Follow-up on Elizabeth Berg

I've had a few people ask how the luncheon where I got to meet one of my all-time favorite authors Elizabeth Berg went. I've hesitated about blogging about it because I'm not sure what to say. But here goes...

The luncheon itself was beautiful. Held at High Point Country Club, it was like walking into a big 'ol Southern mansion with all the charm implied therein. Chandeliers, terraces, cotton towels in the ladies room instead of paper towels and complimentary lotion, hairspray, and lipstick--very nice.

 Elizabeth Berg read from many of her works which I enjoyed. But that's almost all she did.  I was hoping to hear more of a talk from her about her writing and her career. So I was a bit disappointed in that.  But I did get her to sign a book and also I had long ago dissected one of her novels, Joy School, to see how a novel is put together and I brought her all my notes and she was gracious enough to sign that as well.

The weird part of the day for me was the company kept. Very high society country club women all decked out in their finest spring line with matching hats, lipstick, pearls and diamonds.  I can't put my finger on what was wrong. But there was an underlying feeling I was uncomfortable with. After ruminating on it, I think what it was is that I didn't feel most of these women were here because they were interested in authors or writing or Elizabeth Berg. I more felt like they were there simply to have someone entertain them and to be seen. Only 3 questions were asked in the Q & A session. Most of the 300+ crowd simply scattered away after the luncheon and didn't wait in line to meet Ms. Berg. "People have a lot of commitments" I was told, when I commented on this while standing in line.

There was also no common conversation such as "So what do you do?" I suspect because most of them don't work. But I was asked who my husband was and if I was kin to the so-and-so Harris' because then I might know such and such's daughter-in-law? Ick.

Again, no one was rude in any way.  It was just an odd afternoon. But I'm still glad I went. I got to spend time with my friends Pam & Judy and Pam's upcoming book, Southern Fried Women was announced at the luncheon and Elizabeth Berg told Pam she would like a copy of it, which is wonderful. 

Apparently I'm just not the high-society type. Which is fine with me. 

Beading Party, Cats & Wake-up Calls

Much to blog about today. We'll start with my cat Lucy. I asked Blair to wake me up at 5am today so I had time to get up and eat a bit of food before going to yoga at 6. He woke me up at 5 and went downstairs to shower. I threw myself back under the pillows and decided I'd just do a yoga tape later today around 10. But then...

"Mrow. Mow. Mow-mow-meow-rowr."

 "Hush," I said from under the covers. "Mommy is sleeping in."

"Mrow."

Pause

"Mrow."

Pause.

"Mrow."

Pause

"Mrow."

 "Oh my God," I said, sitting up and throwing the covers. "WHAT?"

The "what" was that she wanted some attention. So I got up and combed a purring cat for 10 minutes AND made it to yoga on time. I told my yoga instructor she owes my cat some niblets for that one.

Now let's backtrack to last night's beading party.  SUCH fun. Melody is the most patient of instructors and people had a ball walking around and looking at her work and creating their own. Two creations really stood out. Maggie and Stevii both made these intricate, multi-bead necklaces that were astonishing to behold. Really beautiful.

I made a long necklace--twice.  I was halfway complete and lifted it to look at it and dropped one of the ends. I'll be vacuuming up beads for months, I'm sure. But I'm wearing it now as I type this and I love it.

The most fun for me was seeing how everyone meshed together. It was an eclectic group of women from different areas of my life--some writers, some neighbors, some former co-workers, some young women. Everyone got along splendidly and if noise level is any indication of a party's success, this party rocked. 

I would host another beading party for Melody in a heartbeat. It really is fun to have your hands busy with a task but be sharing with others, and having a necklace as a takeaway for the night is a great thing. Everyone more than got their money's worth.

Thanks Melody! 

Diary of Mad Housekeeper

I'm hosting a bead party tonight for my friend Melody.  Melody makes beautiful jewelry and tonight she'll lead a group of us in making our own necklaces.

This is a busy week for me and I decided early on that I wasn't going to try and kill myself and make the house spotless. Almost everyone attending has been in my house before, so I decided I would just relax and enjoy the event. Here then, is a brief glimpse into the mind of Dena "relaxing."

PLACE: Dena's Home

SCENE: Dena working at her computer early yesterday morning. Let's slip in closer and hear her thoughts....

DENA: "This is so nice not having to worry about cleaning the house for the party. I'm so happy I've outgrown the need to try and impress people. Instead, I can just spend the day getting some work done."

TEN MINUTES LATER...

(Roar of the vacuum cleaner fills the air). "I'll just vacuum the upstairs. It needs it anyway so it's not like I'm doing it for the party."

TEN MINUTES AFTER THAT...

"A quick swiffering will take care of most of this dust. If I cared, I would Pledge, but I'm not going to worry about it...."

ONE MINUTE LATER....

"I'll only Pledge just this one end table because the dust really does collect on it and it stays off so much better if I Pledge.  And it's silly to have the Pledge out and just do one table.  I'll  just do the main tables and call it quits."

TWO HOURS LATER...

"Okay, the kitchen and bathrooms are clean, the rugs are in the washer and I've de-linted the cats. I'll replace the toilet paper rolls first thing tomorrow so they're nice and full for the party and put out clean towels. If we eat on paper towels standing over the sink tonight, I think we can keep the house clean until tomorrow."

So welcome everyone.  Make yourself at home. And don't worry, I didn't go to any bother...

Rabid Squirrels Are Back!

The damn squirrels are at it again.  I'm sitting in my office and on the roof above me is the constant scratching and scraping of dirty squirrel talons digging into my shingles. At least that's what I imagine them to be doing.  All I know is I'm hearing loud scrabbling noises and it's about to drive me to distraction. Any neighbor who dares peek in my window will probably call the cops to come arrest the crazed lunatic who's pounding a plastic broom handle against her ceiling whilst muttering squirrel curses.

Oh hell, they're inside the walls. Literally as I'm typing this the vent cover in the wall next to me starts rattling and it sounds like dust is falling behind it as something moves around.  Any minute now I expect a red-eyed squirrel demon to throw open the vent and declare war, probably beating me to death with the plastic broom handle.

And where are my cats, my protectors? Downstairs sleeping on the sofa. Someone needs to start earning their keep around here.

If later on today you see a blog entry reading something along the lines of  "Hlp. Atcked by sqrls. Bldeeng to deth," you'll know to send help, right?