The Big "D"

"What type of rental would you like ma'am, Chevy Malibu, Toyota Camry or a Ford Mustang?"

Ford Mustang if you please ... as we go rockin' down 35E busting out to a little "Boots w/ the Fur" ... ahhh only in Dallas.  Or only at 12:30am and completely slap happy after a very long day. 

These are the things you can look back at and laugh at.  The moments that make traveling just a kick in the pants and make you forget how truly tired you may be.  Yesterday was a whirlwind of presenting and traveling.  SEA to SFO, an hour on the BART, presenting in Walnut Creek, another hour on the BART and then SFO to DFW.  Another gourmet sandwich within the SFO airport, a good crossword puzzle (yes I am that geeky) and we find ourselves here in Dallas.

It is now Wednesday evening after two very successful meetings and I find myself needing to go to bed.  Tried to Skype with the Lizbug tonight but either Ben or I are technologically challenged and couldn't seem to get it going.  It was hilarious to hear her laugh tonight.  She was having a blast banging daddy's old football helmet on the desk.  I can just picture it ... too funny. 

Because I always have to discuss the food ... two great eats tonight.  Guessing this is nothing new to most but ate at my first Potbelly today.  Now that was a grub sandwich and a much needed Coke!  Ending the day with Mexican was perfect.  There are very few places that beat Texas for authentic Mexican food.  If you find yourself near the Dallas Market Center be sure to check out Avila's Mexican Restaurant.  Excellent Brisket Tacos, not such a great Mexican Martini (too strong for my liking), but overall very good food and great company. 

Back to the airport tomorrow around 5:30am ... an oh-so-fun layover and then back home for dinner.  Hope everyone has safe travels for the holiday season and Merry Christmas! :)

Final trip of the year ...

4am wake-up call.  Ouch! 

Here we are ... 6:25am at SEA ... just a few more minutes and I'll be on my way to SFO in glorious first class.  Have I mentioned how I like 'status'?  When traveling it is just about the best thing or at least what makes it all bearable.  Okay I probably should clarify first, it is not my status but rather my boss.  I booked the flights but somehow he or our travel agent worked their magic so I can fly as his travel companion.  Woohoo for me.

We are off to San Fran this AM for a sales meeting this afternoon.  This will entail a nice, rather lengthy, ride on the BART as we are headed out to Walnut Creek.  Not exactly a hop, skip and a jump but it will do and saves us from renting a car in the Bay Area.  Tonight we head out to Dallas for another sales meeting and a buying group meeting, then home Thursday. 

Not sure if it is the holidays or what but this week has been harder to leave.  Or it may have something to do with EVERYONE telling me that six to twelve months is their favorite age and I have to take it all in.  Experience it all.  Well, the sucker of the whole deal is I'll be traveling more now through April than I will all year.  It is trade show, sales meeting, new product launch season.  So ... to my sweet little girl, mommy will be there all she can, daddy will be there when mommy can't and we'll be taking a billion pictures every day in between.

It is always humorous to me that people think travel is so glamorous (okay maybe a little twinge of haha when you get to walk through the priority security line).  But in all honesty I don't get to spend time in any city I visit, I see more of airports and hotels than any cultural history and eating out ... well at 11pm when you get to a hotel ... you can only imagine the food that I'm probably eating.  Now that is not to say that traveling isn't fun some of the time.  I wouldn't do it if I didn't enjoy it.  Being at a show like the International Home + Housewares Show in Chicago is awesome!  I love seeing all the newest, latest, and greatest.  Eating to-die-for dinners at Shaw's and other favorite establishments.  But lets be honest, half the fun relies on being in a great city itself. 

Favorites of the year so far would have to include Chicago (of course!), York Maine and Omaha.  Who would have ever guessed that Omaha would make my top list.  I'm excited to head back there and meet with more independents as well as work closely with my top account there.  Other notable favorite of the year are Dallas, Bellingham and Denver!  Hoping to add NYC to the list in 2011 as I haven't been there in ages! 

Okay time to go get on a plane. 
Lizzy ... mommy loves you ... and NO TEETH till I come home Thursday! :)

From the Arch to the Windy City ...

This week I find myself on just a quick two night jaunt.  However it began on a Sunday.  Not something I always like doing, but it does have its benefits.  I don't have to rush, I don't have to get up at the crack of God knows what hour, I can arrive at a normal time, have dinner at a normal hour, etc.  However it does mean leaving my little one for an entire day that I would normally spend with her.

