Travel

Last Minute Costuming for ChiFi

Brianne Bilyeu, , , , 1,420 Comments

Always with the last minute hiccups and fixes. Thanks to a delivery that didn’t arrive on time, this is my night:

Me sitting my bathroom in a bra and jeans, concentrating on cutting a piece of shiny black material.

But it’s okay because the costume is going to be awesome.

The Hubby and I are getting on a train at 8:03am tomorrow morning and heading to Chicago for the science fiction/fantasy convention, ChiFi. I’m excited to be taking part in the “Chicago SkepchickCon” organized by the incredibly awesome Jamie Bernstein. And I’m excited to be taking a train. After a bunch of airline travel last year, Amtrak is going to be like riding first class!

I’m a panelist on Ask A Scientist and I’m moderating a handful of others. It should be a fun time – check back for photos and stories.

…and to see what that costume I’m working on turns out to be!

Last Minute Costuming for ChiFi
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Christmas in Maryland

Brianne Bilyeu, , , , 674 Comments

Catch-up travel blogging from Christmas week.

After work on Tuesday night, the Hubby and I boarded a flight from Minneapolis to Baltimore, Maryland. My mom picked us up at BWI at 11:00pm (My mom is pretty awesome) and drove us to Hagerstown through some seriously thick fog; I kept my eyes shut for quite a few parts of the the hour-long trip. We made it home without incident and hit the sack almost before the front door was locked.

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Christmas in Maryland

The Great Ocean Road

Brianne Bilyeu, , , , 1,165 Comments

Australia blogging – my first weekend in Victoria.

On the Sunday after our trip to Healesville, my coworker and I decided to head out to the Great Ocean Road, a scenic, winding coastal road that runs along the southern edge of Victoria. We drove southwest from Melbourne for about an hour an a half and then caught our first glimpse of the ocean in the city of Anglesea.

A scenic overlook - brush, brushes, a road and further off a small ocean inlet and beach.

Anglesea was only a brief stop, so after we took a few photos from this overlook, we continued our journey west and the coastal driving really began: very narrow two lane roads butting up against rocky walls with little to no shoulder to speak of. There were a ton of pull offs for scenic overlooks and many places had stairs down to the beach. My coworker and I went down at one of the stops and played in the surf. Continue reading “The Great Ocean Road” →

The Great Ocean Road

Trip Update and a Few News Stories

Brianne Bilyeu, , , , , , 590 Comments

We’re home – yay!

Even with a temperature swing of 30°C to -19°C…even having to go from sleeveless dresses and copious amounts of sunscreen to layered clothing and chapstick…even going back to work instead of hiking through the rainforest…

It’s good to be home. It’s good to be in my own kitchen and near grocery stores with which I am familiar (and stocked with brands that I recognize). I am ecstatic to be reunited with fast and reliable internet. It’s good to be remembered and greeted by the pets that I had to leave for a month and a half. I was gone long enough that I have to relearn which side of the car’s steering wheel the windshield wiper and the turn signal sticks are on, and driving on the right feels a bit odd. Also, the science and logic part of my brain is very reluctant to depart from the metric system of distance and temperature.

Continue reading “Trip Update and a Few News Stories” →

Trip Update and a Few News Stories

Last Saturday's Adventures

Brianne Bilyeu, , , , 858 Comments

I spent last Wednesday through Friday in a little pair of cities called Albury-Wadonga. I was primarily there for work, but I managed to fit in a walk through Albury’s CBD on Thursday afternoon and snap a few photos of lorikeets and magpies. The highlight of the stay was the Hovell Tree Inn Best Western Plus. The dining room had good food and my room was humongous; I had a kitchenette, a dining room table, a couch and an office desk, the queen bed was in a separate room, and the bathtub was deep with whirlpool jets. Okay, the food and room size really didn’t matter. All that mattered was the tub. Maaaaarvelous tub.

