I made it here, and as far as I can tell, I’m in one piece! I would have loved to get on and check email and post yesterday but the hotel wireless has been less than reliable in that area. I am in down in the lobby right now, waiting for the shuttles to start running to the Navy Pier and the wireless is working fine for the moment. I’m sipping some coffee (dear god, I need coffee), nibbling a muffin (STARVED) and watching the rain pitter-patter outside. Yeah, of COURSE it’s raining, right? Hence the waiting for the shuttle because we’re not going to try to walk to someplace we’re not sure where it is in the rain.
I met up with Kim at O’Hare airport yesterday afternoon and we got a cab to our hotel. We haven’t been brave enough to venture outside quite yet, but we’re hoping to soon. We’ve already met and talked with some really great people and I’m scared to death that I don’t remember who they all are.
We missed part of the speaker training yesterday but managed to make the reception. Of course, because there was free alcohol there! Because there’s no better cure for jet-lag than a couple appletini’s, right? I woke up around 3:30 my time this morning, it was a pretty restless night. Lots of excitement. I know this will catch up with me sooner or later, I just hope it’s later rather than sooner.
I miss my family pretty bad and I’m trying not to think about them. Whenever I think about them, I feel a little choked up and sad and I don’t want to be feeling that way. I should be having fun, right?
And I am. Kim is awesome and we’re having a good time so far. I think having the speaker training the night before is great because I feel a lot better able to dive into the conference this year. Last year I was petrified from the first moment and it felt like being dumped off into a vat of freezing water with no warning. At least last night I was able to get my toes wet first.
I’ll let you know how it all goes from here on out. Again, very exciting. And anyone who isn’t here (I’m talking to YOU, Brit!), you are SORELY missed.
