ALT Top 10

image: kenziepoo.com

Ok, yes it’s been almost three weeks since the Altitude Design Summit. And it’s taken me that long to get over the fact that I’m the worst skier in America. Maybe even North America.

Way overdue is a wrap-up post on the wonderfulness (that’s absolutely a word) that was the first annual Altitude Design Summit. There are many,  many, many, many, many more timely, great wrap-up posts. Instead of recreating those, I decided to pick my top 10 best memories from ALT. The things (and people) that 3 weeks later, I’m still thinking about.

I was completely honored to be a part of this amazing gathering of creativity, technology, and community. I know where I’ll be in Jan of 2011 (not on the slopes).

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Tags: alt summit, altitude summit, design, salt lake city, travel

nyc: {day.03}

If you’re just joining us for the nyc recaps, read nyc: {day.01} here, and nyc: {day.02} here.

Every time I visit NYC, or any other large city for that matter, the city gets more and more demystified. I remember my first trip in 2003, and I feel like the city was a thousand times bigger. The more and more I’ve traveled there, I’ve learned my way around the city, pride myself on my subway knowledge, and continue to develop my list of “How to Get Mistaken for a Local in Any City.”

Tip #1 is walk with a purpose. I always try to figure out where I’m headed before I leave the hotel. I’m not directionally challenged like a majority of my friends, so this is a little easier for me. There’s nothing more embarrassing than standing on a street corner with a folded out map and a confused look on your face. I will say, the iPhone’s GPS has made this a helluva lot easier to do.
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Tags: new york city, nyc, travel

nyc: {day.01}

Where to begin? I feel like the last five days went by in, pardon the pun, a New York minute. I guess time does fly when you’re having entirely too much insane fun. Which is exactly what we set out to do, and accomplished.

The reason for the trip was a laundry list of too good to be true chain of events: Well, there was the Kirtsy Book party, one in a series of parties I’ve been helping Kirtsy throw all over the country to celebrate Kirtsy Takes a Bow; Then there was Maggie’s 26th birthday, not to mention how Maggie and I first met, at her 21st birthday, which was reason #3, our five year friendiversary. And icing on the cake? Stef has been in Jersey for the last month helping out her mom, so we couldn’t wait to see her in her ‘hood. If that wasn’t enough, Maggie and I just needed a good getaway. And boy did we get it.

the jane hotel

We flew in Wednesday afternoon and met up with Kirtsy gals Laura and Laurie at our hotel, the absolutely adorable Jane Hotel {113 Jane St.} in the West Village. Thanks to Phillip Marshal for the fantastic recommendation. If you’ve ever decided on a hotel strictly on the inventiveness of their website, you’re my kinda people.

We headed for Soho to setup for the party. The event was being held at an amazing space called Meet {101 Crosby St.}, owned by (as I held my star struck tongue) the founders of the Wooster Collective, Sarah and Mark Schiller. I’ve been a fan of the WC website for years (thanks to Brent), and I was certainly shocked when during the party, a man approached me and remarked, “Is this you?”, shoved an Read more…

Tags: kirtsy, new york city, nyc, puck fair, tide, travel, wooster collective

#best09: Have wedding, will travel.

As part of the Best of 2009 Blog Challenge I’ll be blogging daily on the bests of 2009. Join me in reminiscing, won’t cha?

{December 1: Trip. What was your best trip in 2009?}

Can a trip I haven’t taken count? I leave tomorrow morning for New York for 5 days. #1 for Maggie’s Birthday, #2 For me and Maggie’s Friendiversary (5 years!), and #3 to throw a kick arse Kirtsy Book Party at this kick arse place. Activities planned: Shop ’til our heels fall off. Scope out as many dive bars in the East Village that we can in 4 days. Hang out with Steffie in Hoboken (w00t!). Generally rock out.

Yeah. I’d say this could be my trip of the year.

However, I’ve made lots of trips this year that would stand as contenders.

Boulder in March for Gwen + Joel’s Wedding.

San Francisco for Laura + Anthony’s Wedding.

Tucson in August for Taneka + Jeff’s Wedding.

Do you see a pattern forming here?

For 2010 I’ve already a few trips planned: Chicago to visit my little Miggelita, back to Colorado for Kasey + Dave’s Wedding, and to Orange County.

Tags: best09, travel

2008 Wrap-up: Jan, Feb, March + My 100th Post

WHAT A FRIGGIN’ YEAR IT’S BEEN!

Whew! I feel like just yesterday we were ringing in 2008 at the Proletariat.  RIP Pro!

