Work Travel and Wedding Week

     This week is crazy busy for me. DD2 goes back to school this week after her spring break week. I have to get her to her car pool meet up early afternoon. I'm helping DD1 figure out some budget planning as she starts thinking about becoming a home owner. I need to make sure DH has clean clothes for the week, and get my own work wardrobe sorted and packed for my business trip. I want to make sure he also has lunch food and easy to warm and eat dinners. DD1 is going to help with the dog so that is a huge relief.

     Today is focused on some meals for DH while I am away, the last laundry for all of us, and getting DD2 to her car pool meeting place. I'm going ot help DD1 with some paperwork and planning as schedules work. The original house she was eyeing was sold, but I went to another one with her. It was the same price point, a bit smaller and only one bathroom. The location is probably consdered better, though she liked the other location becasue it had a more natural setting, being by the woods and also walking distance to downtown. This one technically is as well, but a little farther. It's a contender but this is just the start of her search. She knows the type of home she wants and won't be pushed into settling for someone elses tastes. 

     I leave for the airport late afternoon tomorrow, but am planning on being in the office by 7 since I've been out and off line so much while DD2 has been home. I figure Monday night once checked in would be a good time to get  caught up with  e-mails, though I've never been to New Orleans when it hasn't been so miserable with heat and humidity that it feels wasted to at least not take a walk to the French quarter. I'm not back until after 8:00 Thursday night. The next morning, I'll go into work to take care of what has to be done, then head by 1:30 to pick up DD2 for the wedding on Saturday, getting us home Friday night hopefully by 10:30.  We looked at the bus schedule but the options were for her to miss class on Friday, which she can't as she has a presentation, or early Saturday. I would worry too much about something going wrong with the bus, a delay, and it still would take her nearly 6 hours to get to the depot, plus another 30 minutes to home after I pick her up. That would throw off all our day as we need to be to  the wedding venue by 3:30. It's just easier to go on Friday. 

     While definitely not  the best plan for time or money, peace of mind is well worth it. We haven't decided if Sunday I will drive her back, and stay for a concert-not her choir, but the one that has been travelling around the country, and then take my time getting home, or sending her back on a bus. I have points for a hotel stay that would bring it to under $40, so just staying and driving back Monday morning is an option, but the traffic the last 40 miles would be unbearable on a Monday morning, likely adding 30-40 minutes. I've just ruled that out in my head, so it will be a round trip in the same day if that is the option we choose. All this planning will be moot if Minnesota March weather decides to rear it's head-then she'll stay put.There is a possibility that a woman I am good aquaintences with who's son is in the major choir might be going up for the concert. While it might be awkward for DD2 since she doesn't know her well, saving  four hour drive if she can hitch a ride might be an option. 

     One change to the crazy week is we no longer need one of us to drive our older daughter to the airport next Sunday. She was supposed to be going to the South by Southwest Conference in Austen, Texas but learned on Friday the entire event was cancelled due to the Corona virus concerns. 242,000 people were expected for all or parts of the week. I'm disapointed for my daughter as I know she has wanted to attend for a few years now. I suppose because it is an international conference, the city just didn't think they could take the risk. 

     It seems like a lot to get the younger kid back and forth, but she is close to the cousin getting married. She was her confirmation mentor and has been like another big sister in many ways. DH is keeping out of the planning, but I know he has opinions that it is too much. Stick it, I say to his non verbalized thoughts. For his nieces wedding, we left on a Friday morning, had two nights hotel stay at peak season in a summer vacation town (cha ching), plus meals for four people outsdie of the wedding festivities. It's what it is, and some parts of life are just not convenient. After next weekend, life at home is pretty bland again, though work will stay busy. What craziness is going on in your life these days?