To get you up to speed in case you missed last week’s post… Dr. McDreamy and I were riding on the elevator when I let it slip I was carrying his love child. He had no idea what I was talking about, but his evil twin Dr. McMeany had been in town four months ago… and then I was voted off the island. Ok, I was just practicing for my future career in writing for TV – so the real story – after more than 20 years of traveling for business, my number was picked and I had an accident on the road, who would have thought it could happen to me? Those of us who travel routinely often take for granted that the worst thing that can happen on the road is our flight is delayed or the airline was just sold to Arbys. And until now that included me. The last thing on our minds is an accident/illness or other type of emergency, but in reality anything can happen.

In Part One I dealt with the basics of preparing for a possible emergency as well as a few suggestions to help you get through a crisis. So as I sit here nursing a torn ACL, in Part Two I decided to deal with both frequent and infrequent problems you might need assistance.

Be sure to click Read More for the rest of Anne Rumpf’s weekly column focused on business travel. If you have any comments for Anne, feel free to email her here.

Well it finally happened – after more than 20 years on the road for business I hit one of the minefields that lurk out there. No, it wasn’t clowns or airline food. Remember my earlier post about jamming your heavy bags into the overhead bin? Well even though I was traveling with one of my lighter carry-on bags, my luggage shifted just like they always say it does and when I reached to get my stuff I contorted my body like I was in the Cirque Du Soleil (without the exciting music or costumes). This was too much for my knee and the people waiting behind me getting ready to run off the plane (be kind People – I again refer you to an earlier post on Travel Etiquette). I had fallen and couldn’t get up and my emergency clapper device was 500 miles away…

Be sure to click Read More for the rest of Anne Rumpf’s weekly column focused on business travel. If you have any comments for Anne, feel free to email her here.

What does the phrase, work / life balance mean to you? I’ve become more convinced that whoever came up with the phrase work / life balance did not have to travel for work. Traveling these days can be very stressful – security is high, lines are long, and in the time it took you to read the first two sentences airlines have merged, cancelled five hundred flights and are selling you their in flight special meals for five bucks. (McDonalds watch out!!) Then you add the work stuff to the bag, the odds of winning the lottery don’t seem so bad.

As I’m sure you know, the effects of high levels of stress can impact you physically, mentally and emotionally. So many of us talk about finding some type of balance in our lives to help battle stress– but how many of us actually do something about it? It seems elusive at best and impossible at worst. I personally have been searching for the magic formula for more years than I care to mention. (Those small liquor bottles on the plane don’t help either…) Though I don’t claim to have found the perfect solution, here are a few things that might be worth a try before, during and after your next trip…

All business travelers know that when they step on that plane, they become a lone agent for themselves and their company. They make tons of movies about the premise of the lone person, especially woman who find trouble when they’re out in that great big crazy world. You go on a relaxing trip to Europe, only to discover that the friendly foreigners who bring you croissants and coffee in the morning want to harvest your organs.

Remember the movie Psycho, a nice pretty young business woman has to stay at a little motel and runs into trouble due to her desire to keep a daily beauty regiment that included showering. Granted, she had embezzled money from her company and got between a man and his mother – OK she made a few bad choices. So to make sure you don’t end up on a 20/20 segment, these hints might come in handy. I’ve compiled a list of safety tips geared towards women, but men – you should find these helpful as well.

As all solo business travelers soon learn, the excitement of going to new cities and places can turn into a lonely party. Yes, you were the only guest invited. You can mope, call home every couple hours or… learn to cope. We all miss our homes and warm beds when we are on the road but hopefully my “master action list” will help get you through those lonely trips.

Before you jump to the list though, there is a key concern to tackle. One of the most important aspects of preparing yourself for a solo trip is dealing with your mental outlook. We all have days when we want to just sit in front of the TV and watch mind-numbing sitcoms. And sometimes that is the best option – you just have to wallow in it to get over it – the hard thing is to limit the amount of time you’ll stay in that place. (Eventually the infomercials start and once you go there you are finished.) Consider setting an alarm for an hour (or less) and spend the time writing in a journal, calling a friend or loved one for comfort or just taking a nice hot bath. When the time is up, get up off your butt and take action. Challenge yourself to make the rest of the trip fun – or at least bearable. So onto my action list…

Many of you have had this experience… it was a 6-hour flight in the back of the plane, strapped into an aisle seat by the dreaded bathroom. The most happening place on the plane. You’ve become the onboard greeter, as everyone who passed by seemed to deem it necessary to say hello. When the bathroom becomes available they of course forget you in a heartbeat and crush your arm as they rush to get to their spot in the line. Then, to add to all the fun, the guy ahead of you discovered that he had the only seat on the plane that actually reclined, so using this new found technology he constantly practices going back and forth seeing how far he needs to go to lie in your lap. You try to signal him to move forward but he doesn’t seem to get the hint.

I know I’m not alone in this experience, so I decided to make a list of etiquette do’s and don’ts to help make the skies a wee bit friendlier…

Over the years I’ve found that there are two types of travelers – those who pack as if they will never see their homes again, and those who go commando style, no really… what I mean is they travel lean and mean carrying one small/medium sized carry-on bag for a full week of travel.

I have to admit I fall into the first category, I am always sure I am forgetting something so I empty the contents of my drawers into a lot of bags and end up cursing myself as I drag 50 lbs or more through the airport. I have read many “how to pack” articles and heard the advice to bring half of what you think you will need (but what do they know anyway). Somehow though I still end up with other passengers growling at me as I try to cram my bag into the overhead compartment…

As you page through travel magazines you often see ads for luxurious hotel suites, tranquil spa settings, someone sitting in a robe and comfy slippers, smiling as they sip what looks like a delicious beverage. Ahhh sleep is only minutes away. But in the real world, you just worked eight to five, sped to the airport and grabbed something to eat at the hotel (or if you are really unlucky from the local mini-mart). You finally make it to your room only to find your neighbor in the room next door blaring a Facts of Life rerun while a fellow business person across the hall is yelling into the phone, trying to vocally make up for the distance to his home. Even in the best of situations you are having trouble sleeping…

Ok, you were on the plane forever. They fed you a minuscule bag of “snacks”, gave you enough to drink to go to the teeny tiny restroom ten times and you have finally arrived safely at your home away from home – the hotel. Now all you can think about is eating. If life isn’t treating you too badly, room service is available. Or, if you’re in an out of the way place, you might find menus slipped under the door and if you are lucky they deliver!

Well, you don’t have to hide in your room and watch movies they won’t even show on a plane. It’s time to venture out and eat on your own.

Yes, most of us have experienced the heartbreak of eating alone – sitting in a restaurant by our lone selves. But you don’t have to be afraid – we can do this together. Here are a few tips for braving the venture of eating alone…

WEJETSET is excited to welcome another writer to our team. Anne Rumpf has been a road warrior of varying degrees since the late 80’s. With more than 20 years of business travel experience to draw on, she has expert advice on the best tips, recommendations and ideas for business travelers.