conference folk

Leaving aside most anything else about the recent ACRL conference (I don't usually comment on work/library matters on this blog, after all), one of the best things about a smaller conference like that is how easy it is to see people, whether meeting up as planned or meeting up impromptu or crossing paths en route from points A to B.

First day there and I hit a goldmine: coffee with Courtney that led to further chitchat with Trevor, Lee, and Aaron. Sitting in the Marriott lobby with Courtney, we were able to call over to passersby we knew and waylay them for at least a hello. Back at the hotel, I was soon joined by regular conference roomie/dear friend Martin. He and I each had separate dinner plans, but we caught up on things as he ironed. Pre-dinner came drinks at the Marriott with Marisa and Susan. We had hoped Dan or Jake might be able to join us, but alas, no. And then on to a very good meal of vegetarian (theme of my conference dining!) tapas with Michael - not a librarian, but we all need a break from librarians sometimes!

I have no day two photos of encounters, though there were several including familiar faces like Dan, Michael, Jules, and Lisa at cocktails for GLBTRT members attending ACRL. Well, I do have photos of Martin, certainly, and vanity shots of me trying on clothes at H&M, but now I'm just being silly.

Day three I got to sit down with CG, whom I'd bumped into a few times. In the end, it was a short conference, and planning dinners together with her became impossible (darn it!), so we had to be glad of at least time together in the morning. CG looks as lovely as when she left Chicago, and Conrad and I miss her immensely.

So many other people I saw and didn't snap photos of. Brief conversations, all too brief: Kathryn, Missy, Josh, Adam, Scott, Eric, Mark, Dan.... I begin to forget them all already. Forgive me.

A good conference for seeing people, catching up with them, and meeting new people as well. And a good conference - I've been less pleased with the content offered at ACRL in the past, and I think they're getting better at appealing to a broader range of academic librarians. End of commentary on that, and now I'll look forward to the familiar faces I'll see in New Orleans in June!

Seattle scenes

I should be doing work, but I should be catching up on my blog. Decision, decisions...

A week ago now I arrived in Seattle to gorgeous sunny weather. The city truly is a gem at any time, but in the sunshine, it's amazing. Don't worry Vancouver/Montreal/Chicago/many other cities - I love you, too.

The Thursday afternoon I did a bit of work in the hotel room, but otherwise met up with Medgar for happy hour. That evening I met CG and some of her friends/colleagues for dinner and ended up back at the same place Medgar and I went to. Other shots here are from the Saturday as we wandered through the Market area in search of lunch.

I managed some other shots through the weekend, mostly of a small area of downtown within easy walking distance of my hotel and the conference centre. I only wish the last of them - from a Starbucks (I unapologetically like the chain) near my hotel - showed the fat, fluffy Sunday morning flakes much better. Ah well, in any case it's pretty kick ass that I can take photos like that with my iPhone!

coffee breaks with former colleagues

I'm tired. I was at the airport by 10 this morning, only to put up with inexplicably slow lines, crabby United staff, and flight delays. Some 10 hours later, I made it to my hotel here on the Sunshine Coast, only to get some room service so that I could do some work that needs doing by midweek while I'm still out of town. I'm tired.

I'm post-dating some entries, and this is one. There's much more I can and will say about the few days in Seattle, but I think it nice to end the blogging for the evening (regardless of when this is posted) with a couple of shots of former colleagues whom I caught up with in Seattle.

Tim taught English 161, and I taught library sessions for his classes. Curiously, some subsequent work I've been doing (and the topic of my poster) is of interest to work he's done and continues to do. In any case, a heck of a nice guy (and I'll say it again: I want that sweater), and I've already heard back from a former prof of his how delighted she is to have seen the photos.
I think we've lost him and his wife to Seattle, but I do hope to cross paths with him again back west or in Chicago.

Kristina, I adore. I miss working with her, and I miss the occasional lunch we fit in. On top of that, her husband is more into Christmas than I am, if such a thing is possible, so you just know that I think very highly of him, too. It's a sad fact of Chicago life that I don't see too many colleagues from other area institutions except at conferences. I'm glad she pinned me down for coffee; in fact, given the grant work I was stuck in the hotel with most of that day, I'm especially grateful to her and Tim for the human company and live conversation. Kristina, I'll add, looks gorgeous.

