Be Prepared!

I got back to my room by about 6 on Wednesday and the clothes in the closet were calling to me. I always hang Meg's clothes up. My other clothes, not so much.

But after a very good Mexican dinner, I decided I needed to take a walk around the area more than I needed to dress. It was a tough decision. It not only meant I was missing an opportunity, but it meant I had carried a LOT of items that would just be ballast.

I considered walking on to the campus, to enjoy the view, but instead I crossed the street and started walking. I found a couple of little clothing shops. Both, alas, closed at 6. I went past a couple of restaurants that I saw on my arrival from the airport; I didn't realise they were that close to the hotel ~ less than a ten minute walk.

I felt better after walking off a few calories. Whenever I refuse sweets of one sort or another I always say "I'm trying to keep my girlish figure." Everybody laughs. I guess it's one of those it's-funny-'cause-it's-true things. One of these days, I'll say "no really. I really want to keep my girlish figure." The problem is, I don't have a girlish figure, and that's overboard so it won't be funny.

And then I heard a call louder than the Call of the Clothes. "Ice Cream" it said. I'd never been to a Marble Slab Creamery before but it sounded good and it was right in front of me. It was empty except for a college-age girl working the counter. I chatted with her about El Paso while I was eating, and wished it was Meg she was chatting with.

I think Meg would feel comfortable walking around on or near the campus. There were the usual bars nearby, but also some small commercial districts (and those clothing shops). I'll be back in El Paso in a month or two, and Meg will almost certainly take a look at Texas.

That Toddlin' Town

I'm in O'Hare, on my way to El Paso. This morning, I couldn't put any weight on my left leg. Now, after a two-hour-or-so flight to Chicago, I can't bend the knee at all. I can't wait to see what the next three-hour leg does to mine.

I occupied my time imagining how the trip would be different if Meg flew. But I do that in a lot of situations. :)

Maybe it's the time of day, but it seems the women in Chicago are dressed nicer than in Washington. Meg would fit in comfortably here, but stand out at her home airport.

I see a LOT of people here trying to leave Chicago. Since all I'll see is the airport, I don't know what they're trying to escape. Maybe I should start interviewing evacuees. :)

Temperatures just over 100 are expected in El Paso. I packed light and airy clothes for Meg. Not so much for my maleself, so maybe I should change, just as an accommodation to comfort.

Thinking About Texas

Being joined by my manager, G, changes things somewhat.

I've decided Meg will join me, even if she's just in the hotel room. G will be staying in the same hotel, and she'll be on the same flight back to Virginia.

She'll also be coming to El Paso later in the day than I am, so Meg may roam freely on Monday. I haven't decided if she will. As I said, I like to scope out the area before I go out and I don't know if I'll have time. It also depends on whether I can get early check-in, and I can pre-shave arms and legs and all. It's hard to spend a half-hour in the bathroom with the electric shaver, and the razor doesn't do a neat job on my non-facial hair and I don't know why.

I may just do some shopping in the El Paso area. If I can, I'll go to New Mexico to that Deb store and see if they have the pumps I want in my size. I may pack an oversized suitcase light, and have room to bring back some clothing if I shop. I may even take advantage of being 2000 miles from and try on some girl clothes, even if I'm in drab. Or shop for cowboy (cowgirl) boots.

I was considering packing so everything could be carried on, but I'd be embarrassed if they had to go through my luggage and G was standing there. When my former manager hinted to G (with my tacit approval) that dressing up was something I do on occasion, G reacted not so much with denial as with incomprehension.

I know it won't be a non-Meg week. I doubt I'll bring my netbook, so I won't be able to video chat if I'm dressed up and stuck inside, unless readers want to.... Let me know before I pack!

I know I'll have an entry or two from the trip. I'm just not sure what they'll be about yet! And I'll try to post from the road.

Out in the West Texas Town of El Paso....

...I got dressed up like a Mexican girl.

Apologies to Marty Robbins, and I wrote more (and it gets worse) but I like my readers and won't inflict it on you.

Reservations have been made.

My flight to El Paso leaves at 7.45 AM next Monday and arrives a little after noon.
My flight from El Paso leaves at 7.25 AM Thursday and arrives around 3pm at Washington National Airport. Travel, work, work, travel.

This means Meg will not be flying out ~ I'd have to find a safe changing place at 3AM and figure out what to tell my wife. It also means odds are very low that Meg will be flying back. I'd still have to get dressed in the middle of the night and, although my wife will be at the beach that day, she's talking about leaving my oldest home. That means changing somewhere along the way. I was thinking I could open the garage from the cab and make a quick entrance into the house, but not with a child potentially at home! I'll travel again I'm sure. Unless the job search pans out.

So what about Meg in Texas?

My first thought was, leave her home (except for maybe sleepwear, my absolute minimum). My week looks like this:

Monday: travel
Tuesday: work with customer. He says he gets in at 6, which I can do, but because there will be other people I need to work with we may start later, or I may need to stay later.

Tuesday eve: follow-up to work done that day, and prep for the next. On a short trip like this, evenings are usually taken up with work.

Wednesday: work with customer. There's a lot to do in two days (I've spec'd out 20 hours and I'm not done) so I'll probably be there into the evening. Probably.

Wednesday eve: maybe I can get some down time. If we finish at a reasonable time.

Thursday: travel

Well, that leaves Monday afternoon/evening open for sure.

Except I like to take my first alone day to do prep work: shaving or other hair removal mostly. I can try to do much of that at home. It may be tricky though.

And when I'm in a new city, I like to scope out the places I'm going first. I don't want to go into a teen hangout mall. Or a cowboy-infested restaurant. (No offense intended to cowboys ~ I just don't think they'll approve of me.)

But if I can get in my car by 1, I can travel to a nearby mall, see if it looks friendly, and I'd easily have time to change and go out and maybe shop. Maybe I'll get over my eating-alone-as-Meg phobia.

And if it's not friendly, or I'm too tired to go out, I can still enjoy my evening in my room. Maybe dinner. Maybe, if anyone's interested, I will bring my netbook or a webcam and we can video IM. Let me know soon, if you wanna. I have packing to do!

Shirts, shoes, toothbrush, cel phone...
Panties, hose, heels, bra, pads, purse, dress, slip, cinch, makeup, jewelry, wig, wig brush...

Where's that list I posted a few weeks ago?