Black Rabbit Ink

Happy Thanksgiving!

A Macy's Thanksgiving Day blast from the past. Have a great holiday!

 

 

My New Favorite: Cornell Woolrich

 
Well, folks, another Halloween is upon us. For children everywhere, it means a night of sugar fueled fun. For a classic film connoisseur like me, it means good old scary movies on TCM.  Specifically Val Lewton’s movies.  More specifically, Cat People. But I digress, because this isn’t a post about Val Lewton’s screenwriting and producing genius or the mesmerizing images he conveyed in brooding black and white. No, this post is about someone else, whose name caught my eye recently as I watched The Leopard Man again. That name was Cornell Woolrich.

I think his name originally caught my eye because Woolrich made my brain go to Woolworth’s, the now long gone five-and-dime store from my childhood, which took me back momentarily to a bin filled with discounted issues of Dynamite magazine (because for some reason that’s all I ever remember getting at Woolworth’s back then). Returning from my brief jog down memory lane, I noticed that Cornell Woolrich had actually written the novel The Leopard Man was based on (Black Alibi). And suddenly I wondered what else he had written.

Turns out, a lot. He was, in fact one, of the best crime writers around in the early part of the 20th century, in a league with Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler. He also wrote several stories and novels that were turned in to really great movies, including Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear Window (based on Woolrich’s It Had to be Murder). So of course I immediately wanted to read some of his work. Like, at that moment.

Thank you Kindle store!

Pickings were slim. Only a few choices. But one of those was Four Novellas of Fear. I immediately purchased it and got lost in the first story, Eyes that Watch You.  An old woman, rendered paralyzed and mute by an accident, overhears her daughter-in- law plotting with a lover to murder her son. Without being able to speak or move, can she possibly save him before it’s too late, and how?  Sooo suspenseful. I was hooked.

I can’t believe I had never read any of Woolrich’s work before now. If you like hard-boiled detective novels, or film noir, or a good double cross or two in your fiction, I highly recommend you give Cornell Woolrich’s work a try. Good, good stuff.

 

Another Thought on Diaries

Digital or classic hard copy?

See, I love digital books and magazines. In a lot of cases, I prefer them now because, if they are right there on my iPad I am more inclined to find a moment to read them. I have so many magazines stacked up around my desk, unread and forgotten, that it’s pathetic. I guess I just get easily sidetracked with the actual magazine. With the digital versions, for whatever reason, it’s really simple to browse the latest issue of SmartShopper through my Zinio app.

But…

I have decided to begin the madness of recording the minute details of my days again, in all their cringe-worthy glory, and purchased a journal app to do so. I’ve found it’s not quite the same as an actual honest to goodness diary.

Pros to a digital diary: green – no trees died in order to document how awesome your butt looks in skinny jeans; you can add digital pictures; most require passwords so you still have privacy; convenient and very portable if traveling; simple to navigate if you need to go back and look something up

Pros to a physical diary: click sound as key turns the lock; is in your handwriting, not Arial 10 pt; can stuff mementos like flowers and notes in it; can be passed down to future generations (if that’s what you want); can’t be accidently deleted; more personal experience

I can see the benefits to both, but I can’t see which is a better format. For me, I’m going with digital for now because, as I said, my iPad is my best friend these days. Something seems to be missing from the overall experience, though.

Here’s a Question

Is it ok to sell, buy, and/or read another person’s diary?

I came across several on Ebay the other day. A few of the ads included excerpts, and one or two really intrigued me to the point that I almost bid. But I didn’t, because at the same time, I felt a little slimy. I was reading someone else’s most personal thoughts. Someone else’s pain, happiness, dreams. Granted, these were older diaries and the authors were more than likely no longer with us. Does that make it right though?

Take me for instance. In Junior High and High school I would write religiously in my diary. Anything I was happy about, or wanted, or confused about, or did went into that book. And even now, I would be mortified if anyone else ever read all of those words I scribbled so furiously onto those pastel shaded sheets of lined paper. In fact, in a round of embarrassed madness in college I decided the best thing to do would be to get rid of it.

But I couldn’t just throw it out where any random trash collector or dumpster diver could discover it. I had to destroy it. And I did – at least half of it. Hundreds of memories shredded, gone, ripped away forever. Then, it jammed and I couldn’t get it unstuck. I decided it was the diary gods, stopping me before I could finish the foolish deed. So now, I have half a diary shoved on a shelf in my closet (shhh – don’t tell Big J) that I sometimes want to read again, but. Just. Can’t. And the thought of someone else reading it in, oh, a hundred years or so makes me cringe.

Diaries are intensely personal. They offer an intimate glance into someone else’s life and time. A first hand account of World War II through a young teenage girl’s eyes, for example, is very enticing. Or a young boy’s struggle to live as his family makes the trek West during the Depression.

But does that make it ok to stick your nose into someone else’s business? Thoughts?

Shoes

Recently,  Mr. Smartypants was at the beach with Big J’s mother. He rinsed the sand off of his feet at the outside shower and then totally walked off without his sandals.   She assumed he would, y’know, put them back on his feet. He somehow concluded that she had picked his sandals up. And off both of them went - back to the car, back to the house, none the wiser until they stepped out on the very, very hot driveway.

Now, that explains how that particular pair of sandals came to be left all alone along the boardwalk to that particular beach. But I wonder what happened to them after that? They were never taken to the lost and found, which was only a few feet away. Were they trashed? Buried in the sand? Snatched up by seagulls? Or did someone find them and think “hey, these are just my size”?

Which got me thinking about something I see often: the Odd Shoe. I see them all of the time, tossed along the side of the road or abandoned in the dirt near a sidewalk. Alone, forgotten, lost. And my curiosity starts going into overdrive.

How did it get there? Why was it left there? What happened to the other one?  Who did it belong to?  Were they upset when they noticed it was gone? Did they even notice it was gone?

Scenarios start popping into my head; some funny, some tragic, some unrealistic, and none right. All leave me wanting to know more.

Years ago, I was in a writing competition and the prompt was something like “a ratty old tennis shoe on the side of the road”. I turned that into a ghost story about two boys (one who had lost his shoe, of course) and won.  Sometimes inspiration sometimes comes from the most mundane things.

The next time you see a shoe on the side of the road, don’t dismiss it. That shoe has a story to tell. You just may never know what it really is. But it’s fun to imagine, isn’t it?

Hi. It's been a while.

So my dad died.

He had been ill for a long time. The last 8 months were the worst. I won’t go into details, but it was very difficult to watch my larger than life father shrink closer to death each day. And for a long time now I’ve been in an emotional tailspin. One that left me more willing to lay on a couch watching music videos with the Princess than to do anything, I dunno, creative and proactive. Which is a really bad place to be, not only because you become this sad little lump molding the couch’s leather cushions into the shape of your ass, but also because three straight hours of MTV Hits is not beneficial to anyone over the age of 19. It’s like you can actually feel your brain cells floating off into some vapid black hole of dumb.

