M-I-C ... K-E-Y

How many of you ended with m-o-u-s-e?  Too bad I'm not going to DisneyWorld.  I am however on my way to sunny, warm Orlando!  Aren't you jealous?  I assure you if you were in Lynnwood this morning around 8am you would be.  I woke up to all sun.  (Do I mention here that my little princess is finally sleeping until 5:30am, woohoo!)  Two hours later I look outside and it is dumping, yes dumping, snow.  I left the house at 8:30am just to be sure I could make it to the airport.  Within fifteen minutes our entire lawn/drive was covered in snow.  They said it might snow ... hmmm I'd say they were a bit off.  I love living in a convergence zone.

That being said once I hit Seattle it was all sun again and I made it to the airport in plenty of time.  Whizzed through security thanks to the status that I have now attained and I am sitting at the gate with an hour to spare.  With as crazy as things are at work it will be nice to take an hour to catch up on a few things via email before I'm unreachable for about six hours. 

It is nice to be traveling again but also hard.  I had a two week break due to half our office heading to Ambiente (major trade show in Germany).  We like to keep one sales person in the office, this year it was me.  Okay generally it is me, but I'm anxious when my time comes to get to experience this trade show.  But now we are back at it.  We are literally less than two weeks away from our largest product launch in history.  No stress!  Although there is plenty to do I'm on my way to attend a hardware show and try and land some new business.  I'll be hanging out at the Orange County Convention Center tomorrow through Saturday, selling to LOTS of hardware store owners ... hopefully it is worth the dollars spent. 

I will miss my Lizster ... a lot.  She is changing week by week again.  Over the last four weeks we have gotten two front teeth, learned to roll over (and over and over), actually smile - gums/teeth and all, started eating meat, we began clapping and saying mamama!  Needless to say I'm a bit scared/sad to see what I'll miss this week or even next week.  Yup you read correctly, back-to-back, week long trips.  Orlando today through the weekend and Chicago next Thursday through Tuesday.  Oh the joys of sales and trade show season!

See you in the sun!

Raider Nation

Who reading this does not LOVE to visit Oakland!?!  Me.

So flying in here is so much easier than flying into SFO but it is Oakland.  As I'm sitting here catching up on some work before my next flight I just saw an inmate escorted off the plane by eight, count 'em eight, police officers.  Scary.  I firmly believe in the innocent until proven guilty theory but if you have eight cops waiting for you ... I'm going to assume you aren't the nicest of people.

Okay so back to the traveling last week.  I didn't write from the Twin Cities, my fingers couldn't type.  It was too cold.  I woke up Sunday to go to market and it was negative 12 degrees.  Brrr.  Okay, never mind it was damn cold.  But market went great and it was wonderful to meet five of our new reps in the Midwest region.  What topped off the entire weekend trip was dinner with my almost 91 year old grandma.  I have not seen her in over two years and I missed the 90 year bash last year due to being just about 36 weeks preggars.  We enjoyed a nice dinner, I cleaned/dusted/re-placed all her china, and I placed her roosters back on their ledge for show.  I know what an exciting evening.  But I can say I definitely made her week! 

Last week was definitely a whirlwind though.  I got home Monday and Lizzy came home sick from daycare.  She ended up staying out of daycare until Friday and by then Ben had left for a boys weekend in Whistler.  Must be nice!  So Miss Lizzy and I hung out and did a ton of shopping and cleaning this past weekend.  Such fun!

This is actually my last trip for a bit.  Half our office will head to Frankfurt next week for Ambiente (a international housewares/furniture/lighting trade show) and I try to stay in the office when he is traveling, especially out of the country.  My next trip is on the 22nd and I'll head to Orlando for about five days.  Should be warm (crossing my fingers) but extremely busy as it is for a hardware trade show.  We will see ... it is a new one, so hopefully we do some good business!

Dallas ... oh mother lovin' Dallas

On my way to Minneapolis and I can say that Dallas was marginal.  Sadly the best part was dinner last night.  Okay maybe 'sadly' is not the appropriate word as dinner was AMAZING last night.  Market seemed slower then usual although word on the street was that order writing was up.  I was not seeing that.  Today was better, still not thrilled though.  But the cherry on the trip had to have been my flat tire yesterday morning. 

