A rare non-science post! Written at the airport in the middle of the night and uploaded later.
I brought my laptop to the North Carolina Science Blogging conference, and I even remembered to bring the wireless card, but forgot that I hadn’t installed the wireless software after reinstalling Windows last month.
Because my laptop is my only computer and Very Important, I did drag it with me all weekend. Stupid, heavy thing. But now, now that I’m stuck at the airport for at least 12 hours and have to stay up all night, now I’m glad I have my stupid, heavy laptop with me.
Oh, the conference was wonderful. I met people whose blogs I read, people recognized me, I was interviewed by someone from a local newspaper, the speakers were great, the sessions led to lots of discussions, the company was superb, dinner was delicious. I’m running out of adjectives here.
It’s just the traveling part of it that isn’t really working out for me. The canceled flight wasn’t even the worst part:
After arriving in Raleigh on Friday with only about a 30 minute delay and, remarkably, all my luggage, I got a rental car, and found my way to the motel without a hitch. Once there, however, my credit card, which was still fine less than an hour ago at Budget Rent-a-Car, was rejected. The next morning I called my bank, and was told I had reached my limit after making a huge payment to monster.com on Friday. Okay, I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve been a bit spacey and tired this week, but I was sure I hadn’t paid several hundred dollars to a website I never visited and on a day I spent traveling.
After talking with many friendly and helpful RBC people at 8 AM, I managed to block the card from future fraudulent use, and pay the motel through an ingenious and complicated payment on my new, not yet existing, credit card by getting a credit limit extension and having actual people from the bank and motel talk to each other over the phone. Who needs computers? Apart from people stuck at RDU the entire night, that is.
Eva, I am so sorry about all those troubles!
On another note, I am so sorry I did not get to talk to you longer, MUCH longer! I really wanted to, but with another 170 people to attend to, I never managed to corner you somewhere for a longer chat.
Thank you so much for putting Hypothesis in my hands – it is great! I never took any of the swag myself (except for the new Nature) – I may be able to take another look/pick before we take the remaining stuff to local schools.
I hope our ways cross again in the near future. At least we got to meet each other in person after all this time of virtual friendship.
Oh, Eva, I had no idea you went through all that! I am so sorry! And so sorry about all the travel hassle! That’s terrible. I’m glad you are home now and hope you are rested up after the night of travel hell. It was wonderful to meet you and talk with you, I wish the conference could have been longer so we could have spent more time together.
Oh, speaking of which. I read your article about science blogging in Hypothesis a while ago and really enjoyed it. You have a nice writing style, easy to read but still concise and informative.
Some of the guys I work with are into science communication and interested in issues around dissemination of information but have somehow missed the whole blogging thing. I’m going to point them towards the article next time we discuss it to back up some of my points. I already showed one of them the doi system which made me look very smart
That happened to my credit card just before Christmas. RBC Visa security called me 3 times on a Saturday, I was at the hospital! So when I got back they asked me if I had spent upwards of $1,500 somewhere in Montreal. Well, no, I hadn’t, I was volunteering. So they cancelled my card just before Christmas and sent me another one. Good thing I have the American Express, it helped me with my Christmas shopping. I still don’t know where it was cloned, since I had the credit card with me. Funny it’s the same bank.
Sorry to read about your travel and banking woes. When things go wrong they seem to go very wrong.
It was great to meet you and hang out with you. Good luck with everything.
Same thing arrived to me ! It’s very frustrated, but you have the law on your side and you will recoved your money…
And it always happens when you’re travelling… too bad for you Eva.
Ariane
http://agencekiwi.com