Happy Halloween!!!!

Satisfaction.

Ah. Conference is over. I miss it.

In retrospect, the best part of the conference for me was sitting next to Katherine Paterson. I'm pretty sure someone needs to remind her that she is KATHERINE PATERSON, two-time Newbery winner and writing genius. While I sat next to her, I was kind of worried about standing up and speaking to the 250 conference attendees about various things that needed to be said about the conference, timing, and all of the other million details that needed to be thought of. It was like I was sitting next to someone I've known for years. She'd ask me to repeat something that was said by a speaker - I'd show her my notes - she'd tell me the small details I was worried about didn't matter and people were enjoying the conference. I think. I wish I had a recorder so I could remember every little thing she said to me. But, she was just so normal and warm - that I think I even forgot she was KATHERINE PATERSON.

And, I think a lot of other people forgot too. I enjoyed watching people stumble up to her, and ask her a question about the conference, thinking she was a volunteer or something. One person sat next to her with a big sigh of relief and was like 'I have my critique in a few minutes, are you waiting for one too?' And then the look on that person's face when they realized she was wearing a name tag that said, Katerine Paterson writing genuis and two-time Newbery winner (ok, it didn't say that, but it should have). Or when she moved into the audience to watch a panel for a better view. She just plopped herself down and watched, while the entire row of people straightened and probably missed the whole panel, staring at her out of the corner of their eyes, wondering if they were worthy of talking to her. And I knew they were thinking, "OMG Katherine Paterson is sitting next to me. I could die a happy death right now."

Otherwise people are saying this was the best conference we've had in years. I think so too, and (besides our 55 volunteers) I think it's because of our speakers. They were wonderful. The editors were so approachable and fun. They were good at talking to a group of people. They answered questions and gave wonderful critiques. I ate lunch with two of them, and dinner with one, and was wishing we could bring them back next year. I also ate dinner with a librarian that served on the Newbery Committee. That was really cool. We talked about books and she asked me about my writing. It came up that I went to Rutgers this year and when she heard I had tried twice, finally being accepted on my third try, she was so proud of me! I was like, "You decide who wins the Newbery Medal and your congratulating me on getting into a conference!" Goodness. Anyway she was not at all what I expected a Newbery committee member to be like. She had cool hair, wore a dress suit type outfit, and had a hip hot pink scarf/feather boa around her neck.

So I'm kind of feeling sad today because it's all over. It was fun. Every minute of it. And I'm wondering when we can start planning the next one. Although, I'm sure as soon as my conference high wears off, I'll be a little relieved to have a few months to recharge. Back to the real world. Time to get that revision finished, and sent off. And hopefully next year I'll have a little more than an acceptance into Rutgers to share. If not, that's okay too.

i need a book

im having a really stressful week and its only tuesday, im so tired but im always sleeping! i need a vacation a.k.a, a book, ASAP. i need a book that will make me laugh out loud, a meg cabot book.

Hubby Appreciation Week

In honor of Hubby's bday, it is Hubby Appreciation Week!
These are just a few of the things that I appreciate - not in any order:

1. He doesn't get mad when I wake him up with my super-high-pitched-could-wake-the-neighbors alarm clock every morning at 4:45 to write. In fact, for the first few years of our being together, he always turned over and said 'you're amazing.' And now, he just sleeps through it and if I HAVE to wake him up because my computer is surrounded by spider crickets, he doesn't get mad.
2. He never gets in one of those moods where he's just really pissy. You know those kinds? I've witnessed it many times with other couples like so: girl: 'How was your day? Were you able to deposit that check?' boy: 'No' (with a snarl) girl: 'I thought you said you were going to do that.' boy: 'Get off my back.' girl: 'Fine.' boy: 'Oh. Ok. I see how it is.' (night is ruined...well atleast for 10 minutes or so). Anyway hubby never does that. He has food fits, but they are easily quelled with anything containing calories, or Cherry Garcia ice cream.
3. He always takes out the trash.
4. He is not afraid of dog vomit.
5. He surprises me with itty-bitty-book-lights.
6. He is as close to his family as I am to mine.
7. All you have to do is tell him the dog smells, or say you found a hair on his back, and you have his attention. This can be used for both good and evil. I am not an evil person, luck for him. I can not say the same thing for his big sister, who says 'Um, your dog stinks,' everytime we show up on her doorstep. It is quite enjoyable.
8. He likes the clothes my mom buys him.
9. He knows what an edgy YA is.
10. He is the only person I have ever known that will leave ANY party (I'm talking, bridal shower, company BBQ, wedding in Germany, random engagement parties where we know nobody but ourselves) with a new friend and phone number. AND they hang out. It's not just one of those 'I'll call you' things. It's the real deal. He left my best friend from high school's wedding with the phone number of some guy that I went to high school with, that didn't even ask for MY number.
11. And this just about sums it up: After racing against this one team for 24hrs straight, Hubby's team finally won. It was a fight the entire night though - stress - pressure - constantly looking over your shoulder - kind of fight. And when it was all finished, Hubby was like, 'That was fun, I'm going to ask them if they want to camp together next year.'

