Weekend with the Fossils.

I've been having a lot of sleepless nights lately.  I'm not sure what the cause is though.  It's not like I have a whole lot on my mind right now, (Yes, there's a guy, but there's always a guy.  Always.) I'm done classes, marking, exams, undergrads, etc, etc., so I'm really having a tough time trying to figure out what's keeping me up at night.  Meh.  I'll figure it out when I'm ready I guess (maybe it is the guy....well, shit). 

I know what kept me up last night, it was "not looking forward to APEGS AGM this weekend".  I despise AGM weekend, mostly because I really don't have the choice to bitch out, because I'm on Council, and in all honesty it's kind of boring.  Meetings....they're boring.  Also, I'm stuck in a room with the "Fossils".  I know I've mentioned my disdain for these events before, so I'll spare you the details.

The problem with the AGM....Past Presidents Meeting.  You can only imagine how much I'm going to dislike this.  It wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't an "old boys club" and my first experience didn't leave a sour, bitter, shitty taste in my mouth. 

The year I was elected to Council, I sat at the banquet with my Mom and 3 Past Presidents and their wives.  I think their average age was 70...or so it seemed.  Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge advocate of "respect your elders".  Hell, most of the time I am an "elder", so I do get that they should receive a certain amount of respect....but in order for me to give you respect, you have to reciprocate.  These three Old Boys didn't reciprocate. 
They would start talking "technical stuff", I would jump in, and I would be ignored.  I ended up talking with their wives about shopping and shoes.  The only thing they seemed interested in discussing with me was about being a girl in engineering.  Honestly, I think this issue is overplayed, overused and no longer relevant.  Apparently, it's still an issue.  I didn't get the memo.  I don't want the memo.  I'll est the memo in protest. 

Yeah....bitter taste.  I'm not looking forward to today...at all. 

I kind of want to bitch out. 

At least this time around, I'm not a "typical engineer".  I don't do bridges, steel, concrete, power, motors, consulting, environment, rocks, circuits or robots.  I do bones, tissues, blood, guts, modeling and algorithms.  Whatever, it's only 3 days.  Monday it will all be over and I can go back to research.  (I'm at the point where no matter what I'm doing, my research is running in the back of my mind.  It's an awesome feeling.  I'm at a constant state of distraction....and this time, it's the good kind.)