Miracles, appliances, velvety cats, etc.

Einstein once said something along the lines of: "There are two ways to live. One is as if nothing is  a miracle. The other is as if everything is." I've always been firmly in the second camp. I  think everything is a miracle. Specifically, I believe it will be a bloody miracle if I remember to bring everything I need to bring to the conference.  Actually, this isn't entirely true, as I've certainly made quite a few lists of things to bring over the past several days, and my lists are broken out into categories ( e.g. toiletries, appliances, etc.) , and God knows if you have lists,  nothing can go awry, right?

You're wondering about the appliances, aren't you?

Since I'm busy packing, I've left Domenic, my newly balded cat, to do my revisions for THE SECRET TO SEDUCTION, and over there to the left is the requisite inaugural  blurry camera phone shot of him reviewing his workload. He looks perfectly normal from the front; from the sides, he's pure low-pile velvet. (You can kind of see it in this photo.) Everyone should get their cat shaved. He feels quite nice. (I'm just kidding. Everyone put your razors down.) It's really rather an inexplicable haircut, but as a friend of mine said today, perhaps once the groomer got started it was hard to stop. Like trimming a hedge.

Anyway...today was a long, busy day of packing and errand running. But I am getting excited about the conference. Among the things I'm looking forward to is the Literacy Signing, because I get to meet and talk to readers from all over the country, many of whom I've exchanged numerous emails with. I'm also looking forward to poking around the hotel room bathroom, because I love how hotel bathrooms are so much more pristine than mine will ever be. I love seeing author friends I haven't seen in ages. And TO LOVE A THIEF is up for two awards (gulp!)—the Rita for best Short Historical and the Bookseller's Best award for Short Historical—so cross your fingers for me. I'm going to spend a good portion of the conference purely nervous, which will prevent me from eating much, which will help me fit into my Rita skirt, so it all works out beautifully. Another miracle!

I'll try to blog once or twice from the conference, and perhaps include a few of-the-moment blurry camera phone photos, so the three million of you who read this blog (hee! I'm estimating, mind you) can stay informed.

Oh: the appliances? A flatiron. My cell phone. My laptop. A blender.  (<--just kidding. The party won't be in my room this year. )

Wish me luck and happy trails, kittens!

Comments

[Haven Rich]

Julie, everyone needs their hardware when they go on vacation lol. And this includes the blender, matter fact for a good week thats the first thing to pack, right next to the hang-over meds lol.

Um, are you sure Domenic will take on his load of to-dos? To me he looks like he's waiting for you to leave and he's going to surf the net. That's what my owners do when I leave. You never know he might download the latest Victoria Secret Runway show, so he can see the girls on the "cat"-walk. You'd just better hope he doesnt research his hair cut...shaved kitty might not return the right results lol. (sorry couldn't resist)

In any case, here's hoping Domenic does his work and you haven't forgotten anything..I'm a lists gal too.

[Ranurgis]

Well, I usually make lists too, especially for trips but I invariably forget something. The last time luckily the whole family was there and for most things I could find someone who had what I needed. I was even able to help out one of my nieces with a top. And I brought along some little books and things to keep him occupied (he was 3 months short of 4 years.) Not quite as much luck with the 4-month-old Emma. She needed more familiar people around her.

Hope you have a great time and that you win at least one of those awards. That would be awesome.

[Ranurgis]

Duh! I meant to say that I brought something to keep that niece's *son* occupied.

The synapses are definitely *not* all firing properly but I'm not surprised.

Anyway, I'm rooting for you to win--even without having read a word of the book. What are blog friends for?

[Nicole]

Good luck!!!!!!!!!!

[Julie@julieannelong.com]

Thanks for the congrats everyone!! You're so sweet!!! And Haven, you made me practically spit out my tea over the "shaved kitty" comment! LOL!!! I had a hard time finding time to blog in Atlanta, as my laptop crashed the first night, then recovered inexplicably later, shortly after my nerves did. I've been averaging around 2-3 hours sleep per night over the past several nights, and now that I'm home, I find myself nodding off the moment I sit down. Like right now.... zzzzzzz.......... It's kinda funny.

I'll try to blog later this week, maybe tomorrow. Yay! It was a blast, but I"m glad to be home.

[Nicole]

Glad you had a blast.

Bet your stats will be interesting for awhile with the "shaved kitty" stuff. :-)