Spooky Scary Greetings from Alcatraz!

No inmates escaping today, just great views of San Francisco.
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Hot NOW!!

This morning was the first time I've ever had a hot, fresh, Krispy Kreme doughnut. And I may have had a second one too.

Happy Homecoming Elon!!

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Backed Up

I will pay someone to organize m expense for me. And to think... I was originally excited about doing them!!
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Typical Tuesday Traffic

Welcome to the 405.
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Best of Times, Worst of Times

My mom, if you haven’t met her, is an amazing woman. One of my favorite things about her though, is the way she dances in the car. Her favorite song- well, she has lots of favorites, but let me claim this as her favorite for this posting- is by Chumbawamba, “I Get Knocked Down.” A funny choice for my mother, but she likes the tune because it is easy to dance to, and parallel to her undying motivation and optimism, she also likes the line, “But I get up again, You're never going to keep me down…”

These past weeks have been really hard for me, as evidenced as my lame excuses for blog postings previous to this one. Between horrible travel luck, illness, extreme loneliness , arguments and just plain rough days, I would say that I’m being knocked down a bit by The Organization. Not on purpose at all, and not even directly, but aspects of my job are beginning to wear on me and I’m finding it hard to find new ways to cope with it. The being alone part is probably the worst because in reality, I’m working with people ALL the time. That being said, I shouldn’t really be lonely- but it feels that way.

You know me, so there’s always an “upside” to situations. So here it is… the upside? Today I welcomed 50 New Members to The Organization at UCLA. They were thrilled to join something bigger than themselves and their happiness was visible in everything they did; the way they walked, the way the talked, the way they held themselves. To be able to give them the opportunity of membership to The Organization was both a privilege and an honor. I get excited when I get to share stories of my sisters and the experiences we shared together not because I get to relive those moments, but because I get to see the smile on the face of the person listening. Therefore, to watch these 50 women tonight smile that same way again, was so incredibly rewarding.

So, despite the fact that I’m worn out, exhausted, alone and maybe being walked on a bit, I have to assume that these things are just about the working life and you’ve just got to deal. Right? So, maybe not dancing like my Mom, but in my own way all together, I guess I just have to get back up again, because really, who am I going to let keep me down?

Travel Obsession #3

Eagle Creek Packing Cubes: Another consultant suggested these to me. They have made all the difference in the world. Depending upon the kind of trips I’m on and the length of time, each cube has a different set of outfits that I can mix and match. By the end of the trip, I can put all my dirty clothes into one and when I get home, drop it off at the dry cleaners.

Heaven

Some day my prince will come, but until then, I found my sole(s). Thanks Kitson outlet; home of discount designer shoes that will put every shoe addict in rehab.
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Dog Sitting #2

Look who came to keep us company during late night meetings... Almost as cute as this guy!

Tallying up the Numbers

• Days spent in Eugene, OR: 7
• Number of sorority women that I have met: 147
  
• Total Hours Spent in hotel room: 26
• Number of caffeine units consumed/ day: too many to count, but I do know that a venti iced coffee with two equal costs $2.85 in Eugene....
• Collegiate meetings during the week: 13, 5 were sessions with tears
• Contained cases of H1N1: 2
• Smiling faces on Bid Day: 50!
• Feeling purely exhausted but loving every minute of it: Priceless.
  

Even on the hardest days of your job, it is a joy to find that you still like doing what you're doing.

Necessary to get through the day. And when visiting OR.

The women here are obsessed with cheering on the Ducks (duh!) and Dutch Brothers coffee. A drive through, walk-up hut combination, Dutch Brothers offers up beverages, hot, cold or blended, with creative names like "The Annihilator" (3 extra shots of espresso) and "Kahula Kicker.". Sadly, no actual Kahlua in the latter.

Running on three hours of sleep today... I could potentially be visiting Dutch Brothers multiple times.
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Look Who I Found?

My travels to Oregon afforded me a visit with my favorite sister!
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Travel Obsessions #2

Hobo International Wallet: I’d always thought these were so cool and saved up for one for a while. Never knew how convenient it would be for travel though! I put my boarding passes in the middle, slip my phone AND camera into a pocket, separate my receipts and it is big enough to take out as a clutch, and small enough to use it as a wallet. Mine is of course, black (not pink), and I love it.

Observations in SoCal

Working in Southern California for the past couple of weeks has yielded some interesting observations...

