ACRL

The whole reason Poe and I came to Portland was for ACRL 2015 (the conference for the Association of College and Research Libraries). Poe learned all sorts of interesting things about my job, and he's ready to help me at work when we get back to Virginia!

Welcome to ACRL 2015!

This Sasquatch cut-out moved all over the convention center.
He always had little buttons on a tray next to him, and we were
encouraged to tweet photos of him with his hashtag (#acrlbigfoot).

I co-presented a poster session about how our libraries are supporting
interculturalism initiatives at our community college. Here, Poe gets us set up.

Portland Saturday Market

One thing I think is really cool in Portland is the Portland Saturday Market. It's the biggest consecutively-running open-air weekend market in the country, and it's full of handmade crafts, art, and local food.

It's hard to see during the day, but look carefully...
you can see the "Portland Oregon" sign.
It used to say "Made in Oregon" (a company that sold local goods)
but it was changed when the city bought the sign.

You can see the red banner advertising the Portland Saturday Market,
about half of which is behind that banner and off to the left. The rest is behind us. It's huge!

Benson bubblers are the iconic drinking fountains scattered around Portland.
Here, Poe stops for a drink at one after wandering the market for a while.

He looks closer in person, but this is Mt. Hood on our way back to Mom's house.

Portland Art Museum

Yesterday, Poe went to the Portland Art Museum with me and my mom! They have lots of different types of art. I tried to get a photo of Poe in each exhibit to show the museum's range.

This one is in the Chinese art exhibit. The placard said it took the artist 5 years to draw.

Japanese clay exhibit.

American art exhibit

Northwest American art exhibit (this is Mt Hood)

English silver exhibit

Transformation mask (raven to sun) in the Native American art exhibit

Hat in the Native American art exhibit

Sculpture exhibit (Poe is hiding in the middle)

Contemporary art exhibit (this one is called "Five Words in Orange Neon")

The sign outside the museum

Room Service

Poe and I are staying in a VERY nice hotel in Portland. We got a complimentary upgrade to a junior executive suite, which I thought was nice. Since I felt so sick on the plane (I used to be a champion flier, but for the past decade, every time I get on a plane it just gets worse and worse, I don't know why) we are staying in and relaxing tonight... which of course means room service!

Coming from the east coast to the west coast, it feels like it's quite late, but actually it's not even the end of the work day here! So after we eat and get settled, we might still have time to explore the neighborhood a little!

Also, I heard a story that will make for the perfect souvenir if I can find a shop selling them... oh the suspense!

ATL

We are sitting in the ATL airport waiting for boarding, so now seems like a good time to post this photo I took of Poe posing with the public art in the area between concourses:

Ipo and the WHALE

We're redoing one of our classrooms in the library, to make it more interesting, allow for more active learning, and to improve accessibility. The new chairs were delivered today!

Welcome to Virginia Beach, Poe!

Poe sort of blends in with my shirt... oops.

If a Little Visitor sneaks up on Gimli the kitty, they run a better chance of not being seen as a cat toy.

Poe is here! I didn't check the mailbox yesterday (I didn't think a box with an LV in it would fit) but I should have, because that's where he was!!! He even brought snacks with him (and was kind enough not to eat them all in the box).