I'm
a travelin' man...whoa whoa...I'm a travelin' man... Another week
comes to a close and as I look back see a theme emerging. Heat,
fire, burn, burnt up, burnt down, then finally burnt out.
Commuting between San Francisco and Dallas is really not that bad. The
three hour flight is relatively painless but the process of getting to the
plane is cruel and unusual punishment. It is getting to me and a lot
of other people who travel as part of their job. The strip down and
repack ritual is a farce. I pack for a whole week and trust me I use
every inch of my briefcase and suitcase. I carry on my tightly stuffed
bags and hope I don't have to fight too much for overhead space. I
think I am considerate and I hardly look like someone who plans ill during
the flight, yet I am constantly stopped and searched. It really
makes me wonder if our tax dollars might be more effectively used. The
screeners for the most part are good natured and are trying to do their jobs
but I think the process is the problem not the people. Documented
frequent flyers and business travelers should have a separate security check
point. Each time the evening news reports on the airlines one of the
key points made is how important business travelers are to the industry
since we book regular flights and repeat them over and over. If we are
so important why are we treated like potential criminals each time we check
in?
Home alone?
I am in my apartment for only three night each week so now my home feels
more like an hotel than the Hampton Inn I stay in Monday through Thursday.
It almost feels like a timeshare or vacation hotel, this is nice. Each
morning when I awake at 4 am (still on Dallas time) I open the sliding glass
door and gaze out at the skyline and I am reminded why I love San Francisco.
No matter how tough the week is I can count on my city to recharge and
revitalize me. This weekend I was feeling particularly crispy around
the edges. It's been a while since I have worked any concerts and I
really miss the shot of life energy that only live music can give. No
fear, this weekend brought the Nokia Unwired to the Warfield. Four
bands and no waiting. This also means an early call time of 5 pm.
I thought this also meant a long night but I was wrong. I should have
been clued in by the line of kids, and I do mean kids, who were lined up all
the way down Market Street waiting to get the coveted spots down in front.
I am usually skeptical of corporate rock shows but Nokia got this one right. A big tour bus filled with nubile blondes wearing skin tight Nokia logo-ed shirts handed out cd samplers and drum sticks. They talked about the new phones and they even knew about the bands. The set changes were short so there was never a long break in the music. The bands ate up the willing love from the crowd. The girls squealed and screamed for everyone who walked on stage, even the roadies. The house lights came on over and over as the bands wanted to see the faces of their fans. This was the kind of fun I remember having as a teenager at a rock show. By the time The All American Rejects stormed on stage I was screaming too. I could feel my layer of travel and work burntness peeling away. Scrapping the blackness off my toast if you will.
The show ended at 10:45 so I had lots of time for late night (non-hotel cable) TV. As I was channel surfing I came across an infomercial for Toto. Hmmm? Technology has finally found a away to combine the commode and bidet into one sleek machine. Not a bad idea but the Toto marketing team has really got to get their act together. I suggest you use the link I have provided (http://www.washlet.com/jasmin.asp) to view the promotional video. It is quite disturbing to see this machine in action. This seems like a lot of work and cost when the supermarket stocks a wide variety personal cleansing wipes. It is surprising enough when backsplash happens so I am not sure how I would react to a jet of water shooting up from the basin. Maybe I am just too tired to fully appreciate the hours and hours of research and development that went into this project.
If I learned anything
this weekend it's that burntness is a temporary state. You can wallow
in it and continue the spiral down to exhaustion or you can choose to take a
break. Even a short distraction, like a concert with the kids, can
remind you that there is more to life. Much more if you are open to
it. I was going to complain that it is almost not worth it fly back
each week for only two days before heading back out each Monday morning at
6:17 am. After this weekend I think I've changed tune. Now there
is nothing that can stop me from making this trip. My batteries are
recharged and I am ready to start the week fresh. If you are feeling
worn down or a little crispy around the edges take the time and effort to do
something. Be a verb and take action. Sitting and stewing only
deepens the burn and makes it harder to recover. If you can't find the
strength to get up try one of the Washlets and I am sure you will be up and
bouncing in no time at all.
Peace,
Sean