Finished it Friday #9

Another Friday has rolled around...can you believe it?



I've been out of town this week at a business meeting, but I've had one very important finish...

 

In fact, my term ends today...and while some of you are reading this, I'll be in the middle of handing over the reigns at our annual conference. SoCRA - The Society of Clinical Research Associates - is a 13,500+ member volunteer professional organization and I've had the honor and priveledge to be their President this past year.   I still can't believe it.

And I can't believe it's over.

I'm so sad to see this one go.  I've learned so much...about leadership, teaching others, staying calm, and when to step up.  I've sat through many lectures on leadership in the past, but this past year I was able to put them into practice.  It's been fun and it's been busy.  This week, however, is all about relishing it.  As a thank you during each annual conference, the outgoing President gets the red-carpet treatment.  This is my year.  My family is with me in San Diego, where we enjoyed a limo ride from the airport (a first for my boys)...


And the Presidential suite.



Still dumbfounded over this one, and I've been here three days!  Three bedrooms, three baths, a living room and dining area with a bar.  Fabulous.

So, quite obviously, on the sewing front, not much happened this week as my sewing machine is about 3,000 miles away.  I finished some bee blocks that were long overdue last weekend, and was able to get them out on Monday.

Both the August and September blocks were Wonky Stars based on this tutorial by the Silly BooDilly.  I think I can count myself as a "pro" on these now.  And I have to admit, they were quite fun and quite easy.  My favorite combination!  :)






Of course, I'm itching to get back to my sewing space and get going on a few things.  Summit is coming up and I'm so excited!  I've got most of the things I need for my sew-alongs gathered up, just need to pack them.  While there I'll be working on a tote bag, a clutch pouch, and a zippered pouch.  I'm also participating in a charm-square swap.  Can't wait!

But enough about me!!  It's your turn - I'm missing my machine, so I need to live vicariously though you!  Tell me, tell me...what did you finish?

the job I could never have...

Seriously.  I think I'd die of hunger first.

Don't forget - I'm 21 floors up, and this just across the street, from my office window.

Not really sure what they are doing, as they took the fronts off the letters over two weeks ago and only got the "&" back up today.

Wonder if they get weekends off?

the view from here

In October, my office moved from a small three-story building to a high rise.  Well, into a "high rise" by North Carolina standards, at least.  I went from a second-floor dreary, dark cubicle (*gag*) to a wonderful, window office on the 21st floor, facing west.  I'm not sure what I'm more excited about...the view or the fact that I now have floor-to-ceiling walls!  (Ah, the little things....).

My office is actually higher than the neighboring building (haha!) and I there is a pair of hawks that will often play in the air currents between the two buildings.  You can also see the Appalachian Mountains in horizon, though they aren't showing up quite as well as I had hoped.  Thanks to a couple of late-afternoon conference calls, I've actually seen some amazing sunsets.  No pics of them, though...sorry.

Since moving in, I often find myself gazing at the window, watching the activity below.  I'm not in a bustling city, but there is still quite a bit going on.  I hear sirens several times a day and I'm, quite literally, right beside Interstate 40, so the crazy drivers traffic always gives me something fun to watch.  Below you can see our new baseball field right in the center.  Just to the upper right of it is the Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center...oy, say that five times fast.  I actually work for them, but my department is off the main campus.

My favorite view however, is this one, just north of west...

Yup... I love it.  

For the non locals, this is Pilot Mountain.  If you are lucky enough to have grown up watching The Andy Griffith Show, you'll recognize the name "Mount Pilot".  This is it.  The fictional town of Mayberry was based on a real town called Mt. Airy, which is near Pilot Mountain.  My grandmother lives in King, a city near Mt. Airy, and when we would travel to see her my mom would always make a game out of who saw the mountain first.  I still hear the chant, "I see Pilot Mountain! I see Pilot Mountain!" ringing in my ear.

Right in front of the mountain is Wait Chapel, on the campus of Wake Forest University.  Wake is my alma mater and very dear to my heart.  Pair that with the childhood memories and you've got one awesome view.  I can gaze at it seemingly forever.  

Finally, just to give an idea of the height, I've got one last picture... the view down.  

Yeah.  I don't get too close to the window...and I certainly don't lean on it.  I wish there was a person down there for scale, but the trees kinda help.

Hope you enjoyed a glimpse into my daytime world!

las vegas

I promised Las Vegas photos - so here there are.

Not much to look at, really, just my suite. Now, you all know I've never denied acting like a princess, but this weekend I finally got to live it out. 

**grin**

Because my group had a large meeting at the hotel, in addition to the Board Meeting, they gave us two VIP rooms.  One went to the CEO (and his wife), and the other to me.  And it included a limo ride.  All given to us by the hotel. No pictures of the actual limo...sorry. But it was charcoal gray and looked a lot like this...

...and, let me tell you, it beat the heck out of a cab ride.  Just sayin'.

When I got to the hotel, I was shuttled to Diamond Check-In (bypassing about 50 people in line!) and given keys to a "Celebrity Suite".  Nice.

So here's the view from the front door...

Another view of the living room/bar/dining area...

Just off the main area was my bedroom... with a kickin', holy-cow-it's-as-big-as-my-bedroom bathroom.

To give a little perspective, the bed is king-size, and that's a sitting couch in front of it.  The sunken bathtub was easily built for two. It even had a little make-up area, with lights and a small stool to sit on.  Princess-worthy for sure.

Then, just off the bedroom, there was even a little exercise area.  

The electronics on the bike didn't work, but otherwise it was nice to have that in the privacy of my own room.  I didn't even hit the gym (even though I was given free access).  

While I was there, I was considered a "Diamond" member, which also gave me front-of-the-line access to all of the restaurants.  I only used it at breakfast on Saturday, though, since the rest of the meals were basically provided as part of the meeting.  

I can't begin to tell you how fun it was - though I do wish hubby could have been there with me.  Things like this are hard to enjoy alone.  I'm so very thankful that I had the chance to stay in a room this nice.  It was so wonderful - even if it was Vegas.  :)