RBOC & the conference

I still want to write a post about the conference outside my discipline (COMD), but I don't think I have the will to do it tonight. Instead, I give you...

• H is now a U.S. citizen. He and 80 other people (from 35 other countries) were naturalized on 08/08/08 (how cool is that?). They even had voter registration forms at the ceremony so that everyone could register. And cookies and punch served by some little old ladies. Very cute.
• Despite the hiccup in our vacation plans, we are off again tomorrow to a different destination- south instead of north- but an increase in elevation should make things cooler. I'm excited, as I have never been to this particular location. I only hope it isn't too crowded around there.
• When we get back, we only have a week left before classes start. Sigh. I'll say the same thing I say every year: where did the summer go?
• Our TV is working overtime now that H discovered the Olympic Soccer Channel. He has watched at least FOUR MATCHES back-to-back (he's insisting that it's only two) and I fear that his butt might grow into the couch. This would all be great, except that he needs to write a manuscript review BEFORE we leave tomorrow. He's been asked to review a lot of papers this summer for some reason. Never mind that I am doing all the packing (but that's the usual deal). I hope he doesn't stay up all night.

OK- I will comment on the conference. COMD is the same size as the one I usually attend my own discipline, but it is the most casual conference I have ever attended. I saw a small handful of people in dressier attire, but most people were in shorts, jeans, cargos, tevas, t-shirts, etc. I'm glad I left my suits at home! It was an interesting experience and I attended some really good talks. I had a poster, so I got to talk to a lot of people at the session. Some of the people knew my collaborator, or went to my U, or had some other connection, and others were just interested in the methods I use- this sparked some interesting conversations and two different people asked me about potentially coming to give talks- something that never happens to me in my own discipline. One of my collaborators ended up being there, too, so it was good to see him (he is at another U). 

Our hotel was NOT something that made me happy. It was one of the organization hotels so I figured it would be fine. However, it was pretty crappy, but still almost $150 a night. The bathroom was tiny and not very clean. The ice machine on our floor didn't work. The elevators were slow. The room they initially put us in had a door that didn't always open and the A/C was out- I immediately requested a new room. They also did not give us a king-sized bed as I requested. H is 6'3" so I had to sleep with D in one bed, while he slept in the other. After arriving, I noticed that Trip Advisor has terrible reviews for this place- wish I had checked that beforehand! 

The conference city was nice, although there were very few restaurants near the convention center. Still, we managed to eat good Thai and Italian and drink plenty of good coffee. We never drove our car during our visit, so it was great to walk everywhere. The weather also cooperated- it was muggy the first two days, but dried out the rest of the time- and it never rained, either.

So, tomorrow we're off again. We'll be hiking and eating, so it should be fun!