Day 10..."Lewiston, ID...The Party at the Pavillion"

Aug 9th...I woke up in Ally's bed, my leg hanging off the side and almost touching the floor.  It was one of those mornings where it took me a minute to remember where I was.  I heard Ally running around the house, and it was a hard realization that the child's voice coming from the hallway beyond the door was not one of mine.  I was a long way from home and it would still be weeks before I would wake up to Ang or Jess making noise in the house.  I climbed out of bed, rubbed the cobwebs from my eyes and stretched until my hands touched the ceiling.  I hadn't met Ally yet, as she was sleeping when I arrived, and she was being shy when I first came out into the living room.  After a few minutes she warmed up to me, and before long she was telling me her life story.  I learned about every pet they have, and had, and what her life was like living across the street from a farm.  Sudsy cooked up an amazing breakfast, which probably constituted the best meal I had on the road during the entire trip.  He shredded potatoes for fresh home fries, and threw together a pork patty before my eyes.  I almost couldn't believe what I was witnessing.  I usually picked up breakfast from the local McDonald's, but today my mouth was watering as I watched my friend prepare the breakfast of a lifetime at his big butcher block workspace.  The smell that came from the frying pan when he dropped in the thick patty made me stomach turn over with hunger.  He declined any help, and served it up with two eggs and four pieces of whole wheat toast within a few minutes.

I finished breakfast and sat down at their center island with the laptop for a few hours to punch out a blog post.  Sudsy was watching TV in the living room and we chatted sporadically while I banged away at the keys.  I realized then just how hard it would be to write quality updates while on the road, as it took almost 4 hours of writing, editing, and inserting pictures and links.  Even as I sit now and write "Day 10", 2 days after I've come home, I think about the next tour and some sort of voice recognition software so I can "write" while I drive, and then just have to edit and insert extras when I get to the next wifi.  When the post was done I got in touch with Dej so she could double edit, and before I knew it, we were almost ready for dinner.  Sudsy had fired up the grill in front of his brand new steel wood shop that he had waited his whole life for and just had built.  As a fellow woodworker, I obviously loved the idea of having a huge workshop just a few yards from my front door.  We talked about life, and how we were standing on the property he grew up on, and has lived at for longer than I have been alive.  I thought this was one of the most interesting things to learn about him.  I secretly wished that when I went home, I would be returning to the house where I grew up, in Levittown, NY, to find Dejah and the kids there waiting.  Unfortunately, it was all a sad daydream as not only do I no longer live there, but when my childhood home was bought from my parents it was severely renovated, becoming what is known as a "McMansion" here on Long Island.  Gone is the small cape, with the eaved 2nd floor that was fine for kids, but a future head injury for anyone over 4 foot tall.  Now stands a monstrosity that dwarfs everything around it except the bigger brick McMansion next door.  Sudsy told me about the fire that leveled the house many years ago, and it was weird to think about what changes he had seen on the same piece of property over so much time.  Pretty soon, the seasoning rubbed steaks were done, as well as the grilled corn on the cob that I was drooling over the entire time we talked.  Grilled corn is one of may favorite summer side dishes, which isn't surprising given the amount of fresh sweet corn that's grown local to my home.  Long Island may not be known for corn like Iowa or Nebraska, or potatoes like Idaho, but our local farms put out an excellent harvest of both. We went inside to eat, and dinner was just as good as breakfast.  It didn't take long for me to devour a huge piece of meat and an ear of corn, and I was off to the shower to get ready for Debi Nuxoll's party.  I cleaned up, and started to prepare for the night inside my head.

I didn't want to let the past two nights put me in a bad frame of mind, so I put all 880 watts of sound to good use.  I clicked over the car stereo to the ipod, and pressed the menu button.  A few seconds later the familiar sound of Dave Matthews guitar was putting me where I wanted to be with a live rendition of  "So Right" (which just so happens to be the name of our corporation...Hmmm).  I was renewed with purpose as I tapped on the steering wheel and sung along, following Sudsy's truck to the park.  "oh, how I love your pretty rock-roll kisses..."  My mind filled with a night not long before, when Dejah and I spent our 1 year anniversary at the new Citifield in Queens, NY for the DMB show.  I was able to barter a days labor for the tickets, and it became a fairytale ending to our year long first date.  I thought about the pictures we took while we sat in the parking lot before the show, and I realized how much I missed her smile and laugh and how I couldn't wait to get back home to them.

