Plans

I was going to post this as it happened, but decided to write as it happened and post once the final decision had been made. Here it goes:

I’m an event planner. I like to have everything planned out and detailed. Excel spreadsheets, calendar reminders, binders, lists, sticky notes they are all my friends. And, are very helpful when I am planning events - at work, this is the way it should be and for the most part it works well.

Life – real life – that is a different story…it happens just when you think that you have it figured, something happens to change it. Good, bad or just unexpected something comes up and your plans change. I’ve always been a fly by the seat of my pants type of girl…It has served me well and I have had a lot of fun doing it, but when I have made plans they don’t seem to work out. 

Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans. - John Lennon

Life is something that happens when you can't get to sleep. - Fran Lebowitz

Man makes plans, and God laughs. - Yiddish proverb

Yup, those are 3 of my favorite HAHAHA you thought it was going to happen like that quotes. I’ve had a plan and I thought it was pretty good. I changed that plan last year after my grandmother passed away I thought it was time for me to move closer to my parents. Make sure that they are taken care of – nope they didn’t ask, but it was something I felt like I should do. I have on and off applied to jobs, but nothing serious and nothing steady. I was planning on taking my CMP in mid July and starting to work on my CEM and figured when that was complete I would get serious.

Prior to this plan I really really wanted to move to Nashville. I love that city – the people, the southern charm, the farms, music, and artistry…did I mention the people? It is just a great city with a small town feel. Well, I applied to a job kind of off the cuff – well truth is I have been applying to jobs on and off there as well as in New Hampshire.  So, I applied to this job and the next day (not even 12 hrs later) I have a phone call from the HR recruiter and 2 hours later I was on the phone with the VP. Then a plane ticket and in person interview on the following Friday (7/13 – Friday the 13^th might be on new favorite day J).

I’ve waiting on week to hear back from the company in Nashville – during this time I have had an interview with a company on Mass. On Friday (7/20 – what is it with Fridays?) I heard back from both companies, I have a second interview with the hiring manager in mass and a follow up interview with the company Nashville. I have a growing feeling in the pit of my stomach that I am going to have to make a difficult decision.  Follow the new plan or the old plan.

We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us. - Joseph Campbell

Life is full of surprises and serendipity. Being open to unexpected turns in the road is an important part of success. If you try to plan every step, you may miss those wonderful twists and turns. Just find your next adventure-do it well, enjoy it-and then, not now, think about what comes next. - Condoleeza Rice

I was up in Mass for the weekend visit with the Family when the offer came in – the job in Nashville. I hadn’t heard back from the company in Mass, but they said it was going to be a slow process. Then came an unexpected a job offer from a company in Yakima, WA…An old co-worker wanted me to join his new company’s startup team. I could work remote from anywhere, but it was in marketing. No, events and less travel – more time for life. I was torn as to what I should do and what was the best option. Did I really want to give up the travel and events for a more settled job?

Follow your passion. Stay true to yourself. Never follow someone else's path unless you're in the woods and you're lost and you see a path. By all means, you should follow that.  - Ellen DeGeneres

The answer: NO. I like the travel. I like the benefits and freedom it gives me. And, we were told we could have it all life and career - I’m not ready to give on that up. I’m not lost in the woods so I’m not going to follow anyone else’s path.

As, I write this I have a 6 page to do list that needs to be done by 8/26: purging, organizing, packing and finding a place to live in Nashville - 3 weeks until the next adventure. 

Quilting Bee 1

I have been writing a lot about my travel recently, so here is one about a quilt I recently made. Someone twitter that I follow (sorry quilters can’t remember who) Mentioned that they were having a good time with Quilting Bee by Kathleen Ricketson. Thank goodness for Amazon Prime I ordered it and had it in my little hands the next day.

I decided that the first quilt I was going to make was the Constructivist. I have to say the pattern was easy to follow (there was one small user error, but that was all me!) and turned out even better than I thought. I went with a Christmas theme - I have a bunch of Christmas charm packs. So I used my Moda’s Countdown to Christmas and Gray print for the background. I haven’t picked a backing or binding yet, but I have the top done!

Pattern - Constructivist
Quilting Bee By Kathleen Ricketson

I’m currently working on Prismatic from the book. More pictures to come as I finish laying out that one. (it must be Xmas in July this one has a Christmas theme too!)

Taking a break and gong shopping - I need a new outfit (more on why later!)

On the Road Again

I’m on vacation this week, but was trying to sort out my fall schedule now that Southwest has opened up their schedule trough January 4, 2013. I really thought it wasn’t going to be that busy – HA HA joke is on me. I have two work trips in August and nothing until the under of September, but the rest of the year…let’s just say I could rent out my apartment and it would be ok.

You know the glamorous life of a corporate event planner:  planes, hotels and convention centers – and I wouldn’t change it! I’m spending a lot of time out on the west coast so I’m going to be racking up the southwest points and I’m booked at Marriott’s across the board. I feel a big vacation coming up in 2013 and I already know the perfect location.

