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Wednesday, January 14, 2009

The Singles Travel Club


Alright, I finally have something to rival AJ in the weird and different department. But I digress; I need to start from the beginning.

Those of you, who know me, know I do way, way too much. I volunteer for many functions within my writers groups to which I belong. Take this week and month for instance. Last year, I volunteered to chair the EPICon conference right here in Las Vegas, Nevada.

And yes, that means lots and lots of work. I have to help in every aspect of the con. That means PR, picking the venue, food…you name it and it has my signature on it somewhere.

So while we're all working on putting more 'umff' in this blog, in the back of my mind is this conference and what I need to do for it. Never mind that I have a couple of books due and two talks that I'm giving on Saturday. This conference is a big deal and this is a very, very bad year to do it for a variety of reasons. One, people are financially strapped and two, things I thought were being done, weren't.

So all this weekend, actually beginning late last week, my mind has been flurry of activity. In other words, I'm scattered right now. BUT I can usually get on track with a list of things to do. But never mind all that…I can deal with those…it just means I've got to hustle my butt and go to some of those local writers meetings. While there I've got to do the smoozing thing, pass out brochures and let everyone know just how wonderful EPICon is.

And for those of you who've never gone, here's my shameless plug. EPICon 2009 is happening this year at the beautiful Tuscan village of MonteLago Resort in Lake Las Vegas, Nevada. That’s a picture of it at the top. While there, an author can learn everything, well, almost everything, about the epublishing world. Along with that, we have a kick-ass keynote speaker in one Penny Sansevieri, author of 'Red Hot Internet Publicity' and man, does this woman know her stuff! Penny is absolutely great! The conference is March 5-8, 2009 and you can learn more about it at http://www.epic-conference.com/. Since, we're all green authors, we should attend if possible. If nothing else, to smooze and visit with each other. I love meeting and hanging out with my fellow authors and frankly, what better place to do it?

Again, I digress. Sorry. Anyway, on my list were three writers meetings this week to attend in hopes I could entice someone to attend EPICon. They are the Las Vegas Writers Meeting, Las Vegas Screenwriters Meeting and my RWA meeting. I just found out about a fourth meeting on Sunday, a Sisters in Crime chapter meeting that I've decided I'll invade as well.

So tonight I get it together, I make some brochures, get all my regular work done and make sure the DH knows where I'm going so he won't worry. I also mention to CR that I'm going to this meeting and she says, "Isn't that on Thursday?"

"Nope," I say, "it is tonight and I've got to get my butt in gear." So I take a nap, take a shower and get it together so I'm out the door by 5:45 which just gives me enough time to get there and get comfortable. One the way I talk on my hands free phone to a friend and in no time I arrive. Grabbing my stuff, I'm dismayed to note that I am actually a few minutes late but no matter, I've been with these people before and usually enjoy myself.

I go in and don't recognize anyone but this group is rather large and I can see this is a big gathering tonight. I get a name tag and listen to the speaker who's talking about doing a reading. She's going over the important of the details she needs in order to give you a correct one. All interesting stuff. The sign-in person tells me to fill out the forms and bring them back at the end.
No problem. I can do that.

I go sit down and scan the room. Not one familiar face. That's odd, I'm not so far gone that I can't recognize any one. I flip through my brochures about to take them out and decide I should really listen to the speaker. So, I scan the room again and nada. Surely, not every person I know is gone today?

Mentally, shaking myself. I pull out the form. Maybe I should fill this out because the speaker is now getting on familiar territory and it's not so interesting any more. I glance down once, then up. That can't be right. I look down again. Hmm. The dues aren't the right amount. No one every lowers their dues. I look up a little more and see the name of the group: Singles Travel Club of Las Vegas.

I shake my head and rest my chin on my hand. Okay, so maybe I need to do a little observation for my books, you never know what you'll see, right? I really begin to look at the people and by this time, I am trying to hold it in. At first I think, if this is the best that Vegas has to offer, there's a problem. Then I look at the form again. It's the over 60 Singles Travel Club of Las Vegas.

