I'm at a professional conference today; it's a three day conference on the topic of domestic violence. I've been looking forward to it, because it's three days that I don't have to be "up" and at my best for those who come see me, and I don't get any further behind in my paperwork. It also feels good to get back into the "theory" part of my job and do some thinking about why and how I do what I do, after months of using theories and techniques that happen to be on the tip of my tongue. It's a great way to make things fresh, and it's also required to keep up my license and domestic violence certification. So with this in mind I came to my first day of the conference bushy-tailed and ready to learn. Yay! I'm out of my office! Yay! I haven't seen Bob for a year! Hey! What a great idea!
This lasted, unfortunately, for all of about three hours, before the lethargy of sun deprivation and sitting on my tuccus set in. The poor presenters, bless their hearts, may have the latest in research and an effervescent personality going for them, but they're no match for the onset of the conference blahs. And for better or for worse, most of them have provided their PowerPoint notes so there's little motivation to take notes.
So what does one do? Let's see... We have to balance the need to fend off boredom without looking TOO unprofessional or disrupting the conference enjoyment of my peers. So that rules out pacing, listening to music, playing a video game on my iPod, reading a good book, humming to myself, cleaning out my ears really well, or lying down on the chairs for a nap. Here's what I came up with over the last 36 hours:
1) Check e-mail for the 16th time in the last 1/2 hour.
2) Stare intently at the carpet pattern until images emerge.
3) Check FaceBook, but BRIEFLY, because everyone for three rows behind you will instantly recognize the Facebook page with potential inward frowning.
4) Find Onion News Network videos (mute volume, quick!) for use in my Anthropology class.
5) While crossing leg, check bottom of pantleg for loose threads.
6) People watch. Imagine what their thoughts are. Create a funny story based on your ideas.
7) Look meaningfully at co-workers when other conference participants draw. out. their. tangential. comments. for. ever!
8) Play a game on my iPod anyway cause I just can't stand it anymore.
9) Wake up briefly and take a note so you can talk intelligently about the session with co-workers in the hall.
10) Write a blog entry!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
5 comments:
Ha! Hope some of the presentations will be a little more interesting than not...although the topic doesn't sound very cheery. And, maybe you'll be inspired to write a second blog post!
I'm glad #10 was there. Your humor and intelligence makes for a great read. I went to a conference only once, and I had FUN the whole time. Maybe because every presenter was obliged to share their most horrific ambulance story (EMS Conference). Plus one of the main presenters had me laughing with tears, EMS comic Steve Berry.
EMT conference. Awesome. Paul i have not attended any Professional conferences, but I've been to education Wekk which as much as all the topics I choose interest me, if I do more than a few classes a day I become comatose. blah.
What great ideas. Now maybe I'll stay awake in church next week!
So glad you blogged, and I hate that they provide the notes. I could just read them...like they're doing.
Post a Comment