I finally got lucky in Vegas–waiting for the airport shuttle at 3:30 in the morning, a fellow shuttler from Maui presented me with a large package of Chocolate Toffee-Covered Macadamia Nuts. Thank you, whoever you were!
On the conference–I echo the sentiments of other APH members who are praising our conference organizers Paula Yost, Marianne Waller and Barbara Tabach for creating a great agenda and managing the difficult setting to our best advantage. The keynote speakers, workshops, and member-mingle events were all top-notch.
Outside the serenity of the conference center, something about the sensory overload of casino-space just tripped every trigger I have. But once I found a way to avoid the Harrah’s casino while getting from my hotel tower to the conference center, and a quick (though illegal) way to get from the hotel tower to the Strip, I was a happier camper.
I came to think of my shortcut as taking me through the “Parallel Universe Cafe”–an alley that led past the ass end of the casino (dumpsters, loading dock) to a narrow outlet between Harrah’s and MacDonalds. Kitchen and housekeeping staff have brought out tables and chairs, and gather there on their breaks. Maybe it’s having a husband in the food service–I feel I have more in common with these service workers than the people at the tables inside.
True Stories Well Told 
I enjoyed your notes from Las Vegas. Thanks for sharing your conference trip with us! Like you, I had sensory overload from the casinos, one time when I visited there on vacation. After two days, I could barely stand the noise . . . went to my room to read! Guess I much prefer the quiet places, like libraries and book stores, or the peacefulness of a walk in the woods. Continued success with your “True Stories, Well Told.” I love getting the notifications and reading the essays.
Jan Grant-Gustafson
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Ok, Sarah – now I am putting it all together! I don’t remember how I became aware of True Stories Well Told, but I really love it. When I met you in Las Vegas last week I did not put two and two together, or I would have told you so then. It was great to meet you and I really enjoyed my first APH conference. And now I really will submit an essay for this site.
Kristi Woodworth
p.s. Thanks for the beer!
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I feel so “in” as you took me to your new find: The Parallel Universe Cafe. Las Vegas was fun when we put on our anthropologists hats – and it was fun exploring it with you.
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