The way it is said about putting faces with e-names, we put voices with the folks whom we know in SWC email. The one thing we didn't do was to walk barefoot on the beach like the guides (dogs) do. But, we did walk the beach from the far end (where our condo (motel room) was) to the Tiki Bar for lunch on Saturday. Except for one day with tremendous humidity, it was so pleasant each day. There had been a liquid sunshine shower before daybreak once, and if you slept till 7, you missed it. That one big thunderstorm that passed by during the Thursday morning workshop was the only one - unlike the daily passing showers that are normal for Florida. Did anyone see the dark cloud and hear the rumbles over Tampa that one afternoon (when aren't there dark clouds and rumbles over Tampa?) All ya gotta do is to look out the window, and when ya can SEE Sand Key clearly, ya know the air is lacking of humidity.
The question was asked during the Town Hall Meeting, "Which part of the Con did you enjoy the most?". Being one who likes to *laugh*, I enjoyed so much of the Con, and being one who likes to jitterbug and cha cha, I liked that part of the karaoke evening. And, to the Lovely Ladies who tore up the floor with me, a Great Big Thank You!
What up till now has been called the "workshops" were filled with laughs and information, and the participation by the SWC'ers was most heart-lifting. Yes'sirs and Yes'mams!
Isn't Denise just the greatest! Some of us in the Nuthouse (SWC-Network) remember her post about the self checkout register, and it compares to "Who's On First", without the straight man. At the SHHH Con in Sarasota (FLA) in February where Denise and Terry both took turns speaking as they did on Saturday morning at our Con, I was closer and more able to see Terry's body language, if you will, while he was behind Denise. I had to 'xplain that to Princess Linda, and that's not exactly easy. When ya hear "the self checkout register" in email via the voice of Rocco in JAWS, it's one thing, but when ya hear it as presented in Denise's own voice, it's even more hysterical! I had to go and "change the water" before Denise's presentation began because I knew it would have been a necessity once she got started. I wish it had been recorded.
As the Con was approaching, Princess Linda and I talked about what we most wanted to get from the virgin experience (our first time at a Con) - "together". Princess had attended a couple of NFB (National Federation of the Blind) and ACB (American Council of the Blind) Cons, and she says they were NOTHING like ours this week. What we wanted to do is to sit down and chat with fellow SWC'ers, get to know them, as many as we could. To a great extent we accomplished our goal, and were most enlightened and enjoyed the humorous moments of each one of you with whom we did get to know. We regret that we didn't have the opportunity to sit 'n' chat with every one, but there's always next year, as the Cubs keep saying.
We really enjoyed seeing those folks again whom we knew from the 2004 Big O Spring Fling and the SHHH Con in Sarasota!
As a result of the Town Hall Meeting, new things will come to be - as those meetings always do accomplish improvements when minds think together - as we did.
Whether it's by fate or ESP, those who made the choice to hold this Con at this facility did it right. All the employees we encountered were most pleasant and helpful.
As some of you know, our room that was originally assigned had inadequate air conditioning; it didn't cool the room on full power. They were most congenial about moving us to another room (next door) in which the A/C could freeze your _____ in high mode, and was most comfortable on medium. Furthermore, the second room was twice the size of the first.
We obtained the gizmo that attaches to the laptop to make it compatible with the facility's wireless system, but not being able to SEE what must be seen to make it function, Mr. Kimbrough spent overtime getting it to work for us. Overtime = he spent time beyond his normal end of shift.
Speaking of not being able to SEE, we had brought a case of 16 oz. Bottles of water, and brought the remnants home. We took with us one of those bottles with mouthwash. Starting to unpack, I put several bottles in the kitchen fridge. Guess what! Princess drinks those bottles of water. Say Waht
Say What R U laffing @?
Those 1 cup coffee makers are corporate decisions, however. The 4 cupper with the little carafe is bad enough, but ______ .
In "the Attitude of Gratitude", we wish to express our personal Thank Youss to Each and Every One who worked so hard to make this (our first) Con such a wonderful experience. Thank You All!
One more thing, in conclusion: "NEVER TOO OLD! To Rock 'n'n Roll!"