A Time For Everything

Okay, last post about the conference.

I'm high maintenance. Not terribly, but I am. However, I do maintain myself. There are a few things I have to have, like mint tea and warmth when I sleep. I need to eat relatively healthy and usually cheaply and I need to exercise.

The only microwaves available were downstairs, off the lobby. Luckily my room was on the second floor, so it wasn't a horrible inconvenience--this time--but I could have been on the 14th floor or something...  And since the apparent removal of vending machines from next to the ice machines on each floor--a small cart with a microwave could easily be added.

Note to self--consider how to get my small portable kettle to my destination.

Most people prefer colder to warmer, unlike me. So I generally take a blanket with me when I travel by car. I had to take the larger suitcase this time to fit my small electric blanket. Yes, I really did. I didn't need to plug it in, but I had it just in case. :0) I usually take my pillow too. Hotel pillows are too poofy and hard and icky usually.

Note to self--is there any way to get my pillow there, lol?

October weather can change from day to day, so I took more clothes than I needed because I had to plan for both comfortable weather as well as cold weather. In the case of GRL, I don't think that's never not going to be an issue, so I have to deal with it.

The swag, whatever I decide, will just have to be shipped. Next year's location is too far too drive for me, so that's another consideration when deciding on what kind of swag to invest in.

Eating healthy was a challenge, although surprisingly I lost weight. I traveled with a week's supply of Plantation Mint tea as well as a package of Oberto's Trail Mix for each day. There was a local grocery store, and I was able to buy a few pre-made salads, some yogurt, and some microwavable soups.

There was still an over-abundance of carbs in my diet, even when eating "out". I ate at the hotel restaurant at least once each day--part of the networking and getting-to-know-people process--and except for the one breakfast I ordered, everything was based around bread products. Those carbs that I'm trying so hard to exclude from my regular diet. Figuring out some more portable protein will be another of those challenges.

Last point of this ramble--the traveling itself. I took a backpack and toted my laptop as well as my iPad. I have an iPhone as well as a Fit Bit. All of which had to be placed in bins for the xray. I had to take off my shoes and remove my jacket/s. One person and I had to push six bins through the machine. And then gather it all back up again on the other side. *sigh*

But I never used my laptop for the purpose for which I brought it--having to work remotely. Next year...not taking. I'll use the hotel business center if something comes up. I used the iPad for a special project on a daily basis, but will probably not be doing that project next year. So no iPad. I'll always need my phone and chances are I'll still be wearing my Fit Bit. If the weather isn't awful at my destination, my jacket will go in checked luggage. I'll find slip-on shoes and forgo sneakers with laces. I think that'll get me down to two or three bins. Sheesh.

Whew!

Lots learned on a variety of levels.

What's your least favorite thing about traveling?

After Seattle, DH and I traveled to Omaha to see another branch of my family...

Back in February, my babiest sister gave birth to my nephew six weeks before he should have arrived. Her amniotic fluid was so low, he was safer out in the world than inside his mommy's tummy. Anyway, all's well that ends well and baby Colton is doing just fine. But I wanted to see him before he was no longer a baby.

So here are my nephews and me...



In addition to seeing my nephews, I also went to see my dad's grave.


I'd bought a half dozen patriotic pinwheels here in Texas, but, alas, forgot to grab them on our way out of town so had to do with the paltry offering of the local big box store. But better than nothing!

It was great to see everyone, but I'm glad to me home again, home again, and back to my regularly scheduled routine, my own home (BED!), and of course, the dog. :)

Now, the only reason I even got to go to Seattle was because DH was invited to speak at a conference at Microsoft's headquarters, but we flew in a few days before the conference so that we could hang with Sonshine.

On Saturday, he showed us around the base a bit--his dorm room, his ship (from outside the fence only), and the NEX (Navy Exchange, like a department store) and commissary (grocery store)--before we headed back to the hotel and just hung out and enjoyed each other's company. Sonshine wanted his Xbox One from home, so the boys were able to spend quality father/son time together. :) I just soaked up Sonshine's presence.



On Sunday, we took the ferry (to say we did it) into Seattle and visited the EMP Museum.




The museum was a hit with one and all.

 Sonshine, next to wall painted like a Mario screen...one of his first video game loves.


 Costumes from Star Wars, obviously, one of the exhibits.



The Chuck Jones animation exhibit...


And while we didn't go up in the Space Needle, we saw it, as it was right behind the museum!


After the museum, we had our perfect meal as mentioned in Wednesday's post.

Have a great weekend!

About a month ago, I was asked on one of my social media groups what the perfect meal would be and with whom I would want to share it...

Well, for me, it was more about the who first and the what second. The most important part was that I was able to make it happen.


A week ago Sunday, DH, Sonshine and I enjoyed pizza at The Rock in Seattle! Now I just picked this place off a random Internet list, but it couldn't really have been more fitting, seeing as how Sonshine loves music so much. I'm a bit partial to it too.

Even the liner papers for the take home boxes was musically themed...though I can't find the picture of that. :)

And not as important as the company, but the pizza was delicious!

It's been a crazy ten days as I've been traveling! But I'm back and ready to share some pictures. I can't share everything because of some of the things going on in the world. I don't want to put my son or any of our military in danger.

I saw my momma for the first time in  sixteen years and that was such a wonderful treat! It was hard to say goodbye at the airport.

Here we are...the same but sixteen years older.


More on Wednesday!