Neat conference in Toronto

Hmmm, well, let’s see. I’m already taking a day off work for origins (nerd-fest in columbus, I admit to some trepidation) in july, and two days off for two friends’ wedding the following week.

There’s the international society for industrial ecology conference in Toronto from 6/17-6/20. Plane tickets look to be on the order of a little over $300 at this point, but the conference itself is the real kicker, $795 (canadian), with a $125 (us) membership, or $950 (canadian) without the membership. The US-canadian exchange rate these days, is about 1 for 1. (I think it’s $1.05 canadian to a US dollar. How long before that classic ratio is reversed, I wonder.)

Even with ‘s generous offer of lodging, I’m not sure I could justify it. I do miss me some toronto. Then there’s the three days of time off I’d be consuming. An extra half month’s worth of credit card debt repayment?

What am I hoping to get out of this? A job offer in toronto? =) This may not be the most efficient means of pursuing that goal. A bit of education? I could stay home and read the web-published papers that the interesting speakers have written. Networking with people who care about environmental issues and think about them from both scientific and social scientific perspectives? That’s really what it’s all about. Hmmm, must get business cards for my environmental nerdity.

No decisions yet. Need to check available time off, etc, etc.

Now time for my morning workout (4 times in the past week, woohoo!)

Green drinks tonight. God I wish I had a job that would pay me to go to these conferences.

You have already lost (but you can play again)

I feel like the evenings where I get home and wonder “Well, what do I do now?” are evenings where I have already lost. The most fun evenings are the ones where I know I’m going to do some particular fun thing, and I go do it without worrying about it.

Instead I come home, look in the fridge and think “Wait, do I want to eat yet? Shouldn’t I go to the gym? Or maybe I should see if anyone’s on WoW. Hmmm, I haven’t caught up with my LJ list recently…” etc, etc. Indecision paralysis is no fun. Besides, the gym should be an automatic habit. There should be no question, I should go, I should workout. It’s just a habit I’m not in yet.

There will be future repetitions of this game. Perhaps I will get better at it.

IML

It’s looking more and more like I won’t see any of International Mr Leather* (Chicago’s memorial day weekend ginormous homo male leather (and bear) convention, for those not in the know.)

I mean, I’ve been a multiple time gawker at Folsom, and a one time gawker at Dore alley. This is more convention and less street fair, but I’m still only marginally interested. This is my third time being in town for it I think, maybe 4th, but I don’t think so. I think I was in London this time last year. Or maybe Heidelberg. *shrug*

Stupid grocery delivery people dropping by my place last on their run. Teaches me not to pick the 5.5 hour delivery window.

* = Someone informed me, incorrectly, that it was international male leather. I don’t really care, but dude, check the website. Mister, not male.