57 pounds. i knew without any doubt that my suitcase would be over the weight limit, and frankly, i was just hoping it would be under 75. that's what happens when you head out on a back to back to back trip that includes 26 degree snowy weather and 75 degree sunny weather. and for some reason, new york, in particular, always stimulates my over-packing gene.
while i'm not excited to be away from home for so long, this should be a fun an interesting trip. i'm here in the big apple for a work event which has been the cause of some stress in my life. it's not a show i'm responsible for, and in fact, for the most part, i have to just show up and look pretty. but since it is quite literally a red carpet event, that is where the stress comes in.
red carpet isn't really my 'every day' attire, and finding modest formal wear has been a challenge. i ended up with two dresses and have no idea which of them is more appropriate and it's making me a little crazy. i guess i should disclose that it's an award show...in fact, it's like the oscars for the gays.
you may remember that in the past, we participated in a variety of pride events. it's a great demographic but ultimately we determined that the roi was not where we wanted to be, so we are trying something new, and sponsoring this awards show (which is actually three awards shows in ny, la, and san fran). so basically, i have to put on a dress and go talk to celebrities about pet insurance. think tina fey or anna paquin will be interested?
maybe now you understand why it's stressing me out! i don't want to look a gift horse in the mouth - i realize that it's a cool opportunity, but wow, a lot of pressure!
after tomorrow night though, i get to relax a little and catch up with my aunt, uncle & cousin (more on that soon) and deb, and my friend angela who recently moved here, before heading off to toronto for the next event.
can't wait to get this show on the road!
Friday, March 18, 2011
Saturday, March 12, 2011
the apple koolaid
it's no secret i've drunk it and keep driniking it, and ever since the news of an apple tablet called the 'iPad,' i've been waiting for the iPad2.
with a LOT of travel coming my way in the next month, it was imperative to me that i have this device in my hot little hands, on or shortly after launch day. i was also concerned that ordering the iPad online would result in a shipment date after my first departure, and while the promised delivery dates started at 2-3 days they quickly turned into 2 - 3 weeks.
i debated and considered and reconsidered my launch day game plan, and up until the minute i parked my behind in a chair outside of the mall near my work, i was sure that i would go to a target or walmart. i kept second guessing my decision and decided to do a mall drive-by to check out the fruity purveyor of gadgets before making a decision. when i saw that the line was already long enough to stretch from the interior store all the way outside the mall, i decided i better just get in line somewhere, and it was close.
keep in mind, this was at 1:30pm, with the sale begining at 5pm. by the way, i'm grateful for a a boss who shares and recognizes my obsession, because i truly would have been out of luck had i tried to stroll in after work. i was also grateful that i'd had the foresight to bring a chair and a diet coke.
i parked myself (unfortunately in the sun) and almost immediately a very tall (i later learned, 6'7") attractive gentlemen (we'll call him t) and his son set up their chairs behind me. a conversation began with our musings about how we couldn't believe we were doing this, and over the course of the next FIVE HOURS, we learned a lot about each other. habit i guess, but i saw shortly after he sat down that he wasn't wearing a wedding ring, and since that is not always a given, i watched and listened for other indications of a wife at home. there were none, from either him, or his 11 year old son (we'll call him e) who if i'm being completely honest, had me wrapped around his little finger from about five minutes in.
what i expected to be a long and arduous wait was actually more like a really good first date. expect the unexpected, i suppose.
with the official begining at 5, we finally made it IN the store about 6pm and while neither of us were able to get EXACTLY the model we wanted, we came close enough that we were all pretty excited.
after i purchased mine, sight unseen, i wandered around the store and watched as others played with the demo models. and, while i was watching, e approached me and asked 'do you have a business card, or can we have your phone number?'
smooth, dad.
i gave him my number, and made my farewells. and, while i still find myself in the 'want to marry a mormon' camp, i also want him to call, so i can spend another few hours laughing and enjoying myself with a really cute guy. and his dad, too. ;)
if you've got the interest or patience, here is a video someone shot of the line i was in, and if you don't, there is a blurry screenshot of me and my new friend, below.
and, in case you're wondering, i'm pretty happy with the iPad 2, too! i sure have a lot of playing to do!
with a LOT of travel coming my way in the next month, it was imperative to me that i have this device in my hot little hands, on or shortly after launch day. i was also concerned that ordering the iPad online would result in a shipment date after my first departure, and while the promised delivery dates started at 2-3 days they quickly turned into 2 - 3 weeks.
