Dirty Laundry
After sixteen months working on the same project, we went live Monday. It was exciting to see everything working beautifully, with not a single problem. This is almost unheard of in the technology industry and I must say I work with a wonderful, dedicated, and talented team. Today, sixteen months after being handed the keys but having to build the engine, I finally learned how the thing works and why it is so damn complicated-and it makes beautiful sense!
I think I finally figured out why I’m tired and worn out by 5pm. My internal clock forgot to reset when it came out here Saturday. For example, right now it is 11:45pm as I type this. In Colorado, it’s 3:45pm. Doesn’t seem that bad when you look at it yet my internal clock and body realizes that it hasn’t slept during the time it normally sleeps. This evening, when I returned from the office, I chatted with Jessica for a few minutes, asked her to call me in thirty minutes, I then took a nap. I woke up about twenty minutes ago; five hours after Jessica called me. Apparently, my body needed the sleep, as I feel refreshed and ready to go to bed.
Whoever decided that the hotel we’re staying at was a good choice never considered other hotels in the vicinity. Admittedly, the office is a hop, skip, and a jump away, but justifying the distance to cost should be an important factor in the decision making process of booking a hotel. I’m approaching a critical part of this trip: running out of clothes. Should I use the hotel’s laundry service? Absolutely not! Here’s why:
- Shirt or Blouse: €6.00 ($10.20)
Trousers or Skirt: €8.50 ($14.45)
Jacket: €9.50 ($16.15)
Dress: €9.50 ($16.15)
Underwear: €2.50 ($4.25)
Pullover or Nightdress: €5.50 ($9.35)
T-Shirt or Shorts: €2.50 ($4.25)
Pair of Socks: €2.50 ($4.25)
Suit: €12.50 ($21.25)
Ironing: €3.50 ($5.95)
I have an immediate need for five shirts (€30.00), two pairs of jeans (€17.00), six boxers (listed as underwear, €15.00), and six pairs of socks (€15.00). The math is simple, €77.00 or $130.90. Even if I could justify the cost to my boss, I couldn’t justify it to myself. If I told Jessica I paid $130.90 for laundry service of nineteen items, I think she’d bill me weekly for all the laundry she washes, dries, and folds for the children and I.
Two of my coworkers have asked me if I’d join them on a whirlwind trip to Amsterdam this weekend. Although I would love to see the Red Light District, I have no desire to take a four-hour, four-connection train, to walk around looking at girls in windows, waiting for my two coworkers to “finish”, then head back to Germany on another four-hour, four-connection train. This doesn’t sound like a fun and exciting day for me.
I’ve contemplated heading to Cologne. The trip is one hour by train, will afford me an excellent day of picture taking, site seeing (especially, the Cologne Cathedral), and the opportunity to drink their local German dialect, Kölsch. I’m hoping Deutsche Bahn will have good rates this weekend or I’ll forgo the trip and do more site seeing here.