New York, New York

Yesterday, two colleagues and I booked our trip to New York City for a week in September! It's the national annual conference for the Council for Opportunity in Education.  Our hotel is in Times Square, and there will be some free evenings for us to go to a Broadway show, go shopping, and see the city! I've been to NYC one time before (church trip called UN/DC), so I've seen the major sites (Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Broadway Show, 5th Ave.,), but I'm so excited to go back!

Seattle

I had a great time in Seattle a couple of weeks ago! I left on Friday and returned on Monday morning.  The conference was fantastic, and I brought back many neat ideas for my office.  I also had some down time in Pike Place Market. 

The first ever Starbucks!

The first day I went out, it started raining on me unexpectedly!  By the time I got back to my hotel room, I was soaked!

I stayed at the W Hotel in Seattle, just two blocks from Pike Place Market! I think Benton wishes he could have come with me!

The rest of my time in Seattle was gorgeous weather and around 50 degrees!

Pike Place Market

I can't wait to go back sometime with Kevin! I think we would really enjoy vacationing in Seattle!

Haircut!

I got my hair cut and colored! My coworker Dorothy took this picture of me in my sad, almost-empty office.  Tomorrow is my last day at Tabor.  It will be bittersweet, but I am so excited for the next chapter!

From a Bluejay to a Grizzly

I am happy to announce that I accepted a position at Butler County Community College in Andover as a Student Support Services Counselor starting March 8th.  I am very excited!!!

Chicago and back

I had a great time in Chicago last week! I went to the CAEL conference, and it was a great mix of networking, learning new ideas, and getting time to explore the city!  The conference was at the InterContinental Hotel, and I'm not too proud to say that I took pictures! :) 

Large room all to myself

Loved the modern look of the bathroom

On the second day of the conference

 We went downtown on the second night of the conference.  It was fun having a chance to shop on Michigan Avenue!

I made two really great friends, Amanda and Sally (not pictured)! Amanda is from Ottawa, KS, and Sally is from Syracuse, New York! 

Sadly, C&B was already closed :(

Kevin gave me beautiful flowers when I got home!

I had a great time, and it was even worth all the numerous emails I'm catching up on at work!  Next trip: Jamaica in 10 days!

I mean business

I leave tomorrow morning for Chicago to go to the Council for Adult & Experiential Learning conference.  I'm super excited, although I'm a little sad that Kevin and I will be apart for the longest amount of time since we've been married.  Don't worry, honey, I'll call you often. :)

My boarding pass is printed, and I'm 99% packed.  This is my first business trip by myself, and in some ways I feel like I'm playing dress up.  Will I blend in with all the business travelers?  Will I look like a seasoned professional?  It's fun to know there are still plenty of ways I'm growing in my career that make it feel new often.  

Going the distance

In the next month and a half, I will be breaking out the luggage several times:

October 21-23: Driving to Fort Worth, TX with Sarah to visit Mandy, Ben, Ellie, and Beckett! We can't wait to help out however we can!

November 8-11: My first solo business trip to Chicago for the CAEL conference!  I fly out on Tuesday morning and return on Friday evening.  I'm excited in the biggest, nerdiest way for this conference! Tinto and Sanford and Schlossberg, OH MY! :)

November 25-December 2: Yep, it's Jamaica time! Oh my goodness, I can not wait!

Seriously?!?

Friday at lunch, I was heading back to my office and was thirty seconds away (21st and Ridge) when I was rear-ended.  UGH! 

Take-your-Benton-to-work Day

Benton enjoyed coming to my office for a little bit this morning.  He loved being spoiled by all the dog lovers in my office!

Enjoying the car ride with Momma

Misty and Benton hanging out

Not motivated enough, apparently

Most of our office at TCW had planned to attend the Get Motivated seminar today.  Misty, Lori, Lori's parents, and I met up at 7:15am and headed to the baseball fields, waited 30 minutes for the shuttle, and made it to the front doors of the Intrust Arena just as they locked the doors.  So many people had to be turned away because it was overfull.  :(  After waiting around hoping they would let us in (we had other TCW people saving us seats), we discovered there was no way we were going to see the seminar. 

The party busses were shuttling people, and we decided to make the most of it and pose!

Misty, me and Lori - so lucky to have fun coworkers!

Just another day at work...

Typical Wednesday ;)  Today I had a meeting in Hillsboro and Adam and I enjoyed the top down on our rental.  I may have a slight sunburn and seriously tangled hair, but it was a fun change!