Day 6 ~ In which #KiwiChickInUSA takes the long way to San Diego…

Today we packed up our suitcases, which have somehow shrunk and now won’t fit everything in…and took a cruise down the Pacific Coast Highway. We stopped at The Original Pancake House for brunch at the recommendation of the friendly customs officer we met last Thursday when we arrived in the US, and true to her word, the pancakes WERE amazing.

Then another slow cruise to San Diego via the scenic route that seemed to take twice as long. Once we arrived and strolled down the pretty tree lined Aves to the Mariott where the 2016 RWA conference is held, DH and I promptly got lost trying to find the registration. It is one big-ass hotel. Eventually we did and I registered and we walked back to our accommodation and did boring things like order in dinner and shout and wave incoherently at our Miss 15 back in New Zealand who’d done something to the microphone on her laptop. Still, it was good to see our baby’s face, even if she was poking her tongue out at us.

Day 7 ~ In which #KiwiChickInUSA doesn’t see a SEAL but does meet two of her literary idols…

After only what felt like 2 hours sleep thanks to an air conditioning system that sounds like a jet engine filled with rocks (slight exaggeration, but I’m the kind of sleeper that has to have the door shut to keep out the sound of a kitchen clock ticking in the next room) I headed down to the hotel for a special tour around the Navy base in Coronado. Although we only got out of the bus briefly at Breaker Beach (which was a gorgeous golden sand stretch that begged for bare feet and a dip in the ocean) it was very cool to get a glimpse into the area where the Navy SEALs live, train and play. Unfortunately, we didn’t see one…unless he was in cammo gear.

Once we got back to the hotel I got to meet one of my wonderful readers for a drink and a chat. I had a wonderful time (how the hell four hours flew by so fast I’ve no idea!) and I also got the chance to chat with the lovely J. Kenner. The last must-do of the day was attending the craziness of the Literacy Signing with over 400 authors signing books in a very crowded ballroom. Now that I’ve got signed books from my two favorite authors, Jill Shalvis and Kristan Higgins, I can die happy. Well, not literally, of course. Though I just about had a coronary when saying hi to them both, but they were both sweet, gracious ladies and I am looking forward to stalking attending their workshops this week.

For dinner we took my reader’s suggestion of the Corvette Diner at the Liberty Station. What a blast—but so much for my intention to type up my blog while we ate, far too much going on to concentrate.