Ramblings
Carnival Cruises is hosting a "Bloggers' cruise" in 2008 for $599 a person. It turns out it's actually a cruise with Cruise Director John Heald, who gets thousands of hits on his blog, www.carnival.com/freedom. So I guess they're encouraging fans of his to go. Not other bloggers, per se.
On an unrelated note, my fellow writer and near-neighbor Jeff Somers, whose book is coming out in fall, has experienced the wonder of getting Advanced Readers' Copies of said book (see the blog). Since he's written a zillion things and most have only been published in small venues, it's nice to see such success.
5/10/2007
5/09/2007
5/08/2007
Welcome back
I've been too busy to post lately, so here's a jumble of stuff.
First, yesterday there was an Associated Press article on the boy who had an earache, and a doctor found two spiders living in his ear. I really think that it was sick of the Spider Man producers to do this as publicity. Their film is making enough money!! Seriously, now every time my ear tickles or hurts, I'll have nightmares.
It looks like the l*sbian date blogger has stopped blogging. She was a good writer. I think she found, as many people have, that it's not good to get too personal on the internet.
Speaking of dating, I have been just alerted that Todd Seavey has put a "personal ad" up.
I love the music in the 1980 movie "Xanadu," even though the movie bombed. I wonder if the soon-to-start Broadway version will bomb as well. It looks like it's taking itself seriously, rather than being campy (bad idea?). Who knows. I'd see it for the music...if it was inexpensive enough. So far, doesn't look that way.
Finally, I finished and turned in two major writing projects yesterday. It's a great relief. Don't ask which ones they were, because it doesn't matter. There are too many things in various states of completion, and who knows when the next revision will be. But for now, I get a break from writing for a while.
10-4.
I've been too busy to post lately, so here's a jumble of stuff.
First, yesterday there was an Associated Press article on the boy who had an earache, and a doctor found two spiders living in his ear. I really think that it was sick of the Spider Man producers to do this as publicity. Their film is making enough money!! Seriously, now every time my ear tickles or hurts, I'll have nightmares.
It looks like the l*sbian date blogger has stopped blogging. She was a good writer. I think she found, as many people have, that it's not good to get too personal on the internet.
Speaking of dating, I have been just alerted that Todd Seavey has put a "personal ad" up.
I love the music in the 1980 movie "Xanadu," even though the movie bombed. I wonder if the soon-to-start Broadway version will bomb as well. It looks like it's taking itself seriously, rather than being campy (bad idea?). Who knows. I'd see it for the music...if it was inexpensive enough. So far, doesn't look that way.
Finally, I finished and turned in two major writing projects yesterday. It's a great relief. Don't ask which ones they were, because it doesn't matter. There are too many things in various states of completion, and who knows when the next revision will be. But for now, I get a break from writing for a while.
10-4.
5/03/2007
It was the best of times...
I get a weekly e-mailed list of books that sold, and this was one of 'em. Do you think this will help your relationship? Personally, Dickens would not be my first pick.
Narrative
DINNER WITH DAD writer Cameron Stracher's A TALE OF TWO SPOUSES: Reading Dickens With My Wife, recognizing the mind is at least as sexy as the body, in which the author and his wife turn to Dickens as low-tech tonic and aphrodisiac to restore balance and intimacy in their high-tech existence, jump-starting a conversation gone (largely) silent, to Bruce Tracy at Villard, by Lisa Bankoff at ICM (NA).
I get a weekly e-mailed list of books that sold, and this was one of 'em. Do you think this will help your relationship? Personally, Dickens would not be my first pick.
Narrative
DINNER WITH DAD writer Cameron Stracher's A TALE OF TWO SPOUSES: Reading Dickens With My Wife, recognizing the mind is at least as sexy as the body, in which the author and his wife turn to Dickens as low-tech tonic and aphrodisiac to restore balance and intimacy in their high-tech existence, jump-starting a conversation gone (largely) silent, to Bruce Tracy at Villard, by Lisa Bankoff at ICM (NA).
5/02/2007
Reply All
A few weeks ago, I got junkmail in my work e-mail box about some on-line auction.
Apparently, some people who also got the junkmail were not happy with it, and kept sending mean replies. Only, they hit "reply all" and made it worse.
Here were some of the replies:
Re: This is Your Last Chance! One Day Left to Bid on The HADFM Online Auction!
Please remove me from this fat hairy mailing list.
Please remove me as well -Greg
Fuck yeah, get me off that shit too. At present I’m bidding to have you professionally killed by ninjas
I will contribute to that Ninja bill
Remove me from this list
It’s arrived a half dozen times
A few weeks ago, I got junkmail in my work e-mail box about some on-line auction.
Apparently, some people who also got the junkmail were not happy with it, and kept sending mean replies. Only, they hit "reply all" and made it worse.
Here were some of the replies:
Re: This is Your Last Chance! One Day Left to Bid on The HADFM Online Auction!
Please remove me from this fat hairy mailing list.
Please remove me as well -Greg
Fuck yeah, get me off that shit too. At present I’m bidding to have you professionally killed by ninjas
I will contribute to that Ninja bill
Remove me from this list
It’s arrived a half dozen times
5/01/2007
Woof
I swear that I'm not obsessed with puppies. They are just cute and make me smile. But even I have my limits. Last night, there was a show on called "America's Cutest Puppies." Of course, it got my attention instantly. First they brought out a bunch of puppies in front of the judges, and the judges chose their ten cutest, just by looking at their faces. Okay, so it's puppies; they can't exactly give speeches about wanting world peace.
Then, the ten cutest puppies came back out and were to be judged on "playfulness." Meanwhile, all of this was punctuated by a Philadelphia Eagles cheerleader (it took place in Philadelphia) doing cheers like "P-U-P-P-I-E-S, Yaaaaaay, puppies!!!!!!"
In the playfulness category, a golden retriever puppy came out and chased the light from a laser pointer. The judges were extremely impressed by this. Then some puppies showed that they knew how to "sit." Great. All the pups were purebred, which was boring and didn't really advance the cause of getting people to consider adopting homeless pups as well.
They used the "playfulness" category to narrow the field further to five puppies, but at that point I turned it off. I like looking at cute puppies, but even I have standards.
I swear that I'm not obsessed with puppies. They are just cute and make me smile. But even I have my limits. Last night, there was a show on called "America's Cutest Puppies." Of course, it got my attention instantly. First they brought out a bunch of puppies in front of the judges, and the judges chose their ten cutest, just by looking at their faces. Okay, so it's puppies; they can't exactly give speeches about wanting world peace.
Then, the ten cutest puppies came back out and were to be judged on "playfulness." Meanwhile, all of this was punctuated by a Philadelphia Eagles cheerleader (it took place in Philadelphia) doing cheers like "P-U-P-P-I-E-S, Yaaaaaay, puppies!!!!!!"
In the playfulness category, a golden retriever puppy came out and chased the light from a laser pointer. The judges were extremely impressed by this. Then some puppies showed that they knew how to "sit." Great. All the pups were purebred, which was boring and didn't really advance the cause of getting people to consider adopting homeless pups as well.
They used the "playfulness" category to narrow the field further to five puppies, but at that point I turned it off. I like looking at cute puppies, but even I have standards.
4/27/2007
4/26/2007
4/25/2007
4/24/2007
Tuesday's post
Still more rejected wedding songs
"Date Rape" by Sublime
(Note: very good for running on treadmill!)
Let me tell you about a girl I know,
had a drink about a hour ago.
Sitting in a corner by herself,
in a bar in downtown Hell.
She heard a noise and she looked through the door.
And saw a man she'd never seen before.
Light skin, light blue eyes,
a double-chin and a plastic smile.
Well, her heart raced as he walked in the door
And took an empty seat next to her at the bar.
"My brand new car is parked right outside.
How'd ya like to go for a ride?"
And she said."Wait a minute I have to think."
He said, "That's fine. May I please buy you a drink"
One drink turned into 3 or 4 and they left and got into his car
and they drove away someplace real far.
"Now babe the time has come.
How'd ya like to have a little fun?"
And she said."If we could only please be on our way, I will not run."
That's when things got out of control.
She didn't want to, he had his way.
She said, "Let's Go" He said, "No Way!"
Come on babe it's your lucky day.
Shut your mouth, were gonna do it my way.
Come on baby don't be afraid,
if it wasn't for date rape I'd never get laid...
.....The moral of the date rape story,
it does not pay to be drunk and horny.
But that's the way it had to be.
They locked him up and threw away the key.
Well, I can't take pity on men of his kind,
even though he now takes it in the behind.
Still more rejected wedding songs
"Date Rape" by Sublime
(Note: very good for running on treadmill!)
Let me tell you about a girl I know,
had a drink about a hour ago.
Sitting in a corner by herself,
in a bar in downtown Hell.
She heard a noise and she looked through the door.
And saw a man she'd never seen before.
Light skin, light blue eyes,
a double-chin and a plastic smile.
Well, her heart raced as he walked in the door
And took an empty seat next to her at the bar.
"My brand new car is parked right outside.
How'd ya like to go for a ride?"
And she said."Wait a minute I have to think."
He said, "That's fine. May I please buy you a drink"
One drink turned into 3 or 4 and they left and got into his car
and they drove away someplace real far.
"Now babe the time has come.
How'd ya like to have a little fun?"
And she said."If we could only please be on our way, I will not run."
That's when things got out of control.
She didn't want to, he had his way.
She said, "Let's Go" He said, "No Way!"
Come on babe it's your lucky day.
Shut your mouth, were gonna do it my way.
Come on baby don't be afraid,
if it wasn't for date rape I'd never get laid...
.....The moral of the date rape story,
it does not pay to be drunk and horny.
But that's the way it had to be.
They locked him up and threw away the key.
Well, I can't take pity on men of his kind,
even though he now takes it in the behind.
4/23/2007
Rejected wedding songs, part whatever
Why Don't You Get A Job? by The Offspring
My friend's got a girlfriend
Man he hates that bitch
He tells me every day
He says "man I really gotta lose my chickIn the worst kind of way"
She sits on her ass
He works his hands to the bone
To give her money every payday
But she wants more dinero
just to stay at home
Well my friend You gotta say
I won't pay,
I won't pay ya, no wayna-na,
Why don't you get a job?
I guess all his money,
well it isn't enough
To keep her bill collectors at bay
I guess all his money,
well it isn't enough
Cause that girl's got expensive taste
I won't pay, I won't pay ya,
no wayna-na,
Why don't you get a job?
Why Don't You Get A Job? by The Offspring
My friend's got a girlfriend
Man he hates that bitch
He tells me every day
He says "man I really gotta lose my chickIn the worst kind of way"
She sits on her ass
He works his hands to the bone
To give her money every payday
But she wants more dinero
just to stay at home
Well my friend You gotta say
I won't pay,
I won't pay ya, no wayna-na,
Why don't you get a job?
I guess all his money,
well it isn't enough
To keep her bill collectors at bay
I guess all his money,
well it isn't enough
Cause that girl's got expensive taste
I won't pay, I won't pay ya,
no wayna-na,
Why don't you get a job?
4/20/2007
Happy 420
On the radio this morning, they said it's the "Stoner's New Year" because 420 is a nickname for marijuana. (It comes from the police code for marijuana: 420). I'm glad there's another nickname for it; there simply aren't enough. Grass, pot, hootch, maryjane, and weeeeeeed are not good enough. Let's not forget a doobie, a joint, etc....
4/20 is also Hitler's b-day and the anniversary of Columbine. So all in all, I guess drugs are actually the best thing about the day.
I didn't get a chance to post yesterday, but there are more 'rejected wedding songs' to come from the Offspring, Sublime, and many more. Don't touch that dial!
I read that the idiot(s) who sodomized the dog in Newark have been captured. At least, suspects have. And...the doggy was adopted by the vet tech who had treated her every day. The tech also has four cats and another dog who will welcome their beautiful friend.
I hope everyone has a lovely Friday and a good weekend. It's going to be warm out, the Boy tells me.
On the radio this morning, they said it's the "Stoner's New Year" because 420 is a nickname for marijuana. (It comes from the police code for marijuana: 420). I'm glad there's another nickname for it; there simply aren't enough. Grass, pot, hootch, maryjane, and weeeeeeed are not good enough. Let's not forget a doobie, a joint, etc....
4/20 is also Hitler's b-day and the anniversary of Columbine. So all in all, I guess drugs are actually the best thing about the day.
I didn't get a chance to post yesterday, but there are more 'rejected wedding songs' to come from the Offspring, Sublime, and many more. Don't touch that dial!
I read that the idiot(s) who sodomized the dog in Newark have been captured. At least, suspects have. And...the doggy was adopted by the vet tech who had treated her every day. The tech also has four cats and another dog who will welcome their beautiful friend.
I hope everyone has a lovely Friday and a good weekend. It's going to be warm out, the Boy tells me.
4/18/2007
The happiest sound in all the world?
If you are a fan of "The Sound of Music," or even if you're not (ahem), check out this very clever video on YouTube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26lEER3Pyr0
If you are a fan of "The Sound of Music," or even if you're not (ahem), check out this very clever video on YouTube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26lEER3Pyr0
Brown
I bought what I thought were brown shorts at J. Crew. Now they look dark green. I hate when that happens.
When I look for the color on the tag, it says DOL. Hmmm. I'm sure that'll hit me later and seem really obvious. I think it is supposed to really say "D'OH! You bought a different color pants than you thought!"
I may keep them anyway. I can always use more khaki shorts.
I bought what I thought were brown shorts at J. Crew. Now they look dark green. I hate when that happens.
When I look for the color on the tag, it says DOL. Hmmm. I'm sure that'll hit me later and seem really obvious. I think it is supposed to really say "D'OH! You bought a different color pants than you thought!"
