Cowboy Take Me Away (Dallas, Part 2)
Dallas Prison Blues
There are some situations that I have never been able to find my footing in; social outings on my lonesome, being away from home, sleeping and eating poorly. I don't know why I expect any different when I travel, but balancing these factors against an otherwise idealistic vacation led to an oddly difficult experience in Dallas.
I'd like to start with some highlights, though. The conference itself provided a series of continuing education classes for my PE license, all of which were worthwhile to sit through for future applications on my projects in North Carolina. There was also no lack of things to do outside of the classes. The shop floor was filled with kiosks, each offering something or someone to interact with. I took Morgan on in an RC car race and finally claimed my first win against him for the trip. A few booths down, I got to hold these little critters. Some readers may be delighted to learn that the chameleon's name is Pascal.
My biggest gripe with the trip was that I didn't have enough time to recharge my social battery in between the whirlwind of fun we had on our agenda. This was perfectly represented on Monday afternoon as I floated aimlessly down the lazy river, allowing my tube to bounce like pinballs against networkers too drunk to realize they've clogged the flow of traffic.
My remaining issues were minor (and certainly first world) but many. I was disappointed by the meals: firstly, the quality. Between dry sandwiches, tough Texan BBQ, and empty buffet plates, I was often more enticed by the idea of the food more than the consumption of the food. Secondly, the seating. Lunches and dinners were not designed to allow all 1100 attendees to sit and eat, relegating many to their feet or the heat of the sun. Thirdly, the timing. I ate an admittedly delicious dinner on Monday night, but my entree didn't come out until 10:30PM. Do you think I got enough sleep for my events the next morning?
One last nitpick - has AI slop become the status quo already? Every graphic, handout, advertisement I saw had all the trademark signs of a lazy marketer trying to save a buck. How do we feel about this five-legged bull? How do we feel knowing it was one of the less obvious AI pieces and had a fifty foot LED wall board dedicated to it?
I am sure these issues were exacerbated by my weariness seeing the same bustling crowd for hours on end. In no world should receiving free food and entertainment be considered a negative thing. Unfortunately, I am subject to my own human emotions. It's not the fault of anybody in particular and I am glad to have attended the conference, but I am the same man in Texas that I am in North Carolina.