"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! :)
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
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! :)
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! :)
Monday, December 6, 2010
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.
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.
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