I may keep them anyway. I can always use more khaki shorts.
4/17/2007
Tuesday
I think my blog entries may be rather short this month because we are busy, but I'll try to be occasionally witty here if I actually get the time.
My barometer reached a new low yesterday (much like the blog itself, ha ha ha).
People say that it's harder to have a kid when you're older, but there is evidence that it's not - I mean, look at Steven and Elise Keaton. They pushed out that annoying little Andy just as soon as the other Keaton kids weren't cute anymore. Elise had to be pushing like 45. And what about Roseanne and Dan? If my kid was Darlene, I certainly would want to make amends by having another cutie, and that's what they actually did. Now, let's look at the Seavers on Growing Pains. Same deal. Mrs. Seaver (a journalist, yay) also had to be pretty old by then. Maybe that's why the kid's hair turned out so awful. It was pretty interesting how, over a summer, she went from being a newborn to being three years old. Super Seaver powers, no doubt! (I guess adopting Leonardo DeCaprio wasn't enough. You'd think it would be, for most families.)
And then there were the Bundys. How old was Peggy Bundy when little Seven came into their life? I think they adopted him though. He should have gotten married to "Six" from Blossom. They could have had a kid named 13.
Six was a great best friend, right up there with Kimmy Gibler from "Full House."
Hmmm, hmmm, that was five minutes of your life you can never get back.
I think my blog entries may be rather short this month because we are busy, but I'll try to be occasionally witty here if I actually get the time.
My barometer reached a new low yesterday (much like the blog itself, ha ha ha).
People say that it's harder to have a kid when you're older, but there is evidence that it's not - I mean, look at Steven and Elise Keaton. They pushed out that annoying little Andy just as soon as the other Keaton kids weren't cute anymore. Elise had to be pushing like 45. And what about Roseanne and Dan? If my kid was Darlene, I certainly would want to make amends by having another cutie, and that's what they actually did. Now, let's look at the Seavers on Growing Pains. Same deal. Mrs. Seaver (a journalist, yay) also had to be pretty old by then. Maybe that's why the kid's hair turned out so awful. It was pretty interesting how, over a summer, she went from being a newborn to being three years old. Super Seaver powers, no doubt! (I guess adopting Leonardo DeCaprio wasn't enough. You'd think it would be, for most families.)
And then there were the Bundys. How old was Peggy Bundy when little Seven came into their life? I think they adopted him though. He should have gotten married to "Six" from Blossom. They could have had a kid named 13.
Six was a great best friend, right up there with Kimmy Gibler from "Full House."
Hmmm, hmmm, that was five minutes of your life you can never get back.
4/16/2007
4/14/2007
Stooooorm
There's a big storm coming. I updated the barometer blog slightly. That might just be the fourth post of the year!
There's a big storm coming. I updated the barometer blog slightly. That might just be the fourth post of the year!
4/13/2007
Friday
Random things:
1. Kurt Vonnegut died. With all the news about Imus, Duke, Anna Nicole, et. al., it's being lost in the shuffle. This is the guy who wrote classics we enjoyed in high school! And he's DEAD! Hmmm...another right-wing conspiracy.
2. It's going to POUR here on Sunday into Monday, they say. One of those storms that just kind of swirls above us. I guess it won't be so bad, as long as we don't have to leave home.
3. I forgot my third random thing. I hate when that happens. Enjoy your weekend!
Random things:
1. Kurt Vonnegut died. With all the news about Imus, Duke, Anna Nicole, et. al., it's being lost in the shuffle. This is the guy who wrote classics we enjoyed in high school! And he's DEAD! Hmmm...another right-wing conspiracy.
2. It's going to POUR here on Sunday into Monday, they say. One of those storms that just kind of swirls above us. I guess it won't be so bad, as long as we don't have to leave home.
3. I forgot my third random thing. I hate when that happens. Enjoy your weekend!
4/11/2007
Photos that have been lingering on my camera
I haven't posted photos in a while, and I have a bunch on my camera. So here they are. And yes this counts as Thursday's entry. I am so ahead of myself!
The Boy joined me recently for another food review...
Meanwhile, someone on a nearby street is really good at fixing up his car...
Lastly, my heart was filled with joy upon seeing some Easter graffiti!
I haven't posted photos in a while, and I have a bunch on my camera. So here they are. And yes this counts as Thursday's entry. I am so ahead of myself!
The Boy joined me recently for another food review...
Meanwhile, someone on a nearby street is really good at fixing up his car...
Lastly, my heart was filled with joy upon seeing some Easter graffiti!
Big hair and malls
There is now a book description on Amazon about the anthology of New Jersey essays that I am in, which will be published in mid-June. Reading it, I am so very proud of my homeland.
From Amazon:
Mobsters. Big hair. The smelly Turnpike. The poor cousin of its glittering neighbor Manhattan. Could that really be all there is to New Jersey?
In Living on the Edge of the World, the best and brightest young writers from the much maligned state answer back with edgy, irreverent pieces of nonfiction paying tribute to New Jersey's unique place in the cultural consciousness.
Like a drive along the Garden State Parkway, their stories travel to just about every corner of the state, from Princeton and Hillside to Camden and Hoboken. In "Straight Outta Garwood," Tom Perrotta writes of the near inescapability of returning to his home state again and again in his novels; in "Exit 15W," Joshua Braff tells how all roads led back to the Jersey Girl he'd fallen for as a seventh-grader; Kathleen DeMarco takes a nostalgic look at her grandfather's cranberry bog in "The Family Farm"; Jonathan Ames recounts a failed attempt to consummate his flirtation with a boardwalk beauty in "Rose of the Jersey Shore"; and Frederick Reiken offers an elegy to a high-rise in Fort Lee that opens his eyes to a new, dangerous world.
A celebration of all that's weird and wonderful about the Garden State -- including Bruce Springsteen, the Nets, the Jersey Devil, the films of Kevin Smith, and Great Adventure -- Living on the Edge of the World will have New Jerseyans everywhere ready to stand and be counted.
There is now a book description on Amazon about the anthology of New Jersey essays that I am in, which will be published in mid-June. Reading it, I am so very proud of my homeland.
From Amazon:
Mobsters. Big hair. The smelly Turnpike. The poor cousin of its glittering neighbor Manhattan. Could that really be all there is to New Jersey?
In Living on the Edge of the World, the best and brightest young writers from the much maligned state answer back with edgy, irreverent pieces of nonfiction paying tribute to New Jersey's unique place in the cultural consciousness.
Like a drive along the Garden State Parkway, their stories travel to just about every corner of the state, from Princeton and Hillside to Camden and Hoboken. In "Straight Outta Garwood," Tom Perrotta writes of the near inescapability of returning to his home state again and again in his novels; in "Exit 15W," Joshua Braff tells how all roads led back to the Jersey Girl he'd fallen for as a seventh-grader; Kathleen DeMarco takes a nostalgic look at her grandfather's cranberry bog in "The Family Farm"; Jonathan Ames recounts a failed attempt to consummate his flirtation with a boardwalk beauty in "Rose of the Jersey Shore"; and Frederick Reiken offers an elegy to a high-rise in Fort Lee that opens his eyes to a new, dangerous world.
A celebration of all that's weird and wonderful about the Garden State -- including Bruce Springsteen, the Nets, the Jersey Devil, the films of Kevin Smith, and Great Adventure -- Living on the Edge of the World will have New Jerseyans everywhere ready to stand and be counted.
4/10/2007
Mailbag
Someone wrote in response to yesterday's entry and said that she was planning a shopping trip to get half-off Easter candy, and that it wasn't cringe-worthy; it was thrifty. She is actually quite right! I guess I was just trying to make fun of myself and my eating choices in college.
Anyway, Easter candy has come a long way. Every major candy brand now makes special Easter versions (like Easter mini-Twix and mini Easter Milky Ways), so you can get quite a deal the day after.
So, shop 'til ya drop! I am all for half-off chocolate.
In other news, someone in my writing group has asked that I read her essays that she wants to submit to a contest, so I bid you a good night so I can go read them. (Well, this will actually be posted in the morning, but I am writing it Monday night).
Someone wrote in response to yesterday's entry and said that she was planning a shopping trip to get half-off Easter candy, and that it wasn't cringe-worthy; it was thrifty. She is actually quite right! I guess I was just trying to make fun of myself and my eating choices in college.
Anyway, Easter candy has come a long way. Every major candy brand now makes special Easter versions (like Easter mini-Twix and mini Easter Milky Ways), so you can get quite a deal the day after.
So, shop 'til ya drop! I am all for half-off chocolate.
In other news, someone in my writing group has asked that I read her essays that she wants to submit to a contest, so I bid you a good night so I can go read them. (Well, this will actually be posted in the morning, but I am writing it Monday night).
4/09/2007
Monday
Sorry I forgot to post Friday. Oh well.
Yesterday was Easter. Happy Easter!
When I was in college and poor, I used to go to the CVS on Walnut Street the day after Easter to take advantage of 50 percent off Easter candy so I'd have junkfood in the apartment. That makes me cringe now. One of my roomies did it too, so it wasn't just me. When you're in college, you have to do what you have to do.
Sorry I forgot to post Friday. Oh well.
Yesterday was Easter. Happy Easter!
When I was in college and poor, I used to go to the CVS on Walnut Street the day after Easter to take advantage of 50 percent off Easter candy so I'd have junkfood in the apartment. That makes me cringe now. One of my roomies did it too, so it wasn't just me. When you're in college, you have to do what you have to do.
4/05/2007
Snow
It's snowing right now, believe it or not. It won't last, but it's cold and it's snowing.
It snows more in March and April these days than it does in November and December.
Today is April 5, and I think in elementary school I had a friend whose b-day was today, but I can't remember who. Oh well. Guess I won't have to go to Toys R Us to buy a Magic 8-Ball or Wheel-O for their party now.
It's snowing right now, believe it or not. It won't last, but it's cold and it's snowing.
It snows more in March and April these days than it does in November and December.
Today is April 5, and I think in elementary school I had a friend whose b-day was today, but I can't remember who. Oh well. Guess I won't have to go to Toys R Us to buy a Magic 8-Ball or Wheel-O for their party now.
4/04/2007
Two links for breakfast
A friend sent me a link she found to a list of definitely rejected wedding songs:
http://www.artofthemix.org/FindAMix/getcontents.asp?strmixid=5823
Here is a story from the Wall Street Journal about deciding if a book is for teens or adults. I'll excerpt some and link to the rest.
Pretty interesting to read even if you're not a writer. It gives examples like To Kill A Mockingbird (teen narrator, but for adults...) and more recently, Prep.
Teen Books Are Hot Sellers, But Formula Isn't Simple
By Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg
The Wall Street Journal
March 30, 2007
Larry Doyle, a former Emmy-winning writer for "The Simpsons" TV series, frequently pens comic pieces for the New Yorker. Although he is 48 years old and has three children, his sensibilities lean to the youthful. So when Mr. Doyle got an idea for a novel, it wasn't a stretch for him to write about being a teenager.
His book "I Love You, Beth Cooper," which will be published May 8 by News Corp.'s Ecco imprint, opens with a nerdy high-school senior giving a graduation speech. He then veers from his prepared text and declares his love for the school's prettiest cheerleader. The 24 hours that follow are either the best or the worst of his life.
"Most of my dreams involve high school or college, along the lines of, 'I forgot to take the midterm,'" Mr. Doyle says. "In this case, I dreamt the opening scene."
But when it came to turning this into a book, Mr. Doyle found that his teenage theme brought with it some difficult choices.
Last April, Mr. Doyle's agent, Sarah Burnes of the Gernert Co., began showing about 100 pages of "Beth Cooper" to publishers -- several geared to adults, but also a dozen "young adult" imprints that court readers 12-to-16 years old.
...determining whether a book should get a young-adult label is more art than science, and brings with it an array of complicated issues for authors, publishers and retailers....
http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:0CmUTiJS_1cJ:www.mediainfocenter.org/story.asp%3Fstory_id%3D104773924+Teen+Books+Are+Hot+Sellers,+But+Formula+Isn%27t+Simple&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=us
A friend sent me a link she found to a list of definitely rejected wedding songs:
http://www.artofthemix.org/FindAMix/getcontents.asp?strmixid=5823
Here is a story from the Wall Street Journal about deciding if a book is for teens or adults. I'll excerpt some and link to the rest.
Pretty interesting to read even if you're not a writer. It gives examples like To Kill A Mockingbird (teen narrator, but for adults...) and more recently, Prep.
Teen Books Are Hot Sellers, But Formula Isn't Simple
By Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg
The Wall Street Journal
March 30, 2007
Larry Doyle, a former Emmy-winning writer for "The Simpsons" TV series, frequently pens comic pieces for the New Yorker. Although he is 48 years old and has three children, his sensibilities lean to the youthful. So when Mr. Doyle got an idea for a novel, it wasn't a stretch for him to write about being a teenager.
His book "I Love You, Beth Cooper," which will be published May 8 by News Corp.'s Ecco imprint, opens with a nerdy high-school senior giving a graduation speech. He then veers from his prepared text and declares his love for the school's prettiest cheerleader. The 24 hours that follow are either the best or the worst of his life.
"Most of my dreams involve high school or college, along the lines of, 'I forgot to take the midterm,'" Mr. Doyle says. "In this case, I dreamt the opening scene."
But when it came to turning this into a book, Mr. Doyle found that his teenage theme brought with it some difficult choices.
Last April, Mr. Doyle's agent, Sarah Burnes of the Gernert Co., began showing about 100 pages of "Beth Cooper" to publishers -- several geared to adults, but also a dozen "young adult" imprints that court readers 12-to-16 years old.
