Things that happen when you travel too much (Continued)

As I sit on a plane flying across the midwest I've  decided I'm not done with this topic (thanks to Windows Live Writer and a strong battery I can get my thoughts down while they are fresh). So, it continues...

• No matter where you go people drive crappier than they do in your home town. I'm from Chicago, everybody drives like they are in a funeral procession compared to how we drive in Chicago, if you see me and you're not from Chicago, get out of my way! You are going to slow. In fact, the only cities that really have it on Chicago are New York City and LA. I can hold my own in LA but even I don't drive in New York. (Bonus tip, never tell a cabbie in New York to step on it. They will think you mean business and scare the crap out of you.)
• If you're in the Southern parts of the country beware of rain and snow, both bring drivers to standstill. I don't get it.
• The barbeque is better in Memphis than in Austin (Sorry Austin!)
• The more clothes you pack for working out the less likely that you actually WILL workout.
• If you pack a jump rope and it has aluminum handles (like mine) and you wrap it up tight (like I did) it looks alot like two sticks of dynamite on the X-Ray machine at the airport. Don't do this.
• In Indianapolis? Go to Shapiro's. Get the Reuben.
• Travel is easier when you don't have to wear a monkey suit. Dressing like you're going on an expedition or camping is much more comfortable. A fleece and good travel clothes (like Officio) are your best friends. Be like Mister Rogers when you get ready for travel. Lose the tie, put on your favorite shoes, grab your fleece or sweater. Be comfortable. But, some clarity. Do not consider this an endorsement for tanktops for dudes, those are in the same categories as dickies and paisley. All women I know seem to have the chromosome that enables them to dress properly for travel--but pack and don't wear the capri pants on the plane please.
• Buy good (but not necessarily) expensive luggage that you can carry on a plane. Pack light, always carry on if you can. It makes your jaunts in and out of the airport more pleasant and less stuff brought means less stuff to pack and worry about on your way home. Ironically, liquid bans mean it's easier to carry on now than it ever was if you don't go nuts.
• Buy a cheap bag for when you need to check luggage, If your dropping over hundred bucks for it you're paying too much. It will get destroyed after you've checked it about 15 times or so anyway. But remember checking is for amateurs and international travel only.
• If you are of the ilk where you have to shave daily make sure to shave before you get your passport, I didn't and I look like a relative of someone that looks dangerous, it does me no favors at the airport.
• If you can't afford noise reducing headphones invest in a good set of earplugs, they can turn a miserable flight into a bearable one.
• It's too risky these days to do a sameday flight for a critical meeting, fly out the night before if it really matters for you to be there.
• If you can drive somewhere in four hours, it may be better to drive than fly if time and predictability is the primary concern.
• Navigation systems are your friend. Rent one or buy one if you have the means. Live Local and smart phone can save your bacon in a pinch, but don't be driving in front of me trying to punch in an address on your phone (see previous post on this).
• Do you really need to recline your seat all the way back on the airplane? You do not. Don't do it.
• A smaller computer that does a few things well travels much better than a big one that does everything. Bring an extra battery.
• There is a level of volume that humans engage in during the course of normal conversation, your 'phone' voice should be no louder.
• That Bluetooth earpiece, take the thing out of your ear when you're not using it. You're not at a Star Trek convention and you look ridiculous with it.
• Are you a superhero? Are you in law enforcement? If you answer no to either of these you shouldn't treat your belt as a utility belt. Put your phone in your pocket.
• Beer in Mexico and store bought beer in Colorado has (in general) a lower alcohol content than it does in most US states. Be aware.
• Drinking BEFORE you get on plane seems to get you drunker than if you have a drink on the plane. Why is this?
• Don't drink when you fly.
• See somebody from out of the country visiting? Be nice, you are an ambassador for the US, we have enough problems without having you add to our perception problems abroad (also see last bullet).
• Do you like music? Speed metal is good for masking out background noise and it also makes people hesitant to interrupt you. These are good things, you've got work to do.
• Turn around and look at what you're doing. Someone is trying to get by. Let them.
• You're in a public place, you're swearing too much. Oops is it me doing that? Sorry, I need to work on that. Do you?
• In a city where you can walk, get a hotel a few blocks away from where you'll be. Walk.

You're home finally. Do you have a significant other? Do you have kids? Good friends you haven't seen in awhile? Your exhausted, right?. You want a home cooked meal. Bullshit. Tell your family or friends the trip was terrible/boring/work and that you missed them greatly. Tell them to pile in the car because we are going OUT! Cherish and focus the time you have when you're home. We carry our work with us 24/7. Don't do this. Compartmentalize. Recharge. Focus on what's important to you.