A quick note from Chicago:
A. I did not pack enough sweaters, mittens, or snow boots for this trip. Ice on the ground yesterday. Brrrrr! Record-breaking snowfall the day of my reading.
B. Chicago is a beautiful city. Architecture, museums, parks. Art Institute still wonderful. Although the fab Chagall stained glass was in storage. Got to go to a “Chocolate, Cheese and wine bar.” I think this trend should catch on.
C. The Bookslut Reading was crowded (although poor Ander Monson got snowed in, so it was just fictionist and poet Catherynne M. Valente and me) and I thought went pretty well. Catherynne read stepmother and Rapunzel poems, and stories about a princes on quests to kill monsters. So, of course, a good reading partner for me! A charming audience in attendance.
D. Poor husband G has finally caught my evil bronchitis, so the poor sweetie has been sick the whole trip. I’m still on antibiotics, now he is too!
E. Uneven internet connections are frustrating. Especially for people who almost exclusively use e-mail to communicate with others.
More when I get home Saturday…Hope you are all warmer than I!