What I Didn't Do

Blues for Challah.  As Meg.  It's a weekend Jewish workshop with a Grateful Dead twist.

I went to a Jewish meditation and Kabbalah-oriented workshop a number of years ago and had a good time and learned a lot.  I did not attend that weekend as Meg.

I seriously considered it.  I worked out the expenses so I could get a private room with a bath, and how to get up there via train or car.

I'm not a religious person; I'm more spiritual and this seemed to combine two things that would interest me:

- spirituality
- The Grateful Dead

I think I'm ready for a weekend.  I think I'd be OK talking to people and interacting as needed and I might even enjoy it more as Meg.  Plus, everyone I talk to would have two things in common: the religion and the music.

But in the end, there were too many problems.  My work responsibilities have changed and I need to get some reports out now ~ reports that are due at the end of the week and must contain up-to-the-minute information.  Taking off Friday would be difficult.

Plus, it's a long trip.  I thought it was in the Pennsylvania Berkshires, but it's in Connecticut.  It would be about a six hour drive, or a long DC-to-New York train, plus another train to CT, plus an hour or so cab ride.

And it would be cold.  Meg's wardrobe isn't very cold-weather friendly.  I don't even own a coat, and I don't want one.  My closet it quite full already and coats take a LOT of room.

So, in the end, there were too many excuses.

Yes, I know I changed a word.  No, I'm not sure which word is correct.

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Richmond Trip: Part II - Glitch?

One possible glitch: my wife is going in for major surgery later this month.  My trip is contingent on her recovering enough to take care of herself and the boys.  I think all will be well.  I also think Richmond will be quickly followed by El Paso, so my hair and eyebrows and neck should still be good to go. :)

Going to Richmond: Part I - Planning

It looks like my next customer trip will be to Maryland for up to three days.  Unfortunately, it's about 25 miles away in Maryland which means it's a commute customer.  There's a nice bargain mall nearby with Marshall's, Burlington Coat Factory, Payless, and a few specialty clothing shops in it.  If I have time, I'll look around.

But next month, I'm scheduled for three days near Richmond.  This is about a two-hour drive, so I'll travel down on Monday afternoon and return Friday morning.  I will be at my home office Monday morning and possibly Friday afternoon.

This means it will be difficult for me to drive en femme.

But not impossible.

What I need is to schedule it so I can add an hour or two to my trip without being missed.  Assuming I can, I have some options:

driving down: if I can do some prep work beforehand (shaving arms and legs for instance), I can change on the way.  There is the mall right near my office which has family restrooms, but that might be risky.  I can head south and watch for malls.  When I pass one, I can scope it out and if it has access I can change there and enjoy the rest of my drive.  To do this, I also need to leave early enough that I can shave my face before leaving home and still stay smooth whilst putting on my makeup.

driving back:even if I can't change heading down I'll still scope out malls for a place to change.  I can drive partway, change back, and head to the office.  This is more certain: I'll be leaving my hotel room dressed so I shouldn't have a problem with early shaving or prep time.

Monday night will be for scoping out the area.  If I can't prep before going down, it will also be prep night.  Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday night will be going out time (if it seems reasonably safe to do so).  If not, I'll stay in and video chat if anyone cares to.  Maybe I'll finally go to dinner dressed!

But sometimes the project is complicated enough that I have to work late, work back in my room, and not have time for anything else.  I'm trying to do as much as I can beforehand, and I'll document everything so I can recreate it there, but if the customer has a different vision than I do, there will be rework and my plans may fall through.  For this project, I think there's a 20% chance of Too Much Work.

Before I go, I'll definitely schedule some time to get my haircut, and my neck and eyebrows waxed.  And I'll have to figure out some time in the house alone so I can pack for Meg.  I try to pack underwear, shoes, makeup, jewelry, etc early and outfits last minute so they don't get wrinkled.  And I can pack a suitcase just for Meg and not have to worry about lugging it through the airport.  I will pack a minimal male shirt/pants/shoes + makeup remover in Meg's bag so if I do get to check in as Meg, I can just carry in her bag and leave my other stuff in the car until later ~ and I have the option to change first if I need to.

I know, I'm still overthinking things. :)

The good part of this trip is it's far enough that I can stay overnight, close enough that I can drive.

Addendum: As Dani pointed out in a comment yesterday, I could probably find a better picture of my new footwear on the Payless site.  I did.  Here and here.

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Launch Delay

I'm trying to figure out exactly how this will play out. I will not be travelling on Sunday as planned. I will be out at a local clothing swap, en femme. I will be trying some outfits and taking some pictures this weekend.

Because I'm supposed to be in the midwest for a full week, and I was diverted for a day, I will not be ready for Sunday travel. My manager decided that I will go out the week of July 12th, since next week is a short week (happy Independence Day!).

I told her that I cannot travel on the 11th, because I have other plans. I don't think I'm out of line to expect her to clear with me whether I'm able to give up my weekend for the company (there is no comp time for travel days [or anything else, as far as I can see]).

I had suggested to my manager's manager that I could work on the other customer Thursday and when I return from my trip, since the other customer will be pretty much gone from Friday until after the 4th. He agreed this was a good idea, but never conveyed it to my manager.

This is turning into a work rant, and I apologise but I won't go back and delete it but I will end it here.

I spoke with the midwest customer and told them that if I come out for four days (travel on Monday July 11) I can continue to work on their project and maybe stretch the requirements a bit and give them some extras. They like this idea.

So it looks like I will be travelling on July 12th, a Monday. I'll continue to post progress, anxiety, and try to stay on-topic until then, in case anyone's still reading.

This will:

* give my fingernails, which keep breaking badly, a chance to recover.
* give Meg a chance to get out once more (maybe twice) this weekend.
* let me do a packing "dry run" and make a final packlist.
* maybe try fake fingernails again. I haven't had much luck before.
* let me find the right lipstick/gloss/liner and eye shadow/liner/mascara. Maybe.
* give me a chance to just get the accessories I need. I carry too much jewelry on trips.
* try on those shoes!

I think Meg is more of an optimist than her male counterpart is.

Meg thinks I can write a post-a-day and not lose everyone. :)

Oh... does anyone know any tg-friendly companies that are hiring?