keep in mind, this was at 1:30pm, with the sale begining at 5pm. by the way, i'm grateful for a a boss who shares and recognizes my obsession, because i truly would have been out of luck had i tried to stroll in after work. i was also grateful that i'd had the foresight to bring a chair and a diet coke.
i parked myself (unfortunately in the sun) and almost immediately a very tall (i later learned, 6'7") attractive gentlemen (we'll call him t) and his son set up their chairs behind me. a conversation began with our musings about how we couldn't believe we were doing this, and over the course of the next FIVE HOURS, we learned a lot about each other. habit i guess, but i saw shortly after he sat down that he wasn't wearing a wedding ring, and since that is not always a given, i watched and listened for other indications of a wife at home. there were none, from either him, or his 11 year old son (we'll call him e) who if i'm being completely honest, had me wrapped around his little finger from about five minutes in.
what i expected to be a long and arduous wait was actually more like a really good first date. expect the unexpected, i suppose.
with the official begining at 5, we finally made it IN the store about 6pm and while neither of us were able to get EXACTLY the model we wanted, we came close enough that we were all pretty excited.
after i purchased mine, sight unseen, i wandered around the store and watched as others played with the demo models. and, while i was watching, e approached me and asked 'do you have a business card, or can we have your phone number?'
smooth, dad.
i gave him my number, and made my farewells. and, while i still find myself in the 'want to marry a mormon' camp, i also want him to call, so i can spend another few hours laughing and enjoying myself with a really cute guy. and his dad, too. ;)
if you've got the interest or patience, here is a video someone shot of the line i was in, and if you don't, there is a blurry screenshot of me and my new friend, below.
and, in case you're wondering, i'm pretty happy with the iPad 2, too! i sure have a lot of playing to do!
Wednesday, March 02, 2011
itchin
it's been a couple of years since i've been out of the country, and i have been itchin (like the scratching it 'til it bleeds kind of itchin) to pick a destination and plan a trip.
i called one of my besties, julie, and asked her where she wanted to go. two hours later, i had tickets to costa rica, and the following morning, she had hers.
there are so many things about this excite me, the first of which is that it cost me only 35k frequent flyer miles. the second is that after doing ireland with her way back in 2005, i have really wanted to do another trip with jules, but kids came along and made it a little more challenging. i'm thrilled that we found a time and a place that we could both make work.
and, while it's some way off, in november, you'll start seeing pictures like this:
and this:
and this:
and this:
and most definitely NOT this:
i called one of my besties, julie, and asked her where she wanted to go. two hours later, i had tickets to costa rica, and the following morning, she had hers.
there are so many things about this excite me, the first of which is that it cost me only 35k frequent flyer miles. the second is that after doing ireland with her way back in 2005, i have really wanted to do another trip with jules, but kids came along and made it a little more challenging. i'm thrilled that we found a time and a place that we could both make work.
and, while it's some way off, in november, you'll start seeing pictures like this:
and this:
and this:
and most definitely NOT this:
Tuesday, March 01, 2011
do you groupon?
i am a skeptic by nature, so when i hear about sites offering great deals, or 'private' sales, it's my nature to assume they are crocks. but, when the buzz about groupon started getting louder and louder, i decided i'd dip my toes in the water.
i signed up for my free account, still waiting for a catch, and after a couple of weeks of checking the daily deals, i purchased fashion tape (trust me, it's a miracle worker when it comes to gappy buttons and shirts with necks just a little to0 wide). that first purchase was all of $7 and included shipping (the 'regular' price would have been $20+shipping). it was a positive experience, and i started paying even closer attention. and because i travel so much, (and often to the same cities) i 'follow' the deals for multiple cities, knowing that i will have up to a year to cash in the groupon.
case in point: while i was in vegas last week, i was checking the vegas deals, and came across one for spa services at the vdara hotel. this peaked my interest for two reasons; the first, that it was $35 for $75 worth of spa services (of your choice), and the second, because next month, i'll be back in vegas for another event, and happen to be staying at vdara (not that that was mandatory).
one tip i will offer here is that, if you are purchasing a groupon for services that require an appointment, don't expect to get that appointment for a couple weeks, or sometimes a couple of months, otherwise you may be quite frustrated.
in the case of this vdara groupon, since our dates weren't flexible, we (my co-worker and i) actually called the spa first to make the appointment, then bought the groupon. and now i have a hot stone pedicure and lash tinting to look forward to next month for $35 at an upscale spa!
