The usual jitters.

[valis2]

I am now in Full Utter Freakout Mode, otherwise known as The Night Before A Big Trip meltdown.

Tomorrow morning. 7:30 am. Me and my vehicle. And I won't be back for a month. The schedule is looking pretty damn scary at this point.

I've been a bit more on the ball about this than normal, I have to admit. Clothes/bathroom stuff pretty much packed; vehicle ready to go. I still need to print out a few more assorted maps, pack the assorted electronica, pack a few things for WI, and do a few things. I need to pack up all of the four million sheets of paper (routes, phone numbers, map books, etc.) and...urgh.

I have the next chapter halfway done, and I'm torn about finishing it before I go. I have so much left to do, but I've already invested the time to get halfway through the chapter, and I might as well complete it. I don't think odddollsstories will have time to beta it, though, unless by some miracle she's on tonight.



I am a big homebody. I love to stay home. I love my apartment, my bed, my sweet happy pillow. I love everything about home.

But I also have this capitalistic streak in me. I like to make money. And I'm hoping that this trip will be a good one, though signs point to unknown. It could be horrible too, it could destroy me financially. I'm still unsure.

But I have those excited feelings of "ooh, good show" coming on. A few of the stores have done a LOT of advertising and groundwork, and I'm just crossing my fingers that it will pay off. I'm so worried and freaked out but at the same time the part of me that likes to sell is jumping up and down in excitement.

I always had this negative view of salespeople my whole life. Now I find that I understand it so much more. Over the last four years I've been lucky, because I don't have to do a "hard sell" at all; my friends' product sells itself. But I still have this understanding about how difficult it can be, and what a salesperson's role in the economy is.

Anyway, my goodbye message will be tomorrow morning. I hate leaving those. I hate that moment where I get in the car and turn the stereo on and cry and drive out on the street, away from my happy bees.

Of course, usually I forget something and have to come back a minute later, but then, when I'm really on the road, I'm so very very sad. This is a really long trip. When it's a whole month it really makes it difficult.

There's always that moment when you're halfway across the States and you realize just how long it would take to get home and you miss it oh so very much.

I'm just rambling and avoiding packing at this point. *sigh*

Comments

[rickfan37.livejournal.com]

Oh, poor you! Well, the part of me that empathises thinks that, because I too am a confirmed homebody.
But on the other hand, wow! What a fantastic trip! I would LOVE to do a road trip like that and see all those states!
I hope it all goes well for you, and we'll all miss you madly!

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Heh...I don't know how much of the states I'll see! I set this up in a very silly way...I'm waaay overextended, and I have 5700 miles to cover.

Whew!

I'll miss you so much! I love it when you update, I feel like we've gotten to be such good LJ friends. :)

[rickfan37.livejournal.com]

Aw shucks! *smooches* I'll miss you! you only love me for my sexy Trent icons...;-)

[catsintheattic.livejournal.com]

Oh darling,

I wish you a safe trip, good sales and a very happy return right now, because I'll probably won't read you leaving post in time to respond.

I hug you tight and send catsmooches to you!

And I'll keep my fingers crossed.

When you are feeling homesick while being away, just remember that the happy bees and we on your f-list are waiting for your to come back and tell us everything about your trip.

*glomps*

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Awww, you are so wonderful and sweet! I'll miss your cute cats and your wonderful comments.

*lionsmooches*

*lionhugs* ;)

I'm feeling really waaaaaah tonight.

[todayiamadaisy]

I'll probably miss your goodbye message tomorrow morning, so I'll wish you good luck now. Have a great trip and I'll look forward to hearing all about it when you get back!

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Oh, thanks! I'm certain I'll have a lot to say...and hopefully I'll have photographic evidence, as well. ;)

[jen-deben.livejournal.com]

*sends the good trip ju-ju your way*

Madame Trelawney takes a swig of her cooking sherry and predicts:
It will be great! It will be amazing! We will miss you, but you'll have a fabulous trip, come home rolling in cash, and be happy both about what you accomplished and the fact that you're home again.

