A little on the lighter side...

Lately my blog seems to have a slight element of heavy subject matter. So I decided to go a bit on the lighter side today.

This year the American Library Association to which Paul is a member and was president of the Student Chapter at his University this past year, were having their annual conference in Washington, DC.

With us being so close really couldn't miss it. I have never gone, but Paul invited me to go with him to check it out. I heard you got some great Swagg, and I remember him coming home last year with bags full of free stuff. I wasn't going for just the free stuff, honestly..okay it helps as incentive but I always like checking out new sights when I can. So we decided we would go for one of the four days. We got up and took the commuter train from here to DC at 6:15am. Arrived at Union Station about an hour and half later. First things first locate a washroom and coffee STAT! After that we decided to hop a cab to the convention center as it was about 8 am and it was already really hot. Our cab driver, seriously scared me. I have to give him credit first of all cause driving in downtown Washington is a nightmare. It is full our round abouts, and we are talking four lane round abouts. With people pulling in and out, slamming on breaks. Yes I was wearing my seat belt, but you know how the cabs are these cushy leather seated sedans to it's really like you are seat belted to a lazy boy. Dude slams on his breaks after cutting someone off, and I was sure the seat belt was going to decapitate me. LOL..Paul looks over and he gives me a reassuring look like "we will be fine", as we pass a car with the airbag deployed and windshield smashed in..lol. We made it to the convention center finally. Scariest 10 minutes I have had yet.

The exhibits go on and one for a long ways. It was really cool though. We got all kinds of free bags, and poetry magnets, books. Water bottles. We knocked out a few Christmas gifts..lol. I got Paul's niece Maya this beautifully illustrated children's book about Frida Kahlo, a famous spanish artist and the illustrator was there signing the books. So I had him autograph it to her. It is really nice. I had found this great book for my nephew Quintin. At the time it was a display book but later in the day they were either giving them away or selling them for dirt cheap. It was called "Even Monsters Need Haircuts". I opened it up and it made me laugh out loud it was so cute. So I waiting and before we left headed back to the booth to see if it was for sale yet. They had one copy left, and the lady went to get it for me and another patron heard me ask about it, and took it! The thing is these books are not issued yet, so you can't find them in bookstores right now. Paul went over to see if they lady was going to put it down, cause she was just looking through it. Finally she puts it down, and he was about to reach for it and she puts her hand on it again. Puts it back again, and then the woman at the table says to her "Ma'am, are you taking that or not?! The lady behind you wants it" "Oh" she says turns, takes it and says "yeah I am buying it." All of the sudden I felt this rage. I felt like my mother must have felt when she went to get my Cabbage Patch kid! I was ready to tackle her for it! I said to myself "Self! Forget, you will find it for him elsewhere, and Karma will get that bitch!" LOL....I know I am nuts. I stewed over it the rest of the time, thinking about walking back to the table to see if she changed her mind and put it back in the end cause you could tell she only noticed it because she heard me ask for it.

After that I needed some retail therapy to make it better. Earlier in the day I had seen this canvas bag for sale and it was of a character that I remember from my childhood. I went to find it, and hoped that they would still have some left. People were taking stuff and walking away with stuff that was for sale thinking it was free. It was a gong show. Seeing as what had just gone down this felt even more appropriate.....the evil substitute teacher. Miss Swamp. Hmmm. I think I see a resemblance.

It was a great day overall. People kept thinking I was the librarian, cause as Paul told me later I was dressed like one. I did sort of blend in a bit, with my black A-line skirt and summery top. Which apparently that and having a cat are all it takes to pass for a librarian. Overall it was a successful day,we got lots of great books for family members that haven't been released yet, and we had an adventure. The makings of a fun Monday.