Overwhelmed by ALA

So I’m supposed to be at ALA this weekend. ALA, for those in the know, actually starts today. But I honestly can’t make heads or tails out of the schedule at all — people (like Kami Garcia) tell me they are appearing at events that don’t seem to be listed in any of the 378 pages of the schedule, and the links on their websites go only to registration pages, not to actual locations…

Add that to the major annoyance of finding out yesterday that some stuff I’d ordered specifically for ALA is not going to be here on time — arrrrrgh! My annoyance and frustration is threatening to turn into an anxiety attack right now. I’ve spent over an hour already this morning trying to look this stuff up. Poor Rio is lying in bed, wondering why I won’t take her for a walk before it gets oppressively hot outside. Did I mention it’s her birthday? Yeah, it’s her birthday, and instead of taking her for a walk, I’m trying to figure out this schedule and how I am going to salvage my ALA plans. Good thing she doesn’t know it’s her birthday. Still giving me a dirty look, though.

I seriously can’t find anything in this schedule. I wonder if they design it so that you have to have a Masters in Library Science to read it. I just want to bury myself under the covers and make it all go away.

At least I can find MY events. Here’s where I’ll be TOMORROW (SATURDAY, JUNE 26):

Harper Collins Fiction Breakfast, 7:15-9:00 AM, W Hotel, Altitude Room, 515 15^th Street NW

Ascendant Galley signing in Harper booth (#2512), 3:00-3:30 PM, Walter E. Washington Convention Center, 801 Mount Vernon Place, NW

See how easy and clear that all was?