What could be more fun than going to Austin to meet up with 6,000 other librarians? It's a great place for meeting up with people and networking, not to mention going to super-fun sessions on various topics such as "Powerpoint on Steroids," helping teachers with research projects, helping students get ready for college, and arranging library programs to encourage kids to read more books. The last one, which I actually attended first, is always a learning experience because even after all these years it still doesn't make sense to me that anyone would need encouragement to read more books—I've been trying to convince myself for years that I need to read fewer books.
The best part is always the book signing. Last year Janeheiress stalked Shannon Hale in order to get her autograph, but I didn't have to resort to author stalking. My awesome friend D and I were wandering around, collecting as many free books as we could get ahold of, when I passed a booth where the attendant was holding up a copy of Gary Schmidt's newest book, Okay For Now.
I said, "Oh, I love Gary Schmidt!"
She said, "He's sitting right there."
Sure enough, he was. Sitting right there. What else was there to do but buy the book and tell him while he signed it how much I (and some of my 8th graders) loved The Wednesday Wars. And as he was handing me back my book, Richard Peck walked up and cracked a joke. It took me a few seconds too long to process that it was Richard Peck, because authors look like normal people and he has a voice like a car salesman, exactly the sort of voice you would expect from a writer of such side-splitting comedies as A Long Way From Chicago and The Teacher's Funeral—if I had realized sooner who it was I would have shook his hand. As it was, I just stared with my mouth open while he walked away, presumably to get some lunch in the crowded and overpriced Exhibition Café (yeah, I bought a vegan wrap and 2 pieces of fruit for $10.75—yummy food, yucky prices).
Another highlight of the week was eating dinner at The Oasis, with a lovely, peaceful view of Lake Travis at sunset. The fish tacos were pretty good, but not as good as the ones I make at home (and where the heck did my modesty and humility run off to?).
I didn't mean this post to feature food so much, but I have to admit that a large portion of how much fun I think I have on a trip out of town is due to how good the food is. What's the point of going to a different city if you can't splurge on stuff you never get at home? So on the last day of the conference, we walked to the crèpe place a few blocks from the conference center. I ordered the Norwegian, and the waitress was so great she let me get rid of the tomato and replace it with asparagus. It was quite wonderful to eat a smoked salmon and asparagus crèpe while sitting outside in the April sunshine.
And finally, what is better than a Belgian waffle maker in your hotel lobby? Well, a Texas-shaped Belgian waffle maker, of course.
Austin is a lovely place. I think I'll go back sometime soon.
I'm glad you had fun in Austin, but you get three demerits for not telling me you were in town. :(
ReplyDeleteOuch! I think I lost your phone number, and I understand that you have given up Facebook for Lent. But no excuses. I will tell you next time, and we will hang out.
ReplyDelete