It’s because I keep forgetting I’m not superwoman. I bid for my flights each month and even after 20-some years of doing so, I still forget that “it looks good on paper” doesn’t mean the trip is going to be pleasant.
Because I prefer to drive to Phoenix just once a week, I normally work a four-day trip, going to the airport on Saturday or Sunday and returning early Tuesday or Wednesday with 20 or so hours in the air. But, in April, I chose a trip that had over 19 hours of flying packed into three days.
That looked great on the calendar since I was home an extra day each week. The problem (which became apparent the very first week) was my rest period (leaving the plane to returning to the plane) was less than 10 hours, followed by a 12-hour work day followed by another 10-hour rest period, leaving me not at all rested.
For May, I went back to four-day trips but fooled myself into thinking I could do one week of a “flip/flop”, airline jargon for mixing day and night flying in the same trip. Again, it looked great on paper; arrive in Las Vegas around 11 p.m. on Friday and not leave until 11 p.m. on Saturday, arriving in Philadelphia at 6 a.m. on Sunday and staying until 6 a.M. on Monday.
This was the opposite problem of the April trip. I had plenty of time to sleep but not at my normal times. I’m definitely not used to staying awake until 4 a.m. and not all that gung ho to begin work at that time. So, I switched trips and flew 26 hours in four days. Same problem as the April trip but with an extra day of flying and only two days in Payson before heading back to work.
Not surprisingly, I developed a sinus infection with accompanying migraines that led to me calling in sick (which means I don’t get paid), but the good news is that happened at the same time my bid was due for June and I wisely chose Goldilocks trips (just right).
Also on the good news side, I’ve had time to read all of the Mogollon Connection and found a lovely letter from Michelle Dyer mentioning she always looks for my column. Aaah.
Once I got past the guilt of not having written a column for ever so long, I realized I was over the book burn-out and ready to start telling tales again. There should be an article in both the blog and the print copy about my upcoming book signing at our new bookstore, East/West Exchange. I’ll have copies of all three books available (still waiting on one so a bit of stress) and would love to have all of you stop by.
On my first trip away, she chewed the plug off the ceiling fan cord. I jokingly asked my dog sitting neighbors if she had curly hair now knowing I’d unplugged all the cords “just in case”. The next trip it was the cord to the outdoor fountain. After that a lamp cord. Those have all been dogproofed.
The new pair of shoes is actually more comfortable with the chewed-off straps gone. I’m getting used to my purse hanging higher on my shoulder since I had to tie a knot in the now two-piece leather strap. Joey’s retractable leash has a knot and a safety pin holding it together. My asthma inhaler still works even though the plastic cap is no longer attached and reading glasses and sunglasses aren’t overly expensive to replace.
And, Joey likes her and she’s a champion ballplayer and she has the softest ears and an amazingly shiny coat. Her first official portrait is posted above – probably the only time you’ll see her sitting still.
0 comments:
Post a Comment