Wednesday, June 16, 2004
Chicago: Day 4
Today I woke up from an awful sleep with the worst roommate ever! Unfortunately golf outing attendees have to be paired up with roommates. Most people have a choice, but since I was a late invite - I had no choice. Initially I was offered a room at the Sheraton for all 4 nights... damn, I should have taken it! Besides being a single, it was also a more spacious room, and it's only 5 minutes away!
There was a breakfast this morning, but I didn't feel like going. So I got up, got ready, and headed out to Starbucks for some coffee. By the time I got back people were starting to wait for the trolly down to the navy pier. It was a beautiful day, so I decided to walk it instead (besides I had done the walk the day before.)
I got down to the Anita Dee II and waited as the other Waterfield people finally found the boat. As I sat there, I was picturing being stuck on a boat with over 150 other people that I had no interest in schmoozing with. But as I was starting to wander away, I saw a bunch of people from our office... so I made the last minute dash to board the ship.
The Anita Dee II was a nice 3 level boat. I'd imagine it could hold a few hundred people. The downstairs was a lounge area with large sectional couches, a baby grand piano, and a bar. The midlevel was a dining room with a bar and a hot buffet lunch setup. Then the top level was an open air deck where you could get a good view of the city.
The food was pretty good, and the cruise was enjoyable. Overall a decent way to kill a few hours of the day. Hell, especially since it was free!
So after the ship, I started walking back to the hotel, but then I changed my mind and hung around the navy pier for a few more hours. I found a couple guys playing their guitars and playing some oldies on stage. So I found a beer garden, got a few beers, a piece of pizza, and enjoyed the music and the view at the edge of Lake Michigan. Once again... a pretty good way to kill a few hours.
By the time I got back to the room, I was kind of tired (especially with the lack of sleep due to my snoring roommate.) He was there (back from golfing.) Both he and I just passed out on our beds. I got up in time to iron some clothes, take a shower, and just make it to the awards banquet just in time.
Wow, it was beautiful! The room had about 250 people seated just about to start dinner. I missed the cocktail hour (which is probably better off anyway.) The banquet room was set up with a balcony area overlooking the main room. Cocktails were upstairs with food downstairs. After a few words from our VP, the dinner began. Of course this food was amazing too (just like the rest of the week.) All the Phoenix people sat together in 2 separate tables.
The awards portion of the banquet took forever (with every award recipients mini-bio and facts.) Our group was getting restless and prayed that our Regional Manager was merciful and got through his awards quickly. Our group is the rowdiest of all the other offices/regions! Many times we were "shh-ed" - I think we were the drunkest too!
The awards banquet finally ended by like 9:30. Everyone headed back to their rooms and got ready for the after party at "Joe's Bar." At this point I was starting to get Waterfielded out, and was tired of drinking and tired of schmoozing.
I went up to the room and my roommate was watching the yankees - dbacks game. Pitiful... absolutely pitiful. Our teem just blows this year. I got into that game (god knows why the hell I bother) and started to get lazy. At this point I got changed and figured it was late enough that most people would be gone to the after party by now. As I went through the lobby, the guys from my office were standing right in the middle of the hotel entrance. Doh! I really don't feel like going.
I got a phone call so that was a decent excuse to get away and go for a walk. Starbucks was closed, but I found a cup of coffee elsewhere. So tonight I ended my night by smoking a cigar, drinking a cup of coffee, and talking to Barbara on the phone before going to bed. Yeah, that's enough for me. There's no way I'd make it till 4 am (time the after party ends!) ¶ 11:15 PM
There was a breakfast this morning, but I didn't feel like going. So I got up, got ready, and headed out to Starbucks for some coffee. By the time I got back people were starting to wait for the trolly down to the navy pier. It was a beautiful day, so I decided to walk it instead (besides I had done the walk the day before.)
I got down to the Anita Dee II and waited as the other Waterfield people finally found the boat. As I sat there, I was picturing being stuck on a boat with over 150 other people that I had no interest in schmoozing with. But as I was starting to wander away, I saw a bunch of people from our office... so I made the last minute dash to board the ship.
The Anita Dee II was a nice 3 level boat. I'd imagine it could hold a few hundred people. The downstairs was a lounge area with large sectional couches, a baby grand piano, and a bar. The midlevel was a dining room with a bar and a hot buffet lunch setup. Then the top level was an open air deck where you could get a good view of the city.
The food was pretty good, and the cruise was enjoyable. Overall a decent way to kill a few hours of the day. Hell, especially since it was free!
So after the ship, I started walking back to the hotel, but then I changed my mind and hung around the navy pier for a few more hours. I found a couple guys playing their guitars and playing some oldies on stage. So I found a beer garden, got a few beers, a piece of pizza, and enjoyed the music and the view at the edge of Lake Michigan. Once again... a pretty good way to kill a few hours.
By the time I got back to the room, I was kind of tired (especially with the lack of sleep due to my snoring roommate.) He was there (back from golfing.) Both he and I just passed out on our beds. I got up in time to iron some clothes, take a shower, and just make it to the awards banquet just in time.
Wow, it was beautiful! The room had about 250 people seated just about to start dinner. I missed the cocktail hour (which is probably better off anyway.) The banquet room was set up with a balcony area overlooking the main room. Cocktails were upstairs with food downstairs. After a few words from our VP, the dinner began. Of course this food was amazing too (just like the rest of the week.) All the Phoenix people sat together in 2 separate tables.
The awards portion of the banquet took forever (with every award recipients mini-bio and facts.) Our group was getting restless and prayed that our Regional Manager was merciful and got through his awards quickly. Our group is the rowdiest of all the other offices/regions! Many times we were "shh-ed" - I think we were the drunkest too!
The awards banquet finally ended by like 9:30. Everyone headed back to their rooms and got ready for the after party at "Joe's Bar." At this point I was starting to get Waterfielded out, and was tired of drinking and tired of schmoozing.
I went up to the room and my roommate was watching the yankees - dbacks game. Pitiful... absolutely pitiful. Our teem just blows this year. I got into that game (god knows why the hell I bother) and started to get lazy. At this point I got changed and figured it was late enough that most people would be gone to the after party by now. As I went through the lobby, the guys from my office were standing right in the middle of the hotel entrance. Doh! I really don't feel like going.
I got a phone call so that was a decent excuse to get away and go for a walk. Starbucks was closed, but I found a cup of coffee elsewhere. So tonight I ended my night by smoking a cigar, drinking a cup of coffee, and talking to Barbara on the phone before going to bed. Yeah, that's enough for me. There's no way I'd make it till 4 am (time the after party ends!) ¶ 11:15 PM
