Steer Clear of Wyndham

 

On Thursday, 11 December 2025, I and my wife were returning from a 10-day cruise ported out of Galveston, Texas. It’s a good drive home but Wichita Falls seemed like a good stopping point.  I could get a little rest, a little middle of the night work online, while my wife used the roll in shower and got some sleep.

My check-in was tolerable. The word welcome was never used, but I did cheer up the young lady at the desk and perhaps got her through whatever was weighting her down.

I caught a couple hours then went to the front desk, not expecting to interrupt any check-ins. I noted the WIFI problem in general terms to the clerk now on duty and she replied “meh” and that was it.

I said, “Ok, then if I’m not getting WIFI access, I’m just going to grab a soft drink and sit in here for a moment to reframe my work plan. I asked where the machines were. She eventually told me where the vending machine was. I think the fact that I had not gone away after her indifference to my WIFI issue upset her and I was supposed to go find signs and read them.

I came back into the lobby and proceeded into the breakfast area. There was a sign that said it was closed. The young woman made no preemptory comment when I told her my plan to get a soft drink and sit in that area, until I sat in that area. I had violated the authority of the sign that said breakfast was closed and promptly complied by moving into the lighted lobby where there were no signs. I had barely seated myself when the clerk admonished me for sitting in the lobby. It’s closed! You can’t sit there. I can ban you from this hotel for 2 years. Wow!

I got this hotel at a good, off-season rate (not on the Wyndham app), and had to wonder why run your guests off if you have to offer a low rate just to get them here?

The logical fallacies abounded, but who puts a check-in desk in a closed lobby? I knew not to engage this young lady enjoying her power trip, but I am also not tolerant of blatant disrespect or for being blamed for another person’s bad attitude. I have been gaslighted before.

The civil thing to do to resolve this fabricated violation of my many wrongs was to speak to the manager. I knew it was the middle of the night when I asked for the number. She made the point of reminding me.  I served as a Marine Infantry officer for 20 years, a pastor for 18, and a newspaper executive for another 5. Nobody forced me to those callings and assignments. If you take the job where people stay overnight, work at night, or where problems may arise at night, then being available as a manager during the night is just part of the duty.

The young lady on a power trip gave me her manager’s card. It rang at the front desk. She got an extended laugh out of that. At least Wyndham gets some amusement from those they suckered into their system.

When I found out that the manager number was a ploy, I asked the lady to call the police. She was shocked. She couldn’t figure out why.

She called her manager and started talking as if she was on the run from a dozen thugs with chains. She would step near her station and then dart away behind a petition, then repeat. I think she was playing to the cameras she said were running. I hope they were.

I’m wondering if her manager was thinking the National Guard might be needed as the panicked voice continued.  Remember, this voice kicked in when I said it was time to call the police.

Her description of me opened my eyes to racial profiling. I have been profiled before. As one of ten lighter skinned people in western Kena around Langas/Eldoret—about 6 million people—I saw father’s pointing at me.  I was white and you just don’t see too many white folks in those parts. Being a father, I would have done the same and pointed out the unique to my son had roles been reversed.

The African people were not hateful. I was an enigma. I got it. Roles reversed, I can’t say I would do much different.

The people at the Baymont (I’m including the unseen manager) were up to no good. I don’t know what. Their objectives are obscure when the I can have you removed from the hotel was among the first things the clerk said after I reported the WIFI not working. I wasn’t going to let this pitiful scam affect me. This young lady got excited when I asked for the police.

She did ask me to leave and the police said that she could do that. The police were professional and followed the law. We packed and left at zero dark thirty.

I get it. Some people are pissed at the world and even more upset at white people. I addressed this with Geoffrey A. Ballotti, the Wyndham CEO. I knew that the hotels were their own entity but still under the Wyndham brand. I also expected that a senior executive, not Ballotti, would get back with me.

 

I didn’t ask for a refund or threaten to sue the hotel and Wyndham for racial profiling. I simply ask Mr. Ballotti, whom I now call No Balls Ballotti, to say this was not the Wyndham way.  Apparently, it is. The Wyndham response was pitiful and leaves me to believe that racial profiling is desirable among Wyndham executives and employees.

 

My previous experience with Wyndham properties was average. They have earned top honors in the bottom of the barrel category.

 

STEER CLEAR OF WYNDHAM!

