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. 

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!