I did actually manage to pack yesterday. I haven't yet determined how much I forgot, other than my phone charger. But Beloved has one just like it! So, phew. Because even though my phone doesn't get reception here in the hinterlands, I still have to have it with me and charged like a woobie.

So we made it up here, and I woke up this morning all KA-POW! feeling like myself again, thank you Jesus, because wow that really sucked feeling paralyzed! Interestingly, what snapped me out of it was going through my 117-point marketing plan for The Obvious Game with Beloved in the car. He asked if I were going to get blurbs for my novel, and I was all BLURBS ARE THE TIP OF THE TYPE A PERSONALITY ICEBERG, DUDE. And I read him my plan and he was all, "That is, um, a LOT more than you did for Sleep Is for the Weak." And I was all, "Twitter barely existed in 2008, and I had no idea what I was doing. Also back then I thought it would be easy to sell books."

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA

But even though I'm in a tougher publishing environment now than I was in 2008, I at least now understand the toughness and am prepared to face the toughness and spend a half hour a day four months before publication doing everything I can to get ready for this novel to come into being. I told Beloved that incredibly 31 people have signed up to help me out on my Google form, and he was shocked, and I was also shocked, because that is pretty amazing, the offer to help, and I'm so honored that people would volunteer their time or effort to help me break through the noise a little for a book that I so need to get out into the world.

And that did it. Thirty-one people signed up to help me, so I better get unparalyzed and get off my rear and get back into high production, because there's money to earn at the day job and a wedding to attend in the family job and the book? Well, that's what I do for myself. There are a lot of balls in the air, but doesn't everyone have them, and as I've said before, though your friends and family may love you and want you to succeed, nobody cares if that book gets published but you, my friends. It's a blessing and a curse.

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Part of getting off my rear involved writing this review about the 2012 American Girl party dress and holiday accessories. There is an itsy bitsy Nutcracker, the cuteness. Check it out on Surrender, Dorothy: Reviews!

Once upon a time, I met a woman named Laura Mayes who shared my views on writing and publishing. I immediately liked her. She was cheerful and upbeat and ambitious and persistent. And today, she has a gorgeous, high-design book filled with wonderful writing and photography called Kirtsy Takes a Bow.

Lest you think it's like all those other blog books, look at how YUMMY IT IS.

She said "high design," and I was all, "yeah, yeah..."

Right. High design. Can you believe your blog post could look like THAT?

So, anyway, I'm also extremely flattered to have a piece in this book. It's about politics. I can't wait to see what it LOOKS LIKE IN THERE.

Also, I really respect my fellow contributors, many of whom I count as good real-life friends now. It's funny how that's happened over the past five years of reading them, seeing them at BlogHer and other get-togethers, Twittering and sending frantic e-mails back and forth late at night.

Amie Adams Rita Arens Gwen Bell Gabrielle Blair Alice Bradley Kaori Brauns Brene’ Brown Marta Dansie Katherine Center Sophia Charming Kristin Chase Tracey Clark Catherine Connors Jena Coray John Culberson Maggie Dammit Marta Dansie Nadia Dole Caroline Donahue Danny Evans Lisa Fain Jordan Ferney Lindsay Ferrier Kathryn Finney Doug French Amy Gates Kenneth Germer Georgia Getz Brittney Gilbert Joanna Goddard

Aran Goyoaga Risa Green Liz Gumbinner Jennifer Harvey Krystyn Heide Genny Heikka Daniel Hope Tara Hunt Kate Inglis Sarah Ji Sara Johnson Isabel Kallman Guy Kawasaki Neil Kramer Michelle Lamar Jenny Lawson Shawn Ledington Jen Lemen Dana Loesch Yvonne Marie Julie Mason Maggie Mason Laura Mayes Jamie Meares Lily McElroy Lauren McKechnie Karen Maezen Miller Karen Mordechai Loren Morris Stacy Morrison Casey Mullins Irene Nam

Erica O’Grady Tracey Gaughran-Perez Julie Pippert Kyran Pittman Sarah Jane Rhee Stephanie Roberts Roseline Betsy Roy Andrea Scher Amy Turn Sharp Angie Smith Laurie Smithwick Casey Solomon Liz Stanley Kathryn Storke Mary Swenson Joslyn Taylor Evany Thomas Katherine Thompson Togy Ng Kwong To Penelope Trunk Amy Urquhart Erin Kotecki Vest Susan Wagner Karen Walrond Tish Warren Lisa Whelan Maile Wilson Michelle Wolfson Ryan Wright Shannon Zoet

But most of all, I respect Laura, who corralled 100 contributors and brought such vision to this book. I know (believe me, I know!) how hard it is to stay in touch with even 25 people over the book publishing process. I am a big admirer of anyone who can keep up with more and be so damn graceful under pressure.

So, congratulations, Laura! Enjoy this time! You deserve it. And your book looks beautiful.