Almost Conference Time...

I'm psyching myself up for the my trip to LA tomorrow, and although I have 87 million things to do before I go, I'm getting really excited. Here's my list of conference-related things I'm most excited about:

• Wearing my hot pink Punk Farm t-shirt.
• Steve Malk's party at Dutton's bookstore in Beverly Hills (invitation only).
• Mo Willems! (Love that pigeon.)
• Working at the Art Portfolio Display with Priscilla Burris and company. (Pretty much my favorite part of the conference--so cool to eavesdrop on editors and art directors talking about portfolios. And some of the art is just fabulous.)
• A balcony. And a phone in the bathroom. (Yeah, I have a mobile, but it's still cool.)
• Jane Yolen's keynote address. I've heard her speak many times and she's always wonderful. (Check out her new Writer's Digest Books title Take Joy.)
• Low humidity and temperatures below 90. (Oh, I cannot wait.)
• Seeing presenter Hope Vestergaard and my other Michigan author friends. (I missed you all last year.)
• Regional Advisors--some of the hardest working, most dedicated volunteers on the planet.
• The costumes at the "Jade Jubilee." Oh the wacky things creative types come up with. (I'm hoping to get some photos.) I have not yet decided on my outfit, but I'm pretty darn sure I own nothing that could be referred to as "jade." (Maybe next year they could have a Black Ball.)
• Have I mentioned the great pina coladas in the lobby bar?