Last Week in Jen's World...

I've been a blogging loser -- and will be for a couple more days as I continue to play catch-up from my trip. But in the meantime, here's the column I wrote about what I did while I was away...

http://www.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?z=2&a=472070

Jen's World 9/29

I'm back! It's been a long time since I've posted, but I have the best excuse ever: I was traveling Greece and Turkey with my mamacita! We had a fabulous time... in tomorrow's Post-Bulletin, I'll tell you all about it.

Here's the video (which I just made about five minutes ago), promoting it:

(In Case You're Wondering)

1- My column prints in the Rochester Post-Bulletin on Wednesdays. But the P-B doesn't put Jen's World online until at least a few days later. (You know, added incentive to get people to pay for the paper.)

So that's why I can't typically link to the current week's column. Just in case you were wondering.

2- Also, in case you were wondering: Two weeks after my surgery, I feel GREAT. Except for a bit of incision tenderness, I'm back to the norm. Gotta love modern medicine.

3- And, finally, in case you were wondering: Back to school is going great for my kids... and me. I always get a little sad when I have to return my boys to school in the fall. But they have fantastic teachers this year and I have been the model of productivity in their absence. I'd forgotten how much I can get done when actually given the time to do it.

Last Week in Jen's World...

...I effused on my love for IKEA -- even though my last two trips didn't go as smoothly as I planned.

After this column ran (on September 3), a reader e-mailed me with just one comment: "What is IKEA?"

How can that even BE?

You can catch this column HERE.

Video Tuesday

Here's what's happening this week in Jen's World (and what's happening this afternoon in my living room... where I still sit):

Back to School for the Kiddos

Backpacks packed. Snacks bagged. Alarms set. Clothes picked out -- but not without some drama. Here are two conversations I had tonight:

To the 11-year-old: You picked out your clothes? Oh, there they are. Are you sure you want to wear that old T-shirt? You don't want to wear one of your new ones? No? As long as you're sure.... It still fits? You're sure? Okay... you know, you have some nice new ones... but as long as you're sure...

To the 8-year-old: I'm sorry I gave your tie away. I thought it was too small. I'm sorry, honey, I didn't know you'd want to wear it tomorrow. Yes, I understand you want to dress up -- but maybe you can dress up without your tie? Oh, sweetie, please don't cry. I can buy you a new tie. No, I know it won't be here for the first day, but you can wear it later this week.

Small-Group Writer's Workshop

Hello friends!

Well, my plan today was to post the registration information for the small-group writing workshop I'm hosting through Community Education in October. But it turns out that the class is already full -- with a two-person waiting list!

Just in case you're interested in getting on the waiting list... or you want to see what my one-day workshops entail, here's the link, anyway.

I'll be launching another independent four-week workshop in the near future, as well. I'll keep you in the loop.