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i left Tuesday early evening. The flight was supposed to leave at 6 something but we were about 30 minutes late off the ground, so it was closer to 7. My assigned seat was very close to the front; i was in a row with two young businessmen from Romania, i think. The steward came to the three of us and explained that a family with a young boy in a full leg cast were on the plane. The boy was being moved about by the plane's wheelchair. The steward asked if we would mind exchanging seats with the family to make it easier on the boy. i said yes without hesitation, thinking it was a no-brainer, but at first i thought the men seated in the row with me were going to decline. The steward made it very clear that he could only request, not force us to change, and that it had to be the whole row, so the family could stay together, or nothing. What boggled my mind was why those guys even had to think about it. Cultural differences i guess.
The plane arrived a bit late, we must have had a tail wind and i didn't get to the hotel until nearly 10. Dubai is an hour ahead of Kuwait, so i guess it really wasn't that late. The room was on the upper level in the same hotel as i had stayed last year. It was much larger than my room last year, but because it was up a floor, i didn't have the nice sliding glass doors and patio. Oh well.
Was up early the next morning, actually i didn't sleep well, and off to the conference in time to make the plenary speakers. Some mix-up at the registration desk, they couldn't find my name. It was soon figured out, my fault, i was trying to register as a delegate, not a presenter. Nifty gifts this year. A very nice laptop carrying case, a really nifty laser pointer/pen (now i can target planes that fly over the apartment) a mouse pad, an extensive reader, and something else i'm forgetting. Wednesday's sessions lasted until 6:30, but i bugged out about 4. i needed to relax. Back to the room, and some down time. One neat thing about most hotels in Muslim countries, room service has no extra charge, so i treated myself to a mozzarella and tomato salad and a chicken and spinach dish with mushrooms and peppers. Served on a table with a linen cloth and flowers. Ritzy me.
Thursday was the presentation. Didn't have the room filled, i was told to make handouts for 100, but i think there were between 50 & 60. The presentation went well, and so did the workshop aspect. With the exception that i asked for questions at the wrong time, and we really didn't get to do much with the workshop. Another problem was that although i was slated for 60 minutes and had the whole presentation down to 45, the timekeeper started letting people in early and the disruption made for a messy end. Had a heckler, i don't know what his agenda was, on the powerpoint and in the hand out and in the paper it was clearly stated the group used was small and it was clearly a sample of convenience, but he went on and on about the analysis not being sound and how he had done research on this back in the 80's, yadda, yadda, yadda. Oh well, i survived.
Had several people stop me outside to discuss the online journaling and i expect to hear from at least 3 of them by email for more info. All in all i gave myself a B+. Shouldn't have asked for questions in the middle, and probably could have handled the heckler better. i don't know what the competition judges gave me. i'm not even sure the judges were there. Oh well, i probably wouldn't have gone anyway. Can't really afford a trip to the States next month.
There was a presenter's lunch in the Thai restaurant in the hotel, it was very good. i bought the proceedings from last year, and then learned i had a complimentary copy waiting for me because last year's presentation was published in it. If last year's got in, then i expect to be in this year's too. This paper was better than last year's. i sat around and talked with people for a bit after the meal. There was nothing that really piqued my interest in the afternoon sessions. i went back to my hotel and vegged again.
There was nothing on Friday that i wanted to see, either, and i was getting antsy to be back 'home'. i mooched around the hotel until it was time to check out and leave for the airport. Again, the plane was late leaving, this time because two passengers who had checked luggage decided not to show, and the bags had to be removed from the plane. About 15 minutes late back to Kuwait. i called Master as soon as i got off the plane. Usually it works out fine when we do this. The one who is picking up generally has to do 2 drive arounds through the terminal and the picked up is out the door. Last night i was out and had to wait 30 minutes for Him to get there. There is an advantage to taking only a carry-on on the plane.
i was dead beat last night. Took my bath and was in bed by 9:30. i read until Master came in about an hour later and then we had a nice chitchat for another hour before we fell asleep. He's up and gone already this morning. Might not be back for the weekend. On the other hand, He might have a day or 2 here during the week, so i guess that wouldn't be such a bad trade off. i hinted that coming in on Monday night would be nice since i don't go into the office on Tuesdays. We shall see.
