The Catholic Press Association convention

So, very interesting trip to the Catholic Press Association convention in Brooklyn NY. I figured it was my only chance to go to the city - so I made sure to go to the Mass that was held in Manhattan at St. Patrick's Cathedral. Thankfully, they bussed us there - It's not far, but we had to drive during rush hour, so it took more than an hour. Also, I was sitting in the front, and I look down at the driver, and he has his GPS on this phone going! I told the person I was sitting with, "he's lost." Pretty soon, he turned around and asked us where we were going! He was given an address, and one about 4 blocks away from our destination, not the name of the cathedral. Fortunately, he knew where the cathedral was and we weren't in a totally different part of the city.

For me, as a country girl, it was really overwhelming. Sky scrapers everywhere, traffic, traffic, traffic, people on foot darting out in front of the bus. There was a fire truck blocking the route, and he had to take another route, nearly taking out a car more than once.

I didn't take my camera, but here's a link to the site - http://www.stpatrickscathedral.org/home.html It is near the World Trade Center site, and many of the funerals were held there.

After Mass, we walked "just a couple of blocks" - about a 20 minute walk and me in my heels! - to a restaurant called Smith and Wollensky, where the guys from our printer, Signature Offset, paid outrageous amounts of money for steaks. The food was fine, although I think I've had better at the Texas Road House in Cheyenne, but the pricing was insane. It was interesting to see Manhattan and the various famous shopping places, although it's nothing I've laid in bed at night, dreaming to do.

After dinner, I was thinking thankfully that we'd just take a taxi back, but our guide insisted that the subway "wasn't far, just a couple of blocks" so there we went. Of course, it was hot and miserable, and there was something wrong with the rail, and we stood there for more than a half hour, waiting for a train. I mean, I can walk just fine, but not in high heels. Anyhow, finally a train came, we switched trains and ended up "a couple of blocks" from the hotel. It was a real New York experience - I can say "been there, done that."

Today, at the grocery store, I bought a Smith and Wollensky salad dressing. I can say I've been there - it was an interesting connection to make.

The convention was, in many ways, lots of fun; in other ways, lots of work. Standing in the hallway, trying to track people down - each night, I went to bed, exhausted. However, it was fun to see people I know, fun to meet new people. It really is my milieu - being a reporter, a journalist, is my calling.