Rental Car
I got saddled with a Mercury Grand Marquis (aka Sherman Tank). This thing was so huge I could barely get it into any parking space. When I pulled into my parking spot at work on Monday, I actually dented the car because I didn’t slow down fast enough pulling into a parking space. I couldn’t believe how frieking long the front end of the car was. I guess I learned my lesson there. If anyone from Avis is reading this, the dent was already there.
Sonics Game
I was invited to the Seattle Supersonics game by a co-worked originally from the Netherlands. I sat between him and his boss’ wife (from Manchester, UK) and had several interesting discussions. I traded some of my basketball knowledge for their soccer knowledge. I found it hard to say soccer in front of them, because they call it football, but since I’m in America, I can’t call it football and confuse it with the NFL. Seems like a stupid thing, but I had to stop myself each time I said it.
The Sonics beat the Grizzlies pretty comfortably 121-105. The game featured more alley-oops than I’d ever seen in a game before. If you’re reading, Ivo, thanks for inviting me to the game.
The Key Arena is fairly impossible to find in Seattle. It’s right under the Space Needle, so getting to the general area is easy, but it’s no taller than the average building (the basketball floor is probably 2 stories underground) so it doesn’t stick out. Once I finally found it, there’s no place to park around there. There are spots on the street, and then there are a few small garages 2-4 blocks away, but I found it difficult to park and the stadium was only half full.
As I’ve been on my trip, I’ve been thinking about a pros & cons list for traveling. Then I decided I need another bucket for things that have both positives and negatives. Here goes the list:
PROS
Work is more interesting
I eat fancy food at fancy restaurants
I usually have interesting conversations about the world I wouldn’t otherwise have
I meet people from all over the globe or country
I get to explore another part of the country and learn how to get around there
Frequent flyer miles
I get to know the person I travel with better
It sounds cool – people who don’t travel seem to think it’s glamorous to travel – it isn’t (other than the eating out at fancy restaurants), but it sounds cool
HALF GOOD/HALF BAD
I get to drive different cars as rentals – this is bad when I get bad cars but it’s always interesting to try out other cars. It gives me a sense of the ones I know I wouldn’t buy
CONS
Missing my family – I don’t mind one night away, but more than that I’d just as soon be home trying to color princesses and picking up blocks with my girls
Flying – the whole experience of flying is really trying. Waiting forever to get through security (anywhere but Fargo), waiting to get on the plane, getting on a plane into an incredibly cramped space where you can’t move for 3-4 hours, then the delays like how I waited on the tarmac in Fargo for 3 hours on Monday and missed my connecting flight to Seattle. I get anxious when I fly and I just wish I could cut that part out somehow.
Getting stuff done at home – there always seems to be stuff piling up that I should get done at home that I can’t do because I’m away
Putting the burden on Becky – she has no flexibility when I’m gone about staying late for work or doing anything different. She has to come home and hang out with the kids no matter what.
Anxiety – I just get anxious about traveling and start to feel miserable. I can’t eat normally on the road since my stomach is in a state of flux. I’ve finally found that eating fruit is one way to get by, but it just makes me miserable, especially on the flight out.
Overall the pros are far from outweighing the cons. As long as I only have to go 5-6 times a year, I guess it’s not too bad. I’m eager for the day when telecommunications are advanced enough to minimize travel.
Eric's space 