Seminar day

Today is the finance seminar. This is the 20th seminar that I've done at this location! It doesn't sound like that many to some people, but considering I drive from PA to NC, it's quite a few miles!

Normally, things go fine. There have been times that something goes wrong. A year or so ago, there were caterpillars all over; one time during the spring, it was raining a lot and there was a leak in the roof at the hotel. It wasn't known until the ceiling tile collapsed down into the seminar! Todays excitement, fire alarm! Nothing like getting behind your schedule with a fire alarm. Hopefully, the rest of the day goes well :)

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Asheville, NC

Have you ever gone to a place in the United States and thought, "I can't believe this is in the U.S." That's Asheville, NC. If you've never been here, it's great. There is a huge amount of culture, natural parks, and tourist-type things to do. I'm here every 2 months for a financing seminar. It's a good excuse for a mini-vacation :)

I played a round of golf today. By the 12th hole, I was getting into a pretty good groove -- missing birdies and making pars :) It was a good time. But, when you're not at work in an office, and playing a game, when wouldn't it be a good time?

So, I got down here yesterday. When I went to check in, the hotel folks didn't have my reservation. Total bummer. So, while other people are waiting behind me, I'm assuring the nice young lady behind the counter that I always have a room for the seminar, and I'm here every 2 months for the past 3 years... She kept telling me that they didn't have a room and I didn't have a reservation. Finally, after about 10-15 minutes of me talking, there was a room available. ?? Yeah, it's magic apparently. I didn't get my normal room, but I got another that's equally as 'nice' as you can expect from a hotel built in the 70's.

I'm off to dinner... bon apetite!

McCain - Palin

So, the Republican team is in town today. There are quite a few people headed to see them this afternoon, just as there were when Obama-Biden were in town last week. I'm not 100% sure why our area is a battleground area. The demographic for our area, combined with the population, I think the would be better suited to go to Philadelphia or Pittsburgh surrounding areas. But, alas, I'm not a political strategist.

On a positive note, I've got a short work week this week with a corporate sales meeting one day, and then some traveling for two days. Effectively making my work week two days long. Awesome.

Some recent 30-days of giving for A. - chick-flick night. "PS I love you" and "Definitely, Maybe" were the chosen flicks. Surprisingly, both were done quite well. Definitely was better for me; more humor, more upbeat storyline, better use of angles for shots, etc. PS was somewhat of a downer, but a good story. Overall, definitely chick-flicks :)

Football

Football season is here! That's great! My two teams - Penn State (for college) and Pittsburgh (for the pros) - won this weekend, so it's all good! Football always makes it seem like fall way before it really is... it even smelled like fall outside.

Big news over the weekend - Freddie & Fannie placed into conservatorship which really wasn't a surprise that it happened, but at the same time, it will be interesting to see what changes are made in the lending world. And, if and when those changes occur, how it will impact my job specifically. Writing on the wall or paranoia?