First, I would like to take about twenty three seconds to sit back and breathe. Slowly remember all of the details surrounding my recent trip to Vancouver, B.C. The modest trip into Canada for Web Directions North brought many trials and tribulations as well as moments of pure happiness. Overall, I would say the trip was okay in terms of enjoyment, however for some reason, I feel you want the full story.

So it begins..

The stress and anxiety kicked in prior to ever departing home. As soon as I visited the United ticket counter I was informed that my flight had been delayed. Upon realizing this delay was going to cause me to miss my subsiquent conneting flights; I was asked if I was willing to rebook on another carrier. Immediately following this question, I responded “Yes! Yes!” I was desperate to get to Vancouver on time to attend what I felt, at the time, was to be one of the greatest speaking conferences ever!

Little did I know, American Airlines was not going to provide any support or miraculous efforts in getting me to Vancouver on time. Andy, the United ticket agent pecked away at his ancient Unix console and came up with the following solution. I was to leave home and head for Denver, Colorado. Upon arriving in Colorado, I would take a flight to Seattle, Washington and then into Vancouver.

I didn’t mind the additional leg in the trip; as long as I made it on time. Originally, I would land in Vancouver at 6:21pm and everything would be great. With the additional leg, I was pushing more towards 10:00pm. Yet, throughout all the crazy notions and changes, I was fine with the adjustments to my itemaries. I was more concerned with my travel cabin and upgrade than anything else. Because of the booking method, I would lose my upgrade if I didn’t use it. Therefore, Andy, being the uber nice guy he is, rebooked my flight with Alaska Airlines (Horizon) and upgraded me to First Class on the additional leg of my flight as well. No problems right? I would be flying comfortably and hopefully intoxicated for the majority of my adventure.

Upon arriving in Denver I was very upset. My flight had been pushed back tremendously which was most likely going to cause me to miss my departure in Seattle. No worries, Jennifer, the kind gate agent for Alaska airlines informed me that the departing flight would have roughly fifteen minutes before it left the gate when I arrived in Seattle. Therefore, the gate agents would notice my arriving flight is a little late and that I should still be able to board. She said, especially for First Class, full-fare customers, we’ll do anything.

This made me feel great. I was now one of those “We’ll do anything for you!” customers. I thought she was slightly blowing hot air up my caboose, but I didn’t question her intentions. Upon finding out what was about to happen, I ventured off to have a few cervesas (Pacifico to be exact) and talk to my girlfriend. Kimberly (yeah baby yeah!) had been very patient with me the entire evening, listening to me rant and vent about the airlines and the gross amount of delays put into my schedule. She is uber great at listening to me whine about stupid stuff and for that I am thankful.

Get me out of Denver!

Finally, I left Denver. After sitting at the gate for forty-five more minutes, we taxied off the gate and to the runway. I was pretty much positive I was going to miss my connection to Vancouver, B.C. I sat next to a technology consultant who was in her fifties (I think?) and was very nice. We exchanged stories of brilliant activities and technology mis-haps.

I realized, despite the fact I was going to miss my connection completely, be stuck in Seattle and have no where to stay, I was positive I could make the best of it. I exited the plane upon landing in Seattle and spent a bit of time thinking about what I was going to do. I visited the United customer service counter who informed me they could not help me at all. The Alaska Airlines customer service told me the same thing. I walked to Baggage to pickup my bags and see what all could be done there; nothing!

I walked up stairs to see about getting rebooked for the earliest flight out, the following day, once again; nothing. However, the ticket agent, who’s name was Guinavien (sp?) was extremely polite. She looked up my itemary and noticed how horrible of a day I had been having and offered up something really wonderful. She found me a rental car in the Airport with Avis that had B.C. plates. This would allow me to legally drive across the border into Canada, unlike any normal rental car. I was told that you can’t just drive a rental across the border because of Canadian laws, policies of the provider etc. I was very happy this alternate transporation was located.

It goes without saying, I was very thankful! The ticket agents had called around to all the major airlines, including some private airlines about getting me into Vancouver. They made me feel great by going to such measures to get me to my destination on time. They called ground transporation providers to see if anyone would be able to service me to Vancouver, none of which could. They did alot to get me alot, I appreciated it greatly!

I am calm! Seriously!

I walked back down stairs to the baggage claim office to find out if my bags had been located. By the way, the time was now 1:30AM (-8 GMT) PST. I was extremely exhausted from a full day of travel and beginning to get frustrated from all the crazy remarks and excuses I had heard all day. I was resting against the baggage claim when one of the claim representitives walked up to me and said, “Sir, calm down, we will find your bags shortly!” I was startled. I was calm, I hadn’t raised my voice, a limb or a finger against these people all day. I knew they would do what they could do and I expected nothing more. However, I was really being treated wonderfully so I wasn’t going to complain (Karma can be hateful!). I was given two coupons for Starbucks in the airport. Only problem, it was inside the terminal and I was outside of it. No worries, no worries, I ignored this fact and hung out.

Eventually (a hour later) I was given my bags. I walked to Avis and grabbed my car and begun the “3 hour” journey into Canada. The fog that night, urgh, early morning, was extremely thick and nasty. The weather was depressing and there were nearly no other cards on the road with me. I decided to talk to Kimberly the entire drive. She literally stayed awake and talked to me the entire night! I drove and drove and drove and finally came up to a little gate into Canada. I-5 from Seattle into Vancouver, is very very boring. At night you can’t see anything, lights were dim because of the fog, weather warm but humid and I was already droggy from the travel before.

I arrived in Vancouver, B.C. about 6AM and I was so exhausted! I arrived at the hotel check-in desk to find my hotel room has been cancelled because of a no-call, no-show despite the fact it was paid in full months in advance. I was irritated once again, begun the explanation and the hotel employee handed me two room keys to a new room, which turned out to be nicer than I anticipated. Once again, grateful!

As for the conference

Web Directions North was definitely an experience. I was extremely let-down when I determined I was not going to learn anything new and exiting at this conference. I was however, happy that I met some very great people and got to learn a few things about some very ugly, arrogant and disrespectful people. Let’s just say that my so-called “inspiration” to visit Web Directions North was a single-individual who I felt was a great leader in our industry, turns-out he’s a fool. A mis-hap all on his own. So instead of calling the conference, Bull-shit, Adam Wiggal and myself call it DS!

The presentation slides are available for anyone who wants to download them. I also have a crap-ton of audio recorded that I need to export and upload. I will, some-day.

The conference taught me a lot of nothing, except how to be negative about something I am so passionately interested in and happy about. Therefore, I will stop now.

The real people, rocked!

As far as real people, I met a bunch! Adam and Sage Wiggall, a husband and wife package that came to the conference, ended up being my “best-friends” at the conference. We all hung out, drank and were merry. They were great to hang out with and I am pleased to have their company. Anita, Dave, and Mike were three other individuals that I met while I was at the conference.

We took photographs, drank beer, socialized and educated one another on the wonderful topics of design, development, security and bullshit.

to be continued..