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Wednesday, April 23, 2008

The Budget Inn

Henry enjoying the Budget's pool



The Budget Inn is an embarrassingly accurate name for a hotel. I would know, because the Budget Inn in St. George, Utah is the hotel my family has been staying at for years. The funny thing is, the hotel is pretty nice, as far as economy hotels go. It has an indoor and outdoor pool, a playground, and a mini-fridge and microwave in suite. Budget nothing.

Last week I joined my family for a little vacation in St. George. We all enjoyed some good joking at Budget's expense. There is something inherently hilarious about a name as honest as The Budget Inn. Like, when Traci's father-in-law asked her if our parents had a place in St. George, and she had to reply that no, but they had a room at The Budget Inn. Or when we ran into a friend at McDonalds, and, declining to state the name of where we were staying, instead motioned vaguely across the street.

We encountered another example of a brutally honest name when we ate at The Cheesecake Factory in Las Vegas. My sister ordered their Weight Management Salad. Must they call it the Weight Management Salad? It's specific, sure, but it also conveys too much information. Like the clothing store aptly called Big and Tall. Surely there are gentler, more euphemistic options.

I don't know what's worse: honest names or ironic ones. There seems to be a hint of sadism in the persistent trend to give trailer parks uncommonly luxurious names, like Country Club Estates. It's all good and well to tell people you live in the Country Club Estates, until they come over for dinner.

Bubba recently accidentally signed up for a discount entertainment card called Big Fun. He was making an on-line purchase and realized afterward that he had also enrolled in a program which gives minimal discounts at restaurants where we never eat for a monthly membership fee of $10. It was anything but big fun trying to cancel our membership, as the number listed on the back of the membership card had very limited customer service hours. We still keep receiving checks in the mail from Big Fun, with a nearly invisible disclaimer stating that, if cashed, we will be re-enrolled in the program.

It is not fun to deal with Big Fun, nor is it fun to tell the waitress you'll have a weight management salad. When Romeo exclaimed that a rose by any other name would still smell as sweet, he may have been right. The Budget Inn by any other name would still cost as cheap. But a name change may spare its guests from bouts of mild embarrassment.

11 comments:

Stacy and Mike said...

Ha ha ha I am laughing so hard right now. Your family has a great sense of humor that's why no matter where you are or what it's called you have fun together. How about the term "Held Hostage" as I literally did hold you hostage for most of the day. Friend-napping, doesn't quite tell what really happened does it? Well it was so great to see you and Henry, I had a great time!

janel said...

I hear you! My parents, who drove cross-country to and from the Hill Cumorah Pageant, said the Econo Lodge in SB (by the airport) was the most disgusting place on their entire trip.
In retrospect, do you think the Village Exchange should have been renamed "Econo Exchange" or "Value Vault"?

Dynamic Chiropractic said...

I am jealous that you got to head out to Utah! I hope you had a really good time, and how fun that you ran into my sister. I could only imagine the good time had in "the budget" with Dan Eldredge!

Kimberlee said...

While still living in Rexburg, our car broke down and we spent about 6months car shopping. We hit almost every dealership in the valley. We steared clear of "Fairly Reliable Bob's" however. I just wasn't sure if I could trust him. Seeing a picture of a palm tree left me dreaming I was in St. George. Don't you wish you could have just uprooted one and brought it home with you.

Vic, Linds, and the girls... said...

I wish I could of seen you when you were here. Hope you had so much fun! Love ya kim!

Brian and Amy said...

I always laugh when I see a fancy name on a trailer park. Loved this post. I hope work is still going well for you.

April said...

I have had the privilege of enjoying the "Budget Inn" with you and your fam. Love that place! So funny and so true about those frank names. You are a great writer, amazing, very fun to read.

Lyndsie and Daniel said...

Kim, you are so hilarious. You are such a talented writer, and you make an excellent point!

Kate said...

Kim your writing is laugh out loud funny. I love it. Keep up the good work.

PS Henry is so big! And he's stinkin' adorable. I love his blonde locks :)

summer said...

Kim....hi this is Summer {Brooke's sis}. She passed on your blog address awhile back because she had to share your post on the peanut butter, which was hilarious and so from time to time I come to your blog to see what the ever-talented Kim will write.
We stayed at this very same Budget Inn two years ago for a family reunion, with my husband's extended family, as it was the only place that they could find to accomodate everyone and probably for the price as well! And, for as funny as it is named and some little quirks with staying at an "INN", it was also great...of course kids are just ecstatic to go somewhere new...especially if it has a pool! Anyway, thanks for letting me lurk in and read your blog.

Unknown said...

Thanks for the laugh-out-loud blog. I constantly use your blog to teach my 9th grade students about voice, audience--and coming full cirlce with a hook! But still...I'm waiting to open a magazine and see your writing somewhere. I've been waiting for it to happen since High School, and every blog confirms what a talented writer you are.