Journey to NYC for Windup

This was a big step for me. As much as I like watches and my engineering brain loves learning more about them and exploring the different ideas watch makers and creators have, I had never traveled specifically to attend a watch fair. Steve and I agreed though that the amount of “touches” made would help SeaQuartz and we might even sell a watch or two. I brought five of each of our new drops with me.

The day started off mundainly enough, hugging my son goodbye, dropping off the dog at boarding, running home to grab a protein drink and then off to the airport. There was time for a snack, a few phone calls and dealing with emails before getting on the plane. Everything ran smoothly until they let us know - after everyone has boarded - that there is a mechanical issue. Sure enough 20 minutes later we were being de-planed. Fortunately I was able to jump on another flight an hour later that ended up being slightly delayed but not bad in the long run. I knew this would create luggage issues - why haven’t I learned to carry everything on yet - but more on that later.

Here is where I get bougie. Steve loves to remind me that I have a similarity or two to that PE guy on social media. You know the one: he summers in Montauk, is always “printing,” has a son named Tarantino and his ‘wifey’ just had her eyes done at one of the top places in Dallas. I’ll get it all out in one sentence because let me tell you the perks of having an American Airlines credit card when you live in Dallas and have no other choice. I have a lot of points and Executive Platinum status, so I was booked in first class with a decent meal and on point beverage service on my original flight, but they could only get me - wait for it - a middle seat in coach when I re-booked. I deserve all of the eye rolls and comments about first world problems, believe me. Oh I should add that my wait time for my first flight was in the Admiral’s Club where a man and his wife struck up a conversation with me and I was able to discuss SeaQuartz (impressions #1 and #2, albeit in a bougie way).

Still I sucked it up, grabbed an airport sandwich, water and chips and boarded. I ended up with a decent sized man on each side of me. On one side was the guy who had never heard of the etiquette that the person in the middle gets the arm rests and I fought with my left arm the entire flight while I worked and he proceeded to fall asleep manspreading. Fortunately the person on my other side was the epitome of considerate and in the end even asked me why I was wearing two watches. He was wearing a Bat Man and we discussed he burgeoning watch collection and his time at Westpoint. He dug Magnum PI (impression #3). On the flight I tried to file a missing bag report becuase my Apple tag still showed it at DFW. There was no way they would have gotten it onto the new flight.

I was able to log my baggage delay with AA after I landed (they had it already in the air); I grabbed a cab and checked into my hotel only about an hour later than expected. I dropped off my stuff and toted my iPad up to the room with free snacks so I could catch up on life and make sure the website looked decent enough incase people clicked on it over the weekend.

I sat at the bar at the hotel restaurant for dinner because I am a fan of Jose Andres. The gentleman next to me was curious about my double fisting of watches. (I’m telling you, great conversation piece). He was very proud of his Chinesium watch that had lasted 18 months, but as clueless as he seemed to be I’m hoping I can count this as Impression #4.

Then back to the room for some old-fashioned checking on my apple tag wearabouts while watching very old reruns of Shark Tank, sleeping in a robe (because I wasn’t going to wear the dress from the airplane) and hoping that I would be awakened in the middle of the night by my suitcase delivery.