Sigma Tau Delta 2023 National Convention: Day Two

Welcome back to Day 2 of the Colorful Colorado Conference! Today was a pretty relaxed day. I interrupted my beauty sleep at 8:30 AM and got ready for the day by donning my favorite pretentious sweater and slacks. I even added a fake collar underneath the sweater to look even more scholarly. I complimented the look with some black and gold hoop earrings Griffen bought for me and some chunky gold rings (which I promptly removed—I forget I hate the feeling of chunky rings on my fingers). 

After all that work, I climbed back into bed to read a book; if you know me, this should not be surprising. I finished Brenda Peynado’s book, The Rock Eaters. After that, I recorded my presentation for my slot in presenting at the University of Idaho EGA Conference, which will be held in person and on Zoom. Since I am in Colorado presenting this week, I am unable to attend this conference synchronously, but the event coordinators graciously allowed me to record my presentation and provide an email for questions in lieu of presenting in real-time. The program for that conference is below—I think it’s just so fun and colorful and deserved a spot in my blog post day. 

After submitting that video, I answered emails and perused some of the top attractions and sights of Colorado. Did you know that there is an International Church of Cannabis in Denver? I didn’t either, but you can slap your email in a little fillable box and receive your member-exclusive permission to partake in the sacrament with the other Elevationists. Other than that, I’ll probably try to visit the Denver Art Museum as well as the Museum of Contemporary Art. 

Around noon, my roommate, Alexandra, arrived! She is presenting her creative nonfiction piece on Saturday morning, and is studying in New York. We talked for a while and discovered we are very similar people—independent overachievers with a passion for literature and creative writing that aren’t so pretentious that we can’t be goofy every once in a while. After talking over text for some time beforehand, it was great to meet her today. 

I spent some of our downtime working on the research project I am collaborating with a UI professor on—the feminist theory and ideals of Simone de Beauvoir and the possible integration of these themes into Elena Ferrante’s four Neapolitan Novels. The philosophy is very interesting, and after reading all for Neapolitan Novels, I have fallen in love with the plotline and the structure of a Bildungsroman novel in general. The stories were so immersive and detailed, and they allow you to get to know each character as if you were there with them personally. Needless to say, I have enjoyed working on this research the last two semesters. 

Then, I conducted a last-minute tutoring session; I took on a new student to tutor virtually this week—a chipper, smiley second grader who is motivated to learn. I can already tell I am going to have a blast working with him. Side note and humble plug: if anyone is looking for a summer tutor (either in-person or online), I am looking for more students to take on this summer. Send me a message and I’ll have you fill out an intake form of sorts to help me determine how to best support you or your student. :)

After tutoring, Alexandra and I checked into the conference and then accidentally wandered into the bookstore, where I accidentally dropped my credit card at the cashier’s table after accidentally grabbing a new book from the browsing stock. It’s a collection of short stories called Sabrina & Corina by Kali Fajardo-Anstine. I am super excited to read it, especially after the short stories in The Rock Eater. 

After this short distraction, we went to a restaurant called Maggiano’s Little Italy, where we ate amazingly soft bread and heavenly pasta—I had the Rigatoni Arrabbiata and was only able to eat half, so I will be looking forward to those leftovers. 

We returned to the hotel and bought stickers from the gift shop, and then attended a reading of work from the published authors in Rectangle, which is Sigma Tau Delta’s Journal of Creative Writing. Every writer’s work was fantastic, and I hope to be one day be given the privilege of having my work in such a well-read publication. After this reading, we stayed to watch the Open Mic Night, which was another hour of astounding poetry and prose. We agreed that the second Open Mic Night on Saturday would be our time to share our own work. After this, we returned to the room, laid out outfits for tomorrow, showered, and got into bed. Now only tomorrow is ahead.

I anticipate tomorrow will be a fun, busy day with lots to do and see. I will be in sessions all day with a short pause to tutor one of my fourth graders and another small break for lunch, where Alexandra and I plan to make an excursion to the empanada shop across the street. I will also be presenting my work in the morning, so I am anxious for that to go smoothly. In the evening, we will be checking out the heated rooftop pool (you read that correctly). Regardless, there will be more to report tomorrow!

Happy Trails!