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ERG Conference and Dallas Pride Day 4
Sep. 15th, 2018 11:59 pmSATURDAY
Woke up around quarter after six for a wee and couldn't get back to sleep so I shut off the alarm for seven and prepared for the day. Breakfast (fruit and bread) was served at eight for the Day of Service event. Met a nice young dude who works on security applications in Tech Dev, and also said hi to Tammy from WOA WA as she was passing by. The first project I worked on was sewing distinctive hanging loops on bath towels to be included in shower kits for Promise House, a shelter for homeless youth. As it happened, there was only enough material for each volunteer to assemble one towel and shower kit, so I moved on to the SPCA project and made chew toys out of fleece strips. I had material for one full-sized toy and two chihuahua-sized.
After that I returned to the room to charge devices and plan the rest of the day. I was getting hungry so I left my phone and backup battery charging in the room and grabbed lunch at the hotel buffet, which was essentially just a taco bar with rice, beans, steak fajitas, some sort of chicken taco casserole, and a curious soup that looked like a really thin chili broth. I made the latter a little thicker by adding shredded cheese. The plan was to grab the devices from the room after lunch and head out to the party in Reverchon Park for Dallas Pride, but the maid was making up the room so I explored the fourth floor including the pool, fitness center, city view terrace, and guest laundry.
I caught Uber to the park, paid my admission and proceeded to find a shady spot to sit down almost immediately as it was very hot (91°F) and I was feeling lightheaded. While seated there, I caught myself saying my trademark "HEL-lo" out loud to a particularly cute cub. We just smiled at each other and he said hi and went his way. Hope he appreciated it. Wandered around the booths and said hi to Stacey who was working the booth for her synagogue. She told me Clint from KC stopped by and was looking about as wilted as me. I made my exit and sat on the shaded wall by the bus stop to wait for Uber.
Back at the hotel, I undressed and took a disco nap, then watched the first half of the Ohio State vs. TCU game from AT&T Stadium on TV. I reconsidered heading out to the Crossroads and instead found a steakhouse to visit for dinner. Dallas Chop House is right across the street from Wild Salsa where the LAAD Awards dinner was. I sat at the bar because they had the game on the TV behind the bar. The two dudes next to me at the bar were talking sports in general terms, ranging from sport to sport (Mike Teixera and Aaron Rodgers' names came up) and no one but me seemed to be paying particular attention to the OSU-TCU game. Dude directly to my left, left to go watch a boxing match live. The bartender (who reminds me of our favorite sportscaster and political pundit here in Dallas, Dale Hansen, with his big frame, rugged looks and clean-shaven chin) later said he went to a bar with side-by-side screens for easy viewing of multiple sporting events, much like B-dubs. At one point a TCU player rang Haskins' bell with his ass. Mouchoir sur le terrain. The targeting penalty was reversed on review though. I didn't know who the staff were rooting for (though I could have guessed) until the following exchange between the bartender and another waiter: "They just got a pick 6." "Fuck." On the other hand, the lean black dude who took a seat next to me was impressed by the same play. I was texting back and forth with Gary and let him know the waitress just told the bartender to 86 broccolini. I then had to explain that 86 on a food item means they ran out, as opposed to 86 on a (former) customer. Amazing dinner. I had a boneless ribeye rubbed in Himalayan pink salt, and crawfish in corn salsa for a side. Washed down with Texas Honey Cider from a can. From the same cidery as the one I had at the Hyatt at Reunion Tower a couple conferences ago. Ohio State won, 40-28. Yay!
Left the restaurant right after the game ended. On the way I noticed the telltale smell of human waste, and little piles on the sidewalk too. 😝 Passed a skinny dude sleeping in a driveway in front of a big-ass exhaust fan. When I arrived at the hotel, I ended up chatting with Clint and a couple of ladies from KC, Pam and Lisa until almost midnight in the hallway/lounge on the second floor. They're all going home tomorrow. I suppose I was prepared to stay up a bit later than usual thanks to the nap, but I also want to conserve energy for tomorrow, so after a brief phone conversation with Gary and journaling, I got to bed about quarter after one.
