Brief update from NYC and the AACRAO Conference

Well, as calm as it was Sunday night is as hectic as it is here in NYC on this Tuesday morning. I got into town yesterday with a colleague--first time riding on a shuttle (gotta say, I prefer larger airplanes, but it was a short, easy flight, and we did get a beverage)--and we checked into our hotel right away, after a couple of cab rides. Alas, we didn't get the nice hotel, the Sheraton New York--it was booked, so we ended up across the street at the Sheraton Manhattan, which desperately needs updating. It has that old hotel smell, and the rooms (or at least *my* room) is cramped, with chipped furniture. It feels decaying. However, I do have a quiet room (my colleague does not), and that is all that counts. In addition, the hotel across the street has a really nice health club facility ($20 for the duration of my stay), so I worked out for about 75 minutes yesterday and may today (IF my clothes dry!). Otherwise, I'll use the pool in my hotel, which isn't too bad, and I do have a bathing suit with me.

The AACRAO Conference (for Registrars, Admissions Officers, and various Student Affairs personnel) has been okay so far, but nothing thrilling. I wasn't enthralled with the US Army Corps gospel choir (they rather sucked and I would rather not hear them sing about Jesus for 45 minutes), and the opening speaker was okay but didn't say anything revolutionary. Today's first session, at 8:15 am (when I normally wake up!!!), was about first generation students, an interesting topic, but the presenter had nothing with him: no handouts, no a/v, nada, and it was hard to keep up w/ him and take notes. He also only spoke for a half hour and I asked a question, along w/ a few others, but that was it. I hope other sessions are more informative and I can listen, rather than scribble notes I can't read. ;-)

I also hope I get to see a little bit of NYC during this brief stay (I leave Thursday), though I kind of doubt it, since the sessions run til 5:30pm and they are tiring. I am planning to meet up w/ friends tonight (possibly) and tomorrow night (definitely), hopefully near the hotel, so that will be nice. I prefer smaller conferences in warmer, less hectic climes (like the one I went to on advising last year in Norfolk, VA--that was awesome), but you do what you have to do, and at least I'm not paying for it! At least I have a quiet room. That is key.

Finally, my friend Debbie's 10 minute play was not accepted into the Boston Playwrights' Festival. I feel so badly. I had hoped so much it would be. We still haven't heard from the Devanaughn, and probably never will, and aside from the one rejection I received, I've heard nada from nadie. Ah, well. Better to stay busy and not worry about it, I guess. I plan to get to more creative writing when I get home.

Well, almost time to go to another session. I'm standing at a 17 inch flat screen (that's nice, at least) in the middle of a large conference hall, aka the Cyber Cafe, and I'm getting sore from writing (it's been at least 45 minutes), so I'm going to sign off now. I hope to have a nice lunch and dinner, and am stocking up on free beverages. ;-) (I am also checking work email, so I'm not just fooling around. Second half semester classes started today, so I really had no choice.) I'll write more tomorrow or Thursday. Ciao from NYC.