Welcome to my first Sunday Salon on my new URL! I can’t tell you how excited I am that you’re here with me. Taking this live new site live has certainly been an adventure. In many ways I wished that I had done this a year ago, but I wouldn’t have made the investment in having my template custom designed for me. I’m definitely enjoying it.
Kathy believes that she fixed the comments glitches that people were having. If you still have trouble leaving comments, please let me know. I want to make sure that anyone who wants to leave comments can. Also, I finally got all of my links added under “Literate Housewife Approved.” If you don’t see your link there, please send me an email and I’ll add you right away.
I’ve also learned a lot. First, I would suggest that anyone moving to another site change the internal links in Notepad or Wordpad before importing existing content into the new blog. I didn’t think to do that and I’ll probably be manually changing them one by one for the rest of my life. 
I need to figure out how to change my existing WordPress blog to route here. I think I’ve got all of the pieces together that I need, but putting it into action is slowing me down.
I wish I had a camera with me. Emma is sitting on the couch with her legs crossed reading my copy of Soul Catcher! It would make an adorable picture, but as soon as I put my laptop down to get the camera she would … actually she’s already off cutting construction paper with her scissors. She’s really excited about reading an loves to pick up my books and find words she knows. I’m so proud of her.
Yesterday was such a treat. I was able to have lunch with Kathy, Jaime and Miriam from Hachette Books. We ate at a nice barbecue restaurant in Blacksburg and spent the time talking about reading and blogging. It was so nice to finally meet some of my blogging friends in person. I agree with Kathy, book bloggers are twice as nice in person.
Kathy, Miriam, Jaime, and Me
This past week I was in Las Vegas for a conference about using social media and the health care industry. I got there Sunday afternoon. Since Vegas has a better variety of movies than Roanoke, I planned on seeing several while I was there, starting with Revolutionary Road. I had been looking forward to that movie since I first heard about it. I left that movie very depressed. Wow. I could really relate to Kate Winslet’s character (except for all the smoking). She reminded me a lot of myself in the first couple of years after Allison was born. I wished that I hadn’t seen that movie alone. Have you seen it? I’m curious what other people thought about it. I have an ARC of the book that I do want to read still. I think that there are some details with the neighbors that was missing from the movie. I also handle deeply morose subject matter much better in reading than I do in cinematic form. Needless to say, I decided not to see any more movies while I was there.
The highlight of my trip was the tour of Zappos.com‘s corporate headquarters. I am planning a post about my time there once my first pair of Zappos shoes arrive tomorrow, but I just can’t keep quite about this company. If you haven’t experienced the difference there, you should check it out. Free shipping in the US with a 365 day return policy also with free shipping. You can’t lose and the customer service there is the world’s best. I can’t wait to tell you more about it.
I didn’t get as much reading done in Vegas as I had hoped. I finished The Sinner’s Guide to Confession on the plane and wrote the review on the flight as well. I hosted Phyllis Schieber’s book tour on Monday. Please stop by and leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of the novel. I really enjoyed it. Although it was still early after Revolutionary Road on Sunday night, I felt like doing anything but read, so I watched an MSNBC special on the BTK serial killer. This was NOT a bright idea. I can freak myself out just listening to the music from Unsolved Mysteries and being alone and watching a show like that made every possible noise I heard spook me. Anyway, I started reading Soul Catcher by Michael White the next day. I’m just over half way through now. It started a bit slow for me, but it’s picked up considerably. I’m hoping to finish it for the Historical Fiction Lovers book club in the next day or two. It’s our February book of the month. I’ll post my review here after that.
I did manage to get three reviews written in Vegas. In addition to The Sinner’s Guide to Confession, I wrote and posted my review of Etta by Gerald Kolpan. I’ve written my review of Tomato Girl by hand and hope to have that posted later today. I’m still a little behind with my reviews. I need to write my reviews for The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, Mermaids in the Basement, and The Triumph of Deborah. Guernsey is my first book for my War Through the Generations reading challenge.
This may be SuperBowl Sunday, but we’re not huge football fans here. I loved the Pittsburgh Steelers when I was a little girl and they were always in the SuperBowl (Terry Bradshaw days). I’m happy they’re back this year, but I’m probably not going to watch the game very closely. If you have big plans, have a wonderful time!
Until next week, enjoy what February brings this year.
Yesterday was so much fun! Thanks for coming. I can’t wait to read your Zappos post.
Come on shoes!!!
How exciting that you were able to meet up with Kathy, Jaime and Miriam! I am hoping to meet a few at the L.A. Times Festival of Books this coming spring.
It sounds like you had a nice time in Las vegas. I’m not at all familiar with Zappos, but I’ll definitely follow your link and check it out.
