Wet, sloppy spring snow slowed travel in the Twin Cities this morning, but weather reports from Chicago prompted a last minute change in packing from heavy sweaters to lighter items. Temperatures in the Windy City on Leap Day 2012 reached sixty as AWP check-in began. True to its reputation, Chicago’s wind pulled hair in every direction, yanked doors wide open and blew the dust and dirt of city’s streets everywhere. By six o’clock temperatures began to fall and cold rain added to the thrill of walking from the Chicago Hilton to dinner.

The flavor of this year’s crowd is beginning to show in the early registration groupings—young people carrying duffle bags and string sacks. Presenters and book fair participants already at work, middle-age attendees dragging roller bags with one hand and holding on to their Caribou cup with the other. Thanks to my husband’s Hilton stays we’ve snagged a room on the executive suites floor, a quiet place for the coming days. Just the sound of the wind around the building, the El tracks a few blocks away, horns and sirens twenty floors below. Chicago.

AWP is all about social media this year. At times on Thursday more than one session on the topic has been offered at the same time. Waiting to see how many people will be blogging or tweeting during sessions. Eager to hear what others have discovered about creatively using technology in their work.

More in the morning.