Hey guys,

Hope all is well! I posted this on livejournal a couple of days ago and felt like posting it here as well. SIGGRAPH was awesome! Here is the run-down of everything that happened. It was a grand old time.

SUNDAY
I got to the airport about 9:30. My mom started crying at the security gate, you would think I'm 10 the way she acted. No, I'm 21 and this is the first time I've been on an airplane without a family member. She is freaking out. While in line the old lady behind me was talking about how full her bladder was. Apparently "I really have to pee, these people just don't realize how bad I have to pee. Literally my bladder is THIS big," is not tmi to some people. The flight was nice overall, except we hit a bit of turbulence right over a swamp. We all met at the hotel and waited for the majority of people to show up. We then went to check in at registration and go get something to eat. I split a sampler platter with Matt. Frog legs (yum!), gator, crab stuffed mushrooms, fried crab claws, and some other stuff I can't remember. We also split a piece of Turtle Cheesecake, AMAZING! Everyone got in the hot tub after we got back to the hotel. It wasn't that impressive to be honest, slightly small and not as hot as we would have liked. It was still really relaxing though, and that is what is important.

MONDAY
Got up at 6:30 to get ready. Had breakfast in the lounge, so happy we have access to that again. You have to love free breakfast. Scrambled eggs with cheese, sausage, oatmeal, yogurt, fruit, fluffy croissants. The first thing I went to was the talk on Benjamin Button, which was fascinating. It was all about how they did the aging of Brad Pitt in the movie. I was thinking while listening that someone from ILM might be in the room doing research for DH, because this is one of the options they are looking into for the epilogue. The keynote speaker was after, in the same room so we didn't have to move. For lunch we were all going to go for sushi, but it was closed so we walked over to the mall. I think the entire conference went there, it was absolutely packed. Leah, Amanda, and I ended up walking the entire length of the mall (which was not terribly impressive), outside, across the courtyard, around the fountain, and ate at this place called "Crazy Lobster." It was actually very tasty. I had crawfish. For $8 I got a huge plate with corn on the cob and boiled potatoes. Not too shabby. In the afternoon we went to a talk about the dynamics used in Bolt, Up, Fight Night Round 4, and Monsters vs. Aliens. Dinner consisted of the free appetizers at the lounge, mini quiches. Went to the animation theater then back to the lounge for some chocolate cheesecake. About 9:30 most of us headed to the SIGGRAPH Chapters Party. It was my first time being in a club and the first time I have been dancing since my high school prom. It was so much fun. Tried a gin & tonic and then had a Corona. Left around 12:30 because Converse are not the best shoes to dance in and my feet were killing me, not to mention I was dead tired. Walked back to the hotel with Matt and the rest of the group got back a half hour alter than us.

TUESDAY
Woke up at 6:30 again. Breakfast was about the same as yesterday, but there were some danishes. Have to love danishes. Exhibition hall opened at 9:30. While in line I talked to some people and got them excited about Kinematifest. I feel so accomplished with my networking, its improved so much since SIGGRAPH 07. When they let us in everyone made a mad dash to the PIXAR booth. I got my Up poster the first day, something I now don't have to worry about. Went to a booth that had this pain management device and while testing it out I was talking to the guy at the booth. He ended up giving me his poster because he has no use for it. Leah was quite happy about taht since I gave her the extra since she was working at the time as an SV. Went to todays keynote, Will Wright, and kept dozing off. I guess I didn't get enough sleep after the party last night. Had lunch with Leah on her break, hamburgers from the food court in the convention center. They were overpriced and just ok, nothing special. Scoped out the job fair and then went to the Disney room. Went back to the hotel and dropped off the swag I had accumulated during the morning and grabbed some of Leah's business cards to take back to her because she had ran out. Then went to a talk on the making of Terminator Salvation, Star Trek, and Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen. After the presentation we all met back at the hotel, had some food from the lounge, and headed down the the French Quarter for a walking tour. On the way we stopped to check the directions and a bird shit on my head. Not kidding. The tour was fun, but we ended up only on the hauntings one instead of the ghosts, hauntings, and vampires one. That was slightly disappointing, but it was still a really good time. We had beignets on the way back to the hotel, they were delicious and messy. Matt S ended up with powdered sugar all over his lap. Then he decided to make powdered sugar art on Leah's back. The rest of the walk back was uneventful, we stopped and got some beer at the minimart on the corner. We got a noise complaint call, that was lovely... Apparently a room of 9 people laughing at the same time and a normal volume at 1am annoys some people. I took a shower before I went to sleep and washed my hair three times before I was satisfied the bird poo was gone. Also turns out I have 4 blisters on my feet, three of which are on the same foot. Walking tomorrow will be fun. Oh, and at some point during the day my cd/dvd player/burner decided to stop working. I brought Sims 3 with me and it refuses to stay in the machine. I had to put it in one of the animation festival dvd cases I got. Hopefully this will be the repair to push my computer over the line of "not enough repairs" so I get a new one! *fingers crossed*

