Not the greatest day ever

Last night I said I would go to a dinner meeting in Philadelphia in my coworker's place.  Right from work, I took a taxi to the train station, took a train to Philly, and went to the meeting.  I have stopped stressing about making it to these meetings on time (hooray!) because 1. I don't really do anything anyway.  My job is to "observe", and 2. Getting there early is a bad, bad idea because they you have to schmooze.  I HATE schmoozing/small talking/networking.  HATE IT.  And I can usually manage to avoid it by waltzing in, right on time, and politely excusing myself just a few minutes before the meeting ends so I can "catch my train" (or plane) (or go sit in my car).  I always make sure to mention that I'll need to leave a few minutes early when I arrive, that way I don't look rude.  Or like I just hate making smalltalk.

Yesterday I had about half an hour to spare when I got to Philadelphia, so I got myself a cup of surprisingly good train station coffee (it was FAN-freakin-TASTIC, although I was quite tired, so part of that may have been the caffeine addict in me getting his fix), browsed a bookstore, and then hopped in a cab.  I arrived at the restaurant at exactly 6:25, and the meeting was supposed to start at 6:30.

Except it didn't start until 7 (for no clear reason) (and don't worry, I already told my coworker that she OWES ME BIGTIME), so I got to make small talk for an entire half hour.  KILL ME NOW.

Then I got a cab driver who apparently didn't know what the words "Left here, please" mean, who took me on the loooong way home.  I got a little worried that he was trying to kidnap and rape/kill me.  I had my phone out, 9-1-1 dialed so I'd only have to hit send.  Shit, so much for not worrying (but seriously, it was sort of scary).

I got home and plopped into bed exhausted, even though it was only 10:30, and I usually stay up organizing my paperclips or watching America's Next Top Model until at least midnight.  I popped two Lunesta instead of one, because last night was the first night we let Henry run free allll night long and I was expecting there to be some "noise" (by noise, I mean pandemonium) over that decision.  I wasn't worrying, i was just thinking ahead.

Then when Joel woke up at 4:30am for practice, I couldn't get back to sleep.  SO I took another Lunesta.  Then the cats were making some "noise" (here by noise, I mean Henry was yowling to himself in the bathroom.  He does that sometimes), so I took another one.

Here's a surprise: I was feeling a little messed up this morning.  But at least I got to stay in bed until 9.

Then I went to have my long overdue cholesterol test.  They use needles for those.  I hate needles.

You also have to fast for those.  I hate fasting. 

So after getting stuck with the vampire stick and downing a granola bar, I went to the gym.   Because that is what sensible people do.

Now, here I am, at work preparing for the Trip of Dread.

I think tonight's going to be a 3 glass night, if you know what I mean.

Comments

[janet]

oh man just reading this gave me anxiety....3 drinks sound good. Try to have fun in New Orleans, it's a very laid back city!

[Isabel]

Wow...that is all kinds of stressing. I mean, for me, not you!!

And also, that's too many pills sweetie. I hope tonight's better.

[angela]

I hate the required small talk too. I cringe just at the thought of it! Good luck on your trip!

[Jemima]

Business trips suck, no two ways about it. You can be going to NY and staying at gd Ritz and it will still suck. Still, New Orleans will be cool, and maybe you can finish your work lickety-split and then go explore a tad (not too much, it IS dangerous there). I've heard the steaks at Houston's are awesome--one of the cablecar operators told me that and he's from NO. I talk to all cablecar drivers. They KNOW things. Also, best brunch is at the Two Sisters Cafe. Eat a beignet for me. So jealous.

[Jemima]

And yes, that is too many pills. Maybe you need to lock the cats out of the bedroom at night? We had to do that with the damned itchy dog. We got a noisemaker too, with this beautiful rainy day sound. It's great except sometimes it makes me have to pee.