Wednesday, August 13, 2008

I'm Backkkkk

I just got back from my first business trip and I can honestly say it was a truly relaxing experience. 

I should probably explain that completely out of the blue statement I just made. First of all, I have to preface that this was my first business trip...ever. And while I was super excited about the prospect of traveling on my company's dime, I was also terrified of the client dinners The Boss had lined up. I was also petrified of socializing with my co-workers (aka I was afraid of getting drunk and exposing my secret blog to my boss). 

Not to mention I was super, super stressed right before we left for our big trip. Why so stressed you ask? Well, I had just gotten back from my trip to London where I was greeted with a truck load of work and as WG1 mentioned previously, we just moved out of our apartment in the sixth borough so I had to pack, pack and pack some more, hire movers, and then unpack, unpack and unpack some more all while simultaneously preparing for the biggest event my company does all year. Whew. So you can see why I was a teensy bit stressed.

As the marketing coordinator of my company I play a large part in all our company events. Most of these include small office parties, but each year we do one big event in Aspen, Colorado. I mean, this event is so big to us that I've been working on planning and coordinating since November. Huge, huge, huge. 

I flew into Aspen on Thursday and got right to work. Things I quickly discovered included the following: 

1. I am not made for living in the mountains. I missed the city after two days. 
2. High altitudes give me huge headaches.  
3. I told the VP of Marketing that she and I might have been separated at birth. To which she responded, 'Except I'm old enough to be your mother. But only if I had been a slutty teenager'. I discovered I really love her. Like a lot. 
4. Events are mega hard work. But totally satisfying when they are over. 
5. I love all my clients. I want them to all to be my bff and move to NYC. 

So as you might have guessed by my discoveries that I had an awesome time. The event was amazing. That is truly the only way I can describe it. None of our clients had any complaints. The tent looked amazing. We got great foot traffic. And I had a really, really fun time hanging out with my co-workers. I mean, I had always enjoyed the VP of Marketing's personality, but she and I discovered we have so much in common that it scared us. We adore country music, burgers & fries, and vampire sagas. What more can you ask for in a boss? Oh, and we love complaining about work. It bonds us. 

The Boss was surprisingly calm. She almost always finds something to freak out about. But really the event went so well that she couldn't find anything to yell at me or the VP of Marketing about. And as a treat, she took us out to dinner at a posh Italian restaurant (where I had some spectacular gnocchi) and she got drunk, cried, and told us that she couldn't have done it without us. Which, to tell you the truth, felt pretty damn great. 

To top it all off, I was smart enough to take a few vacation days after the event ended on Sunday, and I stayed in Aspen for a few extra days. It was great just being alone and experiencing a paradise in the mountains. I took a gondola ride up to the top of Aspen Mountain, got a massage, bought a super cute cowboy hat, and finally saw The Dark Knight. It was the perfect end to the perfect event. 

I came back to work today relaxed, calm, and happy. My gay, Cuban, and pushing 45-year-old best guy friend at work told me I hadn't looked so radiant in weeks (he then offered to get a pool going so I could get a massage monthly so I wasn't such a raging bitch when stressed). Such a sweetheart that one. 

So I'm enjoying my moment of relaxation and sheer bliss that the event is over. 

Next on my list: begin planning the Colorado event for 2009. I kid you not. 

22 comments:

Maria said...

congratulations! i'm really glad your trip went so well- all your hard work has definitely paid off! :)

Anonymous said...

Wow! Congrats! I'm really happy for you!

Anonymous said...

So aweome you had a great time! And smart to take those vacation days. Wish I had your guts to have a secret blog. I've been reading for a little while and absolutely love it. You go girl.

Ken Duck Geraths said...

Thanks, I was SOOOOOOO waiting to hear how this trip went!. And it was worth the wait.
You go girl.

Joshua Bowden said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Joshua Bowden said...

Aspen is the summer is gorgeous. I went 4 years ago and almost moved there. Of course, tuition was outrageous compared to what i was paying in nashville, but... i still almost did it. i SOOOO want to go back

Just A Spoonful of Sarcasm said...

Congrats on your first business trip! Sounds like it and you had a blast!

Meaghan said...

I use to work for a U.S. Congressman and events are exactly as you said, scary, stressful and full of planning planning planning! Congratulations on a job well done!

Cal said...

ah! congrats! and i'm VERY glad the boss didn't find out about the secret blog because what if that meant you had to delete it? what would all of us readers do?!? no good.
my blog is secret from my boss too but a select few around the office do know about it. makes me feel dangerous knowing they're reading ;)

Anonymous said...

Sounds like an awesome time!!! I think I would adore event planning like this. Minus the anxiety ridden days where I would have to go home and drink myself silly :)

Maki said...

I'm glad to know that it was a huge success for you - I knew it!!! Good luck with future projects!!!

Sarah said...

I am so jealous. It sounds amazing and fabulous all rolled into a vacation/work event. Great job.

Katelin said...

congrats! glad you had such a great time, woo.

Jackie said...

Congrats! It sounds like you planned an awesome event and that your company is lucky to have such a hard worker. You make all other working girls out there proud :)

fuelMybrain said...

I just recently found your blog and I'm addicted. Keep writing, you are great!

Monster Librarian said...

Congrats on the huge pull off of the event!

Jenny said...

Congratulations! It's awesome to know that all the hard work paid off and your event was a huge success!!! I'm in the process of preparing for my company's AGM. I've been planning these things for 5-years now and can totally relate to just how far in advance the planning has to begin. It's nice that you took a few days to relax afterwards.

I swear, there's nothing better than flying home with a dorky grin on your face, no weight on your shoulders and feeling like all is right with the world.

Best. Feeling. Ever!

ceemee said...

It's nice you had an awesome business trip. And it's great that you enjoyed it. Welcome back! Monthly spa, that's soooo nice!

Anonymous said...

I just found your blog last week so this question may have been addressed already, but I was just wondering...does anyone you actually know know about your blog? Just curious! Keep writing it's very entertaining!

B. said...

congrats on the event! you must be really proud right now :D

i've been reading your blog for quite a while now, and meaning to congratulate you! its really a great one, i love reading about people's lives in general. reading this blog gives me a Devil wears Prada/S.A.T.C feeling :)

well, keep up the good work.

B. said...

by the way, i've put you on my blogroll, hope thats ok :)

Jessi said...

I've been waiting for an update on your trip to CO... I'm very glad you had a good time, despite missing the city and the altitude headaches - altitude can be a bitch if you're not used to it :P

Congrats on the accomplishments!! Keep up the good work :)