This was supposed be the first of four daily blogs reflecting on the happenings at the Connections Conference and Exhibition; the travel industry, however, had other ideas.

I’ll be honest: in a perverse sort of way, I’ve been somewhat welcoming the recent increases in airfares.

That’s right. I said it.

It set up a certain simple logic for me: higher prices mean fewer fliers mean shorter lines mean better on-time records mean smoother travel for all those who find it necessary to board the flying cattle cars and blast off into the wild blue yonder. Once again, however, logic has been banished to play by itself in the corner, as was my flight schedule. With apologies to the oft-quoted Senator Dirksen: an hour here and an hour there, and pretty soon you’re talking about some real time.

Instead of having spent the evening mixing and mingling at the Bridgepoint-sponsored opening reception, I’m just now (once I’m done writing this, that is) heading poolside to see if I can find any remnants of said festivities. A whiff, a rumor, an anecdote, anything to give me an inkling of just what transpired as the shuttle van chugged though the Orlando flatlands toward the Hilton Hotel.

Ah, Day 1; soon we shall part, and with no love lost. Bring on Day 2!