We pulled into the parking lot and I got my first look at our outdoor venue.  It was a covered area with more than a few picnic tables, and my main concern was light as the sun was going down in a little while.  There was one light at the end of the pavilion that had a nice clear area underneath it.  Sudsy helped me unload the car and we carried everything up the small hill to where I was going to set up.  I counted 5 people already there and I felt a weight lift off my shoulders.  When Debi commented that it was only 2 households, I wasn't sure if I should take that as a good sign or a bad one.  We talked about the tour, how it was going so far, and everywhere I still had left to go.  We gave some time, and before long guests started to trickle up to the group.  One girl who came posted it to her Facebook page, and she got some more people to show up within a few minutes.  We started a little late, but with an excellent crowd.  I kind of prepared myself for a stage like night, and it was a good thing I did.  We lined up the picnic tables in front of the scent display and I had an excellent position to address my audience and give my opening presentation. 

We played our version of the guess that scent game, which everyone enjoyed including myself.  I always find it fun when people know the scent but can't quite place it, and then watching their reaction when you tell them it's something like buttered popcorn or firewood.  It usually ends with..."Ohhh, I knew it!!!"  After navigating our way through the easy selections in the scent display, we moved on to a modified Microderm Abrasion demo, which was short and sweet since we had no water and towels to do real "hands on" testing.

I could tell that everyone was excited to get started, so I explained the process of mixing scents and we began.  With so many enthusiastic participants I was moving for over an hour straight, running back and forth between the tables of guests and the scent display.  It was awesome.  This is the way our parties are supposed to be.  Lots of people laughing and having a good time, mixing scents and sharing them with everyone in the group when they discover a combination that's really good.  One of my favorite mixtures from the evening was Aquarius & Lick Me All Over, which I think smelled awesome when fused together.

Needless to say, I was ecstatic at the turnout and the positive response by everyone who attended.  Orders were placed and it was soon time to pack up.  I said goodnight to the hostess and the guests as they left for their cars, and was happy to have Sudsy to help me carry everything to the Honda.  It was a very good night for me, and I felt relief as we walked across the parking lot.  I followed Sudsy back to his house, and apparently spent too long on the phone with Dej in the driveway.  When we finally hung up I came inside to find everyone off to bed and I felt bad that I hadn't come in earlier.  I went into Ally's room and settled in for the night.  I had a big smile on my face as I checked the Facebook page and returned a message or two.  I drifted off to sleep with LeRoi Moore's saxophone and Carter Beauford's cymbal's still echoing through my mind.  Everything was So Right.

Day 9..."Forest Grove, OR...Meet the Felders"

Aug 8th...Once again, I was the first one up.  I went downstairs and headed outside for the porch, and got in touch with Dej while I checked the Facebook page.  I knew I wasn't always going to be able to log on, so I got my fill whenever possible.  Erik and Alex came down after a little while, and we hung out on the porch until I had to start packing.  I had a great time with them, and wished I could stay in Portland just a little while longer.  Of all the places I had been so far, this was my favorite.  I loved the eclectic little city, the Arts & Crafts homes in the neighborhood I was staying in, and the overall "personality" of the area.  I extended my gratitude and bid farewell to Erik, Alex, and Emma when I was done loading the car for the drive to Forest Grove and then Idaho later on that day.  Before I left, Erik said he would call me if he found anything I left behind. So now, two weeks later, I still wonder if he found my personal stash of Marinade that I accidentally left on the window sill in their bathroom.  I can only hope that he used it all up, Alex loved the way he smelled, and I will be getting an order for more soon. 

I left Portland and spoke to Dej for a majority of the relatively short ride to Forest Grove.  April Felder's house was my next stop, and we knew she was excited for her party begin.  In a previous message, she had also told us that she had the most excited 10 year old in Oregon waiting for our party as well.  I pulled up outside, and I caught her daughter Sarah peeking at me through the window.  I had to finish my conversation with Dejah about an upcoming contest and other business related matters, and I guess Sarah couldn't contain herself while she waited.  The front door opened and she came out of the house with a big smile.  She walked to get something out of the car in the driveway and she waved at me before going back inside.  This gave me a pretty good idea that I was definitely at the right house.  Having two girls myself, I can easily identify with that level of excitement, so I quickly finished up the call so I could go inside and say hello.  They met me at the door and I was hit with the smell of fresh baked goods coming from behind them.  This was already a good party in my book.  Sarah helped me from the car with what she could carry, and she even helped me set up the scent display once inside the house.  She was a big help that day and earned herself a freebie for her assistance. 

You all know I am a sucker for Mini-Marinaders, so when I was offered a picture of Sarah's baby niece Bella with a bottle of Marinade you know I jumped on the opportunity.  She was freshly changed and ready to go when they propped her up in a chair in the living room.  I placed a bottle of Marinade down and shot as many as I could before she decided she'd had enough picture taking for one day. 

