That's pretty much it right now. Made it home. Con report and such to follow. The following might not be all that immediate. There are photos to process (and to collect before that!) for ACME and such.

Now I get to start in on RCFM stuff and that's less than amonth a way. Eep!

Current Mood: tired

Short version: Arrived home safely.

Current Mood: tired

On Monday I called Discount Tire in Mankato, taking them up on the 30 day replacement or warranty thing. About the tires I wanted I was told, "They should be in on Wednesday." On Wednesday afternoon I called and was told they weren't in, but might yet arrive that day. There was no call later on Wednesday. Nor on Thursday. So this afternoon I called and asked. I was asked to hold while they checked the truck that had just arrived. My tires weren't on that truck either. I left my phone numbers, again.

A little while later I got a call from the manager who wanted to know if I recalled who I had talked to on Monday and Wednesday. I really wish I had the name of the guy on Monday, but I've forgotten it. I explained the situation and was told that the question about why I wanted to get away from the Goodyear tires was that they had to have something to put on the form. But mainly he wanted to find out what happened that it took them so long and was trying to trace who all handled the matter so he could find out what went wrong and how as, "A customer should not have to call three times." This time I was told the tires would arrive on Monday. If they aren't on the truck like they ought to be, he'll go up to the Cities and get them himself. And likely give a few folks an earful, was left unsaid.

I hadn't gotten to the point of vocalizing any suspicions about delay tactics that would leave me stuck with the Goodyear tires I don't want. I didn't have to. The manager's call, attitude, and promise of what would happen - and how he'd make sure it would happen - took care of that. I don't expect a company or a store to be perfect and never make a mistake. It's what they do about any mistakes that matters. My impression of Discount Tire just went up significantly.

Current Mood: calm

LJ is down right now, due to a power outage, so I'm here instead. May I should start mirroring entries.

I have the car mostly loaded and ready for the trip to $INTERMEDIATE_DESTINATION and then to LibertyCon. One small (not even typical carry-on sized) suitcase and a couple coolers are all that won't fir in the trunk. Not bad. When I get to $INTERMEDIATE_DESTINATION, my host and I will see what can be shifted so that we (host and host's family and me) can avoid taking more than two vehicles.

While Jay stayed in Fairmont today, I set out to go to Sioux Falls today and did, eventually. I went to South Dakota twice today. On my way to Sioux Falls I passed a beat up Ford Escort, which was no big deal. A while later that same Escort passed me, which was also no big deal. I left the cruise control where I had set it and went along. It was a couple miles later that things went wrong.

I didn't know if the folks in the Escort failed to notice or if they noticed and failed to realize, but there was a rather large cloud of dense white smoke suddenly appearing from their exhaust. They kept on going for what seemed a surprisingly long time to me, and made it into South Dakota, but not to their destination. They wound up pulling over, wondering what happened. What happened was that cloud of white smoke was the anti-freeze burning. Anti-freeze, of course, should not be burning in the engine.

The folks were from Worthington and didn't have anyone to call (on the one day I make the Sioux Falls trip with a cell phone). So they decided the best thing was for them to go back to Worthington and see about things. Okkay. So I drove them back to Worthington and dropped them off in a parking lot presumably near their house. I would have driven them right to their place, but they insisted on stopping there and I wasn't arguing. They were having a lousy enough day as it was.

I made my way back to Sioux Falls and stopped at Rainbow to pick up the comics they hold for me, then went to an Indian restaurant I'd recently found out about. I got there just after 3:00. Guess when they close? Yep, 3:00. They'd re-open at 5:00 but I didn't intend to be in Sioux Falls that long and I was getting hungry. I wound up stopping at a Schlotzsky's on my way to Barnes & Noble. I plan to try for the Indian place again, but that'll likely be in about a month.

On my drive through Sioux Falls in search of substitute meal I mused that I would have been at the Indian place in time had I not stopped for the folks in the Escort. But I did stop, and I'll sleep well tonight for that.

Current Mood: tired

After I got back from RCFM I had a sore throat. No headache, no queasiness, just a sore throat. Well, I'm back from MFF and guess what? Yep, sore throat. It seems to have peaked last night or this morning and is on a slow decline, but still enough that it gets my attention. I don't know if the Halls Defense stuff (which i started taking before leaving for MFF) is having an effect, but short term use shouldn't hurt.