Your new site looks really great, by the way. I hope you have a wonderful week!
Literary Feline’s last blog post..Sunday Salon: My Monthly Travel Report
LA sounds like a fun festival! Do you know which authors will be there? Given the venue, I bet there will be some great ones. Thanks so much for your compliments!
Jennifer, the new site looks fabulous! One day I’ll get brave enough to get mine done. lol. I read on Kathy’s blog about you all meeting up-how wonderful. I’m so jealous. I’m so glad you all had fun. It sure would be great to meet some of the bloggers I’ve gotten to know. Have a great Sunday!
Darlene’s last blog post..January 2009 Reads
Darlene, if I can do it, you can do it!
Someday maybe I’ll get a chance to go to California and meet more of you. Enjoy your day!
I LOVE your new design! I am moving to .com next week:) How cool to meet up with Kathy, Jamie and Miriam too! I will add you button, I want more book bloggers to get buttons!
Tracy’s last blog post..Warm Your Mitts With Warm Mouse
Thanks, Tracy! I will be looking forward to seeing what your site will look like! I’ll be sure to add your button. I think they are so much fun!
I love the new site! Your layout and design are both fabulous. When I get a full-time job, hopefully this fall, I will definitely be looking into hiring a professional to make me a lovely design, too.
Also, it’s so exciting that you got to meet up with Kathy, Jaime, and Miriam! I’m jealous – there are so many blogger meet-ups around and never where I am, heh. Sounds like a great time. =)
Meghan’s last blog post..Review: Twilight, Stephenie Meyer [TSS]
Thank you so much, Meghan! I really think you should splurge once you’re gainfully employed. It wouldn’t be as fun if you were running away from the creditors.
I would jump at the chance to head over the pond to meet you in person. Alas, going abroad will have to wait until my daughters are older or my company will send me. So, it will have to be when my daughters are older. 
You’re so lucky that you got to meet other bloggers. We really have to find a way to have a middle of the country meeting where we can all meet! I really like Miriam (electronically). I bet she’s just great in person.
Anyway, thanks for the blogroll link… I think I got you on mine too. When I switched over, I just did a a post redirecting folks to my new site. Here’s the URL: http://www.sjfreed.wordpress.com.
OK. Have a great day!
Sheri’s last blog post..The Sunday Salon: Misconceived, Pt. 2
I would be excited if there was a way for more of us to get together. Maybe we could make the BBAW an official organization and meet in St. Louis or something. It would be great.
The blogger gathering sounds like fun! I’m glad you have launched this gorgeous new site. I have never met any blogger, at least not here in San Francisco, but I’d love hearing all the stories of these gatherings.
Matt’s last blog post..Reading Beloved
I can’t believe there aren’t bloggers gathering all over the place in San Francisco. If I ever make it there and you’re still around, let’s promise to meet at the coffee shop you’ve blogged about. I would love to hear more about the classes you teach. I’m looking forward to what you come up with this summer.
Jennifer!! I am LOVING the new site!! It’s so cool! And I’m completely jealous that you got to meet Miriam, Kathy, and Jamie! Miriam is so wonderful, virtually- I can only imagine how nice she is face to face!
I picked up Soul Catcher yesterday, read two pages, then chose something else- it didn’t grab me. I will pick it up next, though! I’m glad to hear it picks up!
Thank you so much, Lisa! They were all wonderful. I hope that we can do this more than just once.
I think once you get into the book you’ll enjoy it. The first chapter or three really sets the tone for the novel. I stayed up until nearly 2am this morning finishing it.
From one Jennifer to another, your site looks great. I’m not sure what it looked like before, but it looks fantastic. I’m currently on free WordPress, which I like, but see major limitations with. Good Luck!
I came via your post at Devourer of books…isn’t she another Jennifer?
Jenn M.’s last blog post..Assigned Reading
We are all Jennifers!
Thank you so much for your compliments. What I had before was pretty simple and boring. One thing I didn’t like about free WordPress was that you can’t add javascript to your widgets. Very limiting. Now, I’m free to do anything. It’s nice.
I’m so jealous of your meet-up, but hopefully I’ll meet Literary Feline this spring!
I love your new look!
Amy @ My Friend Amy’s last blog post..Guest Post: Nancy Warren
I can’t wait to hear about your meeting with Literary Feline. Thanks for the compliments, too!
I love your new site…the design is fabulous.
Zappos has amazing customer service…and the fastest shipping ever!
softdrink’s last blog post..Weekly Geeks 2009-04
Your site looks great. You all seem to have had a good time, judging by the photo!!
Mog’s last blog post..The Sunday Salon.