2PM quickly approached and April started putting out food and taking care of last minute details.  We waited for guests to arrive and I passed the time talking with the hostess and her daughters.  I could tell April was getting nervous as she texted people who had RSVP'd for the party.  I had a bad feeling that we were going to have another low turnout, but I didn't realize how low until I started my presentation and no-one had arrived.  April, Alexandra, and Sarah got their own personal party that day, and their smiles and enthusiasm for the products made me forget it was a small audience.  Sarah designed one creation that day which was amazing, and she named it "Beautiful Forest".  It's a mixture of Juniper Breeze and Vanilla, and once submitted, just narrowly missed becoming a finalist in the August edition of our "Design Your Own Scent" contest.

When their scent mixing was complete, they placed their orders, and then I started packing the car for the trip to Idaho.  April and her daughters loaded me up with a bag of food for the trip, and I was happy there was a big piece of cheesecake waiting for me later.  I said my goodbyes and promised April I would still come back on the next tour if she wanted to try again.  She was an excellent hostess and I think luck just wasn't on our side that day.  I drove away from the curb and picked up the phone to call home.

Dejah and I were both disappointed at the last two parties, but we did our best to cheer each other up.  She reminded me that I was still out on the road meeting fans and spreading Body Marinade, and I tried to make "3 down, 7 to go" sound as good as I possibly could for her sake.  I hate hearing her not in good spirits, and it was one of those times in the tour that I knew we both really needed a hug.  We decided that we wouldn't let our frustrations get us down, and we looked ahead to the next party in Lewiston, ID.  I hung up with her so I could get some miles in and she could handle business at home.  I had a lot to think about for the 6 hour drive to my friend Mike's house.  "Was the first party in California as good as it would get?....Did these last two parties show us what was coming up?....Were we going to go broke before I got back?....Would anyone show up at the following night's party?"  I had no idea, and it was nerve racking.  The stress was building, and it was broken only by a force greater than myself.  On the way to Idaho, I experienced one of those sunsets that stays in your memory for awhile.  A beautiful array of color splashed across the sky, and although I never slowed down, I was able to get a couple of good pictures from the driver's seat.

I was excited to get to my next stop, as I was finally going to meet a close friend that I had never personally met before.  My friend Mike (aka "Sudsy") and I met through an online poker site about 6 years ago.  We played cards together regularly for years, but the distance between us had prevented us from shaking hands until now.  As I drove I remembered back to the first Christmas after we had started playing poker together.  I was having trouble finding a Playstation 2 for Jessica for the holiday, and he told me that his local Walmart had them stacked to the ceiling.  Without getting any money from me, his wife Cheryl ran to the local Walmart and they picked one up, and sent it out the following day as I sent a check by mail.  This amazed me as a New Yorker, and I knew I had found a friend I could trust for the long haul.  Now, I would finally be able to meet him in person.  Earlier, I had figured this trip to take less time. I had never realized that over 200 miles would be logged on a 2 lane Route with no lights, and speeds that never really exceeded 50 mph.  I arrived in Lewiston just after midnight.  Sudsy was there waiting for me, and the "bro hugs" began.  We sat outside of his house for about an hour, looking up at the millions of stars and catching up on life like old friends.  I could tell he was tired and I was as well.  It didn't take long for us to call it a night, and he showed me to his daughter's room where I would be sleeping.  Ally had a cute little room in the back of the house, and I dropped my bags on the floor before changing my clothes.  I laid my man sized frame down onto the childrens sized bed and looked up at the ceiling while I reflected on the day.  I woke up in Portland, did a party in Forest Grove, and was now falling asleep a few hundred miles away in Idaho.  The amount of travel amazed me, even as I lived it every day.  It didn't take long for me to drift off, as I was helped along by the security that comes with staying with "family".

Total miles logged so far...4161.2!!!

Day 8..."Vancouver, WA - Cascades"

Aug 7th...I woke up before anyone else on Saturday morning, and headed downstairs with my laptop to try and get some blogging done.  My body was still on NY time, so even though it was only 8am in Portland, I felt like I slept until 11.  I sat on the porch with Emma and my PC and got down to work.  Erik was up soon after and Alex wasn't far behind.  She made some amazing cornbread muffins for breakfast that were probably the best I have ever had.  I started to prepare for the party at 2pm, while they got ready to go out and run some errands.  They left before I did, with the parting words "Just leave the door open...".  I shook my head and finished packing my computer bag.  When it came time to leave, I walked away from the house, my OCD in full overdrive that the door was wide open and I was leaving it that way.  I finally pulled away from the curb, looking back as if it would help somehow, and headed for the local Staples to make some folder copies, and then on to the party. 

This one was being held in a local bar & grill called "Cascades" in Vancouver, WA.  At first we were reluctant about booking a party in a bar, but we were assured that it was low key, and it was the only place that could hold all of the guests who would be attending.  I found the place on the second pass, and I started to get excited when I pulled in just about 1:30.  There were a few cars in the lot and I was hopeful for the high turnout Dejah told me to expect. I parked the car and called the hostess, Nicole,  to see if she had arrived yet.  She told me she would be there very soon, and within 2 minutes she was pulling in next to me.  We talked briefly outside, and then started to unload the car.  We headed in, and I began to set up the display so we could start at 2.

