Waldo County Technical Center - SkillsUSA: June 2010

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Saturday events

Saturday was the return trip day from Kansas City. Although the conference was officially over, there were still chances to get around town briefly during the morning. We packed up and left the hotel around 8:30 and drove around the city looking for anything that might be worth checking out. The first stop was to check out the amazingly massive TV tower that KCPT has on South Main below Crown Center. That turned into a general tour of the southern and western sides of town.

We started to get hungry enough to get more serious about stopping somewhere, drove back to town and headed north toward the airport to see what kinds of places there were. We ended up eating in Riverside at Deb's Diner, a place that definitely has local color. After packing away a pretty good breakfast, we checked out a truly massive fireworks tent sale that was going on next to the diner. Both of us drooled with envy at all the pyrotechnics they are allowed to have that we can't even get close to having in Maine.

It was time to gas up the car and start getting over to the airport so we continued on. After zipping through the car drop-off and taking a shuttle bus to the terminal, we went through security and I almost left my bag behind. The security people were freaking as much as I was because they found my bag outside the security check (where I had absentmindedly set it down) and thought it was abandoned.

On the way back, we changed flights at O'Hare in Chicago. Both flights were ahead of schedule so time flew by. It seemed strange to get back to ME after being in 90+ degree dry, sunny heat all week and returning to a dark, cool day here. On the other hand, it was really nice to see familiar things and get back home.

Hopefully the blog has been enjoyable for anyone who has followed along and maybe there will be one for 2011. Stay tuned!

Jon

Pics - Saturday

These pictures were all taken throughout Saturday as we left Kansas City and returned home. There's not much rhyme or reason, just some last minute fun.

Yes, this does seem pretty weird to be getting pictures of an antenna tower, but you'd have to see it to appreciate that it is big enough to have several houses underneath the base. Also, I'm a ham radio guy, so I think big towers are cool anyway.

The massive KCPT television tower

Getting ready to take off from Kansas City. Our plane was just about ready for the flight.

And we're off! The last views from KC.

Descending into Chicago. The skyscrapers in the Loop and Lake Michigan are visible to the top right side of the view.

Taking off from Chicago. The shoreline of Lake Michigan is visible in the distance.

Back in Maine! The descent down into Portland as we pass by the waterfront and Commercial Street. What a great trip.

Friday, June 25, 2010

Friday Events

Friday has come to a close and it was an interesting way to end the week. We started off with a tour of the city that we did on foot. There were unusual things to see along the way like the murals painted on the walls lining Cesar Chavez Boulevard, odd signs, unusual stores, trips to the top of the Hyatt and Westin hotels to get panoramic views of the city skyline and even checking out the immense railway yard. We also did some shopping for gifts and looked over the local items in the stores (I don't recall seeing much cinnamon flavored popcorn in ME). Before returning to the hotel we stopped to have the lunch special at Hereford House - a KC strip steak meal that was quite excellent.

The trip back in the early afternoon went well and we had a few leisurely hours to catch up on some visits with people online back home in ME. Soon enough, we had to get ready to leave for the arena and it had gotten quite hot while wearing the official clothing. Fortunately, Kemper Arena was well cooled and comfortable. The light show that was going on prior to the ceremony was also accompanied by extremely loud music - my ears are starting to recover. Once the ceremony started, everything moved along at a fast pace but it still took until nearly 9:00PM to finish up announcing all of the winners. ME did very well with four competition gold medals, two silvers and a bronze - quite an achievement. While Candon didn't place, he completed the competition fully and finished in 28th place for the secondary level competition.

When we returned to the hotel, students and advisors from ME met to have a cookout for the students and to present them with certificates for their participation in the contests. Tomorrow, we pack and get ready to leave so we can catch the plane flights back to ME! This will probably be the last of the posts until I return home and can publish any remaining thoughts and photos.

Pics - Friday PM

SkillsUSA's Skills Conference for 2010 has officially ended this evening. When we got back from the wandering walk around the city, we prepared for the closing ceremonies at 6:00PM. Many of the pictures show the events prior to the start of the ceremony, the ceremony itself, or the crowds leaving.

Candon at the hotel just prior to leaving for the closing ceremony at Kemper Arena.

Arrival at Kemper Arena.

The flood of redcoats begins to arrive at the Kemper Arena entrance.

The light show that played while we waited for the ceremony to begin.

View of the crowd starting to arrive.

More of the very bright light show before the ceremony.

More of the crowd filling in and watching the light show.

Maine's banner makes its way around the arena floor.

The opening displays at the start of the ceremony.

After the ceremony, people start to file out.

More of the crowd leaving Kemper Arena after the awards ceremony.

Pics - Friday AM

With the whole morning free for us to play and wander around the city, we did exactly that. We hopped different routes that the buses stopped and checked out whatever was there. Although they are more confusing to look at as a set, I think these pictures are cool for capturing the spirit of our travels on foot throughout the morning. We saw a lot of areas downtown and in the residential margins to the west.

Elevated tubeway between the Westin and Hyatt Regency hotels in Crown Center

More wandering in the tubes

Yet more of the tubes

View from the 38th floor of the Hyatt Regency in Crown Center. You can see Bartle Hall to the left of the downtown skyscrapers. It's the place with the four evenly spaced towers on the top of the building.

Hyatt view cont'd

Looking straight down from an overpass into an empty coal train. Coal is a pretty common sight as it is frequently transported through the southern end of the downtown area.

Goofy shadow picture of Jon and Candon on the overpass mentioned in the previous picture. I think this looks entertaining enough to post.

Wall paintings at the entrance to a park along Cesar Chavez Boulevard leading toward Kansas City, Kansas.

More of the interesting wall art.

These pictures that follow are all walls along the side of Cesar Chavez Boulevard.

C.C. Boulevard

As you can see, the Kansas City Freight House entrance

Candon's Nick Curtis inspired pose

I dig old signs like this

...and weird sculptures like this

Pics - Thursday PM

These pictures are from Thursday afternoon and evening. Candon's events were mostly done, so I decided to wander around and look at some more of the other competition events.

Electronics Technology competitor hard at work.

Competitor at work in the Electronics Technology circuit board assembly event. This is extremely nasty - I can speak from experience!

Mobile electronics installers in their competition - soldering projects

The Job Skills Demo competition area. This was off in a strange location that I just stumbled upon while walking randomly around the old convention center.