Reflections from the road

Larry and I have been busy taking alternating trips these past few weeks. First, he went to Vancouver for a week. Last week, I stayed in DC for 3 days, over my birthday, for a conference. Tomorrow, he leaves for a work roadtrip(?) up to Ithaca, NY. And on Thursday night, Amanda and I leave for a girl's roadtrip weekend to NYC. When Henry gets here, much of this will change, so I guess it's good to get it all in now.

While at my conference, I learned a few things, or at least was reminded of a few that I had forgotten since the last conference.

1. Individuals are smart, groups are stupid lemmings. - Do you know how many architects asked me if they really had to use Number 2. pencil on their Scantron forms that they fill out to get CEU credits for coming to the conference? Because "I know it says that I need to, but I already filled it out in pen." I think it was 2,000. And there were only 1000 people there. First off, if you can't follow 1 simple instruction on a form to get the credits that you so desperately need, you don't derseve them. But more importantly, these forms are being used so that computers can do the reading. I didn't make these computers. I do not have control over what they can read. But I am guessing that they can only read Number 2 pencil. One stupid question like that, from one person, and you can write it off. But when they ask in rapid fire like that, it becomes clear that people are not as smart as they seem.

2.Hotels are not considered fancy until they refill the ice bucket every day for you.

3.People are cheap, no matter how much money they make, and are willing to make asses out of themselves to get something for free. - At every conference, you always get the cleaning crew and security guards for teh building asking for the free bags and SWAG that are there for the attendees. I have come to accept this. And have learned to tell them no, only because giving in opens the floodgates of all the other building personnel that also want free stuff. But on Thursday I had this altercation:
Gentleman architect who was attending the conference comes to the registration desk, his obnoxious green free bag hanging from his shoulder. We had run out of these bags earlier in thee day and were no giving out black bags that were leftovers from the prior year.

Architect - "Can I have one of those black bags?"

Me- "Well, we are running low, we only have 4 left."

A- "But I only want one."

M-"But you already have one." I point at his shoulder.

A- "Yeah, but I like them for grocery shopping"

M- "People are still showing up for the conference, so I need the bags for them. If you really want one, try coming back at 5:30, right before the conference ends, and if there are any left, you can have one then."

5:30- Architect returns, I see him coming and put one of the 2 bags that we have left up on the counter.

M-"Here you go, sir." He comes and picks it up and starts to walk away. "Happy shopping!" I say this as smugly as possible.

A- "Yeah, I like these, I hate having to throw away plastic bags."


So, this guy is too cheap to buy a 99 cent reusable bag, he would rather just use throw away plastic bags. But now, thanks to his perseverance, he has two FREE reusable bags. Clearly this conference on architecture, focusing on being green, has really sunk in.