Oookkkaaayyy. Even a little old for me right now. I quietly pick up my stuff and go back to the sign-in table. I give the paper back and tell them to mark my name off because I've come to the wrong meeting. Sigh. Once in my car, I call the dear husband and let him know. What started as a snicker became a laugh. He couldn't believe it. I told him to make sure I really had a writers meeting before I went to the next one and started home. The trip is 45 minutes and the whole time I reflect on just why I was so gung-ho that the meeting was tonight.

I get home and email CR. Know what she says to me, "I can just see your face when you discover the mistake." The exact same first words out of the DH's mouth. Geez, are they in cahoots? LOL!

Sigh. Just chalk one up for the dodo who definitely needs to volunteer less and sleep more.

See ya next week! Or my new partner in crime…it'll be a surprise!


Lynn

15 comments:

Unknown said...

*snicker* I'm still getting a chuckle from this story tho on the other hand it did suck you had to drive into the city... but who knows maybe one day this will spark a story idea...
;)
C.R.

Julie Robinson said...

Hey Lynn! Saw your announcement on CHRW.
We must be related!! My hubby says I have 'sucker' written all over my forehead. I tell him that I'm just a girl who can't say no. hehe

BUT, it is something I'm working on this year. It's really hard, because my first inclination is to help. Sort of like speaking before you think it through and saying the first thing that pops into your head. "What did you say?? You need help?! Sure! I'll do it!!"

Unfortunately, I'm still doing it, but thinking about it afterwards and having to take back what I said. I guess that's a step in the process to reach the step where I don't raise my hand first and instead think BEFORE I answer, one way or the other.

Good luck,
Julie

Julie Robinson said...

Oh, as far as your contest goes, the number of blogs should take into consideration the length of some of the comments. Several comments may add up to another's ONE post!! Guess that'd be too hard to figure out, though. Julie

Julie Robinson said...

p.p.s. So that makes 2 more and this makes a 3rd from me toward your count. Yeehaw!

Erin Sinclair said...

Lynn

I'm doing a major overhaul and reorganizing myself and my approach to this business. Let me know if I can help because will be joining EPIC tomorrow.

Erin

Lynn Crain said...

Yeah, it did suck...but you got a good laugh! LOL!

And it might get the creative juices going, you never know!

Lynn

Lynn Crain said...

Julie,

I so agree about helping out. I love to help people BUT there are times where we must ALL say NO!

Still, I enjoy it because the best thing is knowing that you've helped someone along the way!

Lynn

Lynn Crain said...

Julie,

You got me!

LOL!

Lynn

Lynn Crain said...

You're on, Erin!

I'll be talking to you on Saturday!

Lynn

Stephani Hecht said...

I am sicker than a dog and miserable and this story made me smile for the first time today. It reminds me of the time I was in high school and I went to take the SAT. Halfway though the test I looked down and realized my shirt was on backwards. It was a Mickey one and his face was on the front and his feet on the back, so it was really obvious too.

Adriana said...

Way to make lemonade out of lemons, funny story!

You can count on both halves of Adriana to help too - anything we can do from this distance at this time??

Can hardly wait to be there (as you can tell, we both love Las Vegas!)

Adriana

Lynn Crain said...

Stephanie,

I think I've done that once myself. LOL!

I am glad this brought a smile to your face. You get better...I know I hate any winter illness at all!

Lynn

Lynn Crain said...

Adriana!

You're coming to visit us! How very, very wonderful! This will be soooo much fun I just can't wait!

Yeah, I'm just hoping that my face didn't show a thing! LOL!

Lynn

Sara Humphreys said...

It definitely sucks that you went all that way, only to end up at the silver swingers dating club. yikes.
I wish I could go to Epicon but I've got a huge event for my day job that weekend. Figures. I do hope to go to the RT conference in Florida, so perhaps I'll get to meet some of you in person there.
Have fun in Vegas!

Lynn Crain said...

Thanks, Sara!

I won't be coming to RT this year. Too expensive. Maybe next.

I know we'll meet up sometime though. Writers always run across each other.

Lynn

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