dpsobe@cs.wm.edu
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So I'm sitting here outside the conference room while the "Roundtable Discussions" are going on. The VIPAR stockholders are talking about technology and stuff, and it's my job to hang out and be around. What a job... Although it's pretty BORING. :)
Well, let me bring you up to date while I have this time. Sunday (yesterday) was kinda dull around here, honestly. I can deal with that -- a day of relaxation is welcome considering my schedule back on campus. I slept in, which is always nice. Lunch in the courtyard with some of the guys from the catalogue company displaying its CD-ROM.. They're the only other young guys here really, and although they're still a couple years older than me, at least they're not old enough to be my Dad.
I took some time off next to the pool... That was nice. Kicked back in the sun and read for a while. No beeper, no E-Mail, just me and my book. It was a rare treat. But, duty called, cause Courtney came out to find me. Some of the stockholders wanted to schedule conferences with me.
So, off to the meetings. At 4:30 yesterday, I ran a number of conferences with the stockholders to go over their webpage and to answer general questions about the Internet. This is a topic I always enjoy talking about, and to have eager listeners rather than boring some of my friends was a nice change. So I did my thing, and then we had a cocktail party outside. I still can't get over free drinks, and the fact that I haven't been carded in days. NO ONE ASKS to see my ID. It's crazy. If this was Williamsburg, I would have shown off my ID everywhere I went, but here, it's just "What would you like to drink sir?"
INTERRUPTED BY WORK.
Returned to at 11:10AM PST, Nov 13, 1996.
Ok, where was I. Oh, so after the cocktail party, I was kinda tired, so I went home and ended up crashing kinda early.
Monday I got up early, and went to what I thought were going to be busy meetings. I was kinda wrong there. It was roundtable discussion, of which I had no part. Ah,well. Then, at 10 I went to the airport and picked up a rental car... It was off to LA!
I was given a Dodge Stratus -- which is SO much nicer than my regular car -- and drove to LA. It was a nice, easy drive through the mountains, and I had a lot of fun doing it. I didn't realize the speed limit was 70 out here, and kept wondering why everyone was flying past me, until I saw the sign. It was cool though.
So, off to LightSpeed Media. I finally figured out where it was, and didn't have that much trouble getting there. Into the house I ventured....
I was first greeted by Meg, and then I met Dave Neilsen and Charlie. Meg let Scott know I was there, and Scott gave me the big tour. They have a really nice place there -- great working environment.
Scott and I talked a little, he logged into IRC, and then checked out the Discussion Area.. (guess which post is HIS from that day..! :>) and then we chatted about what I was doing after graduation and all.
I got to see some GrapeJam pics before they went up (a funny one of Laurie as a Barbie doll!) and met her. I didn't get a chance to talk to Rich really, which was the only real shame of the visit.
I then sat down and talked with Troy for a while. He's a really good guy. Scott teased that I was Troy a couple years back... Maybe. :)
On my way out, I chatted with Laurie. She's a really great person -- very personable and easy to talk to.
And, of course, I had to talk with Dave Neilsen and Charlie, and Charlie and I called Rick Munoz and teased him about calling Caitlyn all the time. I think he's trying to steal her away from Paul!
And, a drive back to Palm Springs.
Then Tuesday, I WORKED. A lot!. I ran a web demo, then did a trade show, and the afternoon spent doing one on one demos. The lunch break was cool, though. Andrew McAfee of Harvard Business School gave a great lecture on the applications of the internet to business solutions, and I was really glad to have heard it. Fit what I belive really well..
And dinner was the awards banquet, which was nice. Then, my boss and I did some work afterwards and hammered out some of what we'll be working on in the next few months.
And now, this morning, more Internet demos. :) I'm between sessions right now, and so I wanted to get this typed in and on the server before I flew out. I leave on an 8:45 flight out of here this evening. Sadness. This trip has been great, and I don't want to get back to reality (although I do miss my girlfriend... I wish I could have brought her along, but ah well.)
Well, let me upload this and logoff.. I'm gonna grab some lunch, and then there's talk of visiting the air museum that's out here.. That could be a lot of fun.
See ya back in Williamsburg!
dpsobe@cs.wm.edu
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