2pm came and went, and not one guest had arrived.  Nicole looked upset, and it was hard for me to blame her.  She had sent over 40 invitations and she said she had gotten more than a few RSVP's.  We chatted about life in general and it was hard not for me to be depressed, no matter how hard I tried not to show it.  I was hoping for a large turnout, but it just didn't seem to be in the cards that day.  Sometime around 2:30 we finally saw 2 guests arrive.  I was happy that it wasn't a total bust, and did my best to make it an awesome party for those that did show up.  Nicole's friend Michelle was enthusiastic about the product, and dove right into mixing and matching her very own fragrance.  It was great to see someone really enjoy the scent display for the first time, and watch as they explore every one of the flavors from beginning to end. 

One more guest arrived at around 2:45, but she didn't stay very long and I understood why.  She looked to be about 11 months pregnant, and you could tell her unborn child was beating her up from the inside out.  I really wanted to ask her if I could feel the baby kick, but she looked very uncomfortable and I really wasn't sure what the etiquette was in that situation.  In between assisting the girls at the scent display, I thought back to before my daughter was born, when her mother would sleep behind me in bed, and Jessica would kick me in the back all night long.  Now she is 14 and starting High School.  It's still amazing to me.  I learned that Michelle is heading off to Africa to do volunteer work, and that she would be auctioning off the products she was buying at her trip fundraiser.  I was impressed at all that she was accomplishing at such a young age, and thought how lucky she is to be travelling the world and experiencing life half way across the globe.  My trip almost seemed minuscule by comparison.

Nicole, Cheryl and Michelle came up with some great mixtures, my favorite of which was Pink Sugar & Coconut.   The day wasn't a total loss, and I packed everything up after orders were placed.  They helped me carry the stuff out, and I packed the car and headed back to Portland.  On the way I spoke to Dejah, and she helped lift my spirits by putting everything into perspective for me again.  Less than a year after starting this company, we have grown it into what it is today, and we have now personally escorted our product from coast to coast.  Even though we only gained three new customers today, they are three valuable additions to our family.  She made me feel better, as she always does, and we were still talking when I got back to the house in Portland.

I walked in, yes, the door was open, and found Erik and Alex in the living room and Emma laying in the doorway.  They asked how the party went, and although I told them it could've been better, I think they knew I was a little upset.  They offered to take me into china town, so we could try to locate the lomein I had been craving.  We went in and were seated in one of the restaurants, and we started to marvel at the menu.  Pigeon, shark fin, and conch, among other things.  This place was the real deal.  The only problem?  Yup, no lomein.  We got up and walked out, right past the hostess, who had no idea why we were leaving.  We headed down the block and started to read the menus posted on the windows outside before choosing our next spot.  We ended up at "House of Louie", which had my favorite dish, House Special Lomein.  I asked if they could make it szechuan style and the waitress asked if I liked it spicy.  I said yes, but was nowhere near prepared for what came.  It was delicious, but it was extremely hot, and I felt like smoke was pouring from my ears while I breathed out fire.  I still enjoyed every bite though, and I took home what little bit was left on my plate.  I wound up forgetting it in their refrigerator when I left Portland, and I wished I hadn't left it while driving to Idaho the following day.  Erik and Alex went out to see a friend's band later on that night, and I stayed alone to get some blogging done.  I said my goodnight when they got back, and drifted off to sleep thinking about the party the following day in Forest Grove, and thankful that the day was finally over.  It was one week into the tour and I was questioning our decision to even make this trip, and wondering if I would make enough money to fund the rest of the tour.  I was hoping for a much better day on Sunday.

Day 7..."Portland"

Aug 6th - I woke up in the extra firm queen size bed and I felt great. I went downstairs and procured a cup of the finest free coffee in Portland, then went outside for some fresh air. I had passed the dining room on my way and saw that they had quite a spread set up for the guests. What I didn't see was the sign that said it ended at 9am. When I walked back into the lobby and headed for breakfast, I found that the dining room was closed and locked. Through the little window in the door, I could see people still eating inside and decided I couldn't miss out on this. I went back to the front desk, explained my dilemma, and they had someone come down and let me in even though I was late. When I got in, I found an amazing continental breakfast that included fresh "make your own" waffles, fruit, pastries and juice. I loaded up a plate, grabbed a fresh cup of coffee and headed back to the room. I hated the idea of eating alone at a big table, especially when all of the others were full of people. The waffle was delicious, as were the donuts, and there was still a banana left when I physically couldn't eat any more. I still had 2 hours until check out, so I went back down to the spa for a little while before departing. I loosened up my muscles, went back to the room for a shower and then packed up all of my belongings. I brought everything out to the car and then headed back to the lobby. I had a nice conversation with the girl at the front desk, and we traded stories about hotel rooms in Reno. She checked me out (with no additional hidden fees) and I was on my way. If you ever stay in Portland, this Comfort Inn has my highest recommendation for top quality and low cost. Although we booked through Priceline, I would book direct on my next trip if necessary so I could stay here again.

