North By Northwest

[Donna Moore]

Well, I am now in Alaska and it is snowing! Woohoo! The Dr Frankenstein snowboots (why do they not come in a kittenheel?), ugly hat and all that strange stuff I got from that weird outdoor shop are going to come in useful after all. This was the scene from my hotel room on arrival - it has since got even deeper!

But more of arctic Alaska in a little while. First of all some more bits on balmy Baltimore. It is really strange to come from somewhere where the night before I was sitting outside eating crabcakes on a warm evening by the bay. Carl, Maddy, Dame Judith and I went out for dinner to a wonderful seafood place on the bay. The crabcakes were delicious and they did a thing called a wine flight - which was basically a taster menu of wine which was an excellent idea and really delicious.

The rest of Bouchercon passed in the usual blur. The best thing about it is the people. I always know that I am going to meet up with old friends (my long suffering room mate Jan, all the 4MAers of course, and some of my favourite people who it's great to catch up with - Declan Burke, Christa Faust, Ken Bruen, Twist Phelan, Rosemary Stevens, Reed Farrel Colman, Russel McLean, my poker buddies who humour me and put up with my stupid questions), the huge treat of meeting people for the first time - the big treats this year were Angie-Johnson Schmidt, John McFetridge and Peter Rozovsky. And then there are the people who I just don't see often enough. It's been years since I'd seen Eddie Muller, so getting to spend time with him was wonderful (and he STILL always manages to make me cry!). I'm sad to have left, but happy to be in Alaska for the next part of my adventure.

I'm not sure how this happened but, after sending 2 boxes of books and candy to the Bush, ready for my arrival, plus a box of books to Karen's, my luggage was STILL overweight. I had to pay excess baggage, natch. The lovely Karen Laubenstein picked me up from the airport and delivered me to my snowy hotel. The room I was given turned out to be Murder Central (ground floor, last room on the corridor, next to the fire exit so, after a few minutes thought I toddled off to Reception to see if I could get moved (yes mum, don't worry - I'm now in an alternative room!)

I am now going to order pizza and sit by the window and watch the snow fall.

Toodle-oo for noo.
Donna

[Donna Moore]

Angie - I got to see a bear in a restaurant today. Of course, it was stuffed, but that's probably the closest I shall get. And it was great to sit and chat with you at the airport. Dana - and likewise! I'm sorry it was the last evening and I didn't get to chat to you. Well, YOU should probably be grateful for that!

[Dana King]

Jeez, Donna, I didn't realize you were flying directly to Alaska from Baltimore. Not that I would have said or done anything differently; maybe lit a candle for you. Remember, if you can see Wal-Mart out your window, that's not Russia; it's actually much like China.

It was a pleasure to meet you at Bouchercon.

[Angie]

Russia, Walmart, same thing, no? Have a wonderful time in Alaska with the munchkins and send lots of pics. Fingers crossed you get to see a bear (from a safe distance, o' course)!

Fab meeting you in person & thanks SO MUCH for keeping me company at the airport. I fear it could have been dangerous trying to get through security and to the correct gate on my own!

[Donna Moore]

I will most certainly keep you posted. Somebody try and stop me :o) And do you know, I can see Russia out of my hotel room window? Well, it's actually Walmart, but it's still exciting.

[John McFetridge]

It was great to meet you in person, Donna. Please keep us posted on Alaska, it's good for us Canadians to hear about someplace that has snow before we do.