Any guilt has subsided for now.  Although I do feel slightly bad for dad as Lizzy is not sleeping through the night very consistently right now.  I do miss feeding her and getting her ready for bed, but I know dad has it covered and I know as she gets older she will grow to love her time with dad.  Even if it is filled with football on Sunday.

This week found me flying to St. Louis ... or as some people affectionately call it misery (instead of Missouri).  I might be slightly slow on the uptake but I found it a clever play on words.  This trip is the beginning of one of the more fun parts of being in sales.  Launching new product!  My manager and I are traveling, doing a road show of sorts, to train and fire up our sales force.  First stop ... sunny and frigid St. Louis.  Today went fabulous ... first run of a sales meeting is always a bit hairy.  Some parts you stumble and some parts you hit a home run.  You take notes, learn from what worked and what didn't and make the next meeting even better. 

I cannot forget the food though ... the most important part!  We dug into some good 'ole fashioned St. Louis BBQ this afternoon for lunch.  Nothing beats turkey, pork and beef along with baked beans, coleslaw and potato salad.  Last night for dinner ... even better.  I had a sandwich that went by the name of "the over-something".  I want to say it was overhaul or overload but that may just be based on size and taste alone.  Either way, pretty sure they soaked the sandwich bread in garlic butter.  SO RICH.  It was amazing but an hour later my stomach felt like I had ate a brick.  But you smoother bread in garlic butter and layer it high with turkey, swiss, caramelized onions and some other yummy goodness and you have one amazing sandwich.  In case you are wondering this amazing (although gut wrenching) sandwich was enjoyed at Granite City Brewery.  I wish I could tell you which beer to try but it was a cabernet sauvignon night! 

With the exception of a two hour delay at the St. Louis airport, I now find myself at the Westin in Chicago.  Just a quick stop over for an account meeting and a 'come-to-Jesus' discussion and we'll be on our way back to the Emerald City tomorrow afternoon!  Nothing too exciting tonight but a salad at the hotel restaurant, a little football, and good conversation. 

This momma needs to get a little work done and then head to bed.  Looking forward to heading home tomorrow and gearing up for two more sales meetings next week.  I LOVE new product.  Does that make me a total geek?  I think not. 

Home Sweet Home

Previously I flew about 35kmiles a year, just enough for it to get old but not enough for it to help 'qualify' me to any elite flight status.  Yesterday solidified one of the few benefits to flying upwards of 50k-75k miles a year.  Status.  I could have used some status yesterday.

Prior to getting pregnant I was that person who would roll my eyes and pray I remembered my noise canceling headphones on any trip.  Not for the noise of the plane, while that was nice, but rather for the noise of the little rugrats that found it their duty to scream the entire flight.  I would never say anything, that would be rude.  I just used to ask myself why would you fly with an infant. 

Now that I have Lizzy and we are contemplating how to get back to Minnesota to visit family, I find myself in that exact situation.  Again, this is one of those times where as a mom, I will eat my words.  I will end up flying with an infant.  I am crazy. 

Back to my story as it relates to last night though.  The flight from Omaha to Denver was smooth, non eventful and had the cutest little man on it.  I ran into the mom and baby in the restroom and asked her the normal mom questions (How old?  Name?).  I then complimented on how well behaved and happy he was.  That she had inspired me that I could do it with my little girl.  What a sweet boy!   Fast forward two hours and I am now on a flight home (finally) and I have the exact opposite situation.  One pissed off little guy.  He was probably about a year old and he was livid.  Although as a mom I recognized immediately that he was pissed because he was in pain, it still did not make the first hour of the flight any more enjoyable.  The entire take-off until we leveled out was ear piercing.  Poor kid.  Poor me, if only I had status.

I am now home and don't need to travel for about two weeks.  Incredible to believe that it is almost Thanksgiving and the Christmas holiday is right around the corner.  It is not the most enjoyable time to be flying but it can be gorgeous depending on the destination.  Cheers to everyone having a wonderful weekend and for me to get some sleep!     

Element.

Need I say more. 

If you have ever stayed at one of the nine Element by Westin hotels you definitely understand. 

It has been a long week, and it's only Wednesday.  Needless to say I am exhausted from my ongoing flight schedule and product preview meetings.  It is now almost 11pm in Omaha Nebraska and I am taking the time, rather than sleeping, to tell you about this amazing hotel. 

