Canada...eh?

I started this post as was traveling home from Toronto, Ontario (Canada), where I spent four days last week at the CME Congress 2012.  It came at a time when I truly didn't want to leave home (due to family, work, and personal items going on), but actually turned out to be a great time away from life.  Toronto was beautiful, despite being unusually cool while we were there (photo looking out my hotel window and looking across the train tracks in front of the hotel, respectively).

Last November, I submitted an abstract, assuming I had no chance (and really no business) of being invited to present at this meeting.  It is the premiere international event for continuing professional development in the health sciences - so I was shocked when they contacted me to say they wanted me.  This is my first large scale meeting for presentation, as the rest have been local and smaller in audience.

I was delighted to find out that the preferred accommodations for the meeting was a hotel built on top of left field in the Toronto Blue Jays field.  What luck!  I absolutely love major league baseball, so I couldn't wait to get there.  What I found upon arrival was this fantastic restaurant, where I was able to watch the end of the Orioles v Blue Jays while eating a pretty good meal.  The Orioles were the division leaders for about 6 minutes (which happened to be during this game - although that quickly ended) so it was especially fun!

The first morning brought loading up the buses to head to the convention center and setting up our poster.  I was so excited - and couldn't help but take pictures of everything. :)







The conference was held at the Allstream Centre, which one building on their large convention center property.  It was very neat inside with lots of stone work and felt very elegant.

And then the big moment....I carefully unwrapped our poster and Susan (my boss) and I hung it up in our designated area.  I was so happy at that moment that I nearly cried.

Susan was really calm and cool about the whole thing, but I was nearly beside myself with glee. :)

There were a few times when we were supposed to be standing by it to answer questions when I happened to be a little further away....and had to take pictures of people reading the poster.

And then took a picture of this guy taking a picture of our poster!

During the first afternoon break, I needed some sunshine and wandered outside.  For being a convention hall, it was actually quite beautiful.

That night Susan and I ventured further into downtown Toronto and found a great Asian bistro that had an amazing atmosphere and great food.  Here are some pictures of our walk there and then the building:

 

And then there were a row of restrooms.....and all had a window to an external garden - that apparently no one can visit?  But you are looking at this open space as you use the facilities.  It was bizarre and I felt very naked (like in the "I'm naked in public?" kind of way) and yet there was no one to see you.  It was shockingly weird and fun at the same time! ;)

The next day was quite soggy, wet weather which made getting around much less than desirable (as I hadn't planned well for rain), but it was quite pretty to look at across Lake Ontario from one of the conference center windows.

More crazy weather.....

Although the weather made things a little soggy, I was determined to hit up an actual live baseball game in person.  Fortunately, the Rogers Centre is a retractable-roof-stadium, so it was no trouble at all!

First we grabbed some delicious Italian food at a place a few blocks away from our hotel.  I don't remember the name, but it was perfect on a drizzly, cold Friday night.

Then it was off to see the Toronto Blue Jays v the Boston RedSox.  I want to make it abundantly clear here.....I was only wearing this terrible hat because I had it in my closet at home (from many years ago - when I was a confused girl who didn't know much about baseball, obviously).  Think of this like a costume....not an actual fan wearing a hat - as I will never go back to the Dark Side.

Nonetheless, to fit in, I wore my smelly old BoSox hat (Go Yankees).

This is where we had a streaker enter the field....and where Security eventually caught him and wrestled him to the ground.  It was QUITE exciting! ;)

As you can see in this photo, the BoSox eventually killed the Blue Jays and I was a happy camper.  I want the Yankees to beat the BoSox when they are a proven good team, not just when they stink, so the more wins the better.  It will make our post-season victory even sweeter! :)

The night was topped off by watching a little of the live broadcast from their local guys inside the stadium.  I simply love live sports - and wish we had better/more of this in Utah.  It is so much fun!

There were lots of great parts to this trip, but I must admit I was pleased to see it come to an end.  While I had a great time, I was also ready to understand the temperatures being quoted to me (who really understands weather stated in Celsius?) and being with my family and friends back home.

What an incredible experience to be able to share work from my program on an international level - it was absolutely exhilarating to me!  I am grateful I had the opportunity and hope there are many more just like it in my future!