I checked out at 12, and had a few hours to kill before I met up with friends of a friend from back home. When I was planning my trip, my buddy Liam told me that his brother Brian knew some people out in Portland, and that he may be able to hook me up with a free room for a night or two. At the time, I wasn't sure exactly when I would be in town, so we set it up for Friday and Saturday night, the two dates I definitely knew I needed lodging. Since I had about 6 hours, I went online to find a local wifi hotspot, so I could blog and catch up on emails. My online search directed me to the "Fuel Cafe" on Alberta, and I put the address into the GPS. One thing I noticed while driving from the hotel to the cafe was the amount of bike riders in Portland. Biking is my favorite workout, and I thought about what it would be like to live in an area where there is so much pedal power. There were bikes everywhere, and I was jealous that I was on four wheels instead of two. I arrived at the Fuel Cafe within a few minutes, and it wound up taking longer to find a spot to park than it did to get there. It was a trendy little coffee shop with a corner location, situated on a commercial street with lots of foot traffic. I ordered a coffee, which cost under $2 and came with one free refill. The smile from behind the counter really picked me up, and the service was top notch.  Awesome. I set up the PC and started to catch up on some typing. While I was working, some carpenters came in to do a small window job on the other side of the cafe. I had a hard time concentrating for a little while, but not from the noise or disturbance. My mind drifted back to my days as a carpenter/woodworker, and all of the window jobs I had done over those years.  From window jobs it drifted to all the doors, siding, decks, and cabinets I had done also.  I wondered at the fact that I was swinging a hammer not too long ago, and now I was 3000 miles from home in a coffee shop blogging about the Body Marinade Summer Tour.  Life sure is crazy sometimes.  I got through the first 4 days of writing that I was behind on, and the time seemed to fly by.  Before I knew it, I got a text from Erik that he and his wife were home from work and I could head over.

It was only a few blocks to Erik and Alex's house.  I found a place to park and was greeted by Erik and their Rottweiler Emma.  I had been told before that Emma was vicious, and I was a little nervous when I walked up the path.  Once I shook Eriks hand and said my hellos, Emma realized I wasn't a threat and literally became my best friend.  I scratched her behind her ears and she pressed her body up against my legs hard.  I wasn't prepared for the force at first and she almost knocked me backwards off the porch.  I made sure I would be heavy footed around her from now on and we quickly formed our own language...she banged herself against my legs and I scratched behind her ears.  It worked for both of us, I miss having a dog when I was a kid and a Rottie would be my second choice behind a German Shepherd.  A few minutes after arriving I was sitting on the porch with Erik when his wife Alex came out to say hello.  We all talked for awhile, and then the conversation turned to dinner.  I told them the story from the night before about the lomein, and we contemplated Chinese, but we wound up going southern.  When we were leaving their house, I learned something that blows my mind.  They don't close the door when they go out locally.  Ever.  I experienced Emma, and I understand that she never leaves the doorway, porch or living room, but I was amazed.  Back in NY we lock everything, set alarms, and pay the police department a lot of money to watch over us.  Here in Portland, they just walk out of the house and jump in the car.  Not a care in the world.  Unbelievable to me.  I looked at Emma laying in the doorway as we drove off.  We got a few blocks away and I realized I forgot my wallet.  I asked Erik to swing back past the house so I could pick it up.  When we stopped, I jumped out and ran to the Honda.  When I opened the door Emma went ballistic.  I guess they're right.  Doors can stay open and cars are safe...Emma has it covered.

We wound up at a restaurant called "Miss Delta".  The service was fantastic, as was the pulled pork sandwich I ordered.   The pulled pork wasn't my first choice, but they had just run out of meat loaf and I was happy I took Eriks recommendation.  One of the most interesting things about the place to me was the beverages served from mason jars.  It's a unique touch, and I love a lot of soda, especially in a big heavy glass.  I don't know, call me crazy.  My favorite part of the evening was getting a chance to sit down and have a meal that wasn't served in a bag, with two really great new friends.  I felt like I had known Erik and Alex for years, and I realized how desperate I was for personal friendly contact.  Being out on the road is hard because you are always the outsider.  Every gas station, food joint, convenience store, hotel...you're "just passin through".  You don't realize how much you miss talking to friends, even just walking down the street to get back to the car. 

