There's Never a Dull Moment ...

... when you travel with Jenee. This girl brings out a seriously silly side of me that I usually only get to display when my sister is in the vicinity.

I first met Jenee when I got suckered into attending a weekend-long camp with a group of unruly high school kids. This wasn't your typical s'mores and campfire songs camp. There was some seriously in-depth subject matter on the agenda here ... race, religion, sexual preference ... and how the preconceived notions of both students and staff get in the way of a peaceful and nurturing campus climate. A truly moving experience. That was ten years ago. I didn't run across Jenee again until my first day on the job where I work now, three years ago. I was being introduced to my staff and to school personnel with whom I would be working closely, and there she was. Little did I know that our work together would take us across the nation. What I can say with great certainty is that cities such as Washington, D.C., Albuquerque, and now Dallas will never be the same after having known us.

A few weeks ago -- and later this week -- when you run into Jenee or myself you will meet "WJ" (Working Jenee or Working Jodi). But when we're off to a conference, you will have the distinct pleasure of catching a glimpse of "VJ" ... Vacation Jenee/Jodi. We're away from the day-to-day stressors of the district, our minds are being fed by experts in the field, and we have plenty of time in the evening for good food, great wine, and thrills-a-minute karaoke.

Tonight was one such evening (sans karaoke). The VJs were taxied to a Dallas mall to check out some Bobbie Brown wares at Nordstrom's and stopped first for dinner and La Crema chardonnay. Five glasses (combined) and two makeovers (also combined) later, we found ourselves back at the 7-Eleven across from our hotel. Jenee was having a serious string cheese deficiency and I fancied myself a fountain Diet Coke. While waiting in line to check out, a tourist in front of us began to search her backpack frantically for her wallet. Our super-hero counselor-like skills kicked into high gear and we told her to take a breath and search again... no need to worry and hurry quite yet. As we waited, the line grew behind us. A local with an armful of 7-Eleven fruit (I know, right???) and beverages began to display her impatience. Jenee turned to face her and said, "She think she's lost her wallet. We can all relate. YOU can relate. So you can WAIT."

You see, Jenee has decided she needs to be more assertive these days. Standing up for her rights and the rights of those around her. So when she sees a fellow patron being hurried, or a conference-goer not rewarded for her participation as are the others around her, she speaks up.

But the cape-wearing Jenee (HJ for hero?) has to fight for time alongside the giddy out-of-town Jenee on these trips. VJ often wrestles her way to the surface, because she's got a job to do. She hunts down karaoke joints for me to croon at, she startles serious presenters by loudly protesting "WHAT?!?" when he says that there are no youths in the room (she's sooooo anxious to avoid the big four-oh), she leans over my shoulder to ask about every magazine and sudoku puzzle I'm perusing on the plane, and, frankly, she needs to be entertained like my 7-year-old.

I guess the upside to that is that she applauds loudest at my singing, breaks up the tension in a boring seminar presentation, and doesn't puke like Jacob does sometimes during landings.

You gotta love her.