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ERG Conference and Dallas Pride Day 2
Sep. 13th, 2018 11:59 pmTHURSDAY
Woke up around six to have a wee and again just before seven to journal, surf the web, and plan the rest of the day. Around 8:30 I hopped in the shower and took a tumble while trying to stand on one foot to clean out the gash on my other leg. Fortunately I wasn't further injured, as all I did was sit down hard on the side of the tub; the shower curtain wasn't so lucky. Before leaving the room for the day I called guest services and requested a rubber shower mat, since the original non-skid surface had obviously failed.
I had the hotel breakfast buffet which was typical fare for such things, plus grits and all the trimmings. From there I checked out the lobby where the registration booths were being set up, and noticed the ERG logos were posted on transparent decals on the skybridge windows. I attempted a selfie with the LEAGUE logo and Drew, the national president of FACES, offered to take the picture for me, which I gratefully accepted.
Then I exited the building and caught the train to West End and stopped by Wild Bill's Western Store for a T-shirt for me (I've outgrown the one I bought on my first trip) and a cowboy hat for Gary. A very nice, tall young dude named Ben assisted me with the hat selection. The hat is supposed to be crushable so I can pack it in my suitcase. From there I caught a train to Uptown station and hopped on the McKinney trolley to Klyde Warren Park, on a lid over the cross-town Woodall Rodgers Freeway. I picked up a Coke from one of the food trucks and sat in the shade to take my lunch pill and update my journal. Afterwards I explored the park a bit more; there's a nice performance stage and fountain on the Olive Street end and a long lawn from there to St. Paul St. There was also a long line of women waiting for a free facial treatment offered in a display van or one of a series of open-air booths. I grabbed lunch from Sullivan Texas BBQ - a two-meat combo plate - and ate it in the park. As I was eating, I spotted a full-grown cub with a trim beard, wearing an Aggie ball cap, solid blue T-shirt and loud plaid knee-length shorts. I turned around to get out of the sun and saw him leave with a few young ladies.
Once I was done, I returned to the Sheraton to register for the conference and pick up my conference T-shirt. Since I had an hour or so before the LEAGUE hospitality room opened, I decided to chill out in my room (literally; I was wet with sweat from wandering around outside in 80+° weather) and check out Facebook. As it happened, no one was in the hospitality room so I hung out at the expo, mostly at the LEAGUE booth. I did see Wendy and Donna from WOA Alaska who I met at the ERG Academy, as well as Danny from LEAGUE DFW, and also had a nice chat with Drew (from FACES) who works out of the same office in NJ as my boss. Mark from Atlanta took me aside to verify that Ginger is not attending the conference, and tell me I should accept her LAAD Award on her behalf.
I went back to the room to freshen up and recharge my phone, then made the short walk to Wild Salsa for the LAAD Awards dinner. At dinner I met Beuford from Chicago who is a first time attendee, and Shira from the Trevor Project who is originally from Park Slope in Brooklyn. Toward the end of the event I went to the men's room and ran into Brandon from InspirASIAN and John. As people started to leave I visited them at their table and met Cheryl as well. The four of us walked back to the hotel together, and Cheryl ran into her boss, Rashid, on the skybridge. We parted company at the center tower elevator.
When I got to my room I changed clothes and hit up the vending machine, and was pleasantly surprised to find my new T-shirt smelled strongly of leather after being wadded up in Gary's new hat all day. I watched the news and caught up with Gary before falling asleep around midnight.
Woke up around six to have a wee and again just before seven to journal, surf the web, and plan the rest of the day. Around 8:30 I hopped in the shower and took a tumble while trying to stand on one foot to clean out the gash on my other leg. Fortunately I wasn't further injured, as all I did was sit down hard on the side of the tub; the shower curtain wasn't so lucky. Before leaving the room for the day I called guest services and requested a rubber shower mat, since the original non-skid surface had obviously failed.
I had the hotel breakfast buffet which was typical fare for such things, plus grits and all the trimmings. From there I checked out the lobby where the registration booths were being set up, and noticed the ERG logos were posted on transparent decals on the skybridge windows. I attempted a selfie with the LEAGUE logo and Drew, the national president of FACES, offered to take the picture for me, which I gratefully accepted.
Then I exited the building and caught the train to West End and stopped by Wild Bill's Western Store for a T-shirt for me (I've outgrown the one I bought on my first trip) and a cowboy hat for Gary. A very nice, tall young dude named Ben assisted me with the hat selection. The hat is supposed to be crushable so I can pack it in my suitcase. From there I caught a train to Uptown station and hopped on the McKinney trolley to Klyde Warren Park, on a lid over the cross-town Woodall Rodgers Freeway. I picked up a Coke from one of the food trucks and sat in the shade to take my lunch pill and update my journal. Afterwards I explored the park a bit more; there's a nice performance stage and fountain on the Olive Street end and a long lawn from there to St. Paul St. There was also a long line of women waiting for a free facial treatment offered in a display van or one of a series of open-air booths. I grabbed lunch from Sullivan Texas BBQ - a two-meat combo plate - and ate it in the park. As I was eating, I spotted a full-grown cub with a trim beard, wearing an Aggie ball cap, solid blue T-shirt and loud plaid knee-length shorts. I turned around to get out of the sun and saw him leave with a few young ladies.
Once I was done, I returned to the Sheraton to register for the conference and pick up my conference T-shirt. Since I had an hour or so before the LEAGUE hospitality room opened, I decided to chill out in my room (literally; I was wet with sweat from wandering around outside in 80+° weather) and check out Facebook. As it happened, no one was in the hospitality room so I hung out at the expo, mostly at the LEAGUE booth. I did see Wendy and Donna from WOA Alaska who I met at the ERG Academy, as well as Danny from LEAGUE DFW, and also had a nice chat with Drew (from FACES) who works out of the same office in NJ as my boss. Mark from Atlanta took me aside to verify that Ginger is not attending the conference, and tell me I should accept her LAAD Award on her behalf.
I went back to the room to freshen up and recharge my phone, then made the short walk to Wild Salsa for the LAAD Awards dinner. At dinner I met Beuford from Chicago who is a first time attendee, and Shira from the Trevor Project who is originally from Park Slope in Brooklyn. Toward the end of the event I went to the men's room and ran into Brandon from InspirASIAN and John. As people started to leave I visited them at their table and met Cheryl as well. The four of us walked back to the hotel together, and Cheryl ran into her boss, Rashid, on the skybridge. We parted company at the center tower elevator.
When I got to my room I changed clothes and hit up the vending machine, and was pleasantly surprised to find my new T-shirt smelled strongly of leather after being wadded up in Gary's new hat all day. I watched the news and caught up with Gary before falling asleep around midnight.