So this is the "ugly" I warned you about on the Frequently Asked Questions page. My job is awesome but it is not always rainbows and butterflies. This is one of those times.
This last weekend was rough. You may have read that it didn't start out well on Friday night. After writing that post on my iPad at the airport; I sulked and stewed for the two flights home. After collecting my luggage, my cute driver arrived and whisked me away for a late dinner date and suddenly I was relaxed again.
Saturday I went to brunch and the mall and to the camera store for some new accessories for my new camera. After spending too much money, I was recruited by my parents to help paint their master bedroom. Turns out, I am awesome at cutting in from the trim work. I credit Sherry and her informative videos at Young House Love. After cleaning the paint off my hands and hair, I had a lovely date at the Iowa Beef Steakhouse and watched movies until way past my bedtime.
Sunday started at its own pace, then I met up with my friend Kristen and her two adorable kids for lunch at Red Rossa Pizza. I returned home to re-pack my bag and returned to the airport. Once again, I was instructed to use the x-ray machine and I declined. The TSA guy near me said they "are playing with our new machines." Awesome, I'm so glad this is a game for you. These machines are new to Des Moines and they are still trying to figure out their procedures.
I forgot to ask for private screening and the female inspecting me and it was once again a traumatizing and embarrassing experience. I had slouched my pants in hopes that the "resistance" she felt would be from the seam of my pants, not from my body. She asked if I would pull them up and I refused. Same routine, touching my crotch, ass and boobs and putting her hands down my pants.
It was mortifying and left me physically and emotionally reeling from the experience. I felt shaky and full of anger and it took a lot of strength to keep from tearing up. Part of me considered calling my boss in tears and telling her that I was done; done traveling, done training, just done. Thankfully my sweet guy talked me down from the ledge. He gently reminded me how much I enjoy my job, the benefits and perks of my job and his encouragement reminded me of the major compliment I received from the General Manager in my business unit. By the time my plane left, I was in a much better mood and I survived my direct flight to Atlanta.
Same old routine; I grabbed my bag, rental car and made my way to I-20 for the two hour trip to Augusta. I arrived at the hotel and settled into the same room I've called home for the last three weeks. And some pains of homesickness set in; nothing a little HGTV couldn't soothe.
I'm really thankful for my friends here in Augusta. I have plans every night, so I won't have time to feel homesick before returning home Thursday afternoon.
My Weekend and Return on Sunday
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
So this is the "ugly" I warned you about on the Frequently Asked Questions page. My job is awesome but it is not always rainbows and butterflies. This is one of those times.
This last weekend was rough. You may have read that it didn't start out well on Friday night. After writing that post on my iPad at the airport; I sulked and stewed for the two flights home. After collecting my luggage, my cute driver arrived and whisked me away for a late dinner date and suddenly I was relaxed again.
Saturday I went to brunch and the mall and to the camera store for some new accessories for my new camera. After spending too much money, I was recruited by my parents to help paint their master bedroom. Turns out, I am awesome at cutting in from the trim work. I credit Sherry and her informative videos at Young House Love. After cleaning the paint off my hands and hair, I had a lovely date at the Iowa Beef Steakhouse and watched movies until way past my bedtime.
Sunday started at its own pace, then I met up with my friend Kristen and her two adorable kids for lunch at Red Rossa Pizza. I returned home to re-pack my bag and returned to the airport. Once again, I was instructed to use the x-ray machine and I declined. The TSA guy near me said they "are playing with our new machines." Awesome, I'm so glad this is a game for you. These machines are new to Des Moines and they are still trying to figure out their procedures.
I forgot to ask for private screening and the female inspecting me and it was once again a traumatizing and embarrassing experience. I had slouched my pants in hopes that the "resistance" she felt would be from the seam of my pants, not from my body. She asked if I would pull them up and I refused. Same routine, touching my crotch, ass and boobs and putting her hands down my pants.
It was mortifying and left me physically and emotionally reeling from the experience. I felt shaky and full of anger and it took a lot of strength to keep from tearing up. Part of me considered calling my boss in tears and telling her that I was done; done traveling, done training, just done. Thankfully my sweet guy talked me down from the ledge. He gently reminded me how much I enjoy my job, the benefits and perks of my job and his encouragement reminded me of the major compliment I received from the General Manager in my business unit. By the time my plane left, I was in a much better mood and I survived my direct flight to Atlanta.
Same old routine; I grabbed my bag, rental car and made my way to I-20 for the two hour trip to Augusta. I arrived at the hotel and settled into the same room I've called home for the last three weeks. And some pains of homesickness set in; nothing a little HGTV couldn't soothe.
