YTD Miles: 52,344

I never thought I would be traveling this much when I accepted my job. It wouldn't have changed my decision - I love my job - but work travel is definitely not as glamorous as it once sounded. These last few trips have been outside the normal - Connecticut and back - and might not happen again. I actually am suppose to still be traveling but had one meeting cancelled and ended postponing another, and it feels good to be home. The good news is I'm a packing pro now :)

2-for-1 Las Vegas
The rents and Utah sisters were planning a Vegas weekend to get out of the cold and enjoy some sun, so when my boss told me that we were going to Vegas the week of my weekend trip I was thrilled. But talk about two very different trip. My co-workers could not stop laughing when I told them that the only thing I new about card game gambling I learned in movies. What I didn't tell them was that a big part of that was because of a wee bit of an obsession the NYC ladies and I had with Jim Sturgess in 21. Work all day, eat and play all night. Add Mastro's and China Grill to the list of "Must Go . . . Especially When on an Expense Account" List. A few hints: seafood tower, lobster mashed potatoes, wasabi mashed potatoes, crispy spinach. They will change your life.


Then the family came and while it wasn't as warm as we would have liked (okay, okay it was still February after all), we still had fun. We sat by the pool in true Brooks fashion. We ate at Serendipity - don't worry we conquered that cake at breakfast the next morning too.


We saw "O" and then made a last minute decision to also see "Love" - loved them both! Way better then my first Cirque experience.


And then it decided to rain a little so we drove out to the Hoover Dam - is 27 too old for dam jokes? I think not.



A fun week in Vegas.

Mexico City
I was home for about 24 hours before I packed my bags again and headed to Mexico.

A few things I learned:
1. If you tell people you are going to Mexico City they will give you a look of shock and fear. Then they will start to tell you things like, "Don't drink the water." "Be careful. It's dangerous." "Oh I just read about a horrible shooting/bombing/murder." Really. People don't tell me that. I like to believe that my office wouldn't let me go if it was that bad. I also had to tell myself that so I wouldn't freak out.
2. The next thing people asked was if I spoke Spanish. Um, no. I took French in high school and it's been way too long to even pretend I speak a little French, so Spanish definitely not. Hola. Buenos días/noches. Adiós. (and hasta luego, although not as helpful) ¿Cómo estás? Bien. Yup, that's everything I know.
3. Although I am very white and look very American, if I greeted people with, "Hola, buenos dias." They would assume I could speak Spanish and start speaking a mile a minute. If I said, "Hello." They would speak in English. I wanted to a least try and show some effort/appreciation, but people please understand that "Hola, buenos dias" does not equal fluent in Spanish.
4. Mexico only lets you bring one laptop. They consider an iPad a laptop. Work laptop + iPad = Customs Miracle
5. 21 Million people = the worst traffic I have ever seen
6. I thought I had experience crazy driving before, but I don't even know how to describe this. I felt safe and as if the driver was in control the whole time, but "normal" road rules do not apply.
7. 21 Million people = the busiest grocery stores I have ever seen. I mean Walmart at Christmas on a Tuesday at 2:30pm.
8. Mexico City is actually quite beautiful. I was shocked. I was expecting this dirty, smog, people filled city that looked dangerous (because sure you can "look" dangerous). I'm sure I lucked out with nice sunny weather days, that weren't too hot and smoggy. And I know I was in mostly the nice areas. And I know I wasn't out at night. But really it was a nice city. Tons of history, and I could definitely feel the Spanish influence.

The first night (as I was trying to fight falling asleep from the red eye and long travel day down - including some engine failure over the Gulf and turning around back to Atlanta), we ate at this old mansion with traditional Mexican cuisine - Antigua Hacienda de Tlalpan. It was beautiful. Gorgeous courtyard with gardens, waterfalls, twinkle lights . . . oh and peacocks everywhere. It was a beautiful night to sit outside and eat delicious tortillas.



The last day after our meeting we had about an hour before things started to close so we quickly went and walked around this park area and hiked up to an old mansion. I honestly have no idea where we were (Remember the crazy driving, yeah I had no earthly idea which direction we were ever going. I've never been so turned around in my life. ) but it was green and had gorgeous views.






Next time I hope to be able to see Teotihuacan.

San Juan, Puerto Rico
A quick weekend home and then off to the airport again - for another warm weather location. I was not that impressed with PR when the family went over New Years, so I wasn't too disappointed to be going back and spending all day inside in meetings. But this time it didn't rain, and it was truly sad looking out my window at this and not putting on my bathing suit in the morning.


I was suppose to fly right from San Juan to New Jersey for some meetings, but the universe heard my tears and cancelled my meeting. So instead of flying to NJ, I flew back to SLC the following . . . afternoon. Working like this isn't so bad.


Nor are reminders that you aren't in 30 degree weather.


Nor are walk "breaks" like this.




Thank you company for a nice little mini-vacation. I came home with a nice sunburn on my face.

Now back to work. Back to cold weather. Back to real life.