Friday, September 4, 2009

Here a Chicken, There a Chicken...When Does Chicken Come Home?

It's been a rough week. No, I don't really want to complain because I'm lucky--I'm pregnant, I'm healthy and my life is very blessed.
Nevertheless, it's been kind of a sucky week.

For those of you who asked--Chicken travels every week. It is not seasonal and it is not regional. It's pretty normal these days I don't know where she's going to be from week to week.
She usually leaves Monday mornings so early I barely even notice she's gone. I like that. It's much easier to say goodbye when you are sleeping. Most of the time she's home by Thursday night. It could be 2am, but at least when I stir in my sleep in the light of the dawn I feel her next to me.
This week sucked.

She had to fly out on Sunday night to Sao Paolo, Brazil. This means all day Sunday we are basically just passing time waiting for the car service. It is excruciating and I think now that I'm pregnant this travel is bothering me even more.
But that's nothing compared to the stress Chicken is experiencing. Her company authorizes business class air for international travel--BUT the client only authorizes coach!

So, she had to fly a red-eye, leaving 9pm on COACH arriving in Sao Paolo 10 hours later and then is expected to hit the ground running and conduct meetings at 110% capacity.
She got no sleep, the meetings didn't go so well and 48 hours after that she had to get up at 4am to fly to Lima, Peru.
After one night in Lima, she caught ANOTHER red-eye flight back to the USA on COACH again, only this time: no direct flight! She had to connect in Houston at 6am to NYC.

To top it all off, her phone didn't work in Peru and she couldn't call to let me know she'd gotten on the plane back home which in my mind immediately translated into her being mugged, kidnapped or killed. Or you know--it's Latin America, maybe all three.
There's a reason you don't wear your diamond earrings on business trips to these countries.

To break it down-- 4 flights, 2 overnight flights, all in coach and all in 4 days.
NYC-Brazil
Brazil-Peru
Peru-Houston
Houston-NYC

This job is really stressing her out and yet she feels trapped. I was laid off my job, got pregnant with twins and now she has to support all four of us. I feel responsible and yet completely helpless. I do all that I can around the house and make sure I'm a good housewife, but sometimes, like 2 days this week where I was plagued by headaches from morning to night, I can't do anything.
There was an entire day I stayed in the house, in the dark and spoke to no one. There are far, far, too many days I spend alone talking to no one but the cats. There's a reason I like swimming with the old ladies--it also provides me a much-needed social hour.
I don't feel too depressed, most of the time, but I feel alone and lonely.

And then....like magic the weekend appears. My wife is back, my friends are free to do something, we have so many plans for the weekend and the M-TH that I live through seems too hazy to be real.
Until Monday strikes again.

Next week: Chicken goes to Mexico City and I have made as many lunch plans as possible. Even if I really can't afford to be eating out, I can't afford being by myself day after day after day. It's all going to be OK. It was just a really rough week. Next week will be better. It has to be.

23 comments:

Rachel said...

Sounds awful. I really hope next week is better.

And of course you know this, but no one in the IF world expects you to be a martyr and suffer in silence just because you're in the 'fattening' stage.

Anonymous said...

Ugh! I'm sorry for you both. I was totally going to call you this week. Next week for sure. You can fill me in on how to do the PIO shots while your wife is traveling...

And ditto on what Rachel said.

Lizzie said...

Big hugs. I just had to do an Africa trip in coach, so I feel her pain. And yours! Much love! Enjoy your chicken-back-in-town weekend. xox

Meredith said...

Wow- you both deserve gold stars for tolerance!

Good thoughts for a better week!

Anonymous said...

Holy hell, that's a horrible travel schedule! I'm so sorry the week was so hard. You have every right to complain - it's hard to feel like crap and be by yourself. I hope you have a wonderful weekend and can erase some of the suck.

N said...

I can't imagine how difficult that must be, and you have every right to complain, pregnant or not.


I'm glad you've made plans for next week. Getting out of the house is good, and necessary, it sounds like.

Much love. If you were here in DC, we'd have you over and fill you full of baked goods.

Mina said...

Wow. That IS a rough schedule. I hope that it eases up for her soon, and that you'll have a great week despite all of it.

Strawberry said...

wow that's rough. i'm glad you've filled next week with lunches...even if you only get a small bite to eat or coffee, at least you'll have company.

anofferingoflove said...

oh, thats so hard to be without your sweetie for such long stretches, especially while you are pregnant and need some extra tlc!

hope you have a wonderful, rejuvinating weekend.

oneofhismoms said...

Dude. I wish I'd known you were so bummin. I would have totally had you come sit on my babies. They would have cheered you up. Or brought on a raging headache. Or both.

Well, even though school starts on Tuesday, it is over at 3, so if you ever want to come over for some company and a possible headache, you are always welcome.

Anonymous said...

Hang in there, you know you can do it! I was alone much of my pregnancies with my 5 children - DH is military - and I know it is VERY hard but you are doing it! Pat yourself on the back (and Chicken too) you both are doing this together and will continue on until your gorgeous babies are in your arms! You already know they are going to be gorgeous so we can cease to worry about that part...

Jen

Two Moms, Two Monkeys said...

Sorry you are having a tough time...it must be hard to have chicken away so much. But, you are doing an awesome job growing those babes and just remember that you are never really alone (you are your own party of 3). Once those babies start kicking, they will cheer you up!

Anonymous said...

That is rough for both of you. Here's hoping things improve soon. Enjoy your lunches!

Unknown said...

Im exhausted just reading it. Wow! however hard she works, im sure it is nice to have someone who keeps the house in order so that she comes home and can relax. and im sure she's glad to do it.

Laurie said...

Yuck :( I can't imagine what it must feel like not having her there for so many days every week. You are always welcome to jump on the LIRR and visit us! :)

Next in Line said...

You and chicken are doing an amazing job together. This is a tough schedule. I think being pregnant is hard and I only have one little bean growing in there. xoxoxox

Anonymous said...

Aw, that sounds very lonely. I hope you have a better week this week and I really hope Chicken gets to spend more time at home with you and the fishies. Hugs.

Anonymous said...

That sounds like a tough schedule alright, I know I find it hard when K is gone for a week on school camps etc and that's only half a dozen times a year. Hope you enjoy all your lunchtime goodness next week and you feel better!

tbean said...

Oh PUffer--I'm sorry you had such a rotten week. That is a lot of alone and lonely time for you and a lot of terrible travel for the Chicken. Hope your weekend together is extra rejuvenating. Big hugs.

Unknown said...

Hey I have a question for you regarding what you posted. How long would you estimate it took from the time your insurance approved the procedure til the time the eggs were retrieved? I would love to think i could give her these eggs before i turn 40 at the end of next month.

Anonymous said...

Poor Chicken and poor Puffer too. We get used to the travel but there are still times when it is depressing a difficult right? Last week when Cat was gone was really hard for both of us too. I understand how you feel and I bet your lovely Chicken was wrecked pysically and emotionally by the end of it all. The worry is hard enough during normal travel but it must be much worse when she is out of the country. Sending you both some love.

Anonymous said...

I just read this to Cat and all the said was " Coach!?! In coach!?! Cheap bastards"

mama bea, bao in the oven said...

ugh, sounds like it was a rough week for you both. glad the following one was better!

Also, my security word is "tusheses". Thought you would find that amusing.