We're here!
I arrived in Orlando with Roy Turner last night. We slid into our Honda Element rental car at the airport and drove through a sunset sprinkled with raindrops and flashes of lightning. Here's to hoping that passes before Friday.
But no matter. I can hardly complain. With business strong and the weekend weather forecast clear of hurricanes, our buyer pre-registration numbers are ridiculously great--up almost 25 percent from last September. As we roll through the land of Mickey to I-Drive, I catch a "Surf Expo Marshalling Yard" sign at the Convention Cener. We also spot, in the dark, the wakeboarding Rail Jam venue, which is ahead of schedule and already looking amazing.
I can't contain my excitement. I'm a super dork! I'm the hyper one drinking the Red Bull in the office, shaking off the colleague jeering about exactly that. But, hey, being teased for having energy and passion is hardly something to be offended about. I'm flattered, actually.
OK, so back to us being in O-Town. A bunch of us meet with Pat Panakos to talk Rail Jam et al September 2008. We're in Orlando, so we're allowed to frequent chain restaurants but Cafe Tu Tu Tango is worth it regardless. Crazy good tapas and HAVE YOU TRIED THE CHOCOLATE CALZONE?
A clown makes us these ridiculous balloon hats as we start to talk "business." Kim, our Operations Manager, has a princess crown. I'm wearing a pink balloon Viking helmet and preaching why we need to get our exhibitors more stoked on events at the show. I feel ridiculous until I look across at Doog who is nodding slowly in his Yak horns or something. Once again, I have to remind myself, this is work. Wow. We're so lucky.
I'm looking across at the OCCC this morning. I can see the guys working on the Rail Jam pool. The massive purple-and-orange (sorry everyone it IS NOT BLUE, IT'S PURPLE. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN PURPLE) Surf Expo signs have already been hung outside on the front. Who knows what will come up this show. And I know I'll get teased for being this excited. For coming a day earlier.
///Today is 9/11 and I can't write a blog without mentioning that all day I'll have you all on my mind, especially those of you who survived it, and live with it, every day. I love you.