STLWorkingMom

Flying today; this, an explanation of why my palms are sweating profusely and my stomach aches in a way that nothing but reaching my destination will quell.

Last night’s travel anxiety nightmare had me accidentally flying to Miami instead of New Orleans, my destination of necessity. I am disconcerted by the fact that in reality, the only other flight on the board at my gate is indeed, to Miami, leaving at exactly the same time.

I am comforted by nothing but a good book when I fly. Even that doesn’t help with today’s high winds and resultant turbulence. Currently, on layover at my personal hell, Dulles airport. Soon, flying again hopefully landing in New Orleans, with a day of non-travel during this trip. I’ll already looking forward to the weekend.

The boy turns 18 today. The man? No, I don’t think so. Regardless of his voting eligibility and the draft card in his wallet, for me, he will remain the boy.

The husband said, “We’ve raised a child.”

Wait, whoa, hold on a minute, I think, have I remembered to teach him everything I should have? Have I armed him with enough information to keep him happy, healthy and secure into adulthood. Probably not.

A commercial came on for one of those rent-to-own joints. I told the boy never to rent anything to own; that it’s a ripoff. Apparently I’ve made this point before.

“If there’s anything you guys have taught me, it’s that,” he said wryly (I think).

We send our son off into the world an adult who, if nothing else, will never rent-to-own a piece of furniture or a television.

One day last week, I had several meetings around town, with appointments in between and therefore “camped” during and between connections with real, live C’villians. The result of this day? My entire caloric intake was from a variety of coffees and at day’s end had a caffiene-infused bloodstream.

Workcamping v. To stake out at coffeehouses with free or at least available wifi and work on a laptop until forced to leave by circumstances beyond one’s control.

Charlottesville Coffeehouses in which I’ve Worked: A Review

Java Java (downtown)
Wifi: Free and consistent
Coffee: Good. Try the Chai.
Food: Not really worth mentioning but dude, they have homemade Pop-Tarts.
Workability: Not bad. JJ is generally quiet but outlets are limited.
Atmosphere: Love the paint colors and the small alcove; quite cozy.
Parking: None.  
Restroom: N/A — they have one; never been there.

C’ville Coffee
Wifi: Iffy but free.
Coffee: Good but not remarkable.
Food: Good. Try the honey bunches for a small treat.
Workability: Can be crowded and outlets are few. Early mornings are generally quiet. C’ville Coffee is where a lot of business happens in town so be prepared to see someone you know and to chat.
Atmosphere: The adults only area is a good hangout but C’ville Coffee is popular with moms and kids. Sometimes the place just has a hint of eau de dirty diaper.
Parking: Can be crowded especially mid-day; limited to 90 minutes, but free.
Restroom: Ew. No thanks. They have them but I’ve not been there. The high kid traffic keeps me from believing it would be pleasant.

Panera at Hollymead Town Center and Barracks Road
Wifi: Free, mostly reliable.
Coffee: Unremarkable chain restaurant variety coffee.
Food: Good but oh lardy, I’m sick of it.
Workability: Early morning or late afternoon only; otherwise overcrowded and loud. Outlets are few but findable.
Atmosphere: Barracks — tables and booths are crammed together. Hollymead — much more pleasant and spacious; love the fireplace area. Bonus: outdoor seating when weather permits.
Parking: Barracks — difficult but free. Hollymead — plentiful and free.
Restroom: Reliably clean.

Shenandoah Joe’s
Wifi: Iffy but free.
Coffee: The best in town, beans are roasted on site.
Food: Who cares? See “Coffee.” I believe there are some pastries if really necessary.
Workability: Possible. I like the bar with the outlets.
Atmosphere: Pleasant but this place is popular any time of day. It may be tough to jockey for a good work spot.
Parking: Free but not plentiful.
Restroom: Unisex and actually lovely.

Mudhouse, downtown
Wifi: Yes and free.
Coffee: Quite good.
Food: Sweets. Try a shot of goo or a brownie. Not both.
Workability: Not so much. Mudhouse is often crowded and the tables are too close together. The music is often too loud for good concentration.
Atmosphere: Groovy and European wannabe. Interesting art shows.
Parking: Downtown. None. Duh.
Restroom: Ask for the key. That much I know; I’ve never been.

Starbucks at Hollymead, Berkmar and Pantops
Wifi: T-Mobile. Not free. Boooo!
Coffee: Consistent, expected, expensive.
Food: Meh. Try a cuffin (n. a cupcake disguised as a muffin).
Workability: Hollymead, yes, always. Berkmar, not in the morning. Pantops, not for most of the day — the seating area is crowded and cramped, even without people.
Atmosphere: Starbucky (adj. self congratulating coffee experience overindulged with mermaid-branded status. Wear your pink polo shirt with the collar UP.)
Parking: Yep. Dangerous at Berkmar (I’ve witnessed several near collisions) but free and available at all three.
Restroom: Generally clean and acceptable.

In summary, my coffeehouse choices are largely affected by geography, landing near where I need to be or wherever the next or previous meeting is scheduled. Given the free choice scenario, though, I’d choose Java Java to get some serious work done, C’ville Coffee for schmoozing networking opportunities and Shenandoah Joe’s for yummy coffee and to feel somewhat hip.

Where do you like to workcamp in Charlottesville?

I write this aware that my mother will sit at her kitchen table, cup of Lipton tea before her, furrow of worry at her brow, reading this post from the page my father has printed, from the e-mail he receives to let him know there’s a new post on my blog. Hello, Mom! Hello, Dad!

I’m blogging when there are at least 100 other things I should be doing. I’m in that lull that precedes “the scurry” that inevitably precedes the work trip. There’s a list in my head of what I want to/need to accomplish for work. There’s another list that encompasses that which I want to do for the boy’s birthday on Tuesday. There’s the other, unavoidable list of the laundry that must be finished, the dinner made, the arrangements made for the week. There’s this other crazy, misguided list of stuff I’ve been wanting to do for awhile, not limited to the task of ironing on the 42 patches the girl has earned in Girl Scouts. There’s a list of the stuff I wanted to get done before this trip (get a haircut, get a few items drycleaned) that may be moving to the “It’s not going to happen,” list.

This is the war cry of the overachiever.

I’m just this close to feeling overwhelmed and I can hear my mother’s voice in my head, “Are you doing too much? Do you think maybe you need to slow down, or take a break?” and I can’t listen to it because then I will feel those pangs of defeat, will allow myself to feel tired, to pause in my motion for that long enough second that will let the self-doubt in. It will take all the inner shouting I can muster to drown it out with, “Yes I can! I can do it all! I WILL do it all!” Then that other voice, the voice of the Fly Lady, will remind me, “Baby steps, dear.”

And they’re both right, of course. I will take the break. I will slow down. I will blog, for example, when I have something to say. I will not apply undue pressure to the wound of working too much. I will take baby steps and with a little planning, and a big, deep breath it will all get done.

Except the Girl Scout patches. That’s gotta wait.

I will do what I can, let go what I can’t, but above all, I will come through on the other side of this with some sense of accomplishment, and without the pain of defeat.

The girl stood before the open pantry, taking inventory of the items I’d brought home from the store.

“Oooh, I love those! You bought so many good snacks! Why did you buy all this stuff?”

Pause.

“Wait a minute.”

Pause.

“Are you going out of town?”

Busted.