...determining whether a book should get a young-adult label is more art than science, and brings with it an array of complicated issues for authors, publishers and retailers....
http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:0CmUTiJS_1cJ:www.mediainfocenter.org/story.asp%3Fstory_id%3D104773924+Teen+Books+Are+Hot+Sellers,+But+Formula+Isn%27t+Simple&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=us
4/03/2007
Writer's life
In case you haven't heard, writing is not always fun. Check out what Ned Vizzini just wrote on his blog:
"I've been a WRECK this week. That book that I've talked so much about abandoning, aborting, etc.--the book that I have to write in order to continue to have a career...It's just all wrong. I don't know if it's salvageable."
I've had those moments. That's why I spend so much time revising and re-revising the beginning of a book before moving on, because I don't want to get to page 100 and say, "Wow, this is awful." But I think it can happen anyway.
But...you know what? I'm sure Ned's book is FINE. They usually are, in the end. Hang in there, Ned. It probably only needs minor adjusting, and it will come to you.
In case you haven't heard, writing is not always fun. Check out what Ned Vizzini just wrote on his blog:
"I've been a WRECK this week. That book that I've talked so much about abandoning, aborting, etc.--the book that I have to write in order to continue to have a career...It's just all wrong. I don't know if it's salvageable."
I've had those moments. That's why I spend so much time revising and re-revising the beginning of a book before moving on, because I don't want to get to page 100 and say, "Wow, this is awful." But I think it can happen anyway.
But...you know what? I'm sure Ned's book is FINE. They usually are, in the end. Hang in there, Ned. It probably only needs minor adjusting, and it will come to you.
4/02/2007
Do you really need to register your cell phone on the Do Not Call registry?
This is from www.donotcall.gov
For Release: February 6, 2007
The Truth about Cell Phones and the Do Not Call Registry
*********Despite Re-Circulating E-mail, It is Still Not Necessary to Register Cell Phone Numbers *************
As the number of phone numbers on the National Do Not Call (DNC) Registry surpassed 139 million, the Federal Trade Commission today reiterated that despite the claims made in e-mails circulating on the Internet, consumers should not be concerned that their cell phone numbers will be released to telemarketers at any time in the near future. In addition, according to the agency, it is not necessary to register cell phone numbers on the DNC Registry to be protected from most telemarketing calls to cell phones.
The truth about cell phones and the DNC Registry is:
Contrary to the e-mail, cell phone numbers are NOT being released to telemarketers, and you will NOT soon be getting telemarketing calls on your cell phone.
There is NO deadline by which you must register your cell phone number on the Registry.
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations prohibit telemarketers from using automated dialers to call cell phone numbers. Automated dialers are standard in the industry, so most telemarketers are barred from calling consumers on their cell phones without their consent.
The national associations representing telemarketers have stated that their clients do not intend to start calling consumers’ cell phones.
There is only ONE DNC Registry. There is no separate registry for cell phones.
The DNC Registry accepts registrations from both cell phones and land lines. You must call from the phone number that you want to register. If you register online, you must respond to a confirmation e-mail.
While the telecommunications industry has been discussing the possibility of creating a wireless 411 directory, according to the FCC, even if a wireless 411 directory is established, most telemarketing calls to cell phones would still be illegal, regardless of whether the number is listed on the federal government’s National Do Not Call Registry.
For More Information
To learn more about the National DNC Registry and the rules that enforce it, visit the FTC at www.ftc.gov or the FCC at www.fcc.gov. For more information about a planned “wireless 411” directory, visit http://www.qsent.com/wireless411.
This is from www.donotcall.gov
For Release: February 6, 2007
The Truth about Cell Phones and the Do Not Call Registry
*********Despite Re-Circulating E-mail, It is Still Not Necessary to Register Cell Phone Numbers *************
As the number of phone numbers on the National Do Not Call (DNC) Registry surpassed 139 million, the Federal Trade Commission today reiterated that despite the claims made in e-mails circulating on the Internet, consumers should not be concerned that their cell phone numbers will be released to telemarketers at any time in the near future. In addition, according to the agency, it is not necessary to register cell phone numbers on the DNC Registry to be protected from most telemarketing calls to cell phones.
The truth about cell phones and the DNC Registry is:
Contrary to the e-mail, cell phone numbers are NOT being released to telemarketers, and you will NOT soon be getting telemarketing calls on your cell phone.
There is NO deadline by which you must register your cell phone number on the Registry.
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations prohibit telemarketers from using automated dialers to call cell phone numbers. Automated dialers are standard in the industry, so most telemarketers are barred from calling consumers on their cell phones without their consent.
The national associations representing telemarketers have stated that their clients do not intend to start calling consumers’ cell phones.
There is only ONE DNC Registry. There is no separate registry for cell phones.
The DNC Registry accepts registrations from both cell phones and land lines. You must call from the phone number that you want to register. If you register online, you must respond to a confirmation e-mail.
While the telecommunications industry has been discussing the possibility of creating a wireless 411 directory, according to the FCC, even if a wireless 411 directory is established, most telemarketing calls to cell phones would still be illegal, regardless of whether the number is listed on the federal government’s National Do Not Call Registry.
For More Information
To learn more about the National DNC Registry and the rules that enforce it, visit the FTC at www.ftc.gov or the FCC at www.fcc.gov. For more information about a planned “wireless 411” directory, visit http://www.qsent.com/wireless411.
3/31/2007
3/30/2007
3/29/2007
Rejected wedding songs, Part I
"One More Minute" by Al Yankovic
(too bad I'm rejecting this one; it's one of his best)
Well, I heard that you're leavin'
Gonna leave me far behind
'Cause you found a brand new lover
You decided that I'm not your kind
So I pulled your name out of my Rolodex
And I tore all your pictures in two
And I burned down the malt shop where we used to go
Just because it reminds me of you!
That's right, you ain't gonna see me cryin'
I'm glad that you found somebody new
'Cause I'd rather spend eternity eating shards of broken glass
Than spend one more minute with you
I guess I might seem kinda bitter
You got me feelin' down in the dumps
'Cause I'm stranded all alone in the Gas Station of Love
And I have to use the self-service pumps
Oh, so honey, let me help you with that suitcase
You ain't gonna break my heart in two
'Cause I'd rather get a hundred thousand paper cuts on my face
Than spend one more minute with you
"One More Minute" by Al Yankovic
(too bad I'm rejecting this one; it's one of his best)
Well, I heard that you're leavin'
Gonna leave me far behind
'Cause you found a brand new lover
You decided that I'm not your kind
So I pulled your name out of my Rolodex
And I tore all your pictures in two
And I burned down the malt shop where we used to go
Just because it reminds me of you!
That's right, you ain't gonna see me cryin'
I'm glad that you found somebody new
'Cause I'd rather spend eternity eating shards of broken glass
Than spend one more minute with you
I guess I might seem kinda bitter
You got me feelin' down in the dumps
'Cause I'm stranded all alone in the Gas Station of Love
And I have to use the self-service pumps
Oh, so honey, let me help you with that suitcase
You ain't gonna break my heart in two
'Cause I'd rather get a hundred thousand paper cuts on my face
Than spend one more minute with you
3/28/2007
Hey, can you feel it?
It was 75 degrees yesterday, with a cool breeze. It made me very excited for summer. I love the change in the seasons.
I used to always vow, every year, "This year, I'm going to have the best summer ever!" Usually, I didn't. Although I did get to see Sugar Ray a few times.
This year, I think my summer really will be great. Last night, I found myself working late and wishing I was outside. But the Boy came and picked me up. He's a great Boy.
On another note, it seems like bulldogs aren't the only ones keeping canine journals and writing with weird doggy accents.
It was 75 degrees yesterday, with a cool breeze. It made me very excited for summer. I love the change in the seasons.
I used to always vow, every year, "This year, I'm going to have the best summer ever!" Usually, I didn't. Although I did get to see Sugar Ray a few times.
This year, I think my summer really will be great. Last night, I found myself working late and wishing I was outside. But the Boy came and picked me up. He's a great Boy.
On another note, it seems like bulldogs aren't the only ones keeping canine journals and writing with weird doggy accents.
3/25/2007
Microsoft Word 9.0
For some reason, I can't open Microsoft Word. It starts to open and I see the hourglass, but that's where it ends...it freezes permanently at the square screen saying "Microsoft Word" etc. and the hourglass. It doesn't finish opening.
After I try to open word and I ctrl alt delete to get out, it says:
The system is dangerous low in resources!
Would you like to terminate the following application?
Winword [Not responding]
There are no other programs still open, as far as I know, except for Windows.
I accidentally must have pressed something this morning that did it.
So for any of you who really know this stuff (more than what I know)
I deleted Word and reinstalled it, including the Microsoft Works office suite. When it turned itself off and rebooted, it said, as it was rebooting,
Could not upgrade the file from %1 to %2
Windows could not upgrade one or more system files
If Windows fails to start run SETUP again
Windows did start, though. And all my other programs are fine. But I can't start Word or open a program that's in Word (unless I do it as a text file after uninstalling Word).
This all has something to do with Windows Explorer 5.5 but not sure what.
Meg
On another note, thanks to those who said you liked my tribute to Meg the dog! She was a sweetie and I miss her. I wasn't going for any high writing quality (obviously), just writin' about my dawg.
For some reason, I can't open Microsoft Word. It starts to open and I see the hourglass, but that's where it ends...it freezes permanently at the square screen saying "Microsoft Word" etc. and the hourglass. It doesn't finish opening.
After I try to open word and I ctrl alt delete to get out, it says:
The system is dangerous low in resources!
Would you like to terminate the following application?
Winword [Not responding]
There are no other programs still open, as far as I know, except for Windows.
I accidentally must have pressed something this morning that did it.
So for any of you who really know this stuff (more than what I know)
I deleted Word and reinstalled it, including the Microsoft Works office suite. When it turned itself off and rebooted, it said, as it was rebooting,
Could not upgrade the file from %1 to %2
Windows could not upgrade one or more system files
If Windows fails to start run SETUP again
Windows did start, though. And all my other programs are fine. But I can't start Word or open a program that's in Word (unless I do it as a text file after uninstalling Word).
This all has something to do with Windows Explorer 5.5 but not sure what.
Meg
On another note, thanks to those who said you liked my tribute to Meg the dog! She was a sweetie and I miss her. I wasn't going for any high writing quality (obviously), just writin' about my dawg.
3/24/2007
All dogs go to heaven
Megan, May 8, 1985–March 24, 1999 (eight years ago today)
My mom always says that because we had Meg, my family is ruined for other dogs.
This is because of Meg’s emotionalism. If one of us was crying, she always came over and licked our faces to stop the tears. She never wanted any of us to be sad, and she loved it when we hugged her.
When she was a pup, she used to like to pull her head out of her collar and bound around the development so we’d have to chase her. But we were scared that she could get hit by a car. One time, I couldn’t catch her for a while, even by holding out a cookie. I used a last resort: I made sure she was looking. Then I sat on a fallen log and put my head in my hands, pretending to cry. She saw this and came right to me.
We bought her for my brother’s birthday when she was eight weeks old. We went into the pet store and all of her brothers in the pen were jumping up and howling with their black-and-white beagle tails wagging. She stood up and simply wagged for us, looking at us with her big brown almond-shaped eyes.
For the first few months, she was a wily pup who, like most pups, chewed wires and jumped on the couch. I didn’t know much of her personality the first few months. Then, one day, my mother told me, “Megan likes to be hugged.” I didn’t believe it. While she was chewing a toy, I went and put my arms around her. Her tail wagged furiously.
We soon learned that if two members of my family hugged each other in front of Meg, she’d run over and jump up to try to be in the hug, too.
She had the same hobbies as other dogs – sniffing things, eating, sleeping, walking. But she was so loving. She liked to crawl into bed and roll onto her side so I could hug her.
I had her for half my life – we bought her when I was 14, and she died when I was 28. I saw her go through different changes, from a wily puppy who barked at strangers, to a quieter adult dog, to a senior dog who mostly slept all day and took delight in sniffing things outside.
She had a fierce love for my mother, my brother, and me, and knew all our names. We’d say, “Where’s Mommy?” and she’d look at my mom and wag her tail.
Five Meg memories
1. Italian bread: I live on a street with several Italian restaurants and delis. One time, we were half a block into our walk when Meg noticed a looong Italian roll being thrown out on the sidewalk. It was longer than she was, so she wasn’t sure what to do. She licked the middle for a second. Then she lifted the entire roll in her mouth. She turned around to bring it back to the house.
People were laughing as they passed her. Here was a little white beagle carrying a piece of Italian bread that was longer than she was. One man said to her, “Did you fiiiind that? You’re a lucky dog.”
She set it down on my rug, and then turned around to head back outside so we could finish our walk.
2. Thanksgiving: Her favorite holiday was Thanksgiving, as all three of her family members were there. She was always so excited when everyone was together, that she would even wag in her sleep. One year, we filled her bowl with turkey first, so she wouldn’t bother us while we were eating. When we finally sat down to eat, my mother said, “Look” and pointed to Meg’s bowl. The bowl was already empty and Meg was sprawled on the floor next to it, snoozing.
3. Sitting in the park: I always thought Meg had a good sense of humor. Occasionally she needed to be walked at 2 or 3 a.m. I’d tiredly stroll through the local park in the moonlight while she took her time. As we walked out of the park, she’d suddenly sit down on the grass and stare up at me, as if to ask if she could stay and play in the park. I would say, “You’re funny, Meg!”
If I occasionally gave in and sat down next to her for a few minutes, she’d give me a big wag.
4. Fat tush under the bed: When she was a very small puppy, she would run under the bed to hide. When she grew older, she never quite grasped the concept of having gotten much bigger and fatter. When she wanted to hide, she would still run for the bed, but she would get stuck halfway in, with her big fat tush sticking out.
