to get here - and I also made sure I had a direct flight. As it happens, I haven't flown anywhere in over ten years...I just wanted to make sure I didn't get stressed out.
Good news - it worked!
I didn't think I'd really see anybody during my travels, but it turned out that every other librarian from the Seattle area must have wanted a direct flight, too - half the people on the plane were librarians I think! It turned out that both Mary and Eric were on the flight, and even our long lost friend Erica (who left us for SPL a while back). It was really great to see her. Once we hit Minneapolis we all went our separate ways to the hotels we chose. It turns out mine is quite a ways out from the conference center, but there are shuttles running regularly. And really - it's one of the nicest hotels I've ever stayed in! Quite comfy. There is an Irish pub right here, and tonight dinner is Dublin stew. YUM.
Today, Tuesday, was a fairly easy day for me. I didn't sign up for any of the preconference sessions, other than an author luncheon with Meg Cabot. I had a lot of fun chatting with the librarians at my table - we were from all over the states! The others were from Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Connecticut, Idaho, Wyoming, and Minnesota. Lots of "comparison" chat - how things are where I come from vs. where you come from sort of thing. Very interesting! For instance, we learned that in Sheridan Wyoming they close the library on Rodeo Friday (because NOBODY wants to come to the library on that day). Lunch was very good as well. Once everyone had finished eating, Meg Cabot got up to speak. She was an absolute riot. She recounted how she got into writing (her dream of being a veterinarian dashed when she discovered that she needed to be good at science and math), how she met her husband, and how the library and reading played an important role for her growing up. A very delightful talk all around. I will admit I haven't read any of her books, but I'll definitely read some now - most likely her new series coming out called Airhead.
I spent the afternoon wandering the skyways near the conference center. Minneapolis has an extensive system of skyways connecting a large area of downtown - you don't need to go outside ever, if you don't want to! I only made a tiny dent in my wanderings, but managed not to get lost. Well, I almost got lost in Macy's, but they were having a flower show in there so at least it smelled nice! The only strange thing was that the temperature everywhere seemed REALLY warm. Sure, I was walking around pretty briskly and had on a sweater, but it was REALLY warm. I thought I was going to expire from it! Fortunately I did not, and made it back to the hotel in one piece.
Tomorrow the action really picks up - opening session, and the vendor hall opens in the late afternoon. It will just keep getting more and more fun!!!
Cheers from Minneapolis - see ya'!
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