Dangerous conference liaisons

Went to Miami recently for a conference for folks who are in a travel-related industry (I am not, but for my job have reason to go to such events from time to time), and I had a pleasant-enough experience, but it did nothing to dispel the notion that people who work in the travel & hospitality industry go to conferences largely to get busy. Apparently, all sorts of licentiousness occurs (as I found at a conference I went to last year). Was at a table waiting for lunch and overheard a woman talking about a man whom another man she was chatting with knew. She told the guy that they had actually dated, and that it caused some sort of controversy at the time because both were married. She said it with a sort of nonchalance, and I could tell the guy worked to keep his surprise to a minimum so as not to display any strong emotions that may hint that he felt her actions to be morally questionable. This reminded me of another time when I was talking to someone who used to work in the cruise industry, and she told me that she slept with a guy who was married at a conference she went to, but said it as if it were on par with drunk-making-out with a stranger at a frat party. Basically, she said that she was young, and at these conferences people always hooked up, and that his wife probably had something going on the side too. Somehow I find that hard to believe.

I think what surprised me more than hearing these tales of infidelity was that these folks were so open about speaking about them to people whom they barely knew. I guess it shows that they either don’t care what people think of them, or assume that no one will be shocked by it. Not sure if that frankness is admirable or inappropriate.

Anyway, here’s a sign I’m getting old…have traveled to fun cities like Vegas and Miami for work in the past two months or so, but was in bed by midnight after doing work in my hotel rooms most of the day (with the exception of seeing an old friend in Miami). Had no desire to do the cities. In Vegas I gambled a total of $3 playing slots. (One of those dollars was in the airport to kill time). Then all I could think was that I could have used those three dollars to buy water and pizza Combos for the flight. Maybe I’ll do Vegas right if I ever go back, but I think I’m aging so quickly at this point that if I do go back all I’ll do is sit at the slots with buckets of quarters like so many senior citizens who gamble away their social security money, monopolizing several machines at a time and glaring at anyone who dares pull my lever. Then I’ll hit the buffet wearing my lobster bib before I go to the Celine Dion show. Sigh.

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RCNY Sighting: Man on subway platform with about 3-foot-tall Hulk Hogan action figure. Can’t tell if it’s a gift or if he is the Hulkamaniac.

Go see: Brokeback Mountain; Heath Ledger is heartbreaking. And in case you’re wondering, Jake's the catcher—but was there really any doubt?