"Friday Five: Business Trip"

Mother Laura says:"I spent a good bit of time today registering and making travel arrangements for the American Academy of Religion meeting in Chicago at the beginning of November. (Anyone up for a meetup? Shout out, okay?) I'm not presenting this year, so I'm busy sending out resumes and cover letters, but at least I'm not stressing about getting a paper written.I'll see friends and teachers from grad school, try to resist temptation in the book hall, attend some presentations if time permits, and, God willing, have some preliminary interviews in the everlasting college-teaching-job-search process--prayers welcome, as always. And, thanks to my dear Mom who agreed to babysit and donated some frequent flyer miles, it will also be a busy-but-happy getaway with my sweetheart.So for today's Friday Five, you're invited to share your experiences with the exciting, challenging world of business travel...."

1. Does your job ever call for travel?Is this a joy or a burden? My former day job used to take me around the country (and once even out of it) to do training events. That felt like "real" business travel. Now for both my current day job and my clergy life I get in the car and traipse around the state to one or two day conferences. I guess that is travel. Sort of. And both kinds, like all things have their joys and burdens. I like the doing of it, the being there....but the getting ready and the going, not so much usually.

2. How about that of your spouse or partner? NA

3. What was the best business trip you ever took? Well that would have to be the training I did back in the early nineties down in Grand Cayman. Yep. Poor me. Got sent down there to do three nights of community drug education workshops. My days were free to sightsee, beachcomb, whatever, and all I had to do was stand and deliver for two hours, three nights. A hard job but someone had to do it.

4. ...and the worst, of course? That would have to have been in DFW...sorry my lovely Texas friends....no reflection on all y'all! It was just one of those things. Training workshop where everything that could go wrong did. The local trainer failed to appear and I had to punt for four hours in an area that I really knew nothing about. The trainees were mad...they blamed me for stuff that was out of my control. I refused to roll over and play dead. They disliked me and the feeling, I daresay was rather mutual by the end of the two days. I could not get on the plane fast enough. I have also had a lovely time in Texas training the Air Force!

5. What would make your next business trip perfect? My next business trip is Diocesan Convention. I am sharing a room with two other women. I am sleeping on an airbed. Let's see....maybe having someone bring me coffee would be nice?