A sure-fire sign of spring’s arrival in Minnesosta is the appearance of my seasonal allergies. In the past week I’ve considered converting to Scientology — after all, Tom Cruise stated in his recent interview with Diana Sawyer that he hasn’t been sick (including with the common cold) after becoming a Scientologist. Maybe if I become one, too, my allergies will go away. Roger’s dad was kind enough to slip me a few of his prescription Zyrtecs on Easter Sunday. I think he felt sorry for me after I told them that the blooming crabapple tree they’d brought into their living room for the holiday, uh, might be source of my sniffles.

Minnesota Stories captured spring’s arrival perfectly in an adorable video on April 10. It’s called “When Winter Lets Go of Minnesota.” Even if you hate babies you’ll love the video.

But the best sign of spring for Roger and me is the arrival of Bloomington’s annual Curbside Cleanup this weekend. Details will be saved for a separate post!

Nothing says irony like the same-day births of Brooke Shields and Tom Cruise’s babies.

I’ve posted a few photos of my recent trip to Pittsburgh. One of the things that made my trip so enjoyable was my stay at the Doubletree Hotel. I’ve never been a guest at a Doubletree, and so many things went right that I had to write about what a great experience I had.

• Upon my arrival, I received a fresh, warm, chocolate chip cookie. Delicious! On its Web site, the Doubletree states that the cookie is one way it differentiates itself from its competition.
• My room had all the amenities you wish every hotel room had: a digital thermostat that actually responded when adjusting the heat. Incredibly comfortable bedding. Reliable high-speed and relatively inexpensive internet access. Brand name toiltrees. And a perfect alarm clock. I read in a recent survey that of all the things guests wish for in a guest room is an alarm clock that’s easy to set and pre-programmed with the local radio stations. The Doubletree hit the nail on the head with this one.
• My first day in the hotel’s restaurant, I had a light breakfast of oatmeal and orange juice. When I returned the next day, my server recognized me from the previous morning and asked me if I wanted the same thing I had yesterday: oatmeal with brown sugar and bananas on the side, and a glass of orange juice. Great memory. He got a big tip.
• A few days after my return home, I received a survey about my stay. The most humorous part of the survey was that one entire survey page was dedicated to the temperature of the cookie: “Was your cookie warm?” And just today, I received a personal e-mail from the hotel’s guest services manager thanking me for completing the survey. Obviously, the Doubletree has this part down pat.

The Doubletree has proved that customer service is, indeed, not dead. If only all hotels could follow their lead.

I heard a great new word today: “Amazoogle.” You can learn more about this era in which we live at a lecture at the U of M tomorrow: Libraries and University Presses in an Amazoogle Age.

“What is the future for libraries and university presses in the age of instant online information and mega-services, as epitomized by Amazon.com and Google? Will Internet superpowers overshadow traditional players or does the digital age enable wholly new models for libraries and publishers?”

While waiting for a shuttle to transfer us from our hotel to the airport, a colleague and I were advised that it’d be cheaper — not to mention nicer — to split a cab to the airport instead. By our luck, the only cab waiting at the hotel happened to be a towncar with “limo” plates, leather seats and tinted windows. Our driver also happened to be an ex-NFL player for the Cleveland Browns. While he chauffered us to PIT, he dropped the names of dozens of famous football players he took to the field with in the mid-60s, until he blew out his knee and was forced to quit playing. (All of these facts were completely lost on me, of course, having no knowledge or care of professional football.) So he found a taxi service in the red, turned it around, and built a fleet of eight limos that is probably one of the best-known and most reliable methods of transportation in Pittsburgh. When I arrived home, I had an e-mail waiting for me (how many taxi drivers have sent you an e-mail?):

Dear Ms. Struthers:

It was a pleasure providing you with transportation during your recent trip to “the burg”. If you find yourself returning, I would be more than happy to provide you with service with a smile.

Regards,

Jessie Davis
Jess Transportation
412-287-7581

So, if you need a great ride in Pittsburgh, give Jessie Davis a call.