Day 122

Lets get it out of the way first. 30 is the new 20 baby! woooooooo! I have to start off by thanking Leah for the amazing words she wrote in my place yesterday. If anyone read that and didn't think I am incredibly lucky to have her in my life, then they need their head examined. I have read it only 5 times since I got home last night. It is beyond sweet. I've said ad nauseum on this blog how much I love her, so no need to rehash and make you all sick. But thank you so much my dear - you are truly the best.

Yesterday was interesting to say the least. I slept at MD's apartment and I didn't sleep well. I woke up several times throughout the night thinking about everything. All of the things I have on my plate - talking to my boss on Monday about moving, MD and the kids and their impending move, my mom, Leah and her job, all of the new responsibilities that I have been handed at work with this new large account, etc. Mostly though, I was thinking about my Dad. He was so much on my mind. Nobody was more creative and made a bigger deal of big birthdays, anniversaries, etc than dad. I kept thinking about how much I missed him yesterday morning. So I showered, shaved, and got dressed. I packed up my stuff and went in and gave MD a kiss on his head. I'm glad he was the one who I saw before I left for the trade show. I just needed to see some family at that point. He was half asleep and I have no idea if he even realized it, but it really meant a lot to me to see him on that day.

So I headed over to the Convention Center for the show. All day on my feet from 8-5 is really the way you want to spend your birthday. I said it the other day, the reality is that life doesn't stop for you on your birthday like it did when you were a kid. Do you think that Gordon Foodservice gave two shits that it was my 30th birthday? Of course not. On the good side of the day, I did meet all of the important contacts at GFS, so I at least got something out of it. Now for the bad side of it. For those of you who have never been to or worked at a trade show, it is absolute nightmare for the people working the booths. You are on your feet all day long with little to no break. I had no breaks because I was working the booth by myself (long story no need to bore you with it). The shows I work are Food shows where restaurant owners, bar owners, healthcare facility heads, and hotel managers walk around to fin new things to bring in. While disposables is one category, its mostly food, and fried food at that. You walk out smelling like you just spent 8 hours in a kitchen next to a fry cooker. You talk all day long pretty much non-stop about your product line. Let me tell you, as much as I like my job, this is the #1 thing in the industry that I hate. I have three more in consecutive weeks coming in April. When 5 PM EST hit, I packed up my booth and hit the road for a 4 hour drive home. Talk about your long day.

I spent the ride home literally on the phone for two and a half of the fours hours. I kept a list of messages I received or people I spoke to live yesterday - 35. I Much love to all of those who called or emailed me. I said this before, but as bad as my day was, what truly made it special was the amount of wishes from my friends. I am so lucky to have such a good group of people surrounding me. I have always known it, but seeing the love and support like that was an eye opening. So to all of you - MD, Ags, Max & Stacey, Jace, Mom, Jessica, Justin, Jaimo, Schneids, P, Gregg, Fritzer, Dave, Grandmom, Sheri, Aunt Jill, Beej, Jeremy & Amy, Scott, Lindsay, Rafal, Perl, Rebecca, Beth D, Jules, Kathy, Singer, Money, Gute, Sari, Forrest, Jen, Beth P, Brooke, Ally, Lauren, Uncle Kenny & Aunt Linda, Uncle Keith & Aunt Nancy, Debbie, Amy, Sean & Nancy, Jamie & Darren, Deena & Howie, and of course Leah - thanks for being a part of my birthday.

I am now "just your average 30 year old guy."

Song of the Day: "Fantasy" by Earth, Wind, and Fire