Mileage, Michelle Obama, & the Internet

Now, what on earth could those three things have in common?

They're all elements involved in my life this past week.

(I could've added cat barf, but that just seemed a bit much...)

Let's start with Michelle Obama and my DC gig...

Unfortunately, at the last minute, the First Lady was unable to attend. So I did not get to meet Michelle! However, check out the photo below of the program guide - I really and truly was to be the last speaker before the First Lady!!

I did meet the owner of several health food stores and she wants to stock my book in each one! And there was a snafu with our hotel room - the result? We were upgraded for free to a corner suite!!! And at the Gaylord National, that's over $500...

The hotel was pretty amazing:

Now mileage!

The DC trip racked up a lot of miles on my little SUV. Two trips over to the New Bern Literary Festival added a bit as well. (And my workshop on Friday was OVERFLOWING! Pretty sure they'll have me back to do another one next year.) And then I was on the road again to a small library in western NC. I usually put on about 25-30,000 miles a year, and 2009 will be no exception.

My husband said putting my car out of warranty as fast as possible should NOT have been one of my goals!

Now the Internet...

I've had challenges accessing my emails and the Internet, so add that to my road travels and I've been lacking online big time. We think it's just a router issue and will get a new one Thursday.

And the cat barf?

One of the many presents left for me by our cats! They also knocked a plant off the top shelf, sending dirt everywhere, and Rocko tore down every towel in the bathroom. All that in less than two day's time too...

Anybody want a pair of trouble-making black cats?