by someone else).

#travel