The Friday List–and 1st Annual Kidlitosphere Conference
Check this out: Just when I was feeling all uncertain yesterday about whether I really should throw this party in Chicago (the old “What was I thinking? Is anyone really coming?” inner voice), I saw this post from Jen Robinson:
“One other person who I’ll mention specifically is Robin Brande, who rocks because she is hosting a party for kidlit bloggers. She recently started encouraging the bloggers and writers who visit her site to invite others. She wants to give us all a chance to meet each other, in a safe, friendly, non-exclusionary environment. So, if you can swing a trip to Chicago on October 6th, you can attend the party. I’ll be there. I’ve already purchased a plane ticket.”
Hurray! And when I shared my angst and relief in a comment to that post, Jen added:
“And Robin, I do think that we’ll get more people to come. Maybe this will be the first step in what becomes the Kidlitosphere’s own conference or workshop down the road. Kind of a mini BlogHer, but with writers and other kidlit lovers, too. Maybe parents, who would want to meet the writers. Who knows?
“OK, I’m just brainstorming, with far-fetched thoughts. The point is, someone has to take the first step for anything new. The Cybils started out as an informal discussion about book awards. I’m guessing that the Newbery awards started in some similar way. When MotherReader started the 48 hour book challenge it was just a little idea - she didn’t know if anyone would show up. You have an idea, you act on it, and great things can happen.”
You know how sometimes someone can reframe something for you, and suddenly it’s all better? That’s how I felt–instant healing. Because Jen is absolutely right: this is indeed going to be the First Annual Kidlitosphere Conference. Sure, it may have started out as a Fantasy Potluck, but we’re all about evolution here, right?
So my nice thing for myself this week is listening to all my second-thoughts and insecurities, then shaking them off once I realized (thanks to Jen and a few other wise friends) that it’s all going to be okay. Someone has to throw the first party, right? And I’m happy to elect me.
I’d also like to mention that Annette has generously offered to make all of the hotel arrangements–not only as a favor to me, but also because she happens to be a total PRO at getting things like that done. Stand back and admire her work, ladies and gentlemen. She’ll get us hotel space, room discounts, and a tasty three-course dinner in no time.
[UPDATE: Check out the RSVP list
. It’s growing! (Tell me when I can add your name to the list!)]
So, all you kind, generous people out there–what kind, generous things did you do for yourselves this week?
Technorati Tags: The Friday List, Self-Care, Pampering, Kindness, Simplification, Happiness, Joy, Relaxation, First Annual Kidlitosphere Conference (It Sounds Better When You Call It a Conference, Doesn’t It?)
June 29th, 2007 at 7:05 am
I don’t believe in evolution, so it’s still a fantasy potluck to me.
Nice things I did for me:
Bowed out of a stressful situation instead of trying to muscle through
Read a bunch
Felt proud of myself for rocking out at my super mega important interview
Made no definite plans for the weekend
I feel gooood
June 29th, 2007 at 7:26 am
On the Friday list, I took a $200 shower today. Though I am not certain that qualifies as something nice.
June 29th, 2007 at 7:44 am
After a lot of planning, I finalized our vacation plans and beginning on Monday me/kids are off to NYC for 3 days, the Jersey shore for 3 days, and 3 days in the country with my BFF of 35 years and her family! YYIIPPEE
I’m impressed with how the Fantasy Potluck is growing into a conference, but am getting so bummed out that I can’t go. BOO HOO
June 29th, 2007 at 7:52 am
Deborah, boo hoo indeed! But congrats on the vacation finalization. You deserve some time off!
Molly, good luck on the job! How great that you rocked your interview!
Patrick, explain?
June 29th, 2007 at 7:55 am
Sheesh Patrick. I don’t think we paid $200 for our entire shower…and we get to use it more than one time!
My nice thing was planting my flowers on Sunday. They are all planted now (well, other than the ones I’m sure to keep buying) and the front of my house looks much more homey now!
June 29th, 2007 at 7:59 am
Very nice, Beth! Hey, by the way, did you see I’ve posted you as a definite RSVP on the 1st Annual Kidlitosphere Conference? You said yes, right?
June 29th, 2007 at 8:01 am
After a non-stop schedule for the last month I gave myself permission (not without a lot of guilt) to take some down time and read for a few days. I needed some time to re-group and get my energy back. I love teaching middle school but the last 2 weeks is enough to turn the rest of my hair gray.I find I need a couple of weeks to recuperate.
