Head down. Nose grinding.
Just registered for SCBWI‘s regional conference at Asilomar on Mar 1-3. Also registered for two mini-sessions: a roundtable critique and social marketing advice.
Must have the picture book trilogy polished to brilliant cut diamond standards by then. Gotta make something happen. Gotta do it. Gotta do it.
Visualizing a bullet train. No derailing. Kinda like the Polar Express, only without all those strange elves and the ho-ho guy. (The Hostess plant is closing, dontcha know, although there are rumors that someone is going to buy it because god knows we all need more sugar and would die if the Ho-Ho-Twinkie plant was overgrown by kudzu.)
Back to the train. I won’t be settling for a used sleigh bell. Got holes in my pockets those will fall through. Need something much bigger. Something that helps pay the rent–at least one month’s worth in San Francisco. No small potatoes.
Jilanne Hoffmann 
I have a longstanding joke with a Chronicle author that we no longer think of terms of money. We just do projects for a driveway, dental work, or car repairs. So yes, add rent to the list–it’s always first on the list (after dog food). Have a blast at the conference and good luck with your children’s story. From what I’ve read so far I think it will make a terrific series.
I can’t believe you spend all that cold hard cash on dog food. Put Chloe to work!!! She could be a sled dog or the next Rin Tin Tin. Put her out on the street next to a tin cup, bind her paw, give her dark glasses and a cane. Do whatever, but make her work for her kibble…
I am but a slave to my four-legged companion. Just went to the store; she got a cookie, I got a smaller one…
Happy, Inspiring and Prosperous 2013 to you and your family!:-)
Thank you! We’ll send good vibes in your direction!