It's not likely that anyone missed me but I'll explain my absence anyway.
I was at a business conference in Pittsburgh where I had to live with temperatures in the high 60's to mid 70's for the past week. Throughout the week I saw Wink highlighted each day, on the USA Today weather map, with the high temperatures of the nation and I considered defecting to Pennsylvania. At least until October.
On Sunday, as I wandered several blocks from the hotel, the 65 degrees temp was a bit chilly for a West Texas boy in shorts but I accomplished my mission of finding suitable emergency eating places (MacDonald's and Arby's six blocks away) and a convenience store where a Coke was $1.19 instead of $2.50 at the Westin.
Monday I spent all day in sessions and noted that we were sharing the Convention Center with coal miners. Their vendor exhibits looked much more interesting than ours but the curious among us could not score badges to get inside. We had to just look in through windows a floor above the exhibit halls. A large conveyer belt contraption was particularly interesting but seemed to be running way too fast to move coal.
I went back to my hotel room around noon for a few minutes relaxation and noticed an ambulance down the street. I learned later it was carrying Pittsburgh Steeler Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger from his painfully sudden stop outside the Convention Center. A reception for Texas attendees Monday night provided chicken, cheese and crackers to soothe my stomach, long since empty of the $23 scrambled eggs I had at breakfast.
Tuesday began with an opening session featuring Congressman Curt Weldon (R-PA) who spoke mostly about Homeland Security but emphasized that some of the most effective voices in the legislature are those of staffers. If one wants to be heard, one must find the appropriate staffer and maintain a line of communication. Extremely important fact - make a note.
After sessions all day Tuesday we were offered two choices of evening entertainment. I declined the Hard Rock Cafe and spent a great evening at PNC Park watching the Pirates and Cardinals. My only regret was that the Cardinal's Albert Pujols was still on the DL and unable to send a homerun ball to me in the cheap seats.
Wednesday was the last day of educational sessions and, that evening, the closing banquet and installation of officers. As usual I skipped the banquet, and feasted on an Arby's Regular in my room. I did slip into the ballroom late though, to catch the entertainment. The music was provided by
The Crickets. Yes, Buddy Holly's band. And yes, they are the original members. I didn't know they were still together either - but they were great.
Thursday was the day I got to come home (or so I thought when I left Pittsburgh). I arrived at DFW around 2:30 p.m. and was supposed to catch a 3:54 flight to MAF but an "air conditioning" problem delayed the flight until 4:15. Then delayed again until 5:00 p.m. and finally cancelled. The other two fights to Midland were full. At 6:30 p.m. I checked in to the American Airlines Orphanage (AKA Marriott) on an airline voucher and received a complimentary toothbrush, a tiny tube of Colgate and an impossibly thin plastic comb. At around 7:30 p.m. the dinner voucher almost covered the tip for dinner. But it didn't take long to pack Friday morning and I arrived at MAF at 10:45 a.m. My luggage arrived at MAF around 4:00 p.m.
