It was too cold to be this foggy.
Maybe the weather was different in Salt Lake City.
I didn’t know. I had only been there for a dozen hours.
The motel had promised a “full breakfast,” but the waffle maker was broken, and the eggs were greener than even Theodor Guisel would eat.
I settled for a yogurt (at least it was sealed) and a banana (also sealed… by nature!).
Mark sat down next to me with an apple and wiped the sleep out of his eyes.
Mark was in his early 30s, I guessed.
He was a movie guy. He loved movies.
So, it was a good fit that he worked at Universal Pictures, helping to distribute and market films.
We discussed the schedule for the day.
We needed to be at the Salt Lake City Public Library in the early afternoon to set up for a late afternoon screening of The Public.
The Public is a film about homelessness and libraries. It has an all-star cast: Emilio Estevez, Alec Baldwin, Taylor Schilling, Michael K. Williams, Gabrielle Union, Jena Malone, Christian Slater, Jacob Vargas.
It’s exceptional.
Mark was helping organize a national tour of the film where Emilio would travel around and show the film to build up awareness before its big release.
I was along for the ride because Emilio liked doing Q&A sessions with me so I could answer questions about homelessness.
Mark changed the topic: “Oh, hey, thank you again for searching my room last night for bed bugs. It really helped me sleep.”
“No worries,” I replied.
“Whatcha talking about?” Emilio had walked up behind me.
Mark answered, “I was just thanking Ryan for searching my room for bed bugs. I slept sooooo much better knowing the room was safe.”
Emilio sat down next to me.
In silence.
He didn’t say a word.
Not one.
He just stared at me.
After what seemed like hours he finally said, “You searched Mark’s room for bed bugs, BUT NOT MINE?”
I stumbled through an answer, “Mark asked.”
Again, Emilio just stared at me, silently.
Have you ever had Billy the Kid, Coach Gordon Bombay and the wrestler from The Breakfast Club mad at you ALL AT THE SAME TIME?
It’s intense!
I waited for him to tell me that he’d make me famous or that ducks fly together or give me a golf clap or any of the other iconic moments of his storied career…
…but, nope.
He just stared.
Bed Bugs
Our next training is on bed bug detection, remediation and prevention.
In honor of Emilio, there is even a special “bonus” section on how to do a quick search of a hotel room.
I would send Emilio a complimentary copy of the training, but I don’t want to open old wounds…
The training is WAY too detailed to try to summarize here, but here are a few points on how to search a hotel room:
- You’re looking for signs of bed bugs more than actual bugs. “Fecal stains” are the main clue. They look like someone made tiny dots with a black felt-tipped pen.
- You want to search all the “nooks and crannies” of the headboard, mattress, box spring, linens and pillows. Bed bugs prefer places they can hide instead of wide open expanses.
- For extra protection, you can put a sachet of rosemary in your luggage to help ensure no bugs climb into your luggage and make their way back to your home. (Bed bugs hate the smell of rosemary… it actually kills them).
Most of the training, though, is about how your organization can prevent and eradicate bed bugs.
Have a great week!
