TLA, the Texas Library Association Annual Conference (April 12-15th this year) was a book-lover’s candy store. All manner of publishers exhibited their new, award-winning and forthcoming books, e-books, audio-books and everything related. For childrens lit folks it’s like a huge 3-day party…

VCFA Reunion-Tam Smith with Cynthia and Greg Leitch Smith

Jamie Lee Curtis gave the welcome address on Tuesday morning. She signed books for an hour afterwards…250 people waited in line to get her autograph. I would have gladly stood in for her. If only she’d let me know, I would have worn my red neckerchief, too.

Jamie Lee Curtis signing her newest PB

So many Texas authors are coming into their own. It’s great fun to see them signing in the author’s area–with lines of fans waiting!

Liz-ALL THE WORLD-Garton Scanlon and a fan (the illustrator, Marla Frazee is in the background signing, too)

Bettina

Bettina Restrepo's brand new YA ILLEGAL!

Bettina's brilliant new YA, hot of the press from Katherine Tegen Books

Two of my VCFA classmates Erin Moulton and Sherry Shahan (both Unreliable Narrators) had new books this season. The arrival of Erin’s debut novel, FLUTTER about sisters, adventure and their quest for a miracle is especially thrilling as I had read an earlier draft of the book…I sort of feel like a proud auntie. I read my hot-off-the-press copy on the plane and have only one complaint: IT ENDED…

Sherry’s novel in verse PURPLE DAZE , set during 1968 Vietnam tumultuous times, eluded me. I’ll have to order my copy. Just as well, maybe as my bags were stuffed full.

Cynthia Leitich Smith’s signing line would around and down and up the aisle–fans couldn’t wait to get their paws on Blessed!

Cynthia Leitich Smith signing the newest book in her Vampire/Werewolf/Angel Trilogy, BLESSED

Not to be outdone, the Texas chapters of SCBWI hosted a booth to promote children’s authors and illustrators.

SCBWI-Austin posing in the booth (Camen and Deb center)

The booth served as a magnate for all of us–a perfect meet and greet spot. SCBWI-Austin went all out to create a welcoming booth!

So now, with my creative and social batteries charged–and my suitcases overstuffed with books–I’m on my way home to Jakarta. I have a lot of work to do before next year. Before hand Jamie Lee Curtis and I need to have a little chat. We need to work at coordinating our outfits or…next time someone mistakes me for her I’ll say “yes”. I wonder: does anyone ever ask her if she is me?

Knickknacks, doodads, mementos, comforts…baggage. Call it what you will, we all have it. Some, like me, have more of it than most. I’m notorious for toting around extra baggage. (Yes, Doc, and all that may imply.)  If you doubt it, consider this, I’ve just returned home (after, in my defense, what anyone would call a lengthy trip) with 2 checked duffels, 2 checked boxes, 2 carry-ons and my huge purse. (Of course I had to pay for extra baggage.) And the first thing I did when I arrived home was wander around looking at all my stuff.

A few weeks ago, I had occasion to experience a few days of life without stuff. We finally took possession of our new home in Westhampton Beach. A home that although we had to chip off a large part of our rock for, we have not seen for more than 1 hour, tops, in the 6 months it took us to buy. A home for which, although we will now doll out monthly payments, we don’t expect to see for at least 6 more months.

54 Oak Street--has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?

Since I was in the neighborhood and homeless for a week, I decided to mosey out to Westhampton Beach and get a feel for the place. Wander around the grounds at leisure. Snoop in the attic and cupboards. Try out the plumbing. In short, to assert squatter’s right. So, I tossed my baggage into the back of a rental car and headed down from New York.

The Non-cottage Outback

My friend, Katie drove with me.

Katie with some of her stuff (she's got good stuff, including a plastic halloween dress)

On the way, we stopped at Target to power shop–stock up on necessaries: aka  “stuff”. Curtis and I had bought a bed from the previous owner. Katie and I bought stuff – bedding, towels, a lamp, picnic dishes and breakfast food -  to go with it.

A comfy bed is about all you need.

Can't call our new house "stuffy". Must say all that emptiness fires the imagination

William Morris is credited with having said “Have nothing in your homes that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” Add “comfy” to that list. And with regards to packing, substitute “luggage” for “homes.”

Orchids and Wine--both Beautiful and Useful

Beauty being in the eye of the beholder, this adage can be stretch to justify about anything.

Andy the Handyman finds paint stuff beautiful and useful

A few days into the week, after Katie had gone, all alone in that big empty house with the wind blowing outside and rain coming down sideways, I was struck with a bone-deep need for something sweet. I rummaged around inside my baggage and finally unearthed a Cup of Gold from the Dollar Store. Who knows how old, torn, crumpled wrapper, lint, and all, it looked more like a cow pie than a treat. But dang if that nutty chocolate mallow-centered cup wasn’t beautiful and useful.

That’s the thing of it: you can never be sure that something won’t come in handy someday…

2 Lies and I Truth:

1.  It’s bright and sunny in NYC today

2.  I’m watching Kathie Lee and Hoda

3.  I’m working on a brilliant new story so don’t bother me

Truth and confession: I’m watching Kathie Lee and Hoda. My defense is the 2 lies. When I planned this trip to NYC, I fully expected spring to have sprung, instead it’s grey, cold, and …. Anyway, and it’s really not my fault that I’m watching morning TV. I’d never turn it on myself…honest. It’s Lexi’s fault. She left the TV on when she went to work and I am now hooked into morning shows. Morning TV is not really the time suck some say it is, either. It’s informative. So far I’ve watched Prince William and his grannie, the Queen, tour his Sea Rescue Station; learned there are only 28 days to the Royal Wedding and that William is not planning to wear a ring; watched 3 “spring” recipes being prepared—poached sea bass, tomato basil pasta and strawberry shortcake (which woke my tummy and sent me looking for food, which led to my finding the new jar of organic peanut butter, which I stirred during the next 30 minutes of programing-thus making productive use of my TV time) ; and watched a teen boy invite girl to the prom by whooing her with this sure-fire entreatment: “Um, yeah, Brit-Crystal-Tiff, get down here.”

As is so often the case, in the midst of all the fun and foolishness, I heard something that just might make the difference. Hoda and Kathie Lee dubbed this: Try-day Friday.

Try Day Friday. It has a nice ring to it. It got my pea brain humming. Got me searching for the remote control. Got me to put down the spoon and pick up my laptop.

Why not set Friday aside as a day to Try? Try something new. Try something scary. Try—without worrying about being silly or stupid or foolish or wrong. And what better day to try something than April 1st, 2011, the officially designated day of foolishness.

Call me an April Fool, but…I’m designating this my first official Try-Day!

Join me…If you dare…