by Marilyn on July 27, 2007
I made it here, and as far as I can tell, I’m in one piece! I would have loved to get on and check email and post yesterday but the hotel wireless has been less than reliable in that area. I am in down in the lobby right now, waiting for the shuttles to start running to the Navy Pier and the wireless is working fine for the moment. I’m sipping some coffee (dear god, I need coffee), nibbling a muffin (STARVED) and watching the rain pitter-patter outside. Yeah, of COURSE it’s raining, right? Hence the waiting for the shuttle because we’re not going to try to walk to someplace we’re not sure where it is in the rain.
I met up with Kim at O’Hare airport yesterday afternoon and we got a cab to our hotel. We haven’t been brave enough to venture outside quite yet, but we’re hoping to soon. We’ve already met and talked with some really great people and I’m scared to death that I don’t remember who they all are.
We missed part of the speaker training yesterday but managed to make the reception. Of course, because there was free alcohol there! Because there’s no better cure for jet-lag than a couple appletini’s, right? I woke up around 3:30 my time this morning, it was a pretty restless night. Lots of excitement. I know this will catch up with me sooner or later, I just hope it’s later rather than sooner.
I miss my family pretty bad and I’m trying not to think about them. Whenever I think about them, I feel a little choked up and sad and I don’t want to be feeling that way. I should be having fun, right?
And I am. Kim is awesome and we’re having a good time so far. I think having the speaker training the night before is great because I feel a lot better able to dive into the conference this year. Last year I was petrified from the first moment and it felt like being dumped off into a vat of freezing water with no warning. At least last night I was able to get my toes wet first.
I’ll let you know how it all goes from here on out. Again, very exciting. And anyone who isn’t here (I’m talking to YOU, Brit!), you are SORELY missed.
by Marilyn on July 25, 2007
I need my brown t-shirt. Is it in the laundry? Did I forget to put it in with the wash? Did I actually (shock of all shocks) put it away and forget? Don’t forget the shampoo and conditioner. You always forget those. Better wait until after you take your shower tonight to pack those though. How about your blow dryer? You might need it. Definitely pack the straightening iron. And if you forget your toothpaste, I’m writing you off as completely hopeless. Remember, you’re wearing sneakers on the plane tomorrow, so pack the sandals. And make sure your pajamas are clean and packed too because I doubt Zoot would be too happy if you slept in your underwear. How about your network cable? Is that in the laptop bag? You better make sure it is before you go to bed because you don’t want to be there without an Ethernet cable. Were you still planning on transferring some more songs to the mp3 player on your phone? If so, you might wanna get on that. Time is burning here. Which reminds me (?), don’t forget the camera. I know the one on your phone is pretty decent but you want some good shots of the fun. And definitely don’t forget that phone. That phone is your life. Don’t forget the earbuds from your purse since you’re not going to be taking it. It’d be hard to listen to music without those.
Did Kile print off the airplane ticket number from the email cheaptickets.com sent? Better call and make sure. Looks like you’re going to need to check a bag because the only other bag around here small enough to be carry-on is Harry’s and that might fit your makeup and hair stuff. MAYBE. So yeah, checked bag it is. Plus you’ll need room for all that swag you’ll be bringing back, right? Try to remember to post some 451Press posts tonight and future-date them because otherwise there won’t anything going up tomorrow. Can’t have that! What about that session you’re speaking at? Prepared at all for that? No? Well then, I’m sure you’ll do fine. *cough*
Try not to think about how much you’re going to miss your family. How just the sight of Liam standing there in his adorable overalls this afternoon brought tears to your eyes. How it’s literally been 5 years since you’ve left Harry for this long. How much you’ll miss your husband and being able to share this awesome experience with him. Try not to think about how your heart is going to break just a little as they drop you off at the airport (at 4:30 a-friggin’-m) and you realize it’s going to be at least 3 1/2 days before you see any of them again. Try to think instead of how busy you’ll be and being busy will cut down on the time you spend pining over your family. Right? RIGHT??
by Marilyn on July 24, 2007
So Harry Potter is over. Finished. I will admit, there were tears in my eyes when I turned the last page and closed the book. Not so much from the storyline (no spoilers here!) but from the knowledge that it was truly over. Book 7 was simply awesome and probably my new favorite of the series. Though I think I will have to read it over again just to be sure of that. It’s intense but rewarding, just as it should be. And… I’m moving on.
I wanted to finish last night because I have much to do to prepare myself for BlogHer later this week. I can’t believe it’s this close. And there was no concentrating on anything while I was still reading that book. Of course, today I’m feeling pretty poor. I’ve been feeling poor since Sunday afternoon when we had lunch at Denny’s after church and I ordered the smothered cheese fries. You can believe I won’t be ordering those again anytime soon, that’s for sure. Today I feel weak and headachy, probably due in large part to the fact that I haven’t eaten or drank much of anything in almost two days. Yeah, that’d probably do it. I’ve been waiting for my appetite to come back and it just hasn’t. So I think I need to just eat anyhow. Cuz I darn near passed out just walking up the stairs earlier and that’s just goofy.
So today, I’m not getting a whole lot done. All the laundry that needs to be done before I leave? Not so much. Maybe later though. And before you know it, I’m going to be Chicago-bound. Eep. Hold me.
by Marilyn on July 23, 2007
Okay, I’ve finished the book. And I’ve finished the final podcast. And I’m feeling completely emotionally wrung out. I love this book. It was so good. Anyhow, my thoughts are in the podcast which, as you can see, ran over by a few minutes (there was a LOT to talk about!). Please, do NOT listen unless you’ve also finished the book. And then I want you to email me right away and we can squee and giggle together, okay?
Harry Potter Book 7 Podcast - Chapters 28-end [10:00m]:
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by Marilyn on July 23, 2007
Whoops, recorded this earlier and forgot to post it. How like me. Anyhow, here’s my account of chapters 22 - 27. Some juicy stuff there, that’s for sure! I’m getting into the grand finale stuff here so I don’t expect to do another podcast until I’ve finished the book. Wish me luck! (Again, don’t listen if you haven’t read through chapter 27 as I mention several large spoilers in my podcast!)
Harry Potter Book 7 Podcast - Chapters 22-27 [4:09m]:
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