Week on the Road

I flew to Fargo Monday morning.  Because Joy was there and it was not 20-below, we took a walk downtown for dinner.  We were told the best restaurant in downtown Fargo is Juano's.  We saw a sign that said "Monday - $1.99 Margaritas"  so I was in.  It was good, but hard-core Mexican food people might find it bland.

The next morning I thought I might walk the couple of blocks to the coffee shop.  But it was 12 degrees.  Then the flights were delayed and I spent six hours in the Fargo airport.  This wouldn't have been so bad except that the guy that ran Barnstormer - the airport restaurant - retired and took with him the recipe for his famous beer cheese soup.

That should be illegal.

Wednesday, I flew to Washington, still feeling the motion sickness from the day before.  I met Holly for dinner Thursday and found this at Pentagon Row:

Dear Chicago:  It seems that 52 degrees is not "too warm" to open an outdoor rink.

I managed to forget my phone at the hotel, which I discovered while waiting for the Metro to go to the airport three hours after checking out.  Because I am the luckiest freaking person alive, housekeeping hadn't gotten to the room yet and I was able to retrieve it without even making myself late.

Now I am home, exhausted but happy.  I also finished trimming the Christmas trees.  I am at least half ready for the holiday.

And It Hasn't Changed a Bit

Back in Washington.  And for anyone who is new here, don't bother trying to break into my house because I do not live alone, I have a dog and I have ADT.

My cab was already parked out front when I came downstairs at 6am.  My dog did not make a fuss.  Traffic was fine.  My secret airport security line remained true.  I nearly forgot to take my bag o'liquids out, but never mind that.  Oh, and I gave the Stare of Death to a chick that tried to line jump me and she submitted to my authori-tay.  I had Auntie Anne's pretzels for breakfast and an absolutely perfect Diet Coke from the fountain.

I had an exit row seat and slept for nearly the entire flight.

My bag was first off the line.  My Metro train was pulling up just as I got to the platform.  I happen to be using the bag in which I last left my key to the DC office, which is double-cool because I really hadn't remembered where I left it.

I tried a new combination at the awesome Atrium Cafe deli and it totally worked.  The rain held off until we got back to the office. I had a few good meetings and checked in at the hotel where I have perfectly serviceable wi-fi.

I forgot my sunglasses, but you know.  It's always something.

The Travel Gods have smiled upon me and I am grateful.  All Hail, Gods of Travel.

Coordinating a Conference This Week

Staying at a local hotel.  I forgot my glasses and one of my allergy drugs.  And cash.  And Diet Coke, which I really should have considered. 

I could theoretically drive home to get them, but am not inclined to fight the traffic.

Happily, things are otherwise going well.

DC Redux. Again.

I forgot contact lens solution.  But I found an old Holiday Inn room key that I was able to return when I checked in.

Yesterday, the cupcake truck came to our office.  Apparently, they have two trucks now.  But I hear that they are posting so often that my colleagues are now unfollowing them.  Whatever.  I got in line for the Black Irish Creme Cupcake:

Dark chocolate cake and Irish Cream frosting.  The chocolate was so dark that I would call it bitter.  The frosting had just a hint of Irish Creme flavor.  I imagine the dark chocolate people are loving this one.  I am going back to vanilla.

It is Only a Two Day Trip

Things I Forgot to Bring to Washington This Week:

1. My passport
2. My flight itinerary
3. My Blackberry charger (I am just going to leave the one I keep borrowing in the conference room)
4. My glasses
5. A nail file
6. A notebook (who needs to write anything at work, anyway)

Thankfully, I have a CVS here.

Things I Forgot to Bring to Fargo

1. My Passport.  No, I am not running for the border.  How far is the border, anyway?  But I normally use it for airport security because it is easier to grab than my driver's license.  
2. A hairbrush.  No kidding.
3. Pajamas.  I remembered my Urlacher jersey for the game tomorrow night, but not a bloody nightshirt.  I will be sleeping in the turtleneck that I wear under said jersey.

This trip was looking like an "everything that can go wrong, will".  My meeting materials were not finished when I left the office at lunchtime today.  The parking lots at O'Hare were full.  By "parking lots", I mean Daily Parking, Valet Parking and Economy Parking.  I had to park at the double remote parking lot that involved taking a bus to the Economy Parking Lot where you pick up the train to the terminal.  I didn't know such a place existed.

On the train, a guy started counting.  He got to eleven.  Eleven squad cars with their lights on.  Then I spotted a fire in the distance.  Lots of smoke and on property.  Not on a runway, but in that general direction.  I still don't know what that was.

Then I went to my super-secret security line where there is no line.  And I couldn't use it because I did the mobile phone boarding pass and they didn't have the scanner there.  So I went to the next line, where there was a serious queue, and the very nice i.d. checker was going awfully slow because it was her first day.  And then I was selected for a pat-down.

I had a vague moment of wonder - whether Someone was trying to tell me not to get on that airplane today.

I ignore those thoughts, which is good because the flight was on time and perfectly pleasant.  The hotel shuttle was waiting for me when I got outside in the 27 degree Fargo night.  And I was assured in the bar that the Bears game would be on the big screen tomorrow night.

All is right with the world.