Shoes, Glorious Shoes!!

The lone Travel Pro

I've been packing my stuff for the Romance Writers of America's big Annual Conference in NYC. I am also packing for a trip to see friends in Virginia before and after the conference.

I thought I could manage it all in one big suitcase and one cosmetic bag from the TRAVELPRO company. The big suitcase is a bit battered, but it can hold a lot of stuff.

My shoe dilemma

I always begin packing by making a comprehensive list. This time I had a mini-travel-to-VA list as well. That meant casual clothes along with fancy clothes and professional clothes. And all the shoes to go with the various outfits for both parts of my trip.

Purses and bling.

I felt confident I could do it. I taped my lists to the wall in the bedroom and began gathering my various articles of clothing and shoes and stuff for the trip. Oh, did I mention I need more than one purse, too? Yah, each dress I'm wearing to the fancy parties requires a different style of clutch and I have to have a big girl purse because I don't think my little Kavu purse will suffice (but I LOVE that purse--it's so easy to find stuff in it!!).

My new shoes in center!

I started out by putting my shoes at the bottom of the big suitcase. I have a drop cover that I can use to cover them.
Didn't work. I just couldn't fit all the clothes for both parts of the trip as well as the shoes into one big suitcase. So up the stairs I went to get a small suitcase to use for the VA part of the trip. Sigh. I had to unpack everything, then repack it all and that worked.

My shoes all fit!

So I have 1 big suitcase, 1 small suitcase, 1 cosmetic bag, my briefcase, my Kavu, my daughter's huge duffel bag, my daughter's computer stuff, my daughter's companion stuff to fit in on the way back from VA, as well as a pool bag, a wine bag (yes, I have my priorities straight), a cooler for normal drinks, a hostess bag, and a food bag to drag up north as well.

I guess I'll be shipping books back to Alabama because the shoes took up all my extra space!

Two suitcases packed! 

How do you prepare for packing? Am I crazy for bringing so many shoes?

And here's a confession: I left out a pair that I really wanted to bring, too.

P.S. I did pack my tiara. If you can guess where I put it based on this picture, I'll send you a Starbucks gift card!!

The Ticking Clock

I am one week away from our trip to DC. I have my pitch (must practice more), my wardrobe, my roommate (yay!), and my editor/agent appointments. I'm set. Sort of. I haven't had a chance to go through the schedule and decide what I will do when and where during the none scheduled events. And there appears to be a lot to do while I am there and not enough of me to do it all.

Someone suggested making a grid. Good idea, but I'm more calendar/time oriented. I plan to plug in all the MUSTS and then I'm working in the workshops I really want to attend. I confess I have no idea what to do when not at all the planned parties, but I believe I have one small event on Friday night to attend with my roommate. I haven't made dinner reservations or anything like that, but I know I want to go to some of my favorite type of restaurants while I am there (read "Lebanese"). I heard the bar is a good spot to go to and hang. I might do that, but watch the number of drinks I have in front of potential editors/agents LOL.

I need to make a complete packing list--but other than that I believe I am good to go!

It is what it is what it is--and the most important parts for me is the editor/agent appointments, PRO Retreat and the camaraderie with other writers who love this crazy craft.