Friday five (random!)

1. I'm going to a conference tomorrow! Between a baby, no money, and distance, I let my SCBWI membership lapse a couple years ago. I'm in an in-between blind spot of SCBWI's, anyhow (neither new nor published). But this conference features Cheryl Klein, editor extraordinaire at Arthur A. Levine/Scholastic, and I'm going to learn to be a better writer. My kids are somewhat in awe that I will be hearing and possibly meeting the US continuity editor of the Harry Potter series.

2. Must find something to wear to conference. It occurred to me recently that I don't really have a lot of conference-like clothes. This might be tricky, as the car is getting an oil change + extra work done this morning, and I am carless.

3. Everyone else is excited because they're going to see their cousins while I'm at the conference. The girls especially--it will be all their girl cousins but one.

4. Read so far in September (not many, as we've been getting settled and I've had to request quite a lot at the library):

If a Tree Falls at Lunchtime, Gennifer Choldenko. Nicely-spun contemporary about a white girl and a black boy who find out they have an unexpected connection/secret. Some nice humor in there to offset the issues.

Diamonds in the Shadows, Caroline Cooney. I really liked this one. Usually I enjoy her work as something light (even if it’s a mystery/thriller, it’s pretty far removed from my own reality). This one was a thriller but the characters were African refugees and the Connecticut family who hosts them—as well as the fifth refugee, who is exactly the kind of man most refugees left Africa to get away from. Cooney’s church sponsors refugees and she was host for a month, so between her thriller background and her real life experience, it was pretty compelling.

Daddy Long-Legs, Jean Webster (reread)

Dear Enemy, Jean Webster (reread). This is the sequel/companion to the above book. Something about the voice (especially in the first one) reminds me of pixiechick_sw . It was written possibly even before WWI, and is just about as far from something like Hunger Games as possible. Not that I don't enjoy high drama--but sometimes you just want a friendly book, you know?

Interworld, Neal Gaiman and Michael Reaves. Definitely a boy book. Originally developed for TV but novelized, instead. There was a bit of psychic distance in it for me, but the idea was interesting, and the males in my family all liked it. 

The Princess and the Snowbird, Mette Ivie Harrison. Funny how voice and essence are things you can't mask. Even if the books have nothing to do with metteharrison ’s postings about triathlons, it's just so obvious that they are written by the same person. I think this comes through clearest in the Hound and her core-deep need to speak the truth. A lovely book (the third in a series). If you liked Martine Leavitt’s Keturah and the Lord Death, you will likely enjoy this series.

5. Off to pack and maybe even write a little. Happy weekend, everyone!

Logic problem

Weather: dark, lowry, rain-looking clouds, barely 50 degrees
Schedule: one kid comes off the bus in an hour, two more an hour later
Situation: car in shop for a 2.5 hour job (that started six hours ago), no one answers the service desk to say if it's ready or not. Five year old is asleep. Garage is at least a mile away. Husband is on campus, about to teach a class.
Solve the following: get the car AND meet the kids before the bus gets here, without getting wet, and be ready to pick up husband just after 4:00 so we can drive to Boise.

Suggestions (that don't involve magic)?

Taking off

Whew. The car people called back, drove the car to me, I loaded up my kids and drove the guy back and paid. My daughter still managed to make it home before I did, but luckily she didn't panic, and just waited patiently. Feeling much relieved now!

Just as soon as DH calls, we're taking off for Boise to see my SIL and for me to go to the SCBWI conference tomorrow. Wish me luck (and that I learn a lot)!