Let's back up a wee bit.  This week so far has been Seattle-Philadelphia, Philadelphia-Rochester, Rochester-Philadelphia, Philadelphia-Manchester, Manchester-Chicago, Chicago-Omaha.  Over that time I have stayed at a aLoft and a Four Points.  I adore aLoft until I need to eat dinner.  Their w xyz bar is good for a drink but not for food.  If I wanted their springs rolls or buffalo wings I'd just go to Costco and bring them with me on my trip.  Four Points was nice but to be honest I now prefer the W.  I never used to be a Starwood gal but with my company it is almost a must. 

Okay back to the point.  Element.  THE most amazing hotel I've stayed at in a long time.  Element just opened in good ole Omaha, NE last week.  There are nine total and somehow Omaha got one ... I was going to write about the amazing floors, the fact that each room is a full on studio complete with fridge, dishwasher, stove top and kitchen sink,  or that the desk chair is heavenly ... but after twenty minutes on the phone with my hubbie, I need to go to bed!  So in short, be sure to check and see if there is an Element next time you travel and stay there!  FYI for you tree huggers out there, Element is a completely green hotel.

Oh ... did I mention these rooms have a dishwasher!?!  As a gadget/tool gal this is a saving grace for my gadgets I've been demo'ing all week.  Garlic, banana and cherry gunk ... be gone!  Woohoo! 

Goodnight from corn husker region!

I hit the perverbial wall.



Seward, AK



Currently getting my eat/drink on at the w xyz bar in the aLoft Philadelphia.  A five hour flight behind me, I now sit feeling almost back to my well- adjusted self.  Last night at 8pm it was a much different story.  Sometimes I think we as mothers are harder on ourselves then anyone else ever would/should be.  Last night was one of those moments. 

Anyone who knows me or has read this blog knows I love my job.  I also love to travel.  Although it gets old once in awhile it is still a passion.  I enjoy visiting new cities and seeing new places.  Whether it is visiting a museum in Atlanta or going deep sea fishing in Alaska I try to do/see as much as possible in the short time that I am at each location.  I've never had anyone to race home to.  Sure there is my husband but his lack of wanting to see/do/try new things has resulted in a general understanding that if I have an opportunity I should take advantage of it.  Chances are he has no interest in doing/going/seeing said event.  Case in point, he has no interest in Europe.  None.  Not even when I say we can do an entire beer themed trip (Germany, England and Ireland).  Nothing.  None.  Zilch.  Zero.

Here in lies my new found dilemma.  I now have a princess to get home too.  At 8pm last night it hit me.  Like a small European sports car running full throttle into a moving freight train hit me.  I do not want to leave.  I do not want dad or grandma or daycare to take care of her for the next five days.  I do not want to miss what might be her first scoot or her first tooth.  Do not mistake this sudden twinge of guilt for wanting to stay home full time.  I'd go nuts.  Having a child now ... I realize that.  I'd go literally bananas.  But for the first time in probably two years I felt guilty.  I felt guilty for leaving, for working, for wanting to provide endless opportunities to my child. 

I told myself over and over, she has no clue that I am gone.  She won't even realize that I left for five days.  I'll come home Thursday and she'll be thrilled to see me.  Ben even stepped up and reassured me that all would fine.  I am pretty sure it isn't a matter of being fine or that I'm worried he cannot handle her.  I'm simply going to miss her.  I'm simply going to miss taking her to daycare.  I'm simply going to miss spending the evening getting her fed, bathed and ready for bed.  But will I survive, yes.  Did I pull it together, of course.  After my literally seven minute depression episode, I sucked it up and moved on.  This mom does not have time to feel guilty.  This mom chooses to work and chooses to travel.  After all it is a choice, a choice I've made, a choice I'm sticking with.

 

Meeting Prep ...

This week is going to prove to be a long one.  First we start daycare four days a week.  No more letting mom get up a few minutes later, we need to be on time if not early in order to drop-off the little princess and make the train.  For those that follow and are a bit confused let me explain.  I commute daily, well at least I try my damnedest, via the 'Sounder'.  A public transit train that unfortunately runs just three times each morning and night.  If I'm not on by 7:40am, I'm driving in.  Yuck.

Second I leave Sunday for a four night, five day trip.  Barring any unforeseen weather or mechanical malfunctions I'll be home Thursday to feed, bathe and put Lizzy to bed.  But wow ... did you read that ... five days away.  This week will be spent putting together presentations, sending samples out to reps, packing enough to last a week but still roll with carry on luggage.  No pun intended. 

