The drive from Phoenix was reasonably uneventful if you don't mind a bunch of construction zones, absolutely wide-open desert, and a huge tourist attraction somebody built in the middle of the road!
On the other hand, the scenery was awesome, it was 280 miles, and I had cell service for most of it.
The tourist attraction is Hoover Dam... go figure that I didn't put 2 & 2 together and figure I would be driving over the dam to get here... dam!
Very cool and I did take a couple pictures (out the window of my truck) ... there was no way I was going to give up my spot in the long line of vehicles... as it was, it took me close to a half an hour to clear that hurdle!
The only other really interesting part was... aside from those that are living out in the boonies, when was the last time you were on a 2-lane road and had to look to pass? Wow... I grew up learning that, but it's probably been years since I had to do that!
So getting close to Vegas is no big trick, you can see the skyline when you enter Henerson... and the outskirts of Henerson South is a good 15 miles. One thing about entering Vegas, it's not overly obvious what exit to take to get to *everything*. I guessed at Las Vegas Avenue, and turned right instead of left. Had I turned left, I'd have been headed down the strip and eventually to the Venetian. But I ultimately found it.
Rolled in and got parked about 6:30 I guess... parking is free but the ceilings are *really* low... I didn't think my 3/4 ton was gonna fit through some of the spots
Registration on Sunday night was a breeze... glad I did it that way! Then over to get a T-shirt, my Ultimate Vista and the Expression Suite, in addition to other stuff not near as fun as those two!
Vista terminals everywhere... along all the hallways even.
The Sandbox/Lounge is cool.. there are tables set up with labs on the workstations to run.. you log in with your MIX info. Plus MS folks there to help. One level down is the Mash-up room and looked like there were a lot of conversations and planning getting going for the competition they're running for it.
Didn't knowingly see anyone I knew, and since I hadn't checked into my motel, I exited about 8pm. Getting out of there is a zoo... they pretty much share a light with the Mirage, so traffic is probably best done on foot. Wound my way out and back to the Econolodge... $110 for all 3 nights rather than $259/night 'special deal for you GI' and the Venetian!
The room is clean, it's been reasonably quiet, and the only downside is, as the desk clerk told me on the phone from home... yeah, there's wireless... 'try it... it might work' ... it didn't!
I'll see what I can do off-line.
Today's schedule:
Get over there before 7 so I can do some email stuff early. Meet up with Mike Harsh and anyone else that's interested in Silverlight at 9 outside the main room. Keynote this morning, and three Silverlight breakouts this afternoon: Silverlight and JavaScript first, then Silverlight and Expression Studio, then Silverlight, Expression Studio, and 'Longhorn'.
Finish the day off with a Western-region meeting with Tim and whoever else RSVP'd, and that will make a long day...
Oh, did I mention I left the mouse for the laptop at home?
posted @ Monday, April 30, 2007 9:30 AM