Patsy Cline as in Crazy, that is…and more of the “I’m going insane” kind than the “I’m falling in love kind”.

Of the very, very, VERY good: My author copies of Matters of the Blood arrived!! Yippee!! When L sends me the photos she took of the newly opened box, I will post.

Also of the good: Olsson’s has scheduled a book signing for the 4 of us that were at the Alexandria Public Library last week.

Details:
Olsson’s Crystal City
7:00 p.m.
Thursday, April 26, 2007

If you’re in the DC are, please come! I promise there will be books.

Of the crazy-making: Work…that is all. (Consider that I’m still here at 6:46 p.m., which is early for this week. I’m thinking that’s a really big clue).

I succumbed to my other hare o’wildness (this time not a hair) and when I did the online check in for my flight tomorrow, I upgraded to first class. I need the pampering. (Yes, yes, I know it’s only a 1 hour flight, but damn it, I deserve it).

I arrive in Boston at 7:10 p.m. on United Airways. If any of you are around Logan at the time, I’m willing to share a cab to the hotel. Otherwise, I’ll fend for myself. ::g::

I am not yet finished packing.
I am not yet decided if I shall bring Blanche (my laptop).
I have no idea if I’ll be of any help to Nan as co-mod of our SPN panel, since I have been doing nothing but working horrific hours this weekend.
I will, however, bring at least one copy of my book for show & tell.

I am looking forward to seeing old friends I’ve already met in person, meeting old LJ friends that I’ve never yet met in person and making new friends.

FYI, I want giant hugs from those of you that do the big hug thing. Otherwise, I am perfectly content to sit and chat with those of you that don’t.

SEE YOU ALL TOMORROW!!!!

This past work week was…let’s just say, fraught. Fraught with a ton of stuff I’d rather not even begin to think about.

In any case, I had to cancel my planned weekend trip, which totally sucked.

Friday night, when I got home after another insane day, I pulled out my very last wild hair and said, “Hair, you’ve been poking at me *all* day. As much as my body wants to just sleep, I think you are right. I must obey.”

So I e-mailed beledibabe and confirmed that she and B were indeed attending the Virginia Festival of the Book’s Crime Wave event the next day. She called me back right away and squeed. Hee!

On Saturday a.m., I dragged my sorry carcass out of bed around 4:00 a.m. so I could be at beledibabe‘s house by 6.

We had a frabjous day!

Got there early, so we started off at the Mudhouse (a local coffee shop) and ran into Laura Lippman, Elaine Viets and Marcia Talley, all friends and fellow authors.

On our way through the Omni hotel to get to the first panel, we ran into Donna Andrews, a great buddy Ann Theis, (a librarian who runs the Overbooked site, a resource for readers) and Ann’s hubby and SIL.

At the historical panel, I managed to surprise Dana Cameron, which was a total blast. I’d told no one I was going, and not 2 days before, she and I had been commiserating via e-mail about how we wouldn’t get to see each other until May at Malice Domestic. I thoroughly enjoyed the look on her face when I went up to her. Got a lovely hug!

E, C’s friend from Richmond, joined us then, and the 4 of us spent the rest of the day at panels, shopping and had a lovely lunch at our favorite place, Hamilton’s.

I didn’t buy much, but snagged a gorgeous purple pashmina from a street vendor.

Today, I’m going to spend resting and catching up on shows.

Next weekend: MJ!!!!!!!!!! I’m so psyched to see all of you guys.

After a pretty tense night, I’ve decided to cancel my participation in the fangrrl squee weekend at starrcat‘s. At this point, I just want to sleep. It’s been a tough, busy week, capped off by yesterday’s incredibly stressful insanity. I’m praying we don’t have to work this weekend. At any rate, I will be *so* ready to see you all at MJ next weekend!

Woke up very very early this a.m. and filled the first hour of the morning with Supernatural.

My thoughts (spoilery)

(1) There is great news on the stepdad front. The catscan results are back and the cancer is in only one place and quite treatable. They are meeting with the docs on Friday to discuss next steps.

(2) I got my Callum bear!!!! The lovely folks at the BC Women’s Hospital and Health Centre even included an 8×10 (the same photo thats in the Ebay Auction listing.

(3) I also got my Surfacing ‘zines. Just in time for my NJ trip. w00t!!

(4) Tonight is my book signing/event at the Alexandria Public Library.

(5) At Mayhem in the Midlands, I will have the great pleasure of interviewing the Toastmaster, Nancy Pickard, a woman whom I adore and respect greatly.

(6) On Friday, I’m winging my way to NJ to visit with starrcat and the DS gang.

(7) In one week and one day, MJ!!!!!

Thanks to all of you wonderful people that sent me private emails, lovely comments and such about my last post. You don’t know how much this means to me. You guys ROCK!

I’m much better today, after a lovely afternoon at the charity event with co-workers (who are also friends). I must say, listening to the amazing stories of these brave women & families, it certainly puts things into perspective (the event was for a local homeless shelter). I’ve done some talking with a close friend that has had this same cancer in her family – with great results – all survivors. This gives me a great deal of hope.

