And by real, I mean with complete sentences.
NYC was totally overwhelming. Totally clausterphobia-enducing. But totally amazing, too. I won't rush back--I'd rather spend my travel money on wide open spaces--but I'm glad I can circle it on my map of places I've been. (Yes, I really have a map.)
OMG! I am so glad I hung on Mary's coat-tails for the travel part of things. I would have been all kinds of lost from the second I got off the plane. We stopped long enough to buy a couple of sandwhiches and by the time we got to baggage claim, neither of our giant blue suitcases were anywhere in sight (okay, this is getting creepy. First our handwriting (eerily similar), then our clothes (black tights and Mary Janes, anyone?), then blue suitcases). Luckily, we found them in the office and got the taxi...another kind of craziness I'll be perfectly happy to avoid for the rest of my life. Is it not illegal to pass on the right in NYC, or does no one follow the rules?
The blog-stalking turned real-life stalking started almost as soon as we got to the Hilton, since Oliver was in the P-S line while I was in the T-Z line at check-in, but the silly, unnecessary shyness started then, too. Next year, I'll say hello to everyone I only know in cyberland, I swear.
Wednesday, we had dinner at a place called Playwrites (or something like that) with Brandi and Daniela and the NEO-crew, then drinks with the pedagogy guys (right: Joshua and Gary with Mary).
Thursday, Jay and I opened the Barn Owl table, and while Jay was away finding coffee, Adam was the first to pick up a contributor copy. I also met Gary and Mathias during my shift. Then I skipped the panels for the afternoon in favor of checking out MoMa with Jen and Jay.
Thursday night we were here. We took a taxi, and even though Mary told me never to get in an unmarked cab, I did. Dimitri drove an Escalade, listened to classic rock, and seemed to think going to a poetry reading was absolutely the coolest thing you could do in NYC on a Thursday night. Then we went here. I had the pollo saltado. You already saw the picture.
I'm reluctant to admit that I played hookie all day on Friday. Didn't set foot into the Hilton until late that night. Wait. I almost forgot. I did the pedagogy forum first. But that was in the Sheraton. It was raining (pouring!) all day, but we toughed it out and wandered Greenwhich Village. Checked out a couple cool vintage shops, took my first subway ride, and was soaking wet when we stumbled back to Midtown in time to get in another taxi (a real one this time!) to go to the 11th Street Bar with Mary and the other Jay.
Sadly, I didn't get to hear the Switchback/Sarabande/Red Morning/etc. folks because the place was packed and we got there late. But I still had fun. And got to hang out with Steve (if you ask when he's not around, I will tell you he's cute).
Saturday, I did my shift at the NEOMFA table, then went to the Blockheads (Prose Poem) panel, which was moderated by Corn Shake (another person I geeked out and didn't say hello to), then held down the BOR fort for the last leg of the bookfair. I didn't manage to make many rounds myself, so only got to take home the free stuff people handed me as I walked by. Wish I would have made more time for swag.
Then there was the dance party. Adam introduced me to Eduardo, but it was so loud and I was so distracted that I didn't realize he was the Eduardo until Adam was like, "dude, don't you know who that is?" and then I felt like a giant ass. But I think he forgave me...unlike Adam, who is probably still pretty mad that I spilled his wine on his shirt. I saw John for a split second, and then it was time to crash.
Now that it's over, I am wishing that AWP could be broken into two weekends; one for panels, one for parties. I didn't get to meet/talk to everyone that I wanted and I didn't get to hear as many people read as I would have liked either. I suppose it is impossible to find the 70-or so people you know in a sea of 7000, and I suppose it is inevitable that you will miss some cool panels/readings when there are 30 choices for every hour, but I'm a little bummed that I didn't manage my time better. Next year. Yeah.
