Dallas NAB Trip

9/20/06 (7:30am)

Today I’m leaving for a conference in Dallas. The NAB (National Association of Broadcast engineers) is a yearly conference held at a different place each year. Last year it was in Vegas, and Brent was the lucky one to go. He went with our president, Tim and had a nice time. This year I get to take the trip and see what it’s all about. I was supposed to go with my boss, George, and then two other guys I work with (John and Bill), but life happens and they couldn’t make it. So, George and I, and then one other gentleman from another radio station are going. I have nothing really to talk about with them so far (they’re talking about radio antenna’s and a bunch of “frequency” mumbo jumbo). I have no desire to become knowledgeable with stuff like that, even though I have to know a bit for my job. I like computers and working with them, and would like to stick with that for now. J

Anyway, I guess the NAB conference is a pretty amazing thing to go to if you are a radio/tv engineer. You get to see all the new technology coming out, talk to some pretty knowledgeable people in each booth, listen to some interesting schpeel’s concerning the new technology and where the industry is heading from our point of view.

I had to get up at 5:30am to get ready this morning. Mom was coming to our place so the kids wouldn’t have to get up really early. Man, that is such a nice thing for us and for the kids, having mom close by and being willing and able to help. Jaelyn had a really hard time going to bed last night. She was saying over and over that she didn’t want me to go, that she loved me so much and didn’t want me to go. I could only think to myself “Okay God, am I going to die and this is your way of trying to get ahold of me, or is this just typical?” I’m praying it’s just the typical, so we’ll see if I get home or not.

I brought the camera, so I plan to take some pictures of everything for the kids, but also for you kiddies out there in cyberland. Hopefully, there will be something of worth to take pictures of.

It’s a 3 ½ to 4 hr drive to Dallas, and we’re about 1 ½ hours into it, and I’ve already busted out the lappy to write a blog entry. I’m pumped about the trip. It’s nice to get out of the office for a sort of vacation, but I still don’t get to relax because I need to soak up as much as I can to see what, if any, of the new technology coming out is something we can use or not. Hopefully, they’ll have some freebies to give out too! BRING ON THE FREE SHIRTS!!!

The biggest thing I’m excited about, though, is hopefully finding a place I can go and just read the Word in some peace. The time will pass too fast for B and the kids to really miss me, I’m sure. B’s got to work today, and then has LIFE group tonight, so she’ll be busy.

Now George and Bob are finally talking about something I can listen to. George and John work for the Texans home games, dealing with all the wireless communications. I’m hoping to get to go to a few games this year to see how that all runs. Cool thing is that most weeks they can get all their work done a few hours before the game, then just enjoy the game. I wouldn’t mind seeing the Texans play, but football is better on tv, and I’d love to see how it all works, get to be on the field, maybe meet some players, and stuff like that. Maybe I can get Sage Rosenfels autograph for all my SuckClone fans back home (GO HAWKS!).

Well, George is needing to work on something on his laptop, so I’m going to have to drive soon, so I’ll sign off for now. (8:24am)

(11:22am)

We finally arrived in Dallas, and are on what feels like “The Hotel Strip”, since I only see hotels all around us. The NAB is at the Hilton, which is two buildings down from us. We’re staying at the Best Western. It’s a decent place. It’s got free wireless, and cable tv, so that’s good enough for me. My room isn’t ready yet, so I’m staying in George’s room while he is out at a meeting. We’re all going to meet at around 1pm to grab some lunch, then head out over to the conference. I’m feeling kind of sick, and I can’t tell if it’s this cold I’m battling, or if it’s motion-sickness from reading while in the big, bumpy van we were in on the way up here.

I’m gonna lay down for a bit, so I’ll write later. God bless.

E