I did get my pedicure last weekend and that felt good.
I actually feel like getting started on my Summer-to-do list.
Make sure you take some down time too.
June 29th, 2007 at 8:06 am
Readerdiane, no kidding you need a break. After escorting a group of students to Japan, I think you deserve the rest of the year off to read, get pedicures, and eat ice cream. But a couple of weeks will do nicely, too.
June 29th, 2007 at 8:15 am
“You have an idea, you act on it, and great things can happen.”
Wise words, grasshopper.
Nice for me this week? I forked over full price for The Secret DVD because I wanted it.
June 29th, 2007 at 8:23 am
Good attitude, Heather! I’m all for discount buying, but sometimes it really is a treat to pay full price and have it now. I liked The Secret. I know some people make fun of it, but I think there’s a lot of valuable insights in there. Tell me what you think.
June 29th, 2007 at 8:24 am
OK, I gotta ask about the $200 shower also. Could it be that you checked into a $200 hotel room really late and basically got to sleep for a few hours and take a shower? I’ve sometimes had some expensive naps/showers that way.
I just booked rockin’ orchstra seats for Phantom for July 4th!
June 29th, 2007 at 8:40 am
Deborah, cool about Phantom! I still haven’t seen that, durn it.
Molly, I forgot to give you props on that evolution joke. *Snort.*
June 29th, 2007 at 8:41 am
You know those sunglasses I said I was going back to buy on vacation last week? Well, I did, and I have been wearing them every day. I don’t know what it is about them, but putting them on makes me feel like the coolest person on earth. Who knew it could be this easy?
June 29th, 2007 at 9:02 am
Cheap coolness? Sign me up. Look how easy (and inexpensive) it was to please your little heart!
June 29th, 2007 at 9:10 am
Robin, I’ll be there as long as I possibly can. Might have to split part of the time between hanging with you cool people and sight-seeing with my son and hubby…we can just take the South Shore over from home. so, I’m a 95% sure YES!
June 29th, 2007 at 9:16 am
$200 Shower?
That’s when they shut down air traffic on the eastern seaboard and you make it half way home, finding a hotel room with enough time to check in, take a shower, and then head back to the airport to stand in line for your flight.
June 29th, 2007 at 10:00 am
Ugh, Patrick, sorry to hear that!
My nice things this week:
More ice cream and chocolate
Had to cancel plans at an upscale Philadelphia hotel for this weekend but booked new plans at a place in the Poconos that might just make me laugh all weekend long. Kitsch is sometimes way better than posh.
I went to see “You Kill Me” and ate Pirate’s Booty and mocked the theater crowd. It was a great night.
June 29th, 2007 at 10:06 am
Great, Beth!
Patrick, smelling nice = being nice. I’m sure your fellow passengers were grateful.
Nancy, Pirate’s Booty! Yum. Enjoy your Poconos kitsch.
June 29th, 2007 at 10:22 am
So many nice things I did this week. Took a nap, slept in (not on the same day), read late into the night, took the girls shopping (looove going shopping with my girls). Yeah, summer!
But I would say that the nicest thing I did for myself was be brave at ALA. I just walked up to the three authors I most wanted to meet, and talked to them. I even gave them my card with the KidLit Drink Night party info on it. What is interesting, is that they were in my path in the first place. Talk about “The Secret.” That’s who I wanted to meet but had no way to find them, and that’s who I randomly run into at the conference. Pretty cool, huh?
Oh, I sure hope Patrick is coming to this conference, because I think he’d be a real draw for your commenters.
June 29th, 2007 at 11:04 am
Hey, I will definitely do my best to make it. Chicago’s only a six-hour drive for us.
June 29th, 2007 at 11:14 am
Nice thing someone else did for me:
On Sunday, my friends and I were standing in line to get crappy $5 outfield tickets to a game. This guy comes up to us and asks if we would like three tickets for free? He had season tickets, but the rest of his family couldn’t make it. The seats were directly behind home plate, two sections back. The tickets would have gone for 50 dollars a piece at face value.
The guy was so nice throughout the game, and kept refusing to let us buy him food or drinks. We finally got a Bud into his hands in the 5th inning.
Other than that, not much has been going on.