5. Are you my mother? One time, my mother was staying with me at my apartment. In the morning, she left to go to work. An hour later, I took Meg for a walk, and she saw a woman who looked like my mother. I saw her too: She had the same profile, same walk, and was wearing the kind of long dress my mother likes to wear. Because Meg started wagging and walking toward the woman, I knew Meg thought it was my mom.
As soon as Meg got up to the woman – who looked very confused – she realized it wasn’t my mother and stopped wagging.
The woman looked at me questioningly.
I explained to her, “You look like her mommy. I mean, my mother. We saw her today.”
I wonder if it’s an insult to tell someone that they look like your dog’s mother.
Lifecycle
It's odd to be with someone for their whole life, to see them grow from an infant, to an adult, to a senior. She really matured through the years.
People used to actually come up to me on the street and say, “Look at that faaaaaace!” Sometimes they just would look at her and say, “Faaaace.”
She got cancer, as most dogs do sooner or later. It amazes me that she’s been gone for eight years, because it doesn’t seem that long. Maybe that’s because she was in my life for so long.
But for almost fourteen years, she had a wonderful, fulfilling life full of hugs and adventures. She enjoyed rides in the car, sniffing other dogs, and most importantly, being loved, and giving a lot of love in return.
The day after she died, I had a dream. In the dream, she was running really quickly and leaping over 12-foot fences. In her last few months alive, she couldn't do much running.
I told my mom about my dream. "She was running so fast," I said, "and jumping so high."
My mom said, "Maybe she is."
Megan is now buried in a beautiful pet cemetery alongside other fiercely loved pets, even the smallest ones. Clearly she's in good company.
Megan, May 8, 1985–March 24, 1999 (eight years ago today)
My mom always says that because we had Meg, my family is ruined for other dogs.
This is because of Meg’s emotionalism. If one of us was crying, she always came over and licked our faces to stop the tears. She never wanted any of us to be sad, and she loved it when we hugged her.
When she was a pup, she used to like to pull her head out of her collar and bound around the development so we’d have to chase her. But we were scared that she could get hit by a car. One time, I couldn’t catch her for a while, even by holding out a cookie. I used a last resort: I made sure she was looking. Then I sat on a fallen log and put my head in my hands, pretending to cry. She saw this and came right to me.
We bought her for my brother’s birthday when she was eight weeks old. We went into the pet store and all of her brothers in the pen were jumping up and howling with their black-and-white beagle tails wagging. She stood up and simply wagged for us, looking at us with her big brown almond-shaped eyes.
For the first few months, she was a wily pup who, like most pups, chewed wires and jumped on the couch. I didn’t know much of her personality the first few months. Then, one day, my mother told me, “Megan likes to be hugged.” I didn’t believe it. While she was chewing a toy, I went and put my arms around her. Her tail wagged furiously.
We soon learned that if two members of my family hugged each other in front of Meg, she’d run over and jump up to try to be in the hug, too.
She had the same hobbies as other dogs – sniffing things, eating, sleeping, walking. But she was so loving. She liked to crawl into bed and roll onto her side so I could hug her.
I had her for half my life – we bought her when I was 14, and she died when I was 28. I saw her go through different changes, from a wily puppy who barked at strangers, to a quieter adult dog, to a senior dog who mostly slept all day and took delight in sniffing things outside.
She had a fierce love for my mother, my brother, and me, and knew all our names. We’d say, “Where’s Mommy?” and she’d look at my mom and wag her tail.
Five Meg memories
1. Italian bread: I live on a street with several Italian restaurants and delis. One time, we were half a block into our walk when Meg noticed a looong Italian roll being thrown out on the sidewalk. It was longer than she was, so she wasn’t sure what to do. She licked the middle for a second. Then she lifted the entire roll in her mouth. She turned around to bring it back to the house.
People were laughing as they passed her. Here was a little white beagle carrying a piece of Italian bread that was longer than she was. One man said to her, “Did you fiiiind that? You’re a lucky dog.”
She set it down on my rug, and then turned around to head back outside so we could finish our walk.
2. Thanksgiving: Her favorite holiday was Thanksgiving, as all three of her family members were there. She was always so excited when everyone was together, that she would even wag in her sleep. One year, we filled her bowl with turkey first, so she wouldn’t bother us while we were eating. When we finally sat down to eat, my mother said, “Look” and pointed to Meg’s bowl. The bowl was already empty and Meg was sprawled on the floor next to it, snoozing.
3. Sitting in the park: I always thought Meg had a good sense of humor. Occasionally she needed to be walked at 2 or 3 a.m. I’d tiredly stroll through the local park in the moonlight while she took her time. As we walked out of the park, she’d suddenly sit down on the grass and stare up at me, as if to ask if she could stay and play in the park. I would say, “You’re funny, Meg!”
If I occasionally gave in and sat down next to her for a few minutes, she’d give me a big wag.
4. Fat tush under the bed: When she was a very small puppy, she would run under the bed to hide. When she grew older, she never quite grasped the concept of having gotten much bigger and fatter. When she wanted to hide, she would still run for the bed, but she would get stuck halfway in, with her big fat tush sticking out.
5. Are you my mother? One time, my mother was staying with me at my apartment. In the morning, she left to go to work. An hour later, I took Meg for a walk, and she saw a woman who looked like my mother. I saw her too: She had the same profile, same walk, and was wearing the kind of long dress my mother likes to wear. Because Meg started wagging and walking toward the woman, I knew Meg thought it was my mom.
As soon as Meg got up to the woman – who looked very confused – she realized it wasn’t my mother and stopped wagging.
The woman looked at me questioningly.
I explained to her, “You look like her mommy. I mean, my mother. We saw her today.”
I wonder if it’s an insult to tell someone that they look like your dog’s mother.
Lifecycle
It's odd to be with someone for their whole life, to see them grow from an infant, to an adult, to a senior. She really matured through the years.
People used to actually come up to me on the street and say, “Look at that faaaaaace!” Sometimes they just would look at her and say, “Faaaace.”
She got cancer, as most dogs do sooner or later. It amazes me that she’s been gone for eight years, because it doesn’t seem that long. Maybe that’s because she was in my life for so long.
But for almost fourteen years, she had a wonderful, fulfilling life full of hugs and adventures. She enjoyed rides in the car, sniffing other dogs, and most importantly, being loved, and giving a lot of love in return.
The day after she died, I had a dream. In the dream, she was running really quickly and leaping over 12-foot fences. In her last few months alive, she couldn't do much running.
I told my mom about my dream. "She was running so fast," I said, "and jumping so high."
My mom said, "Maybe she is."
Megan is now buried in a beautiful pet cemetery alongside other fiercely loved pets, even the smallest ones. Clearly she's in good company.
3/22/2007
3/21/2007
Trivia
Trivia went well tonight and was relatively crowded. A special thank you to the "veterans" who came out tonight after a while of absence from trivia! That means Blerg, J.C., the Mets fan, travel-writer guy, and anyone I'm forgetting.
Jon B. was an excellent co-host.
I got myself into a bit of trouble when people disputed my visual round twice. They thought my photo of a greyhound was actually a whippet, and that my Scottish Terrier was really a "West Highland White Terrier." They said that a West Highland Terrier IS a Scottish Terrier. Maybe it's true; I don't know. But I had to make a quick executive decision. Half the room wanted me to decide one way, and half the other way.
So if you ever host trivia, make sure you have your answers right, because drunk smart people can get really bloodthirsty!
Update: I see the confusion. These breeds look similar. However, a West Highland White Terrier has shorter ears than the Scottish terrier I had pictured. So my decision was correct.
Whew, I can sleep better tonight.
Trivia went well tonight and was relatively crowded. A special thank you to the "veterans" who came out tonight after a while of absence from trivia! That means Blerg, J.C., the Mets fan, travel-writer guy, and anyone I'm forgetting.
Jon B. was an excellent co-host.
I got myself into a bit of trouble when people disputed my visual round twice. They thought my photo of a greyhound was actually a whippet, and that my Scottish Terrier was really a "West Highland White Terrier." They said that a West Highland Terrier IS a Scottish Terrier. Maybe it's true; I don't know. But I had to make a quick executive decision. Half the room wanted me to decide one way, and half the other way.
So if you ever host trivia, make sure you have your answers right, because drunk smart people can get really bloodthirsty!
Update: I see the confusion. These breeds look similar. However, a West Highland White Terrier has shorter ears than the Scottish terrier I had pictured. So my decision was correct.
Whew, I can sleep better tonight.
What a drag it is getting old
Things I can't eat now -- most of which I could eat as a kid
1. Ice cream (unless I take a lactose pill with it)
2. A big wad of fresh wet mozzarella (ditto)
3. Chinese food with MSG
4. Too much stuff with asparteme. A little is okay. But yesterday I drank sugar free fruit punch and had something else, I forget what, but it didn't help. (Actually Asparteme/Equal wasn't available when I was a kid, but.)
5. Probably more stuff someday. Drat.
Things I used to eat a lot as a kid that I don't bother eating now
1. Sugar cereal (I like it but I don't eat bkfst at home too often)
2. Hot dogs (no thanks)
3. Donuts (not good for me)
4. Peanut butter & jelly sandwiches (although I had one last week - that felt good!)
5. Yoo-Hoo
Things I ate because my mother made me, that I'd never eat again if I can help it
1. Canned vegetables
2. Chicken roll sandwiches (gross)
3. Rye bread with seeds
4. Omlettes with onions. I like onions, but not in eggs
5. Meatloaf
Things my mother lied to get me to eat
1. "Girl Scout spaghetti." (It was really green spaghetti made from spinach!!)
Things I can't eat now -- most of which I could eat as a kid
1. Ice cream (unless I take a lactose pill with it)
2. A big wad of fresh wet mozzarella (ditto)
3. Chinese food with MSG
4. Too much stuff with asparteme. A little is okay. But yesterday I drank sugar free fruit punch and had something else, I forget what, but it didn't help. (Actually Asparteme/Equal wasn't available when I was a kid, but.)
5. Probably more stuff someday. Drat.
Things I used to eat a lot as a kid that I don't bother eating now
1. Sugar cereal (I like it but I don't eat bkfst at home too often)
2. Hot dogs (no thanks)
3. Donuts (not good for me)
4. Peanut butter & jelly sandwiches (although I had one last week - that felt good!)
5. Yoo-Hoo
Things I ate because my mother made me, that I'd never eat again if I can help it
1. Canned vegetables
2. Chicken roll sandwiches (gross)
3. Rye bread with seeds
4. Omlettes with onions. I like onions, but not in eggs
5. Meatloaf
Things my mother lied to get me to eat
1. "Girl Scout spaghetti." (It was really green spaghetti made from spinach!!)
3/20/2007
Aha
This person can't live without Carrie Pilby. It's lucky I wrote it because I wouldn't have wanted her to die!
I talked to Superagent who said she thinks CP is my freshest book. She wants me to write another book that's fresh and original someday. I'm working on two things. Hopefully one of them will capture people's hearts. Or minds. Or wallets. Yeah, yeah. It's all about the benjamins, yo.
(Disclaimer: I'm kidding about that. I do care about my characters and their integrity.)
I am hosting trivia this evening (Tuesday), 7:30, Baggott Inn, NYC. That might be my last co-hosting for a while. Not forever, but for quite a while.
I picked a wedding date. My wedding date will be...
(wait for it)
The Boy!
This person can't live without Carrie Pilby. It's lucky I wrote it because I wouldn't have wanted her to die!
I talked to Superagent who said she thinks CP is my freshest book. She wants me to write another book that's fresh and original someday. I'm working on two things. Hopefully one of them will capture people's hearts. Or minds. Or wallets. Yeah, yeah. It's all about the benjamins, yo.
(Disclaimer: I'm kidding about that. I do care about my characters and their integrity.)
I am hosting trivia this evening (Tuesday), 7:30, Baggott Inn, NYC. That might be my last co-hosting for a while. Not forever, but for quite a while.
I picked a wedding date. My wedding date will be...
(wait for it)
The Boy!
3/19/2007
Random thing I thought of
I'm working on teen books, so I'm allowed to remember junior high memories like this one...
When I was in eighth grade, my family moved to a wealthier town than we'd ever lived in before. It was a huge New Jersey farm town with mansions and country clubs. The school system was one of the best in the state, which was why my mom liked it. We found an old house in the only non-new development in town, the only part of town we could afford, and moved in.
The kids at my new school talked about which company their dads owned, and only wore Guess jeans. I had always had a few friends in any school I lived in, even if we were all geeks. But in this new school, I had none.
So anyway, something happened there that really made me laugh - because it showed how popularity worked.
There was a kid in my homeroom named Bill Jakorsky. Bill was unpopular. But he was still more popular than I was (who wasn't?)
One day, we had a pep rally. After it, we all went back to homeroom.
Bill Jakorsky came up to me and demanded: "Caren, did you cheer?"
I thought he was asking if I was a cheerleader, just to make fun of me. So I said, "No." Because of course I wasn't a cheerleader.
Then I realized that he just meant, did I cheer for our teams. I wanted to correct what I'd said. But it was too late. I got a sinking feeling as he ran to report me to a popular girl in the class named Rachel.
"Rachel," Bill said. "Caren didn't cheer."
Rachel looked at him and said, "Who gives a shit whether she cheered or not?"
Hee hee. It wasn't that she cared about me at all, it was that she didn't care about what Bill had to say, either. I took satisfaction in that.
I just think it's funny that even the unpopular kids in a junior high will try to pick on someone less popular than they are, to score points with the popular crowd. And it always backfires.
