10 Things I Learned While I Neglected My Blog

10. The Grand Canyon is really, really BIG. I know it's called the Grand Canyon for a reason, but it's mind-blowing how big it really is.

9. (Related to #10) Driving with three kidlets in a car for 12 straight hours will reveal your true character and patience right quick and in a hurry.

8. When you have kidlets tell others that their mom is *always* on the computer, then you know it's time to step back a little, since you're not raising a computer.

7. Change can be good, after all.

6. People who do what they say, when they say, and as well as they say they will, are worth their weight in gold.

5. You are not obligated to answer the phone. Especially when you're writing, because the universe will interrupt you. Oh yes, it will.

4. "Thank You" can help relieve headaches almost as well as ibuprofen. And those people who say it hold a special place in your heart.


3. Running 20 miles takes a loooong time. And it gives your hubby plenty of opportunities to remind you that signing up for the marathon (and doing 4 months of torturous training for it) was all your idea.

2. The writing community holds some of the nicest, most generous, and genuinely interesting people. That includes agents, editors, and authors. They are definitely my peeps.

1. You can get addicted to the shivery, giddy feeling inside when you are *that close* to finishing a story, and you know it's good. It's like Christmas Eve when you were a kid.


Have any of you learned anything while I was away?

She Lives!

Yes, I know. It's been forever x2 since I've blogged. But this is why:

It was last weekend, and it was EPIC!

We're talking almost 500 attendees, 60 presenters, 3 agents, 3 editors, and an small army of volunteer staff epic. The 2011 LDStorymakers Writers Conference was 3 days of sheer awesome. And, frankly, as co-chair, it took all of my spare time to organize my fantastic committee to make the awesome happen.

I have experienced and learned all sorts of things since I started neglecting my poor wittle blog, and I will share it all with you, my dear, neglected readers. Today we'll just stick with some pics.

First, the best chair EVER!

My co-chair gave it to me because I agreed to co-chair the conference for a third year (temporary bout of insanity, I know). I joked around with my committee that I didn't want the title of Conference Queen. I wanted the title of Conference Empress. So now I have a throne. :)

Unfortunately, I haven't been able to use it. My children have commandeered it. You see, the wheels work reaaally well. I had to force kidlet #3 off the chair to take pics, but she required I take some with her first.

The real empress of the house.

Second, the best hat EVER!

(the tiara part lights up)

T
his was given to me because at the conference I was the queen constantly on the run to put out all the fires behind the scenes. And I was on the run, that's for sure. I even wore my running shoes.

Third, the flowers another hotel sent us.

Oh, yeah. They got our attention. We put it on the registration desk.

If any of you attended, I hope you waved or stopped me as I ran by and said "Hi." I can't wait to get back to the blogosphere.