Life at Home is best when daddy wakes up when the alarm clock goes off the first time. Otherwise, it's rush, rush, rush to take a shower, get the kids up/dressed/eat breakfast, and out the door in time to play, play, play at the bus stop and heave, heave, heave after running to get there!
Life at Home is best when everyone is healthy. Otherwise, it's runny noses, sore throats, tired & tossing bodies in bed, and grumpy moods in the morning.
Life at Home is best when everything is cleaned up and put back before leaving for work, after the kids get on the bus. Otherwise, it's where's this? or where's that? or where did I put those? or why am I so organized at work yet so crazy at home?
Life at Home is best when daddy leaves work on time. Otherwise, it's running "orange" lights, hurrying dinners, catching up with kids, giving/taking baths, and disrupting the going-to-bed routine.
Life at Home is best when weekends are free. Otherwise, it involves packing and decisions and money and car rides and snacks for the car and drinks for the car and movies for the car and things to do in the car and "how long is it going to be?" in the car and "it's already been that long" in the car and falling asleep in the car and/or talking our heads off in the car....
Even when the "otherwises" happen, they just pull the family together.
Then Life at Home translates into Life with Family. And that's where I like to be.
Adventures in Dallas 2
After getting the bulk of the display at MOPS set up, I decided to spruce up the place with a few signs. In preparation for MOPS, I had made price signs for the items we were taking. I was, however, unable to finish the project due to my rushed predicament at the beginning of the week. I decided, then, to wait until arrival in Dallas to cut the price tags and attach them to the product. Apparently this was an abnormal thought for a traveler in my quandary.
Once I was back in my hotel room, I called the smiley face on my phone. It was labeled “Consider It Done” which made me smile. After working to establish high standards in customer service as a bookstore manager, I appreciate all the interesting ways to showcase service! I was impressed. Unfortunately, it appears that you can’t purchase scissors in a hotel…..something about liability. I guess they don’t want to be found guilty if I was to sue them after I cut off my fingers and/or stabbed myself in the leg. The nice lady did, however, tell me that she would check with the bellhop and even the retail store to see if she could find one for me. Apparently, they do have scissors…..they just do not lend them out to hotel guests. If I wanted to use them, I’d have to go to their areas and use them while in plain sight of their employees. Since I was in my jammies and didn’t want to change, I decided to just go to plan B. Plan B was to figure out something tomorrow.
Thursday was “tomorrow.” Exhibitors were allowed to finish setup from 8am-11am. I strolled down the hallway and found a Business Center just before the exhibit hall entrance. Ah. They’ll let me borrow scissors…..and they did. I was so excited to actually cut the price signs – my last resort was to rip them by hand! This would look much more professional. Then it occurred to me - - how was I going to attach the prices to the product?
If I’d been in Cincinnati, I would have had my handy-dandy tackle box in my car. Mind you, it’s not for fishing or anything. It’s my silly way to keep track of all the little things one would need for tasks such as this one. It contains a mini hammer, mini screwdriver, mini glue gun, staple gun, batteries, twist ties, plasti-tak, needles, pins, nails, and a tape measure. It also contains all kinds of other little things. What I needed was my scotch tape. I normally send one in the “supply box” from Standard, but alas, it was missing. The Business Center. Yes, it will have scotch tape to purchase……..for five dollars. Holy Mackerel! Five dollars?????!!!!! I guess they figure if people need it, they’ll buy it. And buy it I did.
I have almost used the entire roll. My signs are handwritten, but they’re fun and enticing! I tape them to baskets, books, tables, and product. I’m continuing to change the look of the booth by putting things on the table, taking things off the table, and moving them all around. And you guessed it, each time I make those moves, something sells! It’s like it’s in high demand or something - - like moving it from one place to another makes something “new.” Ah….Retail Management 101 at its best!
Was spending five dollars extreme for a roll of scotch tape? Yes.
Was it worth it? Yes.
Once I was back in my hotel room, I called the smiley face on my phone. It was labeled “Consider It Done” which made me smile. After working to establish high standards in customer service as a bookstore manager, I appreciate all the interesting ways to showcase service! I was impressed. Unfortunately, it appears that you can’t purchase scissors in a hotel…..something about liability. I guess they don’t want to be found guilty if I was to sue them after I cut off my fingers and/or stabbed myself in the leg. The nice lady did, however, tell me that she would check with the bellhop and even the retail store to see if she could find one for me. Apparently, they do have scissors…..they just do not lend them out to hotel guests. If I wanted to use them, I’d have to go to their areas and use them while in plain sight of their employees. Since I was in my jammies and didn’t want to change, I decided to just go to plan B. Plan B was to figure out something tomorrow.
