Mini-vacation begins

I got to the airport in Baltimore on Friday about three hours before my flight just because I didn't know what else to do with myself. I killed most of the time finishing up some work that I didn't want to visit over the weekend but saved the last 30 minutes before the estimated boarding time to slam a couple Sam Adams Oktoberfest drafts. A buzz on an airplane is a great feeling. As I headed back to the gate, I was disappointed to discover the flight was delayed a little over an hour.
I notified the crew (Kyle, Kevin and Laura) and settled in a deserted area of seats across from the gate. I was buzzed and bored so I dove into the Spin magazine I had picked up earlier. I had already been stuck in the non-smoking airport for hours and I seriously thought another hour would kill me. I never expected that I would get so excited over actually boarding an airplane but as soon as I was in my seat, there was no wiping the smile off my face. It had been six weeks since I revisited the place I call home.

Kyle and Kevin walked in the Dayton airport sliding doors just as I was exiting the secure area, perfect timing. I pretty much ran out the door for a cigarette that actually gave me a buzz. We grabbed some coffee and such which were going to be much needed on the drive to Cincinnati and got the hell out of there.

We dropped Kevin at Sarah's and Kyle and I headed to Laura's so I could unload the luggage and fix my hair before heading to the infamous Murphy's pub for a little reunion.




No matter how long it's been since the last time I've been to Murphy's, nothing there has changed. I guess it provides a little comforts zone for me. I still know all the bartenders and I still walk through the door without anyone checking my ID.

We kept it in true after-hours style when they kicked us out of the bar. Laura, Kyle, Kevin, Pate and I headed over to Kevin's with our 12-pack of carry-out for some card playing and general chilling until we started dropping like flies, good times!

The Tool Lady

Great, out of all names it had to be the Tool Lady. Not that they're serious but I have a feeling the joke is going to keep running for a while. It was a really long day, as of now 15 hours, two of which included talking business at the bar. No complaints there. I was excited to hang out with familar faces over a couple drinks. It was the tool lady and three gentlemen who happen to be at the top of the pyramid with-in their respective companies. It was a new record for the "if you ever need a job, call me" line at 3, excellent.

It's days like this that remind me why I took my job. Not only are these guys impressed by my very detailed tool knowledge but they have commented that the company I work for hit the jackpot by puting a smart female with a fireball personality on the road! I was blushing. I hate excessive flattery from guys hitting on me but when it's work releated, I love it.

Those of you whom have been there on my good days, my bad days and my very bad days, thanks. Today, overall, has been a good day and I believe that tomorrow will be better.

Today didn't start off so well. I couldn't sleep last night which snow-balled into sleeping later than I wanted to which snow-balled into running around to get out the door to meet a co-worker for breakfast. As usual I was right on time, to the minute.

I was expecting to go out for breakfast but when he saw the free stuff in the hotel lobby our plans changed, a menu I usually try to avoid. It's not that the food is complete crap, just that it's the exact same breakfast no matter where I go. I had the usual.

We drove about 25 minutes to meet up with Rob, the salesman I was scheduled with for the day. To my surprise, he was actually cool; an invited alternative to the 'typical' middle-aged sales guys I usually work with. The work talk was kept to a minimum, jokes about the ex-cop pimp look-a-like with horns on his hood (wish I took a picture) and the count of guys asking for my phone number took its place. Today I had a new record of four, just beating the previous record of three with their level of success still remaining at zero. Good thing I don't hand my business cards out like candy.

Today for the first time I ever, as far as I can remember, I can actually understand why chicks get so pissed over breaking a nail. I have yet to give into old habits and I am very proud of myself, but I was so mad that I actually considered getting a fake one put on to match the length of the rest. About two seconds later I was over it.

Once I checked into my hotel, I was looking forward to finishing up a few things, hitting the treadmill and taking it easy but it didn't take too long for that to go to shit. My phone didn't stop ringing, my email was messed, I needed to do laundry and somewhere I had to squeeze in eating time and some easy paperwork. I wouldn't have been so overwhelmed if I wasn't also messing with music files and writing this but that's my own fault.