So much has happened this year, and I was looking for a way to document it all. Over the last few months I’ve been writing a book. Mainly something to document my twenties, seeing as I turned the big 3-0 this year.  And so far, 30 has been fabulous.  The first step was looking back at the last 10 years and attempting to make a timeline. Things like boys,  trips, weddings, boys, New Year’s Eves, Birthdays, boys, and a lot of boys.  But we’ll save the boys part for the book.

So with that process, I’m in documenting mode. So here goes. With lots of help from my gCal and Flickr: A year I will never forget, (nor hardly remember).

And I totally didn’t plan this, but this is my 100th post on CosmoPolitician! Woo-hoo!

I’ve decided to split this post up, there is just too much to get in.  Here are the first three months, and the rest will follow each day from now until the end of December. Enjoy!

January: New Beginnings

Towards the end of 2007, when word was spreading that our beloved neighborhood bar, the Proletariat would be closing in February, we decided there would be no other fitting place to ring in 2008. So with some of Matt’s friends in from Austin, we headed to the Pro for one last blow out. It was happy, and sad, and all those things in between. We snuck beers into the bar, we shared bottles of champagne, and we danced until our feet stopped working. | Full New Year’s Eve @ the Pro set here.

January was also the month of our very first Dr. Sketchy! Still can’t believe it’s been a whole year! Big props to HappyKatie and the crew for an awesome monthly event that just keeps growing and growing! Looking forward to 2009 Sketchies! | Dr. Sketchy Pool on Flickr

One of my favorite memories from January took place on a night that Jeff Balke’s band, Orange Is In, was playing at Rudz. Earlier in the day, Noel was visiting and we all had gathered at the Microcinema house for a party. Following the party, and day long drinking, Matt, Ned and I headed to Rudz to catch the show; proceed to have one (read: five) too many Red Bull and Vodkas, and head to a Rice Archie party. In between resulted in car hurdling and surprising and kidnapping, Brandon, Matt’s transient roomie, and dancing the night away in a way too small grad student apartment with entirely too many people.  Oh to be in college again. Well, at least for one night. No picture exist from this night. And that is probably a good thing.

January was also the very first time I laid eyes on Caroline. More about that later.

February: Wanderlust

Feb was my month of travel.  I had just started a new job back in November of 2007, and with it came the opportunity for me to get back overseas. Something I had been dying to do since my days in the UK, and Europe proper. My first trip took me to Malaysia, where I fell in love with the city of Kuala Lumpur, and the Malaysian people.  I stayed for a week, stared out my hotel window at the Petronas Tower, and ate the most yummy food. Encountered women with four arms, bruised up my OWN leg taking a spill into a Singapore swanky hotel, even made it to infamous KL Beach Club. Oh. those. stories. | Full KL set here.

From KL, it was on to Western Australia!  It was to be my first trip down under, and I was stoked. I headed for Perth from KL, and spent an amazing week in the sleepy Oil & Gas city. I went surfing in the Indian Ocean, hung out at the trendy Subi Hotel Bar, hiked to King’s Park, met a local chef who we spent a wild night at a casino with, swimming(?!), experienced Perth’s “Sunday Session” at the Little Creatures Brewey (same day as Heath Ledger’s funeral—it was 5 minutes from where we were) and  learned of the ridiculous shopping hours: Everything closes at 5pm! Whaaa?! The night our flight was supposed to leave at 2:55am, so we headed back down to Subiaco, and ran into some US ex-pats, who took us to get MORE wine, beer, and Indian food. Highly intoxicated at this point, Josh and I stumbled into the hotel at about 11:30pm, attempted to throw everything into a suitcase, and head for the airport. Here’s a tip. If you are about to board a plane, from Australia to KL to Tokyo to LA to Houston—do not get wasted, eating Indian food, a mere hours before you get in the plane. Not the best idea we ever had. | Full Perth set here.

On my way to Perth from KL, I also encountered a little WATER problem back home at my place. One of the most terrifying things to ever happen, especially when you are thousands of miles away. Always in debt to Mom, Matt and Maggie for their help with that situation! Maggie even made me feel better with her adorable marker presentation to assure me all was OK. What a doll. Loves her mucho.

From Perth, it was back home for a few days, serendipitously in time for the February Dr. Sketchy! It was great to see all my peeps after traveling for a few weeks, and what a welcome home with boobie cupcakes!