I'm really thankful for my friends here in Augusta. I have plans every night, so I won't have time to feel homesick before returning home Thursday afternoon.
There. I said it. Some never thought I would, but I said it. Hopefully I'll feel differently tomorrow (or Sunday at the very least, because I fly again); but for today, I hate it.
Today should have been fairly easy; I worked for four hours in Augusta, drove about two hours to Atlanta and returned my rental car with ease. Checked my bag and joined the short line for security. After ID check, I was the 2nd person in line for carry-on screening - a rarity at Hartsfield-Jackson.
Then it happened; the rent-a-cop instructed me to go through the backscatter/X-ray machine. I've written how I feel about these before,
The worst was rubbing their hands up my leg until met with "resistance" (their word, not mine). "Resistance" being my crotch. Lovely, right?
After returning from testing her gloves for chemical residue, she said I was free to take my belongings and proceed to my gate. Gee, thanks.
I feel violated and dirty. It was embarrassing to watch other passengers walk past while some strange female was touching my breasts and ass. Yes, I was given the option of private screening, and next time I will certainly accept. I felt like a criminal with my feet and legs spread apart, arms extended while patted down for who knows what.
I don't have the energy for research right now, maybe I'll update this later; but the truth is, random TSA searches and screenings aren't effective. We need actual intelligence to keep us safe, not random molestation.
Today, I hate traveling.
Friday, February 17, 2012
There. I said it. Some never thought I would, but I said it. Hopefully I'll feel differently tomorrow (or Sunday at the very least, because I fly again); but for today, I hate it.
Today should have been fairly easy; I worked for four hours in Augusta, drove about two hours to Atlanta and returned my rental car with ease. Checked my bag and joined the short line for security. After ID check, I was the 2nd person in line for carry-on screening - a rarity at Hartsfield-Jackson.
Then it happened; the rent-a-cop instructed me to go through the backscatter/X-ray machine. I've written how I feel about these before,
The worst was rubbing their hands up my leg until met with "resistance" (their word, not mine). "Resistance" being my crotch. Lovely, right?
After returning from testing her gloves for chemical residue, she said I was free to take my belongings and proceed to my gate. Gee, thanks.
I feel violated and dirty. It was embarrassing to watch other passengers walk past while some strange female was touching my breasts and ass. Yes, I was given the option of private screening, and next time I will certainly accept. I felt like a criminal with my feet and legs spread apart, arms extended while patted down for who knows what.
I don't have the energy for research right now, maybe I'll update this later; but the truth is, random TSA searches and screenings aren't effective. We need actual intelligence to keep us safe, not random molestation.
I'm going to take a minute and veer off my travel topic. Stop back next week for a review of my travel computer bag. You're so excited, you can hardly contain yourself, right? ;)
"Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching" - C.S. Lewis
A friend of mine recently received an apology that was essentially "I'm sorry I got caught, but here's why I think I'm justified." Those words cut deep. The defense negates the apology, but the real crime is receiving an apology of "I'm sorry I got caught." This person isn't sorry for what they said or did, only sorry that you saw who they really are.
While traveling on an airline I prefer not to use, I experienced a similar scenario; I overheard a gate agent mutter something under her breath about a traveler. Realizing she didn't see me standing at the counter, I said "Excuse me?" and she replied, "Sorry, I didn't see you there." She wasn't sorry for saying the comment, she was sorry she got caught.
As I waited in the gate area for that flight, I noticed a sign advertising their customer service satisfaction score. During the pre-boarding announcement, the gate agent also mentioned how she was here to help us, and how customer service is important to her and the airline. I laughed at the irony; how can she preach how great she is, yet treats customers who seek assistance like parasites? Others may be fooled by the image she painted of herself; but I'm sure enough people know what that painting really looks like.
The moral in this story is that you usually get to see someone's true colors when they think no one is looking; the thing is, someone is always looking.
Food For Thought
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
I'm going to take a minute and veer off my travel topic. Stop back next week for a review of my travel computer bag. You're so excited, you can hardly contain yourself, right? ;)
"Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching" - C.S. Lewis
A friend of mine recently received an apology that was essentially "I'm sorry I got caught, but here's why I think I'm justified." Those words cut deep. The defense negates the apology, but the real crime is receiving an apology of "I'm sorry I got caught." This person isn't sorry for what they said or did, only sorry that you saw who they really are.
