MIddle seat death

I just celebrated my 18-month anniversary at the “new” gig, Duff & Phelps. Of course, I love it here. Plenty of things that make the work an absolute joy — challenging work (you tell me how much 750,000 telephone poles are worth), demanding clients (if they didn’t care they wouldn’t ask questions), and smart coworkers (the learning never ends).

Of course, the downsides of financial valuation are there. Top of my list has to be travel, in particular, short-notice travel and the all-too-common middle seat that gets assigned. It’s terrible! Not only is there no way to use a laptop, but inevitably you’re fighting for two armrests and of course you will only win one at a time, so the other arm gets to sit neatly tucked into your body, a perfect recipe for pit sweat you know you’ll have to address before the big meeting. Yeah, not fun.

Anyway, it’s no surprise that people would rather rather have their teeth drilled instead of traveling in a middle seat. I feel ‘em. If anything I’m grateful for Southwest wherever they fly — at least if I can’t get a window or aisle seat, it’s my own fault.

Ah, the banalities of a career where you’re wanted.

July 5th, 2009