I’m prone to unlucky circumstances when traveling, I call it the Brown Cloud. The Brown Cloud is usually over my head whenever I travel away from home and my trip to Orlando for the Golf Industry Show was no different.

At least when the Brown Cloud struck this morning It was something I could almost laugh at, a comedy of errors.

Bill had to be up and out early, leaving me to sleep in and grab breakfast before I would meet him over at the trade show.

At a little after 7 I threw a sweatshirt on over my pajamas and down to the lobby I went to grab probably the most pathetic “continental breakfast” one has ever seen. I decided that I would have waffles, so I pour the batter into the waffle maker and close the lid. The stupid thing immediately started to beep…LOUDLY. I walked away, put a bagel in the toaster and grabbed a cup of coffee.

Ah the coffee.

Cheap styrofoam cup plus releasing the button late equals certain disaster. I pick up my cup and turn towards the still beeping waffle maker and burning hot coffee runs down my hand. Not just burning hot, made on the surface of the sun hot. Molten lava fresh from the center of the earth hot. MAGMA hot!

I may have let out a small squeak but I honestly don’t know because I was too busy seeing stars.

I head over to the waffle maker…which is STILL beeping away angrily.

By this time people are laughing, staring and coming over to help the stupid girl in her pajamas, with the third degree burns on her hand figure out how to operate the waffle maker. I begin to wrestle with the thing finally beating it into submission. Two and a half minutes until my waffles are ready.

Just enough time to realize how bad my hand hurts.

The only thing worse than being burnt by a cup of coffee is being burnt by a bad cup of coffee and that cup was the worst I’ve ever had. Take a cup of dirty dishwater and drink it and you’ll have an idea of what I was dealing with.

I returned to my room and as I examined my burnt fingers I had decided that enough was enough!

There was a Starbucks half a mile in the opposite direction of the convention center. A mile was a short distance to walk for a decent cup a coffee to help heal my burnt hand and bruised ego.

I showered…with one hand since the water burned my already burnt hand, got dressed and headed off for my Venti triple skinny vanilla latte with light foam.

Two and a half miles, and a trip to CVS for some burn cream, later I arrived at the trade show with my rather large cup of coffee, feeling triumphant and ready to start the day.

There is very little that a Starbucks latte won’t fix for me. See you later Brown Cloud.

After last week where I recovered from vacation and was thrown back into a full work week, this week got even crazier. A work trip that took me clear to the other side of the country. It was fast and it was furious and I’m ready for one of those vacations where you lay around and do nothing. Alas, I will not get one.

Enjoy this little look into my life.

Sunday.

Packing up to head out again. My suitcase is more organized than it looks.

Monday.

I’m sitting at my desk, minding my own business when I get an email from Bank of America that there is suspicious activity on my credit card. 30 fraudulent charges later I’m shredding my card. This time I’m thankful it’s not my debit card since I leave in less than 24 hours.

Tuesday.

I love the Comfort+ section on Delta flights. I call it First Class Light, free drinks, free movies and extra legroom without the giant First Class price tag. I enjoyed a Blue Moon on my way to San Diego.

Wednesday.

I’m more of a lone wolf when it comes to running, I prefer to go out alone. That being said it was a lot of fun (and quite challenging) to head out at 6:30AM with this lot. This group is all Turf Industry professionals who love to run.

There is something special about running along the water in San Diego.

Thursday.

These little drinks were in the technology booth (where I spent a lot of time). All it is is Red Bull with a special wrap on the can. I’ve had Red Bull before, no problem.

This Red Bull gave me wings alright, I seriously felt high after every can. I kept going back for more too. What was in that can? Crack?

Friday.

With the conference finally behind us, it was time to relax and enjoy our eleventh anniversary. We spent the day exploring Coronado Island, sitting by the pool and just decompressing.

We had our anniversary dinner at a tasty Italian place right on the water, looking back at San Diego.

Saturday.

Just like that…It’s all over.

Saturday was our day of travel, we left the hotel on the island at 6AM and walked in the door at 10PM. During our incredibly long layover in Atlanta we took advantage of the Delta Sky Club. Food, drinks, comfy places to sit in a quiet area made the layover easier to take.

There you have it. I’m hoping to kind of ease back into things this week but I’m sure it’ll get crazy and chaotic in no time.

How was your week? Anything exciting happen?