In a belated update, I arrived in New Orleans last night at 5:30 and by 10 had seen smonster, Nora, Tom, Daisy Jane's two cousins and the son one of her cousins, eaten crawfish, jambalaya and barbecue and listened to 2 local bands and drunk local beer.

Today I have been DEEP in conferencing. There are 15,000 people at this conference, and the convention center in New Orleans is like the size of a battleship, and there are TWENTY hotels with events in them.

Holy shit, I knew ALA was huge, but I had no idea.

I have a old friend from college there from Western Washington U -- her name is Elizabeth S., and I jokingly told her to say hi from me, if she ran into you, since it's such a SMALL conference.

I knew you guys wouldn't likely run into each other, but wow! 20 hotels.

I wonder if ALA is bigger or smaller than MLA?

I got up early and took some more ibuprofen, and then went off to sit with my mother, where I cleaned the kitchen and clipped the dog's nails. Then I came home and took a nap. And now I have done laundry and yard work and swept and mopped and wiped the front porch, and in a few minutes I shall take the dog for a long walk while I listen to some Discworld.

Last night was fun, but I really shouldn't have had the scotch on top of the cocktail and the sake. Bah.

Last night was fun, but I really shouldn't have had the scotch on top of the cocktail and the sake. Bah.

my mother in law's words of wisdom on the subject (nevermind you the context. I may have mentioned my MiL is awesome.): "Same shaped bottles. Same color drinks."

also, hairpats and alka-seltzer for you Consuela.

Eh, I'm fine now, but I hate that blah feeling you get from drinking too much, even if the headache is taken care of. The feeling that there's something undefinable wrong with your body.

I think ALA is much larger.

I feel like MLA is about 12,000-13,000. It's definitely over 10,000. But that's also because almost all interviewing is done there, and not just conference stuff.

I ate an entire (large) bag of tortilla chips today, with and without salsa. At least I didn't have much else to eat. At least they were whole grain?

I am eating faux Wheat Thins with and without cheese dip, as my supper.

I've come to the conclusion that I exhibit all the alcoholic tendencies of my kin (all of my kin), only with unfermented grains.

I take that cookie or those corn chips and the next thing I know, I wake up in the alley with a baguette.

Shameful.

Now, I'm just avoiding them all. It's the only way.