We got up really early to get to the convention center to set up for the show. Since we didn't get to test anything the night before, I was nervous. We ate at Joe's at the hotel, and we rushed (well as fast as you can rush when going with all of those laptops). Miguel got his luggage right as we were leaving (the airline kept it for safekeeping the night before) the hotel, so that was good. As much as experience told me, I listened to Mark and Krishan tell me that we would have plenty of time to come back to the room and change. So, we arrive in jeans. The booth is still being put together, so we decide to start plugging in computers where we can. Hmmmmmm....where are those handy power cords that we so carefully laid by each computer the day before? The rental computer company tells us that they grabbed all of the "extra" cords and sent them to storage. What??? Extra? Theymake it sound like the booth is actually finished or something. The manager finds us the parts a while later. I decide that we should hook up at least one kiosk to make sure it is working. Hmmmm....where is that ethernet cable? What?? There wasn't any wire run to that area? Hmmmm.. Panic is setting in. We have no power cord for the router, no power cords for the kiosk, and no way to connect the computers to the server. LOVELY. After a few pissing matches with the manager, he becomes very helpful. Thankfully, he helped us a lot after that - he even loaned us a router.
About 10:10 (the show opens at 11:00), I force Krishan to leave so we can change (we are suposed to be training at 10:30. We have hooked up the Microsoft booth, and all is good there. We practically run to the hotel. We are walking so fast that my legs are aching pretty badly. I frantically change, and then I knock on Krishan's door. What????? What do you mean you aren't ready??? I am the girl and even have on make up!!! For the love of God....
After waiting for Ms. Krishan to get ready, we hurry back to the convention. We make it around 10:38. Not sure why I panicked as THERE IS NOBODY THERE FOR US TO TRAIN. Lovely. At that point, we realize that we will just need to work the booth, all the time.
As the booth opens, one of the sponsors is very upset that their name isn't on the booth. He berates them, and they bring a stencil there a few hours later to add the name. :) All is good.
The first day of the show was VERY busy. We survive the show opening. Whew...
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
The Pickwick Hotel
I forgot to mention that the Pickwick Hotel was an interesting place. It wasn't a bad place to stay, and in some ways it was even pretty luxurious. (they left chocolate on the pillows and provided the big white robes for you to use. However, the rooms were very tiny (especially for two people), they had absolutely NO storage drawers or dresser, and the toilet looked like it was stolen from an elementary school. Let me just say that I couldn't even pull my laptop bag through the room - I had to pick it up to carry it past the bed. Otherwise, it was great though. It has a little restaurant downstairs (called Joe's) where we had breakfast one day, and the bellman was very friendly and nice.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Booth Set up Day
Friday was all about getting the booth ready for the AAP Digital Office of the Future exhibit. Krishan and I were still in mad prepare mode, so we spent most of the day working on the database to make sure it was exactly as we wanted. Mark and Lisa ended up making a trip across San Fran to get some of our stuff that hadn't made it yet. Lisa had to ride for over 2 hours with her feet on the dashboard because the car was completely full. She took some great pictures that are on stinkerpot.com.
Krishan and I went to the booth in the afternoon with many computers in tow. We have a bit of a panic attack as the booth is not even remotely close to being ready to test with computers. However, the first Microsoft representatives are there so we go through the quiz. We were super proud of our configuration of the Kiosk functionality to capture the Internet Safety Quiz information. I am not sure that everyone really got to understand that at the show, but it is pretty cool that we could easily change the kiosk to be this quiz instead of a patient intake session. Of course, there were a few issues with it (like people not realizing that they needed to scroll down) that we fixed along the way.
We are very hungry by 8 or so and the booth still isn't ready for testing. So, we go eat across the street at Chevy's. It was pretty good, but they forgot Dr. Alexander's dinner!!!! We went back to the Microsoft booth after dinner to make sure that the kiosk quiz was working well with the computers. Worked perfectly! This turned out to be the smartest decision of the trip because the next morning was complete chaos. :) We got to work with Pete, Tiffany, and Adrianne at the the Microsoft booth. They were wonderful to work with, and we really enjoyed talking to them. Unfortunately, they had to deal with some doctors who were less than honest and tried to scam them for extra copies of Vista. They were kind enough to give away Vista Ultimate to the doctors who received some internet safety education.
Krishan and I went to the booth in the afternoon with many computers in tow. We have a bit of a panic attack as the booth is not even remotely close to being ready to test with computers. However, the first Microsoft representatives are there so we go through the quiz. We were super proud of our configuration of the Kiosk functionality to capture the Internet Safety Quiz information. I am not sure that everyone really got to understand that at the show, but it is pretty cool that we could easily change the kiosk to be this quiz instead of a patient intake session. Of course, there were a few issues with it (like people not realizing that they needed to scroll down) that we fixed along the way.
We are very hungry by 8 or so and the booth still isn't ready for testing. So, we go eat across the street at Chevy's. It was pretty good, but they forgot Dr. Alexander's dinner!!!! We went back to the Microsoft booth after dinner to make sure that the kiosk quiz was working well with the computers. Worked perfectly! This turned out to be the smartest decision of the trip because the next morning was complete chaos. :) We got to work with Pete, Tiffany, and Adrianne at the the Microsoft booth. They were wonderful to work with, and we really enjoyed talking to them. Unfortunately, they had to deal with some doctors who were less than honest and tried to scam them for extra copies of Vista. They were kind enough to give away Vista Ultimate to the doctors who received some internet safety education.
