Driving to Houston

It really wasn’t a bad ride at all this time. I popped out of bed in Livonia around 7:00 am and was well on the road by 8:00.

Because it was the weekend traffic was light and there was surprisingly very little construction. Although I would actually liked to see a lot more since it was good weather and construction all over would have at least meant that people were working.

The first night I drove fifteen hours and got to ‘Granada, Mississippi’. There was only one non-smoking room left in the whole town. Turns out it was really a very strong smelling ex-smoking room that they tried to mask with Lysol. Ewwww-but yes, I was that tired.

The next day I was much less enthused about driving so I’m glad that I made a lot of miles the first day.

It rained some but still was a pretty smooth drive.

So thanks to good traffic conditions, gallons upon gallons of Iced Tea, a new tasty treat from Hostess called ‘Cakesters’ (vanilla of course) and lot’s of Rest Area’s I’m now here in Houston and working!

I move into my apartment after work tonight. Woo hoo!

Snow Globe for Jenna

So I’m here at the Lincoln Airport in Springfield, Illinois and I wanted to bring Jenna a Lincoln souvenir. She’s always kind of been a history buff and a few years ago we came here to see the Lincoln sites and she loved it.

Of course on that trip we were going out to dinner during a storm and a strong wind picked up a huge construction site tube that rolled over our car and smashed it to pieces. So all in all that was an exciting trip.

Anyway, at the airport gift shop they had a cool snow globe with a bust of Lincoln in it. Looked like a winner to me so I bought it.

Well, the gift shop is outside of security because there are no shops in this little airport within the secured area-vending machines only.

So I made the purchase which was easy. Then, due to federal regulations the lady who runs the gift shop has to temporarily close the gift shop, take the snow globe, because it contains more than three ounces of liquid, through security and walk it with me to a TSA agent and verify that this is indeed a snow globe that I purchased from her and it has not been out of her hands.

I am thankful at this moment that while oil is ruining our shores and the economy is in the toilet that at least we, as Americans, are protected from snow globes in the air.

Phew!

I've been totally worried sick the last month about work. I mean, not sleeping kind of worrying.

While I'm normally scheduling my travel months in advance I had nothing on the horizon past June. I figured that the great project that I've been on for the last two and a half years was coming to a close because after the end of June we have the new software rolled out to all of our companies.

With the job market the way it is, and seeing some downsizing going on I was really getting nervous. However, yesterday I had my annual evaluation and was assured not only of continued employment but some choice on what project I would like to be on.

The week before that, one of our companies offered me a lucrative position there too-but that would mean relocating. But at least it was nice to be asked and nice to know that I will still be employed!

So thankfully, until I hit the right combination of lottery numbers, which I don't even ever buy tickets anyway, I can at least continue earning a living which these days is a wonderful thought.

Joys of Working From Home

When I’m not on the road somewhere I am lucky enough to be able to work from home. There are great advantages to that.

I can wake up at 7:59, roll over and turn on the computer and I’m ready to go. The commute is great. I can stay in my jammies all day.

But there are negative thing too to balance it off: such as-easy accessibility to food. I’m working on that one though, trying to keep only healthy stuff around. Although right now I have a carton of Breyers Rocky Road Ice Cream in the freezer calling my name.

Then the other day I’m on a conference call in my living room with one of our companies in Iowa. The front door is open with a real nice breeze blowing in the screen door. Then my next door neighbor comes to the door ringing the doorbell incessantly and hollering through the screen. I gave him ‘The Look’ and tried waving him off. Fortunately he gave up but not until he put chaos into my call for a solid minute. Turns out he wanted to let us know where hanging flower baskets were on sale.

But I’ve gotta say that I’m really grateful to be able to work from home when I’m not travelling. And now I must go find the source of that sound that’s calling my name from the freezer.

A Carpe Diem Day

A Carpe Diem Day!

(Carpe Diem is Norwegian – it means ‘Eat Carp Every Day’ referring to their healthy lifestyle because they eat so much fish)

So we got out of the meetings earlier than expected today and my flight isn’t until tomorrow so ‘Team Jean’ headed for the hills. We drove to the Shenandoah Mountains and it was beautiful. There were a lot of Civil War sites and buildings that still exist which of course for me means a lot of stops.

Although as usual, I wish history let us daydream about more positive things that happened before us. Like instead of battlefields it’d seriously be nice to see a site where ‘A mom once baked an apple pie with her kids’ here.

After that we hit the Luray Caverns. This was not only cool caves but it also had an organ that the sound came off of the stalactites. Somehow it was hooked up to certain stalactites that gave off a certain sound when the key was pressed and the entire song was played by hitting them. It sounded very cool in this large underground chamber.

It was great taking a day for taking the opportunity when I’m on the road to jump on some local sights. Which basically means that I just traded three hours during the day for sightseeing with three hours during the evening for working but it was well worth it.

But hey, when it’s your turn to dance, ya gotta dance.

Easter

What a great Easter. I think the most meaningful thing is that I forced yet another cake upon people. Yep the tangent continues.

It’s still better than my jewelry making kick that I had about a year ago. I bought all these supplies to start creating my own jewelry but after a few pieces that looked like Day Care projects I gave the stuff to Pattye-she’s artistic.

Adam did a real nice representation for the Davis family. Richie didn’t have to work-yay! Nancy brought brownies and Richie brought cookies.

Laura and Robb were there and all pumped up about their new appliances. They donated their old appliances to the Salvation Army. (Not to be confused with the Salivation Army which collects used spit). They got LG appliances and LG makes some cool stuff.

Irm had ham, rolls, veggies, potatoes and other good stuff.

All in all a great time but no one remembered to bring games-Linda where were you on that one? Going to have to call and remind someone next time anyway. Although Eric did try starting a great ‘Guess What Number I’m Thinking Of’ contest before he had to go to work.

I think I have Janet ready to start going to my gym. I hope so. I signed her up on my way to Irms. I had to go work out before eating Easter dinner.

Pat Chuck and the kids came with their Easter baskets. Jenna got a magazine with….oh yes……Justin Bieber pictures. EEEEEEEEKKKKKK!!!!!

On my way out I played a little hopscotch with Muffin and Julia. Lotta fun!

I HATE Fancy Restaurants

In case you hadn’t figured it out by now, I HATE fancy restaurants. I was really tired and hungry today when I left the Jackson office so I went to a place near the hotel.

I knew I was screwed as soon as I walked in the place. There was a person whose job was just to place the cloth napkin on my lap and fill up my water over and over again.

The only thing I recognized (and that I would eat) on the menu was a Filet Mignon but even that came with something called ‘White Truffle Demi-Glace’. And alls I can say about that is WTF is that? So I told the waiter that I didn’t know if I liked that stuff so please put it on the side. Turns out it looked like gravy but….it was brown. And yet the description clearly said ‘White Truffle Demi-Glace’ so I know they were just messing with me.

And if only I had a mechanical engineer with me I could have figured out how to get salt out of the metal contraption on the table that looked like a men’s cologne bottle.

I’m here two more days so tomorrow I’ll be on the hunt for Waffle Houses and Micky D's.