Reflections : When A meeting lasts for Six Hours

Just when you think this meeting could not possibly drag any longer,Another discussion is started that will probably last another hour or so.It was shceduled to be a four-hour meeting with a small break for lunch,it's already been five hours,with no signs of a close closure.I need to be there for, say,30%of the items dicussed,the rest,don't really affect my work,but who knows when a significant discussion that needs my contribution might pop up?

"The chicken we had for luch was tasty,who would have thought that rosemary could taste this good with cream sauce?I always use it with olive oil,but with cream?that's a nice change.Speaking of food,why don't I prepare my shopping list for the dinner I'm holding tonight?Brilliant idea..then I go directly to Cozmo,before going home,YES,I will save a lot of time this way..I wonder if the kids gave their dad a lot of trouble having lunch without me..And ,NO,I believe we can't accept any delays in site surveys,they need to be ready before we start the design process,and the SOW clearly states that they should be,but did I remember to write down white wine on my list?"

I did have so much free time on my hands the last couple of months,but a six-hour meeting is just too much,everyone's tired!

"And won't you look at that: my boss is dozing off,his eyes are shutting slowly,his head is moving back towards the chair's edge,his neck is leaning sideways,AND HE SLEEPS!What a shame we couldn't sit next to each other,should I send him a wake-up message?but that won't sound too nice now ,will it?"

Coffee is served,that should wake him up.His eyes are so red,it's not even funny.The guy next to me is so busy pushing back his cuticles with his nail,"should I offer him one of those wooden things I have in my bag?"Three of the people in this meeting must be Jet lagged arriving from half way around the globe this morning,and they certainly need to leave more than I do,someone has to call this meeting off!I hope it won't be me though.I get up and put on my jacket,it's a lined message.It is getting cold,but I also do need to leave,but my subtle hint falls on deaf ears.

"I'm so glad I read all that boring literature last week,otherwise I would have been totally lost here today....I need to blog about this but Jeeran site won't open!!checked my mail,wrote my list,checked on kids,put down my time schedule for tonights preparations.It's been planned what plates I will use for what foods,where we'll sit and what I'll wear,there's not much more for me to do here!"....and a phone rings.The other company's boss has to leave,there's my chance,yalla,lets all leave,but she WILL come back soon,if there's a need,and yes there is!!There goes my chance..Will someone else say something?"

And my thoughtful boss,with his soft,yet sleepy,eyes waves to me from across the table:"I think Salam you have another engagement,so I'll take it from here,if you want to leave!"

"IF,I want to leave?Boy,do I want to!"

I excuse myself ,and both me and the other comapnay's boss need to take a taxi,since we came with my boss.She asks me if I want to share a cab,and I say sure,not many were passing by anyways.And guess what?She sits in the front seat!You should have seen the look on the driver's eyes.He checked her up from head to toe..SHOCKED,that she should do such a thing.Well,I was too,but she's a nice lady and I like her(just in case she reads this :) )And he kept eyeing her from time to time.How I wish to know what he was thinking!!

Well the important thing,I made it on time to prepare dinner..I actually had everything ready before people came,and was able to enjoy the rest of my night!That was one long day!