I'm heading east ... so for all those that believe, say a prayer.  Hopefully this extra "terrorist" threat is over with, the weather cooperates and most importantly the flights are on time.  Here is the itinerary ... yikes!

SEA-PHI : PHI-ROC : ROC-MAN : MAN-ORD : ORD-OMA : OMA-DEN : DEN-SEA

Wish me luck ... both with my presentations and with leaving the munchkin for that long.

2,965 Miles Logged

Nothing beats a grilled portabello burger complete with caramelized onions and roasted red peppers at the Denver Chophouse.  Heavenly.  Pair that with a Cosmo and this mamma is in heaven.  Did I mention that this incredible meal was in the middle of DEN?  Who says you can't get decent food in the airport.  Okay most airports the food is absolute crap.  Next to a Starbucks the best thing you can get is Burger King or McDonalds.  But enough about food.  Seriously though, if you are ever in the Denver airport be sure to look for the Denver Chophouse.  Fabulous.

I pulled in about 8:30 last night and went straight to the nursery.  It is was crazy how strong the feeling was to wake up Lizzy and give her a squeeze.  I only saw one issue with that plan.  Once awake she'd want to eat and then her sleep pattern would be a disaster, aka she would wake up every three hours and both mom and dad would get no sleep.  It is amazing how you forget so quickly how you functioned while doing that the first two months.

So I gave her a kiss, turned off her nursery tunes and pulled up her blanket.  Snug as a bug in a rug as we tell her every night.  Kissed my hubbie hello and goodnight and I headed to bed.  Traveling is fun, meetings were good, but I was exhausted.  To my baby girl ... each city is a place we will someday visit.  San Diego we must see the zoo, Los Angeles we will of course head to Disneyland and in Denver we will spend some time on the slopes and try and visit Elitch Gardens.  Wow, mom needs to just keep racking up the frequent flier miles, so many places to go!

Mile High and Loving It!

There truly is nothing better than a cool, crisp fall morning in Denver.  For those of you who have never been here, come, it is gorgeous!  All times of the year in fact, one of the sunniest places to go and killer skiing! 

This trip has been a whirlwind but a few hot spots to note ... ate at World Famous right on the beach down in the San Diego area (hope that is correct, it was two days ago) and had the most delicious pecan encrusted warm brie with to-die-for garlic bread and mango chutney.  Yum-O.  Ended up having a fantastic meeting at Great News, which is pretty much the most intense kitchen store in California.  Yesterday made our way to Chefs Resource, great online resource for cooking/kitchen fun.  As well as Cooking.com ... another awesome kitchen website.  Both awesome meetings!  Ended my day at Bay City and this awesome Italian grocer, with a dinner sandwich called the Godmother that was AMAZING!

Now getting ready to head to an appointment out in Colorado Springs, CHEFS Catalog if you are wondering.  All these meetings have kept me busy and not thinking about what I'm missing out on at home.  Had a great text talk with an awesome lady last night who assured me that us mom's really can have it all!  Incredible job, fantastic family and amazing marriage.  It all takes work, don't get me wrong.  In talking to Ben last night he sounded exhausted, being a single dad takes its toll.  I'm looking forward to getting back to Seattle (although too late tonight to put my little one to bed) and taking over duties for a day or two so Ben can have a little break!

Chow for now!

San Diego Bound ...

I realized today that after six months of no flying, I did not miss the 3:30AM wake-up call.  Yuck.  Taking a 6:45AM flight should be illegal ... and here I was thinking while I was booking, this is going to be so much better than a 6AM.  Yeah right.

It winds up being one of those nights where if I go to bed at 9PM I'll still get six hours of sleep.  Gee it is now 11PM, well I can still get four hours of sleep.  Hmmm it is now 1AM, two hours should suffice.  2AM well crap, one hour, I think I can get by until I get on the plane.  3AM, might as well just get up.  At least then I'll be more productive and surely I will not miss my flight. 

So begins the start of flying again.  We had such a busy weekend I really didn't have time to worry about leaving my little girl until late last night.  This is a good thing.  I'm actually doing pretty well this morning too!  Not sure if that is due to lack of sleep or because part of me is excited to head from drizzly Seattle to sunny San Diego!  How can you really complain?  The only thing I can complain about is how people travel.  For how many years now have you needed to have your laptop removed (in its own bin, none-the-less) and your shoes/jacket off.  Get with the program people, there are signs everywhere and pretty sure this has been the norm for the last eight or nine years.