I'd blame travel, but it's just as long (or longer *grumble*) to get to there as to return. I stayed hydrated. Maybe it's the exposure to exhaust on the more crowded highways and in larger cities? Maybe it's that I wind up talking more and louder than normal. For all I know I was singing along to the tape too much. I'd just like to know what was causing the sore throat so I can avoid it in the future. Sure, it's not nearly as bad as a kidney stone, but it's still something I'd prefer to avoid. Oddly, it doesn't seem to start until the day after I return.

( Preserved comment(s) )

Current Mood: sore throaty

This is the short version.

Thursday: Travel.
Driving in MN: No problem.
Driving in WI: No problem.
Driving in IL: I have a renewed contempt for tollways and bad design. And for poor signage. And for hotel clerks who don't know the area. Evidently the right way to get to the Schaumburg Hyatt, at least for me, is via Elgin.
Arrived at hotel at long last - met some folks. Generally had a good time.

Friday: Attended a couple panels, saw a show or two, wandered around.

Saturday: Like Friday, but with the amazing sponsor's bunch. How good? There was smoked salmon available and I simply never got to it.

Sunday: Attended a panel, recovered sketchbooks from dealer's area and artist's alley, and drove home. Via Elgin since the supposedly closer access to I-90 was effectively blocked by a crowd of folks whose mental capacity indicates that they probably were designers of signs for Illinois tollways.

Conclusion: MFF was great, though I can't really say I did that much. It helped that I knew some people already and saw them repeatedly. I will almost certainly return. If the weather looks decent, I am very likely to plot a route that avoids I-90 in IL and aim for Elgin intentionally.

( Preserved comment(s) )

Current Mood: relaxed

As I'm about to start on a trip, I've been getting things together for it. I have a checklist to help prevent my forgetting anything. Even so, I always have the feeling that I'm overlooking something. Any ideas, serious or silly, about what my checklist might be lacking?

Current Mood: curious

Yesterday I got a bit more ready for MFF. I have directions to the hotel, coins for the wretched tolls Illinois inflicts on traffic, and a few other things gathered together and ready to be packed up tonight. One item that is almost finished is a tape for jugularjaguar which might be put to... interesting... use eventually. I need to do just a bit more with it before it's finished. I should also duplicate a couple tapes for myself for use in the car.

( Speaking of tape )

I'm hoping to get a few things started tonight and getting them done early. Then I can get to sleep early, start out early, and arrive before the anything-but-rush hour traffic.

( Preserved comment(s) )

Current Mood: eager

In the Spring and in the Fall there are times when I don't need to run the rear window defogger or the air conditioner in my car. If I drive mostly highway miles on a tank of gas then, I can get almost 40 mpg. Almost. Somehow I never quite seem to make it to 40 mpg. The last tank, however, did it. I got better than 42 mpg. While it was mostly highway miles, and at speeds of 55 and 65 mph, that's not likely the reason for the improvement. It was the gasoline.

No, really. It's not that it was a special brand, it was that I filled the tank in Wisconsin. Wisconsin, overall, uses straight gasoline. I had been filling the tank, naturally, in Minnesota. In Minnesota, almost all gasoline is 10% ethanol. It takes 1.4 gallons of ethanol do the work that 1 gallon of gasoline does. So by filling up in Wisconsin, I had more energy in the tank than I when I fill up in Minnesota.

Please note that I have not said that ethanol is bad idea. Or a good one. I'm just noting the difference in energy as it presented itself to me.

Current Mood: relaxed
Current Music: S-100 Bus - Frank Hayes

I left work early, went home, did final packing and loading of the car, and headed to Blue Earth where I was to pick up the faire programs from the printer. I got there just as someone was about to close up and leave for the weekend. Had I been there much later I might still have gotten the papers, but would likely have had to wait around a bit for someone to show up. I was surprised to see only two large bundles of newsprint on the pallet. I was expecting to have to haul more and packed accordingly. Curiosity number one: the gal at the printers told me, "I was told a woman would be picking these up." Uhm...