We went back to their house, after a quick stop for snacks, and Alex headed up to bed.  Erik and I talked for awhile and then he headed up as well.  He left me on the porch with Emma, and I relaxed for a few minutes while rubbing my fingers on her head.  I decided to call it a night and headed for the guest room when I stopped dead in my tracks.  A conversation started in my head.  "Do I close the door?...I have no idea...In NY we close and lock the door...But, they have Emma...Well, it's night time, she has to sleep right?....I guess so...Let's close and lock the door...Good thinkin".  I went upstairs and hit the guest room, and it wasn't long before I was fast asleep.

Day 6..."Goodbye California...Hello Oregon!!"

Aug 5th - The rest stop was a far cry from the Peppermill, but surprisingly, I slept extremely well.  So well that Dejah was panicking because she hadn't heard from me all morning.  She was 3 hours ahead, so even though I only slept until 9AM PST...it was already noon back home.  I woke up to texts, bbms, emails, and missed calls.  I quickly told her that I was OK, and that I didn't get murdered in the middle of the night at a phantom rest stop in California.  I rearranged the car and transformed it back to a normal vehicle, falling into the routine of packing away my pillows, blanket, and temporary curtains into all of their respective storage spots throughout the vehicle.  I pulled away from the rest stop back onto I5 North, in search of a big cup of coffee.  After I found my java and gassed up the car, it was time to head for Portland.  I had another hotel stay there that night, and I heard that it was a great city to visit.  I was excited to get moving and cover the ground so I could check in and get comfortable. 

On my way to Oregon, while still on I5 in California, I came across a scenic rest stop and decided it was a great place to drop a crumb.  I had seen the crystal blue water from the road and it looked amazing.  I cruised into the stop to find out that there was no place to park.  I had almost given up when I saw a little Toyota parked in the last available extra long space reserved for tractor trailers.  I pulled in behind it, grabbed some bottles, the camera, and the crumb, and sprinted for the overlook.  I was afraid an 18 wheeler would pull into the big space without being able to see around the truck parked next to me, and inadvertently drive over the back of the Hotel Honda.  I ran up to the best picture location, set up my shots, took some pictures, placed the crumb and sprinted back to the car.  Needless to say, it was another place I received more than a few odd looks.  Back to the car, I dropped everything on the passenger seat and got moving, as the Toyota was gone and I was now alone in the middle of this huge parking space. 

I covered the rest of the mileage to Portland, and then encountered my first city traffic jam in almost a week.  I was staying at the Comfort Inn, near the airport, and apparently 4pm isn't a good time to be in that area of the city.  I was looking forward to a shower and some dinner, and this was not the way I wanted to finish the roughly 550 mile drive.  It took nearly 30 minutes to get through the logjam, and wasn't long after that I located the hotel.

I was greeted by Amie, who was extremely pleasant, even after being harassed by the guest she had just finished helping.  The woman in front of me had some sort of issue, and it seemed she was not the easiest person to please.  From what I could gather, she was overcharged $5 per room accidentally while booking online, and she felt that because of this, she deserved the best two rooms in the hotel....for free...for the next three nights..  Ahem...no.  I believe in quality customer service to the fullest extent, but I also believe that there are 1% of the population who will exploit this to no end.  Thankfully, I was checked in quickly and without issue.  A conversation started about my trip, and she was very interested in our products and our company.  I ran out to the car to get her a sample, which she definitely deserved after the last guest.  I asked her if she wanted to experiment mixing her own scents, and she did, so we set up a demo for when she got off work later that evening. 

I soon found out that the hotel had a 24 hour pool and hot tub, microwave and fridge in the room, laundry facilities, FREE 24 hour coffee in the lobby (and it was good), and FREE wifi in every room.  This place was awesome.  There was no long walk to my room, as once I knew where it was, I was able to park right next to the side entrance just steps from the elevator.  It just kept getting better.  When I got to the room and unpacked, my mind turned to dinner.  I had a craving for szechuan lomein, and I went on a mission for Chinese food.  Amie gave me the menu for the restaurant around the corner, but they did not carry lomein noodles.  I was warned there was no other place around, but I am a road warrior and I drove off unabashed.  Needless to say, even with Dejah checking local menus online, there were no other take out places who had lomein near me in Portland.  Dej wound up talking me into getting Papa Johns, and she placed the order by phone from NY.  When she found out that they did not deliver to where I was, she was somehow able to sweet talk the manager into sending a driver out my way.  I believe he came himself, and when he arrived, I was already outside waiting for him.  The look on his face when I asked if the order was for Room 219 was priceless.  He obviously was expecting to find a sexy sounding woman in a hotel room after a long drive from NY, yet he was greeted by me in the parking lot.  I tipped him $5 for coming out of their delivery zone, but you could tell he was still disappointed.

