More Joys of Work and Travel in Open Diary 2001-2018 (Pre-Prosebox)

Ugh. D-Day at work today. The best thing I have to report is that I still have a job. The worst part about it is that I now have a whole new area of responsibility loaded on top of my current responsibilities. Everyone here is freaking out about all the changes. One person got laid off, and it was a big surprise to all of us because we didn’t think there was any way to cut back any further. Our area is so lean (and so very mean) to begin with.

Okay. Truth be told, I was honestly getting really comfortable with my job and can actually use a bit of a challenge. I’m sure I’ll have regrets about writing that down later on when I’m overwhelmed and in tears, but I’m really kind of excited about adding this new dimension to my job. I’ll be interacting with more vendors and delving into an aspect of design that I love but just haven’t had the opportunity to get as involved as I’ve wanted to. So hopefully it will all be good. Eventually. I know there’s a learning curve involved, but I think I’m ready for this challenge.

And another, smaller curve ball was thrown at me today. Boss said something about a series of trips for tomorrow and Friday and told me that I should be going and giving presentations to our biggest customers. So there you have it. I’m not prepared. But I guess I’ll make due. The biggest suck is that one of our heavy hitters is my old company in Dallas. I’ll be in town for exactly five hours. I’ve decided not to tell anyone that I’m coming so that I won’t get the inevitable grief that I would get for not coming to see them.

The Road Show begins.

New York was short. Got back late last night. But of course, I did have the opportunity to stir up just a little trouble! Honestly, I must give off some kind of vibe/scent or something when I’m there. Because craziness just seems to follow me around when I’m in that wondrous city.

Got to my hotel late Sunday night and as I was unpacking I realized that I forgot my hairbrush of all things. Now, for some people it might not be a big deal, but not having a hairbrush in my case would be disastrous. And since there was a Sephora a mere block away, I decided to try my luck and see if they were still open. Good excuse to shop, eh?

Yes! Hooray. I wandered the store with joyous abandon. Eventually, I found an overpriced brush and happily paid for it and a bunch of other goodies that I couldn’t live without…such as sparkly lip gloss and little travel sized perfumes. Go figure.

So….I’m walking the long block back to the hotel and I hear a car pull up next to me and sort of crane my eyeballs to see what’s going on. Turns out, it’s a gorgeous guy in a Porsche with the top down. Long story short, he’s incredibly charming and somehow convinces me to have a drink with him (not hard to do, the guy is smoking hot)! Long story even shorter, we stay out until I call it quits at 4:30am! And it was innocent fun too. I had two drinks. He had one. Our last stop of the evening was a bakery. Something scrumptions had just been taken out of the oven and was wafting out into the street. We just had to go in to get a taste of whatever smelled so wonderful! Mmmm. Apple muffins. We talked and talked and talked until we could talk no longer. We both had meetings in the morning (me—9:00, he—9:30), so we kissed on the street in front of the hotel and said goodbye.

Another dream evening in the city. I know nothing will come of it, so I’m just chalking it up to a fun night.

I know I’m wacko and it seems like I make this shit up. But I DON’T! I can’t! It’s all just so bizarre. And unfair.

And I just don’t get it!! Is it that I give off such a carefree air when I know that nothing will come of it? Does that make me that much more approachable? Why does this happen to me only when I travel and not here? What is this strange phenomenon?

The rest of the trip was strictly business. I had the consultant meeting and met with my publication services and worked with my counterpart when she arrived.

Flights were bumpy. I drank my wine. Home late last night. End of story.

Tonight I’m supposed to be going to another one of those wine tasting things, but guess what? It’s already after 7. The tasting ends at 8. I’ll never make it…even though I promised several people I would—including Chris, that guy from Atlanta. Oops!! I just realized that I told him that I would go! Shit! I better call him!

I suck.

I’ll post this and then run. Maybe he’ll meet me somewhere afterwards.