Day 3.5 in Portland at the JASNA AGM

Blogger ready for the ball

Well, back to reality now.  I am back from Portland (with a bit of jet lag) and the Jane Austen Society of North America AGM (annual general meeting) is over.  It was a ton of fun, and I got to spend some valuable time with my sister (away from our families).  Portland is an amazing city, funky and quirky and just downright gorgeous.  The lectures/breakout sessions at the AGM were informative and fun.  I've never had so much enjoyment at a conference before.

    The highlight was definitely the Bal Masque, a fancy dress party where I believe fully half of the attendees were in some sort of costume.  I have posted some random photos above to give you an idea of the variety of dresses/costumes.  It was a visual feast.
    So, no more Powell's books or Voodoo Doughnuts but instead it's back to work this week.  Next year's AGM is in Fort Worth Texas and apparently Andrew Davies (screenwriter of Pride and Prejudice, Bridget Jones, Northanger Abbey, Little Dorrit, Daniel Deronda, The Way We Live Now, Wives and Daughters......etc) will be there.  That alone is reason to go, never mind the rest of the fun.  Are you going to go?