The trip to Des Moines was nicely uneventful, and the directions I'd gotten from irpooh got me right where I needed to be at the Candlewood Suites. The place was very nice - I didn't take advantage of all the place offered, but I was only staying two nights.

Calling irpooh and foolscap001 to make supper arrangements, we agreed it might be easiest if they came to the hotel. Then after a couple exchanges, they'd navigate while I drove. I can still hear the comment as I opened the door to the hotel room to let them in. "We've been staying at the wrong places!" (I wound up at Candlewood via a Hotwire reservation Jay made. For what I was paying, I was expecting a Motel 6, really.) I showed them the picture I was giving to ginafae which amused them. Also, I had found some tamarind candy of sorts and bought it for James. I hope it's good. Billie gave me quite a stock of Licorice Altoids.

We made our way to a Thai place, The King and I, and had way too much good food. There was also much conversation, most of which I don't specifically recall. Something that was mentioned was that Billie had called JP and someone had told him the programs had arrived already. Really? What are those bundles in my car, then? Curiosity number two, that. And then James mentioned that while this faire was "NEW" and listed as such in Renaissance Magazine, it was also listed as having an attendance of 12,000. Not predicted or estimated, Just "12,000." Really? I picked up 2,000 programs. Call it curiosity number three if desired. Afterward, we drove back and I was a given a ticket to the faire that they were not going to use - figuring that somehow I'd not get compensated for hauling the programs. Billie and James drove home and I called JP.

JP came, and was also surprised that there were just two bundles. Ah well, only 2,000 copies and only a single sheet each, so not that much. I did get a couple tickets from him for hauling the programs down. We talked in the parking lot for some time, before he left and I went to bed.

Current Mood: calm

* At work during the heavy rains last week, I felt the curious feeling that I normally only notice in the Winter during a storm. I can't really describe this feeling, but I recognized it right away, and it was odd to have it during a Summer storm.

* On the way to MNRF (Saturday September 18) the car passed the 90,000 mile mark on the odometer. This post shows that 80,000 miles was passed on January 5 this year. I'm putting more miles on the Corolla this year since I'm driving more than the last couple years. The last couple years, Jay drove his RX300 on most longer trips. But he's not been around for much of time I'm on going any distance this year.

* I am amused by going to a RenFest and getting offered a computer, or parts thereof. It seems a bit surreal. Not that I'm complaining, mind. I already have a use in mind, should things work out. And after seeing how things have gone with jmaynard since April, it's not all that surreal.

* Also amusing were the couple guys, in garb, who came up to me in the morning at MNRF and treated my walking stick as if it were a real horse, even being careful not approach from behind.

* Having a cooler of icewater available on the drive home helped considerably. I can drive up to Shakopee in the cool morning without needing water, but the hotter afternoon demands more hydration. I got home and felt pretty good.

* It's finally Fall, or Autumn if you prefer, and that means an end to annoyingly high temperatures. Sure, it has been a bit cooler this Summer, but the peaks were still annoying. I'm feeling more alive again. I like this season. It cools down, the humidity drops, and the bugs disappear. October is pretty much the ideal month, to me, in regards to climate.

Current Mood: chipper

Between jmaynard's encounter with supposed air travel security and jugularjaguar's posting a link to an article that brings up a few points, despite its general dismissal as alarmist, and the news coverage of the September 11 commission's report, I've been reminded of a few things.

( A few things )

( Preserved comment(s) )

Current Mood: uncomfortable

I'd expected to start out later than I did, but after not getting back to sleep for a while, it was time to start the day. I had one minor scare when I got turned around in the hallway and looked for the car on the wrong side of the hotel. Oops. Annoying, but not disastrous. When the car was loaded up, I went back and said goodbye to kinkyturtle who was awake and starting his day by then.

( On the road again... )

I think I'm not quite completely recovered from the trip yet. I probably need to get a bit more sleep, still. My sore throat is less sore than it was yesterday and I expect it'll be a non-issue tomorrow. Yay. This noon I should be picking up prints of most of the pictures I took at RCFM. I hope jugularjaguar gets the single-use camera developed soon.

