USA: May 2001

The first STC Conference I attended was in May 2001, at the Chicago Hyatt. To take advantage of the 'cheap' Business Class Circle Pacific airfare, I had to go through Hong Kong either on the way there or home. That was hard… Not! So I took advantage of the places that Cathay Pacific goes and decided to call in on some Canadian friends on my way to Chicago, and as Chicago is so close to Michigan I popped in to see family too. Then of course coming home was via LA, so I spent another few days with friends in various parts of California. 

5 May 2001: Perth to Hong Kong

Left Perth on Cathay Pacific flight CX 170 around noon; travelling Business Class, seat 14K which was in the second front row. Personal video in seat arm. Watched "Chocolat" and "The Family Man" (with Nicholas Cage).

Excellent food – beef fillet for lunch and lots of other goodies; fed a light snack around 6pm as well. Arrived in Hong Kong around 8pm. Took ages to clear Immigration – long lines, air conditioning not coping. Took the hotel link bus to the Regal Kowloon Hotel, arriving around 10pm.

Hong Kong very bustling and busy – and hot (~28C). Had a nice hot shower, and got to bed after figuring out how the lights worked!

6 May 2001: Hong Kong to Vancouver to Qualicum Beach, BC

Did stuff on the computer with my Outlook contacts for a couple of hours. Checked out and caught the hotel link bus back to the airport. That trip took about an hour after we'd picked up people from the other hotels. Flight was delayed until 3:15pm, about 1 hour late. Flight is Cathay Pacific CX 888 to Vancouver and New York. Spent time in the Wing Lounge at the airport. Finally got internet access. Had a late lunch in the noodle bar of the Wing Lounge. Excellent noodles but a pain to eat with chopsticks… and there were no other utensils.

Took off at 3:30pm; I'm sitting in the 'bubble' of the jumbo (seat 83A) next to a young Chinese man who is an investment banker in New York with Salomon Smith Barney. Watched "Thirteen Days". Tried to sleep. Couldn't – but at least I was much more comfortable in Business Class!

Arrived in Vancouver about 45 mins late (11:45am); straight through Immigration and Customs. The longest wait was for baggage claim. Met by Vicki P (tech writer at Chancery Software). She drove me to the Tsawassen Ferry Terminal where we had a light bite to eat and chatted until the ferry left at 3:15pm. The ferry trip to Nanaimo was 2 hours; Jill met me on arrival. Great to see her again. Drove to Qualicum Beach – Brian was at home, and then Jill's Mum arrived. Dinner with Jill, Brian, and Tommy (Jill's Mum) – tomato and bocconcini (like buffalo mozzarella) first, then halibut in a delicious sauce, and rhubarb and apple crumble for dessert.

Bed about 9:30pm.

7 May 2001: Qualicum Beach, BC

WWoke at 1am, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed! Fortunately went back to sleep fairly quickly. Woke again at 6, 7, 8, 9, and finally got up at 9:45am. Pottered around the house with Brian, checked email, took lots of Bonsai photos, tool Jazz for a walk on the beach. Brian is very into his Bonsai; he can no longer work and is on an invalid pension. Too funny – a tiny electric fence around the goldfish pond to keep the raccoons out!

Jill home about 4:30; helped her prepare the meal for tonight (rotisserie chicken) – Brenda and Steve, and Don and Mavis are coming. Brenda and Steve brought strawberries, sour cream and brown sugar and we had "New York Strawberries" for dessert – bloody delicious! (strawberries, small dollop of sour cream on side of plate, another small dollop of brown sugar near it, but not touching – dip strawberry in sour cream then sugar, then eat! Super simple, super tasty!) Lots of chat and laughter – great food, great wine, and great company.

Everyone left around 10pm after deciding to share a chateau in France in July, 2003! Jeff and I are invited too!

8 May 2001: Qualicum Beach, BC to Calgary, AB

Woke about 12:30am with a headache! Drank lots of water, then drifted and dozed until 8am when I got up. Jill off to work just before 9. Checked email and repacked. Brian took me to the airport at 12:30pom flight to Vancouver's domestic terminal. Flight took about 20mins and it was a bit bumpy, but then it was a SMALL plane! I'm currently waiting for the shuttle bus to the main terminal to catch the flight to Calgary at 3:00pm.

