I am typing this post from a very nice and large and plush bed in a very nice and pretty room in a very nice and spiffy hotel in Chicago. No, don’t get excited, this is not vacation — I am here on a business trip for two days. This morning I left the house at 6am with a small carry-on bag, my laptop, and a huge load of business trip guilt. I wouldn’t see my kiddo for two full days. My husband will be shuffling around his meetings and schedule to manage drop-offs and pick-ups. And next week I have another trip, again for two full days. The guilt-meter is pushing to the max. Read the rest of this entry »

I am writing this while sitting on the bus, on my way back home from a day business trip to NYC. My feet are blistered despite the half-a-box of Band-Aids that I used up during the day of walking/running from one meeting to another. My right eye is bloodshot because I have completely failed to get any sleep this week (OK, last week and the week before that also.) My voice is coarse from all the talking and my right hand is cramping from all the typing. I have a fugly-looking red welt in my right shoulder from carrying my enormous laptop around all day. And I am too scared to look in my inbox because I’ve not yet gone on one business trip when either (1) there wasn’t some crisis on the site or (2) something going on at home.

And this was one of the better days. Read the rest of this entry »

I don’t usually dread Mondays. I like fresh starts and the beginning of each week feels that way to me.

Not this one - both my husband and I are going on business trips. It took a bunch of juggling to make sure that our trips didn’t overlap. I moved several meetings and he convinced several colleagues who are traveling with him to go on different dates. Since I am taking the bus (to NYC) we decided that my trip should be first. My husband is flying so there is a chance of the plane being late or canceled and him coming home too late for me to leave for my trip. Read the rest of this entry »