Business Travel

I have relatives who travel on business so frequently that it is a complete non-issue, and entirely commonplace. During casual conversations over dinner they cite their travels, this, this and this country; this, this, this, and this city, meanwhile they have named 3 European countries I would love to visit and 6 US cities I have never been to but would definitely be interested in going.

Personally, I have been excited about this trip to San Diego since I learned I’d be going 6 months ago. I LOVE traveling for work.

It’s a little cheesy but makes me feel more adult.

Like this morning when I was waiting in the security line, a TSA officer was making conversation and answering question for the people in line. He asked me where I was going, San Diego, and then for business or vacation, business. He then looked at me again a little more closely. Yes, I know I look like I’m in college with my jeans and flat shoes and ponytail but Oxford University Press is trusting me to represent our books to 6,000 foreign language teachers so there.

But even before I got to the airport, I love having a car pick me up and drive me to the airport. Even though it was 5:30 am and their was no one around to see it, I love that a black Lincoln Town Car was waiting for and when I stepped out the door,

“Car for you, Miss?”

“Yes”

“Here let me take you bag.”

And 35 very smooth and quiet minutes later I am at the airport.

And I LOVE having my own hotel room. This may be the only time in my life when I have my own bathroom, don’t feel compelled to make my bed, and can use multiple towels every time I shower. Yes, I reuse the same multiple towels the next time I shower. Such luxury! Also, as an active, rolling sleeper there is something nice about knowing I could rock, pivot, and roll an entire 360˚ and still be completely on my king size bed.

Eating alone in restaurants can be dull, but at the end I at least get to plunk down the company credit card. Hopefully it says to the waiter, who has been eyeing me eating along, I’m not lonely, I’m traveling on business.

The other part of it is, I’m going somewhere I have never been, and if it weren’t for this business trip I may never have had the reason to go. From all the recommendations and suggestions from friends and colleagues, San Diego seems like it will be a fun city and I am staying in an area I will not be able to personally afford for many, many years.

So, while there may be a day when it is commonplace for me to travel, here, here, and here, and go there, there, and there. I’m at the place right now where I am just going to enjoy it, and in case an Oxfordians read this I will be working very, very hard too.

New York is so different at 5 am.

All of the noise, the trucks, the car alarms haven’t started yet. The streets are empty and quiet. It’s dark, the wind blows leaves and paper in a silent swirl through the streets.

Driving over the Brooklyn Bridge, the lights of the city are still there, trucks, taxis, and town cars like the one I am in are the only vehicles on the road. The bridge seems busy but as soon as we enter Manhattan the streets are quiet and dark again. Very few people are on the street, apartments, shops, and restaurants are dark, and it is overwhelmingly quiet.

If New York is the city that never sleeps, well at 5 am it is at least at peace.

I think most people have a parent, grandparent, or family member of a prior generation that tells the story, “Well when I was a kid we had to walk to school, two miles, uphill, in the snow.” Well, for my progeny, here’s my version: When I was a kid, we didn’t have cable TV or a remote control. When I was a kid, if you wanted to flip between channels 2-13, you had a get up, cross the room to the television, and push the button relating to which channel you wanted to watch –and don’t even get me started on the internet or cell phones…

The much publicized 40th Anniversary of Sesame Street reminded me of this, my own watching Sesame Street days, and the other PBS shows I loved as a kid –and loved again when I found clips on YouTube yesterday.

While I know that I did, my memories of actually watching Sesame Street are extremely vague and I’m not actually sure they are memories to be honest. I do have very vivid recollections of reading, and re-reading Sesame Street books: There is a Monster at the End of this Book, Don’t Push the Red Button, and the Sesame Street version of Three Little Pigs with Biff the Builder. I can also remember a family trip to Sesame Place though I was probably only 3 or 4 at the time. My Mom likes to tell the story of little me, with my blond pigtails, in a blue and pink bathing suit, standing on my seat, singing along with the Sesame Street gang during one of the shows.

As I got a little older I have more distinct memories of watching, Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego and Wishbone. I looked up both of these shows on YouTube yesterday, the first thing that came back to be was the theme songs, which instantly re-imprinted themselves on my brain and psyche. For WitWiCS (as only the true fans refer to it), the TV show’s only pro over the computer game was the addition of Rockapella and their songs and jingles throughout the show. For Wishbone the theme song is less famous, but kitschier and therefore more easily stuck in one’s head. “What’s the story Wishbone…”

While I don’t watch kid’s TV anymore, it seems like these shows were a little smarter than what is popular today. Are there any kids game shows on anymore? WitWiCS was basically a geography quiz disguised as an international crime caper, and Wishbone was all about introducing literature and making the stories relatable. While there may be some educational minded shows for really young kids, smarter versions for the 6-10 crowd don’t seem to exist anymore.

Just makes me wonder –what are my kids going to watch?

In a feat of athletic prowess like I have never done before –two weeks ago at an Oxford Commas Zog Sports football I scored my first ever touchdown.

The play-by-play:
The Commas were down by 30 points and the second half was winding down –determined to go down swinging, as that is the Oxford way, we lined up on the line of scrimmage, Quarterback Robert calls the play, “The Eagle”. After the “set, HIKE!” I zig to the left, zag to the right, thwarting my meager defender, look up and Robert puts the ball right into my hands –two or three quick steps later I’m in the end-zone and the crowd goes WILD!!!!!

I’m not making any of this up –check out the video!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPydgxmqIqs&feature=player_embedded

We ended up losing something like 36 to 18 –but I like to think I got the ball following for the late-game rally.