BEST OF THE BEST

I normally do not blog about work, but every once in a mile an exception needs to happen.  I was honored at work a few weeks ago and was named the Best of the Best Executive in the Fashion Valley store.  I was shocked and honored...the Sales Professional honored with me was Daniel Reyes, who is a wonderful, wonderful man.  The prize involved many things, but the most important was a trip to NY to be honored with winners from all of the other Bloomingdale's stores.  This is the story of that trip.

A limousine arrived at my house at 5:30 AM April 26th for my ride to the airport.  Unfortunately, I overslept and was awakened in a panic at 5:10 AM.  I was out to the car at 5:35 and swore my driver, Lou, to secrecy.

At the airport, Daniel, Cathy and I all hooked up for our flight.  Daniel had never been to New York.  I think I was almost as excited to see Daniel's expression at seeing the city, the plane ride, everything.

We boarded are plane excited by the incredible adventure onto which we embarked...settled in...with everyone in and seated the adventure began, literally...

We began our taxi out to the runway.


Cathy-- are we ready for takeoff??


Nooooooo, we are headed back to the terminal.

 

A little mechanical trouble we heard.

Finally, ready to go again, we were humming Dusty Springfield....wishin' and hopin'

We all settled in for the flight...again!

We began our taxi out to the runway.


Cathy-- are we ready for takeoff??


Nooooooo, we are headed back to the terminal.

This time we were at the terminal soooooo long that we decided to do a "Proof of Life" photo, so if anyone came looking for us they would know when we disappeared!!

Hours later we arrived at JFK....my partners in flight had a few ear issues.

Daniel was so excited to be in New York.

 Even our luggage said Best of the Best!!

 Those of you who know me know that I take pictures incessantly....I do not think Cathy fully understood my obsession.  She actually was trying to out picture me!!!

Cathy said at least with the weather and arriving at 7:30 we will have missed traffic...nice theory.  Seriously does Daniel ever take a bad picture??

We arrived at the Waldorf=Astoria (and yes, it is a double hyphen) to a fabo room and BOTB gifts....

When you slip through the door on the right (above) there is a dressing room, and I looked at the double doors and felt as though a treasure lay behind....yes, you would think I had discovered King Tuthankaman's tomb....a fabulous bathtub.

We headed off to dinner with friends from other stores at Balthazar in Soho.

We had a wonderful time, fabulous food, beginning with the star of the show...

PLATeaux DE FRUITs DE MER Le BaLthazar

Let the frenzy begin....good food, good friends, time for a celebration!!

Aubrey Whitcomb--Newport Beach

Daniel and I

Southcoast Plaza:  Denise, Betty, and Jim

Cathy and Kathy Suto from Century City

(yes all people are named Cathy, Kathy, Cathi, Catherine, Kathleen)

The next morning it is off to breakfast at 59th Street, we loaded the bus, I mean coach.

We were driven to the 59th Street store, entering through the doors on 3rd Avenue, as we entered the store, all of  employees (hundreds of them) were lining the aisle saying "congraulations". I actually started to cry--it was simply incredible.  When we got to the elevators to go up to the fifth (I think) floor the doors opened and there it was....BOTB.

When we got off the elevator there was a red carpet leading to the breakfast.  Cathy is saying, "What are you doing?"  Taking the Daniel elevator picture, of course.

Then we went downstairs---who said "Their won't be trumpets"  Sondheim actually but he was wrong.  I made them have a do-over so I could get the shot!!

We went downstairs to see the windows on Lexington...shrouded by a sign that said:

Best of the Best

Like no other Co-Workers in the World!

Even Charles Anderson was looking to the trumpets.

 A few words and then the unveiling!!

Having lived in New York and walked by these windows many many times, it is just unbelievable to be featured in them!!  

Daniel was going to have "The Royal Shave" from The Art of Shaving installation in the store

  

Then we were off to the Natural History Museum for a tour of "The Silk Road" and then the evening dinner at the Water Club. 

Then we were off to the Natural History Museum for a tour of "The Silk Road" and then the evening dinner at the Water Club. 

 The weather was beautiful....as were we!

 

Again, has the man ever taken a bad picture?

The weather was perfect (it had rained all day!!)

The venue was beautiful.  As the sun went down the room glittered.  There were two parts to the entertainment:  a gentleman whose name I cannot remember, ran up and down the room singing show tunes with new words tailored to each person with personal bon mots of their lives.  He forgot no one and missed no words---more amazing for me because that night I do not think I could have remembered my own name.  

The other part of the entertainment were speeches about each of the winners.  It was an incredible group of people. The accomplishments of the winners were incredible:  ran a marathon for her mothers cancer, awards one underprivileged child a scholarship for college each year, plans on running two marathons in each state, runs six miles before work each morning, builds schools in Honduras--I knit at Padres games, that is it, I knit at Padres games.

I left the dinner wanting to be better.  Wanting to hone my skills, to make me better and better..worthy of the award "Best of the Best!"

The next morning we had breakfast, then off to Cipriani for the awards ceremony.  On the way there Cathy had the whole bus sing Happy Birthday to me.  We arrived at the venue and it was completely overwhelming!!

 As we entered, all rose and clapped.  The clapping seemed to go on forever.