An Attaboy to Hilton and a referral offer for you

 

Every credit card has its perks these days. Some are points for cashback or to go towards something else. I thought that I had found the best that I could, that is with no annual fee, until I came upon an offer from Hilton.

I don’t pay interest on credit cards because I use them as if they were cash or a check. If the money is not in my banking account, I don’t use the card. Card companies make plenty via their transaction fees, but they are not making any money on interest from me.

That’s the long way of saying; the interest rate is not what is important to me because I don’t carry a statement balance beyond the due date. I can’t say how this card compares to others as far as the APR goes. If the APR is important, you probably don’t need another card. That may be harsh, but appropriate: Don’t do debt.

But if you want to leverage what money you have via a card, this one has bonuses that I realized before my first statement was ready. That got my attention, considering with other cards I waited weeks, sometimes months for the perks to post.

If you travel, it’s worth consideration.  By offering this referral link, we both get something. You get the big bonus, but I get a small one as well.

That said, Hilton gets an attaboy today!

 

Link posted below as well.

 

https://americanexpress.com/en-us/referral/hilton-honors?ref=THOMASQAeD&XL=MIZNS

BLUECHEW IS A SCAM!

 Pushing 70 and thought I would try the BlueChew Cialis. I had tried Viagra and Cialis before. The Cialis was reasonably effective. The Viagra, much less so.

 It was now time to try Cialis with greater frequency.

The BlueChew ads looked legit, but they are a SCAM!

I say it again: BLUECHEW IS A SCAM!

I ordered Cialis and they sent me an email stating they were sending Viagra. I told them I didn’t order Viagra, but they said it’s on it’s way and there is nothing they could do about it.

That’s obviously a lie. IT IS A LIE!

I order over $1000 online from various vendors. There were multiple course of action available.  At this point, I suspected that the legit—looking website was just the scammers getting better.

After multiple exchanges with the scammers sticking to the “we can’t do anything line” it became obvious that the business was not legit.

One of the responses told me that I could cancel future orders by going on the website. I DON’T HAVE A SUBSCRIPTION to something that I didn’t order.

Had BlueChew delivered what was purchased, they might have had a subscriber. The dosage, frequency, and price were acceptable.

But they botched the order and stand by their incompetence.

My instinct is to say, unbelievable, but I have seen plenty of scammers in my time and believe it.

Instead, I say: LET THE BUYER BEWARE!.

 

BLUECHEW IS A SCAM!

 

Finding a reputable company for what I wanted didn’t take much longer. There are companies trying to do legitimate business.  BlueChew does not number among them.

 

FAFO

An Appeal to Carnival Passengers as the Executives at Carnival Don't Care

 I got another no reply from the Carnival Cruise Line CEO and the customer service department.  I have been down this road before when Carnival tried to pull a bait and switch on me.  Their reply is not to reply beyond the automated reply that says (lies) we will get back to you.

But even if Carnival doesn't care about their loyal customers, I do and I have seen frustration over this issue that can be resolved with little or no cost.  You think Carnival might bother to read my suggestiion and let me know they don't like it, if that is even possible.

The problem as I explained it to various nonresponsive people at Carnival, was that there is no same level egress from the main dining room. Scooters and walkers are not prime candidates for stairs, but there are no other options for the wheelbound. 

The result is that people ride elevators down to go up after waiting 15 minutes to get an elevator. My offering requires no restructuring of the ship. Do you think that might have been an incentive to at least look at my suggestion?

Here it is, ready to sign and promulgate and relieve passengers' frustration.  

Dear Carnival Cruiser,

At Carnival, we strive to be on the cutting edge of the cruise industry. Sometimes, we don’t catch a trend in time to modify our ships, such as the increasing number of cruisers requiring scooters, wheelchairs, walkers, and other mobility assistance devices.

This issue is prevalent in the aft dining rooms aboard all but our most recent designs. Passengers often devise their own workarounds, mainly riding down to go up. This confounds the problem, lengthens the wait, and increases cruiser frustration. But what can be done? Reconfiguring the ship's structure is not a viable option.

We have not ignored the problem but proffer a course of action to mitigate the issue. If you require an elevator to the upper decks to transit the ship, consider riding down one level and traversing the ship in the living quarters passageways on the lower decks. This gets you to other elevators and makes the ride up available for the next group. There are fewer lower decks than upper decks. Thus, this will help all make quicker exits from the confined area outside the aft dining room.