I tell you all of this in a slapshod attempt to explain the spotty posting over the last year (+ or – a few months).  And to let you know that the plan is to start posting regularly again. Or at least more than once or twice every three months. And I might be merging this blog with another, so some of the upcoming posts may seem out of place at first. But I haven’t really decided on that yet.  Just a heads up.

Ok, I think that’s all I wanted to say for now. Um, so, if you’re still out there...

Thanks.

On E-Books

There’s been quite a debate in recent years on whether e-books will replace printed books. At BookExpo America (BEA), going on right now in New York, the topic was discussed in its Opening Plenary session yesterday. The subject, the Value of a Book, brought up many good points (from a publishing perspective) by publishers and authors regarding compensation rates and markets for digital publishing, as well as the future of books in general, printed or digital (read some examples here).

Which got me thinking about which side I (as a reader) would choose in a battle between e-books and printed books. Now, I’m one of those people that loves holding a book, letting the scent of crisp copy and type invade my nostrils as I turn each page. I love being able to walk over to my bookcase and gently tap my fingertip over the tops of my books as I search the titles for the one I need. I love the memories a printed book can provide, such as when I pick up my well-worn copy of Rebecca and remember the day my Gran gave it to me.

E-books don’t allow you to do any of these things. So what is so great about them?

I used to ask that too. I had downloaded Kindle books to my iPod Touch and quickly learned that the Touch’s 3.5” screen is really tiny when it comes to reading a novel. It’s do-able, definitely, but after a chapter or two I sometimes had a headache. I had a few books on my Adobe Digital Editions account that I tried to enjoy but let’s face it, it’s not easy to nestle in and get comfy for a good read with a 13” laptop balancing on your knees. E-readers were so much money and seemed like one more gadget to add to my life. And, honestly, e-books aren’t that much cheaper (if at all) than printed books, so if I bought one it was because I a) was too lazy to go to my bookstore and b) was catering to my need for instant gratification and couldn’t wait for the book to be shipped to me from an online store.

And then came the iPad.

I know, I know, there are a lot of people not impressed with Apple’s latest toy. But, so far, I only have one complaint - the wi-fi kicking out  sporadically. It sucks when I’m on Ebay or checking my Gmail and I have to log out and reconnect to the Internet. Although I have gotten rather quick with the whole jumping into settings and clicking the wi-fi on then off then on again trick. But unless you are actually in the process of downloading an e-book, that doesn’t matter because you don’t need the Internet to just read. So here’s the kicker – I’m actually reading more now that I have my iPad.

Huh?

I was a little confused when I realized this. I didn’t particularly love e-books, so why was I reading so dang many of them? After contemplating this, I’ve come up with several different reasons. First, I usually have my iPad with me at all times, so taking a fifteen minute break to read is much easier. I don’t have to go find the book on my shelf or carry it with me in the car, it’s already right there in my hands.  Second, the 9.7” screen makes reading easy and screen brightness is adjustable. No squinting to see the words. Third, there are several ways to download books (Kindle, iBooks, Kobo, etc) so I can start reading immediately.

But this isn’t anything new, really. Other e-readers do all of this already, right? Hey, I’m not trying to say the iPad is the best thing out there. Unlike the Kindle or Sony Reader, it is not a dedicated device just for reading. And, folks, that brings me to the fourth reason why I’ve grown to enjoy the convenience of e-books: multitasking. Being able to check email, surf the Internet, play a game or two, and then squeeze in a few chapters of whatever book I am reading all on the same device, whether I am in my car or walking around my house, has actually freed up a lot of my time. Which means more reading time. You can see where I am going here.

I know I sound like I’m trying to plug the iPad. I’m not. I’ve never owned a Kindle or any other e-reader, so implying that the iPad is the best thing out there wouldn’t be based on a fair comparison. The iPad is just the tool that has enabled my recent reading resurgence. The point here is that it (or any other e-reader) combined with e-books has made reading more accessible for me.

E-books have their own perks, their own little nuances, that make them a valid format for reading as well. They shouldn’t be discounted because they can’t be touched or put on a bookshelf. In fact, that could be an argument for why e-books are good. They take up less living space than printed books and allow you to have your entire library in the palm of your hand.

But my heart still belongs to printed books. They’re easier to share with friends. They bring back forgotten memories. They provide something to physically hold and dog-ear and pass on to others. They look really nice sitting on a shelf or a coffee table. They will, I hope, be here for a very very very long time.

Final Verdict (for now): E-books are a great way to squeeze some reading time into a busy lifestyle. However, they can’t replace printed books, anymore than the taste of real sugary sweet tea can be replaced by tea made with Splenda. They might be a close substitute, but they can’t truly replace the enjoyment of the real thing.  

© AK Willett and Black Rabbit Ink

On Reading

Big J does not read books. No interest at all.

But me, I couldn’t imagine life without them. This is something I have passed on to The Princess and Mr. Smartypants. The other day I listened as they engaged in a heavy discussion on London Calling, the Percy Jackson novels, Twilight, and various other stories they had found interesting, didn’t like, or could care less about (Harry Potter, I’m sorry, they just aren’t that into you). And it made me smile, because, really, what book lover doesn’t want to raise little bookworms of her own?

Knowing that they are able to fully lose themselves  in tiny lines of neatly strung words and ideas, that they can be transported to different worlds and become anyone or anything they want any time they want to, that makes me happy.

There is a thrill that comes just after finishing a really, really good book. A rush of emotion that flushes your cheeks and leaves you wired for a few minutes, hours, maybe even days.  The natural high of having just returned from such an amazing and emotional journey, that is one of the greatest gifts I could ever give to my children. 

And the fact that they have held on to this gift and carried it with them through their lives, nurtured it and let it flourish in the garden of their minds? Well,that is the greatest gift anyone could ever give to me. 

On Hiatus

As you can tell from the sadly sparse posting lately, I've been really busy with other things over the last month or so. I'll be taking a break from posting for a while to finish all of the projects I've started (such as redecorating my kitchen and dining room), but will be coming back. Hopefully no later than the start of the new year, once the holidays are over. Thanks for reading and I hope you'll check back in a few months!

Holy Hot Rods!

A couple of weekends ago, my family took a quick trip to Ocean City, MD for some rest and relaxation. In October...? you say. Sure. It's too cold to go swimming, but you can still sit out on the beach (you're going to need a jacket) and the arcades on the Boardwalk are easy pickins.

Imagine my pleasant surprise when we got there and realized that somehow we had chosen to come down the weekend of Endless Summer Cruisin' 2009!

If you want to see more pictures, just click here and search by keyword "cruisin".

Experiencing the Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA) Museum

Over the Labor Day Weekend Holiday, I had a chance to visit the Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA) Museum in Hershey, PA. I'm not a huge car person, but I do love everything vintage. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the museum was lots of fun. There's a lot of historical factoids peppered throughout the exhibits, like the note below (sorry for the blurriness):

And the cars themselves are gor-geous.

