What a weekend! This was for those of us who are slightly obsessed with all thing points and miles and the like to enjoy time with others who think everything we say is completely normal (unlike everyone else in the world). Later this week I start my first of my mileage runs and everyone I talked to over the past few days totally gets flying to LAX and staying for a few hours and then flying home (and doing this again the next day too btw). Other “normal” people seem to think this is just silly! At least we do some normal things other people do like field trips, but we go to places like “Office Depot” as Greg (The Frequent Miller) did with some friends on Friday!

Anyway, so what was I up to over the weekend event? Lisa & I drove up on Thursday and helped setup a bit on Friday first thing. Then, just before noon, we got into my van. Walking by was Will run for Miles blogger, Kathy and Indulge the Wanderlust blogger, Jeff. They asked what we were up to. We said, we were going to ORD to pick up Frugal Travel Guy team member, Howie and fellow boarding area blogger MJ on Travel (also known as MJon), Marshall and then going into the city to have lunch at the 95th floor of the Hancock building and said “wanna join us?” Sure was the answer, and off we went! We had a blast and the buffet was just perfect. Thanks to the clear, blue skies the views were awesome too. We tweeted like crazy and it was kinda silly since we were all at the table tweeting each other.

Then back to the Host Holiday Inn in Elk Grove, that btw did a GREAT JOB hosting the event for us, to check in most of the 500+ streaming in to the event. Friday was rookie stuff and John Nielsen talked Delta. This Flyer Talker knows his stuff. When he talks Delta, you should listen. He does speak in outlines of ideas, so it will be up to you to “get it” and say hummm…. now what does he mean and go explore. I respect that he does not spoon-feed you how to do everything and you will learn better if it takes some work on your part. Next year he and I will speak at the event and it should be a blast!

Friday night I learned about “Foursquare” as they had a 1 cent beer if you checked in and showed your phone to the bar staff. Not free beer, but just about (you only got one but that was fine). Speaking about “Shelby Campbell’s” the bar and eatery at the hotel, was and is really good. I have to tell you “most” hotel restaurants are really bad. This is NOT the case at Shelby Campbell’s. The first night was a HUGE Reuben and the next night an awesome steak wrap. This place rocks. Plus, it was fun to meet readers all around the room.

The rest of the weekend was full of so many tips and tricks that I just cannot cover in a week’s worth of posts. I had the privilege to help out with the Delta breakout and the few who were there on time snuck off to a private room and talked about bleeep beeeeeep AMEX bbblleeeeep. And the best part was about beeep blleeep beeep! I know, who knew you could get free Delta bleeeppp beeep bbllepppppp(I guess you really just had to be there).

Sunday was more of the same great info plus a tornado warning. Yep, we all had to “snuggle” in the middle of the hotel, but it all worked out. Even a storm cannot stop us from learning how to enjoy 1st class travel at prices we can all afford as we all chatted one-on-one about our favorite pastime!

I want to also take the time to say just how much I appreciated all who came up to me to say “hi” at the event. Each time I get to see Rick, The Frugal Travel Guy, I cannot believe he is just as nice a guy as he seems to be on his blog. I hope I am the same way to all of you each time you meet me! –  Your friend – René

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