June 29th, 2007 at 11:17 am
Glad I could help, Robin! Really, some of that was a nice thing that I was doing for me, because it’s easier for me to justify to myself flying across the country for a “conference” than for a “party”. Anyway, one nice thing I did for myself this week was buy that plane ticket, even though it’s a bit decadent. I am eagerly watching the RSVP list!
In other “nice things”, Wednesday night I ordered “The Holiday” from pay-per-view, and watched it instead of doing something more practical. I got up at 6 every morning to walk (avg. 1.5 hours), and walked again during some of the afternoons. I know it sounds virtuous, but it was really just an excuse to listen to book. And I’m taking this afternoon off from work, after a LONG week.
June 29th, 2007 at 11:21 am
Great, Gwenda!
Lizzie, what a fantastic story. That guy has definitely invited some good things into his life. And I know that you’re the kind of person who would do the same sort of thing, Lizzie, so he picked the right person to pay it forward.
Jen, wasn’t The Holiday just the chick-flickiest? I forgave Jude Law for all his bad behavior in real life. I never really bought the Kate Winslet-Jack Black relationship, but the movie was pure popcorn.
Love that you’re out walking and listening to books. And thanks for being the first to buy your plane ticket!
June 29th, 2007 at 11:21 am
Thanks MR! I am good looking and very wise. I would definitely be a draw. I should have my own session called, “You’re in the presence of the Space Lord”
Honestly though, I’ve told Robin this already and she is bummed, but I can’t commit at this time. This doesn’t mean that I am NOT coming, it just means that at this point, I don’t know.
June 29th, 2007 at 11:54 am
Patrick, I’ll make you cookies if you come to the party!
June 29th, 2007 at 12:17 pm
Beth, you foul temptress.
June 29th, 2007 at 1:17 pm
The problem with editors is when they correct intentional typos.
I certainly did not call Beth FOUL.
June 29th, 2007 at 5:33 pm
Guilty. You know me, Patrick, always trying to make you look good.
Everyone, the original text was “Beth, you fowl temptress.”
P, I’ll never fix you again.
June 29th, 2007 at 6:31 pm
Yes, Robin, The Holiday was excellent chick flick popcorn. I knew that the guy of the house wouldn’t appreciate it, so I watched it while he was at a softball game. Jude Law was to die for. I agree about the other relationship, but I did like Kate Winslet’s friendship with her neighbor.
June 29th, 2007 at 8:45 pm
Yeah, the friendship with the old guy next door was wonderful.
June 30th, 2007 at 2:38 am
My nice thing this week was to pre-order Evolution, Me, & Other Freaks of Nature for myself! At least I hope I did - did it on Amazon.de, as their postage to Ireland is less ruinous, but I haven’t a word of German.
The review on MotherReader got me hooked, and then I discovered theirs was a preview copy… Found your blog through Liz B. - nice!
June 30th, 2007 at 8:04 am
Thank you, Lady S! How nice! Welcome to the blog.
July 2nd, 2007 at 7:36 am
Here’s a nice thing I’ve done for myself and Bede (my husband) did for me: turn the “I’d like to go to Chicago” into “Yes! I’m going to Chicago.” I’ve not yet bought my plane ticket, but sign me up as a “YES” anyway.
July 2nd, 2007 at 8:20 am
HURRAY! I’ve moved you to the yes list!
July 2nd, 2007 at 11:01 am
Okay, you can move me to the definite list too. Too many great folks coming to say no!
July 2nd, 2007 at 11:06 am
All right, Gwenda! I’m putting you on the list!
July 2nd, 2007 at 11:09 am
Hi Robin,
I’m an avid Kidlitosphere blogger reader. I’m toying with the idea of starting my own blog. I also live in Chicago, and I would love to come to the conference. Please put me on the RSVP list.
Yours,
Jenny Schwartzberg
Chicago
July 2nd, 2007 at 11:12 am
Great, Jenny! You’re on the list!
July 2nd, 2007 at 7:03 pm
I was just wondering if you have to have a kidlit blog to go? I read a ton of kidlit blogs and am a children’s librarian in Chicago, so I thought it would really cool to go because I get so many good ideas and great reviews etc from the kidlit blogs.
July 2nd, 2007 at 8:22 pm
Renee, come on down! You’re our people.
July 3rd, 2007 at 10:18 am
Count me in! Wonderful to have an event I can drive to from Wisconsin.
July 3rd, 2007 at 1:50 pm
Great, Tasha! I’ll put you on the list.