I was able to get into the Maple Leaf Lounge where I checked email again and had a bite to eat and some wine. The flight to Calgary was about 1 hour – left at 3:40pm and go in about 5:45pm with a 1 hour time difference. Met by Patti at the airport. Dropped luggage at their place, then on to Cochrane to pick up the kids from soccer and pizza; Steve picked up ice-cream from McKays in Cochrane (GREAT ice-cream!).

Nice evening with Patti and Steve. But I heard Greg's Mum and Dad both died last year – quite a shock. They were so good to me at various times in 1986. Bed about 11pm.

9 May 2001: Calgary, AB to Ovid, MI

Up just after 7am – Steve had already gone to work. Kids off to school around 8, then Patti and I went to the Calgary Winter Club for a late breakfast before she took me to Calgary Airport where I am to catch Air Canada flight 3220 to Chicago. Cleared US Immigration and Customs in Calgary (what a GOOD idea!) and got ticketed through to Lansing. Got into the Maple Leaf Lounge OK and checked email. It was a full flight, but it took off and landed on time – this would be a first in my experiences in the US!

Flight was approx. 3 hrs; Chicago is 1 hour ahead of Calgary; we landed around 4pm. Flight to Lansing is not due to leave until 6:20pm sop wandered O'Hare airport to where the United Airlines Red Carpet Club was. No food except bar nibbles, and you had to PAY for drinks!! Is this a sign of things to come? $3 US for a glass of wine – not impressed – then they expect a tip too!!! Stinking hot in Chicago (26C) and where I'm sitting in the lounge the sun is shining through nice and hot.

BTW, no free internet access in the Club lounge either! Don’t even mention the flight delays!!! We were in the queue for take-off at 7:30pm (original departure time was 6pm!), then a hatch was open so we had to go back. Finally took off and landed in Lansing well after 9:00pm (originally due in at 8:00pm). It was only a 35 minute flight but it took forever to get out of Chicago… and this was in good weather too!

Harold and Lois met me at Lansing airport, then we drove home and had a late supper of soup.

10 May 2001: Ovid, MI

Lois and I went to Birch Run Outlet Mall near Flint. I got my Jockeys!! 24 pair! + 5 bras + Jeff's Van Heusen shirts and black slacks. Had lunch with Lois at a Bob Evans Restaurant – nice chicken salad.

Home for a nap. Family over tonight –Bruce and Nancy, Brian and Cathy, Liz (who is 18 today!) and John (Grade 9), Marchelle and Jakob (nearly 4) – Marchelle is pregnant again.

11 May 2001: Ovid, MI

Woke at 1am and hardly got back to sleep. Up at 8. In to Laingsburg with Lois for some bits and bobs. Back for lunch. Made some phone calls – found out that the flight tomorrow is 6:00am NOT 6:50am! Talked with Kathy C (Wichita, KS) for a while; left a message with Lee; spoke with Kimberly (Smart Computing magazine).

Over to Mt Pleasant to see Shelley and Tim this evening. They now live in Manistee and Mt Pleasant is about half way. Meagan and Merradith are now 13 and very good at athletics. Got a replacement Michigan State Police mug from Tim! (the original was in the box that got lost by United Airlines back in 1995/1996)

12 May 2001: Ovid, MI to Chicago, IL

Checked in to conference venue (Chicago Hyatt) at 7:00am. Called Whitney and arranged to meet her at 9:30 near the tour booth – she was going to take my watch to Cartier's while I did a tour. However the tour was cancelled so Whitney and I walked downtown Chicago most of the day. Visited the Terra Museum of American Art, etc. Weather beautiful but cold. Shari had arrived by the time Whitney and I got back to their room.

Shari, Whitney and I caught a cab to Buddy guy's House of Blues. Had dinner there and a couple of drinks but left at 8:30pm as I was tired and so were the others. Nice blues band playing from 6:30 to after 8:00pm.

13 May 2001: Chicago, IL

Slept for 11 hours!!! Whitney, Shari and I took a cab to Lou Mitchell's for breakfast, then a limo to the Chicago Architecture School and just got in on time for the 10am 2-hour walking tour of the buildings. Beautiful day – warm in the sun. Walked back to the hotel via the Birmingham Fountain, the one featured in the credits for "Married… with Children"

Got back just after 1pm, quickly registered for the conference, the back up to the room to change etc. before attending the webmaster's session between 1:30 and 3:30. International Reception was between 5:00 and 7:00pm, then the Welcome Reception from 7:00 to 9:00. Both good; heaps of people!

