IOU Canada

In the last day and half I've driven approximately 231 miles through 2 countries.

I kicked off my update New York client (hereby known as the "Canadian Client") this week. My colleague and I flew into Syracuse, drove 2.5 hours to the hospital and then went our separate ways today. My colleague drove back to Syracuse while I gave Montreal a try.

The drive was a little stressful. Our clients kept talking about how border patrol had really been cracking down and pulling people over more often so I was a bit on edge. Pulling up to a toll manned by 1 person with a line of cars behind me and no cash didn't help. After about 5 minutes of explaining to the agent that I had no cash and no way of getting any and they had no way of processing a credit card (which is not what their sign would lead you to believe) or allowing me to mail my payment in, he finally let me go through. So, apologies Canada, I owe you $3.25.

Unfortunately I spent the rest of the drive tense as well as I didn't have GPS, had no idea where I was and didn't understand the speed limits. Fortunately the trip was uneventful.

So far I'm impressed with the Montreal airport. They take their security super seriously. More than half a dozen different people looked at or scanned my boarding pass (and I'm not even on the plane yet). I particularly liked going through US Customs here. I'm slightly less stressed about the hour I have to change planes in Philly!

In case you were wondering...

Vacation packing...not the same as work packing...but it all has to fit in the same suitcase...

I am not a rule breaker (POLL!)

I'm just not. Knowingly breaking rules makes me uncomfortable. So when people come up to me in airports and ask me to watch their luggage while they go to the bathroom I always say no. I get that it's a hassle to take all your stuff into the bathroom with you, but I do and so can you!

I've been asked this multiple times with various reactions. Some are fine with it, understanding of my hesitancy. One guy got mad at me! Today's case felt he needed to explain the hassle (again, something I understand, not a difficult concept) and then mentioned that it was ok because he "is with the FAA anyway". Awesome.

So what do you think? Am I being uptight here? Or is this appropriate in a post 9/11 world? Take the poll to the right and feel free to comment below

Dear Apartment, See you next month!

Across the next three week I expect to spend approximately 24 hours in my apartment...

Well this just happened...

I decided it was time for my apple and peanut butter snack (working in the office can be like kindergarten without the nap time). I walked into the pantry with just my apple and not the apple cutter at my colleagues desk. I realized I had also forgotten my cup which I had intended to refill. I walked back to my desk to grab my cup and returned to the pantry...again with the apple cutter. Third time was a charm though.

Guess who is ready for vacation...

Making the most of (someone else's) bad situation

Just got home from a 2 day trip to New Hampshire. Fortunately for me I landed before not 1 but 2 different flights I was booked on were even supposed to take off!

I was originally scheduled to leave out of Manchester at 5:10 anticipating a long day of meetings. Due to a variety of reasons we ended up only having one, 10am, meeting. Unfortunately there are no earlier, direct, flights from Manchester to DC so I switched to a flight from Boston where the shuttle leaves hourly. I contemplated booking the 2pm but went for the 3pm. I figured it would be easier to switch to an earlier flight than deal with having missed a flight. I former colleague of mine "gifted" me Silver status on US Airways so I would have been able to switch for free if changed my Frequent Flier number from my United number to my US Airways number. I am generally reticent to do that because I prefer my miles and segments go to my United account for status and possible future vacations. But in this case, I was ready to get home!

As usual it took me less time to get to Boston as I thought it would. I always anticipate a 2 hour ride and it's closer to 90 minutes. So I rushed to get to the terminal where Agent told me it would be faster to print out my 3pm ticket, get through security and then change my flight.

When I finally got through security and to the gate I not only was able to get on an earlier flight, but a much earlier flight. Apparently the 1pm had been delayed and was going to be leaving momentarily. One the one hand I felt bad for those who had been sitting there, on the other, I love when I'm able to walk right onto a flight with no wasted time sitting around. Not only that, but they were moving passengers up for free because they anticipated thunderstorms and delays for the 3pm flight. I was able to get to DCA just before 3pm and home not long after that.

