Yet another Friday out of town

[gurdonark]

Most of my business travel these days involves a Friday day out of town. When I first began doing travel from Dallas to the west coast, back in the 1980s, one could buy an airline non-stop ticket a few days in advance (plans change too often for me to risk advance purchase penalties) for sums that were entirely reasonable. In order to get affordable fares now, I have to buy one-stop tickets. This is okay with me, as I work to keep client expenses affordable and low travel expenses are part of the equation. I do not understand how the "full service" airlines stay in business, when a last minute fare can run 1500 dollars. So I fly the "bargain" airlines, and stop in desert intermediate cities.

The sheer number of flights back east seems to have dropped since the events of September 2001. I find that if my meeting ends after 2:30 p.m. or so, it can be a challenge to get back to the Dallas area at a reasonable hour. Sometimes I have to break my return into two pieces, and sometimes I have to fly to a more distant regional airport, rent a car, and drive home.

This year is the third year since I've opened my own business with a friend. I am glad to have the freedom of being a "name partner" rather than an employee or lesser partner. But when I face up to long night flights home, I remember that I pay some costs for the life I lead. It's hard to complain, though--it's good to have a job that I enjoy doing.

I also get a lot of reading done on the plane. I finished Franzen's "The Corrections" last night. Although "MFA" novels typically don't do much for me, this one proved entirely readable in the long run. There was one bit of extended bathroom humour that nearly lost me altogether. I am not much into bathroom humour.
But the final plot twists, though quite predictable, worked out nicely. Family dysfunction seems to replace the "coming of age" story as the new "right" thing to write about these days.

Now for a croissant, a meeting and then the plane.

Comments

[robertstheology.livejournal.com]

There is a famous series of humour books called "Jokes for the John". Every day for the past 3 weeks, I have had at least one customer ask to be directed to the "toilet" reading section.

[cathla143.livejournal.com]

HAHA!!!

I don't recall getting that question while working in a library...

Where do you work?

[robertstheology.livejournal.com]

Chapters, the Canadian equivalent of Barnes & Noble.

[blue-by-you.livejournal.com]

I hope this trip goes well. What is an "MFA" book?

[gurdonark.livejournal.com]

I use the term "MFA book" or "MFA fiction" to describe a certain sort of literary fiction practiced by folks whom I suspect of having, or teaching those who wish to have, a Master of Fine Arts in fiction. Some of the symptoms of this craft are fiction about fiction, academic in-jokes, gratuitous violence or shock value material introduced for seemingly no reason, and stories-within-a-story featuring English academics. Sometimes I'm overwhelmed by the craftsmanship,and the devout refusal to take any risk, while trying to tell something particularly grisly. Then I long for a simple science fiction book, where people are colonizing some distant star.

[blue-by-you.livejournal.com]

Ah, I get it. Thanks for explaining.

[gregwest98.livejournal.com]

I go to Austin next week for a class.

I'm traveling with another guy - whom I can't stand. Any advice for smooth sailing? I'm pretty diplomatic but this will test me beyond my known limits.

[gurdonark.livejournal.com]

My advice is as follows:

a. good novel or non-fiction book for any airplane interaction. This is essential, so that you are not talked to during flight.

b. limit social interactions to shared meals, offering to let the fellow take the shared rental vehicle if need be--one can always take a cab someplace if one must.

c. when the bait is presented so that you will react, decline to react. Then he will go fish another pond for adverse reactions.

I feel your pain, but Austin is still a great town.