Houston, we have a problem. And it’s all our own fault.

Okay.  So the previous posts were about conference advice, right?  Well here’s a quiz question: What is the number one article of clothing you should bring to any and every conference.  If you answered “comfortable shoes” you get a lolly.

Today’s Theme Is: Not taking your own advice.

Pre-conference there are many things to do so I scouted locations, saw the city, and even stopped by the American Museum of History to note their pop-up book exhibit.  Here’s a sample of what I saw:

Caption reads: The French philosopher, mathematician and scientist Rene Descartes (1596-1650) used intricate flap mechanisms to take his readers inside the human heart.”

(I came this close to naming this post “Pat hurls himself at the maniac Weasel.”)

Pertinent, no?  I had every intention of making my way to the Library of Congress as well to see their new children’s center too.  But what’s the rush?  It’s only Friday and my bus doesn’t take off until Monday.  There’s plenty of time to see that room and also do ALA correctly, right?

Funny thing about the weather right now.  It’s hot.  Hot and humid with a sun that simply won’t let up.  Resident husband and I are traversing the Washington Mall when we see that the reflecting pool that faces Congress is completely dry.  Symbolic gesture or too obvious allegory?  You be the judge.  We want to get to Congress.  The empty pool is in the way.

If this were a silent film I would expect you all to be shouting out something along the lines of, “NO!  Don’t!  Are you out of your friggin’ mind?”

Because, faithful readers, I am wearing nice wedge sandals.  I love these shoes.  They are Aerosoles.  They give comfort and look pretty.  One could walk a whole conference in them.  One was intending to until one decided that the best way to traverse the reflecting pool was to hop into it.

Hop would be one word for it.  Fall poorly onto the right ankle might be another.

So now I am laid up, in a sense.  My foot is bound, crutches are at my bedside, and my ankle is sprained.  But do we give up?  NO!  We will be on that conference floor tomorrow, you betcha.  You just see if I’m not.

P.S. The great irony is that I made a kind of How to Attend an ALA Conference video a year or two ago that even makes a joke about this very thing.  Note the shoe I hold up.  Note the shoes on my feet too.  They’re the same suckers I wore today.  Live and learn.

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