I just got back from a business trip to Dallas. I was taking a class on QDX Integrator. But it wasn’t all business and no pleasure…click below to read more.
I arrived in Dallas Sunday evening and checked in to the Hotel Inter-Continental. It was the first time I had sayed in a luxury hotel. Nice place. Didn’t do much Sunday night other than scope the place out.
Monday morning I went to class after a nice breakfast buffet with Kirk. The classes were fairly interesting and I learned some cool things that I can do to better hack our interface engines at BJC. There were a wide variety of people taking the class. Met an English bloke and two people who came because they solely are responsible for implementing hospital interfaces using QDX Integrator for their entire country (Taiwan). I do not envy the headache they will have when it’s completed.
Monday, after class, Kirk and I relaxed and had a drink in the Bristol lounge of the hotel. Then we took a shuttle to the Galleria to get some dinner and walk around. I’ve never seen an ice skating rink in a mall before. Most impressive. I guess I’m easily amused. We got some excellent steak and cajun shrimp at an irish pub in the mall. I Spent the rest of the evening in the room watching TV and reading. Finished The Princess Bride and began reading Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard.
Tuesday Kirk and I went to Hooters for lunch. Those wings sure are hot and tasty. After class I had a few drinks in the lounge and read some more. Eventually went to my room and watched Original Sin. Can’t really recommend the movie unless you just want to see Angelina Jolie naked.
Wednesday for lunch I went to a sushi buffet with the British fellow and his friend and Kirk. All you can eat sushi and hibachi grill for 12 bucks. Mmmmm….
Wednesday night I was bored. I decided I had to do something so I went to Kempi’s Nightclub which was conveniently in the hotel. I was mostly bored there too, at first, but at least I had alcohol. When I arrived it was mostly older people than I. I must have been the youngest person there by 10 years. After an hour or two, however, things began to change. the younger crowd arrived and the older crowd went to bed or whatever they do at 11pm. There was a DJ and dancing but I just watched for a while. By midnight or so I was contemplating going to my room when out of the blue I feel a tap on my shoulder. I turn around and see a young woman standing in front of me. My brain did not (refused to?) register what she said to me so I asked her to repeat. She asked if I was with a “female.” I politely replied, “No, I’m here alone.” I explained I was from St. Louis and was in town on business. She asked if I would like to join her and her girlfriend at their table on the other side of the nightclub. She said they’d buy the rest of my drinks if I would come over and sit with them. I was stunned. Occasionally girls hit on me, but not all that often and they are never so obvious and I’ve certainly never been bribed to sit at a table with two attractive girls. I don’t remember what I said in reply to her but it must have at least appeared to be a yes because the next thing I knew she had my hand and was walking me across the club. She introduced me to her friend and then went to the bar to buy us drinks. While she was at the bar I talked to her friend. I learned she was from the Dominican Republic. She was also an actress. She only does commercials now but hopes that will change soon. The girl who brought me to their table came back with drinks and the three of us talked. I learned she was from LA. She was happy that the Lakers won the game and they saw me across the bar and thought I was “fine.” All I could think was, who are you and what have you done with reality? But I quickly dismissed that thought and kept chatting. We went out on the dance floor and busted some moves. They thought I was an impressive dancer. I pinched myself. Are they that drunk? Once again, I dismissed that thought and kept dancing. We partied until nearly 2am. At that point the girl from LA was completely drunk. She started kissing me and could barely stand so her friend thought it would be best to take her home. I went back to my room and was still awake so I watched Vanilla Sky. I didn’t think it was that great a movie.
Thursday after a half-day of class Kirk and I decided to take an early flight home. I got back in to St. Louis around 2:30pm….
Tags: Personal
