Dayton

The big Dayton bash is over for another year, and I have had today to somewhat recuperate.  (I have been doing housework.)  Took advantage of the day off to get my brakes fixed, so I've killed two birds with one stone!

Here is the nutshell version of my Dayton Hamvention weekend:

Thursday--raced around after school to get ready to go.  Left at 4:30--for the first time on the same time as Dayton.  Near a rest area inside the Ohio border, the traffic slowed way down.  In short order, I could see why.  On the westbound side of I-70, there was a car in the middle of the passing lane, sideways.  The driver's side front quadrant of the car was destroyed.  Other vehicles had stopped and people were milling around on the pavement to help.  I saw no other wrecked vehicle, and the emergency vehicles hadn't arrived yet.  Traffic was rapidly backing up behind.  (The eastbound side was a gaper's block.  We moved, but slowly.  There was some debris on our side.)  At a glance, I noticed that there was no one being tended to on the ground, so the victim must still be in the car...but there was no one tending to anyone in the car.  In fact, those who had stopped to help were mostly milling around behind the car at a safe distance, waiting for the emergency vehicles (which were at least five minutes away, based on the ones I saw heading that way as I moved eastward).  That meant that the driver was still in that messed up car--and deceased.  (I learned later that the interstate was closed due to that accident, and that there had, indeed, been a fatality.)  There is something very sobering about passing a site where a human being lost his/her life just moments before in an instant of whatever it was that caused the accident.  I said a prayer and moved on....slowly.    

I was able to get in touch with "the gang" on simplex radio as I got close to Hara Arena to help set up the booth.  The booth was largely set up.  Some of the Chicago guys left for the University of Dayton dorms in order to check us all in.  Major Pat (SATERN's National Director and a good friend of mine) was at the arena waiting for me.  We were also looking for our Kansas forum speaker who wasn't answering radio calls nor her cell phone.  Where is June??

After awhile, we left for the U of D, and found out via simplex that June was at the dorm already.  We all scouted out a place to eat and hit the sack as soon as we could.

Friday:  We met up with all contingents for breakfast at Bob Evans before heading to the Arena.  There was a MAJOR stream of people at our booth virtually all day.  I did my meager hamfest shopping which kept me out of the booth much of the day.  At the end, Patrick and June and I went to a Chinese buffet where Pat tried out his Chinese on our waitress.  She was tickled!  June was in bed by 8:00.  Pat and I talked a little longer, then crashed.

Saturday:  Our SATERN forum was slated for 8:00 AM, with June as the main speaker.  Well!  That little lady went into Command Mode because she was nervous.  All Pat and I could do was obey!  Suffice it to say, we were on site on time.  June did a fine job.  (Her program blows me away!)  There were more people in attendance than any of us figured on, due to the hour.  I think we had 31 attendees.  Not bad!  We spent the rest of the day tending to the booth and talking to people who came by. 

Sunday:  June, who finally decided to sleep in, was awake and on the road to Kansas by 6:30!  Patrick and I packed the vehicles and endeavored to find the place to turn in our dorm keys.  That task took at least 30 minutes, and didn't happen until I had involved the Dayton police and the university security people!  By the time we got breakfast and got to the Arena, it was almost time to tear down the booth.  When that was done, we all departed to our various destinations.  Pat and I caravaned to Indy.  He stayed over at the Comfort Inn here before heading to Chicago this morning to see his former associate who is ill. 

Upon arrival at the homeplace, I'm afraid I wasn't a very good hostess to Major Pat.  I wanted to take advantage of the absence of grandchildren, who were up at their father's in Muncie.  While he lulled in front of the TV, I washed my bed linen and asked him to help me set up the bird bath/fountain that I had purchased days before.  (I'm glad we got that done.  Robin apparently talked about it all the way home.  It was up and running when they got here.)  I had an appointment to get my car's brakes fixed Monday (a personal day off from school).  Pat agreedto follow me to the repair place to drop the buggy off, then he retired to his motel room, probably dead tired. 

Monday (today):  Meg was up and took the children to day care.  I got up when they did and launched into silly little things like laundry and dishes.  (You can't tell that I did anything!)  When Meg came home for lunch, I took her back to work so I could have her car to go grocery shopping.  The mechanic called not long afterward to say that the car was ready.  I drove to Meg's work to pick her up, then went to get the car so she could go back to work.  It's so nice to have brakes again!!!!! 

The folks at Kelly Services are doing a tap dance trying to come up with arrangements to keep her after she gave them notice that she has accepted a job with IUPUI.  Unfortunately, they weren't able to come up with a firm enough offer...so Meg will start her new job the Monday after Memorial Day.  They came up with a nice raise but couldn't come up with benefits or promises to keep her locally.  (Other Kelly locations are on the north and east sides.  Nasty commutes.)  Her new job won't be a huge paycheck, but it does include benefits, paid time off, free tuition for coursework, and an informal work environment that doesn't require more clothes.  Plus, it isn't a big commute.  This has been a big boost to her morale. 

For the last two evenings, Robin and I have had late-night talks on the patio.  The topic of choice (hers) has been reptiles.  She's pretty sharp.  The first week of June, the day care gal will go on vacation for a week, so the children will be with me. We are trying to plan some fun things to do.  (God help me!)

I will be in court tomorrow over an old issue with my ex.  I don't expect him to show up.  That is a whole other post...

Now, to get done with the school year...