The Tennessee Technology Students’ Association annual conference begins tomorrow, and two of my girls are off to compete. Beta’s events are prepared speech, extemporaneous speaking, and chapter team (essentially, a parliamentary procedure competition). She took first and third in the speaking events at regionals a couple of weeks ago.

Delta is signed up for electrical applications, transportation challenge, and cyberspace pursuit (website design). None of those were included in the regional events, so this is her big chance.

The latter of those events — cyberspace — is one in which I have a particular interest, since I’ve been coaching the Robertsville team in the event. On Thursday, I learned that they qualified as finalists in the state competition. On Tuesday evening, four of the kids on the team will undergo an interview with the judges, and on Wednesday, we’ll learn whether they’ve placed at the state level.

Delta is now the proud owner of her very own multimeter, a necessity for the electrical apps event. There are also a couple of new pint-sized business suits, a new dress, new non slip shoes, and other necessary accoutrements for the suitcase (the dress code is rather upgraded from usual school attire).

Beta decided to run for state office this year, and unfortunately, hasn’t gotten around to putting together her campaign materials. I confess that she’d asked me to help, but she hasn’t been home enough (or I haven’t) to really communicate some essentials (campaign theme? colors?). Today was crunch time, and of course she was assigned to driving school all day — penance for her traffic citation back in December, issued for following too closely (while stopped at a traffic light — she was trying to read a bumper sticker).

That left me stuck with ironing her logo onto four campaign t-shirts, then printing up a boatload of lapel stickers and business cards… all while persuading Delta to pack her suitcase.

I’m still not packed. We leave tomorrow morning. I feel like I need a work week to recover from this weekend… and now the washing machine is acting up.