This past Thursday, I was on the road again, this time to Rancho Mirage (Palm Springs) for the launch of a new hearing aid product. My favorite hearing aid company just released a new mid-level digital (bear with me you non-audiology people out there) hearing aid and this was an opportunity to get some hands on experience with programming, meet with some of the researchers and learn more about the product.

For some reason, I ended up flying to Palm Springs, and later found out I probably could have driven faster. I flew to LAX (a 40 minute flight), where my plane was delayed about 2 hours due to a mechanical issue. We finally took off around 3, and I had another 40 minute flight to Palm Springs. Rumor has it, it only would have taken about two hours to drive. Live and learn, I guess.

The event was being held at the Westin Mission Hills, which was really nice. I checked in, got my itinerary and then headed off to my room to unpack. The room was huge, with high, arching ceilings and a porch that led out to a water feature. I rarely know people (other than some of the ReSound folks) at these events, but on my way to the Welcome Reception that night, I managed to find myself some pals for the event. The reception was great - food and drinks under the stars and palm trees.  My new pal Lori got the harpist (yes, harpist) to play "Stairway to Heaven."  Friday was training, and a chance to play 20 questions with the researchers.  We also got some hands-on training with the new product  ("Pixel").  In the afternoon, I went off to the spa for a massage, and spent the rest of the afternoon reading out on my porch in the sun.  That evening was the celebration dinner, out on the driving range.  There was great food, drinks, dancing and even ice carvers, who used assorted tools to make a behind-the-ear style hearing aid, ear and other fun stuff.  After the party wrapped up, a bunch of us weren't ready to call it a night, so we were off to the bar.  I made it back to my room pretty late, did some quick packing, called Bryan and rolled into bed.  The next morning was a farewell breakfast, then off to the airport for my two 40-minute flights home.

From the San Diego airport, I went straight out to Admiral Baker park for our friend Gabe's birthday party. It was a good chance to catch up with several Coastie friends, most of whom are moving this spring/summer. It was also a chance to catch up with an old boatmate of Bryan's who is now stationed in Eureka (and yes, I still owe you one after that night out in PB).

All this running around has been fun, but I'm tired! I'm ready for a little peace and quiet, but I don't think it's headed my way any time soon. On Thursday, we head up to Staples Center in L.A. for the Kings/Wild game, and another try at getting my Boogaard jersey signed. (I'm running out of opportunities here, so if anyone has any connections with the Wild or Derek Boogaard or Staples Center, please hook me up, here!) In mid-March, Stacey, my best friend from high school (well, junior high, really) will be in town for a conference, so we're planning some fun for the weekend after her shindig. Details as they emerge...

Just got back from our weekend in Phoenix. Jeff and Heather's wedding was beautiful, and I had a chance to meet the family on Bryan's dad's side, so that was nice.

That being said, it was a busy, busy weekend, and I'm glad to be home, even though it's only for a few days. On Thursday I'm off to Rancho Mirage (Palm Springs) for a multi-day hearing aid launch party with my favorite hearing aid company. Poor Bailey is practically living at dog daycare this week.

I'll provide the full rundown, along with photos, a little later this week, once I've downloaded the pictures we took. Right now, Bryan found a "video-on-demand" tutorial on curling, and since we spent about an hour on sunday watching it on TV (and having no clue about the damned rules, I'm going to go tune in.

Yes, I know it's weird. But watch it for five minutes as you're channel surfing - it's oddly compelling, even if you don't understand the rules.

We had a great time in Phoenix. We headed out Saturday morning, and the drive ended up taking about five and a half to six hours. We'd expected it to be shorter because we hadn't planned on having to stop at several Border Patrol checkpoints along Interstate 8, which runs right along the US-Mexico border.

We checked into the hotel, and then promptly whisked Bailey off to the dog park to get her good and tired before we went off to the game. We ended up having to postpone the dog bakery, because the trip took a little too long for us to be able to fit that in along with playtime at the dog park.

We put Bailey in her crate for a good, long nap and headed over to Glendale Arena. They get the "Best Parking" (convenient, and FREE!) and "Friendliest Employees" titles. There were a lot of Wild fans there - apparently about 230 season ticket holders and corporate sponsors had made the trip, and there were a bunch of other assorted random Wild fans (like us) scattered around. Before the game even started, the fans were chanting "Let's Go Wild!" and it wasn't uncommon for the Minnesota fans to be cheering louder than the Coyotes fans.

I was totally relieved to see Boogaard out during warm ups, because I was worried that with my luck, he'd be a scratch that night. We had perfect seats, behind the visitors bench, about six rows up. You could totally see what was going on down at the bench (good for Boogaard gazing) and on the ice. It was cool to get to see what goes on in the arena during the commercial breaks - if Boogie wasn't out on the past couple of shifts, he'd be on the ice, skating to stay warmed up during the breaks.

The game was really good. The Wild scored first, in the second period and kept on going from there. Walz and Gaborik each had two goals, and came incredibly close to hat tricks (which would have been great, because coincidentally enough, the Coyotes gave away baseball hats that night, and I told Bryan "I can't think of any better use for this hat than being able to throw it on the ice after Walz or Gabby gets a hat trick."), but it wasn't meant to be. Boogaard had a decent fight with Spiller, in which Boogaard put Spiller down on his ass in a very short period of time. There were a few tense moments, but the Wild stayed on top, and won the game decisively.

After the game, we tried to get autographs, but Glendale Arena is set up so that the players board the bus down below, in a loading dock area, so the closest you can get is to stand up on the main level, and look down. Bryan estimated it at about 40 yards distance. I got a wave from Derek Boogaard after waving my #24 jersey and yelling "Woohoo!" (because I'm cool like that), so it wasn't a total loss. But my Boogaard jersey still begs for signing!

Sunday morning we packed up and headed home, and it didn't take quite as long this time - somewhere between four and a half and five hours. We watched a disappointing Super Bowl and unpacked. I know I sound like a bitter Seattle fan, and I'll totally admit the Seahawks didn't play their best, but I really wish the officiating had been a little less...questionable. When it comes to the national championship, the calls need to be clear, and fair. But I'm proud of the Seahawks for going all the way to the Super Bowl, and they should be proud of themselves.

In April, I'm headed to Minneapolis, ostensibly for the American Academy of Audiology's national convention, but my decision to attend was heavily influenced by the fact that there are two home games during the week I'll be there. I've already procured tickets for both games, and there's a good chance those will be my next, and last, in-person Wild games this season. Rumor has it the X is set up so you can't get access to the players for autographs, so I'm hoping Bryan's schedule will work out so we can go to Staples Center for the LA Kings/Wild game in March. Bryan was able to get his jersey autographed after the game there in October. As I've mentioned to him a few times, dropping broad hints for Valentine's Day, "Nothing says 'I love you' like hockey tickets..."