So, after getting back to Premier (the place I’d been staying and returned) I took a decent nap. I was up a good bit again last night (ie, the medical stuff). The nap helped. Tom called, and that’s what woke me up (call ya in a bit Tom).
I got up and about, and headed back over to the Fairgrounds to register for the WBCCI International Rally. That was what I needed to do first according to the person in the official shirt who I’d spoken to this morning. So that’s what I set out to do.
The main building where registration occurs was easy enough to find. Parking was not though. Given that it’s at a fairgrounds, there are no parking signs everywhere. The lot in front of the building was full, so I “circled the block” (bigger than a block though) seeking a spot.
Finally I pulled into an open area with an open gate where some of the event workers were parked (other WBCCI members). An older gentleman came up, and I explained I needed to park to go register. He pointed to the full parking lot across the road and told me to got there. I pointed out to him the lot was full.
Another “parker” came up, and suggested I go somewhere else. Now mind you, this was in a giant lot with tons of space along a fence. These folks were all standing around guiding WBCCI trailers in to park. The area along the fence blocked nothing, and one of their personal vehicles was parked along it.
Finally a younger woman came up, heard the suggestion I park in the full lot, and said she thought it would be ok if I parked there. The other two gentleman dispersed after her “ok” and I parked.
The next step was to get into the building and register. Almost home….almost home. 
The registration tables were a long line of tables. Turns out registering is extremely complex. The first gentleman I met at the roped off entrance took a look at my papers and we exchanged pleasantries. He told me the blonde woman up ahead would now look at my papers, and make sure to tell her I’m a first time International Attendee. Ok.
So I moved along (there wasn’t a thick line or anything like that). The next woman looked at my form, I told her I was a first timer, and she pointed me to a person with a computer. I then showed my paperwork there, and had my number entered into the computer. 2551
The computer didn’t cooperate. First 251 went in. Then 551. Then 551 3 more times. Then nothing. With each entry an additional sheet of paper spewed out of a printer next to the computer. Finally, another person took a shot with the computer and got my number in. A small sheet printed out with my name and number. This information was already contained on the form I was given by the parker who told me no 30 Amp was available this morning.
Next, I took my sheet of a paper to a gentleman who filled out a receipt and took my money. I asked him, “Is 30 amp still available”. The answer was, “I don’t know.” Hmmm. Well, he’s got my check now.
After getting a receipt slip I moved down to the next woman in line to look at my receipt. “I can’t finish processing this now, as you haven’t parked.”
Ummm, I was pulled out of line to park this morning, told 30 Amp wasn’t available, told maybe it was, but I’d have to wait til 3:30 to find out, then told to go register and see if it was, then told during registration they didn’t know if it was, and now I can’t finish registering because I’m not parked and that information needs to go on the registration. In the end, they’ve got my check, and tomorrow I’ll see if there is or isn’t 30 Amp available. So, I think I managed to waste a good deal of time today and find no answers.
I’m forced to wonder if Douglas Adams ever went to a WBCCI Rally and attempted to register at the rally……it would explain a great deal about his writing style. For those of you who don’t know, he’s the author of the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy…..a very funny book indeed.
The one thing I can take away from this is confirmation about big organizations. At some point, you put so many layers of “authority” in, there’s nobody who’s an actual authority. “I don’t know, you’ll need the information from that guy.” Each person in authority is of course pointing at the other that just sent you to them.
Wish me luck tomorrow. I’m kicking back for the rest of the day soaking up the AC because the air here today is oppressive to me. Looks like a web work and movie afternoon. 
My other lesson….always pre-register. I’d been advised against it the other month, and suggested I could just do it on site……next time I’ll know better. 
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