it's safe to say that i'm now a groupon addict. i' also recently purchased and eagerly anticipate this:
and tonight, i'll be purchasing this:
i know it will sound cheesy, but where once these things were 'too expensive', the site is allowing me to indulge a little, check off bucket list items, do some exploring, and try some new and unexpected things.
the types of deals run a broad spectrum, and you can select your interests in order to get more targeted deals. so if you haven't signed up yet, and i've now convinced that you should sign up RIGHT NOW, do me a favor and use this link:
http://www.groupon.com/r/uu11183781
it doesn't cost you anything, and i'll get $10 if you ever purchase something, which, i'm sure i'll be able to put to good use!
i signed up for my free account, still waiting for a catch, and after a couple of weeks of checking the daily deals, i purchased fashion tape (trust me, it's a miracle worker when it comes to gappy buttons and shirts with necks just a little to0 wide). that first purchase was all of $7 and included shipping (the 'regular' price would have been $20+shipping). it was a positive experience, and i started paying even closer attention. and because i travel so much, (and often to the same cities) i 'follow' the deals for multiple cities, knowing that i will have up to a year to cash in the groupon.
case in point: while i was in vegas last week, i was checking the vegas deals, and came across one for spa services at the vdara hotel. this peaked my interest for two reasons; the first, that it was $35 for $75 worth of spa services (of your choice), and the second, because next month, i'll be back in vegas for another event, and happen to be staying at vdara (not that that was mandatory).
one tip i will offer here is that, if you are purchasing a groupon for services that require an appointment, don't expect to get that appointment for a couple weeks, or sometimes a couple of months, otherwise you may be quite frustrated.
in the case of this vdara groupon, since our dates weren't flexible, we (my co-worker and i) actually called the spa first to make the appointment, then bought the groupon. and now i have a hot stone pedicure and lash tinting to look forward to next month for $35 at an upscale spa!
it's safe to say that i'm now a groupon addict. i' also recently purchased and eagerly anticipate this:
and tonight, i'll be purchasing this:
i know it will sound cheesy, but where once these things were 'too expensive', the site is allowing me to indulge a little, check off bucket list items, do some exploring, and try some new and unexpected things.
the types of deals run a broad spectrum, and you can select your interests in order to get more targeted deals. so if you haven't signed up yet, and i've now convinced that you should sign up RIGHT NOW, do me a favor and use this link:
http://www.groupon.com/r/uu11183781
it doesn't cost you anything, and i'll get $10 if you ever purchase something, which, i'm sure i'll be able to put to good use!
Saturday, February 26, 2011
vegas, baby!
oh how i loathe vegas, and oh how surprised i was to have had such a great trip there last week!
even before i left, i was excited. first and foremost, i was excited to be staying at THEhotel. while it's technically a part of mandalay bay, it has a seperate entrance, no casino, no smoke, and every room is a suite. i was optimistic that this would help keep me more healthy and more sane for the SEVEN DAYS i would be in sin city. and let me tell you, it did!
i was also excited about the booth. this is our second biggest show of the year, and the second showing of our new booth. i had made a lot of 'improvements' after our january show, and was really hopeful that the changes i had implemented (and fought for!) would be as successful as i thought they could be.
things definitely got off on the right foot when setup began, and i spent the day having FUN! setup days are usually quite difficult. for me, they mean standing around all day to be available for the one or two questions that, if not answered correctly, will have hugely negative impacts on the setup of the booth. they are ALWAYS long days that feel even longer. until now.
our new exhibit house is a breath of fresh air. they are consummate professionals who also know how to have a good time. after months of blood, sweat, and tears with them, bringing this booth from inception to actualization, i can say that i genuinely enjoy their company and appreciate their good work.
it was a team effort, but the booth was a huge success, tripling the number of leads from last year, and exceeding the number from our 'bigger' show in january. the success was made even sweeter by the fact that several members of our executive management team were on hand to see it.
and that was just the work stuff!
on sunday night, after setup was complete, i headed to the airport to pick up a new friend. we met online and i was excited to get a chance to meet and hang out with him. i knew whether or not that 'spark' was present, we would have a good time. and i wasn't wrong.
in between my work commitments over the next couple of days, i educated him on the ways of burger bar and the nutella milkshake, and had my own vegas first: the stratosphere.