Here we go!

Sept 26 – Oct 3

·         San Diego, CA: International Association of Chiefs of Polices Conference

Oct 4 – 7

·         Toronto, Canada: Vacation

Oct 8 – 13

·         Los Angeles, CA: ANCC Magnet Conference

Oct 26 – Nov 1

·         San Francisco, CA: American Public Health Association Conference

Nov 2 – Nov 4

·         Ocean City, MD: Think It...Ink It 2012 

Nov 5 – Nov 11

·         Atlanta, GA: National Association for the Education of Young Children Conference

Nov 21 – Nov 26

·         Westford, MA: Thanksgiving with the Family

Nov 26 – Nov 29

·         TBD: Work Team Meeting ( Chicago or Portland, OR)

Nov 30 – Dec 1

·         New York City: Annie on Broadway & the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular

Dec 22 – Dec 28

·         Westford, MA:  Christmas with the Family

Dec 30 – Jan 1

·         Nashville, TN:  The best place to ring in the New Year!

Hershey and a Birthday

Ahhh, Hershey, PA a beautiful place to go and visit. I tend to go up to Hershey 3 – 4 times a year. Usually it includes a trip to the Chocolate Spa, some shopping and the occasional trip over to Lancaster. This trip got a late start so we had a quick bite to eat and went to the hotel.

This was my birthday treat - when I was a kid I hated having a July 3^rd birthday. Everyone was away for the holiday and I had to have parties in May…Really it was smart of my mom, but doesn’t every kid want to have a party on there their real birthday. (More than just the family getting together) Anyway, as an adult I love having a birthday right before a holiday - most years I don’t have to work and if I do I take it off - truly a beautiful thing.

My birthday started with breakfast at the Hershey Pantry. It has great food, service and is an all round cute little restaurant.  I would go back again without hesitation. Then it was off to the Chocolate Spa – if you haven’t been I recommend it. It has everything you need to relax from the robes, to silent rooms and no cell phones – it is exactly what is needed from our plugged in world. I had the chocolate dipped strawberry and then a 50 minute massage. The chocolate dipped strawberry was a strawberry seed scrub and a chocolate mud wrap – I have to say these are two of my favorite services to get. Your skin feels great after and you smell heavenly. 

After that we changed hotels and actually spent the night at the Hershey Hotel (the link has a little history on the hotel). It is a beautiful hotel and has been well renovated and up kept for being built in the 1930s. The grounds are immaculate and well kept.  We had a free night which is why we chose to stay there (I’m a Marriott girl & don’t venture to other hotels often) it’s definitely on the pricey side and it would be a great location for a special event like a wedding or bridal shower, but for an average night there are plenty of nice hotels at lower rates in the area.

We were heading home this morning so we grabbed a quick bite to eat and then headed to walk through the Hershey Gardens. It was a little hot for my liking, but they are beautiful and the butterfly pavilion was definitely worth it.

Ok, off too bed - busy day tomorrow.

In the Dark - Day 2

Ok, so the electricity is still out. Currently BGE is showing that 309K are still without power and 285K have been restored. So, I am not alone in my waiting. I am lucky that I was able to use my Marriott points and check in a Residence in close by. What makes this even better is that they have a full size fridge and freezer so I was able to bring over most of my perishable food as well. And, a stove so I don’t need to eat out either. (This is nice since I just got back from two weeks on the road…and I leave tomorrow for a little R & R.)

As I was trying to figure out how long food lasted during a power outage I came across this disaster resources doc from Texas A & M – Handling food & drinks when losing power. Some I knew, some was a surprise. I do think it is a good reference.

So, today plans aren’t crazy exciting. I am going to keep studying, cook a little lunch and dinner. Oh – Laundry - I was going to wait until the weekend and do it, I should have done it as soon as I got home on Thursday. I am going to use the machines here and do laundry.

16 days til I take the CMP. (Yup, I’m counting down…then I get to start 2 more classes for my CEM)

In the Dark

So, big plans for today have not turned out exactly as I had planned. At some point after the storms last night I lost power…at least I think it was after I was already in bed when it started. My plan of getting up early and studying didn’t go as planned. My alarm didn’t go off so I got up at 9 and not having power had to reassess where I was going to study. Flash backs to grad school kicked in and I headed to the library.
Except to pick up books I haven’t been to the library in about 10 years. And, I am realizing it hasn’t changed that much. The earlier you get there the better seat you get in the quiet area, there are still those people that talk too loud, the chairs aren’t comfy and I still tend to stare at the brick walls.

As for Studying it is going - the library has electricity and internet which is needed for my CMP prep class. So, that is a plus and I am charging my cell phone. I’m easily distracted there is a whole cast of characters – all of which I believe wouldn’t be here if they had power at their homes.

