Oh NO - I AM high maintenance!

To some degree we all have varying degree's of low maintenance or high maintenance. I think it depends on the topic.

For example, where my ordering in a restaurant is concerned, I am decidedly low maintenance. I normally don't need things on the side, I may ask for something specific in the way it's prepared ( meat well done or rare, fries overdone - that kind of thing) but nothing out of the ordinary. I have an acquaintance that I eat with once a week in a group setting who has so many rules and restrictions on what is on her plate, what needs to be on a separate plate, what needs to be on the side, how it's prepared.... etc - that I know based on that I am the other extreme.

When it comes to my person however, I have the ability to be either low maintenance or high. It depends on the status of my skin really. If I am having a bad season with it, you won't believe how high maintenance I can actually be. Everything from how I bathe, to what products I use, to timing and frequency. It's ridiculous. If I got paid for this as a job I would be a multi millionaire.

I realized in packing for this trip that I am a bit high maintenance in the packing department. I have a tendency to want a choice always. I also have a tendency to want to travel elegantly. even in HS and middle school my parents will tell you that I NEVER got on a plane in jeans. It just wasn't done. I travel in an outfit that will enable me to arrive at the first event dressed properly yet comfortably in the event of a delay.

Having said that, this trip has posed some challenges. It's business casual which is fine. My plane arrives at 10:30 and my first event is at noon. They are predicting snow showers here until 10. My flight leaves at 7:30. The weather in Tampa is unseasonably cold for them. They have put the heat on down there. It is high of 60 and low of 37 for this entire week.

Weatherman are traditionally wrong so I have to plan around that too. Plus I need to look good. It's not just a vanity thing. but I am meeting my customer for the first time, some of my team mates for the first time in person and a few who I haven't seen in 5-10 years. So this is important to me.

Sleepwear is also important as I have a tendency to not sleep well in hotels. and I have to be up ridiculously early starting tomorrow.

I know its early in the day, but I started packaging my travel sized shampoo and that sort of thing. I created my baggies for my checked suitcase. To my credit I really really really really tried to use one quart sized baggie and I am now up to 7 so I think we all realize that checking the bag on the non stop flight is our only option. I really hate that rule. I get it, but I don't like it.

I reviewed my costume choices and went with all black with olive green accents. Good colors for me, and mix and match. I am wearing a pair of boots and bringing one pair of shoes in addition ( this is a HUGE step for me by the way. ) I am not bringing a purse but using my new pretty cold water creek laptop bag was a briefcase/purse. I packed coordinating makeup already and skin care in travel size bottles.

All of this and it's 1PM. I am starting to get panicky that I won't be ready. Yikes that's high maintenance. I am always worried that I won't be able to amuse myself. I had to mentally unpack the volume of books and magazines because there really isn't room.

Seriously this is OVERNIGHT. I really have to thank my poodle because he keeps saying over and over again.... It's only OVERNIGHT!!!!

Geez, Contessa you really are High Maintenance for traveling.

It's only overnight.