Sowrey.org

I hate this city. And Memorial Day. The two of them combined? Well, let me tell you…

I figured I’d stay in today and get some work done. Fine, no problem. Or so I thought. I got up later than I’d planned (probably because I’d stayed up so late), and so skipped breakfast (which I’ve done almost every day since I got here). I figured that I’d make it up with a nice sub.

So I thought.

In Canada, whenever we have a holiday, it’s a good excuse to go shopping. I’m not kidding — nearly everything that can be open is usually open. There are exceptions, but more often than not, you can at least find a restaurant, or a Subway, to get a meal.

Not in Cincinnati.

It’s locked down tighter than a drum. Even the bars are closed. What’s with that? Since when don’t Americans want to get drunk on a National Holiday? I thought that was a stereotype, for crying out loud!

Yes, I’m annoyed.

After wandering around downtown for about an hour, I found ONE open store or restaurant. Arby’s. I won’t touch Arby’s for all the roast beef in England. Can’t do it. Won’t do it. I hate Arby’s. I’ve eaten there twice, and hated it both times.

So I figured I’d eat at one of the hotel’s restaurants. They closed at 1:50pm. They don’t open again until 5pm. What the heck kind of service is that??

Oh yeah, there’s room service … if you want to pay US$15 for a lousy hamburger. For US$15, I can get a bottomless soft drink, a beer (a wheat beer, not some mega-swill), a huge gourmet hamburger (made to order) with cheese and bacon, fries, and a caesar salad. That’s at the Rock Bottom. I’d just as soon go there … but it’s closed.

So I’m eating a Snickers bar and holding out until 6pm.

I can’t wait to go home.