The Great Getaway of 2011

I just returned from a two-week long business trip to the east coast. It was the last of the most recent string of out-of-town business trips and I am very happy to be home. There will be more out-of-town work in the future, but for now I get to enjoy a few weeks at home, including Thanksgiving week.

It was during this two-week east coast trip that Amanda and I took advantage of a Moss Adams company perk - for anybody that travels more than 75 nights a year, the company will pay for one round trip airfare for a spouse or significant other. We decided, months ago, that this past weekend would be the best opportunity to take advantage. We booked tickets for Amanda to fly out to Pittsburgh and made arrangements to have my parents watch Sam, Charlie and Isaac for three days (and three nights). Due to a medical issue, we had to make some last minute rearrangements and the three boys ended up staying with my brother's family - three days with their cousins, whom they absolutely adore. That was probably a better result. I don't think they missed us for even one minute, not even Isaac.

The weekend was great, exceeded my expectations. Other than a seating issue with a hostess at P.F. Changs, the weekend couldn't have been better. I had been over 2 years since we had spent a night away from our kids and the first since Isaac's arrival. Amanda needed a break; consequently, we did very little. The good thing about having a weekend away in Pittsburgh, as opposed to Paris, France or New York City, is that there really isn't a ton of stuff to do, comparatively. The Steelers were out of town, so the downtown area was quiet and uncrowded. We got a great hotel, right downtown, directly across from the two stadiums (Heinz field and PNC park) and within walking distance to almost everything downtown that was worth seeing. Although it was early November, the sun was out and the temperature hovered around 60 degrees. We slept in, took walks, did some shopping, overate at some great restaurants and had several, much needed, uninterrupted conversations. I was great to reconnect. We both became a bit sad as the departure time of Amanda's Monday morning flight neared, but reality could not be escaped.

We are very grateful for all those who made it possible for the getaway to happen: parents, sister-in-law, my employer, Delta, Marriott Hotels, the TSA. We are very blessed to be surrounded by family and friends. For the next getaway, I am not sure that Pittsburgh will be the first city on our list, but for the 2011 getaway, it was perfect.