Middle Seat Monday

When I was a kid the 1987 cinematic genius of Steve Martin and John Candy in the film Planes Trains & Automobiles was sort of funny, but was unrelatable to me. At the time I was a teenager growing up in the middle of nowhere. Before the age of 18, I had only traveled by plane two or three times to experience the joys of Disney World. Central Florida in July and August were always a treat.

Little did I know that my life would one day mirror the trials of Steve Martin’s character Neal Page. Today I have a 3PM meeting in Atlanta. Short flight. In and out…easy travel day. For all of the other road warriors out there, here is a review of my Monday just for you:

7:00 AM- 6 AM alarm was unknowingly “adjusted” to 7AM for spouse

7:15 AM- Shaved showered minimally packed -jump into car

7:17 AM- Realization the gas gauge reads “get gas right now”

7:19 AM- Stopped ranting about teenage driver who returned car on E

7:25 AM- Coasted into closest gas station

7:26 AM- Personal credit card borrowed (obviously not for gas) & at home

7:28 AM- $4.95 of gas on pump 4 paid for via change in center console

7:40 AM- Arrive at airport long term parking

7:44 AM- Found space, sprinted for departing shuttle bus

7:52 AM- Jump off bus, breeze through security (TSA pre-approved ??)

8:01 AM- Arrive at terminal to find out 8:25 AM departure delayed

8:02 AM- Determine Outlook and iPhone not syncing (no flight notices)

8:05 AM- Start the review process with gate agent on new flight times

8:15 AM- Good news 9AM departure, plenty of time for connection

8:17 AM- Try to get on WiFi, figure out what’s up with Outlook and iPhone

8:30 AM- Security software still won’t connect to “unsecure network”

8:30 AM- Accept IT defeat, move on to Starbucks (business meal = AMEX)

8:45 AM- Triple venti in hand, board plane –boarding zone 5… seat 25 E

8:48 AM- 25 D & 25 F occupied by …off season linebackers? Awesome

9:05 AM- “This is your captain” pushback delayed, door won’t latch

9:25 AM- Door latched pushback takeoff, still time for 11:40 AM connection

11:15 AM- Deplane at C7 (of course) run to E14A, plenty of time

11: 25 AM- Arrive at gate, flight delayed..Outlook & iPhone still not syncing

11:30 AM- New departure 12:05.. 45 min flight, still time to make meeting

11:40 AM- Announcement, new departure time 1:15 PM

11:40 AM- Recognition that I can’t possibly make 3 PM meeting

11:41 AM– Call client and co-worker to break the news…..voicemail

11:44 AM- Need to email client and ask to push meeting time back

11:45 AM- Attempt to Jump on WiFi and begin the 2nd battle with IT

12:15 AM- Surrendered to IT, put away work laptop

12:16 AM- Long pause, deep breath, it’s just a Middle Seat Monday

12:18 AM- Writing LinkedIn Article on iPhone, hope to make someone smile