This past week Joel and I ate over at our friends Natalie and Joel's house. As we were eating dinner we were talking about how Joel's parents were going to be coming to town over Labor Day weekend. Earlier that day Sandy had called to let me know that the Best Western in town was totally booked but asked me what I thought about Foster Inn, which I didn't actually know anything about. All I knew is that there are only two hotels in Monticello, Best Western and Foster Inn. As we are explaining this to Natalie and Joel (both born and raised in Monticello), they both start laughing out loud. Natalie says to me, "Oh no, don't tell me that they are going to stay at Fosters." Her husband also starts laughing. I reply, "Uh, actually yes, I told her that it would be fine to stay there. Is it that bad? I've never actually been inside it." They begin to tell us what a dump it is, and how horrible of a place it is. Then they realize that they are REALLY going to be staying there so Natalie says, "It's probably not that bad anymore, I mean, you could always loan them sheets and stuff, and they can always shower at your house if they need to."
So I pick Sandy and Don up at the Amtrak station in Champaign Friday night and take them to Fosters Inn (the metal roof painted red, which is peeling off horribly). They check in, and as we enter the room Sandy and I are immediately over taken by the potent aroma of mold. I say to Don, "It's a good thing you can't smell. No, seriously, I am glad you can't smell." **Long pause** "Alright, goodnight. Call me in the morning when you wake up and I'll come pick you guys up."
Now that is hospitality at it's finest. Welcome to Monticello, Illinois.