The fee to get in was very small in comparison to the enjoyment my family got out of it. We were there for almost THREE hours. Mostly because the museum welcomes cameras, and we are a family of shutterbugs. All that chrome and shiny metal are a lot of fun to shoot for the scrapbook.

The gift store is also really neat, with lots of unique toys and gifts. 

Plus, there are buses and motorcycle collections on the lower level. Oh, and a fake diner where you can dress up and take even more pictures.

It was a great way to spend an afternoon. I've uploaded several of the pictures I took here if you want to see more of the museum.

Sight Seeing in New Bern, NC

During the last few weeks of August, my family and I visited relatives in New Bern, NC. We've been there several times before, but this time my retro radar was on and I saw a few things I had never noticed before.

First, we wandered over to Bradham's Pharmacy, the Birthplace of Pepsi-Cola. The pharmacy was a little smaller than I had envisioned it, but it was neat to stand in the space where Caleb Bradham developed one of my favorite drinks. Also, the soda fountain is still there and operative - very cool. We didn't have time to pull up a bar stool and have a drink, but it's on my list of things to do the next time we're in town!

Later, as we were driving around, we passed by The Ziegler Suites Hotel. I've never stayed there, but their outside decor now has me intrigued...

There were also a few classic cars roaming around town, like this beautiful blue Chevy parked on the side of the street.  Very very cool!

Did you know September is Roald Dahl Month?

I didn't until today. And I'm a little late to the party, because his actual birthday was September 13. But I loved loved loved his books growing up, so I thought I should at least acknowledge it on the blog.

You can find lots of fun stuff at the official Roald Dahl website, although most are aimed at teachers and librarians. And did you know there is a Roald Dahl Museum? Unfortunately, it's a little out of my way - I live on the US East Coast and it is in the UK. But if you happen to be in the area, it looks like a neat place to visit.

My favorite Roald Dahl books were Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Matilda. It was The Witches, though, that really had an impact on me. For months I was terrified of strange women offering chocolate and horrified at the thought of getting trapped in a painting, for-ever. And the drawings in that book still make me shiver a little.

So, I guess, a belated Happy Birthday to Roald Dahl. If you haven't read any of his books, no matter what age you are, get to a library and start checking them out now. They may be aimed at children, but they are just as much fun for those of us who are still young at heart.

One Library. No Books. So Sad.

First, card catalogs disappeared from libraries and were replaced by online catalogs that, while neat, didn't help me out one bit the day the library's server was on the blink.

Now, a library with no books? 

Well, gosh, that just seems crazy. 

I know, I know. It's the Digital Age. We're moving forward.

But is it really a step in the right direction?

When I grew up, no one had a clue what the Internet or netbooks or Twitter were. One of my favorite things to do was go to the bookstore or library, pull a book from the shelf and feel its pages as they flipped along my fingertips, smell the air as it was perfumed with the musky scent of crisp pages, and just enjoy browsing until I found that perfect book. It's really hard to do all that on the Internet. 

Ebooks offer a lot of benefits, sure. I have several on my Ipod Touch just waiting to be read. But, when it comes down to it, when I'm not being too lazy to go to the bookstore or too impatient to wait a day or two until I can go, I prefer holding a book in my hands. It's more personal, more engaging that way. No handheld device or glaring computer screen compares to it.

A library without books, whose shelves have been replaced with a coffee shop, a $12,000 cappuccino machine, and flat screen tvs hooked to the Internet, is nothing but a fancy computer lab to me. 

A library without books is nothing.

More Uncommon Goods Finds

Oh boy - Uncommon Goods is awesome! Look what else I found:

Writer No Evil Pewter Pens and Holders

Plan B Pencil Pot

Great Authors Pot Belly Figures (Mark Twain, Ernest Hemingway, Shakespeare)

James the Bookend Bookends

Booky Little Birdhouses

How cool are these?

Birdhouses made out of classic novels like Tom Sawyer, Wizard of OZ, Winnie the Pooh, and To Kill a Mockingbird.

These unique works of art are created by Dave Vissat for Uncommon Goods. They are kind of pricey ($120 - yikes!) but boy, I would like to have one. They are just too cute!

Books vs. Kindle

How does the traditional book compare to the nifty spiffy Kindle?

The folks at The Green Apple Core blog  are here to answer that question, smackdown style! They've put together a hilarious short series of Books vs. Kindle videos that show the pros and cons of each format. There will be ten rounds total, with each pitting the the book against the Kindle in various challenges like reselling a book (um, yeah, Kindle not so great at this one).

If you've been wanting a Kindle, have a Kindle, hate the Kindle, or just need a good literary-ish laugh, be sure and check these videos out. The battles look like they are only going to get better!

Birthdays, Change, and a Jump to the Moon

It’s official. The Princess is a teenager. Today, she turned - deep breath - 13.

She's been growing up so quickly over the last few years. Barrettes and glittery hair bobbles? Not since she was 8. Bright dresses with tights and black-bowed Mary Janes? Now it's black t-shirts, skinny jeans, and shoes with skulls on them. Posters of cute animals and licensed cartoon characters? Um, yeah, Jonas Brothers. Chats about Barbie dolls and Spongebob? Not since she discovered makeup and boys. And, this year, instead of a pizza party at Chuck E. Cheese, she hosted her first slumber party.

Yes, she's growing up. Changing. Becoming more like a little adult each day.

Today, I was thinking about this, about how my little girl is not so little anymore, and remembered something that made me smile.

It was a hot summer evening and we were outside looking for fireflies. She was almost three, wearing a white cotton dress with blue/green swirly patterns and a pair of pink jelly sandals. Her face was scrunched into a mischievous grin and her hair was brushed back, tied into two little pigtails that stuck out like exploding firecrackers. She was running across the yard, her chubby hands clapping together trying to catch the teeny lights blinking all around us.

Suddenly, she looked up. Stars, she said.

Stars, I repeated.

That the moon, she said, her eyes widening.

Yep, I said.

For a moment, she stood quietly, staring at the stars and moon. Then, her tiny legs began to extend, bend, extend, bend. The soles of her sandals thudded on the concrete of the sidewalk, over and over again. Up and down, up and down, up and down...

What are you doing? I asked.

She pointed up to the sky, her eyes shining.

I jump to moon, she said. 

One of these days, her bedroom will be replaced by a dorm room, her roller skates with a car, her allowance with a paycheck. Yes, she’s not a baby anymore, and you know what? That's fine.

I want her to keep barreling forward, pushing her boundaries and following her dreams. I want her to grow and change so that each year she can look back and be proud of how far she has come.

I want her to never stop trying to jump to the moon.

Happy birthday, Princess.

New Cece Caruso Book This October!

I love Cece Caruso. She's quirky and spunky and knows what a snood is. I can't help it.

