Oh! The Travesty!

Staying in a hotel about 50 feet from where you used to LIVE is a bit surreal. When I visit State College, the "feel" of my visit depends on the hotel. If I'm at the Ramada, it's a trip down memory lane (I stayed there the first time I ever came up here... for my interview at the COR). It always feels somewhat nostalgic over there. Not that that trip was the best... because I was pretty sure I didn't want the job (alas, I took it since I didn't have many options at the time... and I'm sure glad now that I did!)... but I felt really good about myself at that point in my life. There have actually been a couple interviews in my life where I left feeling like I knocked it out of the park: C-COR and Northwood. And to commemorate the Northwood experience, I often play "Miss Fabulous" for myself. Anyway, that's an odd ... and a little bit embarassing tidbit for me to reveal right now. Sorry... I lost my train of thought. Oh yeah, Ramada... nostalgic... trip down memory lane. When I stay at the Hilton Garden Inn, however, it feels like a normal business trip. I never stayed there until after I moved away. Heck, it wasn't even built until late into our time in State College. It's nice, but it's definitely "just a hotel" on my trips up here. But, this time, I'm in the Holiday Inn Express. Fifty feet from our first apartment up here. I used to look out my front window into this place and wonder what the rooms looked like. And now, here I am... looking back at our old apartment, wondering what the rooms look like. It's just... surreal. And no, I can't really think of a better word for it.

Anyway, the trip to State College was loooooong. My flight out of Savannah was delayed, causing me to miss the 2nd leg; so I was stuck in Cinci for 6 hours... awaiting the next (and last) flight into State College. Delta really took care of me, though. They gave me a $7.00 meal voucher. Anyway, I tried to use my time wisely, but I ended up screwing around online most of the time. Yes, I bought the Internet connection. Usually, I think that's the dumbest thing in the world... buying an Internet connection at an airport... but usually, I'm not there for 6 hours. So, I thought of the $9.95 as a replacement expense for dinner (with the $2.95 difference dismissed... b/c it's just $2.95).

That was that... and time has played its oldest trick... alas, the night is over. It sure didn't feel like a regular Monday for me. And I'm sure the rest of the week won't feel "normal" either. It never does when I'm back up here. First of all, it's always weird going in to work & sitting in the this-is-not-my-office-but-I-have-to-use-it-because-you-gave-my-real-one-away office. And just to keep the record straight, yes... I have a sentimental attachment to my OLD office... even though I got stuck with it AFTER I was promised the office-with-a-window. But whatever... forgive and forget. Another reason it's weird is because I feel like I fall right back into my old habits (lunch out every day, for example). But the rest of the staff has adopted a new lifestyle without me here to push them into my habits. For the lunch-out-every-day example, I think ALL of them have stopped doing lunch out together EVER... until I come back to town, at which time they all wait to see what I have "planned" (me, planning... what a hoot!). Anyway... it's just weird, I tell ya... because they don't do lunch with each other, but they still accompany me every day I'm up here. And finally (there are more, but I'm tired), the OH HI's that I have to hand out. I really do like most of the people I work with... but, hello, I'm here about once every three months or so. You see me enough. And you talk to me constantly. So, it's not like we're unacquainted... or out of touch! Yet, when you see me in the hallway, it's as if I've been gone forever. I love the attention, but after the 20th time of having the same conversation... good God, just shut up. Oops, sorry... did I say that out loud? I guess it just fit there.

Meanwhile, I'm determined not to forget to take my computer down to the help desk once again. (I remembered last time... but it didn't get fixed.) It runs hot... so hot that I can't even hold it on my lap anymore. And the help desk technician last time told me it wasn't meant to be a "lap top". OK, OK... my notebook computer gets so hot on the bottom that it burns my hands when I pick it up from one surface to place it on another (one of which may just happen to be my "lap"). Anyway, after cranking it up, he changed his tune and agreed that there was a problem. He offered to take it apart & blow it out... but I needed it for something or other. Maybe I'll let him do a good cleaning this time... you know, get out all the dog hair. Oops! LOL... oh well.

Okay, well... travesty averted... blog posting completed... resting commencing.