Trips

Day 215 – The Day We Drove Across Nowhere

By Diana

Today we started in Tampa.  We had a large group to deal with but it still went very smooth and was totally worth it.  I thought they were going to have a ton of questions but there was just a couple.  The good news is we fixed some ongoing issues and that is what made it worth it.

We left there around noon and went to a place that Denise said had the best Cuban sandwiches.  I don’t really like a couple of the staples of those sandwiches, mustard and swiss, but it was very good food.  Then we started the longish journey across the nowhere of Florida!  We went through Yeehaw Junction – how about that?!

But the middle of Florida is just so blah.  Nothing really around and we didn’t even get to see any pythons or alligators!  Bummer.

When we got to Boynton Beach, which I guess is basically West Palm, we went to the hotel and then it was time for dinner.  We had to stop at Barnes and Noble to get the new Harry Potter book and then Carrabba’s :)  Yummy!!

Back at the hotel now and getting ready for bed – night all!

Day 214 – The Day I Went To Tampa

By Diana

We just got to the hotel and I am in bed doing this.  We ate on the way at a hibachi place which is funny because I ate Panda Express for lunch 😉

We had the septic tank pumped today and the puppies were going insane about them being there.  It was kinda funny cause when they saw the truck they just lost it!

We have a very early morning tomorrow and a bit of a drive over to Boyton Beach.  I think that the people here have prepped issues or questions for me so that will make things easy.

Alright I am gonna read since I didn’t get to since there was no flight and I don’t wanna read this book for 6 months like the first one :)

Day 209 – The Final Day :(

By Diana

Today is the last day I will be here :(  I am very sad, but I was able to see my friend and gave him his picture :)  He liked it and that makes me so happy.

I had two classes today just like the last two days and they all went well.  One of them I had to spend a lot more time then before because the schedule shuffled.  But all went well.

Lunch was hot dogs and hamburgers – but good :)  Then this afternoon the big boss gave a talk and right after we left.  We had been at the airport for about 30 minutes and the flight was delayed and it looked like they moved me on the connection flight to get in at 01:00…  Luckily the flight ended up leaving on time and we actually got in early,  I made the original flight and got home, still late, but no where near 03:00.

Sleep now!

Day 208 – Another Great Day Down by the River

By Diana

Today was another great day.  We had great classes, good lunch, went out with a couple of the guys for dinner – all great stuff!!

Tonight was also BINGO night.  No, I didn’t win, I never win, I believe I am cursed – and everyone says it too!!  I sat with a couple people I have worked closer too and their family and it was all good fun.  Like 4 other people at our table won by the way – HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?!  ha ha ha

After that, it was still pretty early so a couple people went for walks.  I went with this one family that has 6 kids where 4 were there.  We walked down the the river front and over this bridge over the railroad tracks and a couple UP engines were going under, it was very nice.  Then we walked around this old depot and again, bed time :)

I grabbed a snack at the hotel because we ate so early and now I am going to eat and sleep!

Day 207 – The First Day of the Safety Cert!

By Diana

Today was the first day of the safety certification that I have a class to teach.  I actually have part of a class, not a whole one :)

So far things have went really well.  The hotel it is in is really nice and I have met a couple of the guys wives.  Food was good at the group lunch too.

We went to dinner at this Italian place and everyone was having a good time.  There was 10 of us at the table and we were all cutting up and laughing really loudly like we were the only people in the place :)  It was a good time.  The strangest thing happened and it was like – WHAT?!  Two of the guys were gonna share a pizza and asked for all meat toppings.  When the pizza came it has jalapeno peppers and onions and some other kinds of veggies and when they asked the server about it he was like “well, they threw some extra stuff on there – it’s alright”!!!!!  How in the heck does that work?  ha ha ha

Oh, we also tried a new food for me, Palenta.  It was very interesting, it’s kinda like grits with some sauce and mushrooms and onions on top.

They all went out and here I am in the hotel :)  I have to get my sleep!

