So here's the thing. I don't like drunk drivers. They tend to cause harm to innocent people. I especially don't like sharing the road with drunk drivers. So when presented with the option of hitting the road at 3am on New Years morning to make my flight, or to get a hotel room the night before...I did the latter.

I arrived at the Sheraton Arlington at 10pm. The Sheraton had staff members outside letting cars know that the garage was full. Ok, I get it, it's New Years and the hotel is probably having a party and is fully booked. But, when I mentioned I was an overnight guest and needed to park somewhere I was greeted with: "Congratulations Sir, the garage is full, you'll need to park somewhere else."

Not a good start. Don't get me wrong, I worked in the service industry for years, from high school through part of law school, but no matter how bad your night is, you don't take it out on the customers. Never. So, since the gentleman was so polite, I pulled around him and went right into the garage...which still had plenty of spaces. And I parked. And I threw my hands up in the air, celebrated like I just didn't care. And then I ran to the elevators before Mr. I'm angry I'm working on New Years could find me all the way down on P3.

I got to the lobby, and what a sight greeted me. Tons of revelers, the deep throated bass of some rap music and a handful of Arlington's finest. FOrtunately, there was no one in the check-in line and it was handled expeditiously. Unfortunately, I was given a room with a double bed. Seriously. I haven't had a double bed since college. This is the downside of *wood's policy of no guaranteed bedding for points stays. The upside is I was given a room on the city side so I could see the Washington Monument, the Air Force Memorial, the Pentagon, the Capitol (etc) from my room.

Even though I was on the 12th floor I could still hear the music from the party on the first floor. No matter, I danced like no one was watching (because no one was watching), before collapsing just after midnight.