San Antonio - Week 1

Dear READER,

It feels like it's been forever since I last wrote. It's actually only been two weeks but they have been super crazy weeks. San Antonio was amazing. As I know writing about both weeks would make this post super long and nobody would ever read to the end I decided to split the post in two weeks. I hope you enjoy - and yes I did remember to upload the photos for those of you who have been asking. They can also be found on my facebook page.

Week 1 - AFPM 2013 Annual Meeting

I love TEXAS!! within the first three days of being her I had been asked out by multiple, let me say that again MULTIPLE cute guys. They all wanted to take me out for drink or take me home (awkward as I don't do either) but flattering that they asked. Two of these guys best friends were very persistent and came back multiple times. Finally one of them leaned over my counter and in a hushed tone asked 'Are you a Mormon?'. I proudly answered with a resounding yes and proud of it. He then went on to tell me how awesome he thought that was and was glad I was standing up for what I believed in. Then he said well you can still go out with me and I just wont have you drink. Oh boys - they will be boys.

This meeting is our second largest meeting. We have tons of people from all over the world come most from Canada, Mexico, Kuwait, and the USA. Registration was fun with that as some wanted to pay with travelers checks and others with cash. I had one person pay almost $2,000 all in 10s. Fresh 10s. I wanted to cry after the third time of counting them.
We had these bright orange bags that contained the program, attendee list, some extra stuff you know the usual items you get at any conference. I loved the orange bags I thought they brought life, color, and a bit of crazy happiness. I stuffed 2000 of those bags - It was great.
I love the registration counters as well. They say our company name on them AFPM in big letters I love it.

Don't you just love those orange bags.

I love my job. It's just great and I get to talk to a ton of people all day long and help them and be friendly its just the best job. I used to work at Seven Peaks and I think the reason I liked it so much was because I got to interact with so many people everyday. It's not like a desk job were you don't see anyone - which I like as well. BUT it's seeing people face to face and doing something for them. Even if it isn't that big or important.

My association (company) is really good to its employees. To prove it I'm going to show you were they put us to stay. This isn't even the nicest one I've stayed in since working for them.



 So I stayed at the Marriott Rivercenter. My room was a Jr. King Suite. Which was just amazing. It has the softest pillows and the bed was amazing. I may have just been super tired but I slept really good each night I was there.

Oh and the Marriott brought up this great cheese plate with crackers and fruit. It was there waiting for me in the fridge and it came with this note saying how happy they were to have me there and so on. I know that everyone probably gets the same note BUT my name was on it and it was spelled correctly which made me feel like I was special and cared for.



So I don't know how to rotate this photo but you get the picture right -- it has my name on it.



 Ok so that was the hotel. I tried to be good food wise while I was out there...even though I didn't do as great as I would like, I still did better than I would have had I done nothing. So we went walking outside in the nice 70 degrees and I also visited the Marriott gym a few times. I got some great photos of places we passed while on our walk. Most of the photos are things I felt like described Texas as I was getting it.

Its like Cinderella. I don't actually know the significance of this but they were everywhere.

San Antonio is so patriotic. Not to mention the  Red, White, and Blue you see everywhere. There are also four military based in the area so I was pretty much in heaven.

Old Theater.....apparently a lot of people from my office who have been going to San Antonio for our meetings for YEARS have seen some pretty famous people here.



I love the Church's around the city.



 And if San Antonio wasn't pretty enough....I was there over St. Patricks day. Everyone was drinking and having a great time. I didn't get into that but a lot of my co-workers had Green Beer.
Oh one of the unique things about San Antonio and St. Patricks day is that they dye the river green. I mean it was green green. It was so cool.

This band went around playing Irish folk songs on this boat. And on St. Patricks day they came to the hotel lobby and played it was fun.

Ok this is the last picture from week one that I'll share. We went to the San Antonio Sports Dome. It was beautiful. It is a dream of mine to attend live games of each sport. (Professional teams preferred but college can work as well). With March Madness going on while we were in San Antonio I was so hoping to get into the Stadium and see a game. Alas I was way to busy for that. Maybe next time.

So that was my first week in San Antonio -- I loved it and decided that if I didn't want to live in Washington D.C. anymore I would probably move down to Texas.

Ok so I finished this post and then remembered that I still needed to add one more thing. So with this meeting we had Dr. Condolizza Rice come as our main speaker. Oh my heaven she was amazing. My role model. I've always liked her but after meeting here and talking with her I want to be just like her one day. She is soooooo smart. As we were in the luncheon with her, she took questions and someone asked is she would marry him. She blushed and it was way cute. It was a joke well actually he might have really married her if she had said yes but anywho. It was amazing.


Yours Truly,

Jenessa

Day 2

Dear READER,


I can't believe it snowed! When I woke up it was just a bit wet and I though 'oh ya just another one of those days where everyone has freaked out but nothing really is going to happen'. Well that was until I saw the huge snow we ended up getting for a while. Nothing really stuck that much but it was fun to see it.

I went to the chiropractor this morning which was actually really nice. It's not as busy in the mornings and everyone is so friendly. They are open rain or shine so even though we had the snow coming the office was still open. I had some stim and ultrasound done on my arm and I got adjusted. I like being adjusted. I can move afterwards and not worry about a slight pain in my shoulder or lower back. The stim is fine when done on my back but it hurts when done on my arm and only get to a lever two. The guy sitting next to me was like on a 12 or something - I'm a wimp I know. The ultrasound hurts like no other but my arm always feels so much better the day after we do the ultrasound. Dr. Brown always puts this gel stuff on my arm before doing the ultrasound and it is kind of like vapor rub and I smelt like it all day today. But my arm is doing much better even tonight then it was before I went in. I'm down to once a week know and am healing nicely so no worries these days.


My Mum shared this thought with me today (well a few days ago but I finally got to the email today)

Time flies on wings of lightening;
 we cannot call it back
 It comes, then passes forward
 Along its onward track.

 And if we are not mindful,
 The chance will fade away;
 For life is quick in passing.
 "Tis as a single day."

It made me think, how many times in a day to I miss the opportunity to do something kind or say something to brighten someones day. Time does fly by and fast. I need to do better on not missing on the small and simple (wink wink to my blog name) things I can do to help someone else. Or even do something new.


Rebekah (little sister) asked me today, 'so have you been on any dates lately?' My reply was of course not. which then she exasperatedly said 'YOU NEED TO GET ON A DATE. What is wrong with all those guys. Go and get yourself on a date.' Oh how you love younger sisters aren't they just wonderful.


Working from home today was, well eventful. The email had a hard time working, the system crashed, and then the computer froze. It makes it a bit difficult to work from home when that happens. It made me grateful for an office. And to have the tech guy sitting in the desk next to me. I'll be happy for tomorrow and sitting back at my desk. I have learned and this was not just today but a few months I've been learning it, but I learned that I really like to keep my work and then my personal life very separate. When I come home i don't like to still have to work. I don't like worrying about work or thinking about what I have to still do. I just like to leave it at the office and come home.
When I think back on my school days I can't remember if I was like this or not. I know I always worried about projects and homework but I do remember coming home and after a certain point it was my time. I would go and watch Psych or NCIS and not worry about the projects or anything else.
I guess we all have to learn how to live a balanced life. To say this is work and then this is not. Or live with mixing them together. I think its something special when a father can come home at night and focus on his family and not worry about work. I always loved that about my Dad. I don't think I remember him working when he got home at night. I remember him watching movies and playing games with us. I admired that.

Yours Truly,


Jenessa