I Slept with a VA!

In honor of Virtual Assiatants Day, which I believe was last month, I celebrated by sleeping (not virtually, but really) with a VA. 

Okay, this isn't as steamy as it might seem.  We're both happily married to our husbands and we hardly know each other well enough to share a bed...but it was kind of funny. 

Donna Toothaker, of 1stVA (one of my favorite virtual and real life new pals) came to Vermont for the Vermont Business Expo last month.  I met Donna for the first time in person in March at The Women's Congress, though we had been (virtually) friends for a few years. 

As the VA market is pretty untapped here in Vermont, I thought it would be a good opportunity for Donna to educate and recruit potential clients so I invited her.  The first night of the conference, we dined at Mr. Pickwick's, an English pub attached to Ye Old England Inne in Stowe. 

Donna, being the savvy internet researcher she is, found a great deal at the inn for the night and suggested we stay there for a mini-retreat rather than drive back to my house.  After a meal of calamari, lobster cannelloni, fish and chips, creme brulee, shortbread (sorry, all the food was expertly prepared and flawlessly served, but the shortbread cookie that accompanied dessert was not as good as mine) wine and ale, we stumbled into our room to find...yes, you guessed it...one bed.  Donna had requested two beds, but this being Vermont and it being quite late, the inn was locked up for the night and there was no one around to help us.  So, we turned on the news, climbed into bed together and fell asleep.

Well, at least I fell asleep.  Donna reported a restless night.  Apparently she's never experienced the joy of sleeping with a shortbreadhead.  I swear, I am a polite sleeper.   

I'm happy to report we still respected each other in the morning and enjoyed networking at the expo the next day. 

Here's what I learned:

• Sleeping with a VA can be fun.
• Calamari marinated in ginger beer and served with watercress is yummy.
• Donna likes wine. 
• Ale makes me sleepy.
• Networking makes me sleepy.
• Selling the world's best shortbread makes me good friends.  Now, get out there Vermonters, and go visit the 1stVA web site and learn what a virtual assistant can do to help your small business grow!   

Comments

[Dina at Wordfeeder.com]

This is a very "Bridget Jones" story. I don't know how comfortable I'd be sleeping in the same bed as a colleague, no matter how sauced I might be.

Once I slept in the same bed as my best friend. In the middle of the night she tried to wrap both her arms and a leg around me, thinking I was her husband. I think I'm slightly scarred by this experience (just kidding).

[Tawnya Sutherland]

Too funny, you guys are a hoot! Very similar to attending my first Virtual Assistant Conference back in October since I shared a room (albeit separate beds HA!) with another VA colleague who I'd never met before. The fun thing about the whole VA conference was getting to finally meet all these Virtual Assistants you have worked and networked virtually with for years. In another day and age (say, before automobiles) having or even meeting business colleagues across the globe wouldn't even have existed. Can you imagine what it may be like in 2050? We may have VAs shooting over to your office to help you in spaceshuttles through the telephone lines or something! To meet VAs to network with, visit http://www.VAnetworking.com Have a great day!

[Jacky]

Mr. Pickwicks is so yum...I had the pleasure of having lunch there a few years back with my work collegues. Never did have the cookies, but I am sure they are nothing like yours!

[Cynthia Mckenna]

I love this story, Ann!

I haven't ever slept with a VA, but I am not opposed to it, as I consider myself fairly open minded.

I think your evenings sounds delightful and so glad you and your new pal could turn a sleepy networking event into a fun get-away retreat.

Cynthia - who absolutely adores ale, and wine, and calamari, and..

[Donna Toothaker]

Ann - this is hysterical - I laughed out loud! In honor of what you learned - I made my own "what I learned about Vermont", here. Enjoy!
http://www.1stva.com/blog.

Donna