12/1/22: Travel report! Day 7 in Las Vegas

Day 7 started much the same as day 6 did. Get up, shower, go eat and hang out. Went back on the reg floor at the Venetian with Audrey and started chatting things up. Talked about stuff and then one of the Opus contractors came over to interrupt and said I looked like Takashi.

??

And then she showed me and Audrey a picture of this Takashi, who I guess is a fashion designer of some sort. But to me, he looks like an Asian man with long hair and a bushy beard. I didn't know if I should be offended or not.

And then she started telling us about hype beasts, Trinidadian burials where a tree seed is buried in the deceased person's heart, skin color and questions around it, among other things. It was entertaining, funny and educational, all at the same time.

Learning with Adora and Angel

When we arrived in LV, Audrey said she met a new bestie on the flight over, who she talked to the whole time, exchanged numbers with, etc. In talking to her over the past week, I learned that sometimes she'll just go to a bar or somewhere and strike up conversation with strangers around her. She really enjoys chatting and getting to know people, which seems totally contrary to what she looks like. She also really likes to just have a good time and have fun. Not necessarily drinking and getting toasted, but just putting out good energy.

She's also super organized and agenda driven, which seems to contradict her party side. So I noted to her that the two sides balance each other out, which she agreed with. We "worked" the rest of the shift and then after that, split up to go to our rooms to pack and get ready for our post-event party.

The girls and I plus Malia and Lisa and others met up downstairs and jumped on the shuttle to the Las Vegas Fairgrounds. I sat with Lisa and we chatted it up. I met her first last year at MKO in Seattle, but really got to know her better in San Francisco. She's really great to talk to and we chopped it up in the shuttle as we drove around looking for it.

Once we got dropped off, we walked through the cold wind to the VIP tent, where only people who worked the event got to go. There were free drinks (meh) and munchies and food (also meh), and more hanging out with the ladies.

Marisa, Audrey, Heather, Malia and the author

The rest of the night was spent trying to stay warm and fed and entertained. For whatever reason, the organizers of the event thought that tech nerds only liked EDM and DJs. There was one artist, Zach Person, who played guitar, but aside from a drummer, that was it. No bassist? But he did have an Ampeg SVT on stage. It was sort of a White Stripes/Royal Blood type thing.

The group actually split up a bit, with Audrey and Marisa and Brittany heading one way, and then me and Heather and Malia heading another way. I ended up hanging with Lisa for a bit as well, having some food. Then spent a bunch of time with Malia, who was new to the CS team, and actually lives in Seattle, so hopefully will get to see her at a show sometime.

The VIP area was directly next to the main stage, where some EDM artist was playing. It was SO LOUD and I was grateful to have my earplugs. Me and Malia and Heather were upstairs and it was all loud and dancy and I felt awkward, but said screw it, and tried to enjoy myself. Certain people I was with were really enjoying the bevvies and just having a great dancing time.

Eventually, it was time to go. The twins had bounced as they both had 6am flights, so I didn't get to say goodbye in person. And then BVL and Heather bounced, as I wanted to keep an eye on Malia for a bit. After some more of that, I bounced and left her in Greg's hands (she got home fine, turns out), and headed for the shuttle. Then it was bedtime.

I did see Heather and Brittany one last time this morning before I left. We met for a quick chat and goodbye, and that was it. Back to Seattle, where I'm freezing now.

Hello and goodbye to Las Vegas. I am glad it is over and I am super glad to have had a crew to roll with. I can't imagine doing that for a week and not having anyone to hang/chat/be with, so to Heather, Audrey, Marisa and Brittany, I thank you all.