WEDNESDAY
Set the alarm for 6:30 again. Didn't actually get up until 10, therefore missing breakfast. Oh well. I think I desperately needed some extra sleep. Hung out in the hotel room until about noon. Went and got a PIXAR teapot, sat in line for an hour. It thing had 3D glasses this year; I still think the one from San Diego is the best out of the ones I've gotten. Started to go for lunch, decided against it half way there and turned around. Ended up eating a burger out of a napkin on the way to the ballroom for the Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs presentation. The movie looks awesome by the way. I can't wait to see it. After that we went to check out the studio. Matt and I left the rest of the group there to go get some more swag from the exhibition hall. After the hall closed we went and checked Texts From Last Night and FML why we waited for the rest of the group to meet up with us. We all went out to dinner at the Crazy Lobster again. Mindy treated us all to dinner, and it was amazing. Two GIANT buckets of Sea Food and 4 Po-Boys. Lobster, crab legs, oysters, crawfish, muscles, clams, shrimp. Mmmmm. On the way back we stopped by the Mini Mart and bought some alcohol. I love being 21, lol. I also found out I love TGI Friday's Mudslide. I'm going to have to buy some of it. I think I enjoyed it more than when I get it at the actual restaurant.

THURSDAY
We got up and waited in line for a 2nd PIXAR poster. After we got the posters I headed over to the Job Fair to talk to ILM. After I walked around to the other booths and collected some more swag. I stopped by the Microsoft booth and told them I thought the giant Master Chief action figure was awesome. The lady asked if she had scanned my badge yet and then did so I'd be entered to win. I said thanks, I'm a big Halo fan. The guy there then looked for a keychain for me, but when he discovered they were out he gave me a 5 disc complete Halo soundtrack with a dvd of the making of Halo Wars. That was awesome! Then I went to the animation festival until Leah finished her shift, from there we headed to the Image Movers Digital party. Originally I was not going to be able to go, it was invitation only. Tim, her fiance, was not able to go to the conference so she transfered the ticket to me. The party was amazing!!!! There were fancy h'orderves and wine. We met a guy named Rick who worked on A Christmas Carol. Then we went into a blow up movie theater to watch a 3D scene from the movie. After the screening we able to tour the train that is currently on tour throughout the country showing off props and models from the movie. I also exchanged business cards with the head of recruiting at IMD. Yay for networking!! After the party we met up with the others at the SIGGRAPH reception. To get to the reception we had to go through this warehouse of Mardi Gras floats, and that was pretty fun too.

FRIDAY
Friday was a lazy day. I slept in until 10. We went to lunch at Rock-n-Sake, a sushi place the hotel suggested. It was really good. I ordered White Fish, Eel, and Hawaiian Rolls. All good. I was planning on going to the Cloudy screening but learned it was only selected scenes and didn't want to spoil the movie for myself. Instead I went down to the French Quarter with Matt P and Chris to buy souvenirs. I spent so much money.... *sigh* I got my mom a shirt, my grandma some pralines, my dad some cigars, my uncle some beads, and some shot glasses. Went back to the hotel to pack until Leah, Matt S, and Zach finished with their SV duties then we all went down to Bourbon street to meet up with everyone else. I feel like I truly have the New Orleans experience now. I'd be scared to see what its like during Mardi Gras after seeing what its like every other night of the year. There was a woman who was pulling up her shirt and charging people money to squeeze her breasts, one guy yelled out "they're real!!" While I was down there I got a Hand Grenade, Blowjob (shot), and a Huge Ass Beer. Needless to say I was slightly drunk, but while in Rome or New Orleans rather.

SATURDAY
The lounge was closed so Amanda and I went down to Starbucks to get coffee and breakfast. On the way to the airport we saw an "army" of people in red dresses, most of which were men. It must have been some event or charity or something, but it was strange. Uneventful time at the airport and arrived back to St. Louis as scheduled. The heat was 102... welcome home. Darn weather.