Archive for April, 2010

It’s time to take a break. Time to visit with friends Time to talk about what was an attention getter. Time to reflect about what is next. But most of all time to relax a little! Sure the next challenge is just around the corner. PES is moving on to 2012 and the next T&D Expo. The Organizing Committee has been busy on that while we were still planning to go to New Orleans. But right now, Karen is going to get some time with Tommy. They have time to visit with old friends like Rick Bush Editorial Director of T&D World magazine. It is the quiet before the storm, but it is also a time to enjoy friends and visit.

The curtain came down in New Orleans with a parade and a party - of course. It is a party town. PES, Tommy, and the Organizing Committee have wrapped up another successful T&D Expo! NOLA was fantastic both as a host city and a T&D Expo. It never ceases to amazes me, each Expo gets better and I have been coming to these events since the mid 1980s. I always think how can they top this? Each time they do. The NOLA Expo closed to flying oranges, a parade and the sight of Tommy in shorts and sandals. Put May 10th 2012 on your calendar for Orlando. I can’t wait to see how the Organizing Committee tops this Expo, but Florida and Orlando have the challenge.

I grew up in Florida and whenever friends left we would say - “Ya’ll come back now, ya hear!”

We made it home in one piece. We landed to find cold temperatures and snow covering the mountains - spring time in the Rockies. This was a shock to the body after a week in warm NOLA. But, it is good to get home. We got our green chili fix and have been catching up with mail, e-mail, and family. The perfect end to a perfect trip.

Funny we spend months planning for the PES T&D Expo and it is over in the blink of an eye. I guess if it wasn’t so exciting and stimulating, the time would drag by. No fear of that! I tried to see everything. I tried to visit every booth and attend super sessions. Those were the plans. It didn’t happen. I ran out of time and had so much left to see. Heck, I didn’t even make it to my own paper’s presentation. I am so glad I have such a good friend as the co-author. Joe Rostron told me to take care of my blogging business and he would do the paper. That is a friend.

The 2010 Expo is in the books. It was bigger and better than any previous Expo, but Tommy Mayne and his team never sit on their laurels. They are already in full flight for Orlando. Wow, Orlando! Imagine - Disney World, Universal, Sea World… I can’t wait for the companion tours. I’m going to try to convince Pam we need a full week before the Expo. If the Exhibit Hall grows as much for 2012 as it did for 2010, I’m going to see if I can use inline skates or maybe get a Segway. That would help cover the place faster.

The past is gone and the future isn’t here yet. So, I will concentrate on today. This is a very special day. I met my lovely bride 35 years ago tonight! We have some special plans in place and I had better wrap this up or I’ll be in big trouble. I hope you all enjoyed the 2010 Expo as much as I did. I hope you all got as much out of it as I did. And, I hope your feet aren’t as sore as mine are. Happy Trails!!

After the grand opening, the band continued marching about the exhibit hall. They played and danced from one end of the floor to the other. I think this was one of the happiest exhibit halls I have ever seen. New Orleans you know how to have fun.

The parade led folks into the exhibit hall and down the center aisle. The crowd moved fast, faster than the band. These people had studied the floor plan and took off running as soon as they could get past security. They wanted to be first at the booth that had their focus. It is great to see such enthusiasm!

It is almost 10am on Tuesday morning - bosses do you know where your engineers are? People are registering while others mill about in front of the hall doors. Only the exhibitors are allowed past security The attendees are ready to get into the Expo.

It worked last night, but is it still working? I heard that question more than once. The equipment on display is pretty complex and it is a good idea to have a run through one more test to make sure everything is working and everyone understands how to show it off. Did you ever think about the preparation that goes into the Expo? I didn’t until I started to write the show blog. Chicago really opened my eyes. New Orleans reinforced that.

I could have spent hours doing this, but I think you get the feeling. Everyone is excited. They have worked hard and now it is time to show off the product and meet new friends.

This was the scene on Tuesday morning before the doors opened. The exhibitors had worked for days (many 4 or 5 days) prior to opening the Expo. Now they were doing last minute things to make the booths look better.

I tried to keep the videos small in size and short in length. I have one more of these that will also be posted.

After my initial video work, I know I am not Cecil B. deWolf! I have a new found respect for those producing movies, documentaries, and other types of videos. I am truly sorry you all are having to journey with me on the learning curve. I did practice before the Expo, but there is nothing like doing it for real. I am so thankful you all know I am a nerd engineer (the photo is more of my natural habitat), but I will improve by time we get to Orlando. This has added a whole new venue for me and the blog.

I have just finished uploading my videos to the blog site. As soon as they have been processed, I’ll get them posted. I am going to go out and get my own flip camera. Doug Fix a great friend loaned me his for the Expo - what a trusting soul. I am also going to get some video editing software. What you see is what I saw. I would like to be able to cut and splice. It would improve the video. Thank you PES for giving me this fun assignment.