Continue reading “Last Saturday's Adventures” →

Last Saturday's Adventures

Last Saturday’s Adventures

Brianne Bilyeu, , , , 1,331 Comments

I spent last Wednesday through Friday in a little pair of cities called Albury-Wadonga. I was primarily there for work, but I managed to fit in a walk through Albury’s CBD on Thursday afternoon and snap a few photos of lorikeets and magpies. The highlight of the stay was the Hovell Tree Inn Best Western Plus. The dining room had good food and my room was humongous; I had a kitchenette, a dining room table, a couch and an office desk, the queen bed was in a separate room, and the bathtub was deep with whirlpool jets. Okay, the food and room size really didn’t matter. All that mattered was the tub. Maaaaarvelous tub.

Continue reading “Last Saturday’s Adventures” →

Last Saturday’s Adventures

Melbourne – off to work!

Brianne Bilyeu, , , , , 1,123 Comments

Monday technically began my first day of working in Melbourne, even though I didn’t have to report in until 1pm. That means I had a nice long morning to fill.

I’d been up since 1am, so I was good and well awake when my friend asked if I wanted to Skype at 5:15am my time. That was nice. Skype makes international travel much friendlier. After that I went to a YMCA which is located across the street to see if they’d let me use my US membership to get in a workout. Funny thing, that one: it’s a private YMCA just for residents and workers in that building, which probably explains why I couldn’t find any signage and I had to ask the doorman where to go. But at 6:30am there was only one other gentleman using the facility (it was a tiny little gym), and the man running the desk was so kind and funny. He said “It’s not every day someone flies from the US to Melbourne just to use my gym. You go ahead.”

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Melbourne – off to work!

The Leap Across the Lake

Brianne Bilyeu, , 1,139 Comments

It’s 3am and I’m in Melbourne chatting with some drunk Irishmen.

So that’s happening.

Really though, this jet lag stuff has been the most fabulous thing in the world. I went to a busy noodle shop called Bar China at about 1:30am, and now I’ve landed at a Burger Jack’s… in downtown Melbourne… at bar close. So far I’ve spoken with different groups of people about the names of American cities, gun politics, environmental extremism, gay marriage and gaming. I should mention that I haven’t had to start any of these conversations. Partying Melburnians who visit this Hungry Jack’s seem to be a friendly, chatty lot, and all I have to do to generate a conversation is to respond to a “hello” in my American accent, aaaaaand we’re off! Also, PAX-Australia apparently just ended and this gentleman – visiting from Perth for the convention – was kind enough to let me take a photo of him in his awesome t-shirt for the blog:

Guy in a t-shirt and suit jacket strikes a pose. The t-shirt has a photo of a woman in a tight body suit with a weapon on her shoulder within the international no symbol. Underneath text reads Cosplay =/= Consent

But let’s back up.

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The Leap Across the Lake

I’m coming to Oz!

Brianne Bilyeu, 635 Comments

The most amazing thing has happened: I’ve been asked to go to Australia for work! Work-covered plane tickets! A chance to meet new people in my company and customers who use our products in a different geography! A chance to work and temporarily live in a radically different location! It’s like winning the lottery – except still having to work.

I leave Minneapolis on October 31st (no Halloween parties for me *sniff* I’ll get over it BECAUSE AUSTRALIA), and I’ll be all over the place for two and a half weeks: Melbourne and then across to Western Australia to work in Perth and Kalgoorlie. I’m thrilled to be able to represent my company, and to see different parts of a country that I never imagined I would be able to visit any time in the near future.

Continue reading “I’m coming to Oz!” →

I’m coming to Oz!

I'm coming to Oz!

Brianne Bilyeu, 487 Comments

The most amazing thing has happened: I’ve been asked to go to Australia for work! Work-covered plane tickets! A chance to meet new people in my company and customers who use our products in a different geography! A chance to work and temporarily live in a radically different location! It’s like winning the lottery – except still having to work.

I leave Minneapolis on October 31st (no Halloween parties for me *sniff* I’ll get over it BECAUSE AUSTRALIA), and I’ll be all over the place for two and a half weeks: Melbourne and then across to Western Australia to work in Perth and Kalgoorlie. I’m thrilled to be able to represent my company, and to see different parts of a country that I never imagined I would be able to visit any time in the near future.

Continue reading “I'm coming to Oz!” →

I'm coming to Oz!