So when I found out today that Cece - the vintage clothes loving writer of biographies on dead mystery authors - is coming back in October to solve a new mystery, I was absolutely giddy.

This time, Cece will be tangled up in a mystery involving the master himself, Alfred Hitchcock. The plot involves switched cell phones and Vertigo-ish happenings. The book, Dial H for Hitchcock, will hit stores on October 27.

This means if you haven't yet read any of Susan Kandel's fun, fashionable, and fabulous Cece Caruso books, you have a few months to get caught up. My favorite is Not A Girl Detective. You gotta love a book that pays a satisfying homage to Nancy Drew and includes the opening line "When I couldn't tell the rain from my tears I knew it was time to pull over".

A few more quick things about the Cece Caruso books? Each can be read as a stand-alone novel. Each is chock full of snappy dialogue and technicolor characters with several twisty subplots. And each has a suspense filled who-dun-it revolving around famous mystery writers like Agatha Christie, Erle Stanley Gardner, Carolyn Keene, and Dashiell Hammett.

Sigh. I. Can't. Wait.

Is it October yet?


     I Dreamed I Married Perry Mason

     Shamus in the Green Room

    Not a Girl Detective

   Christietown: A Novel About Vintage Clothing, Romance, Mystery, and Agatha Christie 

Sniff...No Lambert For Me

I think Adam Lambert is amazing. But, I didn't have any interest in the much balleyhooed Adam Lambert issue of Rolling Stone. Until I saw this. Now, I so want a copy, just because I can't have one.

 

Random Thought #3

My day sucked. Until my husband showed me these pictures.

My mother-in-law is always finding new and interesting animals in her backyard. There have been rabbit families, a baby bear or two (ackkk!), and various snakes, such as the Copperhead I almost stepped on one memorable Fourth of July.

The other day, she found this.

A baby deer. A fawn. Barely bigger than my mother-in-law's itty bitty dachshund, Mitzi. They put it in a bucket so they could move it somewhere safer than the neighbor's hot driveway. It ended up in another neighbor's bushes, hiding in the cool shade until its mother came to get it later that day.

Who can stay mad about picky paperpushers with this little darling staring back at them?

Random Thought # 2

Stephen Chow is a genius.

If you haven't seen Kung Fu Hustle yet, get thee to a video store, or a Redbox, or Netflix, or wherever you go to get movies NOW. This movie has it all: action, adventure, comedy, drama, romance. The plot is fun, quirky, and cartoony with colorful characters that include dancing gangsters and a chain smoking landlady with a big chip on her shoulder. There are not enough words to describe the awesomeness of this movie; so, I've included a clip and the trailer below. 

Random Thought #1

The last few weeks have been super busy: contests, deadlines, trying to reduce the ridiculously huge TBR pile of books on my desk, working on my novel, working full-time at my "real" job, a few online workshops, and, of course, taking care of a house and family too...

Whew!  

I am still swamped, but do have a few updates coming up for you in the next few days. A book review of The Marriage Bureau for Rich People will be posted later this week (again, I’m really busy so it will be a bit shorter than my usual reviews) and I’ll get a new quote up by Friday.

In the meantime, just so you know I haven’t dropped off the face of the blogging world, I’ll be posting little random thoughts for you to laugh at, agree with, or just ignore until I have time to post more writing/reading related content.

And, so, I give you...

RANDOM THOUGHT # 1

Copacabana - sung by Barry Manilow and written by Manilow, Jack Feldman, and Bruce Sussman - is the best song ever written.   

Who knew a mere 4 minutes and 8 seconds of music could convey such a tragic tale of passion, jealousy, and murder? The retro 40's big band vibe mixes with a disco beat into a song that is fun, breezy, and ohhhhh so catchy. But, in the end, the story is a sad one. Here's how it goes:

Chapter 1:

Tony loves Lola. Lola loves Tony. The young lovers work together at the Copacabana, “the hottest spot north of Havana”. He is the bartender. She is a showgirl. Everything is perfect...

Chapter 2:

Until Rico shows up, flashing his diamond and making passes at Lola. He gets a little too grabby, and Tony rushes over to protect his girl. A fight ensues and then – boom – a gunshot.  

Chapter 3:

It’s thirty years later and the Copacabana is now a disco. Lola is still there, but her grief over losing Tony has made her crazy. Wearing her old showgirl outfit, she sits at a table and drowns her sorrow in alcohol until she is so inebriated she can’t see straight.  She is destroyed. The moral Barry Manilow offers up?

“At the Copa...don’t fall in love”.

So. Heavy.

Bookish Gifts to Give and Get

Today I was perusing the Internet when I came across The Library Shop at the New York Public Library site.

Which has a lot of really awesome stuff for readers and writers.

First, there is the Personal Library System for book lovers who love to lend books to friends from their personal library -  and want to get those books back. It has adhesive pockets, checkout cards, and a date stamper with an ink pad. How cool is that?

Then, I saw the X and O Typewriter Key Bracelet with vintage keys from Royal, Underwood and LC Smith Corona typewriters. It's really pricey. But I so want one now.

Fans of the marvelously morbid Edward Gorey, like myself, can find a few things to oooooooo and ahhhhhhhh over, such as the Edward Gorey's Dracula Theater or the Edward Gorey Cat on Book Pin (engraved on the back with "books. cats. life is sweet").

The six adorable Laini's Ladies figurines are also worth checking out. My favorite is the one that says "She is too fond of books, and it has addled her brain."

There's also a Vintage Camera Photo Album that caught my eye. And the store has a nice assortment of journals to choose from such as the New York or Books to Check Out journals.

The store has tons of other unique gifts available, too. So if you know any readers or writers with birthdays, anniversaries, or other celabratory events coming up, The Library Shop is definitely worth a visit.

Reasons Why Today Was A Good Day To Be A Mom

"It's a stone heart from Hades!"   Mr. Smartypants, giving me his Mother's Day gift - a stone paperweight in the shape of a heart from Haiti

4 hours of Sing It: High School Musical addition with two giggling children (and occasionally one goofy husband) belting out "Breaking Free" at the top of their lungs. Over and over and over again...

The Princess: Ew, your fingernails are too long! You're like a vampire or something.

Mr. Smartypants: Do I look like I sparkle?

- Conversation heard from the backseat on the way to Mother's Day dinner at Don Pablo's

No. Help. At. All.

Like several of my fellow would-be writers, I have a day job. And at my day job, my team is working on a big project that involves me getting a package shipped out each afternoon for next day delivery. The world as we know it would fall apart if this were not done. Seriously. My boss told me so.

Because some of our packages end up being too large for the unnamed delivery company drop box near my office, I sometimes call for a pickup.

However, recently, the packages for shipping are making it to me later and later in the day. Like, an hour before I am supposed to go home. Naturally, I got curious. How late is too late to call unnamed delivery company for a pickup? Otherwise, if the package is too large for the drop box, I have to lug said package to the local unnamed delivery company on my way home, a real pain in the a** after working 8 hours straight.

