It was soooooooo HOT! I’m from Florida so I thought I could handle the heat - no problem – but…the humidity, lack of shady trees and blocks upon blocks of walking between shops with A/C had me like...
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Aside from the melting from heat part we had fun!
ALA was fantastic! Very low key, not many crazy lines, great books, the publishers were super nice, I got to hang with my wifey - Brooke from Brooke Reports & meet Amber from Du Livre!
We also got to be a little touristy and visited the Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium & the WWII War Museum. I mostly went to the WWII Museum for Kevin but it’s an incredible experience. Very well laid out, informative and spotless. It’s huge though so if you go – plan on being there the whole day or even 2.
Kevin’s parents came to pet sit the fur babies while we were away and were spolied and happy. Didn’t miss us a bit! lol
We got to spend a little time with them (the parents) before we left and here’s this hilarious shot of the cat that visited when we all went out to eat at a food truck. He threw himself down like this at our car - then followed us to our table - took a seat (in the chair, like a person!) at the head of the table and waited while we hand fed him our lunch lol
*Also an accurate representation of how I feel after a vacation
I’m still finding my post vacation groove and organizing my books.
But for now here’s a pic for the final day of Pride Month – these are all the LGBQTIA books and pins I got at ALA.
Once I'm organized a bit more I'll do pics of the rest.
Anger is a Gift by Mark Oshiro (available now)
The Gentleman’s Guide to vice and Virtue (available now)/The Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzie Lee (arc - October 2018)
This Is Kind of an Epic Love Story by Kheryn Callender (arc - October 2018)
What If It’s Us by Becky Albertalli & Adam Silver (arc - October 2018)
Jack of Hearts (and Other Parts) by Lev A.C. Rosen (arc - October 2018)
A Study in Honor by Claire O’Dell, Beth Bernobich (arc – July 2018)
Fresh Ink: An Anthology by Lamar Giles, Nicola Yoon, Malinda Lo, Melissa de la Cruz, Sara Farizan, Eric Gansworth, Walkter Dean Myers, Daniel Jose Older, Thien Pham, Jason Rehnolds, Gene Luen Yang, Sharon G. Flake, Schuler Bailar, Aminah Mae Safi (arc – August 2018)
What have I missed? I had a few tags (a summer & a bookish one) up that several of you mentioned you might do - if you did please send me a link so I can read it! I'm playing catch up with commenting & might miss it otherwise.
Sounds like you had a good time, glad you're back.
ReplyDeleteIt's good to be back! Other than all the catching up I have to do lol
DeleteALA jelly!
ReplyDeleteHaha, omg that cat cracks me up!
He was sooooo funny. The place was packed with people but he only came up to us lol
DeleteAhaha that cat sounds awesome. Glad you had a good time at ALA! That heat does sound terrible though lol.
ReplyDeleteI remember seeing him when he was about a year old. He's obviously pulled this con on a lot of diners lol
DeleteSounds like a great thing to go to, minus the heat. I get heat exhaustion easily so I would have died lol
ReplyDeleteI love the kitty!
I don't do well in the heat so I was super grumpy and whiny lol
DeleteOh my god, I love that cat. Too funny!! Yay for all the fun LGBT+ books. I'm glad you had a great time in NOLA, beside the insane heat. lol
ReplyDelete-Lauren
www.shootingstarsmag.net
The cat was awesome! We did have fun - better than the last time I went but I'm thinking winter would be better lol Not that I had a choice though.
DeleteI suppose that cat had his act all rehearsed LOL.
ReplyDeleteWelcome back! So, how many books did you add to your TBR pile? 😁
He had us pegged right from the car lol
DeleteMy count keeps changing for some bizarre reason - but over 40 - under 50
😱😱😱
DeleteI KNEW you wouldn't behave LOL.
I remember thinking the Texas heat was miserable until I went to Arizona. I was meeting friends there before we drove to the ALA they had in California a few years ago. (I think it was ALA... it's been many years, lol.) It was hard to breathe in Arizona.
ReplyDeleteLovely haul so far! I can't wait to see what else you got! <3
L @ Do You Dog-ear?
