Friday: From Fairmont to Des Moines, and some curiosities.
I left work early, went home, did final packing and loading of the car, and headed to Blue Earth where I was to pick up the faire programs from the printer. I got there just as someone was about to close up and leave for the weekend. Had I been there much later I might still have gotten the papers, but would likely have had to wait around a bit for someone to show up. I was surprised to see only two large bundles of newsprint on the pallet. I was expecting to have to haul more and packed accordingly. Curiosity number one: the gal at the printers told me, "I was told a woman would be picking these up." Uhm...
The trip to Des Moines was nicely uneventful, and the directions I'd gotten from irpooh got me right where I needed to be at the Candlewood Suites. The place was very nice - I didn't take advantage of all the place offered, but I was only staying two nights.
Calling irpooh and foolscap001 to make supper arrangements, we agreed it might be easiest if they came to the hotel. Then after a couple exchanges, they'd navigate while I drove. I can still hear the comment as I opened the door to the hotel room to let them in. "We've been staying at the wrong places!" (I wound up at Candlewood via a Hotwire reservation Jay made. For what I was paying, I was expecting a Motel 6, really.) I showed them the picture I was giving to ginafae which amused them. Also, I had found some tamarind candy of sorts and bought it for James. I hope it's good. Billie gave me quite a stock of Licorice Altoids.
We made our way to a Thai place, The King and I, and had way too much good food. There was also much conversation, most of which I don't specifically recall. Something that was mentioned was that Billie had called JP and someone had told him the programs had arrived already. Really? What are those bundles in my car, then? Curiosity number two, that. And then James mentioned that while this faire was "NEW" and listed as such in Renaissance Magazine, it was also listed as having an attendance of 12,000. Not predicted or estimated, Just "12,000." Really? I picked up 2,000 programs. Call it curiosity number three if desired. Afterward, we drove back and I was a given a ticket to the faire that they were not going to use - figuring that somehow I'd not get compensated for hauling the programs. Billie and James drove home and I called JP.
JP came, and was also surprised that there were just two bundles. Ah well, only 2,000 copies and only a single sheet each, so not that much. I did get a couple tickets from him for hauling the programs down. We talked in the parking lot for some time, before he left and I went to bed.