After a few days home, I was back off again.  This time to Amsterdam, where I went on the shopping spree of my lifetime, resulting in my new favorite winter coat; had a run-in slash fall out with KLM, spend a dreadfully boring day at the RAI for a trade show, hence resulting in Queen Trivia Post. |  Amsterdam full set

Then, on to the Middle East, Manama, Bahrain, where, yes, I rode a camel and smoked the hookah. It was a great month of traveling, but I sure was glad to crawl back into my bed. | Bahrain full set.

March: Music + Medicine

March began my first experience with my bad year of health. But before that, as with every year around SXSW, Houston gets some stellar shows coming to town. We were lucky to get two of my all time favs in a period of 4 days: Wilco and My Morning Jacket. The day after the MMJ show, Michelle and I drove to Austin for the night to attend the SXSW Rock Band party. We had a blast catching up with Gwen + Joel, met both Pete Cashmore and Marianne for the first time, and proceed to try on every single winter item of my cousin’s coat rack. Promise it was MUCH funnier at the time. Hell, maybe it’s funny now. “Let it snow, biatch.” This was probably the first time Michelle and I realized we would be friends forever.  “I love animals.” | SXSW Rock Band Party full dr. miggy set.

On Good Friday, i didn’t attend Mass.  And maybe I should have. I came down with a horrible pain in my stomach, which turned out to be, wait for it….waaaait for it…APPENDICITIS! Whoo-hoo!  Yep, I needed an emergency appendectomy Friday night. I still have a hard time believing it. I mean, how random?

If i learned anything this year, it’s that things never go as planned. My old roommate doesn’t call me Drama-ica for nuthin’. Of course, once they got in to do the surgery, they discovered that my appendix was hiding behind some important organs. So, instead of doing the nice and clean laproscopy, they had to do the old fashioned cut. Brilliant. Huge scar. Perfect.

Big thanks to Matthew who kept me company in the hospital for 3 days, Michelle who came to visit, but I feel asleep while she was there (“nobody likes sticking their finger in their eyeball!”), Stefanie and Paul for bringing by the portable DVD player (which I JUST returned last week), Shekara, Kasey, Jaime, Jill, Matt and the boys, and Mom and Dad.  Did I miss anyone? Lesson Leanred:  Demerol is AWESOME! (but not  awesome for remembering hospital guests.)

before

after

So that’s all for today.  The first quarter of 2008.  That was exhausting just recapping it!  Much more to come.  So check back everyday for a new month’s recap.

Tags: 2008 wrap-up, music, surgery, travel, yearly recap

This Mojito Is Neato

It’s been a long year. And, yes, I realize we are only half way through it. But, it’s been a long year. And on the heels of a company acquisition, a successful Caroline launch, a healing appendectomy, and a tired mind and, at times, a heavy heart, I headed for the border, and pulled Michelle along with me.

Below are some pics from a relaxing, much needed break from reality (all taken from my iPhone might i add). Rivieria Maya was beautiful, and just what we needed to re-energize us for the next 6 months. And expect great things!

[slideshow id=2810246167479903672&w=426&h=320]

Tags: mexico, photos, riviera maya, travel, vacation

Camel Toe

I totally rode a camel today.

It was pretty dark, so the pics and video didn’t come out that well. But, dude, I totally rode a camel.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSWnSXzUKeU]

Tags: bahrain, camel riding, camels, manama, travel, video

Smoking tha hookah

After taking us to ride camels today, our Saudi agent, and excellent volunteer tour guide, Mohammed, took us to his favorite hookah restaurant.

I had never toked the Hookah before, so Bryan and Mohammed were fine making fun of teaching me. Hey, it’s not as easy as it looks.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wn72cxfzqF0]

Tags: bahrain, hookah pipe, manama, travel, video

Still no sign of Jacko

Ok, so my Bahrain mission to find the King of Pop has proven fruitless. However, I did find a hilarious You Tube video of a Filipino prison choreographing Thriller.

Today one of our Saudi agents for the show took us to the Bahrain Fort. The site is believed to have been constructed around 2800 BC, and is subsequently overlaid by various fortified settlements. The last was built during the 16th century to defend recent acquisition of Portugal. The Bahrain Fort is also known as the Portuguese Fort, due to this reason.

Tomorrow: camel rides!

Some pics and video of the Fort: (sorry in advance for the wonky camera work on the video.)

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ls4Lx1Nm6EE]

Tags: bahrain, bahrain fort, manama, photos, Portuguese Fort, travel, video

I hate KLM. For various reasons.

