Sleep at last, I hope

So the flight started, and I was on one of those tiny regional jets, crammed in close proximity to a guy I didn't know.  There wasn't enough leg/foot room, but I lost myself in a good book and didn't think about it.  By the time we landed, I was starving, and D.C. was gray and cold and rainy.  I hoped this wasn't an omen for the weekend.

I was able to grab a quick sandwich at the D.C. airport, so I didn't starve to death.  The place said "best grilled chicken on earth", and I'd say it didn't even make the top 10, but I was starving, and the fries were good.  I found my connection with very little difficulty, even though that place is pretty darn big and a shuttle was involved.

This flight was on another small jet, but each row had one seat on one side of the aisle, and two on the other.  I was in the lone seat on the left.  YES!  It was still tight, but better.  I kept reading for the one-hour flight part of  my journey, then arrived in Greenville.  Holy CRAP!  It is SO beautiful here.  The weather is great and the area is just pretty.  It was refreshing.

Although the hotel shuttle driver got stuck in traffic and made me wait 45 minutes outside the airport, he was genuine and sweet.  I was the only one on, so we chatted about Nascar (sorry Russ) and football and small towns and his girlfriend, who sounds like quite a girl. 

The hotel is pretty, but the coke machine on my floor doesn't work.  I should tell you some time about my luck with vending machines in hotels.  If you buy them in the gift shop, they're $1.50 a bottle!  What a scam.  The gift shop also carries no gifts.  Why not call it a "stuff you forgot" store.  It's handy for that.  How can I buy overpriced souvenirs for my kids?  I guess I could buy them toothpaste and a tampon and shaving cream, right?  Just kidding.  I'll find something at the airport.

Well, I did 2 hours of trade show booth tonight, and I've been up since 4, so it's time for me to crash.  Do I get to say it's 10:15, even though my body doesn't think it is?  LOL  Gotta make it sound more pitiful.  Good night friends.  I'll try to get more pictures tomorrow.

Sittin' in the airport...waiting

If any of you are under the assumption that Kansas City's airport is in Kansas City...think again.  You have to drive for miles and miles of no-man's land to get here.  Why is it that I always have to get here in the dark?  What a boring drive.  I've never been to another airport that was this far removed from the city.  Anyway, I got here...on time.

They now have free wireless here.  That's cool.  Makes me glad I borrowed mom's laptop with wifi.  It's like being on dial-up, though.  I was trying to IM with Mom, but gave up.  The delay made me nutty.  I'm so spoiled by DSL.

I stopped for fuel this morning, and figured I'd stop at the only McDonald's on the way for a bite to eat.  My next chance won't be until around 1:30 this afternoon.  That little po-dunk McD's doesn't open before 6am!  ACK!  Don't deny a fat chick her food.  I also left my mints in the truck.  My mints are sort of an addiction, so that'll make for an interesting trip.  I have the laptop and a couple of books, though, so all is well.

I got the "pat down" at security.  That's a first for me.  Mom usually gets chosen, which is funny, if you know my mom.  Not exactly terrorist material, although neither am I.

Well, 10 minutes until we board, so I better hit the bathroom one more time.  I don't want to break my record of never using those little airplane bathrooms.  Makes me think that if the plane goes down, I don't want to be hovering over a dirty little stainless steel bowl.  I'm just sayin'.

South Carolina Bound

Well, here I am.  I have to get out of bed in about 6 hours, and I'm too vamped to sleep.  I have packed all that can be packed (some toiletries need to be packed after my shower in the morning) and the proper travel documents are secured.  The batteries for the camera are charging, and the laptop is ready for action (thanks Mom.)

For the first time on any business trip, Natalie expressed a concern over me flying.  I explained that it's safe, and that I'll call at each stop, but she's worried.  She fell asleep in the guest room, next to my mostly-packed suitcase.  As we were talking, I could see her trying to be rational, but wanting to cry at the same time.  She's a big girl, but she's only 9.  She's trying to process it all.  I have to balance the comforting words with the understanding vibes.  Sheesh.  Parenting is tough!

Dad is letting Kevin borrow the car for the weekend, since he's leaving on the Bike with Mom.  That is great.  Kevin doesn't have to leave at 5am to take me to the airport, or get home after midnight Sunday from picking me up.  The plans are in place, and going quite well...so???

So why the nerves?  Why am I still awake?  Am I worried about my first solo trade show?  No, I'll be fine.  I've traveled with losers that depended on me for every decision.  Am I worried about the long flight?  No, I borrowed a couple of good books.  Am I worried about the lay over in D.C.?  Maybe.  Just a bit.  But it's no biggie, right?  Am I worried about the lack of chances to eat tomorrow?  Probably.  I'm a fat chick, remember?  I like my food!  I need to remember to pack snacks.

Around 8, I leave KC.  Around 11:20, I hit DC.  Around 12:20, I leave DC to land in SC around 1:45.  That leaves 5 hours to check in, set up the booth and EAT before the 7-9 show hours.  Then, on Sunday, the REAL show happens.  It is from 12-4, so I can sleep in if I need to catch up.  At 4, I have to tear the booth down like a mad woman, and head to the airport.

I leave S.C. for D.C at around 7 on Sun. evening, with a 1 hour lay over. From D.C., I fly to KC, arriving around 11:10.  After collecting checked baggage, I'll get home around 1:00 am. 

I've stated the times so that my friends and family can think of me.  I've said before, this is my first solo flight/convention.  I'm OK with it, but I'm a bit needy when it comes to thoughts and prayers.  I can handle the convention, but I'm more worried about flying than I've ever been.  D.C.?  Hell, check my bags, I am NOT a terrorist.  Also, while you're at it, check the bags of EVERYONE getting on my plane, ok?  LOL

I'm scared and excited.  I'm happy and worried.  I'm wide awake and tired.  I'll post again from South Carolina tomorrow.  Thanks for reading.

