Not Around Much Anymore

[Juniper]

Did ya miss me?

Because I know you're just dying to find out what the heck has kept Junie from posting to the Cellar, let me tell you:

Not much.

No, that's not true. I'm finishing up my last quarter of college. I'm only taking 2 classes 'cause that's all I had left, and I thought that would mean I'd have plenty of time to chill out and get my business rolling again and clean the house and maybe even paint the walls (it's been 5 years since we moved in and all I've managed is to paint the kids' rooms) it hasn't worked out that way.

They're a HARD two classes. I am thankful I saved them for this part time quarter. It's 20th century literature, which is mostly poetry so far, with a teacher who seems to make it all so much harder than it needs to be. And it is Creative Nonfiction, which involves a ton of writing. Bah.

What else? Last weekend I went to a writer's conference here in Dayton. Erma Bombeck Writer's Workshop. Man, it was intense! I had so much fun. It's mostly targeted to humor writers, and I am not one - I don't think I'm that funny, though I try - but it was still worthwhile. And exhausting! I don't know how those folks did it; some were up partying in the bar till 3 am. At least that's what I heard. Maybe it helps to be in from out of town and have a hotel room you can nap in - I actually had to take a nap in the back seat of my car Saturday. Glad I have tinted windows.

Well, that's about it for now. I can't promise anything about getting caught up with you all here, though I do want to. I've just been really overwhelmed and exhausted by life lately. Miss you, though!

Oh I wanted to add that I did get to meet some celebrities. There was Bill Scheft, who is one of Letterman's writers and a nice guy. And Laura Pulfer, local columnist, which meant a lot to me because I've read her stuff for many years - when I asked to take a photo with her she actually said "why?" LOL! Mo Rocca was there, and Gail Collins from the NYTimes. And maybe the most fun "celebrity" was an actual attendee -- Peggy Rowe, the mother of Mike Rowe from Dirty Jobs. She wrote an essay about her son during a writing workshop that had us all rofling!