Skyped w Eliana @ my mom's house. 5 min away & we hv to talk by video chat. She misses us & wants to come home. Soleil running fever again.

My mom made us sotonghon, a Filipino chicken & rice noodle dish laden w fresh ginger. Yes, Mom's soup is good nourishment for body & spirit!

Sent official dr's report & copies of Soleil's meds to Cancun hotel. Will they honor swine flu-free guarantee w 3 comp vacations? We'll see

Feeling run down & worn out (Did I mention that I now hv tummy bug?) Cking on Soleil & then taking little nap. Go away, swine flu, go away!

Send card to help Soleil deal w swine flu quarantine boredom: Soleil Lisette, P.O. Box 2656, Harvey, LA 70059. Thx for ur well-wishes!

Woke Soleil up to take Tamiflu. No fever - still tired. Yesterday, drank ten 16.9 oz waters & could not quench thirst. Hope today's better.

Wrote ltr to Cancun resort abt "swine flu free guarantee," disinfected doorknobs, cleaned bathroom. Cking on daughter every hr. Tired.

Fanmail: "You have become my storytelling idol! I love telling stories to kids! But you..wow! I want to be just as good as you!" Aww. Thx!

Taking good care of Soleil. Educated abt H1N1. Made her chickn & rice soup fr scratch. She took meds, now in bed. Eliana staying w cousins.

Daughter tested pos for H1N1. No pneumonia. Scrip for Tamiflu n other meds. Quarantine now.

Being a patient requires patience. 2.5 hrs @ doc n Soleil still not done.

19 yr old daughter has 102.5 fever, runny nose & other flu symptoms - Dr. wants to see her right away. Concerned cuz just bk fr Mexico.

Time to shut down laptop for a little bit. Massive lightning accompanied by cacophonous thunder outside my window...

Storm brewing & daughter, Soleil, is sick. I know she's really sick cuz it's her 2nd day not going to wk & she likes earning her $$!

Cooking locro de papas, a creamy Equadoran soup w potatoes, cheese & avocados! Adding twist - tender chunks of garlic chicken.

Look @ these adorable puppets for Madame Poulet & Monsieur Roach. http://ping.fm/jWy42 Enhance storytime & make them too! Super simple!

Tonite, I am going to RELAX. Have a glass of wine. Watch a movie. No more computer - just family time. (or so I plan... LOL)

Finalized regional book tour of Sam's Clubs across South LA & MS in Nov & Dec. Promoting new book, Madame Poulet & Monsieur Roach.

Foreign exchange student fell through. :( Organizer thought we lived in the Boston area. Sorry, we live in New Orleans...

Just committed to hosting an exchange student fr Spain for month of August 2009. We are looking forward to the experience!

Eliana posted a video about her trip to Mexico (filmed in Tulum, the Mayan Ruins). Go see! http://ping.fm/3e8es

Gave family pasalubong (Filipino for gifts fr abroad) fr Mexico - sarongs, embroidered dresses, fingerpainted tiles. Eliana cooked Mexican!

Blogged Cancun trip. http://ping.fm/7sXQy Bk to life, bk to reality... unpacking, laundry, cleaning, emails, ofc wk, writing

Home sweet home at last! Will finish blogging my Cancun trip in the morn (or whenever I wake up LOL) now that I have Internet again! :)

Just landed in New Orleans after flt delays in Cancun & Miami. Can't wait to get home!

Bk in USA. Mexico was awesome! Had grt time but spotty Internet made hard to communicate.

Today is day of relaxation. Our hotel has 2 beaches & we'll swim both. Also going to Market 28 in town, a flea mkt w local prices.

Tulum ruins, cliff view & beach were fantastic! Tonite, went to Coco Bongo but nite discolored by bad experience w club staff. Left early.

Today, we're visiting Tulum, ancient Mayan ruins on coast about 1 hr & 15 min fr Cancun. Can't wait!

Awesome day! Sailed on catamaran, snorkeled over reefs, pet a shark, lunched on Isla Mujeres, swam, shopped & swung on a spinnaker! Guao!

