The Out-of-Office I've Always Wanted to Write

I leave tomorrow morning for BlogHer. I'm sharing a flight and a room with my good friend Average Jane.  I'll be spending the entire flight staring at the agenda and hoping people will buy the books that are sitting in the Westin St. Francis at this moment. 

And, I'm preparing to face the comments of people who will have read the book by then, as the preorders are shipping and people are e-mailing me to tell me they are holding a copy in their hot little hands.

Mine hasn't gotten here yet, which is a little like having a guy in high school tell you he's seen your senior pictures before you have.

<gulp>

So, I'm going to be away from Surrender, Dorothy for a few days in the estrogen hotbed that is BlogHer, hanging out with some (not all, I wish everyone could make it) of my favorite people from the Internet.  If you are going, please check out my panel, which is called "Blog to Book Redeaux," in which I'll be discussing my experience making Sleep Is for the Weak into a real, live book, along with another author, a literary agent and a publisher.  It's on Saturday afternoon.

Anyway, I wrote a normal out-of-office at work.  Here's my blog version, for the rest of the free world.

Rita Arens Is Ignoring You Right Now. Please Do Not Be Offended.

I will be out of my body from Thursday, July 17 to Sunday, July 20 at BlogHer '08. I will be pretending my real life doesn't exist and drinking copious amounts of alcohol. Also, squealing a lot when I see someone I know, and trying to make eye contact with people I don't know but might like to know.  Also, handing out my new business cards that have cool swirly clouds on them because I ordered them from a weatherman business card site. 

I won't be reading blogs, reading e-mail, thinking about my job or anything but the present moment in which I am living.  I will contact you again when I return and realize the clothes are unfolded, the cat's ass still stinks, and I still have to work hard for the money.  Unless you live in my house, do not expect to hear from me until Tuesday, July 22.  Monday is reserved for a certain redheaded girl who will probably miss her mommy while I am gone. 

Sincerely,

Rita Arens