the stratsophere is the third largest tower in the western hemisphere after canada's cn tower, the sears (willis) tower, and before the space needle. luckily for a thrill junkie like me, there are RIDES there.
despite assurances that that there were no fears of height or rides, after the first ride, the big shot, my companion opted to be the photographer while i tried out the other two. hence the video of my favorite ride, insanity, below:
despite his wimp out, we enjoyed a couple of really fun days together before i dropped him back at the airport, and headed back to the hotel to meet up with my girls.
in fact, it was quite a special evening as we all decided to head to the palazzo for dinner at zine - a truly yummy dim sum restaurant. what i love about zine is that, somehow, in the chaos of vegas, it somehow feels like an oasis of silence and calm. and the food is pretty delish as well.
we had the whole gang with us, but what made the evening truly special was that almost exactly three years ago, in that very place, a new friendship was forged, which has continued to strengthen and grow.
i had only been with the company for a few months, and melissa was responsible for 'selling' me booth space in a trio of conferences we participate in every year.
she had asked if she could take me to dinner during this event, and my response, i believe, was 'sure! do you mind if my friend vicki tags along?' and, though i didn't know it yet, that question, and it's answer, would result in a bond that i expect to last for a very very very long time.
as it was our anniversary, it was far too early to call it a night, so we headed back to the hotel, enjoying the water show in front of bellagio along the way, and eventually made our way to the roof top restaurant/bar, mixx, on the 64th floor of THEhotel.
the views of the strip were spectacular, as was the company.
and what makes this place truly unique, are the bathroom stalls.
yes, that is the toilet, and those are windows. let's just hope the folks at mandalay can't see IN!
eventually, after many more laughs were laughed, and photos were photoed, it was time to call it a night, and ultimately bid a fond farewell to vegas. only two more trips there this year...hoping they're at least 1/8 as fun!
even before i left, i was excited. first and foremost, i was excited to be staying at THEhotel. while it's technically a part of mandalay bay, it has a seperate entrance, no casino, no smoke, and every room is a suite. i was optimistic that this would help keep me more healthy and more sane for the SEVEN DAYS i would be in sin city. and let me tell you, it did!
 |
| my living room |
things definitely got off on the right foot when setup began, and i spent the day having FUN! setup days are usually quite difficult. for me, they mean standing around all day to be available for the one or two questions that, if not answered correctly, will have hugely negative impacts on the setup of the booth. they are ALWAYS long days that feel even longer. until now.
 |
| the first burger bar visit |
it was a team effort, but the booth was a huge success, tripling the number of leads from last year, and exceeding the number from our 'bigger' show in january. the success was made even sweeter by the fact that several members of our executive management team were on hand to see it.
and that was just the work stuff!
on sunday night, after setup was complete, i headed to the airport to pick up a new friend. we met online and i was excited to get a chance to meet and hang out with him. i knew whether or not that 'spark' was present, we would have a good time. and i wasn't wrong.
 |
| after a delicious meal at burger bar |
the stratsophere is the third largest tower in the western hemisphere after canada's cn tower, the sears (willis) tower, and before the space needle. luckily for a thrill junkie like me, there are RIDES there.
 |
| at the top of the stratosphere |
despite his wimp out, we enjoyed a couple of really fun days together before i dropped him back at the airport, and headed back to the hotel to meet up with my girls.
in fact, it was quite a special evening as we all decided to head to the palazzo for dinner at zine - a truly yummy dim sum restaurant. what i love about zine is that, somehow, in the chaos of vegas, it somehow feels like an oasis of silence and calm. and the food is pretty delish as well.
 |
| another fun night with mike and his harem |
 |
| 2009 |
 |
| 2011 |
she had asked if she could take me to dinner during this event, and my response, i believe, was 'sure! do you mind if my friend vicki tags along?' and, though i didn't know it yet, that question, and it's answer, would result in a bond that i expect to last for a very very very long time.
as it was our anniversary, it was far too early to call it a night, so we headed back to the hotel, enjoying the water show in front of bellagio along the way, and eventually made our way to the roof top restaurant/bar, mixx, on the 64th floor of THEhotel.
the views of the strip were spectacular, as was the company.
and what makes this place truly unique, are the bathroom stalls.
yes, that is the toilet, and those are windows. let's just hope the folks at mandalay can't see IN!
eventually, after many more laughs were laughed, and photos were photoed, it was time to call it a night, and ultimately bid a fond farewell to vegas. only two more trips there this year...hoping they're at least 1/8 as fun!
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