Where's Will?

Why haven’t I been around in two days and why won’t I be around tomorrow? Because I am attending a three-day software quality ASS-urance – he, he, I said ASS he, he – and testing conference in downtown Baltimore. Today was day two. Here are some highlights and thoughts concerning the conference.

1. First thing in the morning of day one I ran into an old friend from our Science Fiction Convention days. I honestly didn’t expect to see any one I knew at the conference, but here was Smap! That’s her nickname and it’s an acronym for her full name. I think the last time we had actually seen and talked to each other was something like five or more years ago. There is a very bizarre synchronicity to this. We both – unknown to each other – signed up for all of the same classes over the entire three days! How weird is that. It was also weird that we were both in the Hyatt – a hotel we had attended many SicFi conventions at – and neither one of us was in a costume. We’ve been having a good time together and I am enjoying her company.
2. My daily commute to the conference is twenty-one miles one way and takes me twenty-five minutes. Mile wise that less than half of my commute to Reston and one-third the time. I can seriously get used to that. I really need a job closer to home. It is going to suck major donkey balls come Friday morning and afternoon when I resume my usual commute from hell.
3. The conference is not the bore-fest I had envisioned. I am actually learning a lot and it has been worthwhile. Smap has helped make it enjoyable.
4. The best thing about the exhibition room is the free premiums and the cute/hot chicks that are working the booths. Plus all the free sodas, coffee and snacks.
5. The free premiums are pretty standard, but there are a few cool ones. One booth is giving out Jolt Chewing Gum. Do you remember Jolt Cola? Same thing, but in gum form. One of the pens balances on top of a small pyramid stand and can be spun. As far as give-away pens go it’s pretty neat. The coolest of the free pens is not only a pen, but also a remote control for a micro radio controlled car that is stored in a clear bulb at the top of the pen. The little car actually works! Vroom!
6. There are only two exhibitors giving away free tee shirts, another standard give away item. One says, “Lisa knocked my socks off.” Lisa is an acronym for another suite of automating testing software. In case you care it stands for load bearing Internet-based simulator application. Now aren’t you glad that you know that? I didn’t think so. Their tee shirts were kinda creepy. They have this image of a freaky female mannequin head on them. Tomorrow I will try and get one just for the creep factor. If you are a software/technology geek then the funniest one of the two – for a security software company - reads “CYA” in very large letters. Below that, in small letters, it reads, “Cover Your Apps!” That’s almost as funny as the tee shirt I saw in a Simpsons episode that read, “C:\DOS\RUN. RUN DOS RUN”
7. The exhibitors are VERY stingy with the feebies. They actually scan your conference badge and verify that haven't given you a premium already.
8. Smap and I have been having lunch at the Light Street Pavilion of Harbor Place. Today it was so nice we walked around and I made photographs. Baltimore is much more interesting to photograph that Reston, VA. I'll post photos later in the week.
9. Did I mention how it is really going to suck major donkey balls come Friday? I did? Oh, I did.