Austin, TX - Hyatt Place Oct 12-18

As many - if not most or even all - of you are aware, I work for numismatics company. Simply put, we trade collectible coins, paper money, all types of precious medals. Our operation is based out of Wylie, TX (about 8 mi. from where I live in Garland) where the company handles most of its selling operations. We acquire our products through hosting shows in various cities across the country. While away, we stay in some of the finest hotel suites that double as our buying rooms where we meet with collectors or others sellers from the public.

Just last week we stayed at Hyatt Place in Austin Texas. Now, just so you know it really is hard to impress me with a hotel. Even the nice ones just look, feel and smell like hand-me-down buildings that each new owner renovates with little success. "You can put lipstick on a pig..." HOWEVER, Hyatt is one of the extremely few hotels where I have stayed and was honestly impressed. It has a very contemporary design through out. The lobby is large and welcoming, the halls are well manicured and the bedrooms are beautiful. The 42" plasma TV (seen below) certainly did not hurt either.



The counter tops were also stunning.


Though I do have to complain that three small drawers and a 3' wide closet was extremely difficult. I cannot believe my room actually had two beds in it. I had to cram my things into places just to keep it out of the way. I was about to use the bathtub. Through, in the hotel's defense I do not suppose most people try to unpack when they stay at a hotel.



Just on the other side of the wall to your left is the seating area where we met with customers and hosted 4 on 4 games of Halo 2 after hours.

The week started off slow for us, but quickly picked up. We usually have a few people in the back office handling important business stuff, but this show often required everyone to be on the floor meeting with customers. We had 12 rooms to meet with people, 8 employees buying (Including the company's executives) and consistently had at least another 5 and sometime 10+ people waiting in the lobby just to be seated. It was incredibly busy. My job is show customers to a room and place to appropriate buyer with them. I was definitely busy all day. On two days we did not even break for lunch. Though, everyone eventually took 5-10 minutes to scarf something.

This week we are in Kansas City on the Missouri side. We are expecting an even busier show and I am now officially support staff manager - probationary. Okay. I kind of made the title up since we just say stuff around here without any meaning. We all know who does what so there are no official titles. The highlight will likely be my recent boxing challenge. Mind you, I work with a bunch of Samoans. Thankfully I am pitted up against a smaller white guy, but he is certainly experienced, and I am not. It will likely be recorded and I will certainly post the video if it is.