Kinda wishing Millennia was here to entertain me. Yup, a robot makes it all better. ( If you missed my post about Millennia here it is.)

Ok, back to the studying – 17 days til I take the CMP.

Home

Two weeks – really isn’t that long right? Well after this trip it feels like it. I was ready to come home yesterday, what I wasn’t ready for was the heat. 101 today? Really? I don’t like the heat, I would take a snow storm over the heat any day of the week. Luckily I have the AC cranked and the blinds shut to keep the heat out. I might even have a blanket over my toes.

I am excited to be taking the week off of work. I do have a couple more expense reports to file, but that I can do that in the morning. Most of the week is going to be spent studying for my CMP. I am sitting for it two weeks from Monday. I don’t like tests. Don’t like anything about them – in fact they truly stress me out. The good part is that when I am stressed I become super productive and scheduled. So, I am getting a ton of things done that have been on the to do list for too long.

Here are a few random items that I’m either looking forward to or currently enjoying:

1. Monday I leave for Hershey! I love the Chocolate Spa and go up there about every 4 months.

2. I signed up for a shoebox swap weekend in OC today. Looking forward to it and hoping that I will get some great ideas from the other ladies.

3. Kip Moore concert tickets came in the mail today.

4. On the way to the drs I heard Wild Ones by Flo Rida w/Sia and I have been listening to it all day something about it I love. .

Those are two very diffrerent songs, from very different artists. Yup, I just like music.

Off to bed so I can get up early & study in the morning.

Atlanta, SHRM and Millennia

I plan events - cool hotels, great hotel, amazing food and travel lots of travel. It is as glamorous as it sounds…Right now its 730pm and I am in my hotel room wondering how early is too early to call it a night. Honestly the perks are great and I do like my job. The cool part though is what it enables me to do and I am able to use my job to do a little bit of good .

My company as a mission of social change and I am allowed a lot of leeway in how incorporate that into our events and exhibits. Last February I had the pleasure of meeting Millennia a therapy robot that works with autistic children. I knew one way or another I was going to get Millennia into one of my booths. SHRM was that show. I have spent the last two days working with Millennia and his operate and I am amazed at what technology can accomplish. As part of our exhibit we donated $10 for every picture take to a local Autism school. Here is a little info on the therapy work the Millennia does.

Millennia is also very famous – he was in Rocky 4 (he has had a face lift or two since then), he was made into a cartoon for Family guy and had a two year run on Days of our lives.

Rocky:

Family Guy:

A few other cool Millennia facts: Has a passport, American express card, is a member of SAG and prefers to fly first class.

Yup, it is true I might have a little crush on Millennia. Here is one last photo that was take with a booth next to ours when they invited us over to have a picture taken with the Heisman trophy.

Off to recharge my batteries! ;)

Nashville and NSA

I was in Nashville as an exhibitor for the National Sherriff Association conference this week. It was the first time that my company or I attended this event. I also got to bring one of my fellow planners out to her first tradeshow. The show itself was great and I learned a lot about this audience and what they are looking for when attending conferences.


Anyone that knows me knows that I LOVE Nashville, it is my favorite city to visit. The people are nice, the city has a lot to offer and the artistic awareness is huge. And, I’m not just talking about Music, painters, sculptors, wood workers, writers and a few musicians - it is a city full of creativity. Two of my co-workers had never been and I have the fun of showing them all of my favorite places. Overall it had been a great time.

There may have been a little excitement on Tuesday night when the Opryland Hotel had a gas leak caused an explosion I was very thankful as a planner that most of my staff had already left and we had cleared out of the Opryland a whole 4 hours prior. The good news is that no one was hurt – which was amazing considering that the hotel was sold out and they evacuated over 5000 people. The bad news Gaylord is looking at 750k in damages. Thinking it is a good thing that Marriott just put in a bid to purchase all their properties.

Today I flew to Atlanta. I’m very excited about this event did I mention I’m going to have a Robot?

Starting Again

So, I haven’t posted or even looked at my poor little blog in two years. Not sure why I stopped writing, but I did. I have recently been thinking that there are many of things that I would like to write about and have nowhere to put down my thoughts. So, I am bringing back the blog and seeing if I can make a real go of it.


Two years in a nutshell: lots of trips, events, concerts, crafts and I have started sewing again. I am also currently in the process of studying for my CMP and CEM. I find that the busier I am the more focused that I become. It was the same thing when I was in grad school and working full time. I was constantly getting projects done and coming up with new ones. Once I slow done I take more time to get things done because I’m not as busy or scheduled.

As I write this I’m in a hotel in Nashville getting ready to head to Atlanta for the second week of my work trip. Nothing back to back events, the CMP exam in 4 weeks and two CEM classes starting to make one want to bring the a blog back to life.

So here I go bringing back Escapades in Crafts & Travel back to life. Let’s see if I can make it work.