Getting Ready for the SCBWI Conference...

Yesterday I went over my presentations, copied handouts, printed my boarding pass, planned my outfits, wrote a list of things not to forget, and stayed up until 2 a.m. packing (which means I'll either be terribly tired today or one step closer to adjusting to west coast time).

It was tough getting to sleep last night. The mix of excitement over the conference, anxiety over the public speaking, and stress about being out of the office for so long swirling around my head made like a double shot of espresso. I lay there taking inventory of my suitcase rethinking my outfits and practicing my presentation imagining everything that could go wrong with my laptop.

This morning I'm feeling good, but sleepy. But I've got five hours on the plane today to rest up. And I can't wait to get to Los Angeles. Walking into the Century Plaza on the first day of the event is so exciting. Conference-goers are checking in and meeting up. Faculty and staff are moving about the hotel. You can feel the buzz starting to build--by Friday morning it will be present and strong.

I'll post again when I get to L.A. and tell you who I've seen and what I've heard.