And Firenze backs her up on that, so there. ;-p

Good luck with the selling, and have a great time, Valis!

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I so very much hope that she's right for once! *hugs* Thank you so very much, thank you, really. I appreciate it so much!

:)

I hope it goes quickly.

[vanityfair00.livejournal.com]

It's going to be great - I know it!

Try not to focus on the being away from home part, and instead think about all the cool places you are going and people you are going to meet. I mean, aren't you coming to OH? That's fairly exciting right there. You could run into some Amish people! And wouldn't that be a story to tell the folks back home. : )

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Hee! I'm not coming to OH this time, but that doesn't preclude running into Amish people, certainly. ;)

I'm trying to focus on the nice bits, but it's difficult. It all seems so overwhelming right now!

Thanks! *hugs*

[deviantauthor.livejournal.com]

Huge hugs and travel safely!

If I can do anything for you while you're gone, let me know.

And if you need that thing beta read in the next couple of hours, let me know because I'm pretty much hanging out on here and waiting for Boston Legal to come on.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Hee! If I get it done I might take you up on that. Though it looks like odddoll might be hanging out as well.

Thank you so much! *hugs*

[deviantauthor.livejournal.com]

You're welcome! *hugs back*

[dark-cygnet.livejournal.com]

I'll miss you, darling! Safe trip and good luck with sales. Swansmooches!

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I'll miss you too, sweetie!

*lionsmooches*

Thanks!

[sylvadin.livejournal.com]

Relax! Take a deep breath... Now, take a moment and remind yourself that this roadtrip is really not that different from the other business trips you've done before - only big difference is that it will take a few more days to complete than usual.

While on the road don't worry about the *whole* trip - simply concentrate on what you need to get done that day.

For me, my biggest sanity preservation trick is to always treat myself to a quiet, leisurely sit-down dinner. Breakfast may have been the hotel's continental breakfast, lunch might have been fast-food wolfed down during a lull at my sales table, but dinner...dinner is my reward to myself for putting in a hard day's work selling or driving.

Valis, take care of yourself while you're on the road. Come back with lots of good memories, your inventory sold out, and your money pouch stuffed full :-)

[valis2.livejournal.com]

While on the road don't worry about the *whole* trip - simply concentrate on what you need to get done that day.

Yes, that's an excellent strategy, and I really hope that I can do exactly that. This is such a complicated trip that each day is its own mountain, really.

Breakfast may have been the hotel's continental breakfast, lunch might have been fast-food wolfed down during a lull at my sales table, but dinner...dinner is my reward to myself for putting in a hard day's work selling or driving.

Boy, I wish I could. But I've really messed myself up this time. Most of the shows end at 7 or 8, and by the time I finish up the accounting and the packing, I won't be out of there until 9, and I have 100-400 miles to go for the next day's show. I am REALLY stupid. I should have been a lot more careful, but this is the first time I've put this sort of thing together. Next time, if there is a next time, I'll be certain to think of my own safety and comfort a bit more.

Thank you for your lovely, calming influence. *hugs*

[cactus-wren.livejournal.com]

I hope you have a safe and successful trip! I think you're very brave, taking on a trip of this magnitude - I really admire you for it. You have such a great, postive attitude that I know you'll do well. I'll be thinking of you while you're gone and will be looking forward to your return and the stories of all the kooks you run into during your trip.

Be safe,
((hugs)) and best wishes,

cactus wren

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I hope I have lots of HAPPY stories to tell, seriously. :)

*hugs*

Thanks for the happy wishes. I'll miss you!!

[aramintasnape.livejournal.com]

OMG, you're off! I hope you have a fantastic time!!

*hugs*

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much!! *hugs* I'll miss you.

[florence-craye.livejournal.com]

Somehow I missed the schedule entry, but it looks like an interesting trip! So says the one who longs to get away and see the country. But it is always so sad to leave your home... frightening and uncertain. But in a month or so you'll be back and it will be so worth it to have the utter joy and realization that sleeping in your own bed again is heavenly.