Puttin' on the Ritz.
Or, to be more precise, sitting in the Ritz. Great conference, but seeing as how there were no rooms left at this hotel (at least none we could afford with my budget) and cabs in Orlando are expensive, I had a good 4 hours to kill just sitting around today. Good thing I brought my trusty laptop. At least I have something to entertain myself with.
Although the 'N' key no longer has a letter on it. I wore it off.
If you're interested (not that many of you harbor the same deep love and fascination with the print industry as I do. I'm weird, I know.) I posted on the NAPL blog (well, commented on a post) for the event I'm at. You can find it
here. The whole conference has been fascinating -- great information -- but the most interesting thus far was the seminar on how different generations view the workplace, and how companies have to be aware of and make policies that take into account the different mindsets. The different perceptions between the age groups, while not something completely new to me, was nonetheless very interesting to see laid out so logically. The progression and discussion of how social and global factors shaped the different world views, and what that means for employers who want to hire younger generations, was a great one.
I get to fly home tomorrow, which, after almost two solid weeks of travel (I got a whole two days between trips, just enough time to do laundry and re-pack) I am absolutely exhausted. It will be nice to just be home for a while.
Not Dead Yet
Okay, so I really neglect this blog. I know all two of you (Well, if Steve and Paul are still bothering to check here at all, there are two of you...) are devastated by my lack of posting. But the truth is -- I just don't have witty and informative posts for you. HOWEVER, I am blogging -- just in mush shorter form. Twitter is the best thing ever -- it has a 140 character limit, and is meant to be updated at random whenever you have an observation or want to tell people what you're doing, etc. Since it takes me all of a few seconds to do them, I actually update it on a fairly regular basis.
That was a long explanation, wasn't it? Anyway, if you actually are interested, I've added a Twitter Badge to the side. Over there. --->
It updates live, so you can just look there to see what I'm posting about, or if you have a Twitter account, you can follow me there. So.. yeah...
Go Twitter!
My Site!
Okay, I know all like two of you reading this know I've been getting my portfolio online, but I'm just so excited about it, I thought I would post here. It's pretty much done -- today Rich let me use his scanner to get in a few covers I couldn't find anywhere online, and he taught me about things like meta tags. It might make my true geek colors stand out, but it was really cool. I'm just having way to much fun with it, and it's going to be really nice to have everything in once place. I can use it both to store all my professional writing and resume, as well as a tool to help me get more freelance. So it's really cool, and I'm excited about it. :-D If you're interested in checking it out, I added a link to My Portfolio under Interesting Links, but you can also access it here:
www.tonimcquilken.com.
Stargate!
Hello!
I know, I've been remiss in posting. But I'm here to tell you to watch Stargate: Atlantis this Friday (Sept. 28th) at 10pm! We need to get people watching so the network will pick it up for a season 5!
In addition, they posted interviews and behind-the-scenes footage from the new movie at www.stargate.mgm.com. Go watch!
Yes, I am pimping. I joined the Team Stargate campaign to help keep my favorite show on the air. :-D
(Official Team Stargate Member)
Anatomy of a Train Ride
When one unsuspecting young editor boarded a train for the city one evening last week, she got a bit more than she bargained for. This is her story, taken directly from the logs of Twitter...
● Getting ready to head into the city soon. I have a press conference to cover tonight. 02:43 PM June 27, 2007 from web
● Sitting at the train station. it's really hot and muggy. 03:22 PM June 27, 2007 from txt
● Heh. I actually found a network connection I could access at the train station. Cool. Screen has bad glare, but still cool. 03:26 PM June 27, 2007 from web
● On the train home. It is pouring down rain out there! 07:38 PM June 27, 2007 from txt
● Ugh. Train is having signal problems they say we should be moving shortly... 07:41 PM June 27, 2007 from txt
● There is no service at all on the lirr right now. I am stuck at jamaica with no way home. 08:08 PM June 27, 2007 from txt
● Dee rocks. She is coming to get me. Lirr is still dead. No service any direction. 08:27 PM June 27, 2007 from txt
● A nice man gave me part of his pretzels to eat for dinner. Still at jamaica. Dee will call when she gets closer, but its an hour drive. 08:35 PM June 27, 2007 from txt
● Well the train pulled away from jamaica and I called to tell dee to turn around but we only went 50 feet... I wanna go home! 09:05 PM June 27, 2007 from txt
● Moving again. Cross your fingers for me. 09:07 PM June 27, 2007 from txt
● Stopped again. :-( 09:23 PM June 27, 2007 from txt
● Queens village station. That is where I'm stuck now. They opened the damn doors again. 09:48 PM June 27, 2007 from txt
● Moving! 10:03 PM June 27, 2007 from txt
● At mineola now and moving... 10:21 PM June 27, 2007 from txt
● Damn it they're saying there will be another delay at bethpage. Just one stop from mine. This is getting old. 10:32 PM June 27, 2007 from txt
● Still at bethpage. 10:52 PM June 27, 2007 from txt
● You guessed it. Still at bethpage. 11:23 PM June 27, 2007 from txt
● They beeped the doors to taunt us. otherwise...still at bethpage. 11:39 PM June 27, 2007 from txt
● Ooooooooooooo we're moving. Lets see if we can make it all the way to farmingdale and my car... 11:44 PM June 27, 2007 from txt
● Stopped again between stations. 11:50 PM June 27, 2007 from txt
● Moving now. God I'm tired. 11:51 PM June 27, 2007 from txt
● Farmingdale! 11:54 PM June 27, 2007 from txt
● And so ends the journey. I just got home, and now I think I will crash. 5.5 hours to get home from a 30 minute press conference. *facepalm* 12:25 AM June 28, 2007 from web
Wow, has it really been that long?
