Atlanta

[Thumper]

The Kid was selected to attend the Student Diversity Leadership Conference in Atlanta this week. She flies down this afternoon and returns Saturday evening. It will be only the second time she has flown "alone" although she is actually going down with a few of her classmates and 3 members of her school's faculty and staff. I've perused the groups website but haven't gotten in depth of exactly what they'll be doing. The workshops center on social justice, interpersonal relationships, and fostering communication skills. I know she had to apply to go to this and she is very excited about going.

She has gotten many great opportunities at her school and most conclude in the letter to Mrs. T and I, "Your account will be billed." So be it. But this time between the organization itself and her school, this trip is all expenses paid!

[SciFiFisher]

Awesome opportunity for the kid. It is a good thing that she is getting to see that the world is bigger than her little corner of it.

[SciFi Chick]

The words "all expenses paid" give me warm fuzzies, no matter who they're for.

[Thumper]

Yeah, that's nice. As a bonus (for me), she was laying out her stuff to pack. Her and Mrs. T had stopped on the way home to pick up some items and snacks. I had as well. And I set them next to her suitcase. She stops and says, "I am so loved."

If I'd have known that a bag of Gummi Sour Octopi was all it took to get a positive response from her, I'd have done it years ago.

[SciFi Chick]

It's all about timing.

[geonuc]

She'll be at the Georgia World Congress Center, which is downtown. Nearby are CNN and the Georgia Aquarium if she wants some extracurricular activities.

[Thumper]

She actually visited that area as a toddler. Mrs. T's conference was there at the convention center. The Kid and I flew down later for a long weekend. We stayed at the CNN Omni. I remember we made it across the way to a children's museum, and on the last night, we all went to Disney on Ice, (Monsters Inc. version). Her favorite parts were swimming in the hotel pool and hanging out in empty conference rooms pretending to hold sessions, "like Mommy."

I looked at the conference program and it is insane. They're busy from 7:00am-10:00pm today and tomorrow. Most adult conference attendees I've witnessed would revolt and burn the place down with hours like that. I'm hoping they've built in some chill time during the days. But I don't think there will be much allowance for off site activities.

[Rommie]

She actually visited that area as a toddler. Mrs. T's conference was there at the convention center. The Kid and I flew down later for a long weekend. We stayed at the CNN Omni. I remember we made it across the way to a children's museum, and on the last night, we all went to Disney on Ice, (Monsters Inc. version). Her favorite parts were swimming in the hotel pool and hanging out in empty conference rooms pretending to hold sessions, "like Mommy."

I looked at the conference program and it is insane. They're busy from 7:00am-10:00pm today and tomorrow. Most adult conference attendees I've witnessed would revolt and burn the place down with hours like that. I'm hoping they've built in some chill time during the days. But I don't think there will be much allowance for off site activities.

You deliberately over-stuff programs when teenagers are involved for good reason, especially when there are overnights involved. Believe me, I know!

[Thumper]

I was kind of thinking that. They have sessions that go to dinner, conference dinner activities, then conference after dinner workshops. Then released to their chaperones at 10:00, hotel curfew 11:00 tonight, midnight tomorrow.

Keep 'em busy, keep 'em tired, keep 'em corralled in the same place...

[Rommie]

Yeah. I remember in astronomy camp one of our reviews last year said "the counselors should let us sleep more." How about no.

The funny thing btw is despite that schedule I guarantee you they'll still be up to 1am at least!

[Thumper]

The funny thing btw is despite that schedule I guarantee you they'll still be up to 1am at least!

That's a normal bed time for The Kid. She's often up later than me.

[Swift]

As a bonus (for me), she was laying out her stuff to pack. Her and Mrs. T had stopped on the way home to pick up some items and snacks. I had as well. And I set them next to her suitcase. She stops and says, "I am so loved."

Yes she is. And dad has ever right to be very proud.

[Thumper]

[code monkey]

what wonderful news!! you and mrs t should be very proud - of your daughter and of yourselves!

[Thumper]

We picked her up Saturday night at the airport and she didn't stop talking for about 2 hours.