Marshall Yard:

Kevin came back early from his weekend home because he was “DEPRESSED” as Lauren put it…she brought him back to the hustle and bustle of the exhibit house chaos, but seriously, as we sit here this evening watching Crossroads, I think it is all about the music…mind you Lauren, he is from Mississippi and likes to hear the blues and not rap music.  You all know my feelings about  Stevie, well, Kevin feels that way about Ry Cooder’s blues.  

That swampy sound of the slide guitar has Kevin in a twist, down with those snakes and alligators, he feels right at home! Can a turtle get depressed, I actually have to agree with Lauren, yes, I think they can.  Let me tell you, I have brought Kevin home now for several weekends, and his little trade show exhibit mascot spirit seems to be taking a beating. Initially I thought that it would be good for the little fellow, but he just seems to sink himself deep in the water and not even the meanest of blues tunes brings him out to feed in front of his weekend collegues.

I thought I was doing Kevin a favor bringing him home on weekends, for the heat lamp and the feeding, but heck, if it is going to get this boy singing the blues, I ’spose it is best to leave him be. I noticed the fact as well as Lauren that he sat himself in the deep blue sea of the aquarium that I bought him that he is not quite as active in his weekend environment.  I can truly hear Kevin quoting Crossroads characters, “if you are going to be a janitor..mop my room.” 

Well, we get back to the Janitor..and I have visions of walking around the ISSA trade show, and thinking oh my gosh, how many more exhibits with bathrooms and toilets, and toilet paper, or fuffy smelly good stuff can I see, the answer to that, unless you are in the exhibit house business, or in the janitorial supply rep business, you can never imagine…and let me tell you, urinal cakes, make and extremely funny gag gift.

Whether you are attending the ISSA Trade Show for Janitorial Supplies or you are attending the CES Trade Show for Consumer Electronics, a good rule of thumb is to always pre-register.  You do not want to be waiting like a herd of turtles (no offense Kevin) in anticipation of viewing the latest and greatest in vacuums and toilet paper. (Toilet Paper-it is a little known fact, I the writer used to work for a Janitorial Supplies Rep-also a Kevin- are we seeing  a trend here? - borrowing from the samples was part of the job, and to my utter dismay, I now have to purchase toilet paper, and its outrageously priced) .

Map out your plan for which exhibits and displays you would like to visit.  The trade show websites always supply great resources and most have online maps of where the exhibitors are going to be located.  Print it out and plan your attack.