And it Ended with a Prom

Today was my very busiest day at the convention: 19 appointments with tour operators. These are seven-minute appointments, known affectionately as "speed dates." Each day there is also a half hour block of time when you can run around the floor and try to schedule other appointments; this is called "mating season." I was able to pick up several additional appointments during yesterday's mating season, but still managed to have my appointments grouped into morning and afternoon. I left the convention center at noon and was able to take a nap today before heading back for my final meetings.

I skipped lunch in favor of napping, but attended the gala dinner. I didn't find anyone I knew, however, and sat in the back of the room (table 129) with a group of gentlemen (Fred, Ad and Smi) from Michigan. Smi does carriage tours of Mackinac Island and I learned that this was the center of fur trading activity in the upper midwest (then the northwest United States) in the 1800s--at the same time my site was being settled. We had an interesting visit and he kissed my cheek after dinner when he took his leave. Old guys have funny manners.

After dinner was the dancing and drinking portion of the evening. This also happened on Sunday night at the Heinz Museum and Monday night at the Hard Rock Cafe. I didn't attend the party last night at Heinz Field (again), so I don't know if there was dancing. Drinking, however, was guaranteed.

Tonight's event is commonly called the Prom, which always closes the conference on Wednesday evening. I wore black and red business clothes all week, but dressed up tonight in a blue satin skirt and silk blouse. But the band tonight was too loud for my taste and although I looked around, I still didn't find the Washington State contingent. So I headed back to the hotel to call the family.

Tomorrow I don't even leave until 6:35pm. Northwest Airlines rearranged my perfectly good morning flight, leaving me with a day to wander Pittsburgh and a late flight home. I'm still not sure what all I'm going to do tomorrow before I head to the airport, but I do know that one thing involves buying New Moon--the continuing saga of Bella and Edward.