VVC 2006 report for 8/10 (tourist stuff)
I had a good time and learned more about vidding! Many memories, both good and bad, will be gradually entered. Since I took pictures on both a digital camera and 'regular' 35mm camera (little over three film rolls full), I'll pick out some of the digital cam pics.
Drinking game style: for references to getting lost and accidents, take one swallow; for references to personal issues and general bitchery, take three *long* swallows.
Please make sure you're fully stocked on your choice of alcoholic beverage(s).
Today's kickoff is Thursday's adventures:
I had no sleep to be ready for the SuperShuttle and at Tampa International Airport before 4am-ish for a ~6:30am EST flight. Arrived in a timely manner at the airport, picked up my boarding pass at the baggage check-in (wouldn't allow online check-in then, even though I followed website directions), eventually headed towards security check and then *bam* (as Emeril would say) I was notified about the 'no liquids or gels' policy--no one said anything at baggage check-in or I would've done baggage check-in earlier, when there was time. There was no time at the security check because the line/s (one line split between two scanners) were *long* (add an extra 30-40 minutes) and you're also required to stand for a bit in an 'air puffer' machine, in addition to the metal scanner.
Grrr, lost some perfume I liked and other bathroom stuff. Evidently, I wasn't the only one since a collection of *large* garbage bins filled as approximately 75-80% of the passengers weren't aware of this policy and I heard, once the items were cleared, other folks, especially staff, were taking stuff home "out of the garbage". I was telling the security guard guy, who was searching through my carry-on bag, that I was irked, big time, about lack of notification at the baggage check-in and loss of skincare products because '*look*, my skin is broken out the worst I've seen this year, my hormones are out of whack and I feel lousy, shifting consumption of birth control pills around only delayed menstrual bleeding for me, I'm still in 'extended PMS' phase *and* I haven't had any sleep yet'. Logically, I know it's for the benefit of travellers but it's still irksome to not have proper advance notification. On Sunday, Chicago O'Hare was making speaker announcements all over.
Arrived at Chicago O'Hare International Airport ~8:15am CST and I got lost trying to figure out what Marriott referred to as "Door 2". About half an hour later, I found "Door 2", yay! No prize behind Door 2, though. :-( Then spent more time waiting for the next shuttle. When I got to the hotel, I found out the third floor room wouldn't be ready until noon... 'No wait, looks like there's an availability in the second floor near the convention space... oh, sorry but that also won't be ready until noon'. I'm like 'please put a lock on the second story room and my roommate will be in later' because I couldn't wait hours in the lobby. Instead, I hiked to the Cumberland CTA rail and headed out toward downtown Chicago... and got lost for a couple hours.
The upside being I enjoyed specking out the various stores as I walked past them and I stopped in a Walgreen's to buy "needed" toiletries confiscated by Tampa security (because toothpaste and zit cream are weapons of mass destruction). Chicago is an awesome city! Finally, I arrived at the Museum of Science and Industry, and wow, it was big! A variety of gadgets and gizmos and many were 'hands-on'--though, with the amount of folk, including kids, touching the displays, I'd highly recommend washing your hands afterwards, if you don't have some portable hand sanitizer gel (or it was confiscated); plus, the bathroom had a neat circular shape in the hand washing/mirror section. I'd like to check MSI out again, given more time.
I did fly United for VVC.
Milkshakes, yum!
Being previously lost for hours, I could only fit in Shedd Aquarium at Museum Campus, after the time spent in Museum of Science and Industry, and I specked out the aquatic critters and reptiles. Didn't get to see as much as I did last time since I was pressed for time. I'd definitely go back for another round but I'd give it a bit more time since I've already seen Shedd in 2002 and 2006.
Here lizard, lizard.
Damn you, flash!
Crab, the other white meat.
I then headed out to Millennium Park, took a break, and listened to a live band, which was pretty good... also had a hot chick lead singer who knew how to shake her 'money maker'. :-)
New spin on 'tin hats'.
After, I headed toward Navy Pier, and by then, the weather was turning from overcast with a light drizzle in patches to downright soaked raining. The rain did let up enough for some walking around Navy Pier. As I looked up at NP's ferris wheel, I remembered I disliked heights (but like flying in airplanes). ;-) Also, it was getting chilly there, so I popped in to the nearby glass garden (palm trees and water docks reminded me of home) and bought a milkshake (milkshakes make me happy - and they bring the boys to the yard). While in there, I watched part of a mall performer's routine--rather impressive balancing of a wooden batter mixing spoon in his mouth, a regular balloon on top, and a wine bottle on the balloon and then he popped the balloon and caught the bottle with the wooden spoon. There was an IMAX theater with Superman Returns ads but I wasn't really impressed with the movie to pay for IMAX. Plus, I was getting tired and *very* sore with blistered feet (wore sandals all day).
Water arches.
I wasn't used to the amount of quick walking, stair climbing (sometimes in a hurry), and dashes in between to make public transit and all the walking as part of sightseeing for hours. Anyway, I got lost again and found myself over by the Museum of Contemporary Art around ~8pm-ish and eventually found the right bus to take me to a CTA rail where I could head back to Cumberland (~40-45 minutes journey on the rail).
Art of parking.
After arriving at Cumberland CTA, I made it as far as Dominique's grocery, before the rain hit again and I got wet. Decided to call for Marriott's shuttle, waited a bit more for the shuttle to arrive, and *finally* made it back for hotel check-in. By then, I think it was 10pm-ish CST. thatfangirl was already settled in and we had some introductions before I zonked out. She was a very good roommate as I took over the couch, as well as a bed, after finding out lifeinwords couldn't make the convention because of a family emergency and then I hogged the TV's remote control and took way too long primping--un/fortunately, I woke up hours before thatfangirl would leave her bed. :-)
Drinking game style: for references to getting lost and accidents, take one swallow; for references to personal issues and general bitchery, take three *long* swallows.