At 11pm I headed down to the lobby to meet up with Amie, and we waited a few minutes for her boyfriend to arrive before we started to mix.  Chris pulled up within 5 minutes and we all headed up to my room.  I took out the scent bottles and they immediately began to come up with mixtures they wanted to test.  Chris was just as enthusiastic as Amie, and it wasn't long before he was on the phone with his Mom.  He was telling her all about what we do, and it took about 15 minutes for her to show up.  I found out that she only came because her son and his girlfriend were in a hotel room with a strange man from NY, but she finally released her skepticism and mixed up some fragrances of her own.  I had a great time with them, as they came up with a lot of different and interesting combinations, and we had a few laughs in between.  They placed an order for some product, and I mixed some fragrance into the 2 Step Microderm Abrasion kit that Chris had purchased.  I scrambled to make change fro them, and we finally said goodnight sometime after midnight.  I emailed Dej with the orders from Paige's party plus the one I just took, and then decided that I wanted to spend a few minutes in the spa before bed.  I did about 10 laps in the pool, and then realized I should head back to my room as I started drifting off in the hot tub after about 15 minutes.  My body was giving up on me, and it was more than ready for some well deserved pillow time. 

Total miles logged to Portland...3646.6!!!

Body Marinade Summer Tour - End of Day 9

The beginning of the 2nd week of the Summer Tour has come upon us.  Many things have happened in the past couple of days that made me question whether or not we are doing everything right.  For those of you who have been following the page, reading along, and tracking our lives will have already read about the Vancouver, WA party.  In a way, if it had to happen at some point, I was glad it happened the way it did.  I think it gave us strength to keep pushing, and taught us that no matter how bad it can get, we can brush ourselves off, move on, and keep pushing towards what we set out to do. But I wasn't exactly prepared for what happened the next day.

We had a party scheduled in Forest Grove, OR.  Our hostess is one of the sweetest, most hospitable people we have ever come across.  Mike went over to her house at the scheduled time, set up, and waited.  Unfortunately, not a single person came.  However, even with the lack of people, Mike, the hostess, and her 2 daughters still managed to have a great time.  I am sure he is still very happy to have met them, to have heard a bit of their story, and to have had the opportunity to share ours.  From a personal point of view, the party was still awesome. From a business point of view, however, it's a little nerve-wracking, but then I remembered the bigger reason we are on the tour in the first place... to get everyone in America to fall in love with us.  That's 3 more people, and I think that was worth it. 

On top of all this, I ran contests on the fanpage.  We felt that although we are on tour, we still can't neglect our loyal fans on Facebook.   I'm not really used to running the contests and auctions, because Mike usually runs them.  He is so awesome at keeping on top of things and doing 8 million things at once, so I was a little nervous.    As per the usual, we ran a Free Shipping contest, which is almost always a 4 oz. bottle, and we ship it out for free.  We also had an auction, and then posted a paid shipping contest, where the prize is usually for a big 8 oz. bottle.  For those of you who participated, you may have noticed a fan who kept posting "wack" as her entry.  I deleted it, and she reposted.  I was getting frustrated, so I sent her a message that said "May I ask why you keep posting "Wack" on the Body Marinade Contest?".  Her response was disheartening.  This is what it said...

"hmmm. seems we all have questions. caus ei was wondering why they kept deleting my comment.


But it is wack cause its not free. If they want to promote thier product they should do it completly free because people like me that dont have the 5 bucks right now because of my wedding and moving and my mom's funeral, who never tried their product, will never know if its any good. They should promote it by doing free samples because if its that good then it would be well worth the investment with the purchases. I just dont buy something unless i know i like it"
 
Obviously, from her response, she didn't know I was an owner.  It was disheartening.  We decided to do the paid shipping contests because we love you guys and we wanted to run more contests and have more winners as our page grew.  One contest a week seemed to be reasonable for a couple of hundred fans.  However, those one or two contests a week stopped being reasonable for over 1000 fans.  We wanted a way to be able to give away more of our product. It's not so much the cost of the product that kills us with the contests... it's the shipping.  However, when we do the paid shipping contests, it's for a bigger product.  It IS free.  We don't charge for the product itself.  Everyone gets their prize via priority mail.  It's trackable, and it gets to the winner faster.  It doesn't take a lot to look up the fees for the shipping and know... there really IS no charge for the product.  When Mike and I first spoke about it, he posted on the wall to get input from our fans about the issue. The opinions, thoughts, and ideas from our fans are what helps create the structure we have as a company.  I understand that some people may not have the $5.00 for shipping... but that is why we run just as many, if not more free contests on the page. It's so that everyone can participate, no matter what situation they may be in.  I guess what frustrated me more was that the young lady who sent me that message didn't even enter the Free Shipping contest for that same evening. But that is the reason we put a disclaimer on the contests that the shipping must be paid for.  It's not a hidden charge, or a trick.  We tell everyone... this contest winner must pay $5.00 shipping.  If you don't have the extra $5.00, which is perfectly understandable,  there is still a chance that you could win something from our page. by entering the free contests. 
 
