The First Day Of... Conference?

Here's my big girl, as promised (to Melanie), before we left home for kindergarten. *deep breath* It's all good. I'm good. She'll be good. It's good. I think.



As for the other part of my post title... I've been thinking a lot about writers' conferences lately, and how much I'd like to attend one. I realize writers' magazines often announce and advertise them, but how else does one find information? Is there a site online? How do I research dates and locations, to best find one in my region?

Likewise, I've been thinking about writers' groups. Is there a site that would tell me if there's one local to me? I think joining one would benefit me greatly, but I'm unsure as to how to find one.

I realize I could probably use a search engine for both of these things, but I wondered if there are any direct links or resources. Anyone have ideas or advice?

The Big K

There's a lot I could post about today... but kindergarten starts in two days, and this fact is almost consuming my thoughts.

How will I cope with this little one (whom I've stayed-at-home with every day of her life) away at school all day, five days a week? What will happen when she breaks into tears, when she gets frustrated with something she's trying to do but can't? Will she say something that could, in the short term, embarrass me? Like, will she tell her teacher "my mommy sits in front of the computer all day," in that exaggerated way, but mention nothing of the fact that I'm a writer? Will an older kid pick on her? Will a girl in her class decide she doesn't want to be friends? Will something she says or does reflect on me as a mother, in a negative way? Will I stop worrying?

This is the picture I took last year, on the first day of preschool. *sniffle*

On Wednesday I'll post a new one. *sniffle*