Prepping for SCBWI - LA

I'm snuggled up snug as a bug at Kirsten's palatial splendiferous home in San Diego now, all chill and whatnot. But before that? Getting ready for SCBWI - LA. How does an author/agency spy prepare for the biggest children's and YA writers' conference on the left coast (in the U.S.? The world?)? It's not much different than most other getaway plans. Also, this post is more on the personal side. No juicy intern tidbits here. Sorry.

1) Check e-mail eleventy billion times to organize, confirm, reorganize, change, reconfirm, express confusion about, assure other about, final confirm plans and flights and hotels and dates and times with the YAH girls. 

2) Pack. Yay fun! Also, wonder why my shoes take up a good third or more of my suitcase, and that's after removing two pairs. This shoe thing might be problematic. Or, I might need a bigger suitcase. But I hate travelling with a suitcase in the first place, so I don't think I'll go bigger. Fewer shoes? Don't know if that's an option either. Other things I couldn't forget to pack: manuscript ready for revisions, ARCs that need to be read and reviewed, my SCBWI top-secret gala costume, contact cards. 

3) Oops. Take out of suitcase outfit to wear on the flight. Don't need to scare the poor people at the airport. (oooo new shoes. lavender. pretty. :D)

4) Check e-mail again for more chatting/reconfirming. Also, print out hotel confirmation, flight confirmations, Angels game tickets for Daddy/Daughter day at the ballpark (go Halos!!!!), who I want to meet list, editor sightings check-list. E-mail again.

5) Agonize over whether to paint my toenails sparkly silver or purple. I love purple. But also sparkles. Not bad for a tomboy. These are the hard choices in life, friends. (In the end I went silver on toes, purple on fingers). 

6) More e-mails.

7) Blaze through the simple instructions for new cute little point and shoot (that wasn't available in purple at the store booooooooooooooooo) since my other awesome camera finally bit the dust. :/

7) Check my . . . eh, you get it by now. Finish up some last minute work and reading.

8) Ready for bed! Have to be up super early for flight.

9) Oh, wait, walk the floppy pup and give him loads and loads of love. A week is a long time without my guy. :( 

10) Check e-mail cuz it's an obsession. Get excited about the prospect of meeting agent-mates and online pals and MY YAH BESTIES YAYAYAYAYAYAYAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Triple check paperwork.

11) Pop back outside to water the garden in the dark. Can't forget that. Also, Dear Tomatoes: If you could be ripe when I get back that would be super great cuz geez it's almost August and WTH?!?! kthxbai. Love, Me.

12) Check to make sure I have all the ARCs I need one more time (I don't know why I bothered, I ended up leaving three I'd wanted to bring at home. dur).

13) Bed now, please?

14) Five hours later: Up and to Michelle's to catch the light rail to the airport. Who's excited to be off???? I was! And she was! And we have pictures of excitement! But they are rather awful so no sharing here. 

Who here is going to be at SCBWI? Drop me a comment and we'll get it touch! Cheers.