Summer Days

It's been way too long since I've posted anything new. So sorry about that. Life has been happening at a dizzying pace and there always seems to be something urgent that needs to be done.

June ended with a wake-up call. My oldest was laid-off from her first real job and announced she was moving back home while she decides whether to go back to school and pursue her PhD. or find another job. I hustled to put some fresh feathers in the nest and welcomed her back under my wing.

I spent a week at her apartment, boxing and cleaning so the move would be easier. While I did this, she was in CA with the rest of the family (remember my bi-coastal status) on a previously arranged vacation. The rest of the family arrived back and we all loaded up a moving truck and brought her home.

Then we all loaded up and headed to DC where I attended the Romance Writer's of America National Conference. Hubby and the girls played tourist while I attended as many workshops as I could, hoping to learn as much as possible in a few days time about this business of writing. I had a wonderful and exhausting time meeting fellow writers and learning, learning, learning.

If not for the fire alarm on Saturday, I probably wouldn't have left the hotel for the entire day! Thankfully all was well and after a short break we were allowed to return to the building.

Lest you think all I did was work, let me assure you I had a blast. Since I knew absolutely no one when I arrived I had no trouble finding a table full of new faces at every meal. It was so nice to meet all of my table mates and if you were one of them let me say now how much I enjoyed meeting you and sharing our stories over a noisy table!

I was honored to meet several well known authors and had my photo made with a few of them too! All the speakers were fabulous, and I mean the ones at the workshops too. I don't even know how to describe the conference unless it would be - controlled chaos.

The hotel staff kept everyone going in the right direction and on time with their chimes and helpful directions. The food was better than average for this type of event and my room was vintage, but charming and comfortable. Kudos to the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel for a job well done.

The case of ADD I developed while there has subsided now that I'm not bombarded on all sides with multiple stimuli. There were no less than five choices to be made every hour of every day, an exhausting undertaking for someone who spends many hours a day alone with her computer.

I did get out for a few hours on Friday evening to see the sights and spend time with the family. I do love DC and all the pompous buildings and monuments.

The awards ceremony on Saturday evening was a star studded affair (in romance writers terms). I was so happy for all those who were nominated and especially thrilled for those who won. Like the other 2000+ in attendance I couldn't help but imagine what it would be like to be one of the honored few. Maybe one of these days, but for now I will just shout out my congratulations to those wonderful writers and be grateful that I was able to share the special moment with them.

I'm looking forward to next years conference in Nashville, TN. It's already on my calendar. See you there!