Bed to check program etc.; lights out at 11:00pm.

14 May 2001: Chicago, IL [STC Annual Conference]

Breakfast, then keynote address by DeWitt Jones – BRILLIANT! Full on day all day; in addition to the conference sessions, I attended:

• Networking lunch – sat at one of the webmaster tables.
• Regional Receptions – Australia is in Region 5 (Texas, Oklahoma, etc.); met Jill N from Sydney.
• Field Museum function – fabulous location, plenty of food and wine, classical music, AND for to wander the museum as much as we wanted to without anyone else there!

Back by 9:30pm; did photos, etc.; bed by 11:00pm

15 May 2001: Chicago, IL [STC Annual Conference]

Found that there was internet access on the Competition computers! Today started with the SIG business meeting (Shari was the chair); attended sessions, then Networking lunch which was arranged by SIGs. I was a host at one of the Lone Writer tables and met lots of interesting people: George M, Mike S, Deb L, etc. We LWs filled 5 tables easily – we were only allocated 3 but we took over another 2 as well. Whitney and Shari were the other table hosts for the LWs.

More sessions then the SIG "Happy Hour" in the Big Bar at the Hyatt. About 20 turned up, which was good. Very expensive drinks (about $9 US for a glass of wine!) Six of us went out for Chicago's famous deep dish pizza at Giordano's. brilliant pizza, stuffed crust, deep pan – about 1 inch thick! Those there: Whitney, Darren W, Marie, G, Pam (from Omaha), Barbara (Syracuse). Back to hotel and bed around 11:00pm.

16 May 2001: Chicago, IL [STC Annual Conference]

Checked email, had breakfast, then phoned hotels for a better rate. No go! So will stay here Friday night even though it's so expensive. Humid and wet outside when I walked to the Fairmont for the first session (by William Horton)

17 May 2001: no clue what happened to this page!!!

18 May 2001: Chicago, IL

Started walking at 10:00am to Navy Pier. LOTS of kids as school breaks out at the end of the week. Went on the BIG Ferris wheel and had BBQ chicken bun lunch at Be-Bop Joe's at the Navy Pier. Visited the stained glass museum too – some beautiful pieces. Walked back to the "magnificent mile" (N. Michigan Ave) and into Northbridge shopping mall where Nordstrom's is. Checked out lots of clothes but didn't buy anything.

Walked down to Water Tower Place and Marshall Field's. Still didn't get any clothes. Ticketed prices are similar to Australian ticket prices, but end up being 2x our price with the awful exchange rate. EVERYTHING is expensive with our dollar hovering around the 50c US mark – a $6 lunch is $12, so while the ticket prices are the same, the actual price is quite different.

Back in the room I checked the contents of the conference CD then started packing.

19 May 2001: Chicago, IL to Monterey, CA

Finished packing and was waiting for the Airport Express van just before 8:00am. Instead of the van, I shared a cab with a lady from the STC office as it was a little cheaper at $18 each. Don't know her name but she was in charge of speakers and worked for the Program Committee. Currently waiting at O'Hare for the flight to San Francisco. Will be staying at David's tonight as Lee has a 'black tie' function to attend.

Got in to San Francisco on time, then was in the rental car and headed toward Monterey by about 1:30pm. I took the Half Moon bay exit – that was a BAD MOVE! The traffic was horrendous! It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon and I things everyone was out for a drive! Traffic cleared after Half Moon Bay. Called David from Davenport (north of Santa Cruz) – he was home and expecting me. When I got to David's house, he was at Costco! And he'd left Thami there which was very unfair to her. So we introduced ourselves and got on fine.

David cooked a rack of lamb for dinner – delicious as usual. Mike and his friend Roger came over later. We organised to go out fishing in the boat tomorrow.

20 May 2001: Monterey, CA

Up early but no-one else up, despite all agreeing to do so for the fishing trip, so I read until the others started to appear. Had one of David's big pancake breakfasts, then left for the boat about 8:30am. Out in the heavy swell and fog trying to catch salmon for 4 hours – all I felt like doing was feeding the fish! Very queasy… and we didn't catch a damned thing!

Beautiful afternoon – read outside. Heather and Gerard and their kids (Alex and Laurel) came over later.

Then I went over to Lee's for dinner – just a chicken Caesar salad, but goof. It was good to see her too. We went for walk along the Monterey/Pacific Grove beachfront first. Lee's doing really well, which is great to know. Back to David's at 10:00pm; everyone asleep in bed.

