I was in Orlando this week for the Business Objects 2005 User Conference. It was muggy there. I learned a lot, and had a great time as usual, except for a few small problems. I’m guessing that Wilma is to blame for them though. The two last sessions I had were held in a room that had such a strong mold-smell that I thought my head would explode!
I saw my old boss, who is now working for Business Objects, and got a chance to thank him for the opportunity that he basically threw me into back in 1998. If he hadn’t had more faith in me that I had (and sent me to a great client) my life would probably be a lot different than it is today.
The most fun part of the trip though, was the party, which took place at Universal Studios in Orlando. I rode both dragons on the Duelling Dragons coaster, and rode the Hulk roller coaster 4 times. The Spider-Man ride rocked! After scrambling my brain on the Hulk and having a few glasses of wine, I was ready to go, and started heading for the exit. I walked along the sidewalk sort of behind the crowd, in order to not bump into the people dancing and revelling. I walked by this guy and just happened to look up at his face… and it was a guy that I knew from my very first job back in NH in 1984, Tommy Oliver! (That’s not his real name, but that’s what I called him. He called me Rhonda Jo!) What a bizarre coincidence that he was working there as an event coordinator and I was there attending the event. And dammit, he looks just like he did when we were in high school, all tan and cute and with bright white teeth. I don’t look much like I used to… I think he had to look at my name tag to recognize me. That was pretty amazing, and made a great party even better.
Naturally, I didn’t take my camera, which I did bring to Florida, to the party. What a maroon!