Taking a catamaran to Isla Mujeres - swimming, snorkeling & shopping. Scattered showers predicted - hopefully they scatter somewhere else!

Had another marvelous day in Mexico, exploring Xcaret. Tired but blissful! Catch my blog at http://ping.fm/PEc1B

On way to Xcaret, an eco park w bat cave, underground river, snorkeling beach & more! Fun, fun, fun!

Swam in crystal clear Caribbean sea under dazzling Mayan sun. Like mermaid, swam w dolphins. Now to celebrate Soleil's bday @ Mex Fiesta!

Time for fun in the sand, surf and sun! Also swimming w the dolphins today @ our hotel's Dolphin Lagoon! Woo hoo!

Day 2 in Cancun, Mexico. Feliz Cumpleanos! Happy 19th Bday, Soleil! Ole! Beach, shopping & dinner show. Nos divirtimos!

Luv seeing Google & FB en Espanol! LOL Yay Cancun! I plan on blogging w pics daily. Read it @ http://ping.fm/KB5l8

Landed in Mexico after bad weather delay in Miami. Time for fun in the Caribbean Sun!

@ Miami Airport waiting to board flight to Cancun. So far, so good...

Dashing off to airport. On way to Cancun via Miami. Didn't sleep but who needs Zzzz when u can nap by Caribbean seas? Ole!

Almost done prepping for trip to Mexico. Had to make sure girls got packed properly. Gotta get up @ 3am! So... I nap. I hope. Sigh.

Woo hoo! Tina Hammer Martin won my FB contest & became my 1000th friend! Way to go, Tina!

Eliana just launched her newly redesigned website, http://ping.fm/KAh8L Please visit!

Check out new Book Activities for Madame Poulet & Monsieur Roach http://ping.fm/OHSPP

Eliana Cooks uploaded a new video to YouTube for "Pesto Pizza Muffins." http://ping.fm/W3ClX Yummy!

9 yr old daughter Eliana now has YouTube, elianacooks. Posted her 1st cooking video. http://ping.fm/8KK44 Cutie pie!

All Madame Poulet book activities done - study guide, puppet script, story theater script, color shts, bkmarks, puppets & book trailer! Yay!

Produced 2nd bk trailer-Madame Poulet & Monsieur Roach. Yay! http://ping.fm/UpmHI

Putting Madame Poulet & Monsieur Roach Book Activities section on website (color sheets, puppets, bookmarks). Creating new trailer for book.

Posted 1st book trailer to YouTube for Cajun Cornbread Boy. 19 yr old daughter produced it! http://ping.fm/J3lfL

TIP: Authors, open an acct @ LibraryThing.com. U can trk which libraries carry ur books, connect w libraries & list events. Very cool site.

My hand's ready to fall off. Wrote thk u notes. Now working on book trailer for Cajun Cornbread Boy. THEN I'll do new book proposal, maybe..

When I woke up, my 9 yr old daughter was cleaning her rm - on her own! Now she's making me hot brkfst. I have such a perfect child!

Handwriting a million thk u notes today to my summer reading clients & working on a new book proposal. Oh & someone has to do laundry...

Productive day! Sent out newsletter, built blog, finished final MS edits, wrote bio, networked, marketed, bought new URL & even COOKED! LOL

New copy editor is AWESOME! I breezed thru edits of Scared Silly & sent MS bk to her tonite! Will go to production soon... Yay!

Just rec'd edited proofs of Scared Silly to review. Due by 7/31 so I must finish before I leave for Mexico on Mon! Can't wk on vacay!

Set up blog for friend who has cancer. Wanted to give her lasting gift. She'll be able to read my words of love & support & keep them w her.

Yay! July Story Connection Express newsletter sending now. Theme: "Reading Fun in the Sun." Subscribe @ http://ping.fm/IczOJ

Dianne's Facebook Contest Update: my 1000th friend recvs autographed copy of Cajun Cornbread Boy. If YOU referred that friend, you do too!

I am 100 ppl away fr having 1000 friends on Facebook! The 1000th friend will recv autographed copy of my book, The Cajun Cornbread Boy.

