Working While On Vacation? That's Absurd. No. It's A BLAST!!!

I work for G2-Hosting.Com. I know what your thinking, how cool, he works for a Dot-Com. It must be so much fun. Well, it is, but that doesn't mean it's all fun and games. It's hard work, and long hours, but if you love the industry, then every second of it is worth it.

I woke up Saturday morning, May 8th, 2004, and thought one thing and one thing only. My vacation starts today. No More Work. No More Long Hours At The Office. And No More Deadlines. Would I miss it? Yeah, I would, but this was a chance to sit back and relax.

The Plan? Simple, West Coast drive, from Vancouver, British Columbia to Los Angeles, California. Just me, my civic, and a whole lot of road.

Couldn't ask for anything else, could you? Ends up, I could.

As I was driving down the I-5 through Oregon, I ran across a small town that, for one reason or another, sounded oddly familiar, so what do I do? I pulled over, opened up my laptop, and started going the client records I keep. Ends up, G2-Hosting.Com has a client in this small town. Being the Travelling Company Man, and knowing that I had a couple of G2H Shirts in the back of my car, I decided to stop in, and say hello.

I didn't stay long, just long enough, to say thanks for their business, give them a shirt, ask them if there was anything they wanted to see in the future, and so forth, and then I was on my way, continuing down the I-5 all the way to Los Angeles, City of Angels.

As I drove along, I couldn't help but smile, and think to myself "This is hilarious, I am suppose to be on vacation, and here I am, visiting clients, and doing PR work".

I started driving through these mountains, going straight up, and I remember a friend saying, that once I hit these mountains, where I go straight up, I will come up over the peak, and start coming straight down in a seven lane freeway. I knew then I was almost at Los Angeles.

I spent the night in Los Angeles, at a friend's house. L.A. was incredible. Everything I had expected it to be. I only wish I could have stayed there longer then one day, but perhaps, another time. My friend, ended up being very ill, and had to go to the hospital. I'm happy now, knowing that he is doing better, and will be recovering.

So, after my stay over in L.A. I decided I would make my way to The O.C. to visit yet another friend there. Unfortunately, I zigged when I should have zagged, and believe this or not, ended up in south central Arizona, near the Mexico Border. I thought I better pull over, and see where I am, and where I should start heading from there.

I stayed at a Best Western that night ( they have internet connections – lol ). When I got to my room, I jumped on my laptop, and started looking at maps, trying to figure out exactly where I was, and sure enough, I was just over a 100 miles, from the Mexico Border. I decided that night, it wasn't logical to go all the way back to California, since I was much closer to New Mexico, and it didn't make any sense to go to Nevada, which was upsetting, because I really wanted to go to Las Vegas. Another time I guess.

I had a friend in Montana, and a friend in Wisconsin, so I decided to start heading north to Utah, then Idaho, and get into Montana, then from there, I would decide whether I would go to Wisconsin or not. I drove the next morning to north east Arizona, and guess what? I missed my exit, and end up having to drive through the 4 Corners, to get back to Utah. Waste of time? Yes. Beautiful views, and a great drive? Yup.

I got to Salt Lake City that night, very late, and decided to quit there while I was still somewhat awake. Once in my hotel room, I logged online, and chatted with a couple co-workers to see how things were going, while I was away. I had told them about my trip and everything that had happened, and they laughed. They also told me that we had two clients within the vicinity of Salt Lake City, and that since I had already stopped in one client, I should stop by, visit these two clients, give them shirts, and just see how they are enjoying things, so I did. It was a great experience meeting these clients in person. Later that day, I made it all the way into Montana.

The drive through Idaho and Montana was beautiful, lots of country, and farmland. I arrived very late in Great Falls where my friend lived, so I decided to get a hotel room, and just give her a call to let her know that I made it there, and that we could meet up for breakfast the next morning. I stayed at a Hotel called the Crystal Inn and let me tell you, this place was beautiful. The rooms were so spacious, and well designed. The next morning I visited with my friend, whom I had never met until that day, but we had been online friends for seven years.

Mel, if you're reading this, it was great to finally meet you.

Great Falls was a great place, so I decided to stay another night, spend some more time with my friend, then head out the next morning. I even got to see the Air Force Base that was there. I stayed at the same Hotel again, because the girls at the front desk gave me such great service, I just couldn't picture myself staying anywhere else. After Montana, I headed back into Canada, and made my way home back to Vancouver.

None of the places I went to compared to my hometown of Vancouver, but they were all beautiful cities, and I would certainly go back to many of them again in the future.

To my friends in Wisconsin and the many clients through the rest of the USA, that I didn't get to see or meet, I am sorry. I made it through nine of the fifty-two States; I'll get through the rest sooner or later, don't worry.

I'm back at work, and back in my office at G2-Hosting.Com working hard again. I enjoyed my time away, but I am glad to be back. I'm already planning my next two trips.

1. I'm going to go to the UK. I have had plans for about a year now to go there with a friend of mine who has family out that way. So we agreed to go together, and spend at least two weeks there. It should be lots of fun, and if things go as good as they did this time, I will get to meet more people, and hopefully more G2H clients.

2. I'm going to go Australia. I can't wait for this one. This is going to be so much fun. There are two people here that I want to meet so badly. One of them is a person who has helped through a lot of stuff lately, all business related. He's knowledgeable in this industry that I work in, and a great guy. The other person, a girl with a great personality who makes me laugh, she knows who she is.

Well, that is all from me for now. In conclusion, I have this to say, never expect your vacations to go the way you planned them, because they almost never will. But if you are as lucky as I was, your vacation will end up being better then what you had planned.

What more could you ask for? Nothing.

Brandon
G2-Hosting.Com
brandon@g2-hosting.com
"Our Customers Concerns Are Our Concerns"