Thursday was “tomorrow.” Exhibitors were allowed to finish setup from 8am-11am. I strolled down the hallway and found a Business Center just before the exhibit hall entrance. Ah. They’ll let me borrow scissors…..and they did. I was so excited to actually cut the price signs – my last resort was to rip them by hand! This would look much more professional. Then it occurred to me - - how was I going to attach the prices to the product?
If I’d been in Cincinnati, I would have had my handy-dandy tackle box in my car. Mind you, it’s not for fishing or anything. It’s my silly way to keep track of all the little things one would need for tasks such as this one. It contains a mini hammer, mini screwdriver, mini glue gun, staple gun, batteries, twist ties, plasti-tak, needles, pins, nails, and a tape measure. It also contains all kinds of other little things. What I needed was my scotch tape. I normally send one in the “supply box” from Standard, but alas, it was missing. The Business Center. Yes, it will have scotch tape to purchase……..for five dollars. Holy Mackerel! Five dollars?????!!!!! I guess they figure if people need it, they’ll buy it. And buy it I did.
I have almost used the entire roll. My signs are handwritten, but they’re fun and enticing! I tape them to baskets, books, tables, and product. I’m continuing to change the look of the booth by putting things on the table, taking things off the table, and moving them all around. And you guessed it, each time I make those moves, something sells! It’s like it’s in high demand or something - - like moving it from one place to another makes something “new.” Ah….Retail Management 101 at its best!
Was spending five dollars extreme for a roll of scotch tape? Yes.
Was it worth it? Yes.
Dallas Adventures - Just Getting There....
Spur of the moment on Monday, I was asked to represent Standard at the MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers http://www.mops.org/) Convention on Wednesday. Yes, I did say Wednesday. We have one booth, tons of discontinued product to sell at great prices, and me. So: the adventure begins on Monday.
Accepting the chaos of the challenge, I tore through my regularly scheduled plans for the week on Monday and Tuesday only. I was able to get a fairly reasonable flight thanks to the ever so nice Diane in Editorial. The week's schedule was full of deadlines here, emails there, and mucho work throughout. It always happens that when I'm planning a good week of "get-it-done," something pops into the week that I never expected!
Tuesday is a little more "hairy" because I have to finish up all the details, fix my out of office, change my voicemail, forward my phone calls, find people to cover for me. Yeh. I'm getting calls for the upcoming ESCN conferences and the VBS preview shows.....which by the way, if you're looking for 2009 vacation bible school curriculum, look no further! STUDIO GO! Game Show is the way to go! And you can visit the site on http://www.vacationbibleschool.com/! Even if you're not a VBS person, go to the site anyway to see what all the excitement is about! It's AWESOME! If you can get to a VBS preview, do it! You'll win fabulous prizes and have a great time!
Tuesday night was an adventure trying to figure out what to wear to Dallas....I'm assuming it's hot down there....and also to fit it into a smaller bag, one that rolls, just so it's easier. It was not "so easier" and thus I was unable to bring along additional shirts as originally planned. More to come on that one.
Anyway. Let's move to Wednesday. I put Ele on the bus, dropped Ethan off to school, and drove real quick to work. Had to finish up a few things and drop off a huge hymnal/piano thing to Mark. Then on to the Dayton airport. I've been there 3 times so far. Didn't even need directions....which will impress those closest to me. Though once into Dayton, it seemed like forever until the sign said "airport this way" or whatever it says. I shouldn't have doubted my sense of direction.....uh.....do I even have a sense of direction?
I'm a little rushed. And I do not work that way, though some would disagree given the nature of my maternal side of the family. I'd rather be at the airport early and have to wait, than be late and running to my flight. So I arrive, get my ticket, go through security, find my terminal, go to the bathroom (gosh I had to poop!), and finally think about lunch. It's 11am. My flight leaves at 12:20pm. Since I'm connecting in Charlotte NC, I decide to eat lunch early so I'm okay on the flight and don't have to hit the airplane potty - I hate those things! My friend Bob tells me that Max & Erma's inside the airport is quick so I sit down to eat.