Ofc wk-executed book contract, sent new bio & pic to publisher, filled book order, now filing rcpts & following up w ALA contacts (so many!)

Who needs rm service when ur 9 yr old daughter brings u a hot brkfast in bed?!

Landed in New Orleans. Home sweet home!

@ St. Loius airport catching connecting flight home. Can't wait to sleep in my own bed tonite!

Leaving Chi Town today. So sad that I didn't get to see more of city! ALA kept me so busy! What a wonderful conference it has been!

Met Neil Gaiman (Newbery winner), Beth Krommes (Caldecott winner), Ashley Bryan (Laura Ingalls Wilder winner) & honor winners. All gracious!

Neil Gaiman's Newbery acceptance speech was phenomenal - funny, endearing & inspiring. Wow!

Going to Newbery/Caldecott banquet. Met Ann Rider, editor of the Caldecott book, The House in the Night, in taxi line. Very cool!

Going to Newbery Caldecott banquet. Met Q
Ann Rider, editor of the Caldecott winner.

Signing books @ ABC-Clio Libraries. Yay!

Had dinner w Christine Butler, Kelly Milner Halls, Juliet Bond & other wonderful authors @ McCormick Schmick. Fab evening!

Had dinner w Kelly Milner Halls, Christine Butler, Juliet Bond & other grt authors @ McCormick Schmick. Fab evening!

Bumped into the beautiful Yuyi Morales, author & illustrator. Hanging out w my grt friend, Juliet Bond.

Met Cynthia Liu, author od Paris Pan Takes the Dare. She is so adorable!

Time to sign books @ ALA. Woo hoo!

Nightmare day. Hotel did not have my reservation. Fortunately, sharing rm w editor @ pub co. On pullout sofa.

Landed in Chicago after a slightly turbulent ride & hard landing. On to Hilton downtown.

@ New Orleanw airport on way to Chicago for ALA.

Just home fr MS. Laundry, ofc wk & packing like mad for ALA Chicago. Fly in morn. Signing books @ ABC-Clio (Libraries Unlimited) Sat & Sun.

Last day in MS libraries & last day of summer reading. On way to Moss Point for 1st morn show.

Grt day in MS Libraries. Even Eliana signed autographs! After, we swam @ rooftop pool of our hotel, Imperial Palace in Biloxi. Now dinner.

Had abt 125 in audience @ St. Martin Library. Fans fr previous day came too. Thx y'all. Lunch w friend. Thx Brent!

Wonderful shows in Ocean Springs & Vancleave. Met wonderful ppl ~ hugs to Susan Collier & Tonya Ross!

Had fab 1st day in MS. Sold ton of books. Only 5 left til 2nd print comes in Sept.

On way to Lucedale, Ms for first morn show. Long drive!

Hello fr the lovely, sun-drenched beaches of Ship Island, MS. Water feels grt! Saw dolphins, sting rays & swam w sheephd.

Leaving for a day on Ship Island, 11 miles off the coast of MS. Sun, sand & surf!

Wow! Managed to get in email in-box to 25. Now packing for a day @ beach w family then wk of touring on MS Gulf Coast.

Working on study guide, website & marketing since can't go outside today. Cajun Cornbread Boy got nice customer reviews on Amazon. Yay!

Made 4th July brunch: poached eggs w homemade hollandaise, asiago spinach chkn sausage, feta ovr toasted Eng muffin & garlic potatoes. Yum!

Keep up w ur fave authors on Booktour.com! Here's my page - http://ping.fm/j1Sr0

Turning in rental car then picking up car fr shop. Ltr, going to big 70th bday party. Happy Birthday, Jennie!

Performed in Morgan City & so excited to see Fay Hanson & Dolores Henderson, both storytellers. Luv y'all!

Now restaurant nxt to hotel tells me, aftr half hr, that they are out of wht I ordered. Wht did I do to deserve this day?!

ut tired.

Had hellish aftrnoon. New alternator broke & stranded on side of rd in 95 degree heat for 2 hrs. AAA towed car, me & girls to hotel 60 miles away. Safe b

Finished 2 fab shows in Vernon Parish Librariesl Now driving to Morgan City for show @ library tmrw.