Hidey Ho Bookworms!
Man, life has been getting away from me. I have read oodles and oodles of books that I have yet to tell you about. I’m simply having the worst time getting myself to write coherent thoughts. In the spirit of incoherence, though, it’s Wednesday. Time for Bookish (And Not So Bookish) Thoughts! (Thanks to Christine at Bookishly Boisterous for my new favorite game.)
ONE: I returned from Cincinnati on Sunday, and though I’m happy to be back home with the Hubs, every time I part company with my bestie, I’m transported back to being 14 years old at an airport saying goodbye to the BFF who moved from Illinois to Maryland. I mean, we generally devolve into our pubescent selves immediately upon meeting anyway, what with the giggling, Dave Coulier jokes, and spontaneous Fountains of Wayne singalongs, so I tend to get a little misty when saying goodbye. And now that there are adorable little kids I have to say goodbye to as well? Suffice it to say I left a little piece of my heart in Ohio.
TWO: I have several pieces of furniture containing collectibles and odds and ends in my house, not to mention a statue of a penguin butler (Alfred rules.) You might think that I had one of the more whimsical living spaces of my friends as a result of these things, but you know what I don’t have? A gold gryphon mask perched atop a dress form wearing an Elizabethan doublet and ruff. That’s right. My pal has a degree in costume design and Godric (I named him) is simply the compilation of a couple of her school projects on display. He was hanging out in the guest room, so she obligingly hid him behind some furniture along with another scary mask so I wouldn’t wake up in the middle of the night terrified. Her kids will always have the most amazing Halloween costumes. If she can get Junie to wear something other than a tutu, that is.
THREE: Hanging out with my nieces and nephews is my favorite. Being Crazy Aunt Katie is so much fun, I can’t even tell you. And I’m not just talking about all the awesome kid lit I get to buy (though that is a major perk. Do you know how many picture books there are about penguins? I mean, it wouldn’t be weird for me to buy doubles of them just to keep for my own purposes, would it?) I am also talking about the fact that when I went to pick Jack up from school on Friday, one of his little 2nd grade friends asked who I was, then said “Wow, she looks really young.” I’m sure it didn’t hurt that I was wearing a t-shirt bearing the Disney version of the Cheshire Cat (complete with sparkles) but I’m going to accept the compliment at face value and embrace my (apparently) youthful countenance. Thanks, random 2nd grader!
Yeah yeah I know it’s out of focus. You try to get a steady selfie with an 8 year old and 2 year old!
FOUR: I’m going to BEA in Chicago this year. For those not in the know, it’s Book Expo America, a giant trade show for the book and publishing industry. Because APPARENTLY I qualify as an industry professional. Sort of. Anyway, I’m very excited, but I’m also super nervous. There will be plenty of bloggers there that I “know” but I’ve met none of them in person. When I went to BlogHer, I attended with Chrissy (fellow blogger, college roommate, and easily one of the most important people in my world) so she HAD to hang out with me even though there were cooler people around. I have no built in safety person and I’m currently the queen of anxiety. I don’t feel cool enough or in-the-know enough or smart enough or anything. But I also know that if I don’t go when BEA is in my proverbial backyard, I’ll never go and that I’ll always regret it. Soooooo. I’m going. I’m also sleeping on my SIL’s couch which means I’ll get to snuggle niece in the evenings post conference. Emma thinks I’m cool. Just because she’s still in diapers doesn’t mean she doesn’t have good taste, right?
FIVE: READATHON is THIS WEEKEND!!! Have you signed up yet?
I think that’ll do it for today. I’ve got other things rattling around in my noggin, but I’m going to attempt to channel them into some book review posts. Yeah, I don’t really think it’s going to happen either, but a girl can dream. What are you up to, Bookworms?
heather
I’m going to BEA too!
Words for Worms
Really?! Yay! I hope we see each other!
Megan M.
Once at a playground a little girl asked my daughter if I was her mother or her sister. Bless you, tiny human with terrible eyesight. I will ride that compliment for the rest of my LIFE. It was 5 years ago. I may have been wearing a Minnie Mouse shirt at the time. Maybe that’s the key to looking younger – wear Disney characters and confuse children into thinking you must be one of them.
Words for Worms
Yesssssssssss! That is awesome. I realize that kids have like zero concept of how old people are, but I won’t stop letting it make me feel good. Until they tell me I appear to be approximately 150 years old, that is.
shanayatales
Oh I am eternally behind on book review posts, so much so that I feel that I need to stop reading to catch up on them (but that’s never going to happen). Sigh.
BEA – was planning to attend this year, but my sister is graduating around the same time, so not happening – maybe the next one. You have fun! Will look forward to your updates. 🙂
Words For Worms
The review posts are just going to keep piling up, I fear. And I can’t blame you for picking your sister’s graduation over BEA. That’s a pretty big deal, and BEA will happen again next year, graduation won’t.
SuziQoregon
Clearly from the tears at your departure you had a wonderful time in Cincinnati so Yay anyway!
Hope you have a great time at BEA. I don’t think I’d go even if it was in my backyard. I don’t do well at all in crowds.
No readathon for me. I’ll be at a bridal shower for my wonderful niece-to-be. Seriously before they were engaged we told my nephew that if they broke up we were keeping her.
Words For Worms
I’m not great with crowds either, which is part of the reason I’m so nervous. I think I’ll be alright, though, as long as I can maintain personal space. I’m not anticipating a wall-to-wall human situation. Maybe that’s naive? We told a friend of ours once that if he and his girlfriend broke up we were keeping the girlfriend. It turned out alright, though, because they got married. It’s all good.
A.M.B.
Have a great time at BEA! I bet it’ll be fun to meet people in person you know through blogging. I wish I could go to something like that, but I’m kind of shy in person and tend to avoid situations like that (even though I can’t avoid it in my professional life).
Jenny @ Reading the End
GRUMBLE GRUMBLE I am jealous that you are already an auntie and I will not be an auntie for several more months yet. I am so ready! I’d be an amazing one! I’d buy all the books and feed them all the sugar and fill their brains up with all the information.
Words For Worms
Oh my gosh you are going to be a STELLAR Auntie. Top notch. That is one lucky niece or nephew gestating right now. What fun!!! If you haven’t already, check out the Baby Lit line of board books. So awesome.
Unruly Reader
Yay! I’ll be at BEA, too. Also nervous, because: networking. But super excited to be there among my bookish sisters & brothers…
Words For Worms
Oh yay! I hope I run into you!