Ah, Life!

I started to post this little complaint ruse on Facebook, but thought I might get a little long-winded, so I’ll do a blog post instead. I can’t make any promises about not being too long-winded, however.

In the last several days, squeezed in during Tommy’s naps and my evening hours, I’ve been packing and preparing three presentations I’ll make next week between here and Chicago:

Saturday, August 23 – Springfield Writers’ Guild, 1:00 pm-2:00 pm at Heritage Cafeteria, 1364 E Battlefield in Springfield, Missouri. I’ll be presenting a workshop on Interviewing Your Characters.

Thursday, August 28 – Chicago Japanese American Historical Society, 12:00 pm-1:30 pm at Harold Washington Library, 400 S. State Street (Video Theater, Lower Level), Chicago, IL. I’ll be conducting a workshop titled Wearing the Red Kimono, which will teach participants different methods to turn family history into stories.

Thursday, August 28 – Japan America Society of Chicago, 6:00 pm-7:30 pm at Harold Washington Library, 400 S. State Street (Video Theater, Lower Level), Chicago, IL. Book signing and Q&A about The Red Kimono.

Saturday, August 30 – Japanese Festival-Missouri Botanical Gardens, I’m excited to attend Obon (and see Steve try to dance) and I will be helping and selling my books at a booth from 4:15 pm-8:15 pm.

If you’re in the area, come by to say “hi!”

Anyway, back to my day. As my mind raced with everything I need to get done before we leave on Friday, as I tried to figure out what to pack, as I organized my presentations, as I “re-directed” Tommy now that he’s learned to climb over my pillow barricades (time to get safety gates!) . . . I received an email that my townhouse, which I’m renting, is on the market AND the realty company will be putting a lock box on my front door on Friday, the day I’m leaving.

Which means . . .

I ALSO HAVE TO CLEAN MY HOUSE BEFORE I LEAVE!!! Of course, I probably would have done so anyway, since for some reason, I always clean house before I leave. Nothing like coming home to a clean house, just to clutter it up with dirty laundry and bills that need to be paid, right?

Let’s not forget I’ll be packing up and moving in the weeks after my return. . . again. But, no complaints! I’m excited to say, this time into a house. I plan to stay for awhile, and I’m looking forward to making it home.

I guess I thought the surprise notice from the leasing company gave me something to complain about. Plus, it gave me a good excuse to post my schedule. Oh, and I also got to brag that Tommy is crawling, too. 

Still, I think I need an excuse to soothe myself, as well as an excuse to end this blog post. I think I’ll go out for a milkshake.