Don’t be mislead by the title of this post.
 
No, I was not at ALA.
And I have not been blogging.
Or cleaning my house.
Or doing much laundry.

Because… I have still been on my many-state-mini-van adventure with the Small and Tall!!!

Tonight, though, I’m in a hotel room in West Memphis and tomorrow I will be HOME.
For the first time in 5 weeks.
And I am almost as ready as my daughters.

(Who are a little more ready because they will carry on not cleaning the house or doing much laundry, and I won’t.
Or will.
You get what I mean.)

Anyway.
I have a LOT of updates for you, little and big.

Like about how I cried today listening to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
When he finally got that golden ticket, nearly delirious with hunger and waning hope?
That is such a beautiful scene. Seriously, you guys.
Go back and re-read it.
And also the next scene where Grandpa Joe jumps out of bed, giddy with the luck of it all.

Oh, and another literary moment today was when the girls were reading Archie comics and discussing which one they liked more — Betty or Veronica.

"Betty," they both declared. (Thank heaven for small mercies.)

And I chimed in from the front, "Yeah, Veronica’s kind of snooty, isn’t she?"

"Snooty’s not really right, Mama," corrected Small One. "She’s just spoiled."

Oh.
Right.

So before I recount the countless enlightening moments like these that I’ve saved up over the last month or so, can I just share with you the photo that my beloved agent snapped with her cellular phone at ALA in Chicago?

My little book was there — in ARC form and on the Simon & Schuster banner.
Next to Toni Morrison (!??!?!) and a whole bunch of other incredibly daunting and amazing folk.

Oh, and also?
The illustrator of that little book accepted her Caldecott Honor for the brilliant A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever at the very same conference.

Just sittin’ here at the Quality Inn, living vicariously…
At least we get free waffles in the morning…