Sorry, Bill. ;)
I'm working on teen books, so I'm allowed to remember junior high memories like this one...
When I was in eighth grade, my family moved to a wealthier town than we'd ever lived in before. It was a huge New Jersey farm town with mansions and country clubs. The school system was one of the best in the state, which was why my mom liked it. We found an old house in the only non-new development in town, the only part of town we could afford, and moved in.
The kids at my new school talked about which company their dads owned, and only wore Guess jeans. I had always had a few friends in any school I lived in, even if we were all geeks. But in this new school, I had none.
So anyway, something happened there that really made me laugh - because it showed how popularity worked.
There was a kid in my homeroom named Bill Jakorsky. Bill was unpopular. But he was still more popular than I was (who wasn't?)
One day, we had a pep rally. After it, we all went back to homeroom.
Bill Jakorsky came up to me and demanded: "Caren, did you cheer?"
I thought he was asking if I was a cheerleader, just to make fun of me. So I said, "No." Because of course I wasn't a cheerleader.
Then I realized that he just meant, did I cheer for our teams. I wanted to correct what I'd said. But it was too late. I got a sinking feeling as he ran to report me to a popular girl in the class named Rachel.
"Rachel," Bill said. "Caren didn't cheer."
Rachel looked at him and said, "Who gives a shit whether she cheered or not?"
Hee hee. It wasn't that she cared about me at all, it was that she didn't care about what Bill had to say, either. I took satisfaction in that.
I just think it's funny that even the unpopular kids in a junior high will try to pick on someone less popular than they are, to score points with the popular crowd. And it always backfires.
Sorry, Bill. ;)
3/16/2007
That was the week that was
I took off most of this past week to work on various teen novels. My goal for the main one was to get up to 50 pages done, and I did! (I already knew where I wanted to go with it.)
It's a fun book (for ages 10-14 I think) and not as complicated as some of the other stuff I've tried to write. So we'll see.
I also got various other errands done and still had time to pretend to care about basketball when The Boy had it on (ha ha, just kidding honey).
I took off most of this past week to work on various teen novels. My goal for the main one was to get up to 50 pages done, and I did! (I already knew where I wanted to go with it.)
It's a fun book (for ages 10-14 I think) and not as complicated as some of the other stuff I've tried to write. So we'll see.
I also got various other errands done and still had time to pretend to care about basketball when The Boy had it on (ha ha, just kidding honey).
3/15/2007
3/13/2007
3/10/2007
3/08/2007
Random writerly things
From Publisher's Weekly:
Granta announced their second list of the 21 best American writers under age 35 (though 5 were born outside the US) last night. They picked: Daniel Alarcon; Judy Budnitz; Kevin Brockmeier; Christopher Coake; Anthony Doerr; Jonathan Safran Foer; Nell Freudenberger; Olga Grushin; Dara Horn; Gabe Hudson; Uzodinma Iweala; Nicole Krauss; Rattawut Lapcharoensap; Yiyun Li; Maile Meloy; ZZ Packer; Jess Row; Karen Russell; Akhil Sharma; Gary Shteyngart; and John Wray.
Personnel NewsRyan Fischer-Harbage has launched The Fischer-Harbage Agency, specializing in fiction, narrative nonfiction, memoir, and health. He was an agent at Vigliano Associates.
From Publisher's Weekly:
Granta announced their second list of the 21 best American writers under age 35 (though 5 were born outside the US) last night. They picked: Daniel Alarcon; Judy Budnitz; Kevin Brockmeier; Christopher Coake; Anthony Doerr; Jonathan Safran Foer; Nell Freudenberger; Olga Grushin; Dara Horn; Gabe Hudson; Uzodinma Iweala; Nicole Krauss; Rattawut Lapcharoensap; Yiyun Li; Maile Meloy; ZZ Packer; Jess Row; Karen Russell; Akhil Sharma; Gary Shteyngart; and John Wray.
Personnel NewsRyan Fischer-Harbage has launched The Fischer-Harbage Agency, specializing in fiction, narrative nonfiction, memoir, and health. He was an agent at Vigliano Associates.
3/07/2007
Here it comes again
As you know, one of my pet peeves about writing is when I'm working on something, and I found out that another book or movie is coming out with a similar plot.
But that's not always the kiss of death - everyone has a different take on a certain plot.
I just saw this on Barnes & Noble.com about a new novel:
Nothing much happens in the sleepy town of Sterling, New Hampshire. That is, until a quiet, troubled student comes to high school with an arsenal of guns and starts shooting, changing the lives of everyone inside the classroom and out. The daughter of the judge sitting on the case is the state's best witness — but she can't remember what happened in front of her own eyes. Or can she? Tackling fundamental issues like what it means to be different in our society, Nineteen Minutes is bestselling author Jodi Picoult's most raw, honest, and important novel yet.
There have already been numerous novels and movies about school shootings, some because of Columbine, and some before it. But I guess that this doesn't stop an author with her own ideas about telling the story. Just something to remember.
As you know, one of my pet peeves about writing is when I'm working on something, and I found out that another book or movie is coming out with a similar plot.
But that's not always the kiss of death - everyone has a different take on a certain plot.
I just saw this on Barnes & Noble.com about a new novel:
Nothing much happens in the sleepy town of Sterling, New Hampshire. That is, until a quiet, troubled student comes to high school with an arsenal of guns and starts shooting, changing the lives of everyone inside the classroom and out. The daughter of the judge sitting on the case is the state's best witness — but she can't remember what happened in front of her own eyes. Or can she? Tackling fundamental issues like what it means to be different in our society, Nineteen Minutes is bestselling author Jodi Picoult's most raw, honest, and important novel yet.
There have already been numerous novels and movies about school shootings, some because of Columbine, and some before it. But I guess that this doesn't stop an author with her own ideas about telling the story. Just something to remember.
3/06/2007
Other blogs
I have nothing much to say today, but here are some links of interest.
Fellow writer Wes seems to have been stirring up some controversy with a post about race and Raven.
The 'Lesb*an bad dater' seems to have it much worse dating than everyone I have ever met - poor girl.
I have nothing much to say today, but here are some links of interest.
Fellow writer Wes seems to have been stirring up some controversy with a post about race and Raven.
The 'Lesb*an bad dater' seems to have it much worse dating than everyone I have ever met - poor girl.
3/05/2007
Monday, Monday
Happy Monday!
I love pie. This is a really good place for pie. The Boy was nice enough to help me go get pie here. Yay.
Someday I will write about how much I love newspapers (even though my job can get me pretty stressed as well). When I was about 12, I knew I wanted to write a book someday, and I also knew that it wasn't easy to do. So I still had to decide what I wanted to be when I grew up. Then one day I was at a doctor's appointment and saw, in the distance, a long trail of black smoke. It was over the farmy areas of Freehold. I wanted to know if it was a fire, where it was, what it was...and it occurred to me that a good career would be journalism, because of my desire to understand things and because I loved to write. And thus a career was born.
Happy Monday!
I love pie. This is a really good place for pie. The Boy was nice enough to help me go get pie here. Yay.
Someday I will write about how much I love newspapers (even though my job can get me pretty stressed as well). When I was about 12, I knew I wanted to write a book someday, and I also knew that it wasn't easy to do. So I still had to decide what I wanted to be when I grew up. Then one day I was at a doctor's appointment and saw, in the distance, a long trail of black smoke. It was over the farmy areas of Freehold. I wanted to know if it was a fire, where it was, what it was...and it occurred to me that a good career would be journalism, because of my desire to understand things and because I loved to write. And thus a career was born.
3/03/2007
3/02/2007
T.G.I.F.!!
A few people have recently posted their stories about coming to New York, and how they've changed since then. Here's a writer I know who is finally leaving the city.
By the time you read this, it's supposed to be POOOOURing out. Enjoy!
A few people have recently posted their stories about coming to New York, and how they've changed since then. Here's a writer I know who is finally leaving the city.
By the time you read this, it's supposed to be POOOOURing out. Enjoy!
3/01/2007
Clueless
When I was little, I used to hate when TV shows or kids' books would use terms that showed that they were out of touch with modern elementary schools.
For instance, a lot of them would be about a character in the fifth or sixth grade and talk about the "semester," when in fact, many elementary schools have "marking periods" or "quarters" and not semesters. It was as if the authors forgot that because they hadn't been in school so long.
Or on the SATs, a character would say he got 1367 or similar nonsense, when all modern SAT scores end in zero.
Anyway, since I plan to write some teen stuff, I was thinking about a "junior high" in my book, and it occurred to me that the phrase "junior high" is not used much anymore. Most schools seem to be called middle schools and intermediate schools.
I put the question out to the young-adult writing e-mail listserve that I'm on yesterday, and most of the writers said that yeah, there are very few "junior high schools" anymore. Plus, there are few schools that are just 7th and 8th grade. Now a lot of them go 6-8 or 7-9. Most schools are "middle schools" now.
I'm sort of glad that I got to stay in my elementary school through sixth grade. It gets a little scary in junior high. Familiarity is comforting when you're little.
Hey, maybe that's why kids today are growing up faster, because 11-year-olds are being stuck with 13-year-olds and all their gonads!
When I was little, I used to hate when TV shows or kids' books would use terms that showed that they were out of touch with modern elementary schools.
For instance, a lot of them would be about a character in the fifth or sixth grade and talk about the "semester," when in fact, many elementary schools have "marking periods" or "quarters" and not semesters. It was as if the authors forgot that because they hadn't been in school so long.
Or on the SATs, a character would say he got 1367 or similar nonsense, when all modern SAT scores end in zero.
Anyway, since I plan to write some teen stuff, I was thinking about a "junior high" in my book, and it occurred to me that the phrase "junior high" is not used much anymore. Most schools seem to be called middle schools and intermediate schools.
I put the question out to the young-adult writing e-mail listserve that I'm on yesterday, and most of the writers said that yeah, there are very few "junior high schools" anymore. Plus, there are few schools that are just 7th and 8th grade. Now a lot of them go 6-8 or 7-9. Most schools are "middle schools" now.
I'm sort of glad that I got to stay in my elementary school through sixth grade. It gets a little scary in junior high. Familiarity is comforting when you're little.
Hey, maybe that's why kids today are growing up faster, because 11-year-olds are being stuck with 13-year-olds and all their gonads!
2/28/2007
2/27/2007
Yes! Yessss!
Junot Diaz' long-awaited second novel is finally coming out next fall. However, it's coming out the day after Labor Day weekend, which is a terrible time for books. People are going back to school and are consumed with their school duties. Parents are consumed with their kids' school duties. People bought books all summer long for their vacations and are done with pleasure-reading for a while.
However, since it's been 10 years since Diaz' first book, an easy-to-read but stil literary short story compendium, DROWN, made a big splash (ha ha), the new book is likely to make waves (ho ho). Part of it appeared in the New Yorker several years ago and was great.
I also was in Diaz' journalism class in high school, which is a story I will tell, well, probably never, but it was interesting.
Junot Diaz' long-awaited second novel is finally coming out next fall. However, it's coming out the day after Labor Day weekend, which is a terrible time for books. People are going back to school and are consumed with their school duties. Parents are consumed with their kids' school duties. People bought books all summer long for their vacations and are done with pleasure-reading for a while.
However, since it's been 10 years since Diaz' first book, an easy-to-read but stil literary short story compendium, DROWN, made a big splash (ha ha), the new book is likely to make waves (ho ho). Part of it appeared in the New Yorker several years ago and was great.
I also was in Diaz' journalism class in high school, which is a story I will tell, well, probably never, but it was interesting.
2/26/2007
Monday Mailbag
(posted so late today, it's almost Tuesday!)
From C in Kansas:
They wouldn't put the "h" there if they didn't want us to pronounce [vehicle], would they? And it IS an alternate pronunciation in my dictionary. So.... how do you guys pronounce things like "vehicular homicide?" No "h" in vehicular? Sure, you can mention it on your blog. Just be sure to include my Kansas twang. :-)
From Sally in MN:
Finally, snow forecast for MN - we're talking a foot or more, possibly. New "Snowplows are out" photo at my blog.
Okay, I thought of a combonym:
When your bra straps keep falling down or the undewire is poking you, you've got a "brablem."
Yesterday I was having brablems galore.
Take care!
Sally
From Dymocks, the official bookseller of Australia, where the Carrie Pilby cover was really great (but unfortunately I only have two of that version at home, so I tried to order more):
Dear C----,
This is an update to your Dymocks Online order DYMXXXX. The publisher of Carrie Pilby(ISBN:0733545548) advises that this book is no longer in print, and thus is not available. We have cancelled this item from your order, and apologise for any inconvenience caused.
The following is a list of all items in your Order and the current details
TITLE: Carrie Pilby PRICE: $16.32 QTY: 3 STATUS: Cancelled-Out of Print---------------------------------------Please note all prices indicated are in Australian dollars
Oh fudge.
(posted so late today, it's almost Tuesday!)
From C in Kansas:
They wouldn't put the "h" there if they didn't want us to pronounce [vehicle], would they? And it IS an alternate pronunciation in my dictionary. So.... how do you guys pronounce things like "vehicular homicide?" No "h" in vehicular? Sure, you can mention it on your blog. Just be sure to include my Kansas twang. :-)
From Sally in MN:
Finally, snow forecast for MN - we're talking a foot or more, possibly. New "Snowplows are out" photo at my blog.
Okay, I thought of a combonym:
When your bra straps keep falling down or the undewire is poking you, you've got a "brablem."
Yesterday I was having brablems galore.
Take care!
Sally
From Dymocks, the official bookseller of Australia, where the Carrie Pilby cover was really great (but unfortunately I only have two of that version at home, so I tried to order more):
Dear C----,
This is an update to your Dymocks Online order DYMXXXX. The publisher of Carrie Pilby(ISBN:0733545548) advises that this book is no longer in print, and thus is not available. We have cancelled this item from your order, and apologise for any inconvenience caused.
