So I have to catch you up on what’s been happening since Monday. Tuesday was pretty uneventful most of the day. Okay, I’ll be honest…I don’t remember what I did. Definitely looked around the exhibit hall a lot, signed up with HOVRS to get their new MVP device and a Purple Number, chatted with former co-workers, etc.
Tuesday night I was getting a serious case of nerves. So I decided to defy the coach’s order about no alcohol – 1 or 2 drinks would calm me down significantly without messing me up. Unless, that is, we’re talking Hand Grenades. They are a Bourbon Street drink reportedly designed for all the young people who come. Two of those will make me drunk. I woke up fine the next morning though, which was Wednesday.
Wednesday was Game Day, of course. We had an orientation and ice breaker. Both went fine. I was indeed the oldest contestant there…in fact I found out that the program listed me as 28! I’m not THAT old. Afterward, I did some geocaching. I had been having trouble with the software before (turned out to be user error) but I was good to go on Wednesday. I did the cache, which affords one an absolutely wonderful view of the city. I had the 9th ward pointed out to me, and even from 480ft up and a few miles away, you can really tell the difference between that and other areas. There just wasn’t anything identifiable as a building in the 9th ward. Unfortunately I was foolish enough to not wear sunblock at all (dammit) and I have a rather nasty sunburn as a result.
At 1pm we all went to the ballroom for the dry run. The first 2 hours we sat on our butts and didn’t do anything, because they were still messing with the A/V equipment, etc. Over the next 30 mins, we did about 10 mins worth of actual dry run stuff. Let me tell you, nobody was happy about that whole situation. After that we went to dinner, where the eggplant po’boy was much better than I expected. Then I took a shower, and then…it was time for the game. I’m going to write about that in another entry!
Afterward, there was a doofy reception that I didn’t enjoy at all. It was too crowded and hectic, though I did have a great conversation with some members of the Board of Trustees. I also made Bernard Bragg wait for the punch ladle…I was there before him, and I knew someone was waiting next to me, but I didn’t realize who it was! Oh well.
Next we went to Bourbon St for a party hosted by HOVRS. For safety reasons, admission was limited to 400, but with free food and open bar everybody wanted in – you had to have a wristband to enter. I went in, got a couple of drinks and some food, and decided it wasn’t my kind of party, so I left and gave my wristband to someone else. I’d rather party with friends.
So that’s what I did till about 4am. I only had a few drinks all night (including one Hand Grenade) so I didn’t get more than buzzed, really. I was happy though. Maybe I’ll drink more tonight just to be WOO WOO!! and stuff on Bourbon St.
This morning we had a 10am wrap-up meeting where we expressed our feedback on the game and production. It has been decided that math will come back in 2010, but it will focus on concepts rather than calculations.
This morning I ate breakfast with a couple of members of the RIT team, and it was great. Apparently the Gallaudet team wasn’t very sociable last time, and one of the guys I had breakfast with said he was really glad I’d asked to join them, because it made him feel better about Gallaudet. Score one for inter-team relations! After all, we’re all the same…big nerds who thrive on academic competition.
Afterwards I did some walking around, and spotted a shop cat in a window. I went in and asked to pet him, and he was friendly. His brother came over too, but he was more of a scaredy cat…stayed close to me but shied away when I reached out for him. I find kitties everywhere I go, I swear. Turkey, St. Maarten, Bermuda, Disneyland…I think the only place I have traveled without seeing a cat was Alaska.
Tonight is the Miss Deaf America pageant and I think we have a fancy dinner beforehand. Right now I will take a nap, but I will definitely post about the game itself a little later on. Oh, also, my stupid Blackberry camera is on the fritz again (same problem as before) so I have no pictures of kitties or anything else from today. Time to start carrying my regular camera.