Friday, March 14, 2014

An amazing vet, typhoid medicine, and a trip to Orlando

So, first things first, we have an amazing vet.  I was texting Brian about my crappy run this afternoon, and he told me to come home - that he had something that would make me smile.  When I got home, he handed me a letter from the UC Davis Vet school.  As I pulled out the letter, I tried to figure out why we might have received it, but I couldn't think of one.  As I began to read the letter, I almost cried. It was a letter informing us that our vet had made a donation to the school in the name of our cat, Gordon.  The cat we loved, and she had only known in the last few days of his life. We already knew she was amazing (seven hills vet in diamond heights - go there), but this is so above and beyond. I can't think of a better way to remember my first mammal pet.

In other news, we had our annual field conference last week in Orlando. It was a good time, but exhausting. I flew in early to help, whichever as quite the adventure.  I started the following during my travel adventure, but never got a chance to finish and post it:

I love Uber...order on the phone and a ride shows up three minutes later - even at 4am. However, the adventure began once I got to the airport.  But, flying united is never anything less...

So, first, I get to the airport and try to check in...should be easy. Swipe credit card and enter destination. Of course the system tells me that my ticket and itinerary don't match and to see an agent. Which might not be an issue if, oh, I don't know...there were any around. So I try again and enter my connection city. Same thing. So I try to ask the guy behind the counter...and he just blows by me. Awesome...and the 'I hate united' thoughts begin. 

Luckily, I was able to flag down one of the ladies directing people to kiosks. Of course by then the message is gone, so we have to start over. Destination city, connection city, and confirmation number all yield the same result - ticket does not match itinerary. So she takes me to an agent...

The agent takes my confirmation sheet, ID, and credit card....tells me there isn't an issue.  Oh wait...the system has kicked me out incase I want to take a direct flight at 9.  Right...cause there's nothing I want to do more than hang out at the airport for three hours...if they had asked last night, I probably would have taken them up on three more hours of sleep.

To their credit, the two ladies that did help me were very polite and in good spirits for five am.  

Of course, this has taken time, and now I'm hoping I'll still be able to grab breakfast. And the security line is a cluster...why wouldn't it be. The guy checking tickets at the end of the line looks at mine and asks me - are you part of a group?  No...not really. I mean, gap travel booked my ticket... Oh wait, he's asking cause he has my boarding pass...or someone else's...or just a random handful of them in his pocket...cause that's normal. Then he decides it's not mine and lets me go on my merry way. 


Like I said, the conference was fun, but exhausting. I spent the first few days putting together packets and name badges and running from here to there. The highlight - the packing party involving tequila. I worked the registration desk the second day of check in, so got to see a lot of people and hang out with the territory assistants - a great group of ladies!  Biggest learning - it is actually possible to be so tired that the glass of wine three feet away is just too far to grab. 

By the time the conference started, heels were actually more comfortable than running shoes for a day. Until I had to open the door for the mass entrance...haha. It was fine, just a little crazy. I got to ride a roller coaster again - yay evening event at marvel island and the hulk.  I rode it twice - note to self, pee before you get in line for the roller coaster. Haha. I also checked out Spider-Man, which was fun, but hulk was better. And I still like roller coasters :). 

But, like all good things, it had to come to an end.  And, I was ready to get back home. Since then, we've been continuing to prep for our trip - six weeks from Saturday...squee!!!!  We have most of our stuff, I took Tuesday off and we went out to the friends and family mountain hardware store and got my gloves and hiking pants. We tried to get prescription sunglasses, but they were going to be $1200....yeah, not happening. I'll go for daily contacts and sunglasses.  And pray I don't get an eye infection. But, I did get to make a custom pair of oakleys. That was fun...black and purple, nothing crazy, but still fun.  

I also started taking a typhoid vaccine.  I'm not sure what's more amusing...the fact that there's such a thing as a vaccine via pill or the fact that I'm traveling somewhere that I need to have taken said vaccine. It has a host of fun side effects, but I'm half way through and have been ok.  

Other than that, the get back in shape project continues.  I can't wait to dive into the 50 miler training when I get back. Pirate's cove, I will conquer you. And muir beach...and the rest of you. Haha. 

Ok....up early for a friend's 50 miler tomorrow. Until next time....