![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rolanniSo, it's been a Exciting! Few! Days! here at the Cat Farm and Confusion Factory. Allow me to recap.
There were appointments with health care professionals in the beginning of the week for Steve; and in fact, he was at a doctor's appointment on Thursday when I decided to vacuum the house, which surely needed it. Got out the Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Animal Allergy vacuum (successor to the venerable Dyson Cyclone, I think it was called, which was not up to the contributions of three Maine Coon cats), started to vacuum the kitchen rug and -- thud. The brush bar stopped moving.
Said a few choice words. Unplugged the vacuum, went down the hall to the change bottle and got a nickle, a dime, and a quarter, and returned to the scene of the crime.
Now, the former Dyson could be completely disassembled in a matter of minutes using only a dime. The new Dyson, I quickly learned, is Far More Sophisticated. Instead of two big, gaumy plastic screws holding the brush assembly in place, there were four teensy, tiny, star screws. I searched for and eventually found the many-headed Philips screw driver, located a head small enough to do the job, and got to work. Three of the screws came out -- I won't say easily -- butt he fourth was in it for the ages, and wouldn't budge. Steve came home about then, and he couldn't budge it, either, so I repaired to the internet and got in touch with Dyson.
Several emails later, it was determined that, indeed, the machine needed to be repaired, and I should take it to the nearest UPS Store, where it would be boxed up and sent to Dyson at no cost to me. I was given a Repair Order Number.
I had physical therapy on Friday morning, so added the transport of the Dyson to UPS to the errand list.
As it happened, Steve elected to come with me on Friday, and it was he who escorted the Dyson to the UPS Store. The woman on the desk signed into the Dyson webpage, found the work order, took the machine, matched up the number in my email from Dyson, and -- that was it. Our refurbed machine ought to be back home in 7-10 days, and in the meantime, thank ghod, we still do have the Dyson Cyclone, else we'd be awash in cat fur.
So, that.
Today -- continuing the theme of excitement -- the mail included information for the 2018 National Carousel Association's Convention. Now, I have long wished to attend one of these conventions, which includes tours of private collections, visits to numerous carousels, and band organs, and whatnot, but -- they've been in places like Kansas, and Michigan, and California. And, also, inconveniently close to WorldCon.
This year's convention? Is in New England: Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts. The Convention Itself is from September 12 through September 16, but there's a pre-convention warm-up on September 11, which includes four "extra" carousels, for a Grand Total of 15 carousels, 2 museums, and a private collection.
This is clearly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and -- yeah, I'm gonna try to figure out a way to do this thing. Steve has allowed as how, though very cool, this is not something he thinks he wishes to partake of, so I'd be running solo. On the other hand, I can drive, or take a Greyhound, to the Convention Headquarters in Connecticut. There's also a vendor room, but I'm not sure I want to schlepp the carousel books with me, on the off-chance three people will want to buy a set.
We'd only be back from WorldCon about a week by the time I'd have to head out again. On the other hand, I wouldn't be scheduled for panels, or, yanno -- work -- at the Carousel Convention, and -- in theory, anyway -- there wouldn't be a short deadline breathing down our necks. . .
Yeah, I can do this.
I think.
Today's blog post title brought to you by the Beatles, Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da. Here's your link.
Carouselle Convention
Date: 2018-02-10 08:41 pm (UTC)So where can I meet you, and drive you to all of these places?
Please feel free to contact me... I think you might have my direct email around.
Let me know where the first city is, and I'll meet you there.
Re: Carouselle Convention
Date: 2018-02-10 09:31 pm (UTC)This is about a half hour from my house.
Let me know if you want a pick up at any of the train stations, Springfield MA or Hartford CT.
All of the rides are on included bus trips.... Or I think so.
I'd have to do some research for myself, i.e. I am not amember... Do I need to stay at the hotel?
This event is something I would like to do, even without you.
Re: Carouselle Convention
Date: 2018-02-12 12:03 am (UTC)You DO have to be a member of the National Carousel Association in order to take part in the convention. I'm not certain that you have to stay at the hotel, but you'd have to be on time to the lobby, or else you'll miss the bus.
There is, it says here, a banquet on Saturday night -- at the hotel, I'm assuming -- and evening roundtables on Thursday, September 13 and Friday, September 14).
Cost for the convention only (without the pre-convention warm-up tour of four carousels) is $295. Con-with-pre-con-warm-up is $375. Hotel room, is, naturally, extra. T-shirt costs $15.00. National Carousel Association Annual Membership is $50.
Re: Carouselle Convention
Date: 2018-02-12 03:04 pm (UTC)I do plan to attend. I've got a slew of email from the convention chair that I still need to read.
Again, let me know when/where you would like to be me.
Irene
Re: Carouselle Convention
Date: 2018-02-12 05:06 pm (UTC)Re: Carouselle Convention
Date: 2018-02-12 11:44 pm (UTC)Retired now.. Different money streams.
I'm pretty excited. I've only ridden one of the included carousels, but they are missing one of my favorites. I'd be willing to drive you there on the Sunday, which seems to be all day NCA meetings.
I'm actually finishing up my first draft of my tax forms.
Irene Harrison
From: rolanni - DW Comment [mailto:dw_null@dreamwidth.org] Sent: Monday, February 12, 2018 12:06 PM To: harrison.i@cox.net Subject: Re: Carouselle Convention [ rolanni - 1148141 ]
rolanni https://rolanni.dreamwidth.org/profile replied to a comment you left in a Dreamwidth entry https://rolanni.dreamwidth.org/1148141.html "Desmond takes a trolley to the jewellers store; buys a twenty carat golden ring". The comment they replied to was:
I have just purchased a membership in the convention. I do plan to attend. I've got a slew of email from the convention chair that I still need to read.
Again, let me know when/where you would like to be me.
Irene
The reply was:
Subject: Re: Carouselle Convention Boy, you're quick. I've still got to get my cash together...
From here you can:
Reply to this comment by replying to this email. Replies will be formatted using Markdown syntax. Your comment must appear before all other text at the top of the reply email. Do not change the reply-to address. It uses a secret address to identify you. Reset the secret address https://www.dreamwidth.org/manage/emailpost if you've accidentally shared it with anyone else.
Re: Carouselle Convention
Date: 2018-02-17 02:24 pm (UTC)Which is your favorite carousel? And I wonder why it got missed for the con.
Re: Carouselle Convention
Date: 2018-02-19 11:25 pm (UTC)I’ll arrange to pick you up from wherever you get to in a bus/train/plane.
I believe there is a train direct from Maine to New Haven CT. With a transfer you can get to Springfield MA, or Hartford, CT
Just take a map and poke a hole in it to Windsor CT (Rte 91), and anything in the circle that covers, New Haven and Springfield would be a possible pickup point.
Now, I’ve only ridden the Bushnell Park Carousel in Hartford CT. and the Lake Quassy Amusement Park carousels in CT.
My company picnic used to be at Quassy. When I asked the NCA conference chair why it wasn’t included, he stated that it was not a Traditional Wooden Carousel. Apparently at some point the park sold off the original animals. Now it has a great round house, lots of noise, lights and three rows of animals. But the animals are fiber-glass replacements. Still has enough of the horses that go up and down for me. In fact I'd be willing to add a drive to the park, if you are willing to miss the Sunday General meeting.
no subject
Date: 2018-02-15 01:40 pm (UTC)