Easy to Waste in the Big Easy

It has been a good couple days of meetings. My presentation was this morning and it went well, and will have follow-up connections to make once back in Minnesota. I got to see many of my former national colleagues that I used to work with regularly in my former job, which made me miss the good old days before my work world got so out of whack. I had a quick "get out of bed" rousing when the emergency service announcement buzzer went off followed by directions to exit the building while a reported emergency was verified. It was quickly remedied. I saw a couple men that appeared to be gas company employees, so they must have checked out what was drawing attention, and gave the all clear very quickly.

I am staying at a suite style hotel. Not only  do I have a  king size bed, I also have a lounging room. More space per capital than in my own home! This I don't mind. When you re by nearly 1,000 people all day, retreating to a little space of your own is welcome.  What annoys me is the waste within the hotel itself.  There are signs and cardboard tents in the room that say that they are a  green and conservation chain. A towel left hung up means the guest is happy to reuse. I hung mine up-knowing in this heat an humidity I was going to take another shower later before meeting up for dinner. When I came back, all were changed out. Maybe it is actually easier on staff cleaning the rooms to just replace all, but seems so wasteful.

There is complimentary breakfast buffet and cooked to order omelets. Now I love a good breakfast, as I'm an early riser, I can be up for a couple hours hen fully enjoy.  I'm seeing people order omelets, then go through the buffet filling plates.  Few humans can eat that much, and as I suspected, while sipping my coffee, I noticed several plates with food barely touched, left on their table. I heard parents tell their kids-"just leave it if you don't like it and get another plate." To which, another plate, with another bunch of items that would merely be nibbled on, was filled.

Even at the cocktail reception last night, of which I  meandered for conversation, but didn't partake in, my colleagues were filling plates with cheese and shrimp, then setting aside half eaten items with abandon. More food waste. More dirty plates to fill dishwashers, to run again, and spend more money and  natural resources on power and water.

Wandering the streets of the French Quarter for a bit on a sultry hot morning, shops kept their doors open to lure in the tourists.  Hot and sticky met a blast of refreshing cold air. I was grateful for each blast of refreshment I received, but the waste had to be incredible. At home, I use my air sparingly, and then set it as high as I can to run to get the humidity out. Here, all the indoors are so heavily air conditioned I need a sweater with me at all times. Can you see the picture? 90 degree temps with 70-80% humidity, and indoor air temps at below 68, women sporting extra sweaters.

I can't get to my pictures, not many, but will post a couple once home. These are just some lingering thoughts I have. I'm all for enjoying myself, with decadent food and luxury accommodations.  For instance, last night at dinner.  Colleagues and I ate delicious food, with cocktails (on our own dimes) starters, and small plates for mains. I was already too full and opted for just coffee, but six of eight  had tantalizing deserts. The chef was a two times James Beard award winner, and every bite was heaven. Yes, the bill was outrageous and I could have fed my whole family for the month with the bill, but every bit was eaten and enjoyed. Indulgent, yes, gluttonous, no. I hope I come off more observant than preachy, but it does make me resolve to do more on my own to not just conserve my family budget, but also look for ways to avoid waste even when away from home.

Random Musings and Weekend Preview

I'm putting in a quick couple hours in the office, and then high tailing it to Terminal 1 for a 12:01 flight.  I really hate Terminal 1 at the Minneapolis St Paul airport for business travel, but it came with the cheap round trip ticket.  Parking is more complex and pricey, security takes longer, and the gates are spread out, so leaving enough time to overcome any bottle necks is critical.  I have my Nook well charged and loaded with a few new free download books, and a boatload of printed read ahead items for my meetings.  Connecting flights through Milwaukee and home through Chicago, also came with the ticket, so I will spend an estimated 20 hours of travel time, round trip, for a cumulative 20 hours of meetings. I usually try not to do the math.  I'll get some good people watching done, particularly Saturday night back through Chicago.  Did I ever mention how glam the non profit life is?


I had to coordinate car pooling for DD#2 for Saturday's basketball tournament since DH will be working and I'll be out of town.  While I am always more than happy to drive another child with us, and assume other parents feel the same, I'm never really  at ease sending my kid for a day with another family, particularly out of town for sports.  I know that is very narrow thinking of me, and helicopter parentesque.  I find I have first child anxiety again with her.  Ironically, I had very few qualms leaving her in the care of her older sister two years ago when DH and I were on a week long cruise for our 25th anniversary. 


This Sunday is the television event of the year in the US-the Super Bowl.  My team, through good or mostly bad, the Minnesota Vikings, have not been in a Super Bowl since 1977.  I was 11 years old, and still had dreams at that time that I could grow up to be the first woman in the NFL.  Never mind  that I couldn't throw a spiral, or kick a ball with any great distance. I was never a cheer leader type of gal; I wanted to be on the field.  Now the Super Bowl is so little about the game itself but the spectacle of the game surroundings, the half time show, and the bragging rights for the best tv commercial.  My biggest triumph will be if I can get to the grocery store on Sunday, and then have time to make appetizers and snacks to bring to my sister's Super Bowl Party after travelling most of the night before into the early morning hours from Washington.   Frozen Trader Joe spinach artichoke dip may have to do.


Thanks for letting me indulge in a few random thoughts. I hope those of you hammered with snow are getting back to normal.  I'm still waiting for a snowy forecast.