It's been a few months I know, but since the only people who read this also know how crazy my life has been the last few month, hopefully you will forgive me.
So I move this weekend, and what's the first thing I went and checked? Does Papa John's pizza deliver to the new place, and can I order it online. The answer? YES! YESYESYES! It has been TWO WHOLE YEARS since I could procure my beloved pizza with a few clicks of a mouse, charging both the pizza AND the tip to my credit card. I have missed that. I never have cash, so I never get pizza anymore.
Real pizza! I know all you NYers love the pizzaria stuff, and it is okay, but I must admit I prefer Chicago style, with a thicker crust to it.
I am so excited, I have composed a lymrick to immortalize the occasion.
Ode to Pizza
Papa John’s how I’ve missed thee
No online ordering or delivery
Now I’m moving next door
I’ll become a pizza whore
And get it every night of the week.
Flying High
While flying into Chicago last night for a business trip, a few things struck me that I thought were blog-worthy.
First, travel has become easy, routine. I can remember when getting to the airport, finding your flight, getting to the hotel, etc. was all something that caused stress. I would be on edge pretty much until I arrived at the hotel and had a few moments to sleep. Then I would start worrying all over again the next day, planning out where I needed to be and how I was getting there. Now? Not so much. I've done this enough times that I know the routine. It's become a comfortable dance, one in which I know the steps and no longer have to think so hard about where I'm putting my feet. I travel quite a bit, especially in the last year and a half. I enjoy travel, seeing the world on expense account, and I jump at any opportunity to go somewhere. During the heavy travel seasons, there are times when it feels like I live more in hotels than my own apartment. And I love it. But I didn't realize how easy it has become until yesterday, when I took the time to think about it.
Second, I don't care what city it is, or what it looks like from the ground. At 10,000 feet, at twilight, any city is beautiful. We chased the sunset west yesterday, and it was an amazing view. The bright oranges, pinks, and yellows were vivid in front of us, bleeding into the deep blue of night behind us. Coming into the city, where it was already dark on the ground. everything was lit up, and it was like the ground was sparkling. I was wishing I hadn't packed my camera in the checked luggage so I could snap a few photos, but since I did, you'll just have to take my word for it. There is something almost surreal about flying in at sunset that full daylight or darkness just can't match.
Third, Chicago amuses me. My cab driver from the airport to the hotel beleived he played in the bands of pretty much all the major acts of the era that included the Temptations. And he sang parts of all the big hits from that era that he supposedly participated in. I know he has 8 daughters, all with degrees, and they want him to stop driving a cab, which he does because it is therapy. It wasn't a long cab ride, maybe 10 minutes, but it was one of the more interesting ones I've ever had. Usually the driver either ignores me or talks on the phone. This one was chatty, wanting to talk about music and his past. Well, supposed past. It makes him happy to believe it, and who knows, maybe he really is who he says he is, and knows who he says he knows. I'm not here to judge or make that assessment, all I can do is be highly amused by him. I got out grinning, and that's always a good way to start a trade show, in my opinion.
Well, it is getting time for me to pack away the laptop for hauling to the convention center. Unfortunately, my hotel didn't have any rooms for last night, so I had to stay somewhere else. Which means I get to haul my luggage to the show, find a place to leave it, then haul it to the other hotel tonight. Ug. That is really the only downside of this whole trip. My luggage is pretty heavy, I can't ever seem to travel light even when I want to, so dragging it around is never really fun. But by tonight my stuff will be safely ensconced in the room for the rest of the trip, and things will be much easier. Until then, it's almost time for me to go catch the shuttle and start my day. Whoever scheduled an 8am press conference should be shot.
