Back from conference

I returned from the APPA National Conference yesterday. It was a tiring but rewarding week. I had a chance to meet the members and customers that I communicate with on the telephone every day and they enjoyed getting the chance to meet me as well. I had a chance to see the vendor expo that I help organize every single year. My main goal was checking in the vendors and answering their questions. It was important that I do this since I work on this aspect of the conference from start to finish. At the meeting, a 70th anniversary time capsule was unveiled and a documentary film (produced by two APPA staffers) was premiered. Nothing to newsworthy happened at the event. I also got to enjoy evenings out at restaurants meeting with members and vendors. I am looking forward to next year's conference in Washington, DC. I will get to take people I know to favorite hangouts and other places around the city. See you in Washington in 2011!

APPA National Conference

I am off to APPA's National Conference in Orlando, FL this weekend through Tuesday. There will be a lot of great presentations, a huge vendor expo (which I will be helping out with) and a lot of functions and other events. This is my first business trip and first conference, so I am looking forward to this.

No work today

Washington is trying to dig out from this weekend's storm and I did not have work today. The Metro still isn't even running above ground yet. This is a concern for me because I am going to Florida on Thursday and would like to get some work off the plate before I take off. We are also expected to get a few more inches of snow on Tuesday. They have not determined exactly how much but one can only wonder where it will all go. It is interesting how snow removal can be such a nuisance but in a few months said snow will not even exist.

Office pool

I won the office pool even before the National Championship game tips off. I did not think I would with so many favorites. I will still be rooting for North Carolina tonight.

Quiet day at work

Today there was a significant snow storm in the Washington, DC area. I was hoping for a day off but they would only do that in rare circumstances as we follow the federal government schedule and the government "still has to function" regardless of the severity of the weather. Still many of my coworkers took the liberty of taking "unscheduled leave" which made for a less than hectic day in the office. Being only a five to six minute walk from the Metro station I don't have too much difficulty to get to the office (and I don't have the option of working from home). The best part of the day-I got to leave early and get my taxes done!

Work Today

Busy day today at work and the best is yet to come. We are getting ready for the Legislative Conference next week as well as the Engineering and Operations Conference which will be in March instead of April. I will be present at the legislative conference, known to us as "Leg Rally." It should be really exciting with the new Congress and administration here in town. At this conference they discuss the legislative issues and their positions and go to Capitol Hill to lobby. Most importantly, staff makes sure to come on an empty stomach-there is plenty to eat and drink! This year I won't have to worry about going to class or capstone group meetings afterwards.