Reservations

Though I've been working on two sets of line edits this week, I've also had a bit of free time. That's been so great! I watched The Blind Side with both my kids on Tuesday afternoon, which was such a nice treat. It was raining outside, and somehow all three of us ended up on the couch together. All of us had also seen that movie several times, so it was a nice, comfortable 'movie' time.  We'd talk about scenes we liked, play with the dogs a little bit, go get more Wheat Thins…you know how it goes.  It was the type of afternoon I miss so much. When they were little-I could get them to watch Scooby Doo anytime/anyplace. Now…having them both in the same state is a rarity. Now I never take time with my kids for granted!

This week I've also been making plane and hotel reservations which is very fun! I'll be going to the annual Romance Writers of America conference at the end of June, and this year it's in NYC.  The last time RWA had the conference in NYC, I had only published two novels with a library publisher, and I wanted a contract with a big house so badly I could taste it!  I vividly remember sitting in the lobby of the Marriott Marquis, watching all the authors leave the hotel in fancy dresses, going to publishers' parties. I have to admit it-I was jealous! My agent, who was all dolled up in a black and white gown, very kindly told me that I just needed to be patient. 

It took a couple of more years before I finally did get that contract, but Mary Sue was right- that contract was well worth the wait.

Anyway, it was fun making those plane reservations…and hotel ones, too! I'm going to share a room with two of my critique partners for part of the week, then will switch hotels and spend two evenings in NYC with my husband. So, on Friday night, I'll have a date for those publisher parties, and then on Saturday night, we're going to go see a play. We'll be celebrating our 22nd anniversary, too, so it's sure to be a very special weekend.  I can't wait!

Just yesterday I made a room reservation in Sugarcreek for the end of this month. I got invited to an Amish wedding! It's on a Wednesday morning, so Tom and I will drive up to Sugarcreek on Tuesday. I feel so blessed that my Amish friends invited us to share in their joyous day. Now I just have to figure out what to wear…

Finally, I made a hotel reservation for Vancouver for June. We'll be all sharing a room together before we set sail on a cruise. We're taking our kids on an Alaskan cruise as kind of our last big family adventure. My daughter is graduating high school, and then will be off to school in Kentucky. I know next summer my son will be either working or interning somewhere and my daughter will be busy, too. I can't wait to spend seven nights with my little family-seven dinners together! Seven nights playing hearts!

All these fun trips mean one thing…I better get back to work!

What about y'all? Has anyone planned a summer trip yet? Has anyone been to Alaska in June? I have a feeling it's going to be cold!

Shelley