The following is a list of all items in your Order and the current details
TITLE: Carrie Pilby PRICE: $16.32 QTY: 3 STATUS: Cancelled-Out of Print---------------------------------------Please note all prices indicated are in Australian dollars
Oh fudge.
2/23/2007
Random thing I just remembered from elementary school
It's sixth grade, Mrs. Shaak's class. She's teaching us spelling. The next word is "vehicle." She says, "You don't pronounce the 'H'. You don't say ve-HICle, right?"
This girl, Dawn, says, "On the Dukes of Hazzard they do."
The teacher says, "Well, you shouldn't listen to how the Dukes of Hazzard pronounce it."
Just another case of '80s television ruining our minds.
Happy Friday!!!
It's sixth grade, Mrs. Shaak's class. She's teaching us spelling. The next word is "vehicle." She says, "You don't pronounce the 'H'. You don't say ve-HICle, right?"
This girl, Dawn, says, "On the Dukes of Hazzard they do."
The teacher says, "Well, you shouldn't listen to how the Dukes of Hazzard pronounce it."
Just another case of '80s television ruining our minds.
Happy Friday!!!
2/22/2007
Thursday
I guess yesterday's photos were actually taken in fall, since the leaves are falling from the trees, but they look like fresh spring leaves so maybe not.
I hosted trivia with The Boy on Tuesday night. He did an excellentamundo job! Also, I am pleased to see that in its fourth year, Tuesday Night Trivia is still going strong. With our talented co-hosts there every week, it practically runs itself.
In other notes, it's warm out. I feel like spring is coming already. A bad idea to get hopes up, though. The weather has been erratic lately.
In writing news, I gave my novel to my agent about a month ago. I checked in about 10 days ago and she said she hadn't gotten to it yet. This isn't unusual. I'll just wait and see what suggestions she has.
I'm not going to start anything new writing for quite a while. But I have a few ideas. No matter what I write, I know this: I want the next book I publish to be a book that you will sink into an easy chair with, sipping hot tea, your feet up in slippers, surrounded by shelves full of other books you have enjoyed in wintry days of the past. I want it to be a book that you are happy to have found, whose main character you'd like to have a conversation with, a book you are glad to spend a day with.
I guess yesterday's photos were actually taken in fall, since the leaves are falling from the trees, but they look like fresh spring leaves so maybe not.
I hosted trivia with The Boy on Tuesday night. He did an excellentamundo job! Also, I am pleased to see that in its fourth year, Tuesday Night Trivia is still going strong. With our talented co-hosts there every week, it practically runs itself.
In other notes, it's warm out. I feel like spring is coming already. A bad idea to get hopes up, though. The weather has been erratic lately.
In writing news, I gave my novel to my agent about a month ago. I checked in about 10 days ago and she said she hadn't gotten to it yet. This isn't unusual. I'll just wait and see what suggestions she has.
I'm not going to start anything new writing for quite a while. But I have a few ideas. No matter what I write, I know this: I want the next book I publish to be a book that you will sink into an easy chair with, sipping hot tea, your feet up in slippers, surrounded by shelves full of other books you have enjoyed in wintry days of the past. I want it to be a book that you are happy to have found, whose main character you'd like to have a conversation with, a book you are glad to spend a day with.
2/21/2007
2/20/2007
2/16/2007
The 'Killer App'
I always wondered what "Killer App" meant. It was a phrase I used to hear in the 1980s: businesses wanted to find the "killer app."
After heavy reserach (clicking Wikipedia), I learned that a "killer app[lication]" would be a computer program that is so important that all other programs, software, etc. would have to be compatible with it. It would have a deep impact on our culture. Microsoft Word is a bit like that. Know anyone these days whose computer uses WordPerfect? Nope. All manufacturers eventually bowed to the superior Word format.
I think the next "Killer App" may involve dating sites.
I have racked my brain on occasion for dating insights to give friends (although I of course am far from an expert), but it seems like any generalizations I try to offer tend to fall flat because there are too many exceptions. I know some people who hate on-line dating, but it works for others. I know some girls who meet only guys who are jerks, but there are nice guys out there, too. I know nice guys who only meet jerky girls, but of course, most of my female friends are very nice.
It just takes a while to meet the right person, and unfortunately, that can involve making yourself vulnerable and putting yourself out there over and over again. It can mean telling someone intimate details of your life as you get to know them, and not having it go anywhere in the end. It can also end up truly wonderfully, but it can mean getting hurt beforehand during the process, unless you meet the love of your life when you are 14.
Internet dating is a modern phenomenon. Only a few years ago, people thought it was creepy, but now it's something that many people try. It can be hard for shy people to advertise themselves, though...but they have to do it. And then we all find out the inevitable: Someone may seem different on the internet than they do in person, etc., etc.
This doesn't make internet dating a failure, because there are all those possibilities in other forms of dating as well.
Anyway, my point is...people are constantly trying to invent the "killer" dating site. In the New York region, there are match, jdate, eHarmony, and nerve...and some less-popular ones. They all have their plusses and minuses. But I know that people are trying to look at the minuses and figure out an improved way to meet.
I recently heard of a website that invites groups of friends to meet each other at events, so there isn't as much one-on-one pressure. The idea is that people will eventually get to know each other through groups of friends, and then pair off if they find someone they like. I also know someone who tried to take the pressure off by starting a site called "nodating" where people just hang out without the pressure of having to act like it's a dating event. Of course, if they HAPPENED to meet, then...
Yes, knowing you are SUPPOSED to meet someone at an event adds pressure. So if someone comes up with a killer dating site that reduces some of the potential for disappointment (is that possible?), makes it seem less contrived, and uses all the positive aspects of meeting through friends and that sort of thing, it could go over well. Of course, everyone is human, so there's really no way to take out the risks or chances. But I know that people are still trying to figure out a better formula. If someone does, that person will become VERY rich caballero.
And anyway, that's one of the things that was going through my brain before V-Day...the fact that someone who creates a really really popular dating site -- whoever that person is -- will be building a sort of "killer app."
I always wondered what "Killer App" meant. It was a phrase I used to hear in the 1980s: businesses wanted to find the "killer app."
After heavy reserach (clicking Wikipedia), I learned that a "killer app[lication]" would be a computer program that is so important that all other programs, software, etc. would have to be compatible with it. It would have a deep impact on our culture. Microsoft Word is a bit like that. Know anyone these days whose computer uses WordPerfect? Nope. All manufacturers eventually bowed to the superior Word format.
I think the next "Killer App" may involve dating sites.
I have racked my brain on occasion for dating insights to give friends (although I of course am far from an expert), but it seems like any generalizations I try to offer tend to fall flat because there are too many exceptions. I know some people who hate on-line dating, but it works for others. I know some girls who meet only guys who are jerks, but there are nice guys out there, too. I know nice guys who only meet jerky girls, but of course, most of my female friends are very nice.
It just takes a while to meet the right person, and unfortunately, that can involve making yourself vulnerable and putting yourself out there over and over again. It can mean telling someone intimate details of your life as you get to know them, and not having it go anywhere in the end. It can also end up truly wonderfully, but it can mean getting hurt beforehand during the process, unless you meet the love of your life when you are 14.
Internet dating is a modern phenomenon. Only a few years ago, people thought it was creepy, but now it's something that many people try. It can be hard for shy people to advertise themselves, though...but they have to do it. And then we all find out the inevitable: Someone may seem different on the internet than they do in person, etc., etc.
This doesn't make internet dating a failure, because there are all those possibilities in other forms of dating as well.
Anyway, my point is...people are constantly trying to invent the "killer" dating site. In the New York region, there are match, jdate, eHarmony, and nerve...and some less-popular ones. They all have their plusses and minuses. But I know that people are trying to look at the minuses and figure out an improved way to meet.
I recently heard of a website that invites groups of friends to meet each other at events, so there isn't as much one-on-one pressure. The idea is that people will eventually get to know each other through groups of friends, and then pair off if they find someone they like. I also know someone who tried to take the pressure off by starting a site called "nodating" where people just hang out without the pressure of having to act like it's a dating event. Of course, if they HAPPENED to meet, then...
Yes, knowing you are SUPPOSED to meet someone at an event adds pressure. So if someone comes up with a killer dating site that reduces some of the potential for disappointment (is that possible?), makes it seem less contrived, and uses all the positive aspects of meeting through friends and that sort of thing, it could go over well. Of course, everyone is human, so there's really no way to take out the risks or chances. But I know that people are still trying to figure out a better formula. If someone does, that person will become VERY rich caballero.
And anyway, that's one of the things that was going through my brain before V-Day...the fact that someone who creates a really really popular dating site -- whoever that person is -- will be building a sort of "killer app."
2/15/2007
Belated V-Day
Too busy for the "Killer App" post I was gonna write - so, tomorrow maybe. But here's something V-Day related. This guy wants to love you. Why is the article so focused on sex though? Not that I had time to read past the first page, but geez, this guy gets more play than most people.
Too busy for the "Killer App" post I was gonna write - so, tomorrow maybe. But here's something V-Day related. This guy wants to love you. Why is the article so focused on sex though? Not that I had time to read past the first page, but geez, this guy gets more play than most people.
2/14/2007
Happy V-Day
If you know two people who are single, or more, even someone at work or tangentially in your life, think about who you can introduce them to or tell them about who's also single and possibly right for them. Yes, I know it's risky. Everything in dating is a risk. But if you don't try to set up friends, you run the risk of keeping them from meeting someone who could make their life great. Just think about it. It's better to meet through friends, and some people just don't get that chance all that much.
I'll write more on V-Day tomorrow. Because we have an ice storm to contend with! Photos coming later to my barometer blog -- see link at the right.
Oh, I should add that I have a wonderful person as my Valentine and I am vewwy lucky.
If you know two people who are single, or more, even someone at work or tangentially in your life, think about who you can introduce them to or tell them about who's also single and possibly right for them. Yes, I know it's risky. Everything in dating is a risk. But if you don't try to set up friends, you run the risk of keeping them from meeting someone who could make their life great. Just think about it. It's better to meet through friends, and some people just don't get that chance all that much.
I'll write more on V-Day tomorrow. Because we have an ice storm to contend with! Photos coming later to my barometer blog -- see link at the right.
Oh, I should add that I have a wonderful person as my Valentine and I am vewwy lucky.
2/13/2007
More updates
and then I'm done for today.
A girl writes about Z. Toskovich's suicide...she says he had found out he didn't get into his #1 Ivy choice. He would have found that out months ago, though, I think.
Also, more harsh reaction to Maureen Dowd's put-down of chick lit, including from Jennifer Weiner. I'm just sorry that Dowd didn't trash my book in her column...negative publicity is still publicity! Thanks for nothing, Mo!
and then I'm done for today.
A girl writes about Z. Toskovich's suicide...she says he had found out he didn't get into his #1 Ivy choice. He would have found that out months ago, though, I think.
Also, more harsh reaction to Maureen Dowd's put-down of chick lit, including from Jennifer Weiner. I'm just sorry that Dowd didn't trash my book in her column...negative publicity is still publicity! Thanks for nothing, Mo!
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT
FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO10 PM EST WEDNESDAYTHE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN UPTON HAS ISSUED A WINTER WEATHERADVISORY...
WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 10 PM EST WEDNESDAY.
LIGHT SNOW IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN LATE THIS AFTERNOON...BECOMING STEADIER AND HEAVIER TONIGHT.
AS WARMER AIR MOVES INTO THE REGIONWEDNESDAY...
THE SNOW WILL BE MIXING WITH SLEET AND FREEZING RAINWEDNESDAY MORNING...AND POSSIBLY MIXING WITH RAIN DURING THEAFTERNOON.
AS THE STORM MOVES TO THE NORTHEAST LATE WEDNESDAYAFTERNOON AND COLDER AIR FLOWS BACK INTO THE AREA...
THE MIXEDPRECIPITATION WILL THEN CHANGE BACK TO ALL SNOW BEFORE TAPERING OFF AND ENDING WEDNESDAY NIGHT.
TOTAL SNOW AND SLEET ACCUMULATIONS BY THE TIME THE PRECIPITATION ENDS COULD RANGE FROM 3 TO 7 INCHES...WITH ABOUT A TENTH OF AN INCH OF ICE ACCRETION DURINGPERIODS OF FREEZING RAIN.
A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW...SLEET...OR FREEZING RAIN WILL CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. STRONG WINDS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE.
BE PREPARED FOR SLIPPERY ROADS AND LIMITEDVISIBILITIES...
AND USE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING.
THERE CONTINUES TO BE SOME UNCERTAINTY AS TO THE EXACT TRACK OF THE LOW... WHICH WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON PRECIPITATION TYPE AND SNOW AMOUNTS.
SHOULD THE TRACK OF THE LOW RESULT IN HIGHER SNOWACCUMULATIONS...THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY WOULD HAVE TO BE UPGRADED TO A WINTER STORM WARNING.
STAY TUNED TO NOAA ALL HAZARDS WEATHER RADIO OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WEATHER.GOV/NYC FOR FURTHER DETAILS AND UPDATES. MPS
Coming tomorrow: Valentine's Day post (maybe)
And maybe some time this week if I have time: Snow photos (maybe maybe)
FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO10 PM EST WEDNESDAYTHE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN UPTON HAS ISSUED A WINTER WEATHERADVISORY...
WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 10 PM EST WEDNESDAY.
LIGHT SNOW IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN LATE THIS AFTERNOON...BECOMING STEADIER AND HEAVIER TONIGHT.
