I gave full reign to my Gypsy Soul and Workaholic Personality on my birthday:  boarded a plane at 5:45 AM and was in a meeting in Philadelphia by 12:30 and ended the day with a dinner meeting, which put me getting to bed around 1 AM.  It was a good way to spend my birthday:  working hard and sliding between decadent Frette linens at one of my favorite hotel chains at the end of a long and satisfying day.

Not the ideal day for most, but for me, it worked.  I was so thankful for the good work with a wonderful (and new) client.  A new client is a wonderful birthday gift!

The following day, I boarded a train and headed down to DC where I was able to combine work for a couple of different clients with catch-up meals with friends.   I saw a wonderful play at Ford’s Theatre with a dear friend and wound my way through a couple of exhibits at the National Portrait Gallery.   I was also able to visit a special grave at Arlington National Cemetery during my trip, something I missed on my more harried trip into DC in early April.

There is something about being on hallowed ground that allows me to reconnect with my spiritual side.

My 41st year was tumultuous and stressful.  My 42nd year will be about the continual improvement of the soul.  Under my terms.  Following my rules.  Keeping in mind that I must continue to rebuild my faith and face it with courage.

(The photo is mine, taken May 20, 2010, Arlington National Cemetery)

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(this photo taken in September 2008; not much has changed since then)

I didn’t get to spend as much time there as I would have liked, but part of traveling over a holiday weekend and having family obligations means less down time. In a typical trip to DC, I would have planned to stay through late Sunday or early Monday. With my mom’s illness, I needed to be home for lunch. But I digress.

The spring air combined with a much needed cocktail got my head wrapped around what needs to be accomplished during the month of April. I set about doing a bit of woolgathering and discovered that my wish list is quite long. Still, I allowed my mind to wander as I sat in the garden and thought about work and wants and needs and the need to reintroduce some creativity back into my daily life. Brief moments aren’t conducive to a real brain dump, so I saved that until my flight home.

After breakfast was served and I was enjoying my 3rd cup of coffee, I sat with pen and paper and begin listing everything that had gathered in my mind.    When you end up with a laundry list of to-dos and must-dos, getting a real control over it can be a task so daunting that it’s almost paralyzing. As overwhelming as it can be, the only way to make progress is to break it down into chunks and eat it like you would an elephant: one bite at a time.

April is going to be an interesting month.  I already had the beginnings of heavier than usual travel and with the (potential) new contract, that means three days a week on the road.  It’s the kind of travel I like:  solid contract with the ability to find my way around a new town and make it “mine”.  Granted, I’d love that city to be a city like DC, but to be honest, I’m thrilled with wherever work takes me.  (I can tell you that there is no Kimpton Hotel in this city – there isn’t even a single Hilton Property in the town!).

Just keep good thoughts headed my way as I break down my laundry list into those manageable bites and set out to conquer the little piece of my world!

It was day five of the longest week I’d experienced in ages. I am an experienced Road Warrior Princess and successfully (and usually happily) had lived out of a suitcase for much of the last two years, so three weeks of doing Public Meetings should be a cinch. I realized, however, that changing hotels each night was not as comforting as traveling in and staying put. We had flown into Midland, Texas and in two days had also driven to Hobbs, Carlsbad and Roswell to conduct three of the meetings. After Roswell, we drove to Santa Fe, where we had a break from Wednesday afternoon until Thursday at 2 PM.

After exploring the Plaza in Santa Fe, I wanted to get some posole for a Christmas gift.  (Posole is New Mexico thing…basically hominy that is dried like beans.) My friend, meeting coordinator, and New Mexico Native Karen suggested we go to a regular grocery store.  When we pulled into the parking lot there it was.

We had been snapping photos all week,  like the presenters talking about Nuclear Reactors, the light posts in downtown Roswell and the beautiful Pecos River, but this was BIG. Not just big.  IT was HUGE.  And I had to get a photo.  It was the Oscar Meyer Wiener Mobile!

“PULL OVER!” I said.

I knew I HAD to get a picture of ME and the HUGE Wiener.  It had been a long week.  THIS was my reward for being a Road Warrior Princess for having stayed in 4 hotels in as many days (one resembling the Bates Motel!).   We got out and made a visit to this 27-Foot Long Piece of Americana.  By singing the “I Wish i were an Oscar Meyer” song, I became the proud owner of my very own Oscar Meyer Wiener Whistle.   She also took our picture.  This is Wayne and I being Hot Dogs.

The HotDogger in Charge told me that she and a partner drove the amazing vehicle for a year, attending events and doing appearances.  She loved what she did, met a lot of wonderful folks, and was getting to see the United States!  Call me simple, but it seems like it would be a pretty cool job.

Who ever said the life of a Road Warrior Princess wasn’t glamorous?

I am so glad that they took the fans from the house today. It was suddenly…silent. Beginning Monday, I will attempt to get things put back together. Sheet rock, painting, flooring, etc. Replacing the bookshelves is a neccesity since the contents are in laundry baskets. It is a mess in my room…and I don’t like living in disarray. I need some order in my life.

I am at the airport, heading to El Paso for a quick trip….an experiment of sorts I guess. Back home tomorrow. And with the story of Navy WWII Veteran Dave, my 52 Stories story for this week.

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