I left my heart in San Francisco, but I did bring my husband home

Aug 5, 2008 | Adventures & Travel, Writing

It is so hard to come back from conference and distill it down into one blog. Okay, sort of impossible. Because I have to admit, I’ve never had so much fun at conference as I did this past week. (Well, with the possible exception of the first NYC conference—remember Diane?) From the Yarn Crawl with Debbie Macomber and company, to the tea with John Charles, to the meetings with Waxcreative—my wonderful web team, to the workshops I gave, to having my DH come down Friday night and spend time with him, to presenting one of the RITAs. It was a blur of excitement and fun.

One of the cool parts of the conference was being right smack in the middle of downtown San Francisco. The cable cars were just a few blocks away, the street cars were right there, and the BART was the best way to get back and forth from the airport—other than having to sort of toss my suitcase over the turnstile, in a very ladylike, dignified manner, I assure you. There was shopping all around us, great places to eat on every corner. Like John’s, where I had dinner and a lunch with Laura Lee Guhrke. The glance of a beautiful rib eye on a plate was all it took to lure the two of us in. When it turned out to be the haunt of Dashiell Hammett’s Maltese Falcon, we knew we’d come home.

Then there was the staff of the Marriott. A huge shout out to Regina at the front desk for being the Queen of the Hotel—she rocked at straightening out my reservation and then when Friday came and I shuffled rooms, she found me a great, quiet, private room for the DH and I. The room was lovely and so is she! (Or as I said to my roommate of the week, Nicole Burnham, “I can’t pack quickly enough and get to my new room.” Even she agreed I’d gotten “the bomb” of a room from Regina. But really, everyone I encountered at the Marriott was kind and helpful and friendly. A great place for a conference.

More on Thursday. If you went, what did you love?  If you just love SF, what is your favorite memory of the city by the bay?

10 Comments

  1. Diane O'Neal

    I totally remember NY — you, Wanda and I blowing through some of the cool sites of the city in a record amount of time. Thanks to your inside knowledge! I want to go back so bad and spend more time at the Met, go to the Cloisters, and see the many cool things.

    My first conference was in San Francisco just before I joined the Foreign Service. I had a great time there too. In fact, I went back a year later for my Foreign Service interview.

    Only one week left in Pakistan!!!!!!!!!!!

  2. Abi Bowling

    My favorite part of conference was getting to meet up with our clients (some of whom I have never met face-to-face before). A particularly favorite moment was hanging out with a bunch of very talented authors one evening when I was teased by one particular author (oh you know who you are Miss You-can-knit-anything! Oops! did that give it away?) with threats of telling my ‘boss’ I was dancing on the tables. Harumph! As if!

    Folks, if you’ve never met Elizabeth, you are missing out. RUN, don’t walk, to her next event in your area. This wasn’t my first time meeting her, but it was my first opportunity to ‘hang out’ with her, and she is a BLAST!

  3. Emily Cotler

    Indeed. What she (Abi) said. Now, about those tables…

  4. Elizabeth

    Em, she did a lovely version of the Twist and smoothly transitioned into the Macarena without hardly missing a step. You would have been proud, especially when she declared loudly to all who could hear “Websites at half off!” The cheers were deafening.

    Kisses to you Abi! Because you are just a kick in the pants. Love your energy and your vibe.

  5. Abi Bowling

    uhhhh….. I take the Fifth.

    Oh I hurt from laughing so hard. I think I can skip my workout for today!

    And kisses back at you, Elizbo!

  6. Melissa Mc

    Well, going to SF was like going home since I used to live there. I had so much fun at the conference. It’s been hard to dive back into life at home!

  7. Keira Soleore

    I had no idea deals of such fabulosity (WC at half off) were to had at Harlequin parties. I thought it was a chocolate and champagne party…one where you stuff-stuff, drink-drink, and laugh till you drop, oh and dance a bit in the middle. I need to find friends in high places next year so I can totally CRASH this party.

  8. Amy

    I agree, I think this conference was the most fun. The only other one that’s come close was the NY conference. I would definitely go to San Fran again.

  9. aliquis

    Yay for great hotel staff! I seem to have bad luck with hotels, so I’m always so impressed when there are great stories. Haha, or I need to go to better hotels :X. I’ve never been to SF – never really been anywhere in CA really. I seem to vacation on the east coast more.
    I definitely want to go though – so many great stories, and all that California love. 😛

  10. Nathalie

    I have never been to a RWA conference, and I have not either visited SF yet! It sure seems like a great city… and I am not even talking about good chocolate!

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