Ramblings

Hello there.

I meant to write in-depth about my experience at Surrey, but it's too late now. The moment has passed, and other events have eclipsed it and changed my perception, as they do. So I'll just say that I had a wonderful time with my friends and Agent Janet. Shout-out to my girls.

Next time I go to a conference, I will remember to post about it sooner! But for now...

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

I'm not a Halloween devotee, mostly because I generally don't like putting on costumes and traipsing about. Also, it's usually FREAKING COLD here on Halloween. Last year it was like 10 degrees below zero when we were out. It turned into a race: how many houses can we visit before our fingertips are frozen to the point that we need to go back to Grandma's house and warm up with more cocoa?

But it IS fun having a kid on Halloween. Child gets very excited about the costume thing, and the candy thing. (who could blame her?) She's been a princess in some form for the past 3 years, so this year she decided enough with the princess: she is going to be a panther. Black clothes, black fuzzy tail, black cat mask. Black painted nails for claws. This was the MOST exciting part, as nail polish is generally not allowed yet at our house. So last night I painted her nails, and--at her request--mine. Am typing this with black panther-claw nails. :) We also decorated a pumpkin to look like a black cat, to match.

We are READY.

And I hope I'm ready for the election next week, too. For the first time in my life I volunteered to work for a candidate--I believe that strongly in Barack Obama. Tuesday I'll be doing whatever they need me to do, getting out the vote. Hoping it will make a difference, and this year won't be like all the others. This year we'll do it.

I have hope.

Yes! I'm back!!

First I had no brain to make a coherent post, now I have no time to make a coherent post.

Soon, my pretties.

Buh-bye!!

All RIGHT.

Midterm paper done and turned in. That was my last obstacle, and now I am free! (free free free) *you must visualize the little dance I'm doing while I sing that*

I am off to Surrey.

I love Surrey. Surrey is learning from and hanging out with the best writers, agents, and editors around. Surrey is finding yourself in a room FULL of people who completely understand what hell this whole process is and how you're obsessed with spending all your time doing it anyway. Surrey is reuniting with all my very best friends once a year and enjoying the heck out of it for 4 full days. Surrey is leaving behind all my commitments for a little while--family, work, school, thesis, internet--and just being.

Later, all. I am absolutely not bringing my laptop, so I will be back on Tuesday. Exhausted, maybe a little tipsy still. But refreshed.

Yipsy doodle

Revisions, you are MINE. Yessss!

Um, for now. For at least a couple days.

Homework, check.

Now off to read my research articles and write an outline for the paper I need to write tomorrow. But I think I've made enough progress that I can allow myself to catch up on ANTM at lunch and eat dark chocolate.

Now that, my friends, is a wahoo!

I know you missed me so much...

But I was really away!

Last week I was in northern California--my old stomping grounds--visiting family. Also, trying to fit in work. In between FairyTale Town-ing, pumpkin patch-ing, and a quick dip in San Francisco, I managed to pound on my revisions, do research for a paper, and do homework.

In other words, I had no time to blog. Crazy, I know.

Now I'm back home, but it's crunch time. Those revisions are due tomorrow (almost done, on final read-through to make sure I didn't leave any craziness dangling in there). The homework is also due tomorrow. The paper is due Wednesday.

And Thursday, I leave for my beloved Surrey to hang with my girls and my fabulous agent Janet.

More on Surrey when I find my head!

*warning* *overload*

AAAHHH!

Okay, revisions, thesis, prep for Trip 1, prep for Trip 2, homework, thesis work, work work, prepping house for winter, buying present and getting stuff together for a sleepover/swim birthday party Child was invited to TOMORROW NIGHT that I just found out about last night...

I can do all this, right? Tell me I can do all this.

Monday Love Day

Okay, it's Monday afternoon. I've seen a lot of people having rough times today.

I think everybody's in need of a love day.

I like to do these every once in a while--they make at least ME feel better. Hope they make you feel better too, for a minute at least. I don't like rules, but if you feel like it here's what you do to participate:

POST A COMMENT SAYING AT LEAST ONE THING YOU LOVE, RIGHT NOW.

Easy, huh?

I'll start. Right this particular second I love:

--Louis Armstrong
--Candy corn
--The brilliant orangey fall light streaming in my window

Your turn! You don't need to stop Monday either. Post as many as you want!

Register!

Okay, I know YOU'RE all registered to vote, right? But you might know some people who aren't. So feel free to pass this one along!

Link Festival

Some amazingly interesting stuff going on this week!

• Maggie Stiefvater's kickass YA faerie novel, Lament, comes out today!
• YA author Kelly Parra's launching her new book, Invisible Touch, with a Secret Fates Extravaganza. Go see! And watch the video.
  
• Janet Reid (okay, yes, my fabulous agent) has a blog post about the questionable decision of Northern Illinois University Press to exclude agented writers from submission. A firestorm of comments ensued. (warning: don't look unless you have lots of time!)
  
• Last but not least, Moonrat, aka Editorial Ass, is raffling off her editorial services to benefit a friend with cancer. Full of awesomeness.

Back to work!