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trip and weekend
November 08, 2010
Business trip
I hate to travel, for work or for pleasure. Destinations are generally fine, it's the transit parts that I really loathe.
Accommodations were decent. Hotel (lack of indoor pool notwithstanding) was quite nice. One of those corporate, extended-stay suites style places, with a kitchen in your room, and a good desk area. The wireless was a bit pokey. The complementary breakfast looked fairly extensive, as those things go. I can't eat that stuff, though. Not in a room full of people, anyway. The coffee was dreadful�even the stuff they provided for in-room brewing. I'm taking my own coffee, filters, and cane sugar for the next trip. They did provide real half-and-half, though.
The food was...not bad, exactly. Nobody seemed too interested in my input for where we ate. So, not too much of what I'd choose to eat.
As for the actual work part, well--I hate my job, and am destined to be hating it a whole lot more in the very near future. 'Nuff said.
Had some health issues. Hit the wall (x3!) by Thursday; I was exhausted and physically ill from the prolonged assault on my senses. I stayed in that night, and had oatmeal for supper. I was at the end of my rope, and if I didn't recharge with some alone time, I don't know what would have happened.
Because so much of the food on offer was unacceptable, I ate too much when it did fall within my parameters of acceptability (FABULOUS barbeque). Ended up kicking the IBS into overtime.
As far as the effect of the whole shemozzle on my sensory and social disorders issues...Well, my brain was shutting down on me far more often than I could handle. I almost passed out a couple of times, but managed to hold on. There were so many triggers and stressors, I don't even know if I could count them. Let's see: roomful of strangers, using a mouse instead of a trackball (my trackball is going along next time!), extremely bad lighting, off my usual schedule, not being able to go outside all day, not being able to smoke, just about zero alone time, strange noises & lights, strange pillows & bed, not being able to cuddle my dog, being seated next to a gum-snapper / nail-tapper all day every day, stuck in a horrible chair and not being able to get up and move around, having to wear jeans every day (refuse to do it next time!), shitty shower flow (I can not tolerate ineffectual showers�it�s the "light touch" creep out), AIRPLANES!
That's what�about fifteen, off the top of my head?
Best part of the trip:
As we were walking through the O'Hare baggage claim area, a familiar voice hails my group. I turned around, and it was my BestBoss! I hollered his name, threw my arms around him and hugged him, and even planted a smooch on his cheek. (I know, but that just shows you where the guy stands in my estimation. It's a pretty short list that gets a greeting like that from me) We only got to talk for a couple of minutes, but damn, it was just awesome to see him. ALMOST made the trip worthwhile for me.
Spouse picked me up at the airport on Friday evening, as P ended up coming down with the flu. Spouse was none too happy about missing class, but he managed to keep his cool about it. Traffic going towards the city was so awful that we just headed toward home, with a stop to pick up a pizza. I was worn to a nub and seriously missing The B, so that was more than okay with me. I came home, ate, did some unpacking, and hit the mattress around 9 p.m.
Saturday, I got up, enjoyed the first decent cup of coffee I'd had in five days, put a load of wash in, and while Spouse made his usual round of calls to my elderly female relatives (he's weird), I got cleaned up and ready to run some errands. We ran out to McHenry to hit the Meijer, then took a vote on lunch�two to zero in favor of coming home and grilling something, since it was a beautiful day. So he lit charcoal while I put away groceries, and we had potato salad, coleslaw and brats cooked over charcoal. We watched our weekly dose of Cook's Country and America's Test Kitchen, and they made French butter cookies (sables) that got Spouse all worked up. As we still had a couple of things we needed to get, after our shows, we ran out to Wally's and finished up the shopping. And got the stuff to make the sables. Lunch ended up being our main meal, since we just heated up leftover pizza for supper. And we both hit the hay pretty early, after adjusting the clocks.
Yesterday, I stayed at home in my jammies all day, which was nice. And Spouse made maple sausage and vanilla spice pancakes for breakfast, which was VERY nice. But I spent the day stripping and re-making beds, doing many, many loads of wash, baking the cookies, washing dishes, and doing other assorted household chores. Not so good, I guess. But I had time in between things to fiddle about on the computer and play outside with The B. It was another beautiful day. And Spouse made some fantastic barbequed ribs for our Sunday dinner (I contributed baked potatoes and tossed salad), so I can't complain about the eats.
I wanted to make sure I slept well last night, so I took a hot shower before climbing into my freshly made up bed, and dozed off about 10:00 sleeping like a top. Result: I awoke this morning bright-eyed and fresh and ready to go. I got chauffeured to work, since Spouse had to tape his radio show this evening in downtown Chicago (It was at WDRV, in the Hancock) and wanted me to go along. He picked me up on his way into the city, and I'm kind of glad he wanted me to go along, since I have never actually been to the John Hancock Center. Been to the Sears (Whut chu talkin' 'bout, "Willis"? ) Tower a few times, but never the Hancock. Makes for a very long day, though.
But we got there about 4:50, and were greeted at the door by a familiar voice (if not a familiar face)--Bobby Skafish. He escorted us in to meet Steve Seaver, who was handling the recording, and we got a bit of a studio tour, then sat down and started the proceedings. Spouse shot through it like a trouper, and we were out of there by 5:45, even with taking pictures (got one with each DJ) and were on our way. We stopped in Glenview for dinner, since we'd always wanted to try Hackney's. It was pretty good. I even ordered dessert--which I never do. But they had the most amazing apfel strudel (mit schlag, naturalisch), so I couldn't resist. You just don't get strudel around here that often.
Home by 8:25, a little quick Facebook time, and now: BED. I'm whipped.
Reading: Hobby--"Marjorie at Seacote" (1912), by Carolyn Wells. Marjorie runs away in this one. And proposes a new holiday: "I think it's a good idea to choose some uncelebrated person like Pocahontas," said Mrs. Maynard; "for if you don't celebrate her I doubt if anybody ever will."
General�"In the Company of Others" (2010), by Jan Karon. The latest Father Tim story. Takes place in Ireland, has a light air of mystery about it. I've just started it.
Surfing: something new from the "Overheard" folks.
Listening: Soundtracks to "Pump Up the Volume" and "A Mighty Wind". Yeah, I'm a little schizo. Plus, I was kind of forced to listen to "The Drive", since I was actually in their studio. I don't, usually.
At Random:
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