Still in Arizona!

The National Media Market has been a great opportunity to meet, greet, and eat . . . I've had lots of fun meeting vendors and other ed media folks . . . plus free lunch is provided daily . . . not to mention the opportunities to preview some excellent programs. At work I'm usually requesting previews for faculty members, and passing the videos on to them . . . not enough time for me to actually view them. Here, that's the whole raison d'etre: I can wander around to the various vendors, all of whom are installed in hotel rooms, which is a bit odd till you get used to it, and plunk myself down in front of their DVD players and monitors, and watch video to my heart's content. Did I mention the vendors often provide chocolate as well? It is a videophile's delight.

I've seen some excellent materials on China, Willa Cather, the age of AIDS, and many more topics. I particularly enjoyed seeing a documentary on packrats, which I realized as I was watching it, was produced by an Emerson alum. My favorite title so far: The Last House Standing, a documentary by a Shanghai filmmaker on a man who tries to hold on to his house as the government plans to destroy it. A wonderful study of an individual who has witnessed a great deal of Chinese history from his house.

Finally escaped the hotel tonight, and had a great non-hotel dinner of salad and pizza in the Old Town section of Scottsdale. Not only did I have a good meal, I got to ride in a PT Cruiser for the first time!!!! I was in heaven. Five of us went--two Canadians, a vendor from Montana, and a vendor from New York . . . it was lots of fun! Arizona seems like a very pleasant place . . . sort of clean and swept . . . lots of room, and cool cacti and palm trees (alas, none of them native) . . . a place I'd like to visit again.

I've been inspired to venture beyond the hotel again tomorrow--I have been really good, and visited nearly every vendor--and been to every professional development program! So tomorrow morning I may explore a bit . . . stay tuned!