Feel free to add little sister.
Erin

Long drive

I'm going to a conference today. Yay.

Driving entertainment by way of audio books:

1. Goose Girl by Shannon Hale (almost finished this already, darn)
2. Lizzy Bright and the Buckminster Boy by Gary Schmidt
3. Whales on Stilts by M.T. Anderson (who I love)

On another note, they just announced flu shots are being administered in our library. Hmmm. I think I will opt out because I'd prefer to avoid a needle. But then again maybe I should get it because I have never worked in a hospital before during flu season. Hmmm. And then there was that incident on the way to the Poconos Mountain SCBWI retreat last year where I spontaneously pulled the car over and leapt out to vomit, much to the surprise of my passenger, and myself. When I told my horrors at work on Monday they were like, that's what happens when you work in a hospital. What? Shouldn't they tell you about that on your interview or something? Like 'we offer wonderful benefits including ten days of vacation and four sick days for the spontaneous vomiting that you will experience from working here. Any questions?'

double whammy!!!

so it was after 7th peiod today (i dont have an 8th period so i was jut chilling) and i was talking to mike( :) ) and a couple of other people. our school president (pat) was there too. i was so excited cuz i love him, hes so cute, and hes so nice. i have never talked to him but he turned to me and said:

pat(school president):whats your name
(note: he doesnt ask anyone else)
me: uhhhhhh cailin?
pat:whats ur last name?
(im not gunna put my last name on here but i told him)
pat: o! your cailin, i have heard alot about you...alot.
me:(nervously) o hahah yeah.


ok mike talks about me!! and to pat!!! and senoirs know me know!! im so excited.
and there were some more references to me but i cant really remember them.

and this one girl rosie came to me the other day and said she heard his flag football team talking about me...ahhhhh, it was good though.

mike asked me to the red hot chilipeppers concert but im stil grounded...blah! o well. hes coming over on saturay, hes the only one who visits me during my house arrest.


im in a good mood.

CAILIN

Irony

This is irony:

You start a new job in a department with three hundred people. You think, I am going to make so many friends and it's going to be so fun at my new job. You arrive on your first day to find that you are the only person in the three hundred with your degree and your background. You speak a different work language than your three hundred coworkers. You have an office at the end of a dark hallway, through a doorway that is only accessed through another secret room. You are the only person reporting to your boss. You may work in a department with three hundred people, but you soon realize you have no coworkers. Nobody welcomes you on your first day of work because nobody knows you are there. Except for your boss, but she is very scatterbrained. Fast forward three months - your boss announces her retirement and your days of having a job at all are limited. In the shock of your life, people acquire a map to your office, visit and share their sympathies for such an injustice. You receive advice from people you have never met, and people you have only seen in passing, deliver job postings for your consideration. You are invited to join the retirement celebration committee to help plan your boss' retirement. You accept and are granted the important job of seeking out your boss' favorite color and making a scrapbook of her career that you were a part of for three months. People know your name. Someone fixes the light in your hallway. You have coworkers.

Scaredy Dog

Ever since we brought the poor guy home from his vacation (besides the night he spent, ahem, IN THE GARAGE LIKE A WILD ANIMAL, CAILIN) with his cousin, Bentley, Buxton has become a scaredy-dog. He's always been a sensitive soul, but there has been a definite shift in his cautious nature to completely-flat-out-scared of everything.

For example, when jogging: usually when I see a dog coming in our direction, I have to prepare myself by reeling him in and wrapping the leash tightly around my arm, causing temporary loss of circulation, and then balance myself so that when he pulls my arm off, I am not flung in the general direction of said approaching dog. Now, when we see a dog coming, Buxton slows down, and I'm practically pulling him down the road looking like a very bad dog-mom who cares more about running than the pathetic shaking thing at the end of the leash. When we actually pass the dog, he nearly knocks me over trying to get closer to me and further away from the three pound puffball that is passing. The owner of puffball always looks at me and says: my dog isn't mean. And I'm always like: I (*gasp* because I'm running) know. And then I have to yank him every five seconds until the dog is out of eyesight because Buxton watches puffball over his shoulder like it's a serial killer.

