I need to complain about something that isn't really a big deal, but still. I am in National Harbor (which, in itself isn't terrible I guess) for this conference that I've been looking forward to for months. The content is important to me, since I am in the middle of choosing an EDMS provider.

However: this stupid National Harbor locale offers NO pub trans, outside of an extremely limited bus (that is targeted to employee's schedules) into DC. Last night, to meet Sparky and Maria, I ended up in a cab after the hotel concierge laughed at my suggestion at pubtrans. The cab got caught in traffic, completely expectedly, but the driver erroneously told me I was two blocks away from the restaurant (we weren't moving and the fare was already $40+) and I was like "great, I can walk from here!". No, it wasn't two blocks to the restaurant: it was two blocks to the street that the restaurant was on! I was more than pissed to look up and see that I was on the 800 block and the restaurant was on the 1800s. Normally I love a good walk in brisk weather. But not in work heels, in snow, knowing poor Sparky and baby were waiting for me! So, that's one gripe. Maria was incredibly sweet and drove me back to the hotel, as I really didn't want to expense $90 in cab fares for one day. Tonight I am meeting another friend, and this time I am armed with Metro knowledge. I can see that a $10 or so cab fare will get me over to Alexandria, and from there I can yellow-line it in to town. Whew! Much better.

But my second larger gripe is that here I am for this conference, and I've not yet been able to leave my damned hotel room to actually attend even one event for today. I am in charge of exactly two things that I can't give to my subordinate, and since they're due diligence related, the requests are always unpredictable and have to be handled very quickly and with utmost care (huge confidentiality issues, which is why I can't hand them off to a subordinate who is in the office). So I've been taking calls all day from our biz dev folks, and loading docs and restricting and granting access and blah blah blah blah. And I am tired of this stupid hotel room which has crankified me beyond belief.

I'm going downstairs to get a drink at the bar and then outside to breathe some fresh air.

Thanks for listening.

I have some bad news about the result of a screw-up of mine which I have to call the COO and tell him about. I am putting it off until ANOTHER crappy thing happens first. Not. My. Day.

msbelle, I am so excited for you. It's going to be really amusing to watch you move and renovate and have fun with all that space.

I'm just so sick of comments on the order of "If those disgusting people would just make an effort and lose some weight instead of sitting on their fat asses watching TV." And people who think fat people shouldn't be allowed on airlines because they'll block the emergency exits.

Absolutely. Hateful people who make rude comments come in all sizes.

I can't understand blaming the passengers for the lack of room on an airplane, it's so clearly the airlines' fault. Oh well.

I try to fly as little as possible anymore. It's just too uncomfortable. Last time I flew I was sitting next to one of my best friends, who happens to be about 5'5" and 110 pounds, and we were practically sitting on top of each other. If she hadn't been my friend it would have been unbearable.

Hateful people who make rude comments come in all sizes.

As do idiots who will block emergency exits in an emergency, which is why I think the safety argument is ridiculous.

Flying is a pain in the ass. I'm over my (once strong) affection for planes and now they're just a necessary evil. I say this as someone who flies biz or first most of the time (most of my flying these days is for work) and I still find it a completely annoying experience more often than not.

Flying is a pain in the ass. I'm over my (once strong) affection for planes and now they're just a necessary evil.

I still have an affection for planes, but I don't like flying anymore.

I think I've flown four times since 9-11.

My gripe for the day is that the fucking doctor who did Bob's colonscopy has failed to send his doctor at Hopkins the pathology slides or the report from the test AGAIN today (after a week's delay due to snow and being off Monday and telling him they'd take care of it Tuesday). And she can't proceed with setting up a treatment plan for him until that happens. I'm so furious right now. And can't do anything about it because the doctor's office closes at fucking 3:30 or some shit. GRRRRRR

That's just awful, lisah! Really, REALLY bad care.

lisah, that is completely unacceptable. Can some Buffistas call and leave angry voicemails?