On the Road

Years ago, I dreamed of being a road manager for a band. I mean, I'd have the degree, a love of music, a desire to meet/organize/herd people, and the ability to travel. What could be so awful about that? At the time, I couldn't see that there'd be very much I wouldn't like. Now, there are many more factors to consider.

I mean, not much has changed save my unwillingness to live on a tour bus or actually work in the music industry (no offense, because really, I still have the degree). And I think those two things are pretty central to the role.

My love of travel has never gone away. Mix it with my work, and I'm practically in heaven. Well, except if it's all the time and takes me away from Cliff. Know what I mean?

The next two weeks are going to be a whirlwind of activity for me both professionally and personally speaking. Tomorrow I hop in a car with a handful of co-workers from across the university caravaning for Atlanta overnight and then Birmingham. This weekend Cliff and I are headed for Cleveland. Next Monday, I hop in a car again with those same colleagues on a four day tour of Knoxville, then Cincinnati, and finally St. Louis before driving back home, repacking my life, and hopping on a plane bound for California with my best travelling buddy for a couple of days.

So, yeah. In case you're counting, that's six states in just about two weeks.

I'm really excited about these work trips because we're basically taking our enrollment services and orientation show on the road, hosting dinner parties for admitted students - both those who've decided to come and those who are still on the fence. We get to visit with them and their parents for a couple of hours, answering questions and giving them an idea of what they'll be in for as we head into the summer orientation season and on into the fall semester. That connection point is such a huge part of why I love what I do at the university, so a little face-time will be rewarding, I think.

Oh, but how much there is to do when the longest length of time I'll spend at home in the next two weeks is 8 hours and that'll pretty much be spent sleeping! I'm practically a chicken with it's head cut off!