On the road again...

Since my last update I drove from Atlanta, Georgia to Dallas, Texas. In Texas, I worked the GrapeFest event in Grapevine, Texas. I had a TON of fun interacting with the consumers and I even was able to take part in the GrapeStomp. I couldn’t get my co-worker or any of the people at my event to join me so I signed up by myself and was paired with Aileen. We called ourselves “Team Random”. Together we participated in the event and had a TON of fun!!!! It felt so weird stomping on the grapes barefooted. My strategy was to step on as many as possible in my 60 seconds and when it was Aileen’s turn she just move all the juice towards the spout. We ended up winning our half hour time slot with 16.25 ounces. Unfortunately, the judges only allow one team to advance per hour and the previously winning team got 21.25 ounces (it was two heavier set guys). Oh well! I really enjoyed working the GrapeFest event. I felt a sense of satisfaction when the manager of the Grapevine Verizon Wireless store, Raymond Musquez, personally complimented me for all my hard work in front of our Verizon Wireless client Laura Caudillo. I also received numerous compliments from nearby vendors at GrapeFest who said they have been watching me for two days and wanted to know what vitamins I was taking. Peggy from Sam's club said to me, "It is obvious watching you that you really are passionate about what you do and it looks like you are having a lot of fun."

The day after GrapeFest I was able to fly home to San Diego just before Hurricane Ike hit Dallas. I made it home for the wedding of the year for my cousin David and his fiancé Christine. It was so nice to finally go home even for a day and a half. All my plans to lay by the pool and relax didn't happen since the weekend was so eventful. I was able to take some time to relax at the hair saloon with my mom and get a pedicure at the nail saloon with my girls. The wedding was a hit in which I stepped in as wedding coordinator. The funny part was the DJ coming up to me after the event asking me for a business card to refer me to other clients. I just laughed and also regretted not having a business card available on hand. Maybe I should make a career change?
I returned late Monday evening ready for work mode early Tuesday morning for a Verizon Wireless event. Best Buy was having their big vendors event in which they invited the companies who sold merchandise in Best Buy to show off their latest and greatest for the holiday season. Tuesday ended up being mostly a set up event but afterwards the clients invited me to go to dinner with them. Nine Verizon Wireless clients, two LG (Life’s Good) guys, and I got to ride in a beautiful white limo to a nice Mexican food restaurant. It was a LOT of fun! The following day, Wednesday, was the big event in which I was in cheerleader mode. I was so excited about the big event. There were 25 teams of 10-15 people who rotated through our event site for eight minutes at a time. It was fast so we had to be good. It turned out to be an amazing event in which we received numerous compliments. The Vice President of Verizon Wireless was also in attendance so this event was a BIG DEAL! This was an awesome networking event in which I was able to meet a lot of Verizon Wireless and Best Buy Corporate employees. I definitely had my business card on hand for this event and will be following up! Again, I was invited to go out and this time my co-worker Germany came too. We went to a restaurant called Sanbuko (Definitely worth going to!) and Ghost Bar at the W Hotel in downtown Dallas.
After two long days I had Thursday off. I woke up early and went to downtown Dallas to see the John F. Kennedy assassination museum. It is really called “The Sixth Floor Museum”. In the museum I was given an audio piece to go on a self guided tour of the museum. I was able to learn about JFK before he entered the presidency, his election, the major events in his presidency, and the actual assassination. I knew president Kennedy was popular but I didn’t realize major historical events began during his presidency like the growth of the TV, Martin Luther King Jr’s famous speech, civil rights movement, Cuban Missile Crisis, and the beginning of Vietnam war. It was really interesting!!! I was able to look out the windows from which the bullets are believe to have been fired from a mock set up in the museum. Definitely a really cool Museum and I highly recommend this as a stop for your next trip to Dallas. Afterwards, I went to get a massage at Massage Envy. This place is actually a business chain with lots of locations. My massage therapist Heidi was awesome! She was able to show me all kinds of stretches to do after events to counter my muscles becoming too stiff from standing and prevent back pain. Very cool.
From Dallas I made the two and a half hour drive up Texas to Wichita Falls. We have a big college football game tonight in which we will be having an event site. I am really excited because it should be fun.
Guess what is even more exciting? Guess who is moving back to Southern California? I was interview for an awesome opportunity to be on the Southern California Verizon Wireless Street Team and I got the job. My new territory is closer to home and a whole lot crazier!!!! Sunday and Monday I will be driving 18 hours from Wichita Falls, TX to Columbia, South Carolina. I fly into LAX on Tuesday and start working right away with four nights of concerts in a row. I am pretty excited. I have a new co-worker named Linden, which I am very excited about working with a new partner. I will be working not only lifestyle events but also Latino events. I am really excited to be able to enjoy the nice west coast weather for the fall.

