The year is only a few days old and I have already locked in a bunch of trips. It looks like it is going to be a fun year.

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My first trip is to New York in a couple weeks. Fellow GT distribution specialist Louie Atsaves and I will be attending GT‘s annual awards event. I always look forward to seeing all my GT friends.

In March, I have a trip to Las Vegas, where my sisters and their families will be meeting me for a few days. In May, I will once again join my sisters for a trip to Columbus, Ohio, to see our cousins, some of whom I haven’t seen in 20 years.

In May, I will also be going to Detroit with a few friends for Motor City Comic Con and a Detroit Tigers baseball game. In July, we are heading to Indianapolis for another similar convention.

My nephew and I are planning a trip to Minneapolis to see the Twins. Matt has not seen the new stadium, Target Field. We’ll also visit my old friend, Rick Stelmaszek, one of the Twins coaches.

In the fall, a couple friends and I always head to the University of Michigan. I mix a little work with seeing one of the most prestigious college football teams.

Of course, I also head to Houston twice a year with my brother-in-law and nephew. We usually go in the summer to see the Chicago Cubs play the Astros. We also go in December to see the Houston Texans and escape the cold of Chicago.

I’m sure I’ll squeeze in a few more trips, too. Any combination of work, family, sporting events and conventions could get me out of Chicago unexpectedly. For now, since these trips are locked in, it’s time to start planning hotels, transportation, etc. I’m sure I’ll be writing more about them during the course of the year. In the meantime, I’d love to hear the travel plans you’ve already made for 2011.

— John Wroblewski, distribution specialist