Greetings from Galveston’s TxDLA conference! I have mixed feelings about being here. On one hand, I love the exhibit portion of conferences. Since tagging along to my father’s ALA attendances as a kid I’ve learned to talk the talk, walk the walk, and maximise the awesomeness-to-mass ratio of my schwag bag. Now that I have a job tied to my presence at a conference, the devil-may-care attitude of stealing goods is frowned upon. The background of this conference has little applicability to my organisation and even less to myself.
I still try to salvage a little from my childhood practises by playing the Pen Game. (Not to be confused with Pen 15.) The goal: steal as many pens as possible. Other forms of logoed goodies do not apply. Get co-travellers to compete with you if possible.
My score after Day 1? 5. Laugh at you want for being able to count that high on one hand: I’m working with harsh conditions, like a tiny conference hall barely filled halfway.