We went to our seats!

 Then the speeches began!!!

 My moment in time.  Tony Spring then announced it was my birthday and all (rough estimate 1,500 people) yelled Happy Birthday to me!

We then went to lunch at Opia and headed back to San Diego. (psst it is upstairs!)

By the time we were at the end of our trip, whenever Daniel saw his name on anything he held it up for a photo op!

A nice glass of wine at the airport and we were headed home!

Some people slept...

...and then we were home!!

Exhausted!!! but happy!!!

All I have to say is that I want to encourage everyone to strive for this incredible...but not too hard because Daniel and I want to go back next year!!!

Like Arnold.....
I'll be back!!

PURLING AT PETCO 2010

It is that time of year again!!!  The time for all good Purlers and Padre fans to come together for that all American pasttime of Purling at Petco!!  It was a beautiful day for the opening salvo....just a hint that there might be rain.  Pshaw...rain!! This is San Diego.

Hundreds of Military Honor Guard brought out the giant flag that would cover the entire field.  It was very impressive.  They came out and then expanded so that the flag could be unfurled. Then the doves were released..and then RAIN!!  Back came the honor guard, back came the flag...hopefully the doves returned to their base of operations.

Henry likes our new seats for their closeness to the Pad Squad!!

Are these the perfect seats.....we were sooooo excited!!! They are perfect!!!  Correction....they were perfect....until the real owners of the seats arrived!!  These seats are the right number in the wrong section.  Our seats are to the left aboout 50 feet...a group of 6.  Still great seats!!

TOWELING OFF

Months ago when we painted the bedroom/bathroom, I decided to change my towel rack.  I gave my old wonderful fish rack to Betsy.  She currently hangs leashes etc on it.  I currently stack towels on the floor while awaiting inspiration for a new towel rack.  Today while looking at my most recent email from Design*Sponge (which I love, love, LOVE) I found this fabo towel rack.....is it the best ever or what!!  Of course with the size wall I have it would only hold washcloths, but seriously folks...this is what I'm talking about.

RELATIVE-LY SHORT VISIT

This week was my highly anticipated, long awaited visit from my niece Lauri the lovely and her incredible daughter, Maddy.

Our first day we took a road trip to Laguna Beach...it was such fun...

I love the look on the guys face in this picture!
Like any shy young lady at the beach on vacation--she had a Sound of Music moment!

I would use this as next year's Christmas card! If only she sings as well as she photographs!!

I had to work a couple of days so they took off to LA for fun and Cupcakes from

I had to work a couple of days so they took off to LA for fun and Cupcakes fromSprinkles
The original cupcake maker in Beverly Hills.
I was dieting sooooo I only had one bite (two bites) but I can tell you that it was quite simply the best cupcake I have ever had (or can remember having). There is nothing better than having someone else make a homemade cupcake for you to eat being purchased from a store.

Then we headed off to La Jolla and The Burger Lounge


We enjoyed truly the best Turkey Burger, Veggie Burger, and Veggie Salad anywhere!! everyone enjoyed themselves!

Then it was on to overlook the ocean

and the seals

and the pelicans

Yesterday, we wanted to go to the best brunch in town so we headed off to Hash House a Go Go....but there was an hour and a half wait so they called their sister restaurant The Tractor Room

The menu here is fabulous!!

Maddy started with Chocolate Milk like a good girl!

Then she ordered the "In Good Health" scramble: Egg white, tomato, mushroom, and fresh asparagus, homemade turkey sausage. This kid could make you insane with the healthy food choices.

Lauri then ordered (smile) Nutmeg French Toast with warm Carmelized Apples and toasted pecans. Thank God we had that to taste!! It was outrageous!

I was trying to be good so I ordered the Roasted Chicken Hash with crispy potatoes, fresh onions, garlic, fresh asparagus, house roasted chicken with two eggs.

Maddy and mine came with Cornbread (I had one bite) it was delish!!

We had a grand old time last night singing songs, playing scrabble, and drinking Limoncello!! Perfect end to a great (but too short) visit!!

INCREDIBLE ARTISTRY

Please do yourself a favor and play this clip from You Tube. It is quite incredible. Here are the details:

Miss Simonova, 24, drew a series of pictures on an illuminated sand table showing how ordinary people were affected by the German invasion during World War II.

The images, projected onto a large screen, moved many in the audience to tears and she won the top prize of about £75,000.

She begins by creating a scene showing a couple sitting holding hands on a bench under a starry sky, but then warplanes appear and the happy scene is obliterated.

It is replaced by a woman’s face crying, but then a baby arrives and the woman smiles again. Once again war returns and Miss Simonova throws the sand into chaos from which a young woman’s face appears.

She quickly becomes an old widow, her face wrinkled and sad, before the image turns into a monument to an Unknown Soldier.

This outdoor scene becomes framed by a window as if the viewer is looking out on the monument from within a house.

In the final scene, a mother and child appear inside and a man standing outside, with his hands pressed against the glass, saying goodbye.

The Great Patriotic War, as it is called in Ukraine, resulted in one in four of the population being killed with eight to 11 million deaths out of a population of 42 million.

She does all this with sand as you will see.

Do yourself a favor and watch this!! You will thank me later!