The Super Duper Long Drive to Work

Living in the suburbs and working as a consultant involves some fairly long commutes from time to time. I spent most of the first half of the year working for three different companies all in the same five mile radius about an hour commute from my house.

That puts a crimp in the old family time. Fortunately, I normally get to work 6-2:30, so I still get home a lot earlier than most people.

I just started a new assigment this week that is located really close to my actual employers office (I am a salaried consultant). The commute when I leave at 5:30am is 35 minutes. Sweet. I’m hoping a couple follow on projects open up there that could keep me around through the end of the year and maybe longer.

So, I wake up and stumble around the house trying to get my sinuses to behave. My cold has mutated from the evil stomace to the evil cough and sinus drain. I eventually hop in my car and arrive at work 35 minutes later…without my laptop.

I had to drive home, pick up the laptop, and drive back to work again. I have already spent two hours in my car and it is not even 10am yet.

I have a very important piece of career advice for people with families. If you have important things that you HAVE to bring to work, leave them in the same spot every night. Last night, after watching the Cardinals manage to get into the World Series, I set the computer on the dining room table instead of its usual place by the door. And, because of it, I will be getting home later tonight and be able to spend less time with my kids tomorrow.