So that’s my update. More updates to come…

Hey Y'All I am in Atlanta!

After a fabulous six weeks in New York I was transferred to do a new tour in the South. I was so sad to leave but I left after we had our best event which was a Body Boarding competition in Point Plesant, NJ. My new region includes anything between Huston, TX down to Miami, Florida and up to North Carolina. It’s a lot of distance and I will be doing a LOT of driving. I am really excited to see and experience the South. I hope to come back with all kinds of stories about the hicks down here… just kidding!
Before heading down to the South I had four beautiful days off in which I spent in Minneapolis, Minnesota with a good friend from Italy named Elliot. We had a great time visiting the surrounding little towns and even went to a Vineyard/Apple Orchard for a little wine tasting. He gave me the grand tour of both St. Paul and Minneapolis. I got to stand on the largest freestanding skyway at the Guthrie which is absolutely AMAZING and a must see if you ever go to Minneapolis. We went to the sculpture garden where I saw the famous spoon with a cherry as well as glass fish statute. I never thought about going to Minneapolis before but now that I have gone I would love to go back. It is truly a BEAUTIFUL city which is sooooo clean. We went out on a Sunday around the lakes and everyone was walking, riding bikes, or running along the lakes. (Quick fact- Minneapolis has about 10,000 lakes and if we ever have hydroelectric cars you better hope you live in Minneapolis! LOL) I have never seen so many biking and running paths in my life. Everything is so green and yes it was a little cooler than I am used to for September. It was about 59 in the evening and 70 during the day. Elliot says come winter it can get to be 10 below and people are still outside running around the lakes. They must be CRAZY!!!
I flew into Atlanta Georgia yesterday and it was a huge shock going from 70 degree weather to 93. Today, I am meeting up with my coordinator and co-worker to do some maintenance. Tomorrow, I am driving 12 hours to Dallas, Texas for Grapefest with my new partner Germany(really that’s his name!). I am really excited about the event since this is the largest wine festival in the South West and everyone knows how much I love wine! I am most excited to see the grape stomp. I wonder if people are really barefoot? I fly from Dallas to San Diego for the weekend but practically for one day since I am attending my cousin’s wedding. I will be reunited with my parents and family who are flying in from Colombia and other parts of the US. You know what happens when you have 3 or more Colombians in a room? It turns into a big arty in which we laugh, eat, dance, and tell stories. I just can’t wait! I just hope I can squeeze some poolside time with my friends and eat some of my mommy’s cooking. I miss cooking and eating home cooked meals while on the road. It is a little difficult to eat healthy while on the road. Unfortunately, the fast food industry has a long ways to go in providing healthier and more economical options.
When I get back to Texas I am driving back to the east coast for a college football game at University of Tennessee. I am actually really excited because I am hoping to be able to take of tour of Elvis’s home in Nashville. The trees are starting to change color so I will be experiencing for the first time the season of fall.
Well that’s my little update. I am alive and well just touring all over the United States. So far since July I have been to five states and more will be added to the list soon.