Business Trip Anyone?

“In the creative state a man is taken out of himself. He lets down as it were a bucket into his self conscious, and draws up something which is normally beyond his reach. He mixes this thing with his normal experiences and out of the mixture he makes a work of art.” ~ E.M. Forster

Well, it’s been over a year since I last wrote. Things are going wonderfully. Work is keeping me busy, very busy. I have my own program. I am the only person in our group of 23 people that works on this project. It was an unannounced program for the past year, and about 3 weeks ago, our company announced the work. It’s a great learning opportunity, I’m working in computer programs that no one else in the group is working in, I’m buying parts that no one else has ever bought, and I am meeting quite a few new people on this program. It’s great, however stressful.

I received some major news a few weeks ago. I was getting ready to travel out to Boston to visit Big C. My plan was to leave on Thursday and return on Sunday. It was Wednesday morning before I was to leave. I was busy working away on some stuff at my desk. Joe, one of our leads, walks over to Jenna’s desk. Jenna is the girl who was hired in right before me. We are very close in age and we get along very well. He was leaning against her desk and looked up over at me, “Bella, come over here please.”

I get up and walk over, he looks at both of us and says, “You both need to go down to the OA’s (Office Assistant) office and get company credit cards.”

The company doesn’t issue a person a company credit card unless you travel for business. Our boss and main lead have been telling us for quite some time that they would be sending us on the road. However, they never have. I looked at Joe, “Are you serious?”

He looks at me, “Yes, I’m very serious.”

Jenna and I look at each other and then Joe looks at me and says, “You need to go see if you can cancel your return flight from Boston. I believe the company is planning on flying you from Boston to Seattle.”

“Wait. . .” I look at Joe, “I’m going to Seattle?”

“Yes, you and Lenin.” he says. Okay, I had to hide the giant grin that I was fighting. Traveling with Lenin, could things get any better? I totally fancy him. Joe said it wasn’t the ideal time to send either of us, but he couldn’t afford to send Jenna because of a project that she was working on and I had been training one of the new hires on my desk. Therefore, when it came down from upper management that one of us (Jenna or myself) had to go on this trip for training/experience purposes, Joe decided to send me. THANK YOU JOE!!!!!

Well, Jenna and I went down to the OA’s office. She got us set up on company credit cards and she started finding me a flight from Boston to Seattle. She informed me to tell Lenin that the hotel he wanted to stay at was full, so we would be staying at a different hotel. I went back up to our section and found Lenin. He was busy working away on something. “I talked to OA. She said you needed to fill out some paperwork for the trip. She said you would know what she was talking about. Also, the hotel you wanted is full, therefore she booked us for the Blank Hotel.”
"That’s a good hotel. It’s my second preference.”
“Well, that’s good.”
“There are two sides to it, one has a view out over the water and the other has a view of the street. I’ve always wanted to have a view out over the water, but I always end up getting the street view.”

We both go back to work. I’m completely thrown by this whole situation. I’m leaving in less than 24 hours for Boston and then this is sprung on me. I’m not really sure why they are sending me to Seattle, I have to get a company cell phone, figure out if my wireless Internet works and remember to put my business cards in my computer case. I’m basically overwhelmed and Joe knows me well enough to know when I’m beginning to freak out.

Joe comes over to my desk, “Bella.”
“I’ve got so many questions. I don’t know where to start.”
“Make a list and we’ll talk about them. Call so -and-so to get a company cell phone and start rounding up the things you need to take.” It’s a good thing Joe is a father. If he wasn’t, it would be a little difficult for him to work with me. He has figured out how I work and my mannerisms. He has figured out when I’m tired, stress, angry, and all the other emotions I always thought I masked well. As we are having this discussion, Lenin comes down, “Bella, you do have business cards, right?”
“Yes. I’ll bring them with me.”
“Good.”
“Lenin.” I ask, “You’re renting the car, right?”
“Yeah.” In my mind I’m going “Whew. . . That’s good because that’s stress I don’t need.”

I spend the day rounding up things, prepping Kari to work my stuff while I’m gone. I gave her all the information she needed on what to do in each situation. Who to call to get certain things done. How to fix purchase orders if something comes in wrong and gave her all my contacts. I was so worried about leaving her to fend for herself, that I kept apologizing. She was great about it. You could tell she was nervous. She had my work cell number and before I left, I gave her my personal cell number too, just in case.

The problem with applying for a company credit card the day before you leave to go somewhere else is the fact that you will not be at work to pick up the credit card. They were expediting my credit card, but I wouldn’t be able to pick it up, as I would be in Boston. We talked to my mom, who works at the same company as me, and she was going to get it from the OA and give it to Lenin. Lenin was to bring it with him to Seattle and give it to me. That was the plan.

Well, as the day is winding down, I’ve got most everything in order. I’m sitting at my desk, tying up loose ends when Joe walks by. He leans against my desk and we have a discussion, “Do you have everything?”
“I think so. Cell phone, computer, information for using wireless and how to get to the company intranet from wireless, business cards, my mouse, and I think that’s all of it.”

Joe smiles, “Relax. Go to this and soak up everything. Meet these people, listen to what they are saying, take notes and just relax.”
“I planned on being quiet and taking it all in because we both know they didn’t invite me for my knowledge on the subject.”

Joe looked at me, “You need to have more faith in yourself. Make Lenin take to you to some nice restaurants, and enjoy the trip. Enjoy your vacation and learn from your time in Seattle. Don’t stress.”

We ended the conversation and I went back to work. I printed some stuff and I walked down to the printer to get the papers. Lenin’s desk is right by the printer, I started our usual banter, “Joe said you had to be nice to me on this trip.”
“I highly doubt he said that.”
“No, he really did.” I counter, as Joe walks by. Joe looks at the both of us, “I did not say he had to be nice to you. I said he had to take you to some nice restaurants.”

Lenin acts as if the is a monumental task and we all joke around about it. Joe tells Lenin about the first business trip he went on with his boss, who was a lady. She informed him that a man never makes a lady dine by herself. He had to meet her at her door every morning at 6:30 to go to breakfast. I looked at Lenin, “If you are at my door at that hour, I will kick you.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t ever be at your door.”
“Glad we’re clear on that.”
Joe looks at us and walks on. I head home for the day and I drop a penny off at Lenin’s desk before I leave, “See you on Sunday.”
He smiles, “Yeah.”

I’ll write more later. For now, I need to get some sleep.