So I emailed unnamed delivery company and asked them. Easy peasy - if anyone would know the answer to my question, they would, right? Ah, no. Not exactly. Here's how this went:

Customer (AK Willett) - 05/06/2009 03:25 PM

AK wrote:  If my office closes at 5 p.m., what is the latest time I could call unnamed delivery company to schedule a pickup for the same day?

Response (Customer Service) - 05/06/2009 03:27 PM

UDC wrote: We received your e-mail. Thank you for contacting unnamed delivery company.

You can request an unnamed delivery company SuperFast or unnamed delivery company SortaFast pickup from one convenient location on our Web site, unnameddeliverycompanyrocks.com.

You can schedule an unnamed delivery company SuperFast pickup for the same day or next business day. Unnamed delivery company SortaFast pickups can be scheduled for next business day or up to two weeks in advance.

Unnamed delivery company will pick up your package at the address we have on file for your account. If you need an unnamed delivery company SuperFast pickup at a different address, please call 1.800.unnameddeliverycompanyrocks.

We hope this information is helpful. Thank you for shipping with unnamed delivery company.

Hmmm. Ok, didn’t really answer the question. So I replied back and added more specifics to my query.

Customer (AK Willett) - 05/06/2009 03:55 PM

AK wrote: Thanks. But what is the latest I could call to schedule a pickup if my office closes at 5 (meaning the package would have to be picked up by unnamed delivery company before 5 o'clock)?

2 pm? 3 pm? 4 pm?

Response (Customer Service) - 05/06/2009 04:00 PM

UDC wrote: We received your email. We apologize for the inconvenience.

If you are scheduling a SortaFast pickup, your package will be picked up on the afternoon of the next business day.

In case you are scheduling an SuperFast pickup, you can contact unnamed delivery company in the morning for pickup in the afternoon.

We hope that this information is helpful. Thank you for shipping unnamed delivery company.

Really? That’s the best I can get?  Something like “pickups must be scheduled at least 3 hours before your office closes”  is too technical? Honestly, vagueness like call “in the morning for pickup in the afternoon” is not helpful.

Really.

Not one bit.

Add A Little Romance To Your Spring Cleaning

Ahhh...Spring is finally upon us. Time to go through the closets, open the windows, and shake off the dead weight of winter.

Yes, there's nothing like a good spring cleaning, my friends. And should you decide now is as good a time as any to redistribute some of the romance novels lingering on your bookshelves, keep Maya Rodale and Ann Bleakley in mind.

Maya and Ann write romance novels. They also founded Share the Love, a program that provides gently used romance novels to non-profit organizations for women in crisis. Simply box up the books and send them to Share the Love. The books are then distributed to places like shelters and halfway houses to be enjoyed by those who might otherwise not be able to read them.

It's a great way to clean your home, promote literacy, support those in need, and throw a bit of kindness karma out into the world.

I've Been Nominated!

The absolutely awesome Book Girl has nominated me for the One Lovely Blog Award! My very first blog award ev-ah!

According to The Book Girl:

This award is given to new blogs and blogging friends.

The rules to follow are:

1) Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award and his or her blog link.

2) Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

I know I'm supposed to nominate 15 blogs I've newly discovered but, to be honest, that would end up being a list of 6 or so blogs. So I've listed those below with 9 other bookish blogs I just really love visiting every day!

1. Serenehours
2. Juiciliciousss Reviews
3. Reading Keeps You Sane
4. Katie's Book Blog
5. Pop Culture Junkie
6. YA Fresh
7. The Fictionistas
8. Unmainstream Mom Reads
9. Steph Su Reads
10. Reverie Book Reviews
11. KD's Library
12. In Bed With Books
13. Tru Nerd
14. Hope's Bookshelf
15. Look At That Book

You're all doing a terrific job. Keep up the great work!!

IPOD/Touch Applications for Book Lovers and Writers

I heart my Ipod touch. Heart, heart, heart. Big time.  This isn’t the first time I’ve blogged about this little piece of technology which, by the way, is the BEST GIFT EVER (thank you Big J)! Recently, though, I’ve discovered a few new applications that have made me want to sing its praises all over again.

As you might have noticed, I kind of like books.  A lot. Which is why I am over the moon that the Itunes App Store has a Kindle application for my Touch. No Kindle 2 required. Which is awesome because, like many other people, I can’t afford one.  

Of course, there’s no substitute for the real thing.  Actual books are easier to read, have pages to flip back and forth between, and feel great to hold. But with my Touch, I can take several books with me on vacation without lugging them all around. And, while going to the bookstore and perusing the shelves for the perfect book is part of the fun of reading, instant gratification is sometimes really, really nice. Especially if there is no time to get to a bookstore. Or, it's 3 a.m. and stores aren't open.

E-readers like Stanza are great, but I’ve been drooling over the Kindle for a year now. A big thing holding me back was wondering if I would really use it enough to justify the cost. Since I’m always using my Touch, and the application was free (at least when I downloaded it), this is no longer an issue. One complaint though – while the Kindle can download blogs, magazines, and newspapers, the Kindle app for the Touch can’t. Just books.  Which doesn’t matter to me but might be a deal breaker for others.

You might also be aware that I like to write fiction. But sometimes I get stuck. Enter iStop Writer’s Block. This app is a random plot/character/quote generator that provides several prompts designed to break through writer’s block.  Need to flesh out a character? Randomly generate a name, description, or quirk. Stuck on a plot? iStop WB can suggest some new ones or even toss a challenge your way (“incorporate the term mad scientist into your next sentence”). It’s fun just to play around with too. This application is not free, though. It was 99 cents when I purchased it. And reviews of this application are really mixed. Personally, I love it. Some of the prompts are vague and some are really short ("advice to character, just say no" - Huh?), but some can really get the brain going and take your writing into a new direction ("advice to character, never follow the advice of your Uncle Richard" - Wait, why? What's wrong with Uncle Richard? Is he manipulative? An idiot? Hypocritical? How does that impact my story?).

Another great app for the writer on the go? Dictionary.com, a combination dictionary and thesaurus. It also has a random word of the day feature and audio pronunciations available. Definitely a handy little application to have.

I so heart my Ipod Touch :)

The Case of the Mysterious UPS Package

Y'know, I thought I was having a pretty good week. I've made excellent progress on my novel. The kids are at their Grandma's for Spring Break, so Big J and I have eaten out every night at any restaurant we want. Best of all, I received an ARC of Being Nikki by Meg Cabot on Monday (Awesome!!!).

But then, Big J goes and tops me today.

We were getting ready to leave and pick up our Chinese carryout. As the garage door opened, I noticed the UPS truck pull up and park in front of our driveway.

"You order something?" I asked.

"Noooo......" Big J said.

But, see, my birthday and Mother's Day are both coming up next month and Big J has been known to purchase things way in advance and hide them until the big day, very sneak-sneak like. So I wasn't buying it.

