Unavoidable circumstances (aka my job) forced Todd to go on ahead without me, so I rode down with Carol, as did Jack and Lynsey. With such marvelous companions, the road seemed short and the ride smooth. Or maybe that's just because The Yakmobile is quality wheels. However, once we got into the city we spent equally as long attempting to find someplace to park as we had getting from Ithaca to NYC by way of Binghamton in the first place.
Eventually, though, we made it to the hotel, where the various parties split off in search of sustenance, restrooms, check-in, and long lost friends. Carol and I eventually drifted into the absinthe tea party/ fashion show, just in time to snag the last free table. Two of the chairs, anyway. The other two were appropriated by a pair of guys from Cleveland, who tried in a non-functional manner to make small talk. Of these, more later. But the fashion show was lovely.
After this, Carol and I (neither of whom had rooms at the hotel) did the famous ladies' room quick-change shimmy and went off to obtain sustenance and generally indulge in carousery before the bands started that night.
The bands that night were quite good, but we were all very tired, so none of them made much of an impression except Otto's Daughter, who threw out several drumsticks into the crowd. One of the drumsticks hit Carol.
Under the circumstances, all of us retired immediately after the show. Besides, I had a big day coming up. Or so I thought.