Last week, I returned from attending the National Speaker’s Association 2009 Convention, held in my neighboring city of Phoenix, AZ. What an amazing experience! I kept saying to people, “Can’t I just live here for awhile?” Not only did I learn an incredible amount, but also I met lots of wonderful new people. I heard Nando Parrado describe his experience of surviving the 1972 plane crash in the Andes. After that, everyone kept saying, “We don’t have anything to complain about.” I also listened to Steve Spangler, who originated the Mentos and Diet Coke experiment. He showed us some of his other experiments, some of which have been featured on the television show “Ellen.”  And there was so much more! I came home on an emotional high that is still with me.