AS WARMER AIR MOVES INTO THE REGIONWEDNESDAY...
THE SNOW WILL BE MIXING WITH SLEET AND FREEZING RAINWEDNESDAY MORNING...AND POSSIBLY MIXING WITH RAIN DURING THEAFTERNOON.
AS THE STORM MOVES TO THE NORTHEAST LATE WEDNESDAYAFTERNOON AND COLDER AIR FLOWS BACK INTO THE AREA...
THE MIXEDPRECIPITATION WILL THEN CHANGE BACK TO ALL SNOW BEFORE TAPERING OFF AND ENDING WEDNESDAY NIGHT.
TOTAL SNOW AND SLEET ACCUMULATIONS BY THE TIME THE PRECIPITATION ENDS COULD RANGE FROM 3 TO 7 INCHES...WITH ABOUT A TENTH OF AN INCH OF ICE ACCRETION DURINGPERIODS OF FREEZING RAIN.
A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW...SLEET...OR FREEZING RAIN WILL CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. STRONG WINDS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE.
BE PREPARED FOR SLIPPERY ROADS AND LIMITEDVISIBILITIES...
AND USE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING.
THERE CONTINUES TO BE SOME UNCERTAINTY AS TO THE EXACT TRACK OF THE LOW... WHICH WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON PRECIPITATION TYPE AND SNOW AMOUNTS.
SHOULD THE TRACK OF THE LOW RESULT IN HIGHER SNOWACCUMULATIONS...THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY WOULD HAVE TO BE UPGRADED TO A WINTER STORM WARNING.
STAY TUNED TO NOAA ALL HAZARDS WEATHER RADIO OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WEATHER.GOV/NYC FOR FURTHER DETAILS AND UPDATES. MPS
Coming tomorrow: Valentine's Day post (maybe)
And maybe some time this week if I have time: Snow photos (maybe maybe)
Competition
When I was in high school, there was plenty of competition to get into "top" colleges, but it wasn't insane. Since then, it has gotten a lot worse. Nowadays, it seems like kids aren't allowed to have summers free if they want to get into a prestigious school (of course, you can get an equally good education and have a good experience at hundreds of non-"prestigious" schools, but competitive parents don't want to hear that).
Students who want to get into top schools often spend their summers doing research internships or volunteering. While I think kids should learn about volunteering, I hope that today's kids get time to be kids, too.
Hard to speculate what drove this kid to suicide last week.
[Note: Glen Rock H.S. in New Jersey is not to be confused with Glen Ridge, where a) Tom Cruise went and b) football players were accused of raping a learning-disabled girl in someone's basement years ago in a famous case.]
Related reading:
The Overachievers: The Secret Lives of Driven Kids. (I read this book last year.)
http://nymag.com/news/features/24398/index.html The Superapplicants (article.)
When I was in high school, there was plenty of competition to get into "top" colleges, but it wasn't insane. Since then, it has gotten a lot worse. Nowadays, it seems like kids aren't allowed to have summers free if they want to get into a prestigious school (of course, you can get an equally good education and have a good experience at hundreds of non-"prestigious" schools, but competitive parents don't want to hear that).
Students who want to get into top schools often spend their summers doing research internships or volunteering. While I think kids should learn about volunteering, I hope that today's kids get time to be kids, too.
Hard to speculate what drove this kid to suicide last week.
[Note: Glen Rock H.S. in New Jersey is not to be confused with Glen Ridge, where a) Tom Cruise went and b) football players were accused of raping a learning-disabled girl in someone's basement years ago in a famous case.]
Related reading:
The Overachievers: The Secret Lives of Driven Kids. (I read this book last year.)
http://nymag.com/news/features/24398/index.html The Superapplicants (article.)
2/12/2007
Uh oh, spaghettio
Maureen Dowd has written a column blasting chick-lit. Way to be on the cutting edge, Mo!!
On another note, they are predicting our first winter storm of the year here in Joisey, for Tuesday night into Wednesday. Snow-starved schoolchildren will be happy if they get a day off.
On a third note, young writer Robyn Schneider has posted her own New York-living entry on her blog. It comes a few weeks after the aforementioned entry by Jessica. Robyn reports that she is leaving, although she doesn't know for how long. Well, if you can make it here, you'll make it anywhere, and she made it.
Coming tomorrow: Competitiveness among high school honors kids reaches its limit.
Update: So that you don't have to look for it, here's the beginning of Maureen's column:
I was cruising through Borders, looking for a copy of “Nostromo.”
Suddenly I was swimming in pink. I turned frantically from display table to display table, but I couldn’t find a novel without a pink cover. I was accosted by a sisterhood of cartoon women, sexy string beans in minis and stilettos, fashionably dashing about book covers with the requisite urban props — lattes, books, purses, shopping bags, guns and, most critically, a diamond ring.
Was it a Valentine’s Day special?
No, I realized with growing alarm, chick lit was no longer a niche. It had staged a coup of the literature shelves. Hot babes had shimmied into the grizzled old boys’ club, the land of Conrad, Faulkner and Maugham. The store was possessed with the devil spawn of “The Devil Wears Prada.” The blood-red high heel ending in a devil’s pitchfork on the cover of the Lauren Weisberger best seller might as well be driving a stake through the heart of the classics.
I even found Sylvia Plath’s “The Bell Jar” with chick-lit pretty-in-pink lettering.
“Penis lit versus Venus lit,” said my friend Leon Wieseltier, the literary editor of The New Republic, who was with me. “An unacceptable choice.”
Maureen Dowd has written a column blasting chick-lit. Way to be on the cutting edge, Mo!!
On another note, they are predicting our first winter storm of the year here in Joisey, for Tuesday night into Wednesday. Snow-starved schoolchildren will be happy if they get a day off.
On a third note, young writer Robyn Schneider has posted her own New York-living entry on her blog. It comes a few weeks after the aforementioned entry by Jessica. Robyn reports that she is leaving, although she doesn't know for how long. Well, if you can make it here, you'll make it anywhere, and she made it.
Coming tomorrow: Competitiveness among high school honors kids reaches its limit.
Update: So that you don't have to look for it, here's the beginning of Maureen's column:
I was cruising through Borders, looking for a copy of “Nostromo.”
Suddenly I was swimming in pink. I turned frantically from display table to display table, but I couldn’t find a novel without a pink cover. I was accosted by a sisterhood of cartoon women, sexy string beans in minis and stilettos, fashionably dashing about book covers with the requisite urban props — lattes, books, purses, shopping bags, guns and, most critically, a diamond ring.
Was it a Valentine’s Day special?
No, I realized with growing alarm, chick lit was no longer a niche. It had staged a coup of the literature shelves. Hot babes had shimmied into the grizzled old boys’ club, the land of Conrad, Faulkner and Maugham. The store was possessed with the devil spawn of “The Devil Wears Prada.” The blood-red high heel ending in a devil’s pitchfork on the cover of the Lauren Weisberger best seller might as well be driving a stake through the heart of the classics.
I even found Sylvia Plath’s “The Bell Jar” with chick-lit pretty-in-pink lettering.
“Penis lit versus Venus lit,” said my friend Leon Wieseltier, the literary editor of The New Republic, who was with me. “An unacceptable choice.”
2/09/2007
Blog or not
I don't read blogs as much as I used to, and there very few I check every day. The reason isn't that hard to explain: Most of my friends' blogs are rarely updated anymore, and never very personal.
I have said from the beginning that it's bad for a blog to get too personal. There are really no advantages to putting your personal life on the internet, except, well, more people will read it if you do. But where does that get you?
I'm a writer, so for me it's part of my profession - a nice way to stay in touch with people who are kind enough to read my stories, and it's still a way to update or amuse friends on occasion. But I'm sure the time will come soon when I only post once every few days.
Four years ago, people were very naive about the internet. Several people got fired for blogging about their jobs, or during work time. For some reason, it never occurred to them that the boss could find them on the internet.
Durr!
We haven't heard too many of those stories lately, because people are smarter, or at least less naive.
A few of my friends who used to write about dating have stopped. Probably a good idea.
Some people who started off anonymously have toned down their blogs because they are no longer anonymous.
Now we can wait for the next horror - growing older, having kids, and finding our kids' diaries!
I don't read blogs as much as I used to, and there very few I check every day. The reason isn't that hard to explain: Most of my friends' blogs are rarely updated anymore, and never very personal.
I have said from the beginning that it's bad for a blog to get too personal. There are really no advantages to putting your personal life on the internet, except, well, more people will read it if you do. But where does that get you?
I'm a writer, so for me it's part of my profession - a nice way to stay in touch with people who are kind enough to read my stories, and it's still a way to update or amuse friends on occasion. But I'm sure the time will come soon when I only post once every few days.
Four years ago, people were very naive about the internet. Several people got fired for blogging about their jobs, or during work time. For some reason, it never occurred to them that the boss could find them on the internet.
Durr!
We haven't heard too many of those stories lately, because people are smarter, or at least less naive.
A few of my friends who used to write about dating have stopped. Probably a good idea.
Some people who started off anonymously have toned down their blogs because they are no longer anonymous.
Now we can wait for the next horror - growing older, having kids, and finding our kids' diaries!
2/08/2007
2/07/2007
Wednesday Mailbag
("Monday mailbag" would sound better, but I didn't think of it in time.)
A sportswriter I know writes:
"don't worry about people being 'mean' to Rex Grossman, that's what sportswriters and columnists are paid to do. It's a staple of sports radio."
Okay, I guess taking the criticism is par for the course. Just like if you're a politician. And Rex makes more money. Still, do they have to be such meanies? It's not like Rex is sending soldiers to Iraq.
A New Yorker writes:
You've been engaged for a month now, right? How does it feel? Have you kiled each other yet? My first month living with the future Mrs. [name withheld to protect the innocent], we had a few rough spots and a battle over toothpaste, but eventually we figured it out. Compromises are definitely worth it.
So far so good. We haven't fought over toothpaste, but ...Hopefully you didn't give the Boy any ideas! Anyways, there are always initial compromises to make when growing with someone, but it's sure worth it when you love someone (awwww).
T. writes:
I have a combonym for you! goatmeal: Oatmeal made with goat's milk.
Pretty good...I guess. Also, Sam from Hawaii had some Sniglets that weren't quite combonyms, but I lost the e-mail with them in it, so Sam from Hawaii, if you want to send again, I'll post them. Up to you.
Now go eat your goatmeal, everyone!
("Monday mailbag" would sound better, but I didn't think of it in time.)
A sportswriter I know writes:
"don't worry about people being 'mean' to Rex Grossman, that's what sportswriters and columnists are paid to do. It's a staple of sports radio."
Okay, I guess taking the criticism is par for the course. Just like if you're a politician. And Rex makes more money. Still, do they have to be such meanies? It's not like Rex is sending soldiers to Iraq.
A New Yorker writes:
You've been engaged for a month now, right? How does it feel? Have you kiled each other yet? My first month living with the future Mrs. [name withheld to protect the innocent], we had a few rough spots and a battle over toothpaste, but eventually we figured it out. Compromises are definitely worth it.
So far so good. We haven't fought over toothpaste, but ...Hopefully you didn't give the Boy any ideas! Anyways, there are always initial compromises to make when growing with someone, but it's sure worth it when you love someone (awwww).
T. writes:
I have a combonym for you! goatmeal: Oatmeal made with goat's milk.
Pretty good...I guess. Also, Sam from Hawaii had some Sniglets that weren't quite combonyms, but I lost the e-mail with them in it, so Sam from Hawaii, if you want to send again, I'll post them. Up to you.
Now go eat your goatmeal, everyone!
2/06/2007
Cold morning
It's very cold out. Very very.
I noticed recently that I'd been getting some hits from a new blog that linked to me. The blog is called bad lesbi*an dates. From reading it, it's clear that girls have just as hard a time dating girls as boys do.
Welcome, bad lesbi*an dater! (Only blocked out so people don't come here looking for HLA.)
2/05/2007
Super Bowl Monday
I went to a small Super Bowl (two words) party last night. It was fun! Many thanks to the host and hostess. The game itself was pretty sloppy, being played in the rain, but still fun to watch.
Prince was excellent at halftime. His Royal Purpleness did a great job.
The Boy told me that the Chicago Sun-Times has been picking relentlessly on Bears QB Rex Grossman. I checked today, and they are cutting him a little slack (some of them, anyway.)
On another note...some of the reporters at the newspaper I work for are so young. They come to me and say they couldn't find a phone number, and they say they looked allllll over the internet for it. And then, when I ask if they called Information, they didn't even think to do that. Durr.
Update:
I was just outside and I saw a guy pour tea out of his car, and it froze on the pavement.
Don't go out there.
The Boy says that USA Today and ESPN have some mean stories about Rex.
I guess I can't feel tooo bad for him...he probably made hundreds of thousands of dollars for being in the Super Bowl.
I went to a small Super Bowl (two words) party last night. It was fun! Many thanks to the host and hostess. The game itself was pretty sloppy, being played in the rain, but still fun to watch.
Prince was excellent at halftime. His Royal Purpleness did a great job.
The Boy told me that the Chicago Sun-Times has been picking relentlessly on Bears QB Rex Grossman. I checked today, and they are cutting him a little slack (some of them, anyway.)
On another note...some of the reporters at the newspaper I work for are so young. They come to me and say they couldn't find a phone number, and they say they looked allllll over the internet for it. And then, when I ask if they called Information, they didn't even think to do that. Durr.
Update:
I was just outside and I saw a guy pour tea out of his car, and it froze on the pavement.
Don't go out there.
The Boy says that USA Today and ESPN have some mean stories about Rex.
I guess I can't feel tooo bad for him...he probably made hundreds of thousands of dollars for being in the Super Bowl.
