Unsure of how to respond

"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein) 01/16/2018 at 15:25 • Filed to: None

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Next week I have to fly to Sunnyvale, CA to sit in 3 days of meetings about nothing in particular before turning around and flying home to Madison. Today I was emailing a coworker out there about an unrelated topic, when they asked me if I’m excited to go out there.

My real answer: “No, not really. I’d rather not have to take connecting flights to California to sit in 3 days of meetings about nothing, and leave my wife, our cats, and my gym, at home.”

Now, this particular coworker has already expressed some frustration about the slides they have to put together for these meetings about nothing, but I still don’t want to say my real answer. The way I see it, I have a few options for possible responses:

Fake enthusiasm.

“It’ll at least be a nice break from Wisconsin winter.”

Fuck it, go HAM and share my real thoughts on the matter.

I’m leaning toward some variation of #2.

CalzoneGolem > Textured Soy Protein 01/16/2018 at 15:28

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Just don’t respond and if they push it then deflect and ask about their deck.

Nibby > Textured Soy Protein 01/16/2018 at 15:30

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send me instead

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > Textured Soy Protein 01/16/2018 at 15:30

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Just respond: “I’ll be more excited when your mom RSVP’s.”

Actually. Probably best not to do that.

HammerheadFistpunch > Textured Soy Protein 01/16/2018 at 15:32

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Say “my feelings are somewhere between having my head sewn to the floor and the best day ever.”

LJ909 > Textured Soy Protein 01/16/2018 at 15:32

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I say #2 and then if they respond come with the sarcasm/dryness to drop the topic.

Textured Soy Protein > CalzoneGolem 01/16/2018 at 15:33

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I don’t even have to do that since I have a conference call tomorrow afternoon with this person and one other person to go over said slides about nothing in preparation for our meetings about nothing.

Rust and Dust - Oppositelock Forever > Textured Soy Protein 01/16/2018 at 15:33

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#2 is probably the 2nd most honest (after #3), and least likely to lead to follow-up questions/further conversation on the subject.

If you’re like me, and would just rather be done with it all with the least amount forced small talk/BS, I’d take door #2.

Textured Soy Protein > Nibby 01/16/2018 at 15:34

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I can assure you spending 3 days in Sunnyvale in an office park next to the highway that contains both the office where I’ll be going to the meetings about nothing and the hotel where I’m staying at night in between the multiple days about nothing, is less appealing than that may sound.

Nibby > Textured Soy Protein 01/16/2018 at 15:36

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it is better than working at night for the next 3 days

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > Textured Soy Protein 01/16/2018 at 15:36

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2 seems like the safer bet

3 would be more satisfying... but i have learnt colleagues can be right backstabbing dicks with that shit

Ash78, voting early and often > Textured Soy Protein 01/16/2018 at 15:36

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“I’m looking forward to checking out the Atari headquarters. I just picked up a 2600 and want to learn how the magic happens.”

CalzoneGolem > Textured Soy Protein 01/16/2018 at 15:37

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I think you’ve just described half the meetings I’ve ever been in.

E90M3 > Nibby 01/16/2018 at 15:37

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Night shift best shift.

Ash78, voting early and often > Textured Soy Protein 01/16/2018 at 15:40

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That’s how I felt when I had to go to San Francisco last fall for 3 days of useless meetings*. Everyone was like “Ohhh, sounds like fun!”

I was able to pay to get my wife to come with me, arrange both sets of grandparents to watch the kids, and get there with one layover, but business trips are always meh. Getting drunk with my wife and riding cable cars in the dark was pretty surreal, though.

*Immediately after the meeting, the company switched to teleconferences for all big meetings.

someassemblyrequired > Textured Soy Protein 01/16/2018 at 15:41

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At least Madison - SFO non stop flights start soon. But not until June.

Chariotoflove > Textured Soy Protein 01/16/2018 at 15:44

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My response would have been “Absolutely, I need to catch up on my sleep, and what’s better than paid nap time?”

Textured Soy Protein > someassemblyrequired 01/16/2018 at 15:44

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I’m flying to San Jose.

So Shiney. So Chrome! So Frunky > Textured Soy Protein 01/16/2018 at 15:45

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Counter with “Depends. Are there any good taco trucks near by?” or food of your choice. This deflects and changes the subject to possibly the only enjoyable part of work travel to crummy places, good food. I’ve traveled to engine plants in Mexico where we were specifically told not to wander around at night lest we be killed or held ransom but damn I ate well.

Textured Soy Protein > Ash78, voting early and often 01/16/2018 at 15:46

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San Francisco I’d at least be somewhat looking forward to getting out and around town at night. Sunnyvale is a boring suburb of San Jose.

Textured Soy Protein > So Shiney. So Chrome! So Frunky 01/16/2018 at 15:47

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I have a feeling this guy is not well-versed in the local vegan cuisine.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Textured Soy Protein 01/16/2018 at 15:48

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Work travel can be a good opportunity to do some personal travel too. Its nice to take a couple of extra days (on your own dime of course) to check out some place that you have been forced to go to. At least then your flights are already covered. While California might not be for everyone to live in, it most certainly is fun to visit for anyone.

