Business Trips are SO not the new Road Trip.

I go on my first business trip tomorrow. My. First. Business. Trip. I like saying it, it sounds professional. I don't feel that professional, and I don't feel that mature. When I get my things ready for work - my computer, my note cards, my planner, and put on my work clothes, and partake in discussions about 300,000 pieces of equipment, I feel like I'm six years old again and playing house. Today, I had to call my boyfriend - who, by the way, I am head over heels in love with - and ask him what sandbags were used for in relation to the floods in the midwest right now. Yet a few weeks ago, I had to turn away a sale at work because they didn't know (or care) that aerosole fumes can get through a HEPA filter, creating a hazardous - VERY hazardous - environment for their products and employees. I was trusted to just know that information.

At some point in my life - probably when I was enthralled in BSC books (the very then-famous baby-sitters club books)- that I came up with a very idealistic of how things were supposed to be. When I could buy my own lunch in high school, that was SO very uber cool and how high school kids should be. And when I got my license, it was so very cool of me to be the one with the car at the football games. And when I got to college, it was even more cool to be the first one with a fake ID. So what happens after college? It'd be even more cool of me to have the fantasy job. Company card, company computer, company cell phone. Oh, and a paycheck. Well, I have all of that - ANDIGETTOWORKFROMHOME. Every time I say it, and even write it, I'm impressed with myself. A huge part of me, however, is thinking - how the HELL did that happen. In my idealistic future, a college graduate with a super cool job was supposed to be way more mature than myself. A college graduate with a super cool job shouldn't have a million little insecurities and flaws like I do. They should have it together - ALL of it. And the truth is, there are only a few sure things in my life. Those, being that:

1. I will, everyday, spend at least 10 minutes looking for my keys.

2. That I will check gmail at least once every hour.

and,

3. That I have an amazing family, friends, and boyfriend, who, coincidentally, make a fabulous support system.

Lucky me. But, I do still find it weird that the-girl-talking-about-biohazardous chemicals-and-how-to-connect-the-hmi-to-the-zebra-printer is the same girl at the club on a saturday night throwing back cherry bombs. What would my colleagues think.

On a slightly happier note: one more sure thing is that I now know what sandbags are used for in floods -- to block the rain. a sort of levy, if you will.

Thanks, Jon.