June 20, 2005

Time to spend the corporate dollar

I am leaving to spend three nights and days in Chicago tomorrow. Due to the length of stay and the nature of my trip, corporate will be putting me up in a hotel. In fact I'll be staying at the Fairmont in lovely downtown Chicago. I also have a fairly decent, okay it's really good expense allowance for meals. Therefore, I'm going to be eating in some really nice restaurants. Plus I get to drive the corporate car in for my trip so I don't have to put any wear and tear on my vehicle. That and I think they realize it will be cheaper for me to take their car then for them to reimburse me for gas if I drove my truck.

The only problem with this trip is that I'm going to be bored off my arse. I hate eating in restaurants alone. That means I'm probably going to end up eating at the hotel a lot. I don't like drinking alone, therefore I wont be spending a lot of time at some of the bars and in particular a great pub I know. I don't shop, so that's not an option. I'm just going to be bored.

I would have loved to bring my wife with, but she can't take the time off of work and we have two boys she has to watch while I'm away. I don't have any friends that live remotely close to downtown Chicago so it's not like I'll have anyone to socialize with after hours.

I just hope the hotel has some decent movies on pay-per-view.

Posted by Contagion in Tales from the Work Place at June 20, 2005 09:31 PM
Comments

There's a corporate car?
Er... maybe you should insist on a laptop with internet access to take with you? hehe.

Posted by: S at June 20, 2005 10:13 PM

You should defy your own rules and go out exploring Chicago anyway!!!

Maybe you'll get lucky and will have wonderful amusing anecdotes to post when you return.

Hope you have a good trip.

Posted by: Michele at June 20, 2005 10:37 PM

-Go to the museum silly goose. Chicago has one of the best art museums in the United States .
-I promise you can eat alone, it has been done. If you are mega uncomfortable, take a book, or a magazine.

Posted by: ArmyWifeToddlerMom at June 20, 2005 11:06 PM

Geeze, I ate alone so much I have a hard time relating with you. I was shipped to DC every week (tue/thur) for 6 months. I got a lot of good reading in while eating. I know I know, you aren't suppose to eat and read at the same time. You are suppose to savor your food. blhhh. A good book and you can ignore those around you. ;-)

Posted by: vw bug at June 21, 2005 06:37 AM

I like the aquarium. There is something very relaxing about those aquariums. If I was closer, I'd come drink with ya!

Posted by: Oddybobo at June 21, 2005 08:13 AM

AWTM. I've been the the Chicago Art Museum many times. It's kind of lost it's appeal to me, mainly because I'm not a huge art fan.

Michelle, I guess I could use this as an episode of "My torture for your pleasure". Shudder... Water Tower Plaza.

VW read and eat???? You've never seen me eat... that's just not physically possible.

Oddy, too many people for me to not have a comfort person with me. I'll go crazy and try to grill a shark right there on the floor.

Posted by: Contagion at June 21, 2005 11:16 AM

I don't eat alone either. I hated business trips where I went alone. I'd get room service.

Posted by: Bou at June 21, 2005 01:24 PM