21 May 2001: Monterey, CA

Went shopping at Macy Woman at the Del Monte Shopping Centre – bought lots of nice clothes then met Lee in Carmel for lunch at The Forge.

Drove around Carmel, Pacific grove and Monterey in the afternoon – another superb day. Checked out the outlet stores in Pacific Grove and bought a new bag, a jacket, and shoes.

Back to the house after 5:00pm David had 'a turn' at basketball when he played at lunchtime today, so Thami and I did an amazing combination of 'firsts' – we had leftovers, we made dinner (David was resting by then by the TV), and we didn't have any wine! None of those things usually happens at David's!!

22 May 2001: Monterey, CA to Paso Robles, CA

Said goodbye to David and Thami then got on the road by 10:30am hoping the fog had burnt off on the coast drive. It hadn't. Didn't come to a 'no fog' area until I got to San Simeon. Went to Hearst Castle and did the Number 1 Tour. Really interesting – an amazing house!!! Got to Paso Robles and John and Suzie's about 5:00pm. Only John was home – we were meeting up with Suzie at a winemaker's dinner in Templeton. Had a shower, then John drove my rental car to Templeton – bit of a maniac driver!

John and I were the first ones at the restaurant (Seven 30 Grill). Others at our table: Jon and Mary S, Ishkar and Marina (from Sri Lanka). They all have vineyards. Ishkar's brother has Rosemary Senivaratne as his godmother!!! Marina is an Ob/Gyn; Jon and Mary are a really nice couple. Wonderful meal, excellent company, good wines from the two young winemakers – very expensive though!

Very hot day today – over 100F.

23 May 2001: Paso Robles, CA

Suzie and John both not working today. We got going about 11:00am – it was already close to 100F. Went to the factory outlets at Atascadero where John works in a wine shop (it's just down the road from Paso – and has a Van Heusen store!); and also into Paso for Suzie to do some stuff. Went to Ishkar's vineyard atop a big hill. Met his mother; she used to work for the UN in New York for 20 years.

Then over to Morro Bay for lunch – it was only 65F there! Had a so-so lunch at the Great American Fish Company on the wharf. (Sandra Bullock was filming there yesterday – or so rumour had it; and Mel Gibson was in Paso.) Went home via some vineyards – stopped in at Jane and Dave's (Barn Owl Vineyard) and sat outside chatting until we all decide to have a BBQ and fruit cocktails at John and Suzie's. Suzie went to town with them to get the makings, while John and I went to Jon and Mary's vineyard. WOW!!! Mary showed me over the property and house. WOW! again!!

Back to John and Suzie's house where Dave made mixed frozen passionfruit juice with dark rum and triple sec cocktails, then frozen guava, then frozen mango and peach – DELICIOUS! Suzie prepared prawn and chicken kebabs which John cooked on the BBQ. Also steamed rice, salad, fresh corn on the cob etc. Way too much food after the very filling cocktails! Nice night.

24 May 2001: Paso Robles, CA to Corona Del Mar, CA

Left John and Suzie's around 9:30am and drove Highway 101 south to Los Angeles, then on to Corona Del Mar where Bill B lives. Good to see him. Lovely house and outlook over Newport beach and Newport Harbor.

Did genealogy and computer stuff most of the afternoon then had an early sinner at the Five Crowns, an English pub in Corona Del Mar. Had the salmon (HUGE!). As we were leaving, we met two of Bill's friends – Penny and Michael; they were TERRIBLY English. I only spoke with Penny; she was very nice.

25 May 2001: Corona Del Mar, CA

Bill took me on a tour of the local sights, and I also checked out the situation re setting up a bank account in the US (too hard!). Had lunch at the Pride of Newport, a replica paddle steamer. Had clam chowder and halibut.

Left Bill's at 6:30pm and just made it to the Hertz with almost no fuel left – I was a bit worried about that on the Interstate (405) where everyone was going over 70mph!

Los Angeles Airport: The Qantas Club lounge here is APPALLING! For example:

• No free computers/business centre
• No tables at a suitable height for working
• Very basic food and drink
• No toilets in the lounge – you have to go out and down a corridor
• No showers – anywhere!
• No TV
• Very limited number of seats (maybe 25)

Flight due to leave for Melbourne at 11:30pm.