Coast to Coast: Kier's San Francisco Trip

Submitted by kierduros on Mon, 04/19/2010 - 05:09

For most of the week, I'm in San Francisco for the 2010 DrupalCon.

This is my first time on the West Coast.

Since I'm going to be a bit busy (and, even on West Coast time, should be asleep now), here's a quick list of what's gone on so far.

Saturday, April 17

Attempt to sleep later than usual. Partially foiled by 9 a.m. phone call from an old friend.
Packing and prep done in time to toss everything in my Wayward Traveler's car so we can hit our normal Saturday night haunts.
3 a.m. (ish) = Crepe time! Good times and, strangely, bolts.
To the Airport by about 5 a.m.

Sunday, April 18

No problems with airport security.
Deaf athletics team from Wisconsin gives me college flashbacks with all the sign language going on.
Plane departs on time a little after 7 a.m.
See one other DC Drupal guy I know on the flight. He's sitting nowhere near me
Discover that the Listen app for my Droid does, indeed, require an internet connection to work, even though it says it downloaded the podcasts I was planning on listening to.
Touch down in Milwaukee, WI. No time to visit The Fonz, the Cunninghams, Laverne or Shirley... we're back in the air in less than an hour.
Doze off for at least an hour or so, podcast plain foiled, I fall back to MP3s, have to deal with the bulk of the person next to me constantly oozing over into my space (her equally large husband is on the aisle, they share Red Vines and Dots while sounding condescending about a good many things).
Finally land in San Francisco, luggage retrieved, mass transit to San Fran proper located, hotel check in, conference check in, wandering around a hunk of the city.
Lots of homeless people. Even more later at night, it seems. At least some are entreprenurial "Wanna buy a Maglite?" "Cigarettes, a dollar a piece... I've got acid, too."
Food for the first time since the crepes. Thai, some version of my normal Ka Prow the I order everywhere (with various spellings). They used ground beef... not what I'm used to, but tasty and priced sensibly.
Catch up with an old friend I haven't seen in a decade and a half or more. Meet his partner and some other people he knows. Full of awesome.
A little more night time wandering around the city on my way back. Offer photo tips to tourists (who, oddly, will apparently be in DC next week... what're the odds of that, huh?). See afore-mentioned enterprising street people.
Back at the hotel, catch up on some work I wanted to have done before I left, swear at how slow the hotel internet connection is (wireless B? That's the best you can do for a network? Really? And a pipe too narrow for how many geeks are going to be on this week).
Attempt to decide which sessions I'm going to tomorrow.
Now, finally, real sleep...