Yesterday was quite the whirlwind for me, to say the least. I’m not sure how to effectively describe the craziness that ensued on my day o’ Neocon, other than giving a little time line of the days events. If you get tired of reading halfway through, just imagine what it was like experiencing it in real time. EXHAUSTING.
FYI these times aren’t exact. I’m not THAT anal precise with my daily schedule. :) Oh, and all images were taken with my old school point-and-shoot. I haven’t invested in an awesome one yet and cameras were “prohibited” at Neocon, so these pictures aren’t my best work. :)
5:30: Wake up. Yeah.
6:30: Head for airport in my business casual best, with my most comfortable work shoes on. Purse is jammed packed with a great book, snackies (I have to eat every few hours, or I get grumpy. High maintenance much?), makeup, phone charger – the works. I’m pumped and ready to go.
7:30: Flight from Charlotte to Chicago leaves on time. Score! Smooth flight with not much turbulence, despite some nasty clouds. Double score!
8:30(central time): Arrive at O’Hare. Decide to attempt the subway as opposed to a cab. Best idea ever. Enjoy a nice 40 minute jaunt through the low income areas of Chi-town with 20 of my new best friends.
9:20: Emerge from the train station to see that the Merchandise Mart is only 1 glorious block away. Realize how freaking huge the Mart is, and justify my cute but comfortable shoe choice.
9:30: Hit the floor running. Literally. Neocon is held on about 6 floors of the Mart and I was determined to see it ALL. My eyeballs thank me, but my feet are singing a different tune. Saw some super great showrooms, filled with tons of new and innovative products – and even more “suits” (aka dudes in suits). Most of the eyegasms came from the designs of the showrooms themselves, with the products coming in a close second. Design explosion? You betcha.
12:00: Head across the street to hang with the DIRTT people that sent me on this trip to tour their showroom. Enjoy some passed hors d’oeuvres of crab cakes, felafel, chicken salad – all while trying to figure out how to eat, hold my drink and schmooze simultaneously. Met the CEO of the company and he felt I was worthy enough to receive a coveted DIRTT purse. Sales reps oooed and awed that I was one of the lucky 3 people that day to get a purse from the big man. Stood up a little straighter.
2:00: Head back over to the Mart to meet up with some friends from my old job in Atlanta. Chatted for all of 10 minutes before having to rush out to conquer other things.
2:10: Saw more pretty things. Hello, beautiful furniture and LED wall o’ lights. Won’t you come home with me?
2:20: Leave the Mart forever and head back to the subway. Realize how much feet are throbbing from marathon I just walked. Take two seconds to soak in the fact that I’m in Chicago, and say hello and goodbye to the one square block I saw while I was there.
2:30: Hop on subway again. Wasn’t I just here? Enjoy my first time sitting in 5 hours, despite the creepy man that stared me down for 12 stops.
3:30: Arrive at airport. Wasn’t I just here? Scurry through super long security lines, sore feet and new purse in tow.
3:45: Walk to the last gate at the airport to visit my best bud and her newly crowned American Idol client who are passing through Chicago as well (you read that right – touch me, I’m famous by association!). Talked, laughed, rested cramped calf muscles and played it cool in the face of a celebrity. I’ve been known to clap profusely around someone famous, so this was a real accomplishment for me.
4:30: Leave best bud and call other best bud who just got back from Antarctica to catch up. Grab some Quiznos and stuff my face, realizing I hadn’t eaten much all day. Remember the snackies I packed for that very reason. D’oh!
5:30: Extremely sore calves (gate was on total opposite side of the airport) do their best to board the plane. Sit on the tarmac for an hour due to stormy weather, but thank sweet baby jesus that I have a direct flight. Grip my armrest during some turbulence and wait for the flight to be over.
10:30: Little boy throws up in the row next to me. Not grossed out because I feel bad for the little guy. Get a slight pang of fear that just witnessed the beginning of a swine flu outbreak. Safely land in Charlotte 10 minutes after the puking event. Thank sweet baby jesus again. Come home to a very sleepy dog and husband, and a hot shower. Live to tell the tale. :)
Sounds like you had an amazing time!! Big SCORE on the purse!! Was there a drawing or are you just that big of a VIP? Can’t wait to see you this weekend!! Please leave the swine flu in Charlotte. . . ;-)
Yes, that purse is pretty sweet! I really can’t believe you didn’t get a celeb. pic, but I guess it is quite an accomplishment to remain so cool. You’ll have to fill us in on all of the details this weekend.
Cute purse. No one from our office went this year so I have to wait for the reps to start sending out the photos and bringing samples by.
@Elizabeth K: Shaw’s website has a really neat feature that lets you walk through their gorgeous showroom. I’m sure your reps will be bombarding you with the new products, so don’t feel like you missed much! Besides sore calf muscles…
That sounds like a VERY exhausting day. You must be an awesome schmoozer for getting that purse, its super cute!
I agree with your mom, how come your didn’t get a pic with Kris and Lindsay?!
you all must know that not only was audrey calm, clap-free and delightful to kris allen but kind enough not to take a picture because we would have been mobbed by all the crazy people at the airport. AND she walked to the farthest corner of the airport to hang with us AND kris allen thinks she’s really cool. bottomline: audrey is the best person ever.