• As the seasons change, people begin to layer and bring out their winter coats, scarves and Ugg boots. It is, let me remind you, still 80 degrees during the day and maybe 60 degrees in the evenings. Ridiculous apparel for such warm weather.
• 40% of students get around campus via skateboard. This also includes women.
• If you don't have an iPhone, you're not cool.
• Diversity exists here. I love it.
• A wildfire is not news, it is a common occurrence.
• Discussions of Micheal Jackson's death are STILL being had; most of them revolve around his supposed murder.

I believe that had I been around SoCal for the last 4 years, I might also don Ugg boots in the warm autumn months, but mine will stay in my closet until December.

Travel Update

Travel update for Ms. World Traveler- I'm taking it to the streets... ie. traveling via car these next few months. Minus my trip to Oregon, it's behind the wheel for me. Here's hoping I maintain my clean driving record and gas prices stay somewhat, low. Sort of sad I'll be missing out on frequent flier points! Perhaps though I can pass in through town and visit your neck of the woods though?

Travel Obsession Series #1

So, I've developed a list of "Travel Obsessions"- things that I've found I cannot live without while on the road. These things make my life easier, help me to get the most out of the least, and most importantly, fit into my suitcase.

In compiling my list, I realized that it is probably going to grow as time goes on, so this is going to be a series of "Obsessions" in which I will add to and share with all you lovely folks periodically. Let the Obsessions begin...

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Travel Obsession #1: Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones

Long flight? Fussy toddler sitting two rows behind you? Chatty Kathy talking your ear off on the plane when you’d just like to sleep? Invest in these babies. So, they’re not the most stylish of headphones, but form doesn’t always have to meet function. Great for creating your own personal bubble , or for enjoying your favorite music as if in a private concert hall. Worth the expense… although mine were a gift :)

Stripping and Airports

So, flying as much as I have in the past three months, I have developed an outfit and packing technique that makes going through security easier. Typically, I don my trouser denim, black tank and some type of cardigan, paired with black flats and a chunky, colorful necklace. Not only is this outfit comfortable, but it is also rather heavy, so I’m given a little bit more space and weight in my suitcase. I tow my briefcase with me, which is filled to the brim with reports, papers, binders and my trusty laptop. My purse is loaded down with my jewelry (don’t want it stolen out of my bag), two crackberries (work one and personal one), a water bottle (empty- I fill it on the other side of the gate thanks to the “no liquids policy”), a book (another Paul Theroux at the moment, duh), a magazine (the latest issue of Wine and Spirits) and my wallet (if you know me well, you know my wallet is like a small clutch). So naturally, I approach security, whip out my laptop, throw it in a bin and strip down to my jeans and tank to walk through the metal detector. Shoes, bags and sweaters are jammed into another bin and my darling patent leather briefcase on wheels brings up the rear. 2 minutes maximum. No big deal. And best part yet… I’m never stopped through the metal detector and never chosen for a random search.

Well, inconveniently, the seasons are starting to change and now that I’ve mentioned I’m never stopped, I’m sure I will be- like today, at 4:30am, in Indianapolis. Charming. Due to the weather change, I now have to pack and travel with heavier shoes also, a sweatshirt or a coat, maybe an extra sweater and a pashmina (doubles as a pillow/ blanket, and if I’m feeling particularly mischievous on a flight, a blanket fort in my seat). This extra layer of sweater and scarves adds an extra 3 minutes to my strip down session at security. What I find even more annoying than the extra layer, is by the time you peel off all your extra clothes, the airport is freezing! Your bare feet are on cold, dirty tile floor and the air conditioning is blasting past you, chilling you to the bone. It is comparable to the feeling you have when you get out of a hot shower and step into a cold bathroom. I guess really, I only find this extremely annoying because when I fly, it is usually unnaturally early in the morning, or extremely late at night; prime cranky hours for me.

Tip of the iceberg this morning? I was also selected for an obnoxious “bonus” security walk through. You walk through some wind chamber-like device, have to spin around in circles, hands in the air- ridiculous. I swear it’s for the sheer entertainment of the security people. Needless to say I was not stashing any secret explosive devices (just an extra pair of earrings in my pocket) and I was increasingly peeved at TSA.

Best method for survival? I think I’m going to start traveling in a dress (comfortable!) with tights and boots- they are in once again this season. Hmm... shopping trip? That means I only have to take off the boots (30 seconds) and my scarf (5 seconds) and place them in the bin with my purse and other necessary travel crap, I mean items. That’s down to a minute- lovely. Here’s hoping that stripping becomes easier in the winter, despite the extra layer of warmth…