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hqueen13
<Insert Snazzy Title Here
Thanks, FEM, I'm looking forward to it!!
Just completed 5 days and 50 hours plus a 3 hour commute round trip each day working the horse expo. I'm SO EXHAUSTED. That also included helping to take care of the animals still, which meant getting up at 4:30 in the morning on Saturday morning to drive to my 2 friend's houses who were out of town to feed their animals before going back home to pick up my friend and head to the show. It took me until about 11:00 to actually wake up that day! Friday night I was so exhausted trying to get home (thankfully TM was in the car with me that night too!) that I forgot to turn my lights on getting back on the highway from getting gas, AND I drove the wrong way for almost 30 minutes, which meant driving BACK down the highway past everything we already passed and continuing on our way. I was so exhausted and upset I almost wanted to cry.
But I made it, and have $500.00 to put towards debt to show for it. That is going to enable me to bring my payments down to about $160.00 total monthly, which is a big help!
I worked the registration desk, which is something I hadn't done, but did for the brief day that I worked the show down here. BA, the gal that oversees the registration desk every year was impressed with me, and said so to the show coordinator, so it is highly likely that I'll have that job again next year at both shows. I would love to think it comes with a raise, but I really doubt that. It was fun, fast paced (most of the time, especially early in the show) and I got to meet lots of the vendors much more personally, which led to some great contacts. I picked up resources for getting some fencing to cost compare with Ramm fence, and found a source for an organic feed company that makes their own feeds and is based about an hour away and delivers to my area, and we also got hooked up with almost every chocolatier in the building and got lots of samples. That part was awesome, but I am sure I gained some weight along the way... BA taught me that bribing people with chocolate and candy is always helpful and that negotiations can always be worked out, and that I probably still say too much along the way. She was extremely kind in guiding me through helping people that had challenges, and offered support when the question outside of the scope of what I understood. I made suggestions for how to keep us better organized next year and only complained mildly about the lack of logical organization that we were working with.
We only had one REALLY bad presenter to deal with that was extremely rude to no less than 5 staff members that I was aware of, and otherwise almost everybody was happy, even after a challenging issue was resolved. I was able to help get 2 different people additional booth space which made them very happy (and the organizer...) and helped do favors for a couple other vendors that worked out nicely. It was exhausting, but a good show. I also reconnected with a friend, and made a new friend that both live in the area, so next year I should be able to stay at someone's house at least a few days to make the trip less stressful and keep more money in my pocket not paying for gas.
This week I have to catch up. The BF thankfully did laundry yesterday, so at least I have clothes to start the week, but I need to catch back up on all the other cleaning.
I made a connection with some folks that sell boots and they gave me a nice discount on 2 pair of ariat boots that have laces and zippers so I can lace them up tight enough, but also get in and out of them quickly. I have to buy 2 pair of boots to have them fit my odd shaped feet correctly, and they helped me out. They also are making their own line of boots that they are about to sell, and since they are the boot makers they are willing to sell them to me at 50% off which means paying regular price AND getting boots that fit my feet. They can also use the odd boot as a display, so I don't have to worry about throwing out a perfectly good shoe. I need to call them in a week or so because they were still waiting on the boots to get out of customs. I told the gal that I would be a customer for life if they can help me out, and I fully expect to be able to do so. I'm grateful that they are willing to work with me as not many places are.
It was a good week, but a challenging one. I'm glad its over for another year, if it came more often I don't know that I could handle it.
On Saturday the BF worked at his new part time job moving furniture for a company that rents furniture for weddings and such. He enjoyed it and the company has quite a bit of opportunity opening up, so I am looking forward to getting to know these folks better.
That's about all that has happened around here. Lots of driving and working and driving and working....
Just completed 5 days and 50 hours plus a 3 hour commute round trip each day working the horse expo. I'm SO EXHAUSTED. That also included helping to take care of the animals still, which meant getting up at 4:30 in the morning on Saturday morning to drive to my 2 friend's houses who were out of town to feed their animals before going back home to pick up my friend and head to the show. It took me until about 11:00 to actually wake up that day! Friday night I was so exhausted trying to get home (thankfully TM was in the car with me that night too!) that I forgot to turn my lights on getting back on the highway from getting gas, AND I drove the wrong way for almost 30 minutes, which meant driving BACK down the highway past everything we already passed and continuing on our way. I was so exhausted and upset I almost wanted to cry.
But I made it, and have $500.00 to put towards debt to show for it. That is going to enable me to bring my payments down to about $160.00 total monthly, which is a big help!
I worked the registration desk, which is something I hadn't done, but did for the brief day that I worked the show down here. BA, the gal that oversees the registration desk every year was impressed with me, and said so to the show coordinator, so it is highly likely that I'll have that job again next year at both shows. I would love to think it comes with a raise, but I really doubt that. It was fun, fast paced (most of the time, especially early in the show) and I got to meet lots of the vendors much more personally, which led to some great contacts. I picked up resources for getting some fencing to cost compare with Ramm fence, and found a source for an organic feed company that makes their own feeds and is based about an hour away and delivers to my area, and we also got hooked up with almost every chocolatier in the building and got lots of samples. That part was awesome, but I am sure I gained some weight along the way... BA taught me that bribing people with chocolate and candy is always helpful and that negotiations can always be worked out, and that I probably still say too much along the way. She was extremely kind in guiding me through helping people that had challenges, and offered support when the question outside of the scope of what I understood. I made suggestions for how to keep us better organized next year and only complained mildly about the lack of logical organization that we were working with.
We only had one REALLY bad presenter to deal with that was extremely rude to no less than 5 staff members that I was aware of, and otherwise almost everybody was happy, even after a challenging issue was resolved. I was able to help get 2 different people additional booth space which made them very happy (and the organizer...) and helped do favors for a couple other vendors that worked out nicely. It was exhausting, but a good show. I also reconnected with a friend, and made a new friend that both live in the area, so next year I should be able to stay at someone's house at least a few days to make the trip less stressful and keep more money in my pocket not paying for gas.
This week I have to catch up. The BF thankfully did laundry yesterday, so at least I have clothes to start the week, but I need to catch back up on all the other cleaning.
I made a connection with some folks that sell boots and they gave me a nice discount on 2 pair of ariat boots that have laces and zippers so I can lace them up tight enough, but also get in and out of them quickly. I have to buy 2 pair of boots to have them fit my odd shaped feet correctly, and they helped me out. They also are making their own line of boots that they are about to sell, and since they are the boot makers they are willing to sell them to me at 50% off which means paying regular price AND getting boots that fit my feet. They can also use the odd boot as a display, so I don't have to worry about throwing out a perfectly good shoe. I need to call them in a week or so because they were still waiting on the boots to get out of customs. I told the gal that I would be a customer for life if they can help me out, and I fully expect to be able to do so. I'm grateful that they are willing to work with me as not many places are.
It was a good week, but a challenging one. I'm glad its over for another year, if it came more often I don't know that I could handle it.
On Saturday the BF worked at his new part time job moving furniture for a company that rents furniture for weddings and such. He enjoyed it and the company has quite a bit of opportunity opening up, so I am looking forward to getting to know these folks better.
That's about all that has happened around here. Lots of driving and working and driving and working....
Oh my goodness! I don't know how you kept that schedule up for 5 days! But, despite the exhaustion it does seem that you made some great connections. Glad you found a boot company that will work with you. Hope you can get some rest - you deserve it!
