Wednesday Long Beach

We could sleep in and spend some time together before Deborah started her sessions. We slept well, both tired from driving or flying, and we did a lot of steps (just under 9,000 for me and more for Deborah). We found a reasonably priced breakfast at Cafe 301 in the building with the US Customs Service. I chatted with a few agents and thanked them for their work; Long Beach is a vital import port for the USA.

We walked back, and Deborah headed into the sessions. I headed to our room, 803 at the Hyatt Regency, and saw the cleaning woman working (she seemed to work long hours) and gave her a tip. She offered more coffee (you get only two pods and cups), but I had my own pods, Duncan Donut’s coffee, from my last trip, which I paid too much for and intended to drink. There, I grabbed my laptop and headed downstairs to write the blog. I sat in a comfortable bench seat with a table and wrote. I was surrounded by groups and individuals, all wearing the convention badge. I wrote for a few hours.

Deborah walked past me as she was in full convention mode (I have been there myself–you focus on what is next) and rested in the room. I met her there when I finished the blog and put away the laptop. We walked back down together, and she grabbed a drink and then headed back (walking past me).

I walked again to the Rainbow Harbor and tried Chilli’s for lunch. The food was OK, with me having the appetizer special for lunch. Devon was my waiter, and Devon shared with me she works full-time there and lives in the area with a couple of roommates to help share the high rent ($2,500-$3,000 a month from what I saw on the Internet). I had asked her if she lived here (yes) and how she could afford it. She works only one job. Deborah reminded me that labor shortages have increased wages to over $20 an hour (or 3,200+ monthly). I was happy to learn that you can make it in Long Beach waiting tables.

I walked from there to the lighthouse and around the harbor. I realized that the Queen Mary is not nearby. It is big. I found the aquarium and think we will do that over the weekend. Deborah calls, and I meet her at Waba Grill for her lunch. We also purchased a spray bottle (no rhinestones) for Deborah’s hair at Five Below (which I thought was an ice bar–wrong!).

I returned to the hotel and found my laptop again. The room was neat, and there was even extra coffee and cups. “Excellent” (in Mr. Burns’ voice). I took the laptop down to the pool area and sat in the sun (having changed my sweater vest and business shirt for a T-shirt). Then, I sat in the hot sun and wrote. I am using Scrivener to write a new story about Brass, a wizard in my new fantasy world. I am still working on the characters and a conflict for Brass to resolve. I added a few characters and updated a few items. I am starting with the conflict definition. My mind creates a character, but the details are not formed until I write about them. I also add new things that need to be expanded and explored as an aside but not necessarily explored in the story.

I am using the software as this will likely be a longer story, and I will need something to help organize my Fantasy setting and thinking. Fantasy setting means creating worlds, magic systems, and even Gods and religions. You often echo your own times.

Deborah finds me at the pool at the end of her sessions. She had dinner plans at a most excellent Middle Eastern place, Ammatolí. Deborah has a great meal with some folks she knows. I head to the Irish place across from the convention center.

There, I get one of the last chairs at the bar and sit next to a guy who tells me he is Mexican. He is there to get paid but finds his check short. Some hours got lost. He was offered a few beers to help reduce the string. I talked to him for a while and even gave him my business card. We agreed that it seemed like an honest mistake, but he should find work elsewhere if it happens again. He is a cook, and I am sure he can find work in Long Beach.

I have a few Harp beers and texted Clint (he married Susie’s cousin and is an ‘outlaw’ like me in the Hill and Guild family) and Barb (Susie’s sister) that I was thinking of them (we often met in Irish places). I have the Scotch Egg and have tasted it for a long time (while it is good, it will not be partaken of again).

Deborah and I meet at the pub and then return to the hotel. We get an early start and soon sleep early (14,000+ steps for Deborah and 10,000+ for me).

Thanks for reading!