And that's a night for me. Sleep well, everyone, whenever you read this, whoever you are.

karaoke

Oh, don't get your hopes up. Remember how I'm actually a shy kind of guy? You know, the sort of shy guy who can stand in an exhibits hall for an hour and talk with any person who comes by to look at my poster session? Yes, that kind of shy guy, the sort who will sit back and only watch/listen as his friends tear through karaoke.

I sing, as CG (for one) will tell you, but I have no confidence in my voice. So it was that Friday night was a late one for me (happily, little alcohol, just a late night) with some De Paulians and associated librarians, enjoying a karaoke bar. Hula Hula Tiki Bar, I think it was called. Sweetest mai tai I've ever had (and I've had more than a few in my time now), but gosh darn, was that a fun night.

I mean, come on, there were some mighty good performances. One librarian (the place was overrrun with us) was a ringer, voicewise, for Steven page as he wailed through "Brian Wilson". A friend of his, a woman, was not just a good singer, but she worked the room very well. I was impressed.

And then there was my crew:

Missy, singing country. I just wish she'd turned to face all of her admirers.

Jake.
Straight and married, a cross between Barney from HIMYM and Howie Mandel, and yet just super cool and (I admit) kind of (quite) sexy. Whatever. He ripped through "Need You Tonight", and he had people up dancing and cheering.

My favourite, not shown here, was CG's take on "Black Horse and a Cherry Tree". I've long liked the song, and she did it well. Almost as good, though, was her take on that forgotten (at least, I'd kind of forgotten it) 80s duet "Separate Lives". Remember it? Her friend Josh was Marilyn Martin, CG was Phil Collins. The emoting was fantastic.
It rather makes the three young men who did "Welcome to the Jungle" later in the evening seem all the sadder for it.

Maybe one day I'll be braver, but not that night. Ah well. I have fun photos to show for it, at least. And yes, I really did go do actual conference activities!

mighty big coffee?

A few days in Seattle, the land of Starbucks and many other coffee houses, chains, shops. Frankly, I like Starbucks. Oh, rail against it if you will, and I freely admit that there is good coffee elsewhere. Just the same, I think they deliver a consistent and good-enough product. Venti whole milk misto? Makes me happy most every time.

Arek snapped the shot at Sea-Tac while we were waiting for his bags and Heather's (his wife). Jokingly, he made it wanted it posed as if I had hit upon the venti-est venti of them all. Truthfully? The tube holds my poster session.

Good days in Seattle, and some blog entries in the days ahead. I'll be back to Chicago on Thursday.

Two nights in Baltimore

I'd already counted Maryland on my list of visited states - in accordance with Geoff's rules (a visit is official if it is outside of an airport and involves a meal, an overnight stay, or use of a washroom). Before last week I'd done two of those - and more than once each - and now I can say I've spent the night in the state. Two nights, in fact.

Baltimore hosted this year's ACRL Conference, but I decided I couldn't justify the expense of registration for a conference I've not gotten a lot from in its two most recent iterations (Charlotte 2003 and Minneapolis 2005). I went in, presented my pre-conference, had a couple of nice dinners, came home. Saw a few people, too, including Kathryn and David who were there working for ACRL.



I will admit, I kind of thought the city would be a bit like Cleveland on the East Coast. Quiet. Old buildings. No life after dark. Dingy. I think there must be parts of Baltimore that are like that. However, I came away thinking I'd like to visit the city when I don't have a work reason so to do. The area around the Inner Harbor was lively, and there seemed to be a good range of shops, restaurants, and attractions. Plus, the weather was entirely springlike and pleasant. What little I saw of the city left a good impression on me.

My hotel did not leave a great impression on me, but it wasn't horrid. The views weren't too bad.
I took a few other photos about the city when I remembered to as well.




The food was good. I spared Anne the ordeal of me photographing dinner when we ate at Pazo, but I'd recommend a return visit. I especially liked the albondigas - lamb meatballs in a sauce in which the saffron was sufficiently assertive. Good stuff. I'll also say that the waitress was friendly and helpful, and her wine recommendation was altogether decent.

Dinner the second night wasn't quite as good ,though it was nicely inexpensive, and the Malbec we ordered (two bottles) was a good match for the Cuban food. Babalu Grill was where I dined with CG, SC (great to see him!), and Heather.



The scallops looked a bit much in their coating and deep red sauce, but they were a highlight.

I do hope to get back to Baltimore one day and roam around a little more. It does seem to be a fine city in its own right, and I'm sorry I was limited to my pre-conference experience.