Time is a Wastin

Every day I write out a to do list.  Yes, each and every day I have a list that I follow.  Maybe I am addicted to the sense of satisfaction that results from crossing items off the list.  Whether it be a work day or a weekend day, there is always something to accomplish and the lists keep me focused and help me end the day with a sense of accomplishment.

I found some small clip boards with colorful stripe or polka dot designs and note pads perfect for to do lists. 

 Hope they find their way into happy hands!

Piece of Cake Presentations

I have volunteered to be a judge at an upcoming business bowl at a local university where there are expected to be nearly 250 students from freshman through graduate level competing.  The students will receive their cases in the morning and will work on developing a solution to present to the judges. 


The judges, local business people, will critique the competitors on how they identified the critical issues and their resulting recommendations and presentation.  I remember from the time I spent on case work during my own graduate school career how challenging such team work can be with tight timelines, different personalities and the stress of presenting.


Have a few cake frames to leave for finders.  Wishing them all good luck and hoping they make it all look like a piece of cake!

You Are All Write

I was reading a list of Valentine's Day sayings.  You know the ones I mean that are often on candy hearts or in greeting cards - hug me, love you, kiss me, be mine, etc.  One that said, "you are all write" with a pencil caught my eye.


Since I thought the saying and a pencil would be a great little gift I bought some heart covered pencils and added notes.

Good Morning Sunshine

If there is one thing I definitely am not it is a morning person, but this morning I got myself up in the darkness to head to the airport for a 7am flight.  It was a Southwest Airlines flight, and I did not get myself online in advance to print a boarding pass.  As a result, I feared a C group boarding and a guaranteed middle seat.  However, upon checking my bag I was surprised to see the A group printed on my boarding pass. 


The morning got even better when I arrived at my departure gate and was told there were just 19 passengers on the 23 row aircraft!  After settling into the section of the plane I had all to myself, the flight attendants announced that they had a trainee flight attendant at the very end of her month long training on board and that she would be taking the lead on many of the duties throughout the flight.  When she returns to Dallas at the end of the week she should officially receive her "wings" and graduate from the training program.


All of the flight attendants were wonderful throughout the flight.  I even got my coffee with signature Southwest heart stirrer. 

The trainee seemed at ease with all her tasks and adept at making the passengers feel welcome and comfortable.  I was on the flight in order to attend some out of town meetings related to a new position I have, and I could relate to the feelings she was undoubtedly having in terms of being nervous and wanting to do a great job.  Since a little positive energy and encouragement is always welcome, I left a note on the seat to thank her and wish her well with her new career.  Hopefully she found it! 


I included a very small "tip" so she could perhaps buy herself a little celebration morning coffee in the next terminal!  Thank you to the trainee on flight #551 this morning.  

Drinks with Don

I recently spent a whole week at the Intercontinental Hotel on the Plaza in Kansas City.  While Kansas City is not a US city often on must visit lists, I have always really enjoyed the city as I have visited it many times over the past decade.  With a few distinct areas, my favorite is the Plaza which is a Spanish inspired section with low rise buildings based on those in Seville, Spain filled with restaurants and shops. 

I had a beautiful Plaza facing room so I could see the holiday lights on all the buildings which is a holiday tradition for the area.  Additionally I could also easily walk for a bite of the famous Kansas City barbeque at a favorite restaurant of mine. 

I travel frequently and often find that half of the nights away I want to grab a quick dinner that I can bring back to my room.  It was no different at the Intercontinental, and on my second evening there, I stopped by the concierge lounge on my floor and expected to grab a plate full of the appetizers and snacks to then retreat to my room and work. 

When I walked in I was greeted by a concierge named Don who immediately said. "Welcome to Drinks with Don".  I was the only person in the room as early January is not a popular time to be on the road.  Don was so engaging I could not help but to start to chat with him.  What a conversationalist Don was and we just kept chatting about lots of topics until we were joined by one other hotel guest.  I arrived in the room hoping to grab a quick plate to go and two and a half hours later I left having had a wonderful conversation among the three of us in the lounge.

The next night I returned to the lounge rather than going to an outside restaurant as I was hoping to find Don on duty again and to engage in conversation with him and other guests.  I was not disappointed and had yet another great evening in the concierge lounge just having fun conversation and food. 

With just two more nights at the hotel planned I thought I would tip Don as a thank you, but the more I thought about it I wanted to get him a gift as a tip since he and the atmosphere he created in the concierge lounge had really made my trip more enjoyable.

I walked over to the Plaza and bought Don two ties (during our conversation one evening he mentioned how much he loves ties) that would match his "Welcome to Drinks with Don greeting". 

The first tie had grapes, bottle openers and corks on it.... 

and the second beers on skis (aka "brewskies").

On my last day at the hotel I surprised Don with the ties and he was genuinely thrilled.  He immediately put one on and said that he could not wait to be done work for the day so he could show them to everyone.  There is no doubt that the ties will be great conversation subjects in the lounge over the coming weeks.

I so look forward to returning to the hotel soon to enjoy conversation and food in the lounge and catch up with Don.  The Intercontinental is fortunate to have him.

First Flight

I started this year with a flight.  While I somewhat dreaded arriving at the airport the Sunday at the end of what for many people is a two week vacation, I arrived early resigned to the fact the lines would be long.  I assumed extra time would be needed to get through security behind many people who travel infrequently and thus are not speedy in the process. 


Upon arriving at 6:30pm at the airport I was pleasantly surprised to find a nearly empty terminal!  I literally walked right up to the belt to push my carry on baggage through the scanner.  I was checked in at to my gate within 15 minutes of arriving at the airport.


While my flight was delayed an hour, the plane was only 20% full with row after row of empty seats.

So I decided to take advantage of the fact I could move around to row after empty row and leave some notes inside the magazine in the seatback pockets.  It seemed each was newly placed onboard with January 2016 dates and the puzzles in the back not yet completed.

I hope the finders smile and start the year with the same pleasant travel experience I had.

Boxing Day

Today, the day after Christmas, is the lesser known holiday of Boxing Day.  A British tradition from a long ago time when servants had to work on the Christmas holiday and had the next day off to celebrate and visit with their own families.  The servants would receive a Christmas box from their employers as a present for their service during the year.

Boxing Day was celebrated in the United States until independence from Great Britain on July 4, 1776.  Now there are some Boxing Day events at historic locations within the US, and I have found one to go to today where there will be a sale of British goods and foods as well as a tour of a home right near one of the battles for independence.


In trying to think of something to leave for finders on Boxing Day, I thought of the lesser seen $2 bill.  It seems a lesser known holiday could be celebrated with a lesser known bill.  Plus the $2 features Thomas Jefferson who was one of the founding fathers responsible for helping separate the United States from Great Britain and leading to the end of the Boxing Day festivities in the new world. 

Hope the finders can buy themselves a little treat for the holiday.  Perhaps a cup of British tea.