Wiscon Thursday

[keyan_bowes]

I arrived at Madison around 4 p.m. after (a) staying up all night (b) sleeping on the plane - both legs of the journey, even though the last was only 37 minutes long. While waiting for the shuttle, I bird-watched (inadequately, without binocs). The airport was *full* of birds. It seemed strange; it had nothing but a few bushes planted between the road and the parking structure. I couldn't be sure what they were - chickadees and/or sparrows, I think, hawking for flying insects; and swallows or swifts that may actually be nesting in the parking garage. Later, I realized that a fairly dense stand of trees stood on the other side, and maybe that's where the birds were coming in from.

It was nearly two hours before I got to my room; the shuttle took a while, and then had to pick up two other people. I didn't mind. The others, one another Wisconner, and one a Convance executive, were interesting company.

By the time I got in, I was rearing to go. I contacted julieandrews and she said the reception at A Room of One's Own bookstore had started. I joined her there (starving, since I'd only had a bag of trail mix all day), grabbed some snacks, and then went to the back for the GOH readings: Mary Anne Mohanraj and Nnedi Okaforor. The room was packed; Julie and I followed the example of some others and sat on the floor.

Unfortunately, Nnedi was caught in traffic and didn't make it in, but Mary Anne read a wonderful story from her book, Bodies in Motion. It was a simple description of an old woman cooking, but it conflated the sensuality of the cooking with the sensuousness of memories of the woman's lesbian relationships, and the sense of the passage of time.

(Mary Anne gave a blanket clearance to take photos, and I hope no one else in this picture minds, since it's all of their backs! The lighting onstage wasn't very good, unfortunately.)

Went back with Julie, registered, and then was asked by two other Wisconners if we wanted dinner. Absolutely! We all went to the Spanish tapas bar on State Street. Kim and Karen, our new friends, were fun and interesting; and redcrowkater joined us.

Great beginning to Wiscon for me, especially because I got a chance to catch up with Kater afterward.

Comments

[theferrett.livejournal.com]

Awww. I miss Mary Anne so much.

[julieandrews.livejournal.com]

Your lj post has pictures! You're setting the bar high for the rest of us! :)

[deliasherman.livejournal.com]

It's not quite like being there, but it's a good second best. Thanks for posting.

[keyan-bowes.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Missing you, though, and Ellen.