NYC and BEA - The return home

Saturday, June 9, 2012

Cindy and I met up at the train station for 7:00 a.m. as our train was leaving at 8:15 a.m. After a bit of confusion, we finally got our bags on the train and, thanks to Cindy, we managed to get pre-boarded which means two VERY important things:

1-  someone else handled all of our bags (I had 2 suitcases and a bag pack) and Cindy had…..more than that (you would not believe it) LOL

2-  we get to sit in the train before everyone else and we also get to bypass the line (refer to previous 10 comments about how much I hate lines) so THANK YOU CINDY!

The trip was long – as predicted.  For some reason, which nobody seems able to explain, when the train gets to Canadian Customs is takes at least 2 hours before we can get through, yet when we do it the other way (Canada to US) it is often much quicker.  This time around 3 passengers were unceremoniously kicked off the train and told to go back to the USA – but I don’t really know why.  Apparently, this is a common occurrence.

Finally, we got home.  I was sooo happy to get back to my house, my cat and my friends! I had quite a lot of mail to go through, but I was so tired that I basically left all the mail on the kitchen table without opening it (this rarely happens believe me).  I also left all my bags where they happened to land and took a shower and headed to bed.  Unpacking could wait another day.

Random thoughts on my trip, on my NYC and on BEA:

• I told Margie how amazed I was that I broke my foot in October and here I was some 7 months later, walking 50 miles in New York City without any problems – amazing.

• NYC is really beautiful and the people where really nice.  I had a taxi driver who could not figure out where the ‘red cap’ booth was at Penn Station so he turned his meter off and we went round and round Penn Station until we found it.

• I loved my hotel.  It’s a budget hotel that is a little out of the way, but it was wonderful!  I am happy that I discovered this hotel as I cannot (will not) pay $300.00 or $400.00 for a hotel room per night.

• I am so grateful that I get to do BEA – so many people (bloggers and others) would have loved to get there, but for various reasons could not – so I am thrilled.

• I was also thankful for all the text messages I got from the people in my life while I was in NYC – wishing me well, encouraging  me to ‘enjoy’ my time off and encouraging me to ‘relax and eat what I want’ (even though I did not do that last one).

• I was also thrilled to discover my new "favorite" drink, although I doubt I will find it here - A&W Diet Cream Soda - sooooo good.

• I am also very grateful that my mother made sure that I was so perfectly bilingual that I actually got into a mini debate with someone in my hotel about the fact that English is NOT my mother tongue. (which also means that I can travel anywhere in the US and basically communicate without any kind of problem - except possibly in Texas LOL).

• I am also grateful that this is my last BEA post for this year :)  See you next year BEA!

Finally, here is the list of books that I brought back with me.  NOTE:  I was given many, many more books than are listed here, but I vowed that I would only bring back what I truly wanted to read, so, when I somehow ended up with books that were not my type of read (I honestly turned down as many of these as I could at BEA, in order to give someone else a chance to get them - but this did not always work) I found myself in the lobby of my hotel in the mornings, offering up free books). Cute story:  on my last day, apparently, a woman went up to the desk clerk and asked "where is that nice lady who gives out free books??"  Sorry, still not linking as I HATE it sooo much :(

• Pocket Posh Christmas Word Roundup 100 puzzles;
• Survive by Alex Morel;
• A Fatal Debt by John Gapper;
• Don't Turn Around by Michelle Gagnon;
• Next Time you See Me by Katia Lief;
• Nightwatcher by Wendi Corsi Staub;
• Burqualicious by Becky Wicks;
• The Only Buddha in Town by Alanna Maure;
• The Receptionist by Janet Groth;
• Blind Devotion by Sharlene Prinsen;
• From Bagels to Buddha by Judi Hollis;
• God Loves Ugly by Christa Black
• Diary of a Stage Mother's Daughter by Melissa Francis;
• Skinny by Donna Cooner;
• Tap out by Eric Devine;
• Dare me by Meg Abbott;
• Busted in Bollywood by Nicola Marsh;
• Who I Kissed by Janet Gurtler (thanks for getting this for me Cindy)
• Ferocity Summer by Alissa Grosso;
• Kiss and Make up by Katie D. Anderson;
• Patient One by Leonard Goldberg;
• Off Limits by Robert Rayner;
• Hook Up by Kim Firmston;
• No Safety in Numbers by Dayna Lorentz;
• Saving Ruth by Zoe Fishman;
• The Little Book of Light by Mikaela Katherine Jones;
• The Weepers the Other Life by Susanne Winacker;   (For my friend Sharon)
• The Digest Diet Book by - Readers Digest;
• Undead by Kirsty McKay;  (For my friend Sharon)
• Blessed by Tonya Hurley;   (For my friend Sharon)
• Breed by Chase Novak;
• The Sweet Dead Life by Joy Preble;   (For my friend Sharon)
• Dream Big Little Pig by Kristi Yamaguchi;  (From my friend Lynda's granddaughter)
• Wild about You by Judy Sierra;     (From my friend Lynda's granddaughter)
• Christmas Cookies (sorry I don't have the author's name);    (From my friend Lynda's granddaughter)
• Zom-B by Darren Shan;  (For my friend Sharon)
• No Peace for the Damned by Megan Powell;  (For my friend Sharon)
• Narc by Crissa Jean Chappell;

SWAG:


BEA is also known for giving away lots of swag.  I received:

• At least 10 tote bags (which I have been giving to various people);
• A full size apron (which is kind of funny since I don't cook - at all);
• 2 Calendars;
• Various pens and bookmarkers and fridge magnets;
• A very cool portable portfolio;
• A Netbook carry case (bright orange);
• A cup from KOBO and a variety of other things...

The final word:  If I had to pick the one event (picture) that I loved the most it would have to be this one - perusing the ARC shelves at HousingWorks (thank you to Cindy for taking this picture).