So here is a recap of my time at the annual ACA Conference (American Counseling Association). I apologize in advance for my CRAP-OLA photos. I apparently had the camera on the worst possible setting all weekend, and have to finally admit that even though my trusty digital camera has been by my side for over 4 years it really is about time to get a new one.
So Friday afternoon my good friend, and former colleague, Abby came to pick me up. We had a great time gabbing all the way down to Charlotte. We had no trouble finding the hotel (The Westin!) once we got there, but unfortunately we could only see the hotel, and couldn't actually get to it due to some crazy construction seriously surrounding the hotel on all four sides!
After a 20 minute detour, a scavenger hunt for the last available parking space in the deck, and a all-out-war-fight with a luggage dolly Abby and I found ourselves settled in our rooms (across from each other) on the sixteenth floor.
Gah, look at this awful tint in the photo view from my room...I hate you camera.
We then proceeded to go to the convention center across the street to pick up our horrendous tote bags and 20 pound conference guides.
Now, this conference wasn't cheap. In fact, it was rather over-priced. And I expected more out of my conference fee than a cheap-ass "tote" that looked more like a go-green reusuable grocery bag. I made sure to let everyone know my feelings regarding to how I felt jipped by this tote. And I also proceeded to leave it in the room the entire weekend, carrying around my really nice satchel from a previous conference, and totally got compliments on it the entire time. ACA? Not impressed.
Not wanting to join the conference crowd just yet Abby and I high-tailed it out of counselor-central and went to South Park to eat at PF Changs. YAY for an expense account!
After a glorious night in my own king sized bed...
I awoke to find that my shower had two shower heads and proceeded to take the best shower I've had in a looooooooong time.
And the bathroom was pretty nice too....
Overall I was very impressed by my accomodations at the Westin, and would definitely stay there again in my travels.
After a ridiculously over-priced breakfast Abby and I surrendered ourselves to a full day of conference activities. Sessions, lectures, expo, luncheon, blah, blah, blah.
I saw old professors, met up with an old friend from high school, and even realized another high school friend's dad was an accomplished writer and very respected counselor! I definitely made it a point to attend his lecture, which I thought was one of the best of the conference.
Exhausted and tired of heels, I flip-flopped it to dinner with Abby at Ruby Tuesday, and when we got back at 9pm, we snuck past the big live-music celebration and up to our rooms, calling it an early night!
Sunday morning we attended a division breakfast at 7:30am, and then headed off to another day of sessions before meeting up with some of our old grad school friends, Jennifer and Heather, for lunch (that's Abby on the far right).
After two rounds of icecream, later on in the afternoon we went to see Matt (our former colleague) give a presentation on the program we used to work for...
And finally I was able to free myself from the counselor madness and have dinner with Aunt Diane and Uncle Steve! I was so surprised to see a message that said "Good to see you Heather!" on my menu, and it was such a nice touch! We had such a great conversation, and I seriously think I had the best steak of my life :)
I came in right before 10pm that night, stopping by Abby's room to check our plans for the next day, and we both decided we missed our husbands and decided we'd check out early the next morning instead of attending any more sessions!
And so, I left Charlotte to find that the gamer had his very own weekend away from me, and filled it with lots of gaming with his best friend. I would have been shocked if it had been any other way.
And in other news...
1) Tim's brother is visiting us this week!
2) I am seriously tired of this upper 50s, low 60s weather. I want 70s sunshine and warmth!
3) Why does it have to rain the only weekend we plan to go to the beach?
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