As far as travel goes, I think with men it is easier.  Not saying it is easy, just easier.  In my opinion men have this innate drive to provide for their family.  When Ben leaves for an overnight for work (last Thursday) it is very matter of fact.  This is what I have to do so why worry.  Fortunately or unfortunately I think I'm different from quite a few women in that I have that same innate drive to provide for my family.  My dad traveled a lot while I was growing up so in all honesty it is really nothing new to me.  I would say part of it is I do what I have to do, the other part of it is ... I truly love my job.  I work for an incredible company, selling awesome products, have some of the best sales reps in the country and fabulous co-workers.  How many people can say that?

For most though, they struggle with the idea of "How can you leave Elizabeth?" or "Why don't you find a new job?" The list of questions like this go on and on.  Part of me wants to slap these people upside the head and ask what time period do you live in.  But that would be rude.  The majority of mom's I know work in some fashion and those that don't, more power to them, but it is simply not for me.  So I work, I work so I can give my daughter anything she can dream of. 

My flight should be boarding in the next 15 minutes so I will leave you for now ... a note to my beautiful daughter.  Lizzy, mom's heading to beautiful San Diego!  Some day we'll visit the San Diego Zoo, it is spectacular!  In the meantime you be good for daddy and Grandma Muldary ... and NO TEETH until I come home.  I will write more from LAX tomorrow afternoon.  Love you!

It's all about Spo-Compton!

Leaving the house today I had the thought, how will I be able to share my joys of traveling with my family, friends and most importantly my daughter?  See today marks my first overnight away from her since she was born in June.  Sure we've had a babysitter for a few hours here and there, even had a babysitter last Saturday until almost 1am to celebrate a friend's 30th birthday.  But I've never left her overnight.  So here in lies my idea of a blog.  A way for my daughter to know where mommy has traveled to and why mommy can't always tuck her in at night.

While I'm not the type to become emotional, since having Lizzy my world has been turned upside down.  I love her more than I ever thought possible.  I will say that this did not happen overnight though.  While some mothers have this unmistaken bond immediately mine took time.  The first few weeks were filled with exhaustion, frustration, joy and pain. But now ... she is my world.  Outside of my best friend, my husband Ben, my world would not be complete without her and this is what makes traveling a tad difficult.

Thus, the birth of another sort of baby ... a blog.  Exactly what I said I'd never do.  Hmmm seem to be doing that a lot lately.  Eating my words that is.  I always thought I could handle this mom thing no problem.  If I saw another mom doing something I thought, I'd never do that or I could do that better.  What a joke that is.  Every mom, well almost every mom, does the best she can with what she has.  That being said I have to travel.  While some people see this as me neglecting my child I see it as giving my child every opportunity she could want.  See I probably could stay home, it wouldn't be easy and definitely wouldn't be fun, but it probably could be done.  I don't want that.  I want to have fun, travel and enjoy life with my family.  If that means I must work, than I must work!   Lucky for me I have one kick ass job that I love and unfortunately or fortunately that requires me to travel.  Not just a bit of travel but A LOT of travel.  Seeing as I enjoy my job and travel I wanted to have something that explained to Lizzy the joys of working hard and seeing the country, possibly the world.

Long of the short, first trip is tonight/tomorrow.  It is about 9:15pm as I write this from my lovely hotel room at the Hotel Lusso in downtown Spokane.  I will be doing a fantastic product demonstration at The Kitchen Engine here in Spokane tomorrow morning.  Should be fun but definitely missing my little girl and my husband.  Spokane to many is not very exciting, for me it is somewhat more fun as I used to live here.  My first job out of college placed me here as a sales rep for Newell Rubbermaid.  I spent day in and day out inside of a Lowe's Home Improvement center somewhere on the east side of the state building displays, working on selling in product and training associates.  Wow, that seems like eons ago!  Although I miss Spokanes' cost of living I'm not sure I'd move back here!

Well time to go to bed ... I need to be well rested for my product demonstration tomorrow.  I'll be showing people how to rice potatoes, french green beans, chop garlic, peel veggies and create salsa with our hand powered food processor!  If your in Spokane any time soon be sure to drop by The Kitchen Engine for great kitchen gadgets and tools.