It's been a while since I took the time to gather my thoughts and write something. Travelling sometimes makes me want to write; often it shuts me up. This was one of the shut-up trips.
I had a good time during my vacation days. They weren't many, only a the weekend but I saw some cool things and did some interesting stuff and I don't regret a thing. The meeting I attended was quite good - except for the way-too-freaking-small meeting rooms. There were talks I wanted to attend but you literally could not fit another person into the room. That is ridiculous - it costs a lot of money to attend these meetings and to be unable to get in is unacceptable.
As all meetings like this go, there was a lot of entertainment in the evenings. There's always a bbq at this meeting and since we were in the south, they had some good bbq. Not very good beer, but ehh. Once you've had a few it doesn't seem to matter that you're drinking bud light (without lime). I actually had the distinction of getting the last beer out of the tap.
I am proud and slightly embarassed. I'd already done my presentation so it was all good. I was celebrating.
That night, after a great deal of fun at the venue (we got chased out, party animals that we are) we rode the bus back (more entertainment, one of my friends fell up the stairs) and then since the group was all pleasantly happy we headed off to a bar.
Lord knows I did not need any more beer. I tried something that was recommended, but I found it disgusting and gave it to the recommender. Blech. At least I did not have to pay for that beer.
We stumbled home in the dark. We didn't want our room to be party central all week (it was last year and it was not fun) so we didn't tell people where we were. In fact, we moved rooms. We spent a lot of time being sneaky about where we were staying. We also had the hotel tell people we weren't registered (which was kind of hilarious because several people tried to find us and were stymied at every turn. Hah!).
The following day I saw a lot of presentations in the morning. The afternoon I spent with a grad student wandering around the area. I wanted to hit up a piggly wiggly to find some baconnaise - alas, they did not have it. BUT! I saw some tobacco growing plus some soya bean plants. Never seen either growing before, that was kind of cool. I have pictures.
That evening we didn't really have plans, there was a poster session but I'd already seen the posters I wanted to see earlier in the day. The business meeting for the association happened that afternoon - I missed part of it but that's ok. When I arrived I rounded up some people to go take a picture in front of the sas sign in Cary, NC. It wasn't hard to fill up my car - I work with some nerds. It was also my idea, so I kind of win the nerd award. I got an invitation to go to a fancy dinner that night with my ex-boss, and since I didn't have any other plans AND it was free, I decided to go.
So after the nerd picture we headed off to dinner, rudely dumping other friends in the process. We got t-shirts and drink tickets when we walked in the door - I thought everyone got 4 tickets, but turns out that everyone I asked (of the male persuasion, natch) only got 3. Heh. The pregnant lady at the party got 5.
I had the best time that evening. I renewed my affair with the gin and tonic and by the end of the evening I'd had 5. Ahhh. It was fun - I work with entertaining people that attract other entertaining people so it was just about the perfect night. I've never attended this conference in a non-party-crasher or non-organizer capacity so it was nice to just meet people. I met a lot of people. My friend Val was on the board, so I got invited to their fancy dinners when they had their meetings over the weekend. So I met a bunch of movers and shakers that way(they'd totally laugh that I called them that). Then a lovely evening at the fancy dinner and I met even more people.
I firmly believe that you meet people and form more of an acquaintance when you break bread together. Lots of people focus on more formal ways of making connections. I think they miss out.
The next day was the last of the conference. I saw some more presentations and learned some interesting stuff. That night was the banquet. Val and I had decided to divulge the location of our room and since we are the hostesses with the mostesses I offered to drive to a liquor store. Have I mentioned I work with thoroughly entertaining people? We had a time finding the store (I have an insane sense of direction) but we laughed so much it didn't matter. Filled the back of the suv and subsequently the bathtub in our room in an assortment of beer and girly fruity drinks.
I took pictures, because I thought it was funny.
We finally chased everyone out of our room around 2am. I didn't fall asleep until quite late because I'd been walking/sitting poorly all day and my back and legs were on fire. It was bad. I couldn't take any painkillers since I was basically a booze factory by that point. I enjoy those hotel room parties - there is a folklore in our group and it gets retold every year for all the newbies.
Fun times. It's fun to be the hostesses because then at least you know you'll be invited to the party.
The next day we did some shopping and headed off to the airport. We had a grad student with us all day, and by the middle of the day she was complaining her feet hurt. We have to break her in more - we had a light day. On Monday, an off day, we left our hotel at 10am and did not return until after 8pm. THAT was a long day. But oh so productive.
Home at last, to a heat wave (finally!) that left my house so hot I could not stand it. Put on the air conditioner, threw some fans in the windows and slept for 11 hours. I was so tired I slept most of Saturday, actually.
Now I have had a lazy Sunday. BBQ for lunch and supper. Saw my nieces and nephew. It was a good day. But now it is 830 and I am exhausted. Will take a bath and get to bed. Lots to catch up on at work tomorrow. I think I will call up a friend for lunch tomorrow. It'll be fun.
