The short bus

I spent the better part of two weeks traveling from customer site to customer site in the South and Central Plains. Let’s call it a Wine and Dine jaunt. Four separate customers, four separate lunches, dinners, and an untold amount of drinks.

I’m witty, I’m charming, I tell amusing stories, but still…don’t my customers get tired of me? I’m certainly tired of them. I need time away from my customers so that I can recover from my customers themselves.

I see no immediate relief. I’m home for two weeks, but I need to work a bit through the holidays. I may end up working at a customer site on Christmas Eve. Who wants to see me on Christmas Eve? No one in their right mind! Right after the holidays I’m back on the road for the first two weeks of January.

One of my customers is requesting that I accompany her to Japan in January, but isn’t sure when. I tried to tell them that I book up fast, but no luck. We’ll just wait and see how that little ditty plays out.

One of my newest customers is demanding serious hand holding, but they have yet to take possession of the equipment I sold them. Once you buy, you get the love. No buy=no love. They hounded me so hard for documentation that I sent them all the same documentation I sent them six months ago. They didn’t even notice.

Nice summary of my work. I regurgitate the same material, they don’t notice. This lets me know that they’re just seeking my attention.

I need to find someone else to throw under the bus as a diversion.

Killers

Back in Texas

What is there to say about this? This truck was in my customers parking lot.

Birthday blues

One of my daughters is 21 today.

I can't help but think that I didn't teach her everything that she needs to know in order to be successful and happy in her life.

I don't even know all those things, but somehow, I wanted to be able to pass it on to my children.

Another day at the Tsujiki Fish Market

Kabob anyone?

Panky

What exactly are Chocolate Panky Balls and why do I enjoy saying that name out loud so much?

Humidity on the horizon

I made it through thirteen weeks in a row of solid travel before I managed to grab a few days at home. I picked up a nice stomach bug on the last leg of my travel, which in turn caused my time at home to be much more relaxing and pleasurable.

This week I’m back in Japan. The weather feels slightly humid, but not too bad, yet. In another month the temp will have increased by 20 degrees and the humidity by 30%. My short term goal is to not return to Japan this summer.

I'll have customers arriving on Wed afternoon for a few days of work and a few days (and nights) of entertainment. I'm not sure my liver is up to it this week, but, we'll see. I'm still a litle shaky from last weeks illness.