Not much

A haircut, stop at the drycleaners, fueling the truck, and a WalMart shopping trip in under an hour total?  Priceless.

I work well under the pressure of an impending business trip!

A tag

Four jobs I have had in my life:

    1.  day care teacher

    2.  nanny

    3.  receptionist

    4.  Customer Service Representative

 

Four places I have lived:

    1.  Oak Grove, MO
    2.  Buckner, MO

    3.  Carthage, MO

    4.  Coffee, MO

Four TV shows I love to watch:

    1.  Grey's Anatomy

    2.  Survivor
    3.  Big Brother
    4.  ER, but there are SO many more!

 

Four Movies I have watched over and over:

    1. An Officer and a Gentleman

    2. Smokey and the Bandit 
    3. Hooper 
    4. Breakfast Club

 

Four Places I have been on vacation:

    1.  Rocky Mountains
    2.  Branson, MO
    3.  St. Louis, MO

    4.  Mission, Texas

Four of my favorite foods:

    1.  MOM'S POTATO SOUP!

    2.  Pizza

    3.  Lasagna
    4.  Onion Rings

Four places I would rather be right now:

    1.  Colorado
    2.  California
    3.  Myrtle Beach, SC

    4.  Waverly Hall, Georgia

P.S.  For all of the above, I mean for a visit, not to live.

Exaggerating

Everyone exaggerates.  EVERYONE.  You can't use the word "never" or the word "always" unless you're exaggerating.  "Holy crap!  There's about a thousand deer in that field!"  Yeah, we know it was 12, and that's a lot.  You aren't lying, you're making a point by exaggerating.

Here's when it turns ugly.  Don't tell me that you have 15 voicemails to attend to, when I saw your phone, and the readout said 6.  Yes, 6 is a lot to deal with.  15 is a lie.  You didn't say "a shitload" or a "ton".  That would have been an exaggeration.  You told a lie.

My feeble mind tends to draw these grey area lines.  They are mine.  It's probably irrational, but it's me.  Is it OK to exaggerate?  Is it OK to lie?  Where is your line?

1) "I worked my ass off all day cleaning up this yard!" 

2) "I've put a million dollars into that car!"

3) "He never gets my jokes"

4) "He has never lifted a finger to help"

1. is an exaggeration.  It didn't take all day, but the emotion was made more powerful by these words.  I'm OK with this.  You know it didn't take all day, and I know it didn't take all day.  But the 4 hours you spent made the yard look great!

2. Yup.  It's an exaggeration.  We all know it was a couple grand, which is too much, and feeling of hopelessness is conveyed by the tale.

3. An exaggeration.  He got that one about the chicken and the road.  And the one about the blonde plumber.  He just isn't very deep.  It's OK to let folks know that by exaggerating.

4. A lie.  If he EVER helps, it's not fair to paint him in this light.  Maybe he doesn't help enough.  Maybe you wish he'd do more.  Unless he has literally never done anything, you shouldn't say this.

Am I crazy?  Yeah, I know, so don't answer that.  Is exaggerating as bad as lying to you?  Am I nuts for giving it this much thought?  Probably.  Have a good night.

Thundering thoughts

OK, I don't know where this post is going, but I swear I'll keep it short.  I can go DAYS without knowing what to post, and today there are 4 good ideas in my head.  I might post some random thoughts, so I'll remember what I was going to do in a couple of them...it's for my sad memory, so ignore it.

1) Exaggerating

2) Work Dumping

3) Missed opportunities (or not)

Now, for today's post.  Sorry, I'm a bit disjointed tonight. I'm going to the South Carolina convention next weekend.  Last year, I traveled with a good friend, and we were on Myrtle Beach.  This year, it's in Greenville (I hear it's the West side of the state, no ocean) and I'm going alone.  It's my first solo convention, but I can do it.  I'm SUPER REP!  I'm worried a bit, because it's a first, but I can handle it. 

Thanks to Mom, I'll have a laptop to use.  I can take pictures and post them from Greenville!  Thanks to Kevin, I don't need a sitter.  It's only for the weekend, and he's here with the kids. Thanks to temporary disability, we won't be stone cold broke.  Bills will be paid.  I'm good with this trip.

When they asked (as in "you're going, are you OK with that?" which means "you're going") I said "yeah" with very little reservation.  Now, after the fact, I found out more details.  I have a lay over in Washington D.C.  Russ?  Any messages you want to send along?  A couple of folks almost got stuck in that airport on a business trip last year, so I'm a bit worried about the lay over.

After I said "yeah" I found out that there was a drawing for Nascar tickets.  The race is in KC that weekend.  I couldn't get in the drawing, because I'll be gone that weekend.  GO EDWARDS! GO STEWART! GO MCMURRAY! GO JR!  Please, nascar fans, cheer for a Missouri boy, or a good guy....please?

I was told that it was only a 4 hour trade show, Sunday afternoon.  Cool, easy trip.  Fly in on Saturday, set up the booth, and hang out until Sunday at noon.  WRONG!  There are two hours that I have to be there Saturday night.  Then, a gathering after.  Then, the 4 hours Sunday, which leave me short on time to catch my flight home.  After all of that, I land in Kansas City at 11 pm on Sunday, and have to go to work on Monday.  I'll probably get home around 1:00 am.  Oh yeah, I'll be LATE on Monday. 

Anyway, S.C. is pretty this time of year, and I love our customers there, so it's OK.  Kevin's home to tend to the kids, so it's OK.  I am a good rep and can handle myself and this trade show, so I'm OK.  Anyone in South Carolina wanna visit?  LOL  I'm OK.