I'm back on a diet.....not as strict as Weight Watchers. I started out on the South Beach and now I'm just "watching" and making better decisions. It's not bad. I hope to take off about 10 pounds at least. So I order a burger (no bun) and a side of broccoli instead of fries. And wow, the service is great. Comes out in just 20 minutes. Yummy. Then I'm waiting. And waiting. the guy next to me is also waiting. No sign of the waitress...pardon me, "server." It's almost 12pm. Crap. I have to get ON the plane in order for it to leave at 12:20pm! I grab my stuff and head to the kitchen, where I bump into the nice lady who sat me. Hey...need the check. Who's your server? don't remember her name. I'll find her. Okay. Thanks - gotta go! Waiting. Waiting. Waiting. Here she comes! Quick, do it, let's go!
And I'm off.......literally running out of the restaurant like a horse race from the gunshot.......run all the way to the terminal......and you guessed it, running right onto the plane. I was apparently the next name to be called on the overhead speaker! To say the least, my day had not started out well. Flight was nice. small plane. cramped legs. no more free snacks....oh well, they'd make me need to use the airport potty. not an option. time to sleep........oops. time to wake up. that went fast. hate the landing part. My connecting flight to Dallas was to leave at 2:40. We arrived in Charlotte at 1:45. Plenty of time............until the nice lady on the plane told us that we would be entering E21 and should check the back of the US Airways magazine to see where the other gates were. This was the first time when I got off the plane, I actually walked down the steps of the plane onto the pavement! Weird. I felt like pausing at the top step and waving to the crowd below.....I should have......but the introverted side of me took over and I just did the boring do-what-everyone-else-is-doing and just get off the steps.
Just take a wild guess as to where my connecting flight was located on the map!!!!!
My gate was B11.......100 million miles away.........
Got off the plane, and you guessed it! RAN as fast as my feet would run, with my backpack on and my bulging stomach basically slapping me in the face! Geesh.....I might need to lose more than just those 10 pounds! And oh my goodness, I have to stop at a restroom.......not yet......gotta move and make this flight! After what seemed like FOREVER, I finally made it to the terminal. Had just a moment to pee and then my zone was called to board. much bigger plane this time and a little roomier. I was POOPED.....so it was time for another long nap since this flight was longer......and because I didn't want to talk to the chatty guy next to me.
FINALLY made it to Dallas. Took a taxi to the hotel and arrived. finally.
The hotel is GORGEOUS! Gaylord Texan Resort - has a river inside the hotel with little restaurants, walkways, bridges, greenery, shops, and all sorts of stuff to keep you here and spend money. It's actually amazing.
Though I had missed the "exhibitor check-in times" I was able to get into the exhibit hall and begin the setup process. I'm so glad I did because we had 3 skids of product and just one table to fit it all on. So I was able to creatively display ontop of boxes and tables and different heights the product to sell. It was a very creative and fun method - - and it helped me relax a little from my 3 day stress sessions of just getting everything done and getting here in one piece. After basically getting kicked out :), I went back to the room and crashed. Since I'd gained an hour, I slept a LONG time that night! It was great!
I must interject here and describe a bit about the show. There are 4500+ women here! How much estrogen can one man take????? And let's be honest, I am only able to give out so much testosterone! LOL!! Anyway...I have one booth - 10x10. And all of my stuff is discounted. I'm expecting mobs. I'm also expecting to transform myself into a very outgoing, fun guy for the week. This I can do - - good grief, I was a bookstore manager for 11 years - I know what it takes to sell and serve customers.
But after this week......I just might go into solitary confinement.
Accepting the chaos of the challenge, I tore through my regularly scheduled plans for the week on Monday and Tuesday only. I was able to get a fairly reasonable flight thanks to the ever so nice Diane in Editorial. The week's schedule was full of deadlines here, emails there, and mucho work throughout. It always happens that when I'm planning a good week of "get-it-done," something pops into the week that I never expected!
Tuesday is a little more "hairy" because I have to finish up all the details, fix my out of office, change my voicemail, forward my phone calls, find people to cover for me. Yeh. I'm getting calls for the upcoming ESCN conferences and the VBS preview shows.....which by the way, if you're looking for 2009 vacation bible school curriculum, look no further! STUDIO GO! Game Show is the way to go! And you can visit the site on http://www.vacationbibleschool.com/! Even if you're not a VBS person, go to the site anyway to see what all the excitement is about! It's AWESOME! If you can get to a VBS preview, do it! You'll win fabulous prizes and have a great time!
Tuesday night was an adventure trying to figure out what to wear to Dallas....I'm assuming it's hot down there....and also to fit it into a smaller bag, one that rolls, just so it's easier. It was not "so easier" and thus I was unable to bring along additional shirts as originally planned. More to come on that one.
