Tammi's World

Next Stop-Hell!!

Yesterday was one for the record books. Holy Cow. Not good. On any level.

Started out with some personal stuff that I'm trying to grapple with. Then, get to the office and nothing is finalized for the trip. Oh, arrangements are made, I had a ticket, I have hotels, but nothing was completed for any of my calls.

Samples didn't get out - so they are being expressed to the different hotels on a just in time basis. Can I just tell you how much I hate doing business like that? Anyway - I even had to bring one big honkin' box with me to check on the flight.

You know it's bad when I just put my head down on my desk and ask my assistant if I can just be a bitch for one day. All day, one day. Please???

Got to the airport and the lots are full. I end up in extended, extended parking located 3 states over. You park in timbuctoo and then drag your crap across the lot to catch a bus. Yeah - picture that. Me, in heels (cause I'm traveling for business and I have nothing to wear flats with) with my luggage, my laptop (that weighs more than my luggage with all the files I have to carry) my purse, 2 books (because everything was too full to stick them anywhere) and the big honkin' box.

My hands were killing me (carpal tunnel) so I couldn't grip anything.

Luckily some guy took pity on me and helped me haul the stuff on the bus and get settled. He wanted to do dinner, but luckily he was going to NY and I was headed to Hartford.

Anyway - he then helped me get everything off the bus and in some sort of order so I could haul it up the escalator and on to the tram.

On the tram there was this really big guy right by where I ended up standing. It was very crowded on there and no room anywhere. So there I was, hair goin' nuts and crap just beggin' to drop from my arms. He looks me in the eye (me at 6'5" so he was no tiny dude) and says in the deepest voice I've ever heard "You must hold on to the handrail. You will fall".

I can't. My hands were full. He realizes that and in one gesture pulls the box from my hands and tucks it, like a newspaper, under his arm. With his other arm he reaches around me and grabs the railing on the other side of me, cradling me so I don't fall. I looked at him and said "You, sir, are an angel". His laugh was so deep and so loud everyone on the car stopped and turned. He smiled and said he's pretty sure no one had ever said that about him. Ever.

Well, I told him - "you're my angel today. Thank you."

Get off the tram and go up the escalator, almost dropping my books. Finally, down the hall and down the escalator where everything just crashed. My hands gave out. My arms gave out. It was hot. I had my coat and a sweater and damn - that was one long flippin' trip from the parking lot.

Finally got my luggage and that big honkin' damned box checked and started to head to the terminal.

Security? Wow - right through. But I'm flying out of terminal C. C for, for, for - a long flippin' walk that's what C is for.

Stop at my favorite little spot to pick up some yogart and granola. On a side note, I have been craving yogart and granola somethin' fierce lately. You know it's bad when the girl at the kiosk at the airport knows what you're going to order before you say anything.

Anyway - get on the plane and I hadn't had a chance to upgrade. So I'm in the back. It's a small plane. For the first time ever I sorta got a little air sick. Damn.

Got to Hartford and made my way to baggage claim (after getting lost - I have the hardest time finding luggage claim in that airport). As I walk up my stuff is going by. Without even thinking twice I simply grab and roll it off the conveyor. Then came the magic act of getting it all pulled together. You see I stayed at the hotel attached to the airport so I had to go back upstairs, down the hall, around the corner, down the hall - all the while luggin' that big honkin' box.

Finally. Finally. Finally got checked in and settled.

There was no way I was leaving that room for any reason. Dinner? A diet coke and a bag of cinnamon graham craker sticks.

Damn - I'm tellin' you the rest of this trip goes like this and well, I don't know what I'll do, but it won't be pretty.

Did I mention that when I unpacked I found that my "body spray" (that I use in leu of perfume) exploded in the suitcase. Even though it was in a plastic bag it's now saturated my suit for Thursday. Lovely - talk about smellin' like some kinda street walker.......

So - today it's four calls and a drive to Rochester. I have no idea where Rochester is, other than somewhere in New York State, and since I'm not driving I'm not going to sweat it. All I know is there is a hotel there that is waiting for me (along with another big honkin' box) and tomorrow there's a plane with a seat just for me.

But yesterday? I really don't want to go through that again any time soon. The biggest thing is will I ever find my car again????? Well that and those customers better place some pretty big orders for the samples I just hauled from hell and back!!!

Posted by Tammi at November 8, 2006 05:00 AM | TrackBack