On the heels of my Chicago travels I came home sick. Felt great right up until I got in the car on Saturday morning. My throat felt like I had a little drainage going on. By the end of the ride I felt exhaustion and sinus pressure set in. By Sunday I felt like death warmed up. Ugh.
I made an appointment for Monday morning at the Minute Clinic and learned I had brought home a double ear infection as a souvenir. At least I got some meds as a reward.
Monday afternoon I was back on a plane to NYC. At work we’re interviewing some law firms to form a new partnership going forward. We had a few meeting scheduled this week in the big apple.
Our assistant booked a very nice hotel on the recommendation of one of the firms, but rather than a “normal” room, I opened my door to a suite. On the 35th floor. Overlooking Central Park. What-what? No, we’re not usually bougie like that, and we certainly don’t have that in our budget. I’m not sure what happened, and we’ll figure it out next week so we don’t repeat it, but wowza. I have to say, I wasn’t sad. The room and the views were ridiculous.
The pace was a little intense while there…but most of that was probably because I wasn’t feeling great.
Tuesday we just spent day working, but I wasn’t complaining about the view for sure. My desk overlooked the park.
However, by mid afternoon, the smoke from the Canadian fires starting creeping in, and by 4pm the sky was aglow with an ominous orange hue that made me really feel for the poor people up in Canada.
The whole city reverted to wearing N95s when walking outside.
Wednesday the air was a little better, but walking to dinner, which was only like a 1/2 mile from the hotel, caused all of us a bit of a wheeze.
Dinner was great. We dined at La Grande Boucherie. A lovely steakhouse in the heart of midtown. Great conversation, wine and food. That was a late night for sure, and I felt it the next morning.
Thursday we spent in meetings with two firms. It was great meeting everyone in person and learning about what they offer. We had lunch in between and after the second meeting headed over to the NY Public library to meet one of our Board members, who happens to be their attorney. Pretty cool, I won’t deny. I was completely geeked out walking through those halls. I even saw the Gutenberg Bible.
After that my boss and the rest of the group had a meeting I didn’t have to attend, so I went back to my room for the evening. For dinner, I decided if I’m in NY I should have Italian.
Homemade pasta bolognese. OMGoodness. Ah-mazing.
Then I headed to my room for a quiet night. Washed up and relaxed with a charcoal mask. Got into PJs and watched some TV. Then I got a text at 10p from my boss saying they were having a nightcap in the hotel bar. Having rested and feeling much better, I joined them.
I have to say, I am blessed. I have a job I like and that I am good at. I have worked with Crystal for over a decade now, and I think I like her even more now than I did all those years ago when we were just starting out in the trenches together. I love my co-workers. I’m in a pretty cool tech company. Sometimes I get crabby from travel, but generally, I get to travel to places I like being. It’s a pretty nice work life.
I only wish my parents were around to see the end result of all the stern talks about work ethic and going after what I want in life. I had great examples in them both of how to work hard, go after goals, and enjoy family time and life along the way…I think they’d be both proud of me, and happy for me.
Shrinking Shay 