These words are
coming to you from Anaheim, California. Mr. Ashbury and I flew in to LAX on
Sunday last, and will fly home again next Sunday.
One thing I can
say is that I now fully understand the concept of jetlag.
I don't recall
it being so difficult to adjust to Pacific Time when we went to San Francisco in
2008. I'm hoping the difference isn't due to the fact that I'm four years
older than I was then.
Seriously, I
went to bed Sunday night at 5:30 pm Pacific time, and slept until 6 am the next
morning. I figured that was simply a sign that I had exhausted myself more I'd
realized, in the days before we left.
But Monday
wasn't much better. I laid down for an hour or so at 7, feeling totally
wiped.
Mr. Ashbury
pointed out that the reason for my Monday exhaustion was that we had spent a
great deal of the day outside. He could be right. Between the time we spent by
the pool—him reading and me writing—and the three plus hours we were out and
about—him walking and me on the scooter—most of our day was spent in the sun and
breeze of this city not far from the ocean.
That's a lot of
fresh air and sunshine for someone who sometimes doesn't go out of doors all
day.
Today the real
business of the conference gets underway. From 5 to 8 pm there's a book signing
event at the Anaheim Convention Center. All of the proceeds of this sale benefit
literacy programs in this area.
RWA typically
raises thousands of dollars every year to benefit literacy. Local chapters,
across the United States and Canada also donate money every year to this worthy
cause.
On Thursday, the
conference itself gets underway. I've chosen a few seminars to attend this year.
I do love to learn new things. But I haven't made a full schedule for myself. I
prefer to tread lightly, and of course, I do need my writing
time.
Mr. Ashbury and
I have explored this area together over the last few days. Although I have
rented scooters at previous conventions, the venues didn't have many attractions
close by to encourage me to go out and explore. Here, we're only a ten minute
walk from a couple of very busy tourist areas: Anaheim's Garden Walk, and
Disneyland.
The Garden Walk
is definitely aimed at the tourist, with restaurants like Bubba Gump's, clothing
boutiques, and a very large movie theatre. Arranged in a park-like setting, it's
typical of what I love to visit when I'm in "vacation mode".
Ah, Disneyland.
The original. The theme park that changed theme parks forever. No,
Morgan didn't, nor will she, actually go to Disneyland.
We did, however,
visit the commercial area right outside the park called "Downtown Disney". It's
packed with places to eat and lots of stores. They had a Lego Store, and a store
where you could build your own bear. There were t-shirts and jewelry, purses and
hats, and souvenirs of every style and shape and description.
At home, I'm not
much of a shopper, that's true. But I do love to look when we're away,
especially at all the shiny and sparkly bits of stuff offered at these sorts of
places.
Also within easy
walking/scootering distance of our hotel were places like I-HOP and a 7/11, a
Chinese Food restaurant, a pizza place, and a Subway restaurant. There are
plenty of what we used to call "motor inns", all with pools. This area is
definitely geared toward the family. The prices range from the mildly irritating
to the truly stunningly painful.
Being frugal
sorts we purchased only one bottle of water from the hotel. The rest we got and
will continue to get at the 7/11. And we ate breakfast yesterday at the
I-HOP.
Mr. Ashbury has
to be on his own for a couple of days now as I attend to the business of writing
and being a member of the Romance Writers of America. And he has decided, for
good or ill, that tomorrow he is going to go, on his own, to
Disneyland.
When he told me
that I just shook my head and wished him luck. And yes, I did wonder, just for a
moment, if maybe the poor man isn't losing his mind.
Love,
The only dream I've ever had was to be a published author. It was a dream formed in childhood, and held on to through the business of growing up. Life intruded, as life does, and my dream was put on hold. But now, through hard work, faith, and luck dream has evolved into reality.
Romance is a wonderful genre that accommodates every other. Comedy, mystery, paranormal, suspense, or science fiction, romance embraces them all. Erotic romance gives all of that, and so much more.
For readers who want all the best traditional romance has to offer – great characters, compelling stories and a happy ending – and who crave that extra bit of heat – I invite you to read one of my novels and let me know what you think!
No comments:
Post a Comment