And before he was a scaredy dog, he used to happily jump up on our bed, invited or not because he thinks he's a human. And then when it was time for the humans to go to bed, I'd say 'off!' and Buxton would come off the bed and curl up in his dog-chair after a very dirty look. Now - not only does he ask permission, he doesn't believe me when I tell him it's okay. I'll be brushing my teeth/washing my face/whatever and then I'll feel like someone is staring at me. I'll turn around. No hubby. And then I'll see the dog, staring at me sideways, his chin solidly adhered to the foot of the bed. I tell him it's okay, 'up!' I say. But, he just looks at me sort of forlornly like 'If you loved me you'd let me on the bed.' So I say 'up!' again. He doesn't move. I raise my voice, add hand motions, even give him a pat. But, it's not until I start lifting his big butt myself that he believes me and happily jumps onto the bed.

He is also officially scared of spider crickets, cats, fake geese, vacuum cleaners, bagpipes, and power drills.

high school

im sitting here staring at the computer, bored, leaving comments on myspace. o but great news! this kid Crothamel who is the coolest guy ever. hes gay. hes hilarious. and he brutal. he is so mean but its so funny. i just hope he doesnt talk about me behind my back. he calls this one girl, heather, hilary. right to her face! and everytime she like "thats not my name" but he still insists on calling her hilary. he was talking to my friend Amanda and he said, and i quote, "hmm so i think we should just form an anti cailin group since she gets all the good guys" he has a crush on my ex boyfriend and i think he has a little thing for my one now hahaha, gotta love it. anyway, he wants to be best friends and im excited.

ummm so u really cant tell mom this but i had the most stressful week ever. my friend (whose name i will withhold cuz i dont think its nessesary to reveal it) had a pregnancy scare. shes 15. i had to call all of these places and everything. she took a pregnancy test ad it came out positive, so she tried to get the morning after pill but they wouldnt sell it to her. so we call planned parenthood. we just kept talking about it. i called our nearest one and asked all these questions. shes only 15, there is no way she could have a baby. her life would basically be over, she would have to stop school, have the baby, but then she would never be able to get a job because she didnt even finish sophmore year of high school! but on sunday we went to the grocery store and she made me buy more pregnancy tests. it was so embarrassing!! they thought it was for me but i felt so bad for her that i agreed to buy it. i didnt really care, as long as i know its not for me. haha. well we went into mcdonalds and she took another one, negitive thank god.

ok, so one was positive and the other was negitive. i think the only reason we trust the negitive test more is because thats the result we want. im making her take another one. even if i have to buy it again. so i guess my stress isnt over yet but it has subsided.

o and im failing conduct. mom and dad are thrilled...let me tell you. o gosh.

so thats been my weekend, isnt high school awesome??? ugh, i just cant wait till i know the real result and am not going to summer school to paint lockers, cuz thats were i am right now.

CAILIN

ok to answer your questions...

1~yes, but the one time i remember getting yelled the most is by mrs.wiley. i did something at lunch when i was in like 3rd grade and she yelled at me. i remember becuase she made me cry and i was really embarrassed.

2~in 8th grade i was suspended for a day or two. me and my friend doug started the most awesome food fight in the history of new hope. it was just like the movies, food flying everywhere! the principle knew we were going to do it and knew it was me and doug so she went on the loud speaker and said anyone who was invloved on this come stand up. i knew i would get cought so i stood up and stood next to doug, but the only thig is when i stood up i slipped on applesuace but caught myself right before i hit the floor.

3~hmmmm oh! omg i remember this really wierd kid brought in dried fish heads, im not even lying! is was so gross. they were little but still discusting.

4~my favorite game on the playground was either 4 square or gymnastics. we would just do handstands and stuff like that. and we used to play house on the big rocks, prentending like they were our houses or something.

5~i think my favorite part of the day was english because all of my english teachers were insane and crazy. haha they were awesome.

6~when i was in like 5th grade it was super cool to be sitting in the last seat of the bus, becuase thats where the seniors sat. we would get on the bus first and sit there. the seniors picked us up (literally) and carried us to the front. we loved to annoy them haha. and me and my friend sara made this really annoying kid cry on the bus once, thats my favorite memory :) haha

7~ugh, this one boy, if you touched his desk he would slap your hand. he was really wierd. i think he had friends though, all the wierdos were friends. that just how it was. another kid was (name) the nose picker picked his nose all the time and ate it, ew!!

8~shes not

hahahaha jkkkkkk :)
8(for real)~ because our whole family is cool and i would have to disown you if you were a loser...thank god i was here to teach u how to be cool

9~hmmm pinecone birdfeeders....way too many to even begin to count.






i wish things were easier like they were when i was in elementry school. i shouldnt have to deal with the problems i have right now. teens in general shouldnt have to deal with this. and u would be suprised how many teens deal with things that only adults should ahve to worry about.