Current Mood: fairly good

Today went well, overall. The only real glitch was the result of arriving at the hotel before kinkyturtle and a bit of paranoia kept that from getting out of hand.

( Ahead of schedule... )

Travels held no really nasty surprises. The con was fun. I am pondering doing it again next year. There is more to post and that will happen later. Made it home around 2:30 this morning. I hadn't planned on returning without a motel stay, but as I got closer to home I was more inclined to keep my money - and I was still awake. Had caffeine this weekend. The stuff packs a wallop when one hasn't had it for a few months. I think I've had enough for a while.

Current Mood: a bit tired

Yesterday I started packing and got a couple more checked off of my checklist for Rocket City Fur Meet. The routing is now printed so I'll know what turns to make and such. What can be packed early has been. Tuesday evening the majority of the rest of things will get packed up, and the last few items will be taken care of Wednesday morning.

I'll have my kit of electronic stuff (some parts, meter, soldering iron) so that if some repair is needed (like say a fan in a suit - the highs are expected to be in high 80s or low 90s and these folks are wearing fursuits...) it'll be available without a trip to a Radio Shack or something. I'm also taking my laptop (a mere 486) along and some floppies. I won't be dialing up or anything, but I will be able to write and edit LJ entries while things are still fresh in my mind. Also, I might be able to get a little done on COLT during lulls. I expect the only time that will really have a chance of happening is at whatever motel(s) I stop at on the way to and back from Huntsville.

The approximate halfway point of the trip is Urbana, IL so I'll go at least that far the first day, maybe farther if I feel up to it. I think I'll be willing to trade an hour or two of added drive time the first day to have that much less the second day. Also, I plan on stopping in Tennessee and Kentucky so I can say that I did more than just drive right through them. Maybe not much more, but at least I'll get out of the car and break up the trip a bit.

I'm really looking forward to this. Not just RCFM, but the trip itself. It's a few days off work. I'll be going places I've not been before (though I do hope I can just get around the loop around Nashville and just be done with that part of the trip). And while fuel prices are higher than I care for, I had planned on roughly $2.00/gallon for the trip for a while (I like my Corolla - about 34 mpg when it's mostly just around town, and this trip is highway miles, so it should be quite good). Checking the web, it looks like the highest fuel prices I'll deal with are right here in Minnesota.

Also have decided that adjusting my sleep pattern isn't worth the bother. I'll still try to get to bed a bit earlier than usual Tuesday night and maybe be able to start off a bit early on Wednesday, but there'll be no big adjustments made.

Current Mood: chipper

Rocket City FurMeet starts on the 28th, but I leave for it next Wednesday. I've got a few items on my checklist already checked off and hope to have a few more checked off this weekend. Then I should have only a few of the usual last minute items to take care of Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Even with the checklist, I keep thinking I'm overlooking something. I'm looking forward to the trip, and the destination.

I've been wondering if I should bother trying to alter my sleep schedule any to start out earlier, at least on Wednesday. Or should I leave things be so I'll be better able to stay up later when I get to Huntsville? I've also been debating how long I should plan to drive on Wednesday. A bit more on Wednesday means a bit less on Thursday and more time with folks, or at least more time to recover from the drive. The driving ratio question also applies to Monday and Tuesday for the haul back.

Current Mood: eager

In a followup to this post of JugularJaguar I suggested a checklist for the tire trouble prone feline. Someone else expanded the list. So, keeping fairness, and of course an opportunity for humor, in mind here is where folks can suggest what I should have on my checklist. Suggest an item, or a bunch of items. Make them serious and sensible or utterly silly. Have fun!

Vakkotaur's Travel Checklist:

[ ] This checklist.

Current Mood: mischievous

Since moving to Fairmont I have gone back and visited the folks several times, usually around holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter). All those times I stayed in their house. That will change soon. This year my sister and her friend will be visiting for Thanksgiving (something rather unusual for them) and there is only so much space in the house. So this year I, along with Jay, will be staying a few miles away at motel. It's no big deal, really, considering all the motel stays for faire and such, but it will be different. This time it really will be visiting rather than living there again for a couple days. Or that's how it feels right now.

( Personality, numerically reduced )

Current Mood: blank