I Made It
The sysadmin sessions I'm interested in don't happen till tomorrow, but I wanted to drive in today, Sep 11, to make sure I could do it tomorrow during Boston's rush hour demolition derby. I live in the sticks of central Mass and, like most of the folks in the New England woods, don't visit the city of Boston much. I only come here when Missus Wife says I must.
Missus Wife knows the place well. I don't. So I tend to creep and stare, wander and halt, lurch and maybe hang inappropriate U-turns. Boston drivers love out-of-towners. They have special stickers they put on the side of their cars for each one they drive to tears. They also have stickers for pedestrians and motorcyclists they run down, kinda like the knotches on the handle of Old West pistols. OK, they don't, but they should.
I took Missus Wife's cute little yellow bug because, as she put it, it's already been conditioned for Boston driving. I think she did it to me on purpose. She's sitting in her office laughing right now. When I got off the Mass Pike (exit 22), I took a right and followed the signs toward Copley Square. Why? Because a dozen trucks, buses, SUV's, and other gigantic vehicles had been bearing down on my ass since the toll plaza and I was too askirred to do anything else.
The exit curved and doubled back against itself so many times I completely lost my bearings. When I emerged, I stumbled and lurched into the first parking garage I could find, the SUV's and taxis like hounds on my tail. I think it's called the Clarendon St. Garage. Knowing Boston like I don't, it's probably on Dartmouth St. or something. Anyway, I drove up the corkscrew ramp all the way to the 7th floor, trying not to hurl in the wife's car. You ever taken one of those things? If you do, don't eat breakfast first.
I took the elevator down, went the wrong way, asked for directions, got sent the other way, kept asking for directions, and wound up in a mall full of shops with the names of far-away cities painted on the windows: Milan, London, Paris. I felt for my wallet and moved it to my front pocket. Took out the 20's and stuffed 'em in my shoe. A security guard who pointed me toward the Sheraton glanced at my backpack. That's when I realized it was 9/11 again. 9/11 hit Boston hard since the airliner that hit the first tower left from Logan. With Phil on board. Phil was a good guy. He asked me to sign a book of mine he had just bought (All About Administering NIS+). Boston lost a lot of good people that day. And this town remembers.
After weaving through the endless corridors of the Mall of Riches I finally saw signs for the Sheraton. And then I began to spot the techies. It's funny how techies have a certain look. Then I saw the Sun signs. I left Silicon Valley in the early 90's, but I still get the warm fuzzies when I see the Sun sign.
Registration was easy. They gave me a big ol' badge with the schedule printed on the back. I thought that was cool. I also got a DVD with Open Solaris stuff. I figured I'd check out the Open Solaris track today. But first I had to walk into the Internet cafe and log on to this here SunRay. I wondered if I'd do that at a motorcycle show, head straight for the Internet Cafe. I doubt it, but it seems appropriate here. Besides, I'm early.
Well, I guess I'll walk around and see who/what I can find. More later.
Missus Wife knows the place well. I don't. So I tend to creep and stare, wander and halt, lurch and maybe hang inappropriate U-turns. Boston drivers love out-of-towners. They have special stickers they put on the side of their cars for each one they drive to tears. They also have stickers for pedestrians and motorcyclists they run down, kinda like the knotches on the handle of Old West pistols. OK, they don't, but they should.
I took Missus Wife's cute little yellow bug because, as she put it, it's already been conditioned for Boston driving. I think she did it to me on purpose. She's sitting in her office laughing right now. When I got off the Mass Pike (exit 22), I took a right and followed the signs toward Copley Square. Why? Because a dozen trucks, buses, SUV's, and other gigantic vehicles had been bearing down on my ass since the toll plaza and I was too askirred to do anything else.
The exit curved and doubled back against itself so many times I completely lost my bearings. When I emerged, I stumbled and lurched into the first parking garage I could find, the SUV's and taxis like hounds on my tail. I think it's called the Clarendon St. Garage. Knowing Boston like I don't, it's probably on Dartmouth St. or something. Anyway, I drove up the corkscrew ramp all the way to the 7th floor, trying not to hurl in the wife's car. You ever taken one of those things? If you do, don't eat breakfast first.
I took the elevator down, went the wrong way, asked for directions, got sent the other way, kept asking for directions, and wound up in a mall full of shops with the names of far-away cities painted on the windows: Milan, London, Paris. I felt for my wallet and moved it to my front pocket. Took out the 20's and stuffed 'em in my shoe. A security guard who pointed me toward the Sheraton glanced at my backpack. That's when I realized it was 9/11 again. 9/11 hit Boston hard since the airliner that hit the first tower left from Logan. With Phil on board. Phil was a good guy. He asked me to sign a book of mine he had just bought (All About Administering NIS+). Boston lost a lot of good people that day. And this town remembers.
After weaving through the endless corridors of the Mall of Riches I finally saw signs for the Sheraton. And then I began to spot the techies. It's funny how techies have a certain look. Then I saw the Sun signs. I left Silicon Valley in the early 90's, but I still get the warm fuzzies when I see the Sun sign.
Registration was easy. They gave me a big ol' badge with the schedule printed on the back. I thought that was cool. I also got a DVD with Open Solaris stuff. I figured I'd check out the Open Solaris track today. But first I had to walk into the Internet cafe and log on to this here SunRay. I wondered if I'd do that at a motorcycle show, head straight for the Internet Cafe. I doubt it, but it seems appropriate here. Besides, I'm early.
Well, I guess I'll walk around and see who/what I can find. More later.
