I'm getting ready for my first I'm-retired-so-I-can-go-anywhere-anytime trip. First destination is to Girlfriend Weekend in Jefferson, Texas (http://www.beautyandthebook.com/girlfriend-weekend.html) and then on to New Orleans. OK, what's Girlfriend Weekend you ask? Well, to make a long story short, there is a wild woman named Kathy Patrick in Jefferson who opened a shop that is both a beauty shop and a bookstore, then started up a book club called the Pulpwood Queens. Although they are serious about reading, they don't take themselves very seriously -- tiaras, leopard accessories, and pink are nearly mandatory attire at book club meetings (it is Texas, after all). Well, the book club has snowballed and there are now over 200 chapters in the USA. So a few years ago Kathy organized a gathering of book club members and rounded up a bunch of authors and started Girlfriend Weekend. This year is really is an extravaganza of several hundred people and over 70 authors and 3 solid days of panel discussions, talks, meet-and-greet functions, etc. Fannie Flagg and Pat Conroy (one of my favorites) will be keynote speakers. The event works because the authors have as much fun as the attendees. I am really excited about going!!!!
Fun fact: Random House publishers have bankrolled the first few episodes of a new reality TV show called Beauty and the Book (which is the name of Kathy Patrick's salon/bookstore). They are going to do a premier showing of the show during the weekend.
As for New Orleans, need I say anything? I'm looking forward to the 4 B's -- bourbon, blues, beignets, and bread pudding, in that order. I've never been there, so I'm hoping to get to the Mardi Gras museum, stay up late listening to great music, and just soak in the atmosphere. I'll probably come home tired, but it will be worth it.
I'll keep you posted on my airport experience -- not looking forward to the new TSA security procedures. Yuck.
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