Hope is on the way!

To borrow a phrase from John Edwards 2004 run for President, Hope is on the way! Day 1 of the DNC was today and I rushed home from work to watch it. Someday I am going to the DNC. It looks so exciting. :) In honor of those who have the audacity to hope, here are some hope quotes for the day:

"Great hopes make great men." -- Thomas Fuller

"True hope is swift, and flies with swallow's wings." -- William Shakespeare

"A comforting acquaintance, hope, a contagious thing like spring, inebriating like lager." -- Sylvia Ashton-Warner

"Everything that is done in the world is done by hope." -- Martin Luther

May you all have a hopeful tomorrow.

Obama/Biden '08

I'm thrilled that Barack Obama chose Joe Biden as his running mate. I think they will compiment eachother very nicely. Great decision on Obama's part. Yeah!

Thursday Things VIII

1) I'm waiting on pins and needles to find out who Obama has chosen as his running mate! (Yes. I am a political geek.)

2) I have been using the exact same hair color for the last 16 years. (Hey, if it ain't broke...)

3) I've always wanted to learn to oil paint. (Water colors are pretty, but you have to do them quickly & spontaneously, and I'm too much of a perfectionist for that.)

4) I like the idea of reincarnation. I think it's cool that I could have lived many different kinds of lives, trying each of them on for size. (I'm not sure if I believe in it, but anything's possible.)

Quizzy

Just for fun... I stole this from Barb. She and I got similar results. :) What did you get? Click and find out. :)

Your result for The Perception Personality Image Test...

NBPS - The Idealist

Nature, Background, Big Picture, and Shape

You perceive the world with particular attention to nature. You focus on the hidden treasures of life (the background) and how that fits into the larger picture. You are also particularly drawn towards the shapes around you. Because of the value you place on nature, you tend to find comfort in more subdued settings and find energy in solitude. You like to ponder ideas and imagine the many possibilities of your life without worrying about the details or specifics. You are in tune with all that is around you and understand your life as part of a larger whole. You prefer a structured environment within which to live and you like things to be predictable.

The Perception Personality Types:

Take The Perception Personality Image Test at HelloQuizzy

Thoughts on RWA National

I've been exhausted all week! I don't travel much and the trip and preparation took a lot out of me. The two 11 hour bus rides and getting barely any sleep each night in between them didn't help much either!

I didn't do many workshops this time. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure there were many fine offerings and great speakers, but since my immediate goal is completing one of my manuscripts and getting out of my rut, only a few of them pertained to me. I'm avoiding the business/publishing end of writing like the plague. I just don't need to think about such things right now. I did attend a few, plus the Ritas, a luncheon and a short bit of the literacy signing, and I did get my conference handouts on CD, so I'm glad I signed up for the conference and I feel I got my money's worth.

I did see friends. Lots and lots of friends. Some I've known for years, some I only met this year, but all wonderful women who I enjoyed spending time with.

I'm even getting better in crowds, so I didn't have a total introvert-meltdown like I did in Reno, which is great. I'm getting to know my limits better, and knew when it was time to go off by myself for a while on Friday afternoon before I got sick. Yay me! It helped, too, that I was surrounded by friends who I know better now, so less awkwardness for a shy girl.

All in all, National was a wonderful experience and I can't wait to go to the next one. Not sure if I can afford to do DC next year (though Michele insists we are going) but I guess it's time to start saving now if I hope to, just in case.

National Pix

What was I thinking? A small purse seemed like a good idea when I was packing, but it meant that I often left my camera in our hotel room. I came home with 12 photos. Twelve! And only a handful of them are any good. Oh well. Everyone else was taking pictures, and I'm sure they will share. :) Here are my favorites. You can click on any of them for a larger view. :)

Here's an adorable photo of Katy, Michele, and Robin (the fantastic children's author, R.L. LaFevers) Thursday night. Seriously. Have you seen three more beautiful smiles, all in one place? My girls are radiant!


Here's a nice photo of our dinner group Friday night. Sorry Kathy. L to R: the fabulously talented author Christine Merrill (yes! She brought cheese curds!), PASIC finalist Corrina Lavitt (who brought booze), Kathy (behind Cory), Jill (who brought me a birthday present!), Pat (in back. A talented jewelry maker and writer), Michele (my CP), Tenaya (a new cherry friend) & me.


Jill & Michele who played tourist all week while we went to workshops. Check out the tattooed "sleeves" on Jill's shirt. She turned many heads at Fisherman's Wharf that day:


Saturday night: PASIC finalist, the wonderful author Katy Cooper in a fabulous dress, befitting one of her fantasy heroines:


More Rita night pix: Tenaya and Michele in black:


The back of Michele's gown had the prettiest details:


Katy & me at the "after party" in our room, which was party central this year:


I had an amazing time in San Francisco. I wish I could have stayed a couple more days, but I was happy to get home to my little family.

Back from National

Well, we're back! I am so tired. We had a lot of fun. I was just surfing the net and unwinding (after I waded through 157 unread e-mails-- ugh!) and found a picture of Michele and me HERE. How cool is that? Thanks, Dee. It was so great to finally meet you in person. :) Once I upload my pictures, I'll be sure to post some too.

On Saturday night, Esri Rose asked if she could take a picture of my shoes for the Shoe Revue on her BLOG. (Note: The pics aren't posted yet.) I am quite fond of my black satin rose bedecked strappies, so I said, "Sure!" After she snapped the photo, she asked me what it would say about my heroine if she wore them. I'm shy and being clever on the spot with a new person wasn't possible, so I told her to let her readers decide. Later, of course, I had an answer for each of my three favorite heroines. Oh well.

I also found a nice picture of my friends Susan and Harry HERE. I ran Harry when I first arrived at the literacy signing, fresh off the bus after an 11 hours on the road. He didn't even tell me I looked like hell. :) Harry is the nicest guy and I am always glad to see him. Two days later, I happened upon his lovely wife Susan (and her gorgeous new shoes) at the Rita dessert reception. She gave me some very nice advice about turning 40 and writing and I'm so glad I ran into her. She is a fabulous writer, mentor, and all-around good person and I admire her very much.

I feel like writing!

Edited to add: I found this BLOG where Olivia (I don't know her but she seems lovely) posted photos of Grace Cathedral. I neglected to bring my camera when we went there Thursday morning and I'm grateful for Olivia's photos. Thank you, Olivia. :)