So ... I'm in Ojai, California, recording a movie-based training title for Lynda.com, titled "Flash User Experience Best Practices". And I'm having a lot of fun, primarily because it's my favorite subject, but also because working with Lynda.com has always been great, and this is no exception. Especially since they rescued me from a horrible motel immediately after rolling into town.

When they made the travel arrangements for my trip here, all the usual hotels were booked and I was going to be stuck in a place none of their authors have ever stayed before, without Wi-fi. So I checked into the motel, realized immediately it was one of the strangest, scummiest, and creepiest places I've ever stayed, and let the good folks at Lynda.com know it was a little freaky. They immediately jumped on the phone and called all the better hotels in town, hoping someone had cancellations and there would be a room available. They cancelled the creepy motel, and got me into one of the most beautiful hotels I've ever seen: the Blue Iguana. And boy, what a change.

The whole place looks like an upscale Spanish mission. And even though I have to switch rooms at least twice during my four-day stay here (their cancellations were for various rooms, so I'm taking whatever I can get), I'm thrilled to be here. The suite I'm in now has a full kitchen, jaccuzzi tub, gorgeous Spanish tones everywhere, vines hanging down from the covered patio, a view of a beautiful courtyard with a heated pool and hot tub, and a big, warm, wonderful bed with a forrest green comforter. And to top it all off, there's Wi-fi in every room.

I'm here to record a course about Flash UX best practices, but I'm thinking, at this point, that the best practice you can have is to work with Lynda.com. They take care of you. And I'm very grateful.