September 29, 2003
I put in more than 80 hours of work last week and I'm still exhausted. My back hurts (from leaning over my laptop), and my eyes are going wacky (from staring at computer screens for so long last week). I must say I don't want to do it again. Unfortunately, this is another busy week. Then on top of that, the VP of International Sales stopped me in the hall and asked me to go back to Taiwan in a couple weeks. While I would think I'd be excited about that, I'm actually not. It would get my frequent flyer miles up, but it wouldn't give me the rest that I so much need, since I would go over there, make some presentations, and return. My last trip there wasn't much of a break at all. The guys I work with over there are great (though not the best influence), but I think I'm just too tired.
Posted by charr at 12:17 PM
Reader Comments
Did they get you drunk??!
I find lying on the floor in front of the TV, turning off the lights, lighting candles and watching Survivor on Thursday night very rejuvenating.
I have a friend who travelled all the time to give computer technical presentations and although he always talked about it like it was so great that he got to travel everywhere for free once he got promoted and stopped travelling he admitted he had grown to hate it. I guess business travel isn't all that fun.
Can you take someone along with you on the company's dime? He could.
Drunk? I don't think so, though I don't feel completely conscious.Your relaxation technique sounds nice except that I don't have tv. I have a nice tv, but no tv. No telephone either. Or internet access. I think those things were all promised by July 13th or something. It's a bit of a sore subject.As for traveling, I usually like to get away, so I often don't mind it, but I don't know if I'm up for more work over there right now. We can't bring others along (which would definately make it more enjoyable) either. However, if I don't go, I'll probably leave that week for somewhere else. I'm thinking of San Luis Obispo -- just 3 1/2 hours north of you Ellen.
No, I meant the Taiwanese, did they get you drunk - you said they were a bad influence.
So you're telling me you aren't watching Monday Night Football the Packers vs. the Bears tonight?? Bummer. I'm required to watch because I grew up in WI and my Dad calls me before the game to check up on me and make sure I'm clear on what time and what channel it's going to be on!
Maybe you can come to my baptism if it ever gets off the ground.... I did find someone in my ward, a new guy from UT, who can maybe do my baptism. He's coming over tomorrow with my mishies for my last lesson so we'll see what happens...... I'll write up the whole story in my journal.
My mishies did tell me they could baptize me if I insisted but I think neither of them are excited about being pressed into service so I doubt I will ask them because I am too good of friends with them now to make them do something they don't want to do. They both just want to do the closing prayer since it's the easiest. I really don't blame them!
You don't have a TV? Oh my. Cameron, you poor, poor thing. I don't know what to say about that except that you have my condolences.It's pretty cool that you get to travel so much, but I guess that after a while it must get tiring. It can't be fun after an 80 hour work week. Yuck.How are the guys over there not a good influence?
Maybe I shouldn't have said anything about that. They're good guys, but their idea of a good time includes women who are almost or entirely in the nude. Since that's not an environment I want to be in, I had to leave them and catch a cab back to the hotel last time. It was kind of awkward, and I'd like not to have to do it again.
The real question is, do you have to fly coach?Whenever I have traveled on business, I do not go out with clients. Not even for lunch. The fact is, I prefer some alone time to figure out what else I need to get done on the trip. Lunch is a good time for me to assess that. Anything after work usually involves ahcohol because of social traditions and a seeming inability for people to communicate after 5pm without it. I won't even go with my usual coworkers after work let alone clients when traveling. I've seen enough in the past and heard enough in my present to know I don't want to be around coworkers with minds not functioning at sober capacity. Their words and behavior and secrets and opinions they let trickle from their loose lips drop their credibility factor to the floor.
Yes, I fly coach. Is that fun? No. You shouldn't have gotten me started. My last flight from Tokyo to Seattle was not only long, but there was a screaming toddler a few rows in front of me. I confess that I had some violent thoughts. I seriously think kids under 5 should be barred from trans-oceanic flights; it's really not fair to other passengers. Of course, there's the problem of transporting those kids. Maybe they could have a sealed off portion of the cabin. I don't know, but it ain't fun.Also, it looks like I will be going to Taiwan, and to Japan. I'm not very excited, since the next couple weeks are going to be filled with work as it is. Oh well.
Like Renee, I don't socialize with co-workers or clients. Frankly, I have no interest in getting drunk or visiting Hooters. I have less interest in watching them get drunk while ogling barely dressed women. I can competely understand the awkwardness in those type of situations when you have to leave. And yay, the company Christmas party is coming up. Anybody have a good excuse not to go that I can use?
You need to make sure the hydrostatic pressure in your bathtub won't be too great to force it's way down the drain.
I guess I wasn't tired enough. I was just approached at work and asked to go to California for a day or two this week. That's this week, right before I leave for Taiwan! That's to make another, possibly very stressful, presentation. Oh, and on top of that, I was conveyed that the COO mentioned that since I had such a long flight, I could write a nice big proposal for another customer.
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Did they get you drunk??!
Posted by Ellen at September 29, 2003 6:47 PMI find lying on the floor in front of the TV, turning off the lights, lighting candles and watching Survivor on Thursday night very rejuvenating.
I have a friend who travelled all the time to give computer technical presentations and although he always talked about it like it was so great that he got to travel everywhere for free once he got promoted and stopped travelling he admitted he had grown to hate it. I guess business travel isn't all that fun.
Can you take someone along with you on the company's dime? He could.