Madison- the final score

I arrived home late last night- we didn't get an especially early start, and were waylaid for the Chicago's traditional "Park on the Highway Sunday" Festivities. (I'm never celebrating THAT holiday again) Although it was a long day, it was really good to be captive with my coworkers (from Dr. Rockstar's lab) while we tried to sort through all the new viewpoints from the meeting. And this happily transitioned into discussions of careers, dealings with the boss, navigating grad school- interspersed with a lot of Hindi music and coffee.

I can even admit to a passing bit of nostaligia. I met some really great people, who would likely be my peers and collegues if I chose to stay in this field. As it is, I don't think other fields have an equivalent beer-and-coffee-fueled, hierarchy-leveling, story-swapping, Summer-Camp-feeling experience. And the particular great people I met this time, I would really like to be seeing again. And... honestly, I think this may be the last science conference I'll ever have the privilege and obligation of attending.

All told, the final score mounts up like this:
24 total hours on the road
5 total days of meetings and sunshine
12 minutes of my talk, and 4 questions answered
~70 other talks attended
1 rockin' show from Dr. Rockstar's band
New friends from 9 countries

Looks like it was a success to me!