Open the door by knocking them down

Friday night when I got to the reception I realized I'd nearly knocked down the guy who hosted the whole party for us that night. Whoops! We ran into each other literally at the BBQ earlier that day and had a good laugh, though I didn't pursue an introduction which is typical for me. So I got to the party and there he was on the stage talking about Switzerland and how he was happy to be there throwing a party for us. Wow. If only I'd have said hello and how are you and where are you from...I'd have met the ambassador of travel from Switzerland. First thing in the morning I had kicked a guy in the shins on accident (twice~he wouldn't move his legs and he was in the way) turns out that guy was the owner of Collette Travel. Whoops again.

Friday night at the party, after I realized I'd been abusing top people all day, I was telling a lady I hadn't introduced myself to yet that I'd been going around all day hurting people as if I wanted to use that as my opening and it turns out she runs a huge company that does staffing for meeting and events in the Bay Area. Whoops again. I can't seem to win!

Yesterday (Saturday) I hopped on a bus tour to Monterey Carmel and it was great! The sun came out and it was a beautiful day to sightsee. The driver was also the guide and he was a really hilarious Italian man. I took good notes on his style so that I could use some of his techniques when it was my turn. We stopped in a few cute little places and then went to Monterey over lunch time. I wandered way down the road to where the scuba divers were at and found a fantastic BBQ place! Wow, so good! And cheap too. Cheaper than where all the tourists hang out. Its fun to explore like that because when you do find a gem you feel justified in the walk :)
We did the 17 mile drive through Pebble Beach and that was really beautiful. I'd never done that drive and I was really enjoying myself. Our bus was just empty enough that we each had our own window seat so we had a great view the entire way. We stopped at Pebble Beach and they were getting set up for the US Open Golf and so there was a ton of activity there. Talk about dressing up just to be somewhere. My goodness, that place is posh! This is a photo of the Lone Cypress which is the symbol of Pebble Beach.

We stopped in Carmel for about an hour but because the bus can only park in one area the beach was really really far away and so I still haven't seen the white sands of Carmel by the Sea.
The people are picking the fruit out of the fields right now too so there are stands loaded with freshly picked produce everywhere. Our bus didn't stop at any of them which was a bummer. The one place he did stop that had produce was selling stuff from Mexico. I mean, what? There were fields surrounding this place and they don't sell local stuff?
It was a great day! I got home and the sun was setting behind the Golden Gate Bridge and that was the first time I'd gotten to see the bridge. Its been in the fog for days. It is again today too.
This morning we are headed to street fair by Jan's place and then to Half Moon Bay for some Blues later on. Should be fun!
Sales tips by Jan:
You have to realize you'll have to ask a hundred times before you'll get a yes. A true salesman's job really starts at no.