Damn Travel

I'm home finally after 4 weeks of travel since the last week in June.  2 clients (3 visits total) and a corporate meeting.  One thing that I have the hardest time with while traveling is eating.  Most of the hotels have a comp breakfast or in the case of our corporate meeting, we had 3 meals a day plus a snack and booze.  I tried really hard to be good but 1)the food was really good 2)I had to eat and work at the same time 3)I was working in my down time so exercise didn't happen (running through the airport doesn't count).

What is a girl to do?  I would love to try those shakes they advertise from the various companies but I just can't put my faith in a product that costs so much money.  So I went shopping today and picked up Strawberries, cantaloupe, bananas, celery and carrots.   I would love to say no carbs but HA!  that won't happen.  I start clean this week.  No ice cream, no pop, no munching at night.  Water or iced tea (unsweetened stuff I make) only.  Coffee only in morning.  No sugar.  Minimal carbs and walking after dinner.   Lets see if I can get back on track for fall.

Off the Bucket List

We are SOOO blessed to have such crazy shit in the US for road trip amusement.  Giant Rubberband balls, Tee Pee hotels..  you know what I am talking about...

So here I am in Michigan.  I need to take the I-94 east from the airport to get to my hotel.  And there it is..  the Giant Uniroyal Tire.  I didn't take a picture as I was driving.  But you can read about it here.

No joke.. I can't make this shit up.  I was at a plaza grabbing food and you can see it from the hill I was on.  God Bless this land.... I am amused.

travel

I have booked travel for 2 back to back trips.  Both trips I leave on a Monday and come home on a Thursday.  This shall be my test of sanity.  If I can pull this off..  wait.  If Tim and Erin and I can pull this off, we are in the clear.

Back to back..  gee. But it is what is it is.  And I hope for more Airport entertainment.  I love Airport entertainment.  People amuse me when I'm travel.  I always seem to be the person that seems to know what is going on, where things are.  I have "that face".  I need to remember to bring my earphones...plug them in and not turn them on.

Time to earn some miles and get over my travel anxiety.  I managed to drive in Malvern PA (and get lost a few times but I have GPS now so its all good).  I can do this.  I can.

adventures in phily.

The start of my walk to get the train...  at least it was wonderful weather

I spent my Friday in Philidelphia, PA for work.  I needed to be at a meeting with a client.  Now, I'm not a frequent traveler so this will become the norm for me soon given my job.    Anyways.....
The flight out was the first leg of the adventure.  It was  a prop jet.  Yep... a prop jet.

The Phily airport was huge!!  After trying to find the darn Taxi cabs, I finally made it into downtown.  The cabbie took the side roads to avoid the main traffic. Such beautiful brownstones.  And the streets were so narrow!  I'd hate to see what they are like snow covered.

I was dropped off in the "artsy" section of the city - South Broad and Pine.  Can we say total Character?  I sat in Starbucks just watching.  I don't think I can ever burn from my mind the old man, in speedos, wearing skates and carrying a bugle.  Yes... you heard me.  A bugle.

My meetings went well and I made the decision to walk the 9 or so blocks north the Suburban Station to catch the direct Commuter Train to the airport.  My VP called me brave to walk.  I called it an adventure.  The route was direct and full of..  color.  I use the term to describe the flavor of more characters along the way.  WOW!!!

After a 20 min walk, I found the station (right near city hall which was beautiful!!).  Finding the ticket counter was a pain and it was like pulling teeth to get info from the ticket agent.  Its true what they say.. people in Phily are angry.

I have never taken a commuter train before.  When I went to DC with Tim we took the subway but this was different.  It was a step up from subway but not quite Amtrack.  The car conductor was a gruff middle aged man..  with a blinking  tie.  Yes.. he had lights on his tie.  How can you be so angry and wear that tie?

Back at the Airport security went smoothly.  No pat downs at all.  Found my gate, found the shopping, got the souvenirs I promised (how could I not get a mini Liberty Bell bell?) and got some food.

so far, things were going smoothly.  Until it came time to board.  I ran between gate B8 and B1 because the computer was being stoopid.  With that settled on B8, we were old we had to delay boarding because of a BROKEN SEAT. 30 minutes later, we board.  And wait. There was a change in wind direction which was causing take off issues.  We were supposed to take off at 6:10pm.  We took off closer to 8pm.  

Needless to say, I am glad to be home.  And I get to do it all over again next week.  I will miss Mr. Bugle man.