KGirl - one year later con't

[KGirl]

I have a lot of things going on all of the sudden - almost too many! Possible wine+movie night tonight with a friend, packer game watch tomorrow, Paint Nite next weekend (one of those paint a standard picture and drink with friends things), martini party at my sister's next weekend.. AND flight to Sanibel Island for spring break booked with my sisters and mom! I haven't done a family vacation in a looong time.. but as long as I go into it knowing what is realistic and what isn't (for example, I shouldn't attempt to have any serious conversations about any R or M type stuff with them) it will be OK. I can't make a cat bark and if I expect it to I'll just disappoint myself. For example, I was talking to my mom today on the phone and I mentioned that there's this friend of a friend that's cute.. and she said "oh, so soon?" Really, mom? It's been over a year now. *sigh*. My good friend moving back here is a lifesaver in many ways.. she helps push me to be social and do things (plus now I can take her to all the places in town that I like to go). So, definitely staying busy.. now I need to balance that with some alone/personal time (inc. going to the gym!)

I got a flyer in the mail that the annual national conference for my profession is in Las Vegas this year (Ceasar's Palace)... wondering how I can convince my department that this is a very important professional dev. opportunity and worth paying for?