Well, howdy there internet people and those dodging hurricanes!
It's Troy again.
Today was the last day of the author convention. My brain is frazzled. My heart is full from chatting with friends.
With one exception.
We do a lot of networking at these events. Mostly, we're like-minded entrepreneurs working to build our brands, but never at the expense of another brand. A rising tide lifts all, that sort of thing.
But at lunch, had a couple of sci fi authors come along. We'd never met them, sure. We're a happy group.
I was sitting catty-corner across from my retired full-bird colonel USMC friend. Eight of us total at the table. The four at the other end, having a wonderful chatty conversation.
After a couple of simple things, one of the new guys looks at the Col (Ret) and asks about the war in Europe.
Ask a retired colonel his opinion, and you'll get it. Polite, and non-denominational. He and I had an interesting chat about the subject. I knew he was much more experienced than I on such topics. I shut up and listened.
Not this guy. He argued. Not just argued, he had a ready slam of an answer for anything. There wasn't a give and take, listen then respond. Acknowledge good points or anything.
I'll avoid the specifics, but after about 15 minutes Col (ret) had enough. I suspect he was so frustrated he wanted to pound his head against the wall. Instead, Col took his ball cap (with USMC and his last command unit embroidered) off held it in front of his face trying to throw up some visual protection. Anything to create a barrier. He thrust a hand out, palm forward. "NO MORE!" trying to make the guy stop his incessant tirade. That was after repeated attempts by both of us to change the subject.
After that, dude tried to shift to the legal woes of certain past politicians. Again, a one-sided conversation that would brook no disagreement.
I tuned him out, and we started a cross-table conversation that political guy kept trying to interrupt. I finally distracted him by revealing I knew a celebrity contestant from Survivor, and shared some of the behind-the-scenes info my friend has talked about.
We did finally get him to stop, but it was grueling, and barely hanging on to the label "polite conversation." Conversations of such topics should be two-sided, with the understanding that we can disagree politely. That never happened. When he effectively called me a racist for not agreeing with him (he is not a minority)... but then backpedaled as I called him on it...
Yeah...
Fortunately, we had the big beach blowout tonight. We found plenty of friends to fill our table. Had a good meal with great conversation. Everyone else headed in to experience Karaoke. I took a pass to come catch up on the internet.
I leave the hotel on the 9:30 shuttle. Arrive home about 5p. Looking forward to pizza with the wife.
Here's a little cheesecake for you
For lunch today, we ate at a Cajun place in Lafayette LA that was damn good. Both places were super loud though, amplified by my hearing aids. They both had live music and several large parties, who were drinking heavily. Then tonight, some of the staff of at least 14 folks, sang Happy Birthday twice with all of the attendees, at close range to me.
