My Blogher day trip #1

I woke at 4:00, before my alarm sounded.  It was set for 4:30, so I could leave by 4:45, stop at Starbucks when they opened at 5, and be at the airport by 5:15.  My flight departed at 6:45, so I thought that would give me plenty of time, without making me either a)rush or b) stand around forever. 

The Hubster got up with me, to drive me to the airport.  We stopped at Starbucks and I got my coffee, and he surprised me with a $50 gift card to take on my trip.  I bought a $5 gift card to tuck into a gift basket, and he cautioned me not to get them confused.  Remember this caution......

We arrived at the airport, where I was unable to utilize the curbside check in and was told to go to the gate. Alrighty, then, but if I was bumped off, I was planning on being pretty pissed.  I said my goodbyes and I got briefly choked up.  I was quickly brought to my senses when I dumped my cold coffee down the front of my pristine white t shirt and onto my khaki capri pants.  With no Tide to go pen available, or shout wipes, or even time to hit the bathroom, I went to the gate and was given an seat assignment.  1A.  Was I being upgraded to first class?  Holy cow, this was cool! 

Except, it wasn't.  The plane was sooo small that there WAS no first class.  Instead, I was in the very first seat next to the aisle, which meant that I was slapped with each person's carryon as they boarded.  And since they boarded the plane from FRONT to BACK, I was slapped plenty.  The flight attendant, when asked if she could provide me with some club soda, or a wet paper towel and soap, so that I maybe could get the coffee out of my shirt, pronounced herself much too busy to help.  Then she turned and dumped a bag of ice out of the entry door, right onto a crew member loading luggage.  When he yelled, she responded with, "Well, you shouldn't have been there."  She was a LOVELY woman.  She also dripped ice water from her cart onto the bare toes of my across the aisle mate all flight.  Thank goodness it was only an hour flight, particularly for the woman across for me.  I kept trying to joke with her, but her silence and stares ahead soon convinced me that I should shut up.

Other than those delights, the first flight was good.  I got to my location, and hoofed it over to the connection.  Where I overheard a conversation between two other passengers, one of whom indicated that she was going to a blogging conference in San Jose. I wheeled around, and in my super exuberance, I introduced myself.  "Hi!" I blurted out, cheerily.  "I'm going there too!  My name is Carmen, what's yours?"

She blinked at me, and muttered out a name.  I asked what her site was, to which she responded, "It's a private site."  Oooh-kay then.  Sometimes, I think I must be too friendly and off putting to people.  The second flight passed without incident, except for the three boys behind me, between the ages of 8 and 12.  They kept kicking my seat, and kicking it and kicking it.  I finally turned around to ask them to stop, and was met with a belligerent, "I'm not kicking you."  Alrighty, then, I was imagining it. When we landed in Vegas and the cool hotels came into view, the Luxor hotel with the Sphinx in from of it was one of the first sited.  The charming child behind me, the kicker, kept everyone in sttches with his constant chatter about the "Schvinxy hotel."  His mother remarked to the father how cute he sounded, mispronouncing the name, which set him off further.  I mainly just wanted to smack him, but sat on my hands and restrained myself.

I deplaned and slowly made my way to the third and final leg of my trip.  After all, I had been sitting for five hours and needed to stretch.  I was amazed by the slot machines that filled the Vegas airport.  They were all full, too.  I resisted the urge to gamble.  Must.not.spend.money.

The third flight was good, and I arrived in San Jose with no further fanfare.  I shared the shuttle with the private blogger, who answered my questions but didn't offer much conversation herself.  I made my way through the hotel, found the incredible Chris, who is so pretty and slim that it should be illegal.  I took over half of her room and made myself right at home. Mir came to visit, and I concentrated very hard on not licking her, even though the closeness of her incredible glamour made me swoon.  I met with Lisa Stone, who looks like a supermodel and is one of, if not THE, nicest people I've EVER met in my life.  I focused hard on not overwhelming her with my incredible awe.  I gave her a small gift basket, which contained the $5 card.  Except, while I was on route to her with the gift, I realized that I had actually stuck the $50 one in the basket, and had to make a discreet swap out.  Classy, yo, that's me.

We rode a bus unlike any I've ever seen - it was called an Land Yacht, and it was basically a limo bus.  We went for heavy (delicious!) appetizers and drinks, and they served the BEST lemon drop martinis that I've ever had.  I discovered that the woman who I had accosted in the airport had given me a fake name.  She was actually someone completely different, so that was kind of weird realization.  There were so many people there, though, and so many were very very famous, that I began to hyperventilate and had to walk out for a while. I wondered what, exactly, I was doing here. I called home to check on the kids.

To discover that Nik's rash has gotten worse, traveled up his arms and across most of his chest.  A conversation wth my mother left me with the knowledge that she thinks he's got poison ivy on top of the sea lice.  (I called the doc today and got him some steroids.  He is miserable.)

Once I'd pulled myself back together, I headed back in to the party and tried to network as best I could.  Mostly, though, I hung out with Jenny and tried hard to remember to give her enough space to breathe.  She was so gracious and kind - I want to be her when I grow up.  She made certain to introduce me to everyone that she was talking with, and I collected and distributed business cards left and right.

We returned to the hotel, I sat by the pool for a while and sold 4 dresses, and then went to bed.  I collapsed onto the HARDEST bed with the MOST FIRM pillow ever, and crashed.  I didn't sleep well, which really bodes well for today.

To be continued............

Comments

[Chris]

If it would have been me on that plane, I would have been jumping up and down like a silly school girl excited to meet you!!! Very odd she gave you an assumed name.

Hope you have a great time!

[Katie]

Fun! Although I would have hated wearing coffee spilled clothes all day, kudos to you for not breaking down and refusing to go (as I probably would have). Lick Chris and Mir for me!

[kalisah]

see now, we just assumed that kids don't get on the nerves of someone with six children. We thought you were naturally endowed with endless patience.

[Gigi]

It is somewhat comforting to know that I am not the only one who has days of endless mishaps. I hope that you son is feeling better and that you have a great time:)

[Grace]

Wait...wait...wait...so that lady was going to a blog conference but has a private site. Like then why was she going? Have you seen her at BlogHer? Has she seen you hanging with all the 'cool' kids?

[Christina]

Wow you had quite a trip so far, but it sounds fun anyway. What an adventure to meet the people you know from blogland. Good luck on the rest of the trip and keep everyone posted.

[ek]

"Sometimes, I think I must be too friendly and off putting to people."

I SO very well know what you mean, but remain you Carmen - Love ya! ;-)