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It is hard being on the road over 200 nights a year...away from your family, isolated in many ways. It definitely isn't for everyone. This blogs represents the thoughts of just one such person. Read along and find out if the road is for you.
This is my new blogchalk:
United States, Georgia, Gainesville, Unity of Gainesville, English, John, Male, reading, RE Investing. :)
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Tuesday, July 30, 2002
What are you going to do???
Some days, it just doesn't pay to get up! Went to the client's today and while I fixed their main issues, the ones' that remain probably bug me more than it does them. You call support and you know they are just making things up to get you off the phone.
On top of that, I get to the airport early for my flight from Boston to LaGuardia and our company travel agent has me on this "non-peak" flight, so I have to pay $75 just to have the privilige of "standing by" on the 6:30 flight (I did get on). I wasn't ging to hang around the airport for another 2 hours just because the company was being a jerk to begin with. I will give them the bill and see what happens. (They should pay it!)
I feel bad because I didn't get the reports done this morning like I wanted to. I at least put some time to them when I got to the hotel. But I will HAVE to do at least one in the morning, because I am seeing that client in the AM.
Speaking of hotels, I really dislike this one. I have stayed here before and the front desk folks are just jerks. I waited 20 minutes just so they could try to sell some tours to the out of towners who were in front of me. Most New Yorkers are great at giving directions. These folks couldn't help me at all. In fact, they pretty much refused to help me out when I called. Their attitude just sucks.
The up side is that this is my last night at a hotel this week. I actually will work close to home the rest of the week and at another local client on Monday and Tuesday. I don't remember the last time I slept 6 nights in a row in my bed at home.
I have recently lost over 80 pounds and do feel good about attention that some women are paying to me now. Just wait until I get down to goal weight by October. Overall, I can feel my confidence getting better on a daily basis. It feels good and I love when people tell me how good I look now.
Deborah emailed me today to apologize for being a "bitch". We were on the same flight from Atlanta to Boston the other night. I was in first and she was in coach (she said she prefers coach to first class...go figure). I went back to check on her during the flight, but she was asleep against the bulkhead. I waited for her when we landed and she just blew me off. Karma came back to her though. She said she was in a hurry, because she needed to catch her shuttle. Ends up, she missed the shuttle, called me for a ride (I didn't answer her) and hate to wait for an hour. By the time, I picked up her voice mail, I was half way to my hotel. Life is sweet sometimes.
posted by John Panico at 10:53 PM
Monday, July 29, 2002
Just another day...
Another day, another city, another client. Actually, this has been a decent day overall. the client had fun people to work with, the problems they had didn't create too much of a challenge. In fact, I fixed something that they had been wrestling with for over 4 months :) On the other side, I found out that they got bargain basement pricing, which doesn't make me a happy camper come bonus time (Thanks Lynette)
I spoke briefly with Neil today and as always, he is openly helpful. He is a good guy and I am not sure why I am working this week and he is sitting at home. Not that I am complaining, but it does make you wonder.
I had big plans (and still do) about getting some work done after I left the clients, but just didn't have the energy for it. I will get up early in the morning (I am so a morning person) and at least do the project plan for the client on Wednesday. That and a quick trip report that tells what I did at a client for last month and I will be good to go in the AM.
posted by John Panico at 10:37 PM
Sunday, July 28, 2002
Life is but a dream….
I had the luxury of spending a whole day and a half at home before having to jet off to Boston. Ah…the glamorous life of a road warrior. At least that is what everyone I talk to says. The reality is that I just spend two weeks (including weekends) at the home office and a day and a half at home just doesn’t get it.
Not that I can do anything about it…just yet. That day is coming though! This week and next should help determine the timetable of at least giving me the option of if I want to come off the road.
Coming home Friday night was a two edged sword. In that regard, the last two weeks were very good for me. Not that I already didn’t know the outcome of the complex relationship that I had with a co-worker, but that it is done in every sense of the word is actually a relief! The hurt is gone and I actually wonder what I saw in Lynette. Or is she just acting that way now? Doesn’t matter any more, next!
Of all the people in the world, Julia Roberts actually helped me out on this one! I was watching her on Good Morning America (my favorite morning show, Today just doesn’t cut it anymore) and she was talking about her former relationship with Benjamin Bratt. She heard some of the comments that he had made about her (none disparaging). She remarked that she was glad that he left the relationship if he truly felt that his needs weren’t getting met. Somehow, an epiphany came over me and all was right for me with Lynette. I wasn’t hurt or frustrated with her.
Now the only hassle that I have left regarding Lynette is having to work with her. In the past, she literally had control over my life, determining which clients I see and when. Although some of my colleagues might dispute it, I really don’t think the relationship benefited me in that regard. Yes, there WERE benefits, but not regarding anything at work. And since the powers to be are creating territories, my exposure to her will be limited. See…there is a God in heaven.
So, one door completely closed, I am looking at all doors and seeing what is out there for me.
The past two weeks brought me into a different circle of co-workers than I have run with in the past. Good? I am not sure yet. Bad? I really don’t think so. I have got a glimpse of these people (Jenny, Neil, Rebecca and Deborah) and am not quite sure what to think about them. Time will tell. I have tried to make a habit of staying under the radar (if that is really possible), but maybe this is my breakout time.
And on the home front, there is a mixture of emotions. What is it that I want out of a relationship? Some woman actually flirted with me on the way home the other night and it felt good. What does that mean in the long run? I guess it is good to get back out on the road and have some time to myself.
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