The Commute

[braumeister]

You reminded me of my worst commute ever. KC to Johannesburg SA via London.

Your story reminded me of one of my favorites. We had updated some custom software for a large client, and everything went smoothly except at one of their locations. The manager in California was having a bad day and demanded that I get out there ASAP and do the install for him (I was in Cincinnati).

It was ridiculously simple, and I explained to him over and over that I could talk him through it over the phone in five minutes, but he wasn't having any.

So I had to get on a plane and fly to San Francisco, then rent a car and drive to Modesto. Stayed the night at a great hotel across the street from a brewpub and thoroughly enjoyed my dinner. Next morning I went to the site and spent the promised five minutes (actually a bit less) doing the install while he watched.

But he still refused to be satisfied. Insisted that I stick around until it had completed a full day's cycle to be sure it was right. This was on a Friday. I gave him my cell phone number, told him to call if anything went wrong, and went back to San Francisco where I spend a delightful weekend. When there was still no call from him on Monday, I flew home.

Needless to say, we billed him a ridiculous amount for that trip, since it was a time and materials contract, and he was too embarrassed to ever mention it again.

 

[athena53]

It was ridiculously simple, and I explained to him over and over that I could talk him through it over the phone in five minutes, but he wasn't having any.

<snip>Needless to say, we billed him a ridiculous amount for that trip, since it was a time and materials contract, and he was too embarrassed to ever mention it again.

DH had a friend a high-powered consultant in the oil industry, who has flown on an emergency basis from the West Coast to the Middle East to troubleshoot a machine that wasn't working. He arrived, looked it over, said, "Dammit, I TOLD you not to touch this switch!", flipped the "Standby" switch off, and the machine started up again.

Very expensive consult.

 

[Gumby]

Of course, I also had those years when my commute time and distance was zero - when I was deployed on a Navy submarine. There, you are at work 24/7.

 

[foxfirev5]

As a full time traveler the commute was the job. On top of a normal work week I had the commute. 36 years of 1500+ miles, driving, flying etc. per week. Hilton Hotels alone- 3000+ nights. Two years into retirement and I don't care to remember all the details

 

[Lakewood90712]

In 40 + years of work , looking back I had about two dozen work locations not counting temporary field assignments.

I think 3 of them were 15 minutes or less one way. Most were 1+ hours each way

One was 89 miles one way , graveyard shift. 1 1/2 hours to work , 2 1/2 hours return. ( The job was actually enjoyable , when I could stay awake . 2 Guards at the gates, no management. I was the entire production workforce on that shift )

Literally years behind the wheel commuting, looking back , what a waste.

 

[albireo13]

Current commute is 26mi each way, usually 55+ minutes.

At 62yo I'm done with the nonsense.

 

[neihn]

My commute for a few years during the 2008 - 2011 melt down:

4 am Monday heading to PDX to catch a 6:00 am flight to JFK then 2.5 hours drive to Southbury CT.
3 pm Friday drive from Southbury CT to JFK to cacth a 6:00 pm flight to PDX. Arrive in PDX around midnight then home around 1:00 am.

Repeat that for 4 years. Looking back, I am not sure how did I do it?