Tripp'n in Elgin

At one time my job required me to travel a few times a year. I had always drawn while traveling for business. On one trip to Elgin Illinois for business I decided to draw my trip. Looking back I am very glad I did. I added the text later after scanning the work in. Hope you enjoy!

 Thanks to security and the distance that I live away from the airport I typically have to get up VERY early for my flights. I always think of the old Duncan Donuts commercial.  

Until I get a shower I'm the walking dead.

 Airport security... or how I like to call it "Airport Theatre" wasn't that bad. However, the possibility of a search is always present.

 This trip I just happened to be right after the Bonnaro music festival. Seriously the guy next to me was extra toastie. Half the plane was wanna be hippies talking about the festival. *Tip: Flying home from a three day music festival wearing super expensive clothes and saying you can't wait to get a Starbucks and saying that this is "our woodstock" doesn't win any points with me. 

Yeah... this happened. Upgraded to a mustang for a buck. Yeah... I'll take that!

Main office (or the mothership) has real security. Do to the type of work we do for clients in the building it has to be tight. It wasn't this bad... but it was tight. Artistic license...

 Spent a lot of time in meetings, touring new areas, meeting new people, etc.

No trip to the mothership is complete with out a good visit with my buddy "George". A wonderful guy, talented artist, and he has an amazing life story. I love talking to him about the cold war, moving to West Germany, his struggles there and his immigration to America.

George got the maintenance man (I drew his neck waaaay to long. He's not a mutant.) to take me to the top floor of the building next door. Al Capone actually did visit there. The room we were in was a private room for dancing, gambling, etc. It even had a private entrance/exit and a space for a hat check girl.

My southern accent is very apparent when traveling away from the south. I forget I have one until I travel. Once in the restaurant in the hotel late one night I was the only person in there. Just eating and drawing at my table. I had the best service ever. So good that all three waitresses would come by to make sure I didn't need anything and ask me questions. I didn't realize what was happening until I caught the three behind the bar looking and giggling at me. Yup... go listen to the southern guy! Small price to pay for good service.

I am not anti-karaoke... however, there is a limit to how much someone should drink and try to sing. Keywords... "TRY to sing"!

I never sleep well when traveling alone. I can only draw so much and there never seems to be anything good on.

There is no real comfortable places to sit at the airport.

Whenever I fly at night I ALWAYS think of that old Twilight Zone episode. It's all I can do not to laugh sometimes.

When I drew this my kids were still very little. They would always come running to the door to meet me. That is one of the greatest things about being a Dad and the only good thing about traveling... coming home to family.