PAMLA Conference

 Opening the curtains, sliding open the glass door, and standing on the balcony in the sunshine, looking out over the bay started the morning beautifully. The quality of sunlight feels distinctly different, more relaxed. There's not the same sense of urgency as there is in the Midwest where you know that it might only be a brief glimpse of the sun.

I presented in the very first panel of the conference. The positive is that I was able to present and then enjoy the rest of the conference stress-free. The negative is that it was sparsely-attended, only about twenty people, and the AV didn't work. All told, I think it went well. No one stood up and screamed that I was an ignorant fool; I always count that as a win.

Throughout the weekend several people did, I think, gently decide that I was slightly crazy. The palm trees needed to be touched. I couldn't quite believe they were real. Everything had a very manicured look, lending the atmosphere a slight tinge of artificiality.

I caught a public bus to some random area of San Diego - still not quite sure where. The bus drivers were amazingly friendly and helpful. I'm not sure if they are always like that, or if they were concerned about me getting lost. Either way, wonderful experience getting away from the resort and out into the real city.

Some random facts:
        The hotel had a pair of rescued seals too blind to survive in the ocean.

         I went on a boat cruise around the bay at night.

        Two graduate students and I explored downtown slightly. Our exploration ended with dinner at a
        creperie called Chocolat. A worthwhile experience.

Travel back was interrupted by a night's stay at Moody with a couple of Barakel friends who kindly offered me shelter. Sadly, I was away quickly in the morning so we didn't spend much time together. Perhaps next time. I got lost trying to find the Greyhound station, but squeaked aboard before it departed and arrived uneventfully back in Milwaukee in time for my class.