Defeat and Victory marry to make: Orlando

Okay, so we were, at first, deeply bummed that we didn't manage to win the Toyota minivan. But then we realized what we'd had in mind was a HYBRID minivan, so we figured it just wasn't our time..., yet.

Meanwhile, unbeknownst to Karen, Rome had actually been meditating deeply upon our upcoming team building session at the ASTD (American Society for Training and Development) Conference. (This is why we drove all this way and why we are in Orlando.)

Thus, our team building session this afternoon went well... a smashing success, I believe....

Honestly, it's what we do: we get people to remember they make something cool happen and have fun at the same time.

Details: We're at the Days Inn off International Drive, which is not a "conference hotel" but is close to the convention center, a Walgreen's and a neighborhood market. It's clean, has door that open to the great outdoors (in case we need to sand some bachi or something) and is old enough to have a real-size swimming pool.

I had written a bit more, about how hard Rome was going to work as I sat by the pool reading Jane Austin, but the network choked and all my words were lost. Now I must sleep. So, your intrepid taiko adventurers call it a day, and hope you've had a good one, too.
K

Rome’s turn to blog.

Today began in Junction, TX, and it’s ending in Gulfport, MS. If you know your US geography, you know we drove nearly 800 miles today.

Ugh.

After driving nearly 800 miles yesterday.

Double ugh.

But, on the up side, we only have about 600 miles to cover tomorrow to get to Orlando.

Um….yay?

Today was actually a good day, 800 miles aside. It’s easy driving, all freeway, and we only got lost once (missed an exit in San Antonio, and it only took about 10 miles to notice the signs said “West” instead of “East.)

There’s just not much to say about a day of driving, though. I still remember all the words to “There is a Sucker Born Every Minute,” the original Broadway cast of Chicago is still the best, and I learned I can play Angry Birds in the car without getting sick.

Um…yay?

We’re looking forward to arriving in Orlando tomorrow and settling in for a few days. I really am looking forward to the ASTD Conference, and I’m glad our session is on the first day. It’ll leave me free to enjoy the rest of the Conference (and Sea World and Harry Potter world. No wands at the former, no Shamu at the latter)

Today we passed Iowa—y’know, the one in Louisiana.

Whenever I’m far from home, I ask my hotel clerk where I can find a delicious meal I just couldn’t get in Tucson, AZ. Tonight, we didn’t hit Gulfport until after 10 PM, and all of the restaurants our clerk wanted to send us to were already closed. Rather than a restaurant we COULDN’T go to in Tucson, we had to settle for one we WOULDN’T go to in Tucson. I don’t want to plug the place here; suffice it to say I think I’ve lost every shred of feminist cred I ever had.

Tomorrow, Orlando!

Junction, TX

A long day of driving, to be followed by a similarly long day of driving. The minivan is filled to the brim with drums and other sundry items, including bags of bachi we still need to finish, and some swag to assemble.

We drove through Texas Canyon in Arizona, completely through New Mexico, and then over Michigan Flats in Texas. It's windy and getting more vast, more humid, and more green, in that order. Rome and I have (possibly) already exhausted our collection of cds. (I say "possibly" because I know our moods will change and that tomorrow, Alanis Morrisette or the original Broadway recording of Chicago might be just the ticket).

Our books on tape are a bit questionable. The narrator for the Yiddish detective novel talks really fast and has an overwhelming penchant for clever, lurid detai, so that we can't relax at all while it's playing. And the wizard novel is strangely oblique and badly written (which can never be narrated into goodness). And I think we're already halfway through the savory road snacks!

We're excited about seeing the Mississippi River and New Orleans tomorrow. We'll get there through Houston, drop off a couple of drums for a buyer, and then shoot for Gulfport. I looked online to make sure I-10 is open as we head into the flood zone.

Tonight, we're in a little mom & pop hotel called the Legends Inn. It's cute, apparently favored by avid recreationalist outdoorsy types and serious bikers, and has a new free breakfast!

I'm going to try to figure out how to link Facebook and the blog, so the pictures I upload show up here. I got some nice ones today.

Must sleep. Must wake and drive drive drive again tomorrow.

Rome & Karen's Excellent Adventure begins mañana mañana

The lull in Taiko Time Blog activity ends tomorrow, as Rome and Karen hit the road, DRIVING to Orlando, Florida. They will be presenters at this years American Society for Training and Development Conference. Stay tuned!