Woke up around quarter after six for a wee and couldn't get back to sleep so I shut off the alarm for seven and prepared for the day. Breakfast (fruit and bread) was served at eight for the Day of Service event. Met a nice young dude who works on security applications in Tech Dev, and also said hi to Tammy from WOA WA as she was passing by. The first project I worked on was sewing distinctive hanging loops on bath towels to be included in shower kits for Promise House, a shelter for homeless youth. As it happened, there was only enough material for each volunteer to assemble one towel and shower kit, so I moved on to the SPCA project and made chew toys out of fleece strips. I had material for one full-sized toy and two chihuahua-sized.
After that I returned to the room to charge devices and plan the rest of the day. I was getting hungry so I left my phone and backup battery charging in the room and grabbed lunch at the hotel buffet, which was essentially just a taco bar with rice, beans, steak fajitas, some sort of chicken taco casserole, and a curious soup that looked like a really thin chili broth. I made the latter a little thicker by adding shredded cheese. The plan was to grab the devices from the room after lunch and head out to the party in Reverchon Park for Dallas Pride, but the maid was making up the room so I explored the fourth floor including the pool, fitness center, city view terrace, and guest laundry.
I caught Uber to the park, paid my admission and proceeded to find a shady spot to sit down almost immediately as it was very hot (91°F) and I was feeling lightheaded. While seated there, I caught myself saying my trademark "HEL-lo" out loud to a particularly cute cub. We just smiled at each other and he said hi and went his way. Hope he appreciated it. Wandered around the booths and said hi to Stacey who was working the booth for her synagogue. She told me Clint from KC stopped by and was looking about as wilted as me. I made my exit and sat on the shaded wall by the bus stop to wait for Uber.
Back at the hotel, I undressed and took a disco nap, then watched the first half of the Ohio State vs. TCU game from AT&T Stadium on TV. I reconsidered heading out to the Crossroads and instead found a steakhouse to visit for dinner. Dallas Chop House is right across the street from Wild Salsa where the LAAD Awards dinner was. I sat at the bar because they had the game on the TV behind the bar. The two dudes next to me at the bar were talking sports in general terms, ranging from sport to sport (Mike Teixera and Aaron Rodgers' names came up) and no one but me seemed to be paying particular attention to the OSU-TCU game. Dude directly to my left, left to go watch a boxing match live. The bartender (who reminds me of our favorite sportscaster and political pundit here in Dallas, Dale Hansen, with his big frame, rugged looks and clean-shaven chin) later said he went to a bar with side-by-side screens for easy viewing of multiple sporting events, much like B-dubs. At one point a TCU player rang Haskins' bell with his ass. Mouchoir sur le terrain. The targeting penalty was reversed on review though. I didn't know who the staff were rooting for (though I could have guessed) until the following exchange between the bartender and another waiter: "They just got a pick 6." "Fuck." On the other hand, the lean black dude who took a seat next to me was impressed by the same play. I was texting back and forth with Gary and let him know the waitress just told the bartender to 86 broccolini. I then had to explain that 86 on a food item means they ran out, as opposed to 86 on a (former) customer. Amazing dinner. I had a boneless ribeye rubbed in Himalayan pink salt, and crawfish in corn salsa for a side. Washed down with Texas Honey Cider from a can. From the same cidery as the one I had at the Hyatt at Reunion Tower a couple conferences ago. Ohio State won, 40-28. Yay!
Left the restaurant right after the game ended. On the way I noticed the telltale smell of human waste, and little piles on the sidewalk too. 😝 Passed a skinny dude sleeping in a driveway in front of a big-ass exhaust fan. When I arrived at the hotel, I ended up chatting with Clint and a couple of ladies from KC, Pam and Lisa until almost midnight in the hallway/lounge on the second floor. They're all going home tomorrow. I suppose I was prepared to stay up a bit later than usual thanks to the nap, but I also want to conserve energy for tomorrow, so after a brief phone conversation with Gary and journaling, I got to bed about quarter after one.