Running late after a phone call with a rep and of course in a hurry to get into my car and over to the showroom.  I pulled out of the hotel and all I hear is thu-thump, thu-thump, thu-thump.  Mother lover a flat, seriously?  On a rental?  Crap.  I spent about twenty minutes trying to loosen the lug nuts only to give up because I was in a skirt, ivory jacket and it was frickin' freezing outside. Called Hertz who then called AAA and about two hours later I have what I have affectionately nicknamed the 'weenie wheel' on my car.  A doughnut.  Don't go over 50 mph he tells me ... haha ... that's funny.  Have you ever driven in Dallas?  Speed limit says 60 but if you aren't going 80 you are flipped off, honked at, glared at, hands thrown up in the air ... terrible.  So I drove to and from market yesterday with my hazards on in the far right lane of the freeway.  Fun.

Last night made up for it though ... dinner with two other industry peers and wowee was it yummy.  I didn't realize it was a chain but in searching for the link to the restaurant I have discovered there are a few located in Texas, Colorado and Hawaii.  Kinichi = amazing sushi.  We had incredible sake (not a sake fan but this was amazing), fresh wasabi along with a new pickled wasabi, and more sushi then we could stuff our faces with.  The escarole had to be my favorite of the evening though.  So fresh, it just melted in your mouth. 

If you are ever in one of these locations ... amazing!  This place was swanky, incredible music and just plain fantastic.  They even had a sake sommelier!  Who has that ... well not many places.  Only 70 of these talented people in the world.  www.kinichirestaurants.com or www.kinichidallas.com

Today was a decent day at market, almost sad to leave as I was writing orders left and right, but off to Minneapolis I must go.  Heading in to train a few new reps, see a new showroom and work a show that I have not worked as of yet.  Looking forward most though to seeing my grandma tomorrow night.  I missed her 90th birthday celebration due to being eight months pregnant last May and I haven't seen her in almost two and a half years.  I miss her.  She was adorable, when I told her I was going to come say hi and have dinner ... first question ... is Elizabeth coming with.  No sorry grandma I'm traveling for work and she is home with daddy.  Gosh I need to get back to Minnesota to visit with the baby girl. 

Back on Monday only to return to work that afternoon for a meeting and dinner with a major retailer.  I'll probably get about two or three hours with Elizabeth Tuesday morning and then I head to Portland for the day for a meeting with a regional independent.  Back Tuesday evening and then a meeting Wednesday in the office with another major retailer.  Phewww ... I'll be glad when Thursday is here.  I'm tired just thinking about it. 

Oh wait ... did I mention that I fly out again next Monday? 

Happy New Year ... Happy Travel Season

Have I mentioned before how much 3:30am wake-up calls suck?  I'm pretty sure I have but I'll say it again, 3:30am wake-up calls suck!  Especially when said wake-up call is interrupted by a 3am crying baby.  Elizabeth has had a rough few weeks of colds and coughs but we were finally starting to sleep through the night again ... until this morning.  I suppose I need to look at it as it was God's way of giving me 20 more minutes with her before I needed to leave for five days.

Well the holiday's are officially over and trade show season is in full swing.  Fortunately or unfortunately I was supposed to begin my travel season last week on a trip in to Atlanta and then back through Denver.  Last Wednesday morning in addition to the six inches of snow that fell I got nailed with one of the worst cold/flu things I've ever had.  Needless to say I have a extremely understanding boss who agreed that flying with a 103 degree temp and flu symptoms was probably not ideal (more likely he and the other passengers did not want to get what I had!). 

So we begin travel/trade show season today.  On my way to Dallas to work the Dallas Market, should be fun and a great way to catch up with my reps and some industry peers that I missed last weekend.  Traveling back through Minneapolis to train some of our new reps and work a day or so at the Minneapolis Market and then fly home.  Should be fun, should be entertaining, should be exhausting. 

Work has been so crazy lately it is hard to think of fitting in so much travel but we'll make it happen.  Instead of sleeping on this four hour flight I think I'll probably work on some promotional opportunities, close out some old inventory, hopefully have a creative nugget or two for some marketing/sales copy that needs to be written and prep for two meetings next week.  Ahhh a day in the life ...

Here's to hoping Lizzy sleeps through the night for her daddy this weekend.  Here's to hoping that first tooth that I am anticipating doesn't make its grand entrance this weekend.  Here's to hoping Lizzy doesn't realize that I am gone for five days.  Finally here's to hoping my husband has a great weekend spending some quality father/daughter time! 

Now ... where can I get some caffeine ...

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.