Anyway. Let's move to Wednesday. I put Ele on the bus, dropped Ethan off to school, and drove real quick to work. Had to finish up a few things and drop off a huge hymnal/piano thing to Mark. Then on to the Dayton airport. I've been there 3 times so far. Didn't even need directions....which will impress those closest to me. Though once into Dayton, it seemed like forever until the sign said "airport this way" or whatever it says. I shouldn't have doubted my sense of direction.....uh.....do I even have a sense of direction?
I'm a little rushed. And I do not work that way, though some would disagree given the nature of my maternal side of the family. I'd rather be at the airport early and have to wait, than be late and running to my flight. So I arrive, get my ticket, go through security, find my terminal, go to the bathroom (gosh I had to poop!), and finally think about lunch. It's 11am. My flight leaves at 12:20pm. Since I'm connecting in Charlotte NC, I decide to eat lunch early so I'm okay on the flight and don't have to hit the airplane potty - I hate those things! My friend Bob tells me that Max & Erma's inside the airport is quick so I sit down to eat.
I'm back on a diet.....not as strict as Weight Watchers. I started out on the South Beach and now I'm just "watching" and making better decisions. It's not bad. I hope to take off about 10 pounds at least. So I order a burger (no bun) and a side of broccoli instead of fries. And wow, the service is great. Comes out in just 20 minutes. Yummy. Then I'm waiting. And waiting. the guy next to me is also waiting. No sign of the waitress...pardon me, "server." It's almost 12pm. Crap. I have to get ON the plane in order for it to leave at 12:20pm! I grab my stuff and head to the kitchen, where I bump into the nice lady who sat me. Hey...need the check. Who's your server? don't remember her name. I'll find her. Okay. Thanks - gotta go! Waiting. Waiting. Waiting. Here she comes! Quick, do it, let's go!
And I'm off.......literally running out of the restaurant like a horse race from the gunshot.......run all the way to the terminal......and you guessed it, running right onto the plane. I was apparently the next name to be called on the overhead speaker! To say the least, my day had not started out well. Flight was nice. small plane. cramped legs. no more free snacks....oh well, they'd make me need to use the airport potty. not an option. time to sleep........oops. time to wake up. that went fast. hate the landing part. My connecting flight to Dallas was to leave at 2:40. We arrived in Charlotte at 1:45. Plenty of time............until the nice lady on the plane told us that we would be entering E21 and should check the back of the US Airways magazine to see where the other gates were. This was the first time when I got off the plane, I actually walked down the steps of the plane onto the pavement! Weird. I felt like pausing at the top step and waving to the crowd below.....I should have......but the introverted side of me took over and I just did the boring do-what-everyone-else-is-doing and just get off the steps.
Just take a wild guess as to where my connecting flight was located on the map!!!!!
My gate was B11.......100 million miles away.........
Got off the plane, and you guessed it! RAN as fast as my feet would run, with my backpack on and my bulging stomach basically slapping me in the face! Geesh.....I might need to lose more than just those 10 pounds! And oh my goodness, I have to stop at a restroom.......not yet......gotta move and make this flight! After what seemed like FOREVER, I finally made it to the terminal. Had just a moment to pee and then my zone was called to board. much bigger plane this time and a little roomier. I was POOPED.....so it was time for another long nap since this flight was longer......and because I didn't want to talk to the chatty guy next to me.
FINALLY made it to Dallas. Took a taxi to the hotel and arrived. finally.
The hotel is GORGEOUS! Gaylord Texan Resort - has a river inside the hotel with little restaurants, walkways, bridges, greenery, shops, and all sorts of stuff to keep you here and spend money. It's actually amazing.
Though I had missed the "exhibitor check-in times" I was able to get into the exhibit hall and begin the setup process. I'm so glad I did because we had 3 skids of product and just one table to fit it all on. So I was able to creatively display ontop of boxes and tables and different heights the product to sell. It was a very creative and fun method - - and it helped me relax a little from my 3 day stress sessions of just getting everything done and getting here in one piece. After basically getting kicked out :), I went back to the room and crashed. Since I'd gained an hour, I slept a LONG time that night! It was great!
I must interject here and describe a bit about the show. There are 4500+ women here! How much estrogen can one man take????? And let's be honest, I am only able to give out so much testosterone! LOL!! Anyway...I have one booth - 10x10. And all of my stuff is discounted. I'm expecting mobs. I'm also expecting to transform myself into a very outgoing, fun guy for the week. This I can do - - good grief, I was a bookstore manager for 11 years - I know what it takes to sell and serve customers.
But after this week......I just might go into solitary confinement.
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