Bob the Unicorn

When I was at Convention I got to visit briefly with Michelle Nelson Schmidt.  She is the Author/Illustrator of Jonathan James and the Whatif Monster.  She came to introduce us to her new friend "Bob is a Unicorn".

Michelle Nelson Schmidt and Bob

Bob is a Unicorn is a great book for all the dreamers out there.  Here is a teaser video about the book.  I think you are really going to like it.  I do. 

Here is the story read by the amazing Author/Illustrator, Michelle Nelson Schmidt.

This book will be available soon!  I can't wait to bring it to all the kids in the area.  I know they are going to love it. It will definitely be my new book of choice for reading to the Preschools and elementary school's in the area.  

New Title Video - Baby's Very First Noisy Book Farm

Hello from Convention 2013!!  Here is one of our new titles!! Baby's Very First Noisy Book Farm.  Very Cute!! This book isn't available for purchase yet but will be very soon!!

Be sure to "Subscribe" to my Youtube channel so you don't miss out on any of my upcoming video's!!

Conversation from Tulsa to Home

Me: Amanda, how are you?
Amanda: Mommy!!! (much excitement! Oh Lord, I miss this child!)
Me: Are you having a good day?
Amanda: yep
Me: What did you do today?
Amanda: hum...
Me: Amanda, What did you do today?
Amanda: silence
Me: Amanda, Did you feed the Bunnies?
Amanda: What?
Me: Did you feed the Bunnies?  Give them any love?
Amanda: What Mom?
Me: Have you been feeding and watering the Rabbits?
Amanda: silence
Me: Amanda, (loudly)
Amanda: Yeah, Mom.
Me: Are you watching tv?
Amanda: yep.
Me: I'll talk to you tomorrow. Bye.  (End Call and thinking "yeah, they're fine and maybe I don't miss them quite as much as I thought. Happy to be here at Convention doing something for myself!!")

Headed to Paradise

Yesterday I hauled my rear out of bed at 5:30 and got ready to head out the door for Tulsa.  This week is our National Convention for Usborne Books & More.  This is the fifth time I've attended the event.  Each year it gets me so excited and ready to come back and be the "Crazy Book Lady!"

When I left the house it was raining. We have gotten a ton of rain this summer.  I was excited to head towards some heat and sunshine!!  I drove over to Mankato and met up with Tracey Boraas and Becky Dean.  Both are amazing good friends and I was thrilled to drive down with them.  We left out of Mankato at 7:00 and made good time.  Would you believe we didn't turn the radio on the entire way!

We made great time through Iowa.  Although I was having a hard time letting go of work.  My boss sent me an email and told me to quit responding to emails. :)  It's hard to let go of responsibilities.  Plus look what I saw on the highway!!

Yep... We saw a couple Schugel Trucks on the way.  

We stopped in Ames to use the restroom and get something to eat.  We had lunch and stretched the legs.  The trip to Convention always reminds me how long of a state Iowa is. We made another stop at the southern border of Iowa to use the rest room again and stretch.  I feel like all I did yesterday was sit, eat, drink and pee!! :)  hehe!!

Your favorite Crazy Book Lady, Tracey and Becky!

When we left her I crawled in the back seat to take a nappy.  When I woke up when had gotten to through a chunk of Missouri and some rain.  Becky and Tracey were chatting nicely and I snoozed listening to some NPR on my iPhone.  Love my podcasts!!

Before we knew it we were in Joplin, Missouri and we stopped at a McDonalds for a snack, a soda and the bathroom.  We sat and chatted about the upcoming events of the week and were charmed by the guy behind the counter.  He welcomed us to Missouri and asked how our trip from Minnesota was.  WHAT?  How'd you know we were from Minnesota?  He said our Accents gave us away.  Ya, Ya, Es Gute!!  I know... I sound like a big, lumber jack Minnesotan.  I can't help it.  Yes I over enunciate my "O's.  It's my thing.  Don't judge!  Anyways... we had a nice chat with him.  I told him about how we were headed to Tulsa for a convention for Usborne Books and More.  I followed up by asking if he'd ever considered selling books.  (Becky, aren't you proud!!)  I gave him a business card and he said he would check into it.  He had previously done magazine sales.

Ethan, my next new recruit!!

From Joplin, MO to Tulsa is only about 2 hours.  We zipped along and made very good time.  It is very different scenery here.  No corn and bean fields.  Mostly cows and pasture land.

Well... Tracey is itching to go cause some trouble.  We are off to do some wandering and see what we can see.

Today we visited and toured the Usborne Home Office.  Video and Pictures of that to follow.   Take care and be sure to check back for info on the new titles and any announcements Randall has for us!!

Always,

TCBL

Ready, set, go!!!!!

I am packed and ready to leave for the Usborne 2013 convention!!  This is my 5th convention and I absolutely cannot wait to go!!

Going to convention puts a spark back in my business.  It ally lights a fire under my rear!!   I said to my husband yesterday "you do know I'll come back from Tulsa the Crazy Book Lady, right?!?"  His reply, "Yep. I know it always gets you recharged."

Recharged is such a great way to explain it.  I am so excited to spend time with my Ussie Buddies, see all the amazing new titles and hear all the great things.  There will be motivational speakers and leaders from Usborne there.  We will get to spend time with the home office and get to talk to Randall White, the CEO.

I will be posting lots of great pictures and video.  Be sure to check back for updates!!!

Outta Tears

I've started writing this post several times and finally feel ok writing it.  Although I've deleted it all twice and started over.

Two weeks ago today John got a call that a good friend of his had died in a car accident.  John was devastated.  He had known Tyson since they were in junior league bowling together in grade school.  I've known Ty since I was a senior in High School and worked with him at Godfather's Pizza in New Ulm.

John and Ty have bowled in lots and lots of tournaments together and on league together for years.  We found pictures from when they had gone to National Tournaments way back before John and I were married.

Tyson with the sign to "his Canyon Ranch" during our trip to Reno in 2001

Recent Picture of Tyson

John and I both grieve for the family left behind.  Yes, we will miss Tyson but we both feel terrible for the loved ones.  Especially when there are kids involved.  They are so young and forever is a difficult concept to understand.  Tyson was a great bowler, Son, Father, brother and Friend.  There were many tears shed at his funeral and he will definitely be missed.

John commented to me after the funeral that he didn't want to bury a friend again for a long time.  I so agree!

On top of this we lost a dear friend at work.  Our CFO, Jim Guldan, passed away after a very short battle with Cancer.  I have reported directly and indirectly to him for the last 5 years.  He was an amazing man.  Caring, compassionate, extremely hard working and very dedicated.  On top of being the CFO, a Husband, Dad and Grandpa he was an ordained Deacon in the Catholic Church.  He was a wonderful example of a strong faith.

Jim

Deacon Jim

On Tuesday I went to his funeral.  It was an amazing celebration of his life.  There were so many nice things said.   It has been a difficult week of changes at work.  Making sure that his replacement has access to all his work files, passwords, etc.  Cleaning out his office, disabling his accounts, etc.  It's so hard and everything is so final.  Jim also left behind family.  A wonderful wife, Brenda, and three daughters and a handful of Grandkids.  I am praying for them all.

We are gone to Nick's Baseball Tournament this weekend.  It feels good to sit and relax while cheering for a great team.  More updates this weekend.  Be sure to check back!!