Unhealthy Love of Laundry

What can I say?

Everyone who knows me well, knows it to be true. I love taking dirty clothes and making them clean. I can't help myself. And, don't let an item have a spot on it or be dingy. At that point, the Spray-n-Wash and Biz come out with a vengence.

As readers of this blog know, I've been commuting to Houston for a while and have not been working as a virtual employee. One of the advantages of working at home (unspoken, of course) is being able to keep current on your laundry. Before I started traveling every week, I never had laundry piled up. I washed everything in the hamper on Monday. On Thursday or Friday, I'd again wash everything in the hamper so at the beginning of the weekend all of our clothes were clean. I was able to do this by taking breaks between responding to e-mails and in between conference calls.

Since I now return home on Thursday evenings, I start laundry Friday morning and frequently am not focused enough to finish it until Sunday afternoon when I have to pack for the next week. This change in my schedule caused an unfortunate circumstance for The Husband recently.

Because it is just the two of us and we own plenty of towels, I made the decision to skip laundering the dirty towels one weekend.

I forgot I did his briefs at the same time.

When I returned home the second week, we went out to run errands on Saturday morning.

As we left the house, he said "I guess we need to go to Wal-mart."

I said, "What for?"

He said, "I only have one more pair of briefs. If you don't do the towels, I'll have to wear boxers."

I said, "MR. MAN (see Stephen King's book, Misery), you know how to do laundry!"

He said, "I wouldn't dare!"

Perhaps I "own" the laundry process too strongly in our home. I need to work on letting go!

A Continuing Theme...

for this week..forgetfulness!

I left the office today and drove to the airport. Upon arrival, I realized I left my CELL PHONE at the office. Do you know how hard it is to find a pay phone nowadays? I kept thinking "I'll call 'so and so' and ask them to look for my phone." How could I? 

I HAD NO CELL PHONE!

I Made It To Houston Today

On the positive side:

• I was not frisked at security
• I was not told my luggage was too big to carry on

On the negative side:

• I forgot my hands free set for my phone
• I forgot my clip on sunglasses for my prescription glasses
• My office was assigned to someone else last week, while I was home sick
• My usual type room at the hotel was unavailable, so I'm in a room that doesn't really work for me, but I have no options to change it this week

I need to get my travel "groove" back!

TSA Stories from the Previous Week

At the Tulsa airport last Monday, I was frisked (whoo hoo) because I did not take off my long sleeve shirt, layered over a tank top. Now mind you, I took off my shoes, I packaged my liquids in 3oz or smaller containers and put them in a zip lock bag and I took my pc out of my brief case, but that was not enough. Okay. I can accept that.

At the Houston airport last Thursday, I was allowed to get all the way to the TSA checking my id against my boarding pass. One of the TSA's who had just allowed me to pass through the line came up to me and following is the conversation:

Her: "Your bag is too big. You must check it."

Me: "I take this bag through security every week and gate check it."

Her: "Your bag is too big. You must check it."

Me: "See the Continental gate check tag? I gate check this bag every week!"

Her: "Your bag is too big. You must check it. Take it to the counter. If they say it is okay, you can bring it."

She's a TSA. I do not want to argue at an airport. I want to get home...I do not want to be locked up in a small windowless room in an airport! So, I go to the Continental counter. There are a number of customers using the kiosks. The Continental employee helped all of them and finally asked me if I needed something. I repeated my conversation with the TSA:

Continental Employee: "It's fine. What is her problem?"

Me: "I don't know. I pointed out the existing gate check tag."

Her: "It's fine. Go back to the line."

Me: "Thanks so much. What is your name, in case she asks?"

Her: "Connie"

Me: "Thanks, Connie."All the while thinking "I could NOT make up: Connie from Continental!"

I went back to the security line and told the TSA that "Connie from Continental" told me the bag was okay to gate check. The new TSA said "Okay, if she say so."

Travel is getting harder and harder. Is it really necessary that it be so hard?

On the Road - Packing Dirty Clothes

So, what is your system? Of course, I have one.

I check into my hotel room and unpack everything. I hang clean clothes in the closet and put the remaining items in the dresser drawers.

Every evening, I take my worn clothes and repack them, resulting in layers of dirty clothes in the suitcase.

This is a good system for me, because on my last morning in the hotel I don't have to scoop up all the dirty clothes off the floor of the closet to stuff them in the suitcase. All I have to do is drop my hair brush, etc. into the case and I'm good to go.

You wonder why I wrote this post? Because I love efficiency and this is one of the things I do that makes my life easy during travel. :0)

Think of me as you read this post, as I am on my way home today!

Air Travel

My first day last week of resuming corporate road warrior status did not have a good start.  I'm the type traveler who allows plenty of time to get to the airport, through security and to the gate.  Last Monday I was directed to the "expert traveler" line and the TSA checking ids was, without a doubt, the slowest I have ever encountered.  I counted 11 people in the line next to me who were passed through the checkpoint by another TSA before the woman ahead of me and her two children were cleared and I moved to the front of the line.  Why were they in the "expert traveler" line you ask?  I don't know.

At the front of the line, my documents are scrutinized thoroughly and I'm directed to the line that is using the new whole body imager.  This piece of equipment seriously slows down the process.  You step into the scanner, hold your arms above your head, the machine scans you and you step out.  Once you are out, you are held in line by a TSA who is waiting for someone to communicate with them via an earpiece that your scan is clear. If it is not clear, they frisk you.  I got a frisking that day, yes I did.  I'm still not sure why, since I was not wearing a bra with an under wire!!!

Finally, I proceed to my gate with plenty of time before departure.  Well, lo and behold, I see a "delayed" sign posted next to the sign for my flight.  Delayed 2.5 hours worth.  We have a plane, but no flight crew.  I arrive at the office in Houston in the middle of the afternoon.  I certainly did not accomplish much on this day.  

My return flight last week also had it's challenges.  Early morning storms across the Southeastern US caused delays in the flights across the country.  Even though my flight was at 5:30 in the evening, airlines and airports were still playing catch-up. (Not to be confused with ketchup!)  Anyway, I was about an hour and 15 minutes late arriving home.

In the big scheme of things, these delays do not amount to much individually.  But for folks who are road warriors and travel every week, they are very frustrating and cut into the precious time we have at home.

I'm going to have to work on my zen attitude over the coming weeks!

Frustration

Sorry I missed posting this week.  

I've been frustrated that my corporate computer does not allow me to logon to this blog and post new entries.  I understand companies restricting certain websites due to security concerns and/or trying to ensure employees don't waste time goofing off instead of working. However, I'm supposed to be in the category of employees that "live on the web" without restrictions.

What's up with this road block then?  I intend to find out!