Why does being a business traveler have to suck?

In my previous post I mentioned that I'm in Seattle on business. Well that's where I am right now, sitting in my hotel room, eating some leftovers (courtesy of The Boeing Aircraft Company) and contemplating a couple of things...

...Like, why does it have to suck being a business traveler?...

Maybe I'm just old, but remember when getting on an airplane (business or pleasure) used to be fun. Go to the airport, watch the airplanes land and take-off, get on board, have a meal, read a book, get off, and away you go.

Not anymore.

You take off your shoes going through security, all of your items are x-rayed, poked, and prodded, then you squeeze aboard, maybe get some pretzels, and now...away you go.

Ever since I took this job with the airline I've noticed how much business travel seems to suck for everyone. I still have a good time but for so many people it seems like they just aren't having any fun at all. I mean really, isn't life too short to be attached to your Blackberry? I don't know how many times I see some poor guy in his suit, hurrying through TSA's shoe gauntlet, a Starbuck's decaf in one hand, his PDA/cell in his right, trying to explain to some supposed big-wig on the other end that his dog ate the jump drive his Powerpoint presentation was on.

Stupid.

When I got off the airplane here in Seattle, it seemed like everyone immediately put a cell phone up to their ear like they just saved the world by checking their voicemail.

Please. Stop.

After I picked up my bag I put on my Andover Hockey hat and walked to the car rental counter. There were a couple of uptight business dudes there in their khakis and just-the-right-length haircuts, trying to wiggle a couple of extra frequent flier miles out of their ubiquituous full size upgrade. After they put their ear-buds in and headed to whatever upgrade line they seemed destined for I took my place in line. Instead of tryng for the upgrade, you know what I did?

I took the time to actually talk to the person behind the counter. Sure we took care of business, and she tried to upsell the needless insurance dealio on me, but the rest of the time, we laughed, we joked, and I left feeling better for talking to her like a real person rather than some sort of human utility pole.

Why do we feel it necessary to have to button up and act business "correct" when we're on the road? Sure, surrounded by you contemporaries you don't want to show any supposed weaknesses, but in reality who gives a rats-ass? I see so many tight-asses getting their breakfasts in the morning, brows furrowed while looking at the USA Today (like that has any real info).

Loosen up people, sure you have a job to do, but let's not lose our humanity, or sense of humor. As for me? I'm showing up tomorrow morning wearing jeans and a hat, just to see how many tight asses I can loosen up.

mmmmmm....Pork Adobo

So I'm here in lovely Renton, Washington for the 2006 Boeing 737NG Industry Steering Committee meeting and it's time for lunch. There are about 40 of us here from all points of the globe from Ireland, to South Africa, to Japan, and Australia. Actually, the Boeing facility that we're in right now is a big training center for flight crews as well so you can imagine how many different nationalities there are.

So I get my lunch voucher and walk into the cafeteria. Over on one side is your basic burgers and hot dogs. There's some cold sandwiches in another line. I look at the "international" line and lo and behold what do I see? MMMM.....Pork Adobo.

So why was I so excited? I make Chicken Adobo at home, my wife and kids love it, but for some reason I don't make the pork version. Adobo is a Filipino dish where you slowly cook either the pork or chicken in a combination of soy sauce, vinegar, bay leaf, salt and black pepper in a pot and serve it over white rice. It's something I grew up with as a child...seems like my folks made it once a week. It's a memory of youth.

Somehow seeing it in a lunch buffet line in Renton, Washington in the middle of a conference made me smile.....and it was damn tasty too.