My colleague and I arrived in lovely Halifax, Nova Scotia yesterday afternoon, landing practically in the forest.  One of the conference hosts was afraid we’d think we were somewhere in the great wilds of the north…but I just found it beautiful!  We grabbed a taxi to our rooms, and I was pleased to see bedding and towels ready for me (I think I remember one year I was missing a pillow or something?)–the communal bathrooms take me back to my undergraduate dorm days. (Don’t worry, I won’t revert to any dorm pranks like penny-ing doors, streaking, or creating a bathroom sauna; at least I don’t think I will….)

We joined last year’s hosts (Bob-squared) at the Rogue’s Roost for some dinner eats and local brew (great hefeweizen); then the Bob’s took me for a wandering, driving tour of the waterfront and point pleasant park.

I even got a little preview of the LSC (Life Sciences Center) where the workshops are being held starting Wednesday. Looks like ample room, and despite the last-minute worries of the hosts, everything seems to be in order for a great conference. I’m especially excited for our hike around Fort McNab today, the reduced paper printing in our conference folder, the great majors I get to attend, and breathing some more Halifax air.

All the locals have been friendly, but I can’t wait for the bio-friendly ABLErs to arrive today/tomorrow!! Have a safe trip, and look out for those trees…

Mark Walvoord
ABLE Web Manager