Day Thirty-Four

Lets do a recap of the first real sales trip, out in the Midwest, where my food options and health resources are greatly compromised. And a review of how I fared. Eastern IA is truly a mecca of Midwestern cuisine.

Monday I was able to have a Panera salad for lunch as there is a Panera in Quincy IL. And I feasted on a Micky D's Cesar Salad that night with chicken. Of course I managed to purchase two small bags of Smart Food Cheese Popcorn. And as it turned out those were the last two small bags in town as evidence of my desperate attempt to locate another bag on Tuesday night, visiting every gas station/quick mart in town, only to fail in my efforts. I guess it was a sign. Ha Ha.

Tuesday morning, I was desperate and I did fall. I had an Egg McMuffin with sausage and then a sausage biscuit. Here is why I did it. I drove west for the day, into uncharted territory, on HWY 34, where I prospected (this is where I look for new potential customers and make cold calls). I had an elaborate plan to bring my Iowa Manufacturers Guide, but of course my 46 year old damaged brain forgot the book. So I had to drive blind. Now my goal was two small towns that I had highlighted on my IA map. As noted in yesterday's blog this amounted to ten hours of windshield. I did manage to pick up a few prospects.

The key here is that I knew that more than likely I would not get to lunch. Hence, the Micky's run in the morning. I knew that it would hold me over until dinner. I know excuses, excuses but in my mind eating this would be better than walking into a small town joint where everything is fried, in fact they fry so much at these joints that there is an oily residue on the tables and chairs.
When I returned to my home base, I hit Martini's, the best local restaurant, and I ordered Sushi and a small Cesar Salad. After dinner I began my feeble attempt to find my popcorn, which gladly ended in disappointment.

Now to yesterday. So I hit the fitness room; treadmill for 30 min. I tried, once again, the free Holiday Inn breakfast. They had omelets. I cant describe what it tasted like. I was so bad that after one bite it went bye, bye in the trash. So I had no breakfast Wednesday morning. Then I had a Cesar Chicken Salad for my customer lunch. It was very good. However about an hour out of town, heading back south, I had an "attack". Needles, gas bubbles and I am in the car not sure exactly what is going on. I ended up in a FastStop Gas Station in a horrendous restroom for 40 minutes. Nothing else need be said. That FastStop will now be etched in my memory forever, and I will never return to it again. Ha Ha. I think if it would not have been so cold--nature would have been a far better restroom. Ha Ha.

So I had Sushi again for dinner when I finally made it home. Suz picked up two little boxes of sushi at our local Schnuck's, which is the local family owned grocer (they aren't little $1Billion in annual revenue...it sucks when you realize you were born into the wrong family). And I had a half shake for dessert.

Day Thirty-Three

Another tough day on the road. Many issues in-between calls. 10 hours of windshield time. No exercise. To exhausted. Back was sore.

Day Thirty Two

Here I am in beautiful, eastern IA. I like it here at night -- even though the king bed @ the Holiday Inn is sunk like an elephant sleeps on the right side -- because I get a lot of work done. There is no knocking on the door or yelling. No one to tell me to turn down the volume or turn off the TV. I usually settle into HBO, log on to the computer, and type away on my emails and log my sales calls on Salesforce.

This seems like largely innocuous activity; however, there are temptations everywhere like the snack machine. But the snack machine tonight was water. I was very tempted to hit KFC for dinner, but alas I made myself go to McD's and get a Caesar salad with chicken and used the olive oil vinegarette dressing. You see, my favorite restaurant in town in closed on Mondays now. Martini's is the best place to eat and they have a Sushi appetizer which is really a meal-sized portion. So that is the dinner plan for tomorrow.

BKFST--Protien Shake (Katie, I can't help myself--Acai berry, a new one, is awesome) I will only have one more this week.
LUNCH--late Panera Greek Salad w/chicken. And yes, part of a baguette and a small portion of broccoli soup. And two shortbread Valentine Day Cookies. I KNOW I KNOW.
DINNER---McD's Caesar Salad with chicken, water. Then I had an orange for dessert. And two small bags of SmartFood popcorn.

Today was a Bad day.........take note, however. It was very hard not to go to KFC or buy a whole bag or even two of Smart Food popcorn and a couple of candy bars from the snack machine.

NO GYM too exhausted from all the driving.

Day Thirty Two

I am a sucker for Hummus. And Suz comes home from Sam's with a gianormous tub of the best Hummus I have ever had in my entire life. So I proceed to eat half a tub within 24 hours. I guess hummus is a trigger. Ha Ha

It was the smoothest hummus I have ever put on my tongue. I am not a big fan of grainy hummus. This was smooth like peanut butter or hummus butter. Actually hummus can be healthy in small portions. But then again just about anything is healthy in small portions except my wife. Ha Ha. She is healthy in all portions. Fat free, no carbs, no artificial flavors or colors. MMMM.

So I am on the road again. And this is a real test. Up to Iowa for three days. The right side of my lower back is pinching me. Ouch. But I will work thru it. I will hit the Y in Iowa later today.

You may hear from me again later today on my progress. Stay strong.....out.