magid

It's super late, and I'm waiting for dinner to heat, because over tired and hungry is a bad combo. So I break from Arisia to bring you this story.

This year I took on a somewhat higher profile role in Arisia, which meant that today (um, Sunday) and tomorrow (that would be today, now), I've been doing more running around and logistics than regular con attendance. And I've been commuting, which adds challenges too. Plus, I didn't really get organized about my food.

So tonight, at a gathering celebrating a friend's recent wedding on far shores, I got my phone out to text someone because they'd offered the possibility of a ride home, and that was the last I saw of my phone for some time.

I ran into the college friends I hope to see every year, and hung out with them a while at a party. When they headed to the Eye of Argon reading, it was time to head home. I got my coat out of coat check (this is how tired I was: I had to realize I was missing a layer and go get it). I started walking, and a block out, realized I hadn't seen my phone in a while. I checked my pockets: no phone. I was wearing a photographer's vest (I needed pockets and skirts tend not to have them), and neither pocked I'd been schlepping tons of stuff in included my phone. I started to stress, and started back to the hotel.

I figured the phone couldn't have slipped out of my pocket at the party, so I had to track it down, which took a while, since I'd paid no attention to which floor it was on. I finally found it, but my phone wasn't there. I checked the suite I'd been in just before, but the door was closed, and I wasn't going to knock that late. I headed to the lobby, and asked one of the hotel folks. Happily, he said a phone had been turned in, and went to get it. I sat waiting for a while, glad to be off my feet. He returned.... with someone else's phone (I hope they get it back!). The thing is, I don't much use my phone, but kinda need to be available by phone while at Arisia this year.

The hotel security guys continued to be awesome, going to check other places that might not have been checked yet, but in the end, had nothing for me. I thanked them for checking; they'd been super helpful.

I ran into a friend from the Asylum (why is it I kept running into some people and missing others? one of those little mysteries); he listened to my tale of woe and meltdown, and suggested calling my phone to see who answered. He lent me his phone, and I called. It went to voice mail. Ah, well, it was worth a try. And he was sweet enough to tell me that if I didn't want to face getting home that late (it was nearing the time the T stopped, and while I'd planned to walk, I hadn't planned on getting quite so overtired and underfed), crash space would be found. It was totally appreciated, and helped me realize that things really would be fine.

I asked one of the hotel staff how much a cab would be, and decided that even if I had to buy a new phone, it might be time to spring for it. Of course, there weren't any door staff there organizing cabs. I chatted with the other people there while trying to decide what to do next, and both were totally sympathetic. He was waiting for his car to be fetched, while she was also waiting for a cab to the overflow hotel, since it was cold out. The first car-for-hire that stopped by the hotel wanted $30, and it was a bit more than I really wanted to pay (however reasonable it was), and decided to suck it up and walk.

I bundled, and before I'd gotten much past the hotel driveway, I heard honking behind me: the woman taking the cab to the hotel told me to get in, she wanted to help me out. And she gave the driver enough money (less than the previous guy had quoted; maybe the difference between "livery" and a cab? no clue) to cover the ride home. I talked with the cabbie on the way, and he refused a tip once I was home.

So, a total of two security guys, one friend, one random con-going woman, and a cabbie, all helping me out when I was exhausted, hungry (food is heating as I type, so the shaking will stop soon), and stressed over losing my phone.

And then I checked again, and found the phone in a pocket I "knew" the phone wouldn't be in. ::headdesk::

Thank you awesome people, and I will try to be less stupid next time.