We left Friday. We made it an early day from work and knocked off around noon. Picked up Nate from school and hit the road. Well, after stopping by the house to change clothes and grab a couple last minute things. By 1pm we were on the road. Then we remembered that the driving directions and some medicines were still sitting in that prominent place on the kitchen table where we wouldn't forget to grab them.
On the road again but still before 2pm, we manage to arrive around 6pm in the hotel room. Just in time to take part in the agenda of events. It kicked off with a great food show. WooHoo! We ended up with over 5 big shopping bags of snacks. Kind of like trick or treating for adults. We are talking good stuff too. Cans of various soda flavors, bags of chips, cookies, crackers and candy. It's gonna be a junk food weekend. Forget that hotel restaurant with the $15 breakfast and $60 dinners.
Besides the food, we had some real good seminars on issues that cover the program that I am in. The Business Enterprise Program for the Blind. Purveyors giving a plug for having us buy their machines and products. Political types talking about making sure that the State and Federal laws that provide for our program are kept alive and well and defended against. Showing mutual support and appreciation of each other. Atempts at getting benefits like retirement plans which left me more confused and disappointed than when we started.
I guess the idea is to band together to get a *group* plan. However that can't be done so we have to go it on our own. Which means that no group, no leverage on good rates. A big pool of money to get things started all chopped up into pieces too small to get a real plan together. *Sigh* Back to square one and no plan yet.
Due to an oversite on my part, we didn't pay for Banquet tickets. That's OK It is kind of the grand finale of the weekend and since we also have a baby shower to attend on Sunday evening, we decide to duck out a little early and make the return trip Saturday night. Hey, it isn't me driving and the wife says that she is up for it. So away we go. Well... after realizing that she didn't print out driving directions for the return trip and getting lost once...
Don't worry, we made it home OK or I wouldn't be writing this. Keep watching my site for more updates.