Grammar Goddess Seminars

Taught “Negotiation 101″ and “Creating Great Performance Appraisals” at the yearly Educational Conference of the International Association of Administrative Professionals. There were nearly 100 admins present for this spectacular day of learning and networking.

And how can anyone not love Bermuda? The houses are wonderfully colored (OK, coloured), the sky is blue, and the ocean is everywhere. A tiny group of islands measuring only 21 square miles captures everyone’s heart; many people return year after year for all that Bermuda has to offer.

I can’t wait for my turn!

Taught “Business Writing” in

• San Juan

Have you ever toured Old San Juan? Walked through El Yunque rain forest or El Morro Castle? I did. Have you ever eaten black beans and rice? I did. Have you ever explored this fascinating island? I did! The history — the people — the food! This is an island not to be missed, and it’s close — at least to the East Coast.

Taught “Advanced Secretarial Skills” in

• Kuala Lumpur
• Singapore
• Manila
• Hong Kong

Southeast Asia cannot be experienced in just two weeks, although I tried. I ate curry for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. (I did not know there were so many kinds!) I shopped until I dropped. I toured cities and the countryside. I marveled at the clothing, the architecture, the people. All old and new so close together — so similar and so different!

In Manila, I had my picture taken many times with seminar attendees. There are no people on earth like those in the Philippines. Talk about warm and wonderful — they wrote the book!

In Malaysia, I encountered many women who had flown in from around the country for the seminar. Talk about dedication! Just an amazing group of women. I wish I could have stayed longer to get to know them.

I was delighted with Singapore, if only for the courtesy of its people. I wasn’t there long enough to experience it fully. Of course, there’s the cleanliness. And the flowers. And the food. And the people. And the food. And. . .

Oh yes — Hong Kong. Islands to explore. A very scary airport to land at (in 1997) — we flew straight through a gap between two very tall high rises — I really thought we would touch! We didn’t, of course, and I got over it. I toured Kowloon. I rode the ferry. I walked around the harbor. I loved everything about Hong Kong!

Any one of these locations could have taken me the entire two weeks to explore, and I still wouldn’t have seen enough. Can anyone ever see enough of this fabulous part of the world?

Have taught more than 25 topics in

• 40 states
• Countless cities and towns

So, what have I done here in the U.S.?

Well, I’ve eaten Kosher hot dogs in NYC and Cajun shrimp in Shreveport, clam chowdah in Boston, and pork “bobbycue” in a small town outside Atlanta. I’ve watched the sun rise and set over oceans, lakes, and mountains.

I drove through floods in southern Ohio (OK, that was scary) and hail in South Carolina. I was bitten by a spider in Detroit and scared by a palmetto bug in West Palm. A woman brought me flowers in Kentucky, and a man walked out of an emotional control seminar in Texas (hey, it happens!). The air conditioning quit one July in Miami, and the heater quit one winter’s day in Maine. I’ve been hugged many times, and so far, never mugged.

As you can see, it’s a glamorous life! And I can’t wait for the next chapter, the next city, the next state. And you! When will I get to meet you?