So, things have been pretty smooth traveling wise during this 3 week stint. Of course, aside from the 8 hour hellish delay at IAH, oh, and that little issue of my house almost imploding on itself the first week I was away. But besides those incidents, I’ve had a pretty drama-less travel experience. Silly me to think it would last.

I’ll make this short: #1 because I’m exhausted, and #2 the more I tell about it the more it makes me want to strangle 3 airport workers. (Is that gonna be pick up on some terrorist spider?) Kidding, kidding.

I check in to Schipol airport for my Bahrain flight, print out boarding pass. Easy enough. I’m getting good at this stuff. Go to counter to drop bag. Bag(s). With an “s”. I’m traveling for 2 weeks straight. An “s” at the end of “bag” would be expected. Si? Eh, not so much, says KLM. I’m allowed 20 kilos (about 40 lbs). That said, I’m a pretty light packer. Not one of those gals whose shoe to day ratio is 3 to 1. I’m practical. I have one medium sized bag for 2 weeks, plus a carry on. However, since I’m attending tradeshows, I have an extra bag with tradeshow stuff. Two bags. One person. About 40 kilos. 20 more than KLM allows. So, what’s a girl to do? I ask.

KLM baggage drop girl (<—official title): “Well, you can throw out 20 kilos.”

me (kinda laughing): “You want me to THROW AWAY 20 kilos of my stuff.”

KLMBDG: “Well, yes ma’am, unless you want to pay extra to send this bag through.”

me (not laughing anymore): “How much?”

KLMBDG: “It’s a lot.” <—-her ACTUAL answer.

me (growing impatient): “How much?”

KLMBDG: “A lot.” <—-still, her actual response.

me: blank stare

her: “400 Euro”

me: still blank stare. then a maniacal laugh. (thinking she doesn’t know what’s about to happen.)

me: “Well, YOU tell ME. If this was you, what would YOU do?”

Voices raise. I am pissed. Supervisor comes. I have no choice but to pay the nearly $600 dollars (go on, read that one again). Ok course i can’t do that from that window. It’s a differnt window, at the other end of the airport. AWESOME! Get to THAT window, my credit card don’t work. AWESOME! End up paying $600 of my own money. AWESOME. Rush to gate. Oh, what? No gate G34? After rushing to the end of the airport?! Oh, that’s my seat number?! I’m at gate A3? At the OTHER end of the airport? AWEEEEESOME!

Fun times, fun times.

Ok, I realize the next few paragraphs have nothing to do with anything above, or with each other for that matter. Cut me some slack. It’s a brain dump.

Could It Be?

No joke, standing at the gate in Amsterdam, ready to board for Bahrain. Overhead on airport loud speaker: “Will passenger Lil’ (im taking liberities with the spelling) Jon departing Amsterdam for flight 455 to Houston please report to the gate. You are holding up the plane and you bags will be pulled.” Could it be the Krunk Juice King? Would it be a stretch to believe he was in Amsterdam “Uhhnnn. What?!” Get low.

More reasons to hate KLM

This is a small thing, but when you’ve been ticked off all morning at traveling, those small things are the ones that getcha. Know how when you’re watching the inflight entertainment and the captain or flight attendant comes on the speaker to make an announcement? Well normally, the movie stops, and resumes when the announcement is over, right? Fair enough. Well, not so much at KLM Airlines. Not only does the movie NOT stop, the sound goes off, the FF and Rewind controls don’t work, so you are a watching a movie, not sound, while the announcement is repeats in 7 languages. So silly me, as soon as they finish, and it comes back on, I hit rewind. What happens? They come back on to repeat the announcement in Dutch. So i’m stuck watching the part i just watched without sound, now, at twice speed backwards. Awesome. I gave up and watched 30 Rock. And glad i did, because I was reminded by Mr. Tracy Jordon, to Kenneth the page, to “live every week….like it’s Shark Week!” Ah, what great advice.

What chew lookin’ at Willis?
Apparently, it’s perfectly normal to STARE at someone for over 30 seconds in foreign airports. WTF? If you think my new coat that I just bought in Amsterdam is hella cute, just SAY something. Don’t stare at me like I am an Alien. YES! A real life American. Go ahead, touch me. That will be 400 Euros.

Let’s look at the bright side: I REALLY like the way the girl in Perth waxed my eyebrows, and the cab driver in Bahrain was playing Timbaland when I got in. Score.

(p.s. Jenny, if you are reading this, I could have really used a Bloggess photoshopped KLM Sucks pic)

Tags: amsterdam, baggage, excess baggage, KLM sucks, travel