Lisa F. Cook

#1: Toothpicks, not just for your teeth.  Seriously, saw a grown man using a toothpick as if it were a Q-tip.  My horror for him was two-fold.  First, what’s in there that requires serious digging with, what I would consider, a fairly sharp object?  Second, what happens if his friend turned and hit his elbow?

#2: Sumo Wrestling in HD.  I’m fascinated, yet left with so many questions.  How does one win? Are there no weight classes? Does the towel-thong hurt? Why the high ponytail? Does slapping your butt with each hand help? Is it the equivalent of a touchdown dance? I need answers… 

Alright, 13 hours is a long time to be curled up in airplane.  However, today I experienced the mystical world of business class.  My lovely flight attendant, Mari, must have thought I was a total nut since every time she approached me in my lazyboy-esque chair and refilled my water bottle, offered me a fancy treat, or at the beginning of the flight when she hung my jacket for me and offered me a pair of Bose noise-canceling headphones, I think my reaction could be likened to that scene in Elf, when Will Ferrell happily keeps excepting the sales fliers from the gentlemen on the streets of NYC (“Thank you… Thank you… Thank you.”)  I really needed to say ‘no’ at some point but I didn’t.  And so this morning my first stop will be the fitness center so I can attempt to burn off, at least a spoonful of that chocolate sundae I consumed.

All in! This is what packing for 4 weeks looks like… Carry-on style!

In just 10 days I depart on a month long work trip that will take me to Seoul, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Melbourne, Danang and Tokyo.  I am hoping this blog will be a great way for everyone to keep track of me and also, a unique outlet for me to share my experience.  There’s so much I still need to do in the next 10 days! Ahhhhhh!