"Uh huh. Then why is the guy coming up with a box?"

Big J shrugged his shoulders and started walking towards the street. He returned with the box, laid it on the top of our trash can, and stared at it. For several seconds.

"Well, open it." I said.

He peeled off the tape on one corner and peeked in.

"Should I go someplace else?" I asked hopefully, visions bouncing through my mind of the wonderful birthday presents that might be inside the box.

Sadly, though, it held nothing for me. Big J ripped the rest of the tape off and motioned for me to come over.

It was another box, with a brand spankin' new JBL On Stage Speaker for Ipods in it.

"I didn't order this," Big J said, holding it up and turning the box around and around and around...

For five minutes, we deliberated. Did the company accidentally send it? Was it some sort of scam? Was it a gift? Had Big J ordered it and then, scatterbrained as it was, completely forgotten he'd done so?

We decided to table the mystery of the speaker until after dinner and left to pick up our #4s with fried rice. Twenty minutes later, while sitting at the table scarfing his food down, Big J started laughing. Then choking, because his mouth had been full of rice at the time, half of which had fallen down the back of his throat. "I bet," he said, in between coughs, "it was a contest." 

"A contest?"

"Yeah, I enter those contests on sites like iLounge."

He immediately went downstairs to check his email. Nothing. He pulled up the site's contest page. Sure enough, there was his name, bright and shiny on the list of winners.

Totally. Cool.

Cats + Computer = Headache

It's hard to make progress on a short story or novel or article when you have cats. Because, at least with my cats, I tend to see this instead of the monitor:

Or I'm trying to use the keyboard or the mouse, or both, in spite of the random feline leg or tail or other body part blocking them:

 

Or I'm closing the applications accidentally opened by a misplaced paw:

Or I'm providing belly rubs:

But I think I've finally found a solution:

Yep, I've setup little spaces for them, one on each side of me. I think they're happy with the new arrangement:

 

And I can get some work done. Win-win baby!

Words

Words are powerful. Woven together into strong sentences, they can break hearts or propel ideas. They can be manipulated and twisted into a lie or bared to reveal the truth. Paths can be changed, opinions can be challenged, lives can be altered…just by the skillful combination of a few words.

Maya Angelou is a master at stringing together words that accomplish all of these things and more. Her words rub and spark, igniting imagery and emotion so real that we, the readers, can see it, taste it, and touch it.

In 1970, her first autobiographical novel, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings , was published. It remained on the New York Times Bestseller List for two years.

Readers connected with her honest and raw account of Southern life in the 30s and 40s. It is an insightful story of a little girl’s journey from insecure child to confident young mother. Along the way, she endures the pain of abandonment, prejudice, and abuse; one significant tragedy convinces her to stop speaking because she feels her words caused a man to die. Even though this consequence was due to his own unforgivable actions, for several years she remains mute until she is able to understand the guilt she feels over this event. Yet, she does eventually come to terms with it and moves on, more determined to survive the circumstances life has handed her.

Six more autobiographies followed I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, each detailing another portion of her amazing life. A life that has included becoming an acclaimed poet, a dancer, an actress, a singer, a director, an activist, a teacher, a mentor, a mother... the list goes on and on.

Today, she celebrates her 81st year on this earth. Happy Birthday, Maya Angelou!

The Secret Ingredient is Teeth

We're at Fuddruckers with my dad. We've finished dinner and are sitting around, talking, while the kids eat their cookies.

Mr. Smartypants has a chocolate macadamia nut cookie. The Princess has chocolate chip. Suddenly, Mr. Smartypants gets a confused look on his face. He's looking closely at his cookie. He's pulling something out of his mouth and examining it. He's making a face and dropping whatever it is on the floor. He's quietly putting his cookie to the side of the plate. Something is definitely up.

"What was that?" I ask.

"Nothing..." he says.

"Uh huh." I say. "It looked like something."

He makes a face and squirms in his chair a little. "There was a tooth in my cookie."

"Oh, ok. Huh? Are you sure it wasn't a macadamia nut?" I say.

He disappears under the table then reappears, total "eww gross" expression on his face, and puts a tooth in the middle of the table.

Yes, a tooth. Not a macadamia nut. A freaking tooth.

Now I have the "eww gross" expression on my face.

The Princess actually says it. "Uck. That's gross. I'm gonna be sick." She drops the rest of her cookie on her plate.

I still have the "eww gross" expression.

Big J leans over, glances at the tooth, glances at Mr. Smartypants. "Are you sure it's not yours?" he says.

Mr. Smartypants looks at him like he's crazy. "Uh, yeah." At the same time, he's discreetly feeling around the back of his mouth. His eyes get big.

"I lost a tooth!" he says, startled.

My dad laughs.

The Princess picks up the rest of her cookie and pops it into her mouth.

I wrap the tooth in a napkin and put it in my purse.

Big J sighs. Loudly.

The Impact of a Good Story

When I was in high school, I read a story that scared me. Bad. Funny thing was, it wasn't written by Stephen King or Poe or any of the usual fear makers. No, the story, "A Good Man Is Hard to Find" , was included in a short story collection of the same name written by Flannery O'Connor. Today would have been her 84th birthday. Unfortunately, she passed away in 1964 at age 39 from complications related to lupus.

The story is basically about a family's road trip to Florida. That ends horribly, horribly wrong. The most terrifying thing to me was the realness and brutality of what happens. The if-onlys tugged at me: if only they had gone to Tennessee; if only the cat had not freaked out; if only the grandmother could have kept her mouth shut. During all of this, O' Connor touches on religion and human nature in a way that creeps up on you, waiting until the end to fully attack.

O'Connor was a master at making readers dig deeper into the words to get the whole story, not just the bits laid loosely on the surface. She wasn't afraid to make readers uncomfortable, to make them feel vulnerable, to make them feel all of the pain, confusion, anger, or disappointment of her characters and their situations.

To this day, that one short story still haunts me, as most of the best stories should.

Happy Birthday, Ms. O'Connor.

You Made Me Love You

I wanted to hate Castle. Really.

You see, I'd "gone out" with Nathan Fillion a couple of times already. We'd avoided the Alliance while flying a transport ship through space in Firefly. We'd put the pedal to the metal in Drive. Both times Fox shut us down, forbid us to see each other again. Brief glimpses in Waitress and Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog only made me yearn for him more. My heart had been broken twice already. So, I really really wanted to hate Castle.

There was potential. Kate Beckett, the detective that Castle shadows, got on my nerves in the first episode, and I thought "Yes! Can't watch a show if one of the MCs grates on my last nerve, right?". But darned if she didn't grow on me in the second episode. And Fillion's Richard Castle is too delicious. He's handsome, funny, smart, a bit of a troublemaker...He's also the father of a very intelligent, well grounded teenage daughter. A sexy single dad too? Excuse me while I swoon.