While traveling on an airline I prefer not to use, I experienced a similar scenario; I overheard a gate agent mutter something under her breath about a traveler. Realizing she didn't see me standing at the counter, I said "Excuse me?" and she replied, "Sorry, I didn't see you there." She wasn't sorry for saying the comment, she was sorry she got caught.
As I waited in the gate area for that flight, I noticed a sign advertising their customer service satisfaction score. During the pre-boarding announcement, the gate agent also mentioned how she was here to help us, and how customer service is important to her and the airline. I laughed at the irony; how can she preach how great she is, yet treats customers who seek assistance like parasites? Others may be fooled by the image she painted of herself; but I'm sure enough people know what that painting really looks like.
The moral in this story is that you usually get to see someone's true colors when they think no one is looking; the thing is, someone is always looking.
In typical Iowa fashion, I'm being sent off with a snow storm. That's right, 60 degree weather on Wednesday, half foot of snow on Saturday. I spent most of my day watching ABCFamily shows on Netflix and even ventured out to a friend's for pasta.
I'm sure any regular readers (do I have those?) won't be surprised to hear that I didn't begin packing until around 8pm this evening, with a goal of catching the 6am flight tomorrow morning. Which would explain why it is nearly midnight and I am still doing laundry. HA!
I'm jetting off to Augusta, Georgia tomorrow for a three week trip. Well, a two week trip followed by a weekend home then another one week trip. My best friend is meeting me in Atlanta next weekend, so it will be like a mini-vacation in Hot-lanta.
Once again, I find myself struggling to pack. I've mentioned before my packing method for three-week trips
1) Open suitcase
2) dump all in-season clothes
3) Try to close suitcase.
But I have hit the following road blocks.
1) My home-office is casual dress and the office in Augusta is Business Casual. So I've been digging out flats and heels and skirts when all I've worn for the last few months are jeans and comfy shoes.
2) Rounding up my toiletry items. I returned from my last work trip in September, and aside from vacations in October and December, I've been home. My usually well-stocked toiletry tote has been pillaged and it looks like a target run for shampoo and conditioner will be required upon arrival.
3) Computer bag is a mess - I used my backpack on vacation and here in town for a couple things and managed to misplace all of my travel stuff. GPS kit, audio cable for rental car, wireless mouse, mini first aid kit, hotel door alarm, etc. You laugh, but I haven't really had to pack this stuff since I purchased my bag.
Re-reading my ramblings above, clearly I am avoiding packing and a bit sleep deprived. Also, I'm kind of the queen of First World Problems. "Poor me, my awesome job is flying me someplace warm for three weeks but I have to pack my bag!" Feel free to flame me in the comments :)
Headed out!
Saturday, February 4, 2012
In typical Iowa fashion, I'm being sent off with a snow storm. That's right, 60 degree weather on Wednesday, half foot of snow on Saturday. I spent most of my day watching ABCFamily shows on Netflix and even ventured out to a friend's for pasta.
I'm sure any regular readers (do I have those?) won't be surprised to hear that I didn't begin packing until around 8pm this evening, with a goal of catching the 6am flight tomorrow morning. Which would explain why it is nearly midnight and I am still doing laundry. HA!
I'm jetting off to Augusta, Georgia tomorrow for a three week trip. Well, a two week trip followed by a weekend home then another one week trip. My best friend is meeting me in Atlanta next weekend, so it will be like a mini-vacation in Hot-lanta.
Once again, I find myself struggling to pack. I've mentioned before my packing method for three-week trips
1) Open suitcase
2) dump all in-season clothes
3) Try to close suitcase.
But I have hit the following road blocks.
1) My home-office is casual dress and the office in Augusta is Business Casual. So I've been digging out flats and heels and skirts when all I've worn for the last few months are jeans and comfy shoes.
2) Rounding up my toiletry items. I returned from my last work trip in September, and aside from vacations in October and December, I've been home. My usually well-stocked toiletry tote has been pillaged and it looks like a target run for shampoo and conditioner will be required upon arrival.
3) Computer bag is a mess - I used my backpack on vacation and here in town for a couple things and managed to misplace all of my travel stuff. GPS kit, audio cable for rental car, wireless mouse, mini first aid kit, hotel door alarm, etc. You laugh, but I haven't really had to pack this stuff since I purchased my bag.
Re-reading my ramblings above, clearly I am avoiding packing and a bit sleep deprived. Also, I'm kind of the queen of First World Problems. "Poor me, my awesome job is flying me someplace warm for three weeks but I have to pack my bag!" Feel free to flame me in the comments :)
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