All in all it was a nice weekend, but as always, it is so good to be home.
The plane arrived a bit late, we must have had a tail wind and i didn't get to the hotel until nearly 10. Dubai is an hour ahead of Kuwait, so i guess it really wasn't that late. The room was on the upper level in the same hotel as i had stayed last year. It was much larger than my room last year, but because it was up a floor, i didn't have the nice sliding glass doors and patio. Oh well.
Was up early the next morning, actually i didn't sleep well, and off to the conference in time to make the plenary speakers. Some mix-up at the registration desk, they couldn't find my name. It was soon figured out, my fault, i was trying to register as a delegate, not a presenter. Nifty gifts this year. A very nice laptop carrying case, a really nifty laser pointer/pen (now i can target planes that fly over the apartment) a mouse pad, an extensive reader, and something else i'm forgetting. Wednesday's sessions lasted until 6:30, but i bugged out about 4. i needed to relax. Back to the room, and some down time. One neat thing about most hotels in Muslim countries, room service has no extra charge, so i treated myself to a mozzarella and tomato salad and a chicken and spinach dish with mushrooms and peppers. Served on a table with a linen cloth and flowers. Ritzy me.
Thursday was the presentation. Didn't have the room filled, i was told to make handouts for 100, but i think there were between 50 & 60. The presentation went well, and so did the workshop aspect. With the exception that i asked for questions at the wrong time, and we really didn't get to do much with the workshop. Another problem was that although i was slated for 60 minutes and had the whole presentation down to 45, the timekeeper started letting people in early and the disruption made for a messy end. Had a heckler, i don't know what his agenda was, on the powerpoint and in the hand out and in the paper it was clearly stated the group used was small and it was clearly a sample of convenience, but he went on and on about the analysis not being sound and how he had done research on this back in the 80's, yadda, yadda, yadda. Oh well, i survived.
Had several people stop me outside to discuss the online journaling and i expect to hear from at least 3 of them by email for more info. All in all i gave myself a B+. Shouldn't have asked for questions in the middle, and probably could have handled the heckler better. i don't know what the competition judges gave me. i'm not even sure the judges were there. Oh well, i probably wouldn't have gone anyway. Can't really afford a trip to the States next month.
There was a presenter's lunch in the Thai restaurant in the hotel, it was very good. i bought the proceedings from last year, and then learned i had a complimentary copy waiting for me because last year's presentation was published in it. If last year's got in, then i expect to be in this year's too. This paper was better than last year's. i sat around and talked with people for a bit after the meal. There was nothing that really piqued my interest in the afternoon sessions. i went back to my hotel and vegged again.
There was nothing on Friday that i wanted to see, either, and i was getting antsy to be back 'home'. i mooched around the hotel until it was time to check out and leave for the airport. Again, the plane was late leaving, this time because two passengers who had checked luggage decided not to show, and the bags had to be removed from the plane. About 15 minutes late back to Kuwait. i called Master as soon as i got off the plane. Usually it works out fine when we do this. The one who is picking up generally has to do 2 drive arounds through the terminal and the picked up is out the door. Last night i was out and had to wait 30 minutes for Him to get there. There is an advantage to taking only a carry-on on the plane.
i was dead beat last night. Took my bath and was in bed by 9:30. i read until Master came in about an hour later and then we had a nice chitchat for another hour before we fell asleep. He's up and gone already this morning. Might not be back for the weekend. On the other hand, He might have a day or 2 here during the week, so i guess that wouldn't be such a bad trade off. i hinted that coming in on Monday night would be nice since i don't go into the office on Tuesdays. We shall see.
All in all it was a nice weekend, but as always, it is so good to be home.