I spent the rest of yesterday reading and watching happy-ending movies.

Tonight is for catching up on LJ and TV – missed Dresden, Rome and BSG last night, so I need to watch so I can read all your reactions!

(1) I got my notice from Great Big Sea – tickets soon to be mailed for the DC performance – SECOND ROW!!!! (eeeeeeEEEEeeee)

(2) My Serenity ornament is here and gracing my desk.

(3) I had a fabulous time at the beach and am even working on a story for ds_flashfiction.

(4) Life on Mars is HOT. (I managed to watch the first episode of Series 2 and have the next 2 to watch later this week).

(5) I’m obsessed with Friday Night Lights. Now I need fic recs, PLEASE!!

On the other hand…it’s nearly March and I’m going crazy from teh work. Oh well.

Trying to keep caught up on LJ, but have been teh suck at comments.

The weather has gone from insanely cold with bouts of snow/ice to nearly springlike. My body is confuzzled.

In conclusion: Holy crap, I need to get home!

Because I am ten sorts of insane, I actually drove to the office this a.m., even though everyone else is either working from home or coming in late.

No, it’s not really from some bizarre sense of OMGWORK! – but, truthfully, I’m taking Friday off to be with my writing peeps and doing a mini-retreat, plus Monday is a holiday for my team (we alternate MLK and Pres Day); so I really really really want this four-day weekend. If I’d shirked today, or worked from home, there are several things that wouldn’t get done and I might not feel comfortable taking Friday off.

Responsibility can surely suck. But hey, that’s who I am and how I do things. Has nothing to do with age, because I’ve pretty much always been this way. I blame it on oldest child syndrome.

Many many years ago, back in the early 80s, I was in charge of payroll/HR for a company in Richardson (yes, Nan, Texas, home of Jensen Ackles). One particular horrific day, we had a massive ice/snow storm in Dallas. You all think the DC area is nuts when it gets snow/ice, imagine Texans – with big trucks and big attitudes, and really no clue on how to drive in the weather. I didn’t know if the office was going to be closed or what, but since it was payroll processing day, I felt it was necessary to at least TRY to get there. Plus, it was totally a straight shot, just about a mile and a half up a main road.

I got into my tiny Honda and boy, howdy, I *made* it…after at least a half hour of white-knuckled driving and prayers to the PTBs. My efforts went to waste, though, because no one else showed up and I had no building key.

Le sigh.

You’d think I’d have learned my lesson.

In any case, I’m at work. The office is officially opening late, but hey, I can get stuff done.

Heard yesterday afternoon that Barbara Seranella, author of the Munch Mancini mystery series died after a long battle with liver disease.

Barbara was an amazing woman, fabulous writer and fellow Buffy fan. I got to know her, albeit briefly, via a discussion group I run. We only met in person once, again, quite briefly, at a mystery con in California a couple of years ago. She always had a fabulous attitude, a strong will and was someone I greatly admired. She will be sorely missed.

Huh, it’s snowing.

Sadly, like smittywing, I discovered it was snowing via LJ…specifically via smittywing’s post and darthrami‘s post. Hey, I was napping!

I got up way early today, mostly because my shoulder has really been bothering me, and decided to watch my 2 Netflix movies: Quinceanera and The Illusionist.

Adored the former; enjoyed the latter but totally clued in to the “twist” pretty early on.

Spent a little time reading email and then decided to nap after taking a pain pill.

Tonight marks the debut of The Dresden Files, based on Jim Butcher’s fabulous series. I’m looking forward to the show. I’ve loved that series since I discovered it back just about the time that the 3rd book was debuting. I met Jim at Shore Leave that year and interviewed him for a now defunct book review site.

Really really unhappy with CW right now. Normally, with iTunes, the shows are available the next day, after air date. Supernatural seems to be the exception. Episode 9, Croatoan, has yet to be added. Episode 10 was only added on Wednesday, nearly a week late. Episode 11 hasn’t been loaded yet, either. I sent email to iTunes, and evidently, it’s CW’s fault. They are the ones that make the files available and the schedule is up to them. Makes me a very unhappy camper. iTunes folks did reassure me that they are investigating.

I do have the recording from EyeTV, but the quality just isn’t the best, plus, hey, commercials. Besides, I bought the iTunes season pass for the show, so damn it, I already *paid* for those eps! Grrr.

/rant

In any case – tonight promises to be a quiet night, most especially since I’m still groggy from the pain meds and will probably just crash early and watch my shows tomorrow after work.

… being able to work from home when you’re still feeling a bit sinusy
… a new default icon
… OMFG UGLY BETTY!!! What a fabulous episode!
… a new Ianto mood theme, courtesy of spacemonkeyluvn (via the torch_wood comm)
… a bunch of fun new icons (scroll down until you see Ugly Betty) – all the bottom ones are new, courtesy me, and Shayheyred for the “Oh Girlfriend” one
… some very pretty John Barrowman wedding photos, link courtesy AfterElton.com
…Supernatural: Playthings – this show is just…gah

In conclusion: TGIF!