Tuesday 6 Feb 2007  

Home again. I really don't like jet lag. I think all of us who travelled are feeling the effects with early nights and early mornings.

Overall the trip has been good. There was a lot of work to do this trip but I still managed to have fun as well which was good. Though I have never been so cold in my life - regularly below 0oC + windchill. You'll see plenty of jackets, scarves, earmuffs, gloves etc in all the photos.

Sunday 4 Feb 2007  

Today is the last day. Our flight is at 6.40pm and whilst it has been good, all of us are eager to get home. I was actually ready for home a few days ago. So after a late checkout and a late lunch, we finally bundled ourselves into the ubiquitous yellow cab and off to the airport.  

I love Frequent Flyers! I’ve just been upgraded to Silver class and the flight attendant checking in my bags comp’d me into the Transit Lounge (where I’m now enjoying complimentary snacks and drinks prior to boarding) and has done all he can to secure an emergency aisle seat for me. Love it! But I’m not looking forward to this long flight home though I am looking forward to coming home.  

Saturday 3 Feb 2007  

I feel better today though I still have the remnants of a cold. A few others are going sightseeing so I decide to join them. Today we travelled on the free ferry to Staten Island and had a quick look around. The highlight of Staten Island was the very comfy bar/restaurant where we had lunch and the gorgeous old theatre that was recently revived and renovated. (photos attached)  

After the return trip on the ferry, which has a fantastic view of the Statue of Liberty and Manhattan Island, and freezing ourselves to the bone on the deck of the ferry, we decided to trip to the Uptown Manhattan where the museum Mile is located and have a look through a museum. The museum of choice was the Met museum (a favourite) and whilst I love that museum, it was tiring spending more time walking around.  

We managed to find a great little chicken grill place for dinner before jumping back on the Subway and heading back to the hotel.  

There was a dance party happening tonight but with my cold, sore feet and sore body, I just don’t think I’ll enjoy it. Plus, I still have to pack and I want to get a good night’s sleep.  

Friday 2 Feb 2007  

I woke this morning and felt atrocious. This was not going to be a good day. As it was, I woke late and my colleagues across the hall also slept late. I bid them good luck as I disappeared back into my room to recover and knock a coming cold on its head. I spent most of the day dozing until I finally got up and made it to the nearest Duane and Reade for some pharmaceutical help and then to the local café for food.  

And then back to bed.  

Thursday 1 Feb 2007  

Today was a day for sleeping in…and in…until 10 when we had a meeting which then went on for a while, but it was good to review all our leads, strategies etc. We didn’t do much else in the afternoon. I did manage to get some shopping done which was good. I still reckon my best purchase was a pair of earmuffs for 4USD from a sidewalk vendor. Those things were lifesavers.

Wed 31 January 07

The Trade Show is over! After 3 exhausting days, talking with hundreds of Americans and working the laptop, TIME OUT! I’ve, again, had to be very careful not to pick up any American lingo like “Neat” or “Super” and to say “Pro-cessing” not “Prah-cessing”. I’ve finally got a night to just crash so I’m doing that. We have a team meeting tomorrow morning and then the rest of the time is our own so I think I’ll be going to the theatre tomorrow night with a few others.

It has been bitterly cold every day in New York so I’ve been layering up to protect against the cold, but the wind is the killer – it just whips around any exposed skin (usually the face) and chills to the bone. It is regularly below 0oC during the day plus wind AND I hear it’s hot and humid in Australia. *Greaaat*.

There’s also more snow around so there are some very picturesque moments where the (few) parks have a light covering of snow and the streets have a disgusting mush of snow, salt and dirt in the gutter and footpath. *Charming*

Every night so far I’ve collapsed into bed between midnight and 2am with all the work and prep I’ve been doing, but I’m determined to crash earlier tonight.

Tuesday 30 January 07

More trade show today. It’s very tiring and I am over talking about the same thing. Our product has a few limitations which make it a difficult sell to some prospective clients and we know what these limitations are and have scheduled resources to work on them over the next 6 months but it’s very frustrating to be able to see the need and how to fulfil it but just can’t quite make it happen. We have one day left at the trade show and then a few days to see the sights.

Also, the basketball was prohibitively expensive and the ice hockey was sold out – so no basketball or ice hockey match for us this time but we’re trying to get to the theatre. I may have convinced a few colleagues to come dancing on Saturday night, which would be lots of fun.

Oh well. I’m very tired but can’t really waste a night in NY according to my friends here so we’re off to dinner somewhere. Maybe Planet Hollywood in Times Square or Little Italy. I fancy a pizza.

…

I knew I was tired and working too much on the computer when I looked at myself in the mirror in front of the computer and saw the reflection of the computer monitor in my eyes. I had become a true square eye…for now.

