Chick Stuff - Packing my Shit for Business Travel

Tuesday, September 27, 2011
First, the requisite photo for the dudes:

Vroom! Vroom!

To the Chick Stuff!

For me, this year has seen a pretty marked increase in my business travel. Some months are worse than others, but most of my business travel consists of trips lasting one or two nights, usually to places I wouldn't want to go if I had a choice. The one thing all of these trips had in common is that I really prefer not to waste my time checking luggage - I want to carry all my shit on board, and take it off the same way. I pretty much have the suitcase licked - I have a tiny Swiss Army roller that's so small it actually fits into the overhead compartments on any plane, but still has enough space that I can bring what I need.

It's my damn laptop that gives me fits.

I've been through a number of bags in the last year, and they've all proven to be unsatisfactory in some way - they hurt my back, they're not big enough, they're too big, I can't "consolidate" my travel purse into the larger bag, they're not professional looking for those occasions when I'm in meetings with pretentious executives, blah, blah, blah. The last six months or so I've been using this Swiss Army backpack, which was sweet because it had a "checkpoint friendly" laptop compartment that would lay flat on the security belt. This relieved me of the chore of taking my laptop out of the backpack at airport security - the faster to have my Fourth Amendment rights violated.






I really like this bag, and may continue to use it periodically, but it doesn't work for when I'm in meetings with pretentious executives.*

So while I was in San Diego with Sister from another Mister The Mechanicky Gal and the Superlative Jeri last weekend, we hit the Coach Outlet Store (always a dangerous turn of events). I was actually looking for a new travel purse, since the two I had bought last month tragically turned out to be too small (damnit), but while I was there, I started looking at bags that might suit for business travel, as well.

The Mechanicky Gal is an experienced pleasure traveler, and Jeri is an experienced business traveler, so between the three of us we came up with the PERFECT SOLUTION. BEHOLD:



The little grey purse is the perfect size for travel (I checked more thoroughly this time), and will fit just fine in both my backpack and my new PERFECT SOLUTION bag.

The reason that awesome raspberry bag is perfect? IT'S A DIAPER BAG, Y'ALL. That's right -a diaper bag. It has pockets in its pockets. It has four outside pockets. It has both a sturdy shoulder strap and double handles. It has elasticized pockets for bottles, but will work just fine for water and snacks. It holds the new neoprene sleeve I bought for my laptop in addition to the little bag that holds my cables, portable surge protector and other technological detritus. PERFECT.

Plus there's the awesome color - how can I not be of good cheer while carrying my awesome RASPBERRY COLORED BAG? I can't. As Jeri notes, if you're buying something new, and you have a choice to make, why wouldn't you buy the item that brings a smile to your face?

I don't have any business travel on my calendar at the moment, but the next time I travel, I'm totally giving this a go.

Also? I got fitted for new bras while in San Diego (again). I'm now convinced that this is something ladies should do every couple years. That has nothing to do with packing my shit for business travel (or maybe it does - ha!), but I thought I'd throw it out there as a Chick Stuff PSA.

__________
*I know, I know. But I work in sales. Even though it makes me throw up in my mouth, these things are noticed and apparently matter to some people.

12 comments:

Carol Elaine said...

That bag is so awesome that Prince almost wrote a song about it. Then he realized even he is not awesome enough for that bag, so he changed the lyrics.

True story.

WendyB_09 said...

I just love it when you can repurpose items...and a Coach diaper bag to boot!

Nice one. will have to check out the Coach outlet next time I spot an outlet mall...there's a couple between here and Mom's that just force the car off the interstate and into their lot. Like a giant magnet, funny how that works!

I was hunting a designer (read - anything other than corporate blech) laptop roller bag when I was flying so much. But now that I've got the car, I'm back to my shoulder bag. I can always put the purple (what else?) neoprene sleeve in any other tote bag as well.

Gristle McThornbody said...

When I saw that raspberry bag I heard Nathan's Choir of Bagel Angels singing their sweet refrain: *Laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!*

Perfection! Let us know if you start signing up for business travel you don't even really need to go on just so you can carry your new bag. We'll have an intervention for you.

horhoter: I'm vaguely insulted for some reason, but ain't touching this one.

Phiala said...

I carry a backpack almost all the time, even traveling, and have a "more professional" bag if needed. But in my line of work, a backpack is almost always okay.

I did just spring for a fancy Tom Bihn backpack, though. Anything that costs that much should count as professional, right?

Stacey said...

Jeri - I heard that sound when I saw it too!
I can't wait to see it; perfect color, perfect re-purpose, lasts forever, what more could you ask for?

Random Michelle K said...

I.... uh.... er....

vroom vroom?

vince said...

Yeah, what Michelle said.

Unknown said...

I applaud your new diaper-cum-travel bag (excellent choice in color), but I will stick with my latest find: the Walkin'Bag, which I received as a giveaway from a TV show.

It literally walks next to you, you don't even have to roll it. The 4-wheel feature is genius, makes it soooo easy to maneuver, and the size is perfect to pack a lot of chick-stuff yet fit in the overhead compartment. And don't get me started on the cleverly hidden seat. Bought the "laptop" version for my daughter to use as a book bag this year. It's a hit!

Just sayin'...

The Mechanicky Gal said...

Great, now everyone will shy away from coming to visit here, in lovely Downtown Lemon Grove, thinking I will meet them and immediately try and measure them for a bra.
You could clarify just who is measuring, or why you only seem to get that done while you visit me...
Sheesh.

Janiece said...

For the record, The Mechanicky Gal did not measure me for new bras. The nice lady at the Maidenform Outlet store did so.

Nathan said...

For the record, NASCAR bores me to tears. In future, kindly display beer, varieties of meat (cooked, uncooked, butchered, whole -- doesn't matter), golfing or baseball implements, or, the ever popular Maidenform Fitting Demonstration.

Thank you.

Random Michelle K said...

Nathan, I don't understand why anyone would want to watch NASCAR, but I would LOVE to get on a track and push a powerful car to its limits.

Or even better, take a really good car through its paces on some of the roads around here without fear of getting arrested. That'd be fun too.