Friday, October 26, 2007
Trip to CA
I am not sure how, but somehow we got most of everything ready for the AAP conference and headed to the airport. The day before had led to us enter over 16,000 immunizations to prepare the patients for the exhibit. Whew...not exactly how I want to do load testing, but that part of the script didn't work and we were out of time. So, all of Bond now knows how to enter immunizations! Even accounting helped!
So, in typical Bond travel fashion, we weren't all on the same flight (Mark was on his own flight) and I was in the middle seat. I am not sure what I did to get on the bad travel list, but I am ALWAYS booked in a middle seat. Thankfully, Lisa was on this flight and graciously volunteered to 1. Sit next to Travis and 2. Sit in the middle seat that was next to Travis. :)
We arrive around 10pm and take the extremely long trip to the rental car place at the San Francisco Airport (SFO). Lisa and I FINALLY get the car. She had reserved a car that would seat 7 people. The lady at the counter tells us that we are "extremely lucky" that they have one. We get to the car, and it must be a 7 seater technically, but it was rather small. Lisa and I giggle at how lucky we are. We drive around to pick up the boys. They have enough luggage and boxes for at least 15 people. Of course, they aren't even appreciative of our sacrificial journey to get the car and start complaining immediately about how long it took. Next time, Lisa and I will hit a bar first. :)
We use the navigator on my phone to get to the hotels (we have people in two hotels). Mark, Krishan, and I wander down the street and end up at a Jack in the Box around midnight. It was rather scary with homeless people galore. It didn't stop us from getting some grease though. :)
So, in typical Bond travel fashion, we weren't all on the same flight (Mark was on his own flight) and I was in the middle seat. I am not sure what I did to get on the bad travel list, but I am ALWAYS booked in a middle seat. Thankfully, Lisa was on this flight and graciously volunteered to 1. Sit next to Travis and 2. Sit in the middle seat that was next to Travis. :)
We arrive around 10pm and take the extremely long trip to the rental car place at the San Francisco Airport (SFO). Lisa and I FINALLY get the car. She had reserved a car that would seat 7 people. The lady at the counter tells us that we are "extremely lucky" that they have one. We get to the car, and it must be a 7 seater technically, but it was rather small. Lisa and I giggle at how lucky we are. We drive around to pick up the boys. They have enough luggage and boxes for at least 15 people. Of course, they aren't even appreciative of our sacrificial journey to get the car and start complaining immediately about how long it took. Next time, Lisa and I will hit a bar first. :)
We use the navigator on my phone to get to the hotels (we have people in two hotels). Mark, Krishan, and I wander down the street and end up at a Jack in the Box around midnight. It was rather scary with homeless people galore. It didn't stop us from getting some grease though. :)
Monday, October 22, 2007
Fun Day
Today was a fun day. I had a really good time at work today, and then I got to go to step aerobics AND to do my week 1 day 2 couch to 5 k program. We are crazy busy at work trying to get many clients live,to get the release wrapped up by Nov 15, and to get ready for the AAP show this weekend in San Francisco. We are excited about showing off Clinician in the Pediatric Office of the Future. If you are going to the show, stop by on Saturday to watch us do the Pediatric Challenge. Hopefully, we wlll do as well this time as the last. :) We missed our project cut off, but hopefully all of the projects will make it tomorrow except for one. That one is the known troublemaker in this release, so I will cut it some slack. Our implementation team is ROCKING! I can't believe how many clients we have going live in November. We seem to have hit our groove there.
Step class was fun, but I like the Saturday and Thursday classes better. Not sure why exactly, but I just do. It was still fun though. According to my Polar F4, I burned 444 calories in the class (I was late and missed the first 10 min). It says I burned 339 calories in the Couch 2 5k program. I used the podcast found here today. It tells you when to run and walk, so it makes it a little easier to follow. I wasn't sure I would like the electric music sound in it, but I actually did and bopped right along. I was surprised how fast it went (wonder if I will be saying that in a few weeks!). Anyway, I feel so good. I am SO glad that I decided to start Weight Watchers and to start exercising. So far today, I have used 19 points. I just might have some popcorn in a few minutes (only 2 points!). I found the Orville Redenbacher Natural Buttery salt and black pepper variety. It is very different, but it is very good.
Step class was fun, but I like the Saturday and Thursday classes better. Not sure why exactly, but I just do. It was still fun though. According to my Polar F4, I burned 444 calories in the class (I was late and missed the first 10 min). It says I burned 339 calories in the Couch 2 5k program. I used the podcast found here today. It tells you when to run and walk, so it makes it a little easier to follow. I wasn't sure I would like the electric music sound in it, but I actually did and bopped right along. I was surprised how fast it went (wonder if I will be saying that in a few weeks!). Anyway, I feel so good. I am SO glad that I decided to start Weight Watchers and to start exercising. So far today, I have used 19 points. I just might have some popcorn in a few minutes (only 2 points!). I found the Orville Redenbacher Natural Buttery salt and black pepper variety. It is very different, but it is very good.
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