by selfmademom on October 24, 2007 · 1 comment
 Nothing like a last minute business trip to lift me out of my moodiness. (You really 
thought I’d use as my blog post title that silly little joke from childhood?) Ok, I’m being dramatic – things are getting better here - but I think I’d rather have my pores cleaned out than get on a plane in the morning to make a presentation in front of some eager communications folks wanting to learn about how they can implement social media in their organization. (Since when does the fact that you have a blog make you an “expert” in social media?)
Plus I’m on the verge of a cold. I’m trying to stay positive. At least I regained my elite flyer status. That should make me a little happier (I get extra legroom! I get to board first!) But really, I’d much rather use a sick day and lie in bed while I have the nanny around anyway. Or watch my son get giddy about putting change into Mr. Dino’s belly.
Anyone got two nipples for a dime?
Tags: business travel, elite flyer status, Pittsburgh
I haven’t had a bad hotel room story in awhile, so luckily I hopped a plane to Atlanta today and happened to check into one tonight. Who knew? Boutique hotels in the South! So glad I found one.
Fortunately, the room has everything I need.
Water bottles with sexy come-ons. I’d pay at least $10.00 to meet the marketing dude who came up with that line.
You don’t need to read the tag to understand my response: No, I don’t do hairy fuzzy creatures that look like my son’s Halloween costume.
Who needs a black-out eye mask when you can wear 3-D glasses to bed?
And last,
A shower right next to my bed. Need I say more? (Edited- I thought of this line on the plane: “This takes wetting the bed to a whole new level.” Me so funny.)
It’s been awhile since I’ve been on an overnight business trip at a really annoying hotel. Oh, you actually thought I was going somewhere fun this week? The way I see it, the only reason I wouldn’t would ever go to Orlando is if I’m with someone who’s shorter than “you have to be THIS tall to go on THIS ride sign.” (Like my strategy, no rides?!) Before this trip I really didn’t think there were any businesses here that weren’t related to Disney.
But as luck would have it, there are, and I’m in the town of Mickey for the night.
Without a hair brush.
So I weighed my options.
Overpriced gift shop, but with sentimental value version.
The I-got-caught-in-the-rain-walking-there Walgreens version.
I took the safe bet. It was cheaper, and I felt kind of funny about Mickey looking at me while I take a shower.
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Update: Since I posted this, I checked-in online for my return flight tomorrow and good news! I’ve earned elite status again. So much for hating on random hotels and business trip. I’m back!
Tags: business travel, moms traveling on business, Orlando, gift shops
I’m heading to New Jersey again tomorrow to see a client. While it’s a bummer to have to travel for work, going to the East Coast for me is easy. I can schedule my trip so I’m there and back in one day. I’m not saying it’s fun to get up at 4:30 a.m. (it reminds me of the hellish newborn days), but there are benefits to a business day trip for me:
- I don’t have to worry about staying in a grungy hotel.
- My coworkers feel bad for me so I can usually get away with leaving early from work the day before.
- My husband feels bad for me so he will usually get up with the baby the next morning. Unless he has an early morning meeting and then I’m stuck with baby duty. I said *usually*.
- I can drink Starbucks (and expense it) until the caffeine gods go crazy.
- A 6:30 a.m. flight is early enough for me to justify sleeping on the plane on the way out. Read: my brain doesn’t function before
8 a.m. 9 a.m. Central time. In fact, there’s nothing wrong with me sleeping on the way home either.
- I can wear flat-heeled shoes. No one expects me to shuffle around the airport and in and out of cars for 12 hours in high heels. Another reason I love flats.
- I pretty much guarantee that I won’t go more than 24 hours without seeing my kid. But then again, I have to fly into O’Hare, where no flight is guaranteed.
So if given a choice, my vote is for a business day trip. You?
Tags: business travel, women on business travel
My hubby’s away four nights this week for work, and while it would be easy for me to fall into a heap of self-pity, I am committed to not feeling sorry for myself.  Instead, I’m viewing my husband’s travel schedule as the perfect opportunity for some “me” time. Many a blog post has been written about moms who go away for work and get some peace. But what about those left behind?
While the drawbacks of spousal travel are many (no one to share child care duties, no one to talk to after the baby’s asleep, a big, empty bed), I think there are benefits to playing the role of sole caretaker, if only for a week.
- For instance, I am not accountable for picking him up on my way home from work in downtown Chicago. This means I can squeeze in a
Target run “family errand” after work.
- I can watch whatever I want to watch on TV. On tap for the DVR this week: DTWS, two nights of American Idol and the eight episodes I have recorded of Scrubs but have yet to watch. I *heart* Zach Braff.
- I will be able to sleep in peace. Which means no crashing on the pull-out futon to avoid my husband’s lawnmower-esque snoring of last week.
- Abusive blogging rules are deemed moot. Yes! I can blog ’til the sun comes up.
- I can eat whatever I want for dinner with no scowls or “oh THAT’s gross.”
- Better yet, I can wear whatever I want to after I take off my work clothes. Ratty old t-shirts and leggings, come hither.Â
- I get to do things “my way” which include cleaning up when I want to, feeding my son what I want to, dressing him how I want to and it’s my party so I can cry if I want to.
- And, the best part, is that I actually receive phone calls that contain the words “I love and miss you” on a not-so-infrequent basis.Â
Doesn’t this all sound fun?
 Tags: business travel, working moms