Hey buddy, what's in the cooler??

I'm always amazed at what people use for their carry-ons. I routinely see shopping bags, duffels, the occasional grocery bag/ikea bag, cardboard boxes, etc. Today someone carried on a cooler (the plastic, not Styrofoam kind), sealed with a serious masking tape job, on to my flight to Manchester, NH. And not a small, little lunch box size, cooler but a bigger, take out on a boat, kind of cooler. In fact, he couldn't fit it under a seat. Fortunately, for him, the flight was fairly empty and it was wedged between seats.

I spent a good portion of the flight wondering what was in the cooler. Food? Some kind of DC delicacy? Half-smokes? Maybe he originated elsewhere, so the food could be anything. Drinks? Some kind of body part/organ donation? Fish (He looked like he could have just rolled off a boat)?

I did ask the guy what was in the cooler, and it was none of those things. Apparently he had been asked this question all day. Other ideas from the Gate Attendants in Texas (where he originated) included lobster (although why you would fly lobster from Texas to New England is beyond me) and beer (again, who flies beer as a carry on? how would you even do that? I don't know of any beer sold in 3oz bottles).

Any other ideas what someone might carry on in a cooler? I'll fill you in tomorrow...

Update: a motor. Dude had a motor in his cooler. Apparently he picked up a motor for his kid motorbike or go cart or something like that and tried to ship it back home but none of the shipping companies were open on Sunday so he picked up a cooler instead. It was kind of a let down for me that it wasn't something that necessitated staying cool... 

I can't decide...

if this job is good or bad for my personal expenses. There are definitely positives. If I'm traveling I basically incur no personal expenses. My meals are expensed on my company card and I avoid any personal expenses I would have otherwise had if I was home (things generally associated with a personal life such as happy hours, dinners with friends, etc).

On the other hand, when I am home, it is usually only for a few days and then I travel again. As such I, lately, very rarely go to the grocery store or purchase anything perishable (you know, like chicken, fruit, veggies...the healthy stuff). Instead I'm supplementing with one-off purchases. Yesterday I ran to Trader Joe's (very luckily located around the corner from my office) and purchased a few ready made lunches. Fortunately TJs (as it is affectionately known) is fairly reasonably priced but still more expensive than if I had made my own lunch. Breakfast is another issue. Yesterday I paid $6.82 for a latte and a breakfast sandwich at Starbucks. In an effort to be more fiscally responsible today I ran into a sandwich shop/market near my office and grabbed a 1/2 pint of milk...and paid $1.53! I can get 1/2 gallon for $1.94 at CVS!! I think this purchase bothered me more than the expensive Starbucks purchase!

A Great Time for Virginia Wine

For the third year in a row my friend Jenna and I went to the Vintage Virginia Wine Festival. We started going with a mutual friend when we all worked at the same company. We don't all work together any more and each year the group of us has changed a bit but we always have a great time.This year it was Jenna, Jenny, some of Jenna's friends and me. Hopefully I'm not jinxing myself but...three years in a row and we've had amazing weather. It was definitely a great way to kick off the summer!

Jenna & Co

Jenny and Me (I'm blaming the spf 70 for my face being whiter than usual, but at least I'm using sunscreen!)

Me and Jenna! (I'm on my tip-toes and Jenna is squatting...)

Kinda Perfect...

Had a great afternoon today.

Went to check into my flight and was offered a seat on an earlier flight. Made it through security, without rushing and anxiety, and walked right onto my flight with no waiting and had a row to myself.

Got home early, finished up my work for the evening and had a nice dinner.

Went to the driving range with my cousin, weather was perfect. Hit about 75 balls, 20 of them I even hit well (which is not to say I swung 75 times, probably 3 times that many).

And now I'm having a glass of wine and ignoring my emails...

June Calendar

Happy Summer! I hope you're enjoying the 90+ temps that seem to be taking over the country.