I'm digging that his character is a writer and always looking for the story in Beckett's crime scenes. Poker games with James Patterson? Very cool detail.The joke about Castle growing up with a nanny who sat around watching episodes of One Life To Live during the day instead of him? Hilarious reference to Fillion's stint as heartthrob Joey Buchanan on the soap.

Here's hoping ABC doesn't pull a FOX and cancel the show after two more episodes. This one's a keeper.

WritersWeekly Contest April 25th!

Writers, start your laptops!

The Spring 2009 WritersWeekly 24-Hour Short Story Contest begins at noon (Central time) on April 25th! Cost to enter is $5. Contest is limited to 500 participants.

Topic and word count requirements will be posted when the contest begins. Late entries will not be accepted, so if you enter be sure to pencil the event into your calendar, set up a reminder in your Outlook, or slap a sticky note on your forehead. Whatever you need to do to keep from missing it!

Also, be sure to check out the brilliant stories cranked out by the Fall 2008 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners of the 24-Hour Short Story Contest!

Good luck!

Carolyn Hennesy talks Pandora and Publication

Soap fans know her as Diane Miller, Port Charles's tough as nails but funny as hell lawyer whose clients include the big mob boss himself, Sonny Corinthos. Others know her from a recent Geico commercial as the woman making googly eyes at a stack of money on the table behind her. Or from one of her many guest spots on shows like Dawson's Creek and Reba, or movies like Legally Blonde 2. But those who read Young Adult fiction know her as the author of the addictive Pandora series. Her name is Carolyn Hennesy, and the April 2009 issue of Romantic Times BOOKreviews magazine has a great article with her discussing both acting and the books.

The latest book in the series, Pandora Gets Lazy, will be released at the end of this month. As in Pandora Gets Jealous and Pandora Gets Vain, Pandora continues her journey to track down the evils she accidentally unleashed onto the world. Y'know, when she found the infamous box that said not to open it, took it for show and tell, and it sort of got opened? Greek mythology and teenage trauma = a fun combination. Add in snappy dialogue, a little silliness, and some adventure, and you've got a great story.

If you're a fan of the series or of Carolyn, get to the book store now to reserve your copy of Pandora Gets Lazy and pick up the April 2009 issue of Romantic Times BOOKreviews.

    
   

3 Meows for the Birthday Boy!

  

 

Today is Jack Jack's very first birthday!

The picture on the left was taken right after he came to live with us last July. The picture on the right was taken over the holidays. He's becoming such a big little guy!

So, earlier this week, the discussion turned to what we were going to do for this momentous occasion. We learned a few things from the first birthday shindig we had for Milo last year, though. Like:

* Cats don't understand the concept of unwrapping gifts, so don't. You'll only get frustrated when your cat looks at the gift, looks at you, looks at the gift, and looks at you like you're an idiot. Because you are.

* Cats get really freaked out when everyone circles around and starts staring at them.

* Cats get really, really freaked out when everyone spontaneously bursts into a loud chorus of "Happy Birthday" while circling and staring at them. It took us five minutes to get Milo out from behind his kitty condo.

No, this year I think we'll be playing it a little low key. Maybe a few salmon flakes with Jack's kitty kibble. A new toy or two in his bed. A very quiet chorus of "Happy Birthday". And half an hour with the kitty toy teaser pink feathery fish on a string. Man, he loves that thing. Especially when you put it up in the air so he has to jump very, very high.

So I'm hoping this will be enough to let him know we love him, we're glad he's been on this planet for one year, and we look forward to many more years to come.

Happy birthday Jack Jack!

They Came From IKEA

I love books. Love, love, love ‘em. Which means I have a lot. And recently I realized the number just kept growing while, sadly, the places to put them was not. Two short bookcases against the wall of my office were packed to bursting with books, several sitting on top of each other. More were stacked on the edge of my desk. And even more were upstairs in yet another bookcase. But that all changed the other day. Cause I got new bookcases.

As you might be able to guess from the title of this post, they came from IKEA. Looking at it now, I realize that this title could also be the name of a bad horror flick at a drive-in. Hmmm. That might be an interesting movie...

Coming soon to a theater near you: (close up on Bruce Campbell sticking a name tag on and looking tiredly around a warehouse) He was just an aging stock boy that wanted to make a few extra bucks working the night shift. It was supposed to be simple: wait for the truck and unload it. But when the boxes arrived, they had an extra item (cue image of Swedish zombies rampaging through IKEA) and all hell broke loose. Before the night is through, he’ll be wishing he hadn’t picked up an extra shift. And the zombies will be wishing he didn’t keep a shotgun and chainsaw in the back of his truck. Don't miss Sam Raimi's They Came From IKEA!   

Sorry, I digress. No, the bookcases came from IKEA, which meant I had to put them together before I could put anything in them. No biggie. I’ve already put together, let’s see, four dressers, one nightstand, one bed, three other bookcases, and part of an entertainment unit. Oh, and an armoire, but that came from Wal-Mart.  By Saturday evening, I had two big, burly bookcases to cuddle with my books and keep them safe and happy.  I was absolutely giddy.

Check out the before (left) and after (right). Big difference, yeah?

 

Of course, the inspector had to come take a look at each one before I started filling it up.  These bookshelves are Milo approved!

Very Superstitious

In honor of the belief that Friday the 13th is a horrible, terrible, unlucky day - Superstitions that mean bad luck is heading your way:

Drop a dishcloth, bad luck
Don't get out of bed on the same side you got in, bad luck
Refuse a kiss under mistletoe, bad luck
A black cat crosses your path or walks away from you, bad luck
Kill a bee in your house, bad luck
Kill a cricket, bad luck
Hear a dog howling at night, bad luck
See an owl in the daylight or have one look in a window at you, bad luck
Put a hat on a bed, bad luck
Put a shirt on inside out, bad luck
Cut your nails on a Friday, bad luck
Open an umbrella indoors, bad luck
Step onboard a ship with your left foot, bad luck
Kill a ladybug, bad luck
Leave your shoes upside down, bad luck
Bring an old broom into a new house, bad luck
Break a mirror, bad luck
Find a five leaf clover, bad luck
A picture falls, bad luck
Walk under a ladder, bad luck
Fasten a button in the wrong button hole, bad luck
Pass someone on a staircase, bad luck
Spill salt, bad luck

How can you get some good luck?

Find a four leaf clover
Put a cricket or frog in your house
Find a lost horseshoe
Find a penny on heads
Buy a rabbit's foot
Knock on wood
Step on your shadow
Dream about a white cat
Cut your hair during a storm
Hang garlic in your house
Catch a falling leaf on the first day of Autumn
See a black cat walking towards you
See three butterflies together
Sneeze three times before breakfast
Carry an acorn
Let a ladybug land on you

Snip. Snip. Snip...Ooops...

