Conference

Last week, I was in Philadelphia for a conference. I have to admit that it is a relief to see some of my official responsibilities decrease so I can spend more time meeting with vendors on official business, attend programs/forums and run into people. The last few years have involved at least three board meetings per meeting, which left little time for the rest of the conference. I was much more relaxed this time around.

There were at least four highlights of this trip:

- Spending time with Mary. Not only do I have a built-in roommate at conferences, we are also able to spend quality time together. We also understand what the conference is like and we can compare notes. Plus, when I get courtesy access to the hotel's concierge room, I can share it with someone who cares about the same things - free food and sodas.

- Seeing former colleagues. Some of them were random encounters but others were planned. It was great to catch up. I don't miss my former job for a second but I do miss many of my colleagues.

- Dinner with a group of good friends at Gnocchi. Wow. Our friend who coordinated the meal warned us that they had great gnocchi. She didn't tell us that the rest of the menu was terrific or how much food we would get. It was one of the best meals I've had in ages. I could go on for days about the little pillows of Italian goodness but I'll save you. We sorta overtook the restaurant but our group had not been together in a long time.

- The last night was spent with a few other friends. Our friend who lived in the area suggested Tria which didn't disappoint. Not only was the food excellent but I was able to drink Bell's stout on tap. We followed it up with amazing gelato at Capogiro. Great conversations and food.

My flights were uneventful. I was able to snack on some Chik-fil-a at the Atlanta airport. It helped fuel my in-flight trivia matchups. I love that Delta offers this entertainment option. I started playing and then I would take breaks to watch the Michigan returns on CNN or watch a movie (Superbad) or watch my seatmates try and control their dog who kept trying to scratch its way out of its carrier. Despite these breaks, I had more points than anyone else on our flight. It is kinda weird to have someone walk up to me and compliment me on my history and literature knowledge. Someone behind me yelled, "Hey E.M. you are great at trivia!" I should fly more often so I can boost my often depleted ego.