Knowing what to take on a business trip

Don't you just hate packing for a trip to another city or country? You rack your brain trying to figure out what you need to pack and making sure you have everything you need. It never fails, as soon as you are on your way or you get where you are going that you realize you forgot something important like the binoculars you were going to use or the heated car mug you love so much. If only you had something to help you with that tedious packing chore. Well I found this link to a site that might just solve the "I forgot my....." syndrome. It was very informative to me so I thought I would share it with you. Any time I fly I use a rolling duffle bag that will hold everything I need without having to check the bag. It has wheels and a pop-out handle for easily navigating through those long and busy airports. Also don't forget those beard trimmers, you don't want to look scruffy while your out and about. Check out this site and maybe you can find ways to make your business travel less stressful.
Greg's Business Travel Blog

Some Beard Trimming Humor for the Day

Pocket Watch 101

Early pocket watches

Antique verge fusee pocketwatch movement, from 1700s.

The watch was first created in the 16th century, initially in spherical (Pomander) or cylindrical cases, when the spring driven clock was invented. These watches were at first quite big and boxy and were worn around the neck. It was not for another century that it became common to wear a watch in a pocket.

There are two main styles of pocket watch, the hunter-case pocket watch, and the open-face pocket watch.

Open-face watches

An open-face pocket watch made by the famous Polish watchmaker Franciszek Czapek, circa 1876.

An open-face pocket watch is one with the winding-stem at the top of the dial, above the '12' and with the seconds sub-dial at the 6 o'clock position. As the name suggests, these watches have cases which are without a cover to protect the watch-crystal from damage. All railroad chronometers had to be of the open-face kind.

Hunter-case watches

A hunter-case pocket watch is the kind with a spring-hinged circular metal lid or cover, that closes over the watch-dial and crystal, protecting them from dust, scratches and other damage or debris. The majority of antique and vintage hunter-case watches have the lid-hinges at the 9 o'clock position and the stem, crown and bow of the watch at the 3 o'clock position. Modern hunter-case pocket watches usually have the hinges for the lid at the 6 o'clock position and the stem, crown and bow at the 12 o'clock position, as with open-face watches. In both styles of watch-cases, the sub-seconds dial was always at the 6 o'clock position. A hunter-case pocket watch with a spring-ring chain is pictured at the top of this page.

Richard Ross pocket watch routine

I saw this and started wondering where could he have had all those pocket watches hidden. This is pretty cool. Even though he had so many, you really only need one to make your style stand out from everybody else. What better way to top off that suit and tie than with a precision crafted hunter pocket watch.

The great pocket watch routine by an early Richard Ross. It was perfect near the end of his life, but nevertheless pretty impressive even in the early 60's

Business Travel Gear Basics

Planning a trip? Consider these travel gear basics tips to help you pack wisely and experience a safer, healthier and more comfortable trip.

Luggage

A good set of luggage should be easy to carry and pull behind you. Ideally, it should have handles at the top and bottom and the side which opens up. Also, luggage should be easy to identify as your own, so consider colorful luggage or at least placing some easily recognizable yet not easily torn off ribbon, sticker, belt or tag on it. When choosing luggage, consider expandable options. Some duffle bags and rolling suitcases have different sections that can be expanded by several inches by simply unzipping a zipper, which makes it very handy when you are going home. You don't need to leave any good stuff behind or pay a fortune in shipping costs to have items shipped home. Depending on your destination and amount of vacation time, you may also want to bring along a backpack, duffle bag, overnight case or bag or additional smaller suitcases.

Health

Basic travel health gear should include a basic first aid kit that is compact, a water purification bottle and your prescription medications in clearly marked bottles. Also, bring along any common over the counter remedies you may need such as antacids, pain relievers, diarrhea medication, jet lag medication, sleep aids etc.

Comfort

For some people, helpful comfort gear may include a travel pillow for the airplane, a bed insert that you can slip into and not be exposed to hotel bed sheets, your own pillowcases, shoe inserts for those long walks, eyeshades for better sleeping and earplugs for noisy airports or hotels.

Safety

For safety from thieves, consider a money belt or concealed wallet that hides under your clothing. Don't forget the sun protection, including sunglasses and sunscreen. Also, consider an all-in-one safety tool that includes a compass, mirror, alarm, flasher, flashlight and radio.

Camera

Whether you choose to bring along a digital camera for still photos or a camcorder for digital movies, don't forget the necessary gear you'll need for them. Bring along enough media for the camera. Never rely on being able to buy that particular media while you are traveling. While you may luck out and have a store right next to your hotel that carries the right media you need, more likely you will waste hours trying to find a store that carries just the right media. Don't forget the batteries and/or charger for the camera. Depending on the country you are in, you may also need an adapter just to plug in the charger for your camera. These adapters are only a few dollars and will save you from needing to borrow one from the hotel or having to buy one while you are traveling.

Extras

If you're traveling to a rainy country, consider bringing a compact umbrella. There are many countries and situations where binoculars will come in handy, so consider a set of compact binoculars for your trip.

Books and Maps

You'll find your visit enhanced by buying a good, recent guidebook and map for your area and carry them with you at all times.

Cat vs. Beard Trimmers

OK, so you might not want to use beard trimmers on your cat, but they are very easy to use on a beard.

Shopping for a Beard Trimmer

If you are a lady, shopping for that special fellow in your life can prove to be an arduous task. This is for no other reason than the fact that men have different needs than women do. As a woman, you know what women would want, but men have different needs. If the special guy in your life is proving hard to shop for, you can't really go wrong with a beard trimmer.

A beard trimmer is a thoughtful, inexpensive gift that most men would love. Women don't have to worry about having to trim their beards up, but some men have to worry about it multiple times a day. Facial hair grows faster on some men than others, and there are times when it is not always welcome. Job interviews, weddings, parties, long days at the office, sometimes whiskers can sneak up on a guy, and a beard trimmer can come in handy for just those situations.

Beard trimmers are also a great gift for that boy who is turning into a man. What a better way to show him that you recognize his transition into adulthood than with an item that little boy's are not able to use? Boys don't grow facial hair or need trimmers for them, but young men do.

Where to Find a Beard Trimmer for the Guy in Your Life

Luckily, beard trimmers are not too difficult to find. Really, it is just a matter of choosing the one that is best for the person you are shopping for. There are the low end beard trimmers and the high end beard trimmers. If the person you are considering is going to be putting a lot of use into the item, there is no reason in the world to skimp except your budget. Get the maximum as to what your gifting budget can afford, because when it comes to beard trimmers, you do get just what you pay for.

Finding Quality Beard Trimmers is Important

If you pay ten dollars for a beard trimmer, you cannot expect too much out of it. If you pay a bit more, more in the neighborhood of thirty to fifty dollars, you can get a battery operated beard trimmer that will last quite a while, and be in great working order whenever it is needed. Also, the cheaper beard trimmer models do not always come with a warranty, and having a warranty is important for such a device, even if it is not a very long one.

If you are shopping for the man in your life, young or old, you cannot possibly go wrong with a beard trimmer. They are inexpensive, thoughtful, and best of all they won't collect dust or be re-gifted like so many other things you may have considered. Wrap it up with a nice bow and throw in a thoughtful card, and you have the gift of a lifetime!