Yet another travelogue: Vancouver, BC, Day 4

26 March 2014 We intended to make our last full day in Vancouver a rather lazy day, with a couple of leisurely strolls through relatively nearby neighborhoods and a bit of casual souvenir shopping. And that’s pretty much how it started, with a morning walk through Yaletown, which feels very much like Portland’s Pearl District,Continue reading “Yet another travelogue: Vancouver, BC, Day 4”

Yet another travelogue: Vancouver, BC, Day 3

25 March 2014 I’ve written about this before, but my paternal grandfather was a merchant ship captain — technically still is, since he remains a master mariner, though he’s in his 90s and has been retired for decades now. His father was also a master mariner, as was his father before him. And so on,Continue reading “Yet another travelogue: Vancouver, BC, Day 3”

Yet another travelogue: Vancouver, BC, Day 2

24 March 2014 We woke early this morning because the weather was supposed to be wonderful again and we wanted to beat the crowds to Stanley Park. We needn’t have worried — the weather was wonderful but still a bit cool and overcast, and it’s a Monday, so the park wasn’t crowded at all. Still,Continue reading “Yet another travelogue: Vancouver, BC, Day 2”

Yet another travelogue: Vancouver, BC, Day 1

Jennifer and I are on Spring Break, and we’ve decided to blow town for Vancouver, BC. We actually have a history of heading north for Spring Break, rather than south like so many of our friends and colleagues. What can I say: Having grown up in Texas and lived almost three years in the MiddleContinue reading “Yet another travelogue: Vancouver, BC, Day 1”

AWP Day 5: the conference never ends

So, in my haste to post between events the last couple of days, I’ve had to gloss over some amazing things that happened at AWP. So let me back up briefly before sharing the awesomeness that was the last day. First, Friday night. This was the Hot Pillow reading hosted by JP Reese and Jen KnoxContinue reading “AWP Day 5: the conference never ends”

AWP Day 4: readings and writers abounded, but now we all go home

Good news: I found my notebook. Which was an auspicious start to a solid day, full of friends and readings and a side trip to the Seattle Public Library and book sales and one last panel and . . . and . . . and . . . . And I’m exhausted, gang. AWP hasContinue reading “AWP Day 4: readings and writers abounded, but now we all go home”

AWP Day 3: on readings and roundups

First things first: I’ve lost my notebook. This would ordinarily be a devastating event in my life, but as it happened, I’d finished an older notebook while I was here and picked up a free new notebook from the NEO MFA program, but the only things I’d managed to scribble in the new notebook wereContinue reading “AWP Day 3: on readings and roundups”

AWP Day 2: We shouldn’t be here because we should be writing

I’m writing this before the big event today — Annie Proulx’s keynote address — because I have no idea what kind of time I’ll have to write it after. And there’s plenty to write about already. So far today I’ve hit three panels. The first was at 9 am and, miraculously, I made it thereContinue reading “AWP Day 2: We shouldn’t be here because we should be writing”

AWP Day 1: trains, brains, and automobiles

I don’t really have much to report from day 1 of AWP, except that Seattle is STUFFED full of writers right now, and we’re not even all here yet. I do want to backtrack and write a bit about my journey up here from Portland, though, because this was my first train ride in the USContinue reading “AWP Day 1: trains, brains, and automobiles”

Where I’ll (probably) be at AWP in Seattle

Whenever I’m lucky enough to go to an academic conference, I always have my students assign me homework. I go because I love the intellectual and social exchanges — hearing so many brilliant panels and literary readings, meeting so many fellow writers and finding so many new publications, and drinking with old friends and colleagues:Continue reading “Where I’ll (probably) be at AWP in Seattle”