I need to learn to keep my focus on the dedicated fans we have on our page.  I'm thankful we have so many :) You guys are great. 

Speak to you soon!

-Dejah

Day 5 (pm)..."The First Party!!!"

Aug 4th...I left Reno with plenty of time for the 120 mile drive to Orangevale.  I'm still amazed at the amount of mountains that are out here.  Range after range, they seem to be never ending.  I needed gas while travelling through one particularly steep set of slopes and became seriously afraid of running out, knowing the inclines and declines would affect the gas intake from the tank.  Luckily I soon found a small rest area on the mountainside which contained a Shell station and a Burger King.  There was nothing else there, it was easy on and easy off (on a plateau off the side), and it was probably the most unique rest stop I had visited so far.  I left a crumb behind, hopeful that someone else would come to experience this same place, grabbed some grub, and continued on. 

I wasn't far away, but I still had to stop at Staples to make a few copies and organize myself before the party.  I got within the vicinity around 4:30, located a store and went to work.  I went in, had minor issues getting my copy card refilled at the register, and soon found myself being helped by Cullen, one of the associates at the copy center.  He was extremely helpful, maybe because he had spent some time living in NY and recognized the accent.  We talked for awhile while I copied and collated, mostly about our kids, and how much different west coast life is to east coast life.  He told me a few 80's stories and then it was time for me to get moving.  I changed my shirt in the parking lot, reset the GPS and covered the last few miles to Paige's house within a few minutes. 

I arrived to find Paige "The Axe" Buckmaster waiting for me at the door.  She came out to the street to greet me with a big hug and it was great to finally meet her.  She has been a fan on our page for quite awhile and was one of our first online customers from Facebook when we first started our social media marketing.  She has participated in our contests for almost as long as we have held them, and she was recently a top 5 finalist in our "Design Your Own Scent" contest.  I soon met Ava, her adorable daughter, and they helped me carry in my things so I could start setting up.  It didn't take long for Paige to pick up on the NY version of "Awesome" and "Office", and they became the source of amusement for the rest of the evening.

I set up my table and scent display, then started getting the sample cards ready for mixing. Guests started to arrive and I could tell that everyone was just as excited as I was to be there.  All of the hours in the car became well spent when I started the party and the smiles began.  Paige asked everyone to go around the room and introduce ourselves which was a great icebreaker, especially since a few of her guests had never met each other.  I went last and started to give my intro, explaining who I was, and what I was doing there.  It felt really good to meet so many people interested in our product being so far from home, and I was ready to go.  I asked Paige to take some pictures for the evening, and she prodded me for my best "Vanna White" impersonation before I handed out the product folders. 

We started things off with our "Guess That Scent" game, which is always fun for everyone.  In the game, we go around the room, pairing up guests into two person competitions, and test their ability to differentiate our flavors.  It's not as easy as it sounds, and as always, there were some great match ups, comebacks and amazing guesses.  

Milk & Honey!!  :)

      

After the "Guess That Scent" game, we did a short microderm abrasion demo, and then we got to the good stuff.  Everyone was excited to mix their own flavors, and it didn't take long for bottles to be opened and the whole house to be overcome with fragrance.  Paige assisted me in applying the oils to every one's sample cards, and that helped get all of the mixtures finalized fairly quickly.  Some of my favorites that were created at this party were "Cotton Candy & Warm Vanilla Sugar", "Hawaiian Tropics & Plumeria", and "Melon & Coconut".  I gave Paige a complementary lotion for being such a great hostess, and she was able to snap an awesome picture of Ava sporting her new "Hawaiian Tropics & Peach Blossom" yellow line lotion.

After everyone was done mixing, orders were placed, and it was time to pack up.  Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end.  I loaded the car, and was asked to show Paige's son Dustin and his friend the sound system in the Honda.  Paige challenged me to a "Bump Off", but apparently she only had lame music in her car with no bass.  I scrolled through the Ipod to Jay-Z and I don't want to brag, but...I won. 

I finished packing, bid my farewells, and headed off into the night.  I started on the next leg of my trip, heading north to Oregon.  I would no longer be travelling the familiar I80 west, but now the I5 north, heading up the left coast.  Dejah called after the party and we chatted as I drove through the darkness.  I started to get really tired and was praying for a sign that said a rest area was in my near future.  About 50 miles north of Orangevale, without any previous warning, I spied the blue exit sign and cut across 2 lanes of traffic to make the ramp.  My prayers were answered.  It was nice, dark, and quiet, and I had no problem falling asleep once Dejah and I said goodnight on the phone.  A few hours sleep and I would start my short drive to Portland.

Total miles logged...3,096!!!