The end of the sweep

We finally made it back to Colorado and boy is it good to be home! It was quite a long road trip (4 weeks!) so it is nice to be in one place for more than two nights! Although it was good to get back to North Platte, that was way too long to be in Nebraska. I am so sick of corn and cows! So, its been great to see the mountains again, not to mention my family and friends!

We actually have this next week off! No work, no going to the office, nothing! I honestly don't know what I am going to do with myself. Although it will be nice to have a break, I would have no problem getting back to work tomorrow. I'm ready for a new adventure!

So, I will be working in the office for a few weeks and then I'm off to Tucson, Arizona for a month. Tucson will be one of our first cities for the January tour so I'm going early to get things ready. I certainly have no complaints about spending November and January in the nice, warm weather!

So, since I'm not really having any adventures in the office in Denver and the cast is in Japan, I probably won't be posting for awhile.... But I'll be sure you let you know when something new comes up!

Return to North Platte

We finally found the 2 headed cow! Stuffed of course, it only lived for 2 days... poor little buddy!
Kelly, Annette, Jim and myself with a message for my "host brothers" who are in Japan! We missed them as we were drinking our wine, eating Annette's fabulous cooking and as Kelly and Jim were getting musical!

Just for you Mom!

back in South Dakota

So, we survived Wisconsin and Minnesota and I'm back in Sioux Falls. We are meeting with the Local Organizing Committee in a bit to get an evaluation of how things went here. Tomorrow we have a couple of interviews with potential students at University of South Dakota and then we're off to Nebraska. Unfortunately, this is where we leave Kevin. He is heading to Kansas alone while Kelly and I sweep through the Cornhusker State. We are stopping in Omaha and Lincoln and then go back to North Platte. I am excited to go back (who ever would have thought!) and see all the wonderful people I got to know so well there. Although I am excited about North Platte, I'm even more excited to get back to Denver. This is the longest I've ever been away I think. I miss my family, friends and the mountains sooo much! I already have a busy weekend planned for when I get back- I have to fit everything in before I have to leave again.
Although I learned a lot in my cities, I believe I am learning even more on this road trip. Maybe not about business or the world, but about myself. I've learned how much I crave stability and organization. I have learned to be more spontaneous and flexible. I realize not everyone works just like me and I need to be perceptive to others' working styles. I've learned how much I need alone time- pretty much the only time I am alone is in the bathroom!! I am very much a "people person" but sometimes I just want to shut the door on the world and be by myself! Don't get me wrong, I am having the time of my life, but its amazing how different life is "on the road". I couldn't do this forever, that is for sure. Who knows where this job will eventually take me, but I will enjoy this while it lasts!
Speaking of.... time to get to work!!

I miss you all and can't wait to see you again!
Love,
Sam

more pics from our travels...

at the Mall of America in Minneapolis, MN












Our host family in Minneapolis...
Cathy, Chris, Kyle and Chloe DeGraff