We also offer deck 4 seating priority to those requiring mobility assistance. This provides access to the rear elevators and an avenue of egress out of the elevator area if they are crowded. For this reason, we will now be opening deck 4 for the Sea Day Brunch.

For all those who require elevators, please read our Elevator Protocol Guidance.

At Carnival, we want you to enjoy your cruise and hope to reduce areas of frustration. Thank you for your loyalty and patience as we educate passengers on these practices. Please help by sharing these insights with your fellow passengers.

Sincerely

PUTT, PUTT, NO MORE PIZZA HUT.

 Putt, putt to the Pizza Hut. That’s what I grew up with.  I thought Pizza Hut was the top-shelf pizza company in America. Good product. Good times. Good stuff.

But it only takes one corporate-level employee to destroy 50 years of customer loyalty. I’m not sure what rewards this man will receive, but he pulled it off. In his efforts to defend his mistake, he sent 50 years of goodwill packing. He probably got a medal or a bonus for his efforts.

Here it is as quickly as possible…

I ordered a pizza for my wife and me after Sunday worship. It had been a while since we had a Sunday afternoon without grandkids, and my wife was up for it. I went to the app to order it. The store I use the majority of the time was closed.

That seemed odd, but the weather had been bad, the flu was in full swing, and Pizza Hut had had staffing issues at multiple locations. Not to worry. I went to my alternate location. Both are about 40 minutes one way by car.

The app confirmed my order at the designated time in Clinton, Oklahoma. I hit the road, only to arrive and find no record of an order.

I gave the info to the people behind the app, and this is what I received in reply.

We don’t know why our app said the store was closed.

We sent you an email.

I told them I don’t check my email when I drive, and I shouldn’t need to once you confirm the order. The order I made was confirmed, and I was driving. That was an hour and a half wasted.

I’m going to say this again. I DO NOT CHECK OR READ MY EMAIL WHILE I AM DRIVING.

The person from Pizza Hut (Patrick S.) said he would send a coupon to the location where I had not ordered my pizza. I had previously told him that I was through with Pizza Hut, so his option was not to address the fraud on his part but to give me an option in which I couldn’t kick Pizza Hut to the curb if I wanted any compensation.

I think Patrick graduated from the School of Bait and Switch with honors.`

This one went to the credit card company, and the charges were reversed. I have not heard from Patrick or any other Pizza Hut representative.

I understand that companies make mistakes. Sometimes, their tech and devices make them for them, but when you are talking human to human, most companies worth their salt want to do right by their customers. Most.

To date, neither Patrick nor Pizza Hut has responded to this article.

I will conclude on a positive note. The Pizza Hut employees here in western Oklahoma are fantastic. It’s a shame the company doesn’t care about them or their customers. The local people are great, though.

PUTT, PUTT, NO MORE PIZZA HUT.

The Inside Scoop on the Outside Inn

The Outside Inn in Mangum, Oklahoma gets five stars as a jewel in a town that doesn’t have much for overnight options. Cassie is the perfect host. You feel welcome before you arrive.

The rooms are comfortable but there are stairs and as the house is a historic site, the are no ramps planned for the future. This is a quaint and comfortable stay for those who can handle a few stairs right in the heart of Mangum.

Socialize as much or as little as you want with the host and the other guests. It’s just a nice place to stay.

The Inn offers breakfast to those who overnight and sometimes other meals to the community at large. It’s not the Embassy Suites, but it’s as close as you will get in Mangum, America and I for one am glad to have such a place as the Outside Inn.

OBTW—ask for the book of brainteasers by yours truly if you want to see how well your mind works when you are relaxed.

ITL Rocks!

Sometimes, a venue like this only focuses on the bad and the ugly. Not today. Innovative Technology, Ltd. of Elk City, Oklahoma gets the Many Thumbs Up award for service and five stars for attitude.

My days of installing my own RAM and putting information into the autoexec file are gone. I’m an MS-DOS guy in an AI world and don’t look under the hood much when I need help. I don’t like feeling helpless, but I have not kept pace with technology these past couple of decades and find myself at the mercy of others.

Fortunately, I found a place that is friendly, professional, and seems to know their business.  I was in and out quickly and my problem was fixed.

How many times have I longed for such service? Since 2020 everything has grown more complicated than it should be. Except for ITL. Today, I sing their praises.

I don’t visit the computer shop much, but if I must return, I’m going to ITL.