Recently, The Princess asked me if she could cut her bangs. This was as I was laying in my bed, sick with the mother of all colds. Y’know, coughing, wheezing, sniffling…basically a snot-nosed sneezing zombie.  Vaguely I remember peeking out from under the covers, mumbling something like “sure-ungh”, blowing my nose, and retreating back into my shell of sickness. And not thinking about it again. Until yesterday.

She was waiting for me when I got home from work, bounding up the stairs after me into my bedroom . “Guess what?” she said.

“What?” I countered.

“I  cut my bay-yangs.”

It took a moment to sink in. She cut her bangs. Hmm, didn’t realize Big J was taking her to the Hair Cuttery today. She cut her bangs.  She cut her bangs. Wait…SHE cut her bangs?

Oh Dear.

About this time I noticed the bandana camouflaging her forehead. Like a big paisley bandage.

Let me point out right here, I have had more than my share of hair disasters. There was the time I accidently left hair dye on too long – waaaay too long – and changed my red hair to pitch black. Not my best look.  Another time, the day of my senior prom in fact, I thought it would be a good idea to get my very long, very curly locks cut very short. Which is why I have no prom pictures. I won’t even go into detail about the crimping incident of 1992. Let’s just say, I haven’t crimped since.

So I was a teeny bit scared to see what was under there.

Images of Barbies with hair cut by round tip scissors flashed through my mind. Choppy little blonde mullets. I took a nervous breath as she reached back and pulled off the bandage. I mean bandana.

And…

It wasn’t half bad. She had erred on the side of caution and not cut too short or too much. The result was similar to fringe a la the Shaggy Dog, but it was modifiable.  I just needed to shape it a bit.

"Bring me the scissors." I said. She brought me a pair of round tip scissors.

Which made me smile.

Books were everywhere...everywhere...

Yesterday, Big J and I took Mr. Smartypants and The Princess to the library to turn in books we had checked out before the holidays. At least, we tried.

The library had been closed the day before due to the holiday and, when we arrived, it was closed again due to a county government furlough. Basically, the money to pay its employees wasn't in the budget so they all had to take an unpaid day off. Meaning no library. No big deal, though. We could use the outside book depository, right? Wrong.

I wanted to cry when I saw it. It had become full over the past couple of days. Really, really full. And, rather than come back later and drop their books off, people had just left them. On the ground. On the recycling bin. All alone.

I could not believe it.

Meg Cabot. Ernest Hemingway. A book on Flash programming. Thousands and thousands of pages. Thousands and thousands of words. Stacked up haphazardly in a corner.

What if it rained? What if a kleptomaniac strolled by and saw all of the deliciously tempting books just laying there? What if a dog that loved to eat homework came by and decided to expand his palette?

"We could pack them all up in the trunk and bring them back tomorrow?" Big J suggested.

But we decided against it. Secretly, I hope some vigilante librarian will find out who the abandoned books had been checked out by, go to their homes, and rip up their library cards right there in the doorway while screaming that all of their library privileges had been revoked. No more books for you, you book deserting scum! Ever!

If you can stomach it, pictures of the horrible sight are below.

It was the butler in the living room with the candlestick. No, wait...

So, just over 8,000 words in, 5 days/40,000+ words to go on the NaNoWrMo challenge, and I am STUMPED.  I've got a where. I've got a why. I've even got a who (I think). But I'm having trouble developing the how. Well, a plausible how. A how that is not elaborate and confusing. Arrrrrg. I'm taking a cocoa break, popping some aspirin, and watching last night's episode of Chuck (love Tivo). Maybe that will get the creative mojo going.

Ghost Kitty...Happy Halloween!!

Fall Rocks. Costume Shopping Sucks.

Ahhh...it's that time of year again. Good-bye leaves, hello pumpkins and apple cider. Good-bye flip flops and tank tops, hello wool socks and windbreakers. Good-bye sandy swimsuits. You I will not miss so much.

Fall is my favorite season, but I particularly love October. The anticipation of the holidays to come, but none of the stress - yet. The haunting chill in the air and leaves swirling in tiny wind tornadoes. The way witches and vampires start popping up on my favorite shows. Halloween is right around the corner. And on the 31st, everyone gets to howl. Or screech. Or cackle. Or make some other ghoulish and creepy sound. 

The one thing I don't like about Halloween? Costume shopping. Oh, for Mr. Smartypants it's simple enough. This year he'll be a zombie pirate. I can totally handle that. The problem is finding a costume for The Princess. About 3 years ago, she began growing like a little weed. By last year, she was almost as tall as me - and I'm not short. So, to put this in perspective, she hasn't been able to shop in the children's section of the costume aisle for a few years now. And, um, have you been to the costume stores lately? There's still plenty of choices in the women's section. The problem is they are all a bit, how should I say it...risque. Skirts slightly bigger than a table napkin, boob enhancing tops, and lacy thigh high tights. This is not what I want my 12 year old to be wearing. And this year, it annoyed me a little.

Don't Diss My Suds!

Yesterday, one of my coworkers expressed their distaste of daytime soap operas. I believe the actual words thrown around were “crap” and “brainless drama” written by "no talent hacks with  IQs the equivalent of Peter Griffin's". Or something like that.

 

Gasp!

 

I immediately felt a need to defend my beloved soap operas. I am, after all, a subscriber of Soap Opera Digest and ABC Soaps In Depth and an ABC daytime junkie. I can’t get enough of AMC, OLTL and GH.  All My Children, One Life To Live, and General Hospital for you non-junkies out there.

 

Anyway, my feathers were sufficiently ruffled and what transpired was a heated discussion of how night time shows like Grey’s Anatomy and Desperate Housewives – which are just soap operas, really, even though they hide behind the apron strings of their serious drama mama – are and are not superior to daytime offerings.

 

I'm back. I think.

Wow...it's the end of July. Where have I been? I've been so busy cat wrangling and writing and running errands that I haven't even looked at my blog, let alone posted on it, in three weeks. But it's time to get my butt back into gear I guess. I mean, the first day of school is just around the corner. Things are only going to get busier from there. Before I know it, I'll be putting away holiday decorations and trying to remember to write 2009 on my checks instead of 2008. Amazing how September to December seems to vanish each year.

So, let's see...I've got a story to finish and post, along with a new interactive story poll. I'll be making some changes to the structure and look of the blog (when I can find the time). And, of course, I'll be getting back on my twice a week posting schedule again.

Thanks for you patience!!

P.S. to Sunny Lea: I apologize for not publishing your post sooner! Thank you for the super cute comment about Jack!

Say Hello, Jack Jack!

Back from vacation! And looked who we picked up at the beach...Meet our newest family member, Jack!

My little friend

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                                                      Copyright © 2008 Black Rabbit Ink and AK Willett.

Reproduction of any portion of this blog or its posts without permission is prohibited by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. This material has been posted on www.blackrabbitink.com. If you are viewing this material on any site besides www.blackrabbitink.com, it has been stolen and used without permission. Violators will be reported to the appropriate authorities.