Anyway, for tomorrow another day in Baltimore, another day in the rain.

bored in Baltimore

This weekend I'm in Baltimore. I haven't ventured far from my hotel, mainly because of rain and a lot of work to do.

Lat weekend I stayed at my cousin Doug's in Boston. We spent the weeking watching a lot of football and drinking a lot of beer. I didn't see much of the city but I wasn't really up for being a tourist.


Sunday I drove to Pennslyvania where I worked for two days before heading to the outer banks of Maryland for the remainder of the week.

Thursay I got hooked up with a sweet deal on an expensive hotel room located next to a great seafood place and a bar. I hit both. At the bar I started chatting with the guys sitting around me, very interesting individuals. One of them talked me into singing karaoke with him, which I never do, but I did. We were terrible, it was awesome. We ended up singing a handfull of times before we realized we could barely read the words on the screen anymore. Everyone there knew everyone else, small town, so the guys kept getting asked who I was. It was kinda fun for like an hour or so but then I just felt like I was working.

Friday was rough, I was supposed to be flying home so I was a little aggrevated, it rained all day and needless to say I was just a little hung over. Luckily, I have perfected my ability to function when needed, that and I sucked down about four cups of coffee before lunch. I alomst got taken to a fast food place for lunch, but I nicely refused. Luckily there was an alternative and I didn't have to buy. I've been able to aviod fast food for a couple weeks now, awesome.

I'm in the Baltimore area for the rest of the week. I'm flying to Cincy on Friday and then it's further down the east coast.

What's up with the weather?

I've been in the west during a severe heat wave, in Seattle for 4 sunny days, in the desert when it rained and now I'm in New England during a flood. It's been raining for almost a week and I can't take it anymore. Don't get me wrong, I love the rain but I like it to go away too.

I'm really pulling for better weather this weekend while I'm visiting my cousin Doug in Boston. It's kinda strange, I haven't talked to him in at least a year and who knows how long it was before that, but i called him out of the blue today to see if he wanted to hang out at all. To my surprise, he sounded excited I was in the area and is looking foward to hitting the town. I don't think we've actually voluntarily hung out with each other since we were kids.

Work was kinda boring today, except for my semi-flashback lunch experience. We went to a small local family restraunt that reminded me of my childhood hang-out. The tables and chairs, coffee mugs, salad bowls, and even the dinner rolls were the same. Strange things to remember but when you grow up in a restraunt, it's those kind of meaningless material things you never forget. There was even a guy behind the bar smoking a pipe that could easily scare small children.

After having such a bad week, especially after the indian food incident, it made me feel much better. I even ordered clam strips, one of my Town House favorites and considered chocolate milk just so I could blow bubbles in it. I stuck to coffee.

I have a feeling that this next week is going to be much better.

bored

Today I'm in massachusets, yesterday it was connecuit, Sunday New York City. I visited Sara for the third weekend in a row. I didn't want to leave but I did and then headed to connecuit only thinking about when I will be able to return. Sara and I didn't do too much over the weekend, ran around in the pouring rain a couple times and ate a lot of sushi. I'm going to miss being able to spend time with her but I guess Thanksgiving and Christmas aren't too far away.

Work has been ok. I took today off because I felt like shit and couldn't sleep last night, but I'm making it up on friday, which I had as an off day. Once again my hotel is in the middle of nowhere so I got delivery, sushi once again. I'm starting to get a little burnt out but I'm not sure if it's because I want to go to Cincy for a couple days or if it's because I miss the way my life was before my real job. It's probably some of both.

I've been working with some really great people, especially in New York and Jersey. Most of them have been guys in their mid-40's and have been very parental like. It's nice to know that they are looking out for me.

This next weekend I'm either going to hang out in Springfield, Mass or possibily visit my cousin in Boston.

Yeah my life's not that exciting right now, hopefully it won't stay that way fro very long.