Seeking advice from AWP veterans! I have realized that I actually do have a reason to attend other than "wanna hang out and meet some bloggers and see what it's like" ... it would be a really great thing for me to be able to chat with representatives of some of the low-res MFA programs I'm considering applying to. And Atlanta isn't too bad a drive from here, just about 500 miles -- if my ancient little car holds out (oh, cross your fingers) I could easily do it in a day.
But I can't afford it. But! My aunt lives in ATL, probably about a 30-minute drive from downtown. And if she's in town that week, I'm sure I could crash with her. So here's my conference-newbie question: how much would I miss out on if I had to leave at a reasonable hour every evening to get back to my aunt's -- say, no later than 8 or 9 pm? (It would be so rude of me to come stomping in at midnight; she goes to bed early.) Not having to pay for a hotel room would make it decidedly more affordable, although I still might not be able to swing it (heck, even just parking is expensive)... but the prospect of being able to meet some of the low-res program folks and make a more intelligent decision is awfully darned appealing.
* * * * *
This blasted heat and humidity is sapping every ounce of energy I've got. I know it's hotter in other places, but in the middle of the day we generally have about 65% humidity here -- going up to 90% at night. When you do this to lobsters, they turn bright red. When you do this to land mammals like yours truly, we tend to go home from work at night and fall asleep on the couch and just crash there. I am behind on everything.
More, I hope, later.
9 comments:
As an Atlanta native and world traveller, I can tell you that parking in Atlanta isn't nearly as bad as some places, so that wouldn't cost you much. Where does your aunt live? You might be able to catch the subway from some point near her home and take it right into downtown. Then just a short walk to the venue.
There are a number of small, boutique type hotels in the city that you could probably do on the the cheap if you had to. And I'm sure some folks will be offering spare rooms. I would, but I have a tiny place and I'd would wind up killing someone. :)
Poor boiling land mammal! I took I-70W home yesterday, and all through Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri the temp stayed solidly between 98 & 103. Insane. I don't remember one place I lived in Indiana being built to stay cool in that sort of muck. I hope you, Bear and Lotus all have cool places to lounge.
MARTA was pretty good the last time I used it. Their rail map is easy to read. (My sister lives near the North Line, and I keep thinking I'll use it to actually visit the city itself some day.)
About AWP proper I have no useful advice. My whole experience with AWP involves slightly drunk poets calling me in the middle of the night. It sure did sound like fun, though.
You would miss all the drunken poet debauchery which, really, is the best reason for attending.
Collin: Thanks for the info! I'm pretty sure the closest subway stop is far enough away from my aunt's house that I'd be hesitant to walk there alone after dark. I don't know the city well enough to tell you where she lives, though -- SE quadrant, if that helps. I think my choices are really either to stay in the conference hotel (or somewhere very close by) or to stay at my aunt's -- if I'm going to be more than stumbling distance from the conference, it may as well be free! ;) I recall seeing a lot of expensive parking when I was there at Christmas, but I am a small town girl and think $10/day is expensive parking, so.
Ross: maybe I'll see you there!
Laine: The cats have no idea it's hot outside -- they get to stay in the air-conditioned house 24/7. Lucky dawgs. I mean cats. And were the poets really only slightly drunk?? Hmmm....
Mister Jensen: I am shocked that such behavior would even be a possibility. Shocked, I say. Drunken poet debauchery? I never. (and, uh, let's just hope all my poet-accomplices from Provincetown were too tipsy to remember anything, so I can just keep on claiming that I never. Ahem. Sssshhhhh.)
I don't think you'd miss much leaving early. It seemed everybody started drinking at 3PM ~grin~. Hope to see you there! xop
Vermont College is a very fine MFA, and we rock/
Vermont College is high on my list of Places I'll Probably Apply. :) We shall see...
You should totally go if you can afford it. Leaving early each night is ... you miss a lot of fun hanging out, drunkenness, watching hook-ups happen, hooking up yourself if you feel so led (lol). I don't drink but really my favorite times are hanging out in the bar.
Hah, Paul -- the hanging out part and the drunkenness part sound amusing, but the rest of it makes me think I'd be sitting in the corner of the room while everybody else did their thing. Maybe I can declare my corner of the bar a hookup-free zone and then everyone around me can have drama-free fun. ;)
Post a Comment