Back but exhausted

Yup, this is the same place as last Friday's photo, just three years later, and at night. Cool how the Eternal Flame suddenly has color, isn't it?

I have a lot to blog about - tons of pictures, though not many of them from the conference itself, dang it all.

Why?

Unfortunately, I decided to take Gizmo Guy's 'spare' digital camera with me, instead of the one I usually use. I THOUGHT it would be better since it's smaller than mine - actually fits inside my purse - and has a higher pixel count. BIG BIG mistake. I took lots of pictures but most of the ones at the conference did not turn out well. They're grainy and awful even though the flash went off. My pictures of Molly O'Keefe and Kelley Armstrong? If either lady are looking for pictures of themselves that make them look like they belong in a paranormal world, they can contact me. Poor Kelley's photo makes her look like a ... well, I'm not sure, but her eyes sure are freaky. Almost vampirish.

See what I mean? Grainy. Orange. Yuck. Unfortunately most of my pictures of the speakers turned out that way. And the other ones I took of Ottawa itself? Most of them are blurry because the danged camera is so small, the slightest breath shakes the camera and blurs the image. Lesson learned, I'm never taking Gizmo Guy's spare camera again.

Anyway, I promised Julia I'd get some pictures of Jo Beverly for her. The one below is of Jo giving the key note speech during the luncheon on Saturday. Ms. Beverly is witty and droll, just like I'd always pictured her. Guess it's that English sensibility that I'm used to.


Here's a better one for you, Julia, since you asked. And yes, I told her all about you.

I'm still ploughing through my email - the hotel charged $10 + tax a day for internet connection. And caused me a huge panic when my laptop decided to keep rebooting. I'd been worrying all week about having to pitch and decided to get up at 4 a.m. Saturday morning to prepare. Naturally enough that's when my laptop decided to 'f-up'. So I panicked and whined from 4 a.m. until 7:30 a.m. when Gizmo Guy finally realized the wireless thingy was screwing up looking for a wireless connection that didn't exist. Once I flipped off the wireless button, it was okay.

So I'll post more photos tomorrow (of the ones that turned out) Some that I took at the conference, and some that Gizmo Guy took of Ottawa itself. Yesterday we saw a Mountie Wedding on the steps of Parliament Hill - lots of hunky guys in red uniforms surrounding a beautiful bride. Today GG took photos of the 31st annual National Police Officers and Peace Officers Memorial Day.

And I'll also post pictures of our two favorite places to eat. That are at total opposite ends of the spectrum.