Chapter 7: The home stretch, people!!!

T-One Month and counting!

Day 1:

Ok we're a month out, with still a lot to do, but as you can see everyone's still as cool as cucumbers chill'n at dinner before a full week of activities. Is it me or has Sabine been chowing down like food's going out of style lately (...wink)?

Day 2:

Time to get down to business... and as you can see there was a lot of hard work to be done...

Like figuring out what our team uniform should be...



Oh yeah... as you can see Matt and Kevin were working it. Wait hold on, I think The Men's Warehouse's calling, they need models for their catalog.

I have to say the shirts look much more suitable for the ladies, as Jessica and Victoria demonstrated.



But alas, the shirts were vetoed, and for the last time can someone tell Sarah that wearing white pants with the shirts will not magically make it better. Believe me. I had a lapse of judgement when I was persuaded to try the shirts on, in public no less, on the Beverage floor. On top of almost being laughed out of the office, my manhood was called into question on a number of occassions.

That said, I want to give both Sabine and Sarah the Persistence Award for taking me out to the Garment District where we visited, no joke, like 50 different stores looking for outfits for the team.

So outfits aside, real work had to be done and the team got right down to it...


... "Oh, you would look so cute in that..."



"... Ok so for lunch, can you get me a burger, throw in some fries and a side salad. I have to look good for the Summit."



"Ok, so which version of the Flow of Show are we on again?"


"... quick look busy, so we don't get into trouble... "


With the hard stuff out of the way, it was time for down time.


Although Vanessa looks like she's ready to go 12 rounds with Tyson.


But all joking aside, I have to say these were the best times for me, when everyone didn't think about Summit, or work for that matter, and just had time to connect and get to know one another better. I'll miss that especially when the Summit's over.

Day 3:

Today was less about the work, but more about going to the Dave Matthews Concert! As Victoria would yell in the concert... "DAVE, we LOVE you!!!!"

And no concert would be complete without the pre-concert meal of greasy, diner food... and what better place to get that than In-N-Out?

Not sure what Vanessa's doing here, maybe she's talking about what her cholesterol levels will be after she eats a Double-Double.

Nothing beats In-N-Out...

With our bellies full (and then some...) it was time to go see Dave Matthews...

Sorry no pics from the concert, because cameras were not allowed... but just imagine Victoria standing for literally the entire concert, dancing and rocking out to every tune.

Post-Concert delirium... notice the extra big smile on Victoria's face ;)

Day 4:

Quick working sessions in the morning and it was off to the SPARK event, where Sir Ken Robinson spoke on Innovation, which was intended to be a prelude to the Summit. Big thanks to the SPARK Team for supporting the Summit.

Ok.... one final chapter left! Next time, on-site at the Summit!