National Conference - The Sleep Version

Last National Conference post - I promise.

But after such a high energy week, I'm sure you are wondering: do these folks sleep?

The answer is yes. 

But not necessarily when we should be sleeping.

Meals, for example, are a great place for napping. 

And if you were curious, yes, some speakers are more soothing than others. 

The airport is another great place for a nap. 

But I think most people would agree with that. 

National Conference blackmail

So remember back at the beginning of the week, I mentioned the 'crazy-awesome co-workers'? 

Here's the crazy part:

They do weird poses behind our back.

They pet and strangle plastic ducks simultaneously.

They dress up in funny costumes. And connive the rest of us into dressing up in funny costumes also!

And they totally go along with my 'let's look like dorks!' photo poses.

Gotta love these co-workers.

Still talking about National Conference...(hey, it's a long week!)

Now we're getting to the fun pictures: the actual conference! (previous pictures were all prep-work)

Look, I'm so excited because we have people at the registration booth!

Placing pubs orders. Don't I look all snazzy and professional in my suit with that super-amazing curly up-do...

Of course, there are always mishaps, which is why we have a first-aid kit and a certified first-aid responder. 

No thanks to my first-aid trainer, though, in teaching me how to handle this emergency: "I want Superman bandaids."

Thankfully, my off-the-cuff response of 'Oh dear, we only have big-boy bandaids left!" worked like a charm. 

We're so proud of our registration booth.

In case you ever wondered how I handle 15 hour workdays, here's the answer: I turn into a peacock.

What we do at National Conference (part 3)

We do actually work during National Conference. 

We work pretty hard too.

But we're the kind of crew that works hard and plays hard. And sometimes, we play hard while working.

Like when we are creating the 43 pound candy box.

Assembling packets is always risky--thankfully, there were fewer papers this year, so the papercut rate dropped over last year.

Assembly line with Pandora!

All these boxes were used for the registration table. About half of them are registration packets that we assembeld.

And of course, we always have fun creating the centerpieces...assuming they don't fall apart. We learned from 2010 and used superglue this year.

Pictures always necessary!

What we do at National Conference (part 2)

Of course, one should never visit somewhere without a bit of sightseeing.

The Titantic! Not. It was actually half of the Titanic. See the iceberg? It's a really classy addition to the parking lot.

Actually, most things in Branson are done with that type of class.

Sight & Sound Theater. Now there is a beautiful and classy theater.

Now here's a group of people you don't want to mess with, enjoying their only moment on stage that week.

Somehow, one of our team was "voluntold" for this section of the backstage tour...

We visited the largest boat that was built on a manmade lake.

They slid it into the water on banana peels.

No joke.

What We do at National Conference (part 1)

So, for those of you uninitiated in the crazy, fun, intense, laughter-filled week that we at work call "National Confrence," I'm presenting a week-long series on the event. 

Please note, this is from a 'stagehand's' perspective. So, don't expect glitz or glamour. 

Instead, expect me on steroids. Or caffeine. Which might actually be worse.

Enjoy the 'behind-the-scenes' peek this week. I'm off resting my eyes.

***************************

We work with crazy-awesome co-workers.

We visit random places (this is where we got our centerpieces flowers. Only in the directions, they didn't mention their flower-power shop was located in a wedding shop. So we drove right by it the first time).

Again, random places. This was supposed to be an apple farm. Apparently two days before we arrived, it was an apple farm. 

Now it's a cornstalk-and-pumpkin farm. 

And we didn't get our apples.

Sigh.

We drive through amazing scenery. Assuming, of course, that we're not asleep.

We stay at stunning and astounding hotels.

We think at one point we were followed by Evil Knievel.