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > Textured Soy Protein 01/16/2018 at 15:48

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number 2 is always the best option...just not on peoples front lawns in the middle of a run

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > Textured Soy Protein 01/16/2018 at 15:50

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are the sharks playing? hockey is always a fun way to pass the time

Textured Soy Protein > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 01/16/2018 at 15:51

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Not really an option for me since my flights are already booked and I can’t exactly tell my wife, “oh hey babe I’m going to leave you alone for a couple more days while I go explore the bay area.”

someassemblyrequired > Textured Soy Protein 01/16/2018 at 15:52

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SFO is not a bad way to get to Silicon Valley (outside of rush hour), especially if you need a car. Would save having to make the connection for a 20 mile longer drive from the airport. Plus Caltrain is an option.

Textured Soy Protein > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero 01/16/2018 at 15:52

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Bahahaha no I’m not going to spend however many hours a hockey game takes of my limited free time sitting at a hockey game.

Ash78, voting early and often > Textured Soy Protein 01/16/2018 at 15:52

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Yeah, it definitely sucks to travel that far and still miss out on stuff close by. A coworker of mine takes vacation days right before or after a lot of trips, rents a car, etc. He has deep pockets, but it’s a good idea. Mass transit there isn’t too horrendous.

I was just making a point that even a business trip to a tourist destination still sucks compared to a real vacation.

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > Textured Soy Protein 01/16/2018 at 15:53

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My mother always said that if you can’t say anything nice then you should just shut the fuck up.

In this case, you could say something along the lines of “not really as I could be much more productive staying right here”.

You could also send your co-worker this...

diplodicus > Textured Soy Protein 01/16/2018 at 15:57

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It’s 1hr of total game play + stoppages and 34 minutes of intermission.

Textured Soy Protein > someassemblyrequired 01/16/2018 at 16:00

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Sure, if the flights were flying now.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Textured Soy Protein 01/16/2018 at 16:04

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The peninsula has really good food. I would try to see how many meals you can do with tacos or something similar. Asian and Mexican food in the area is off the charts.

So Shiney. So Chrome! So Frunky > Textured Soy Protein 01/16/2018 at 16:06

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User name checks out.

Yeah that is going to make my approach much harder. But if there is one place I would expect to find vegan tacos it would be California.

someassemblyrequired > Textured Soy Protein 01/16/2018 at 16:08

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You’re talking like you won’t have to go back. When you know you’ll have to go back. Again and again and again.

Textured Soy Protein > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 01/16/2018 at 16:09

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I’ve been scouting out some vegan places on Yelp but I won’t have too many opportunities to explore. I get in after dinner on Monday, Tuesday is dinner with people from work, Wednesday I’m on my own, and I fly back Thursday afternoon.

Textured Soy Protein > someassemblyrequired 01/16/2018 at 16:14

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The only thing that can summon me to that office is the once-a-year 3 days of meetings about nothing.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Textured Soy Protein 01/16/2018 at 16:32

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Option 1, all the way. Enjoy the quietude in the hotel and the WiFi. Enjoy the takeoffs and landings; fastest you’ll likely ever travel on wheels. Pro Tip: Let Glympse run on your phone during takeoff and measure your speed.

What line of work?

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Textured Soy Protein 01/16/2018 at 16:37

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Well for this trip, yeah of course it is what it is. Just get some nice dinners and make the best of it. At least its some free airline points. But in general I love doing that. Ive had coworkers go to Hawaii and not even spend an extra night there!! That shit infuriates me since I would gladly take some vacation time to explore a bit, since it wont cost the company anything anyways. But yeah different dynamics for everyone. My girlfriend and I have always been quite independent, we couldnt dream of not doing something because the other will be lonely.

arl > Textured Soy Protein 01/16/2018 at 16:39

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Well, it sounds like they have an investment in this trip (stressing out over slides). I’d combine 1 and 2 for this co-worker.

I hate business trips, but it’s chance for me to bring a book, catch up on reading in the evenings, and eat some different food at the local establishments.

Textured Soy Protein > So Shiney. So Chrome! So Frunky 01/16/2018 at 16:41

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Your approach also invites further conversation which is kinda the opposite of what I’m trying to accomplish. 

Textured Soy Protein > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 01/16/2018 at 16:45

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Hopefully my room is on the side of the hotel that doesn’t face the freeway.

I’m a corporate recruiter for a company that makes tech-y stuff.

Nibby > E90M3 01/16/2018 at 17:12

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eh not always

Rico > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 01/16/2018 at 17:20

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Some people can’t even go away without their significant other, it’s tragic.

Textured Soy Protein > Rico 01/16/2018 at 17:48

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It’s not like we’re joined at the hip here. Part of the problem is one of our cats is old and sick and we give her IV fluids to help her kidneys, and that’s a 2-person job. While I’m gone we’re going to extend the intervals of the IVs and she’s taking the cat to the vet one of the days of the trip. Tacking on extra days to the trip because I feel like it would be unfair.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Textured Soy Protein 01/16/2018 at 17:53

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I’m with you on the demerits of sitting through pointless seminars and the like. I went to a number of teacher conventions, that excite teachers about shamming, but I’m sick of them and I don’t go any more. I empathize. And at my advanced age, and 28 years of marriage, I’d rather be at home watching Netflix with my wife than just about anything else. But I do enjoy an airplane ride...

E90M3 > Nibby 01/16/2018 at 18:46

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I liked working night shift in the summer in Texas, what I did not like was coming off of night shift.

Rico > Textured Soy Protein 01/16/2018 at 19:40

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Sorry I wasn’t trying to direct that at you! I personally know people who cannot go on vacation without their bf/gf/husband or wife. Me and a group of friends are planning a trip to Cuba next month and a bunch of people we know can’t go because they would have to bring their SO’s and they don’t want to do it or deal with the arguments. Your situation is vastly different especially with the health of your cats being an important priority.