I feel like this is really going to happen

This Friday I am going to do something I have never done since being a wife and mother: go on a trip, out of state, all by myself. Nursing babies were invited, but, even though I do have a nursing child, I am going to make an executive decision and leave him home. (doing a little victory dance at the prospect of not traveling/socializing/attending a film fest/public speaking/chasing/wrangling/changing/feeding/apologizing for insane 2 year old whose latest fave activities are stripping naked, throwing food and screeching. No guilt here, sorry!)

I was honored and thrilled to receive an invitation to meet, in person, several of my long time blog friends, specifically from the birth blogs. We are going to be getting together, talking birth and babies until our voices go hoarse, and we are going to be attending/hosting a screening of The business of Being Born, a highly acclaimed new docu-film from Ricki Lake that will be showing at a local college where the BBBB event will be taking place! BBBB stands for Birth and Babies Bed and Breakfast--just the name is so exciting!

We are trying to get as many people to come to this as possible, and my friend that is throwing this whole event has been working so hard to get the flyers out to everywhere, students, doctors offices, birth centers, libraries, all all sorts of health care providers. I wish I could help more but I am out of state with way too much on my plate for me to even get into detailing right now here at home.

I had planned on asking people for sponsorships/Xmas gifts of money to help me get to this event, and then somehow shyness and time got away from me and now we are in a lurch as to how in the heck this is gonna work out. Somehow it has been concluded that taking out family's only car would be a very risky decision-- if it broke down, not only would I be without any vehicle , but who would I call? What would I do? "Tow" it to where? then what?

We looked into airlines and it was $300.
We looked into the train and there is no train route that makes any sense and to go the crazy way I would need to go would cost over $200 also.

So now we are looking at trying to rent a tiny car that is good on gas. We found a few online last night but need to find out the details today. I worry that they will want some kind of credit card or big deposit.

I JUST got an email from my friend asking me to babysit her 2 children this Thursday(for money)! SO COOL-- this might be my financial breakthrough.

I also JUST found out that I have a long time friend who is going to "Sponsor" me $50.

I really think is is going to happen. I can't believe it! Hopefully by Monday morning I will be posting all about it, pictures and everything.

(I was asked to speak before the film showing, what should I say???????)