Last week I took a business trip to Southern California. While there I met with some of my favorite clients, attended a convention, ate some fabulous meals, and spent time with family in Malibu. I even attended a family birthday party – something schedules and distances prevent me from doing as often as I’d like.
Along the way, I learned a few things. I thought I’d share them with you:
1. A teenage male can drink a 64-ounce soda one hour into a six-hour car ride and still not have to make a pit stop on the way.
2. One ounce of Five Hour Energy guarantees I will need at least three detours. (To the chagrin of the camel-esque teenager in the passenger seat.)
3. I am not as interesting as Dragonvale. (Either that, or “Did you bring your iPad?” is toddler-ese for “Hello, much-loved awesome relative that I haven’t seen in six months. I have sorely missed you and wish to spend time in your company.” Yeah. My money’s on Dragonvale.)
4. A person who can get lost in her own museum should not be turned loose in Long Beach with a rental car (unless you’re looking to make some YouTube gold.)
5. Google Maps can give you explicit directions to the Long Beach Convention Center from just about any point in Southern California. In my hands, those exact same directions will take you to the Queen Mary. (For the record: the Queen Mary is not located next to, or even close to, the Long Beach Convention Center. Consider yourselves warned.)
7. Use of the phrase, “you can’t throw a rock without hitting a Starbucks” will inspire some people to try. (Note: People who live in hypercaffeinated houses are really, REALLY good at throwing stones.)
8. You haven’t experienced sticky until you’ve spent quality restaurant time with a three year-old male, a handful of sugar packets and a pot of Chinese tea.
9. Spending time in the company of family, clients and very good friends is a great reminder of just how lucky and blessed I am in all parts of my life. If you haven’t taken the time to appreciate the people around you today, stop reading and do it. I know I, for one, don’t do that often enough.
What did your last business trip or vacation teach you? Hop into the comments and share!
So despite the compass at the top of your blog page, you aren’t much of a geographer, eh? And really, I would like to know where teenage boys put all of that food and liquid!