Questions for Cailin

Since you are way closer to elementary school days than I am, I have a few questions for you.

1. Did you ever get yelled at? (I know this answer is YES since you were such a bad kid.) By who? And for what?
2. If you (or 'someone else') got in big trouble - what did the teacher do? Send you out in the hall? Did anyone have to go to the principal's office? Did anyone cry or yell back at the teacher?
3. What was the grossest thing someone brought in their lunch box?
4. What was your favorite game to play on the playground?
5. What was your favorite part of the day (besides recess...)?
6. Do you have any fond memories from riding the bus (if you don't, just make one up)?
7. Who was the wierdest person in your class (without naming any names...)?
8. Why was your oldest sister so freaking cool?
9. And, how many pinecone bird feeders do you think you made? A million? Five million?


Don't worry I won't use any of this, unless putting it in my revised manuscript means using it. And I won't use your name. I'll use something...like...Caitlin. :)

Weddings and more waiting.

If anyone is interested - I'm still waiting. But it's ok. Really. I don't mind. I could be in the Olympics for waiting.

In other news, we're going to ANOTHER wedding today. I think work might think I'm starting to make it up. Like, honestly, how many weddings can one person have in a year? 10? 20? And today, as usual, it's totally stressful because we live five hours (sans traffic) from said wedding and can't leave work earlier than 3:00 without being fired for all of my absenses. So, we'll be lucky to make it. But, I think we will because I'm an optimist. I may have to do some creative engineering to get into my dress while driving and not flashing others, but I'll cross that bridge when I get there.

And then tomorrow morning - visiting with Cailin - who better not be a poopy pants because she's under house arrest and can't attend Homecoming with someone who may very well be a direct relative. I'm just saying.

cirque du soleil

im watching cirque du soleil on tv and its disgusting...but i must admit...i want to be them. if i could sing or act i would totally be on broadway when im older. but i cant. and if i had a disgusting talent i would be on cirque du soleil. but u need to understand something when i say "disgusting" (besides i dont really say it anymore cuz erin and, well mostly jay, make fun of me cuz i say it differently, like disGUSTing!!) when a teenager says a word it could mean alot of different things. normally disgusting means gross, but the way im using it, it means crazy or insane. this one girl is a contortionist, and then the tumbling they do! omggggg i want to beee themmmmmm. so jealous.

being grounded sucks...but im getting through it. i just wish i could go to homecoming with mike:(

Waiting

This is me waiting for a phone call:

me: (sitting at a picnic table with my phone)
concerned coworker: (walking by) What are you doing?
me: Waiting for a phone call.
concerned coworker: You're just going to sit there?
me: Um. Yeah.
concerned coworker: Well when are they supposed to call?
me: They were supposed to call two days ago.
concerned coworker: You've been sitting here for two days?
me: Yeah.
concerned coworker: Wow.


So, this didn't really happen, but it easily could have. But unfortunately I can't sit at a picnic table all day staring at my phone as much as I'd like to. I'll just have to check my messages like every five seconds. ...Sigh...

Home Sweet Home

Yay, we're home.

Books I read while in Germany:
1. Avalon High - Meg Cabot
2. So Be It - Sarah Weeks
3. Shug - Jenny Han
4. Size Twelve Isn't Fat - Meg Cabot

Words I have added to my vocabulary from Germany:
1. Moin (means hello, people often say 'Moin, Moin' but my friend said that is dorky)
2. Currywurst (it's a special kind of bratwurst from hamburg that hubby and I decided to integrate into everyday language - to mean anything from 'darnitall,' 'do you have to go to the bathroom?,' 'I'll take another beer, thank you,' and however else we felt like using it at the moment)
* Note: The advanced usage of currywurst it to interchange 'curry' with another word to make a kind of secret language. Such as 'creepywurst,' which we used. Quite a lot.
3. Jever (our favorite beer and by the way Germans look at you like you are a psycho killer when you ask for a hefeweizen, it's just a 'weizen' there)
4. Ganow (it means exactly and is the single most often word spoken over there. I swear. Ganow.)

Erin

Deutschland

Moin!
We are sitting in a hotel in Bremen at the moment, recovering from a VERY fun wedding on a VERY remote island off the coast of Germany watching Hackers in German because we barely have any brain cells left from hard-core traveling for 10 days straight. Here are some highlights - so far.



Aww yeah...Jever.



Ahhh. This is in the center of a city. For real.



Sitting in the beach baskets on Langeoog.

Be back tomorrow!