Day 202 – The Day I Came Home

By Diana

Today is our last day on this trip, a short week.  I am happy to be going home and happy that next week is a different kind of trip where I get to stay in the same hotel for more than a night :)

Also, I hate time zones :)  I messed up today and was about a half hour late because I didn’t realize I had set my phone to be auto changing.  Oh man, luckily they called me and I hurried up to get packed.

We are sitting in a room now waiting on people to start getting here.  This room is in a cafe so I got me some breakfast.  It was biscuit gravy, but not the best I have had :)

I am gonna eat now so I will get back with ya later :)

At the airport, only 5 hours early – no big deal :)  We just ate at a place called Shannon’s – some kind of baseball player here in St. Louis.  It was pretty good, next stop will be Baskin Robins for a milkshake!!!

I packed my sweater because it was so hot in the airport and now of course I am freezing so I may get a Cardinals sweater.  So be it.

Well since I don’t seem to get back to my blog on the same night I am going to go ahead and end this now.

Day 201 – The Long Drive Day

By Diana

Today we are going to have a 3 hour drive after the session.  But right now we are headed out to the office!

So this session has a lot of people and some of them have a lot of extra stuff so we aren’t getting out of here anytime soon :(

Finally in Mount Vernon!  We ended up finishing up at like 14:00 and then we were able to make pretty good time here, but now I just want to get into my PJs and get under covers :)

I walked across the street to get some food and it was pretty good.  Now I am sitting in bed all comfy and ready to just relax.    I think I am going to read for a while so I will wrap this up.  Don’t know why these have been so short, guess it just isn’t that exciting driving all day :)

Day 200 – The Day of 3 Cities

By Diana

Today we are going from Nicholasville to Richmond to Louisville!  It is a lot of driving, luckily I am riding.  There is an Apple store in Lexington so we may stop there so I can get a new watch.  It is kinda strange not having it after wearing every day.

I was next to the laundry facility at the hotel last night.  Not good.  Apparently the BEST time to do laundry in a hotel is about 04:00!  It was so freakin loud, but luckily it was a consistent rhythm and I was able to fall back asleep.  That is after I ate a PB&J :)

Our meeting went really well again today.  We had a bit more people then we have been having, but since we are only at one location today I guess that makes sense.

We are going to go to Louisville after leaving here and it is a good bit of a drive.  We are going to stop in Lexington to go to an Apple store so I can get a new watch.

Apple store, how you disappoint me!  So, the person I talked to on the phone led me to believe that they would just exchange the watch, well they don’t do that in any stores…  So I went all out of my way and for no reason.  Now I need to call again and have them send me shipping stuff so I can send it off.  Awesome!

We ate at an Outback tonight.  It was really good.  I don’t usually go to the one at home because it is always just too busy.

Alright, I am going to bed now.

Day 199 – Another Day Another Trip

By Diana

Today I am flying to Lexington, Kentucky.  We are starting off there and then ending up in St. Louis.  These trips are hard, but they have ended up being very productive at almost every single session.  I think there has really only been 1 place that didn’t have much discussion, but at least I showed them some new functionality.

The puppies know when I have the suitcase out that I am going to be leaving.  They are both staying very close to me and it.

Laundry is all done and now I am just working around the room until I need to jump in the shower and head out :)

Food, check – shower, check – packed, check – ride here, check :)

Got to Lexington safe and sound even though the cab ride could have ended badly!  The guy was driving about 20 miles over the speed limit the entire way :)

 

Day 197 – The Day I got Home Before I Left…

By Diana

Today we finished up so early that I actually was able to get the earlier flight home.  The flight I was on was leaving Dayton Ohio at 20:00 and not getting home until 23:30.  Now I actually landed at 17:00 and made it home by like 18:30.  Had to wait on Paul and Carlos to come get me.

I got to drive Paul’s new car!!!  It is very very very very nice 😉  I am so happy for him!

Let’s see, got home, ate, changed clothes, played with the puppies and now I am ready to go to bed.

Sorry it is so short, but I need to get to bed because I have a long day tomorrow.