The day started early, and I had time to kill, so I went for a run around the hotel. I took a bunch of hills and stairs and saw some cool sights. I knew Lombard Street was near the hotel, but as I ran, I ended up right at the top of it. I walked down it and took some video and pictures. I headed back to the hotel 2.5 miles later and got cleaned up for work.
The ride in on the Lyft was wet and sunny, with glare off the streets and sun in the sky. Glad I wasn't driving. I showed up and had some breakfast and then headed over to the Mercedes in the bowels of the arena. Sean and Ross were there and they did some tinkering with it. I tried to get the phone Sean provided to connect with the car, but it wouldn't work. I forgot to mention, Mercedes brought over a prototype or pre-release car, a CLA 250+ with AMG stylings. It is chalk grey and fastback style and pretty cool, but ultimately, not my style.
I hung out there and tried to be useful, but ended up blogging the travel day adventures and just sitting around. After that got boring, I tracked Collin down and had lunch. We then went up to the suite level, where he was practicing his talk track for his presentation. I tried to get the Seahawks game up on the TV, but of course, they only had the 49ers vs Cardinals locally. I ended up doing some work, tried to stay busy, read a bit of the Ioniq 5 manual, and just sat around. Collin went to meet up with Leah and the DL guys in a different suite, so I just sat there and read the manual.
Eventually, the Seahawks game ended and I saw no spoilers, so I sat in the suite and blasted my way through it. Sadly, a missed FG to end the game, really lost on 4 INTs by Sam. D looked great and it would have been a fun game to watch in real-time.
Went downstairs around 6 to have a quick dinner. I sat with a young kid named Mohammed, who introduced himself, and he was working the event running cable for a camera on the floor. Nice kid, hope things work out for him. From there I went to the floor to hang and watch the testing and practice for Mercedes. I was not needed, so I bounced to the hotel, walked to In-n-out for a second dinner, then buttoned things up for bed. Talked to Marci for a few minutes and that was that.
I really don't need to be here. I am out of my element a bit, but I've met some cool people. I wish I had more to offer here, but I think I'd just be getting in the way. The lack of communication is annoying as well. I don't want to get back to work and have Paul say I was seen as sitting around the whole time. There has been little to no guidance and the expectations set were quite low. It turns out we may not even do any of the stuff I can help with, which I guess isn't my fault or problem, but it still rubs.
Anyway, more pictures, in reverse order.
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| The Mercedes in question on the big stage |
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| The view from the suite |
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| 5 Waymos in a row |
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| so artsy |
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| Looks like GTA 6 |
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| Bottom of Lombard Street |
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| Middle of Lombard Street |
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| Ran to the top of the hill where this court was |
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| Cool house |
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| Running up those stairs after running up some hills |
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| Park sign |
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| Top of some hill |
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| I think that's Alcatraz |
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| Starting off the morning |
