It’s snowing like crazy here in Minnesota, and I’m tired of shoveling. The good news is that I’m headed out of town pretty soon. But, it’s mostly under the guise of work. That’s pretty normal for me. I get the opportunity to work for a wide variety of auctioneers throughout the United States on a variety of different auctions. On occasion and increasingly more, these work opportunities involve some travel to some pretty cool places. Starting Thursday, I’ve got a stretch of seven days, working four auctions for four different auction companies in three different states.
Day One, Auction One, Company One, State One
The fun begins outside on Thursday. I’m headed to South-Central Minnesota for a farm equipment consignment auction. The auction features mainly items to do with large farming operations – tractors, tillage, grain trucks, semi-trucks, et cetera. This auction should be a fun auction. It’s close to home and is generally done by mid-day.
Day Three, Auction Two, Company Two, State One
On Saturday, it’s another outside auction and it’s still in Minnesota. This time it’s a heavy equipment auction in Central Minnesota. This is a quarterly consignment auction and features semi-trucks, bulldozers, backhoes, road graders, skid loaders, and related items. We start early in the morning at 8am, but I’m normally done working by 2pm. This is a large auction and the day normally passes quick.
Day Four – Six, Auction Three, Company Three, State Two
Sunday, I’m getting on a plane headed for Reno where I’ll hop into a car and head for Carson City, Nevada. Once there, I’m going to take in some of the sights — although I haven’t quite figured out what those sights may be. Monday, I’ve got some work for our office in Minnesota to complete via the Internet, and I’ve also got to do a site visit at the auction site where I’ll be working on Tuesday. The auction is a commercial business liquidation auction. It’s for a company I’ve never worked before – so it should be a fun day. It’s always fun and interesting to work with new people, and learn how they run their business. It’s also going to be nice to mix in a little fun and relaxation.
Day Six – Seven/Eight, Auction Four, Company Four, State Three
After the auction, I’m headed over the mountains to Sacramento, California. It’s there that I’ve got another auction. This time the auction is on Wednesday – meaning not much free time to explore Sacramento on Tuesday (as I’ll be working in Nevada). As a result, I’m hoping the drive (about three hours) from Carson City to Sacramento is going to be picturesque. Best I can tell from my limited online research, it’s going to be a beautiful trip as long as I don’t have to deal with snow! The auction is a commercial business liquidation auction of a bakery production line. Again, it’s for a company I’ve not worked for in the past – yet another learning experience from a different business perspective. After the auction, I’m catching a red-eye (leaving at 12:30am on Thursday) home to Minnesota (arriving at 10am) in able to sneak into the office on Thursday afternoon.
It’s going to be a busy seven days starting this Thursday. However, it’s what I thrive on – mixing work and pleasure for a variety of different companies (four auctions with four different auction companies in three different states). The time, I’m sure, is going to zip by as it always does. But, the learning experiences (there are always a bunch) are going to be well worth the time spent.
That’s too bad that you’re heading to Sacto instead of San Jose. I guess you’ll just have to come out to San Francisco for New Years then.
John-
Sounds like a lot of work…. but a lot of fun. I have been to Reno 6 times now I think, you will have some fun. If you get a chance check out the Silver Legacy it is very cool Inside, closest thing you get to Vegas in that part of the state.
The ride in the mountains to Sac-Town even scared me… well it was more my driving 85 in a minivan going around corners.
Have fun, and don’t work to hard!!!
Thanks for the tips! I arrive midday on Sunday and have a pretty quiet day on Monday. I’ll have to hit up the Silver Legacy. A little Vegas action in Reno would be cool with me – ‘though it’s always a bit different when I’m chillin on my own in a new town.
I’ve never driven in the mountains (short of a trip to Hoover Dam which isn’t really the mountains), so I should be in for some fun. My rental is a small car – it should be a fun twisting ride into “Sac-Town” – hopefully the roads are passable and I can keep it under 85!
Since you are driving (and you seem to enjoy music), I strongly suggest that you get Sirius radio. I didn’t want it, but on a recommendation, I got it for a road trip. I was pleasantly suprized by the whole idea. The channel tuning is a pain, but at the same time there are some magestical tunes you will hear that you’ve completely forgotten about over time (think of all the guilty pleasures just waiting for you like “We Didn’t Start the Fire” or “Another Day in Paradise” or “Photograph”). And if you get bored with the music, you can always change it to talk radio, CNN, Fox News, Howard Stern, or even more enteraining, the Playboy channel.
JRH,
Thanks for the heads up on the music. I believe my car comes equipped with XM radio. “We didn’t start the fire” – oh, what a classic. I’m ashamed to admit, it’s a part of my collection. I’m looking forward to checking out XM. I’ve toyed with getting a receiver in the past.
Also, I keep thinkin’ I should buy an iPod for my music collection on iTunes. However, I’m not sure if I’d use it in the car. Any insight? I’m afraid it’d be a new toy that gathered dust.
I don’t use my Ipod for my car. I’ve never been able to get a good reception on it and I can’t be bothered to fool around with the dials. My iPod is usually used for my commute from MSP to ATL, but I also plug it into my speakers (from Target, 100 or so clams) to broadcast my great music taste to everyone when I feel like it.
I used to be embarassed to say that I like Billy Joel (his insistance on wearing black Lee jeans is sad), but he’s got some great tunes. “Only the Good Die Young” is great too.
I really like Billy Joel. Some would say my music tastes border on the poor side. I like my 80s and 90s music with a mix of the 00s. My music collection is so eclectic, and frankly, I don’t care what others think of my collection. It’s not like I’m throwin’ huge parties where others are “forced” to listen to my collection. Yet, I do like your “broadcasting” of your “great music” taste. I’m guessin’ some of your family members are not too keen on that practice?!?!
Thanks for the tip on the iPod. Others have made a similar comment. I’m not sure that I’d use it much in the plane. I’d rather get a book and get lost in it while flying. It’s almost habit that I stop at the bookstore in the airport and get ripped on the price but get a book I end up enjoying and finishing in my travels.
I would prefer to read a book as well, required reading for class or not, but sometimes there are some passengers that I cannot block out, no matter how hard I try. For example, when I was coming from ATL to MSP the Sunday after Thanksgiving, I was sitting next to this ass of a man. So, I try to ignore him and start to read (a book about political thought in Russia in the 19th century; I’m sure I looked like a snob – oh well, don’t care). However, this man opened up his mouth and his voice sounded like a combination of the lead singer of “Canned Heat” and Michael McDonald (solo MM, not part of Doobies – think “Takin’ it to the Streets”), and I could not block this obnoxious voice out, so I had to listen to iPod. Perhaps had his voice been as soothing as Phil Collins’ voice, then I would have been more apt to concentrate on my book.
I guess it all depends on the class – but I’m with you. The worst passengers are the crying babies… A few months back, I had one in front of me, and I nearly locked myself in the bathroom to get some quiet time!
Political thought in Russia 19th century – yikes. That’s some pretty heavy reading. How in the world did you ever get hooked into the Russian scene anyways? I’ve tried several times to read about their history, and often get easily distracted from the book – unlike most books I read.
Phil Collins soothing – now you are dating yourself into some good music. One of my all time favorite discs is his “Serious Hits… Live!” disc. Very good, makes me smile, and puts me to sleep every time!! “Easy Lover” and “Groovy Kind of Love” are definitely my favorites!