First, sorry about last week, I was on a family vacation and was asked (begged, actually) to stay off my cell and off my computer.  It was a long 12 days - I think there should be some sort of patch you can put on when you have to go technology-less cold turkey. It was harder than I thought.

I've often thought it would be a great idea ito just pack nothing and tell everyone the airlines lost your luggage - waaay easier.

On to the wondrous topic of Conference packing prep.  I go to conferences for different reasons.  RWA, for me, is a social function.  It’s an opportunity to share face time with buds I only see once a year.  It’s also an opportunity to meet with my editors and my fab agent - have I mentioned recently that she negotiated one hell of a deal for me lately?  Love Donna Bagdasarian.

I digress.  I have a ‘packing list’ on my computer.  I have one for cold weather and one for warm weather.  I also have duplicates of almost everything, I learned to do this in 1994 when an FBI agent was speaking to a chapter I belonged to and he said his team always had their ready bags at hand.  I didn’t know what he meant, so I raised my hand and asked what a ready bag was.   He said it was pre-packed necessities so all an agent would have to do is maybe add a coat and sweater or switch out short sleeves for long sleeves.  My ready bag has all of my hair stuff (you’d never know it took so many products to make such average looking hair, did ya?) combs, candles, robe, p.j.s, socks, hose (though I haven’t worn those suckers in a long time), Clorox Hard Surface Spray (a MAJOR must) shoes that go with conference gear.  I ALWAYS have blank FedEx shipping labels - get an account, it’s free, they charge your credit card and will show up anywhere to make a pick-up.  I hear UPS does this too,  whatever one is fine.

Then I color code a sheet with my daily appointments and decide what I’ll wear to each thing, then I make a color-coordinated list and hit the closet.  Now here’s the terrible part . . . my husband does the actual physical packing for me.  I swear the man could manage to fit a polar bear in a sandwich baggie!  I always ship my promo stuff to myself at the hotel - just address it yourself, Print Guest in large letters and date of check-in), then the hotel’s address.  Now if you’re really feeling organized,  include a return shipping box (folded flat) and a return shipping bill so you can send things home.  Anything that weighs a lot gets shipped, especially since I’m already paying the 2 bag and overweight charges.

My biggest problem is packing to go home.  Super Bob isn’t there to help me.

And no, I don’t shop pre-conference unless weight gain/loss comes into play.  The only thing I must have done are nails, toes and hair.  It doesn’t seem to bother me that people have seem me in the same outfit 5 years running, but one white hair or chipped toenail polish is a huge thing.

Happy Packing!

Rhonda