Chicago. Day 0.5 - Day 1.0

So there we are, standing on the sidewalk in front of the hotel, going through the mental list of other people that might've hit town already. Made a few phone calls, one friend was up in her hotel room, but was going to come down to meet us, others were still arriving.

Decided a nosh was in order, so walked up a block or so to some diner and got lunch. Sitting near the window, spotted another friend walking by, the others ran after him, I paid the check and collected their stuff left behind in their haste.

Some ill-coordination later, we hike up to the other hotel where people are staying, commit wanton acts of pizza-wrangling, poorly-conceived voice mail requests, furniture rearrangement, elevator impatience, etc.

Gather up the group (I think there were about 7 of us at this point, and hoof it down to the planned meeting point.) Another person already there, with a table acquired. Brilliant.

Some hours go by with conversation, threats of violence against the skipping jukebox, more people show up, fun was had.

Group attrition begins as some decide to call it a night. Us stragglers keep sitting around for another hour or so, and a group of girls end up sitting at our table.

No matter how many times we explain the way we operate, they just won't believe that we do creative collaboration over the internet, and one that was flirting with me ends up getting the postorg URL written on a scrap of napkin (I think she was expecting a phone number. I'm a nerd that's got a girl, no random hookups for me, thankyouverymuch)

Stumbled back to the hotel, wandered off to our respective rooms, collapsed.

End day 1