Melissesages

It’s Saturday morning, and the is the first chance I’ve had to post since I got here Wednesday night. I can’t believe the conference is only half over; it feels like I’ve been here a week. This probably has something to do with being busy every second of the day, and not sleeping much at all. For those of you who are fuzzy on the definition of “irony,” here’s an example: I was kind of excited to leave the baby, because it meant I’d finally be able to get a decent night’s sleep. But now that I’m finally away from that sleep-stealing infant, I’m getting even less, maybe 5 hours a night thus far. Bam! Irony.

All right, so let me back up a minute to make a formal complaint against United. United is the abusive spouse you keep going back to even though you know better. I have yet to have a perfectly normal, uneventful trip on United, and this trip was no exception. I was supposed to fly from Madison to Chicago and Chicago to New Orleans, with only about a 50-minute layover. I rushed like hell to my gate, only to find they’d overbooked the flight and the last three there - including me - were booted. Just booted. It would have meant missing almost the entire first day of the conference, but luckily, ONE person decided to take the incentives and fly out the next day. The couple was before me in line, and there was a nail-biting moment while they were deciding whether or not they were willing to split up. They were not. I managed to make the flight, no thanks to stupid United. Chicago is the closest major airport to Madison, and that’s United’s hub. Still, I know better, and every time I swear I won’t do it again.

Oh, and then they lost my luggage. Assholes.

Poor airline choice aside, the big disappointment of this week was that the agent I was supposed to meet with ended up calling in sick with a broken elbow. No agent meeting for me. I will get to do a phone meeting with her, but I was definitely crushed when I found out: I know this makes me sound like a ditched prom date, but I had a new outfit and everything.

Now, here was the big, awesome conciliation prize: Dennis Lehane. Lehane’s been on my favorite author list for years and years, and I’ve been honest-to-goodness nervous to meet him - me, who has interviewed celebrities and been to the Oscars. He’s definitely one of my heroes, and one of those writers whose work convinces me that I’ll never be more than a hack. But, you know, in a good way.

Anyway, he was scheduled to speak last night, and while I was leaving the panel discussion BEFORE his talk, he suddenly popped out of an elevator in front of me and said, “Excuse me, do you know where this ballroom is?” Did I! I said, “Come on, I can show you,” and he followed me; though he did not seem to pick up my subtext of “you’re the coolest person ever and if I wasn’t already attached to my firstborn I’d give them to you.” We chatted on the way, I was very cool and not at all gushy (I’m pretty sure), and then he proceeded to give one of the most entertaining and informative Q-and-A’s I’ve ever been present for. They say you should never meet your heroes, but Dennis Lehane was everything a fan could want: funny, articulate, modest but not falsely so, insightful, thoughtful, etc. After he spoke I blew tomorrow’s lunch money on one of his books, and took it to him to sign. I joked that he should sign it “Thanks for showing me the way” - and he did. It was so cool!! Afterwards I was geeking out about it for a good 45 minutes. I haven’t geeked out that much since…well, it’s been years.

Last night was also notable in that I finally started to make some friends - most of this conference I’ve been pretty alone, but there was a faculty-writers meet-and-greet with an open bar and live music. I was exhausted (did I mention every day I have to be here at 8:15 AM? And that it takes almost an hour to get here and park?), but I went, and started talking to people, and was so glad I did. When I left the party at 11:30, two different people had offered to let me crash on their couches rather than drive back. I know this is New Orleans and people are friendly, but that’s still progress for me. I’m not the world’s greatest friend-maker.

Obviously there’s plenty of other stuff going on, and I haven’t even started on the amazing French Quarter or the truly bloodthirsty cost of parking ($30 yesterday! I’m almost out of money, and I’ve only bought one book!), but I need to get back. Next time I post I promise to be a little more lively and awake. Probably.