The heat (really the humidity) was SO bad!
DeleteI FORGOT TO FIND BROOKE.
ReplyDeleteWas it you that told me that the WWII museum is one of the best in the country? It really looked cool, I'll have to check it out next time.
There were a few people I forgot to find too lol
DeleteYes, we liked the museum. I don't know about best in the country - I don't go to many but it was a good one.
That cat it too cute! LoL They definitely know how to play the game to get the good stuff.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you had a blast, minus the heat. The only big book convention I did was thankfully all inside the hotel. I couldn't imagine having to go outside in the summer heat.
We were putty in his giant double paws lol
DeleteI went to a convention in NOLA years ago that was in the hotel and it was just as bad. But it was right on Bourbon Street in the middle of summer. I think the key is to go there in the winter lol
It's been so hot in Boston lately, good on you for navigating that and a book convention. You got some awesome ARC's What If It's Us looks so good!
ReplyDeleteTori @ In Tori Lex
The convention center was right across the street from my hotel and we went over at 8am and I was already melting! lol
DeleteOh man, I know I'd melt. I do bad enough up here in Michigan and I know its not nearly as sweltering as NOLA in July. Love that you got to go out and hit all those sites. The cat is a hoot!
ReplyDeleteOh wow! Neat stash! I plan to read The Gentleman's Guide at some point.
It was awful. The convention center was right across the street but everything else is a hike. The stores/restaurants aren't clustered.
DeleteSo glad you enjoyed your time at ALA. I WILL attend that conference one of these days. How fun to meet some of the people I actually interact with. #goals And nice haul of books there. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteI really like ALA. It's a lot lower key than BEA although I enjoy both.
DeleteSounds like you had fun. I enjoy NOLA. The heat wouldn't bother me, but eep, I bet Bourbon Street smelled ripe!
ReplyDeleteIt sure did. I went a few years ago too. I had a much better trip this time but I don't think it's the city for me. I don't drink so I'm sure that's a big factor lol
DeleteWelcome back. It sounded like you had a blast.
ReplyDeleteWe did have fun!
DeleteALA sounds like it was a blast! I heard it was SUPER hot down there though- yikes I would have definitely melted lol. Cute cat pic! I guess he picked the right group to hang with huh, and got some food out of the deal? :)
ReplyDeleteIt was hot but it was the humidity that killed me. I think someone local was saying that it was at record levels a few of the days.
DeleteYeah, that cat picked us right out for suckers. he was right. i was hand feeding him my salmon at his seat at the head of the table lol
Yay for a good time. I'd so not be going out in that messy humidity hell. lol
ReplyDeleteI was mighty cranky on the days we had to walk around lol
DeleteThat cat is a MOOD Karen! The cheek of him, he must spot the tourists and know who to con for his free lunch, clever little guy. From the photos I've seen of the event, it looked wonderful! I've been stalking readers hauls to see if anyone wanted to trade A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi but no luck so far. Looking forward to more updates Karen and seeing what other goodies you nabbed ♥♥♥
ReplyDeleteHe had me pegged right at the car. That's where he flopped, then followed us to the table - despite a crowd of other people lol
DeleteI didn't get the Mafi book. Did you want it or trying to trade for something else?
One day I'll check out ALA! I saw a pic of the food truck kitty on Instagram I think and I'd take pics too if I saw him haha :)
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you had a good time despite the awful heat. I love that kitty. My Patrick would so be that kitty if we let him out.
ReplyDeleteOmg that cat is hilarious!! I live that he sat in the chair like a person :) too cute! Omg, it’s been so damn hot here in NJ and it’s the humidity that makes it so bad. I can’t ileven begin to imagine NOLA in this heat! Glad you had a great time!!
ReplyDeleteAyyyy, belated welcome back! Sounds like ALA was a blast, and I'm suuuuper jealous that you got to hang out in NOLA -- even if it was sweltering! I've never met up with blogging friends in real life but I'd love to someday. OMG A Study in Honor! Can't wait to hear your thoughts because it sounds right up my alley.
ReplyDelete