Please make sure you're fully stocked on your choice of alcoholic beverage(s).
Today's kickoff is Thursday's adventures:
I had no sleep to be ready for the SuperShuttle and at Tampa International Airport before 4am-ish for a ~6:30am EST flight. Arrived in a timely manner at the airport, picked up my boarding pass at the baggage check-in (wouldn't allow online check-in then, even though I followed website directions), eventually headed towards security check and then *bam* (as Emeril would say) I was notified about the 'no liquids or gels' policy--no one said anything at baggage check-in or I would've done baggage check-in earlier, when there was time. There was no time at the security check because the line/s (one line split between two scanners) were *long* (add an extra 30-40 minutes) and you're also required to stand for a bit in an 'air puffer' machine, in addition to the metal scanner.
Grrr, lost some perfume I liked and other bathroom stuff. Evidently, I wasn't the only one since a collection of *large* garbage bins filled as approximately 75-80% of the passengers weren't aware of this policy and I heard, once the items were cleared, other folks, especially staff, were taking stuff home "out of the garbage". I was telling the security guard guy, who was searching through my carry-on bag, that I was irked, big time, about lack of notification at the baggage check-in and loss of skincare products because '*look*, my skin is broken out the worst I've seen this year, my hormones are out of whack and I feel lousy, shifting consumption of birth control pills around only delayed menstrual bleeding for me, I'm still in 'extended PMS' phase *and* I haven't had any sleep yet'. Logically, I know it's for the benefit of travellers but it's still irksome to not have proper advance notification. On Sunday, Chicago O'Hare was making speaker announcements all over.
Arrived at Chicago O'Hare International Airport ~8:15am CST and I got lost trying to figure out what Marriott referred to as "Door 2". About half an hour later, I found "Door 2", yay! No prize behind Door 2, though. :-( Then spent more time waiting for the next shuttle. When I got to the hotel, I found out the third floor room wouldn't be ready until noon... 'No wait, looks like there's an availability in the second floor near the convention space... oh, sorry but that also won't be ready until noon'. I'm like 'please put a lock on the second story room and my roommate will be in later' because I couldn't wait hours in the lobby. Instead, I hiked to the Cumberland CTA rail and headed out toward downtown Chicago... and got lost for a couple hours.
The upside being I enjoyed specking out the various stores as I walked past them and I stopped in a Walgreen's to buy "needed" toiletries confiscated by Tampa security (because toothpaste and zit cream are weapons of mass destruction). Chicago is an awesome city! Finally, I arrived at the Museum of Science and Industry, and wow, it was big! A variety of gadgets and gizmos and many were 'hands-on'--though, with the amount of folk, including kids, touching the displays, I'd highly recommend washing your hands afterwards, if you don't have some portable hand sanitizer gel (or it was confiscated); plus, the bathroom had a neat circular shape in the hand washing/mirror section. I'd like to check MSI out again, given more time.
I did fly United for VVC.
Milkshakes, yum!
Being previously lost for hours, I could only fit in Shedd Aquarium at Museum Campus, after the time spent in Museum of Science and Industry, and I specked out the aquatic critters and reptiles. Didn't get to see as much as I did last time since I was pressed for time. I'd definitely go back for another round but I'd give it a bit more time since I've already seen Shedd in 2002 and 2006.
Here lizard, lizard.
Damn you, flash!
Crab, the other white meat.
I then headed out to Millennium Park, took a break, and listened to a live band, which was pretty good... also had a hot chick lead singer who knew how to shake her 'money maker'. :-)
New spin on 'tin hats'.
After, I headed toward Navy Pier, and by then, the weather was turning from overcast with a light drizzle in patches to downright soaked raining. The rain did let up enough for some walking around Navy Pier. As I looked up at NP's ferris wheel, I remembered I disliked heights (but like flying in airplanes). ;-) Also, it was getting chilly there, so I popped in to the nearby glass garden (palm trees and water docks reminded me of home) and bought a milkshake (milkshakes make me happy - and they bring the boys to the yard). While in there, I watched part of a mall performer's routine--rather impressive balancing of a wooden batter mixing spoon in his mouth, a regular balloon on top, and a wine bottle on the balloon and then he popped the balloon and caught the bottle with the wooden spoon. There was an IMAX theater with Superman Returns ads but I wasn't really impressed with the movie to pay for IMAX. Plus, I was getting tired and *very* sore with blistered feet (wore sandals all day).
Water arches.
I wasn't used to the amount of quick walking, stair climbing (sometimes in a hurry), and dashes in between to make public transit and all the walking as part of sightseeing for hours. Anyway, I got lost again and found myself over by the Museum of Contemporary Art around ~8pm-ish and eventually found the right bus to take me to a CTA rail where I could head back to Cumberland (~40-45 minutes journey on the rail).
Art of parking.
After arriving at Cumberland CTA, I made it as far as Dominique's grocery, before the rain hit again and I got wet. Decided to call for Marriott's shuttle, waited a bit more for the shuttle to arrive, and *finally* made it back for hotel check-in. By then, I think it was 10pm-ish CST. thatfangirl was already settled in and we had some introductions before I zonked out. She was a very good roommate as I took over the couch, as well as a bed, after finding out lifeinwords couldn't make the convention because of a family emergency and then I hogged the TV's remote control and took way too long primping--un/fortunately, I woke up hours before thatfangirl would leave her bed. :-)