…

Tonight I increased my cancer risk 100 fold by walking through Times Square at night with millions of watts of neon light radiating me. I guess that goes with the risk of travelling in a NY taxi. Dinner was with friends at Planet Hollywood which was fun. I discovered root beer is double sarsaparilla and is disgusting. Dessert was Dunkin’ Donuts cream filled donut with chocolate icing and a hot chocolate which went down sooooo well.

I have been having fun wandering around the NY Hilton and Manhattan streets in a suit and stylin’ it up!

Monday 29 January 07

First day of trade show

Early start at 7.30 at local cafe/deli

Setup and started tradeshow. Very busy. On the go all day. Lunch at 3.30. Talking with many people, demos with many people. Again, I was reminded of all the money and ego that floats around the conference. There are thousands of lawyers, litigators and technical people who comprise this seething mass of hungry sellers and buyers, all vying for one another’s business. We have met some very nice people in our discussions and had some very positive meetings. If only we could convert that positive feedback into sales!

5pm Cocktail party drinks with clients and potential clients at club 21 on 52nd st which is a very ornate, cosy Victorian style building in the middle of shiny skyscrapers. The finger food and service was exceptional and we had excellent opportunities to speak with clients and prospects. On the whole, it was a very good evening, where everyone who attended commented on how great the team is and what a great drinks evening. The evening of the first day of LegalTech is traditionally a hot competition for companies providing drinks. But we managed to pull some key people to the company which was very exciting.  

I had a very interesting encounter with an American woman from another vendor at the trade show who claimed I looked a lot like her idol, DJ AM (who is currently dating Mandy Moore - apparently). So much so, that she got a magazine with a photo in it to compare with me. I had no idea who DJ AM is, but there were some similarities (I guess).

After the cocktail party, drinks continued (of course) at the Hilton with clients and friends. I haven't been drinking any alcohol so I feel pretty good (even though it is now 12.30am).

Sleep in tomorrow...7.45

Sunday 28 January 2007

Good brekkie again. I don’t think I could survive the morning without brekkie.

We had a quick trip to the Hilton to setup for LegalTech. I had forgotten how much our lives our in the hands of NY cab drivers. The road lanes are only suggestions as the insane rush of yellow machines collect and disperse human cargo all over the city.

We had some light snow and rain last night, which made it very *pleasant* walking home.

I had lots of fun at an afternoon Lindy Swing workshop for 4 ½ hours. After relentless discussions with others in the team, I may just get almost everyone to a dance party next weekend…here’s hoping!

The day was capped off with a long prep session for the conference tomorrow. I spent a couple of hours with Paulien creating a music list for the cocktail party. We’ve including lots of swinging tunes from Robbie Williams, Frank Sinatra, Michael Buble, the ladies of blues and more. Some questionable tunes attempted to get in but Rob Zombie, Rage Against the Machine and Regurgitator were not quite the right mood for lawyers and technical staff at a posh club.

Here we go!

7.30 am start…ugh. It’s now 12.30am.

Saturday 27 January 2007

We’ve found our regular brekkie place with a 2 egg, bacon and cheese bagel freshly cooked for $3, jumbo coffee for $1.75 and 3 pancakes for 2.95 ($3.70 with bacon). So we’re on a winner with that one.

The morning was once again some more prep for the conference. However, the afternoon and evening were entirely different. This afternoon, I saw an amazing 2 hour Tango show http://www.tangox2.com/ featuring some incredible movement, music and expression. It was predominately Argentine Tango which involves lots of intimate turns, lifts and spectacular leg flicks. I also had the pleasure of speaking with an elderly lady who learnt tango to surprise her daughter and son-in-law who would go dancing when staying with her from interstate. She has since loved the dance and regularly dances in Manhattan at social milongas. She also gave me the inside word on some good places to go dancing.

We had a great dinner with our US sales guy and with an industry consultant. We had some very informative discussions and shared a great dinner in an Italian Restaurant.

Again, the team were off to the Groove Bar (for the third night out of four nights so far), but I was off dancing again. I was a bit disappointed by this studio. There weren’t very many people at all, it was an older area and there was no vibe to the place. Even so, I ended up staying and chatting for an hour and half with the two Aussie chicks who ran the studio and party night. One was from Lismore and another from Casino so there were some interesting stories. There’s another party next Saturday night with the chief instructor taking his once-a-month group lesson prior to the party, so I might try to get to that.

They gave me advice for what studios to look for and reckoned I was on a winner with Dance Manhattan.

I’m trying to get the dancing out of my system now cos I won’t have much time over the next week to fit in Theatre, basketball, dinners and Carnegie Hall during the nights. We also have a Cocktail Party (really just drinks) with clients and potential clients on Monday night at this ritzy club, so that should be interesting.