And if not the CEO, how about some tech support, order takers, a programmer, some direct marketers, and maybe even a couple of scheduling analysts?

Telecommuters are becoming more than a clever '90s buzzword. Businesses are inclined to allow trusted employees to connect in and work from home. They save money 10 different ways and quite often give the workers a better quality of life.

The essence of telecommuting is to avoid the drive, which in Seattle is a breathtaking prospect. There are no short drives here, and a large part of that is the infrastructure. Seattle has experienced explosive growth in the last 40 years, and that is exactly how long the discussions have been taking place as to how to connect the city together with some easy form of transportation. Puget Sound divides cities, as does Lake Washington - connected by bridges and the flowing caramel of cars winding across the ironically named freeways.

There are more than a few people out there who want to avoid working in tall office buildings these stormy days. Certainly we all have images of fallen buildings cauterized onto the deep recesses of our thinking, and it's easy to sigh relief at the thought of not working in their expanses. Working from the comfort of our homes seems an easy way to keep safe.

Times are calling for solutions to the gas wars, not to mention the fact that with gas prices spilling over the $2 a gallon mark - it's no little financial bonus to leave the Blackwood in the garage and log on from the living room.

'Women and Children into the Boats First!!'
There are some dangers involved in cabling or networking in from home, not the least of which is that you must be an extremely disciplined person to pull it off. Having gained the trust of your company or contract holder, it's important that you fulfill everything you have promised. The project still has to be done on time and under budget - and it won't be if you fall victim to any or all of these errant behaviors.

1.   Napping at your work station: One of the big dangers of the telecommute is falling asleep at your desk, especially if your desk is equipped with a pillow and quilt. Those of you working on your Serta Perfect Sleeper desks must shake yourself awake and get back to the task at hand. Don't fall victim to taking naps, sleeping late, and missing deadlines. While the temptation is always there because you can work at almost any time, it's a slippery slope or, as Dr. Phil might call it, "a soft place to land."

2.   Running errands: Another danger of the telecommute is the "honey-do" list that can get left for you on a semi-regular basis. It's much easier to pick up the cleaning, get a few groceries, and drop off the electric bill if you're doing it from home instead of the office. This is another trap. While it is a matter of some convenience to take care of some of the daily grind during the daily grind, you can find yourself sitting in the exact same traffic jams you were trying to avoid by staying home and working. Time passes with blinding consistency when you are driving around listening to your local sports talk show. You can also achieve a false sense of accomplishment if you take care of important business when you should be working.

3.   Your favorite TV series on A&E: It seems they only show reruns of "Magnum PI" and the "Rockford Files" during the middle of the morning or after the "Tonight Show." Either way, don't get caught up on the episodes that you missed. Taking a break to stretch, work out, or walk can be necessary and important - but making sure you don't miss an episode of "All My Children" is another fissure to avoid.

4.   Personal hygiene: Who among us has not enjoyed the quality time of programming in their skivvies, a glass of frosty lemonade at your side, and a two-day beard (leg hair growth for the ladies) at hand? It's easy to avoid the shower when you don't have to sit in conference rooms and in meetings with your peers or business users, but it doesn't bode well. One of the keys to success in working from home is getting up, shaving, showering, and getting dressed. It may seem elemental, even silly to say it, but those of you with the four-day shadow and the unused Sport Stick know who you are.

5.   Being your own child-care professional: For some this is arguably one of the biggest advantages of working from home. If you have small children and can pull it off, it's a godsend - as the only thing getting more expensive than gas is good child care. It's tough to do, however; you need to have some boundaries for yourself and magnificent time management skills. If you have a toddler, then the work schedule will very likely be dictated by naps and movies - and that can threaten deadlines. Don't read any sexism into this last, as there are as many men staying home with the kids as women.

6.   Writing for computer magazines: Yes, if you have found yourself researching and outlining article ideas when you should be enhancing a DataWindow, then you are another victim of John Olson and Bob Hendry and their evil plot to publish an interesting, informative, and provocative magazine. Be careful of this time-consuming and therapeutic preoccupation.

While this is a tongue-in-cheek look at a few of the problematic angles and curves involved in the telecommute, it is only that. Telecommuting is a part of our daily lives, and for some it's a part of their daily work life. It can be richly rewarding, or deceitfully unproductive - it's all up to you.