2/03/2007
While we're on the topic...
While we're on the topic of people who are shockingly still alive...
There are several authors who are still alive, whom you'd think would be dead by now. Especially since their books and stories were classics when you read them in school.
J.D. Salinger is still alive and is living in seclusion in New Hampshire, and writing books he refuses to publish. He's in his eighties and partially deaf.
Ray Bradbury is alive.
Kurt Vonnegut is alive.
Harper Lee, who wrote To Kill A Mockingbird, is also alive and lives a very quiet life in NYC and Alabama. She never wrote another book after that. Strange but true.
What the four of those authors have in common is that their work is so straightforwardly written. A pleasure to read.
I am always grateful to the authors whose classic works wrapped me up in their verbal winter coats, keeping me warm with their words and insights.
I am not grateful to the authors (who shall remain nameless) who pounded me over the head and made me feel stupid. Hey, just because I was an English major doesn't mean I like to read paragraphs that run on for three entire pages. There's no excuse for it! None!
While I'm rambling, Sunday is the Super Bowl (two words, ok, Bunny?) Go Bears...no, go Colts...oh, who cares. I want my hard limeade.
If you can make it there, you'll make it anywhere...
Former trivia co-host Jessica wrote this entry (scroll up) about how her expectations and lifestyle have evolved since moving to NYC six years ago, and how her life no longer resembles a chick-lit novel. Pretty interesting, and I think it's that way for a lot of people I know. Maybe someday I'll write about my own experiences and evolution since moving up here. Hmmm, eventually.
One thing's sure - the internet really changed things, allowing me to meet people whom it would have been harder to meet otherwise, especially because it helped publicize trivia and other ways to connect.
While we're on the topic of people who are shockingly still alive...
There are several authors who are still alive, whom you'd think would be dead by now. Especially since their books and stories were classics when you read them in school.
J.D. Salinger is still alive and is living in seclusion in New Hampshire, and writing books he refuses to publish. He's in his eighties and partially deaf.
Ray Bradbury is alive.
Kurt Vonnegut is alive.
Harper Lee, who wrote To Kill A Mockingbird, is also alive and lives a very quiet life in NYC and Alabama. She never wrote another book after that. Strange but true.
What the four of those authors have in common is that their work is so straightforwardly written. A pleasure to read.
I am always grateful to the authors whose classic works wrapped me up in their verbal winter coats, keeping me warm with their words and insights.
I am not grateful to the authors (who shall remain nameless) who pounded me over the head and made me feel stupid. Hey, just because I was an English major doesn't mean I like to read paragraphs that run on for three entire pages. There's no excuse for it! None!
While I'm rambling, Sunday is the Super Bowl (two words, ok, Bunny?) Go Bears...no, go Colts...oh, who cares. I want my hard limeade.
If you can make it there, you'll make it anywhere...
Former trivia co-host Jessica wrote this entry (scroll up) about how her expectations and lifestyle have evolved since moving to NYC six years ago, and how her life no longer resembles a chick-lit novel. Pretty interesting, and I think it's that way for a lot of people I know. Maybe someday I'll write about my own experiences and evolution since moving up here. Hmmm, eventually.
One thing's sure - the internet really changed things, allowing me to meet people whom it would have been harder to meet otherwise, especially because it helped publicize trivia and other ways to connect.
2/02/2007
Living history
Isn't it amazing that Miep Gies is still alive? She's like 98 though.
In the category of people who are alive even though I wouldn't have thought it...Shirley Temple. But she was young when she got famous and she's only 78 now.
(not that one person has anything to do with the other...they're just two people I wouldn't have thought would still be alive.)
Also appropos of nothing, today is Groundhog Day. Weather news at www.barometer.blogspot.com.
And if any of you need a hug today, (((hhhhuggggg))).
TGIF!
Isn't it amazing that Miep Gies is still alive? She's like 98 though.
In the category of people who are alive even though I wouldn't have thought it...Shirley Temple. But she was young when she got famous and she's only 78 now.
(not that one person has anything to do with the other...they're just two people I wouldn't have thought would still be alive.)
Also appropos of nothing, today is Groundhog Day. Weather news at www.barometer.blogspot.com.
And if any of you need a hug today, (((hhhhuggggg))).
TGIF!
2/01/2007
Food review
The Boy is going to help me review a new restaurant. Photos may be forthcoming. As well as some free sushi.
'Love is a Mix Tape'
The above is the title of a memoir that just came out that I think I want to read, so i'm making note of it now, because often, a book comes out that I want to read and then I forget about it and then I can't find anything good to read, and that's always a bummer. It's called Love is A Mix Tape. It's by a music writer who met his wife in grad school and suddenly had to cope with her untimely death.
From Booklist: Rob Shffield was a "shy, skinny, Irish Catholic geek from Boston" when he first met Renee. Southern born and bred, "she was warm and loud and impulsive." They had nothing in common except a love of music. Since he made music tapes for all occasions, he and Renee listened together, shared tapes, and though never formally planning to, married. On May 11, 1997, everything changed. He was in the kitchen making lunch. Suddenly, she collapsed, dying instantly of a pulmonary embolism. Devastated, he quickly realized that he couldn't listen to certain songs again, and that life as he knew it would never be the same. Fun and funny, moving and unbearably sad, Sheffield's account at its quirkiest, and because of his penchant for lists, is reminiscent of Nick Hornby's novel High Fidelity (1995). Anyone who loves music and appreciates the unspoken ways that music can bring people together will respond warmly to this gentle, bittersweet reflection on love won and love irrevocably lost.
The Boy is going to help me review a new restaurant. Photos may be forthcoming. As well as some free sushi.
'Love is a Mix Tape'
The above is the title of a memoir that just came out that I think I want to read, so i'm making note of it now, because often, a book comes out that I want to read and then I forget about it and then I can't find anything good to read, and that's always a bummer. It's called Love is A Mix Tape. It's by a music writer who met his wife in grad school and suddenly had to cope with her untimely death.
From Booklist: Rob Shffield was a "shy, skinny, Irish Catholic geek from Boston" when he first met Renee. Southern born and bred, "she was warm and loud and impulsive." They had nothing in common except a love of music. Since he made music tapes for all occasions, he and Renee listened together, shared tapes, and though never formally planning to, married. On May 11, 1997, everything changed. He was in the kitchen making lunch. Suddenly, she collapsed, dying instantly of a pulmonary embolism. Devastated, he quickly realized that he couldn't listen to certain songs again, and that life as he knew it would never be the same. Fun and funny, moving and unbearably sad, Sheffield's account at its quirkiest, and because of his penchant for lists, is reminiscent of Nick Hornby's novel High Fidelity (1995). Anyone who loves music and appreciates the unspoken ways that music can bring people together will respond warmly to this gentle, bittersweet reflection on love won and love irrevocably lost.
1/31/2007
News briefs
I am happy for the following reasons:
-My immediate family all seem to be in good moods today, when talking on the phone. I don't know why, but it's nice.
-My roommate is reallllly cute.
-Kate (above) is recovering and is starting to trust people again, according to the Humane Society.
Tomorrow starts February. That is not a reason I'm extraordinarly happy, but I thought it would mention it so that none of you fall prey to February Fools jokes.
Outside my window this morning
Stuff
1. Gothamist has a fun discussion going on about the unfortunate pit bull. Seems that some people believe that animals get more sympathy than humans. Someone else points out that animals don't lie to your face.
2. I sometimes write these entries the day before, or at different times than the time listed. it is NOT really 5:31 right now.
3. Yes, roommate = fiance. Durr. ;)
4. Here is some new graffiti I encountered this morning.
1/30/2007
More reader mail
Someone from down South writes:
Another reason you should not root for the Bears - Their fans were yelling at Saints fans, "Go back to your FEMA trailers!"Other things they yelled at women I will not repeat.I can show you the photo of a sign one fan held that said "Bears Finish WhatKatrina Started." I hope Peyton Manning, the Colts quarterback and a New Orleans native, makes all of those fans miserable Sunday.
Me too, if that's true. I heard about that sign but I thought it was something someone doctored for the internet, not something someone actually held up at the stadium. I think that person's sign should have been taken away for something so callous. I would also say that the person should have been removed from the stadium, but I guess that would violate his free speech...still, that's disgusting.
UPDATE: Apparently, I am not the only one who doubted that the photo was real. But also apparently, I have too much faith in humanity. It's on the "urban myths" website...and as it turns out, it's true. Check this out:
http://www.snopes.com/photos/signs/chicagobears.asp
Well, even if I can't root for da Bears, I can still enjoy the Super Bowl food this Sunday.
Someone from down South writes:
Another reason you should not root for the Bears - Their fans were yelling at Saints fans, "Go back to your FEMA trailers!"Other things they yelled at women I will not repeat.I can show you the photo of a sign one fan held that said "Bears Finish WhatKatrina Started." I hope Peyton Manning, the Colts quarterback and a New Orleans native, makes all of those fans miserable Sunday.
Me too, if that's true. I heard about that sign but I thought it was something someone doctored for the internet, not something someone actually held up at the stadium. I think that person's sign should have been taken away for something so callous. I would also say that the person should have been removed from the stadium, but I guess that would violate his free speech...still, that's disgusting.
UPDATE: Apparently, I am not the only one who doubted that the photo was real. But also apparently, I have too much faith in humanity. It's on the "urban myths" website...and as it turns out, it's true. Check this out:
http://www.snopes.com/photos/signs/chicagobears.asp
Well, even if I can't root for da Bears, I can still enjoy the Super Bowl food this Sunday.
Fian....
A dictionary check confirmed recently that I am a fiancEE, while the boy is just a fiancE. I get an extra E because I'm a nice girl.
But a friend pointed out to me that most people ignore the "fiance" spelling these days and use "fiancEE" for both sexes. I've been trying to get it right, but I guess it doesn't really matter, does it? Should popular form or use eventually replace the original, if it's more sensible?
The word "enormity" is supposed to have a bad connotation and doesn't simply mean enormousness. You could say "the sheer enormity of 9/11" and be using it correctly, but "the enormity of our party overwhelmed me," theoretically, would be wrong. Yet, I recently looked it up and it said that enormity had come into common usage to just mean enormousness.
So, maybe it does, now.
A dictionary check confirmed recently that I am a fiancEE, while the boy is just a fiancE. I get an extra E because I'm a nice girl.
But a friend pointed out to me that most people ignore the "fiance" spelling these days and use "fiancEE" for both sexes. I've been trying to get it right, but I guess it doesn't really matter, does it? Should popular form or use eventually replace the original, if it's more sensible?
The word "enormity" is supposed to have a bad connotation and doesn't simply mean enormousness. You could say "the sheer enormity of 9/11" and be using it correctly, but "the enormity of our party overwhelmed me," theoretically, would be wrong. Yet, I recently looked it up and it said that enormity had come into common usage to just mean enormousness.
So, maybe it does, now.
1/29/2007
Da Bears
I think I am going to root for da Bears to win da Superbowl, even though the Colts are OK too. There are a few reasons. One is, they won like the first seven games of their season and surprised everyone, yet, the minute their young quarterback started faltering, all of the commentators were saying he should be canned. He did really badly in two games, but geez, how fickle those commentators are! They were saying during the next game after that, if he didn't perform, he would be replaced in the second half. And he showed his stuff, and shut them all up.
So now da Bears are in the Superbowl, and they're still the underdogs. I like the Colts too, but it'd be fun to see da Bears win.
One thing, though. Why are they called the Bears, anyway? Is there a single bear in the city of Chicago? Come to think of it, are there colts in Indianapolis?? There are probably Dolphins in Miami. They can swim in and out. There are giants in New York. Shrek was playing in most theaters in the city, as far as I can remember. And Jeremy Shockey is 6'7". So, lots of giants in NYC, in one form or another. There are also definitely jets.
I could keep going on with this, but that would be unladylike and I should get back to Oprah.
Updates:
I should know better than to write about things that my readers will all know more about than I do, like sports.
Sam from Hawaii writes:
I've never been so dissapointed in you... Da Bears? Indianapolis is my birthplace, and if Payton Manning and the colts lose, he'll be labeled a loser the rest of his career! You don't want THAT on your conscience do you? Also... Shrek is an ogre, not a giant... huge difference! Fire your fact checker!
Aloha, Sam.. Go Colts
A female reader writes:
Super Bowl is two words. I'm rooting for that other Manning 'cause he's adorable. Not the Colts, justthe hottie QB.
Great...confirm men's worst stereotypes of women and why they watch football!
She later added this correction:
Jeremy Shockey is 6-5".
Keeper writes:
I hope the Staleys win also!
Before the white man; there were bears around Chicago, and Indians, like my great grandfather. Whose ancestors once occupied most of New York, and your home state as well. True times have canged; the Indians are now in Cleveland. I got to quit, I can't bare anymore of this!
Okay, I give up. No more writing about sports for me! Pretty, sparkly things only.
I think I am going to root for da Bears to win da Superbowl, even though the Colts are OK too. There are a few reasons. One is, they won like the first seven games of their season and surprised everyone, yet, the minute their young quarterback started faltering, all of the commentators were saying he should be canned. He did really badly in two games, but geez, how fickle those commentators are! They were saying during the next game after that, if he didn't perform, he would be replaced in the second half. And he showed his stuff, and shut them all up.
So now da Bears are in the Superbowl, and they're still the underdogs. I like the Colts too, but it'd be fun to see da Bears win.
One thing, though. Why are they called the Bears, anyway? Is there a single bear in the city of Chicago? Come to think of it, are there colts in Indianapolis?? There are probably Dolphins in Miami. They can swim in and out. There are giants in New York. Shrek was playing in most theaters in the city, as far as I can remember. And Jeremy Shockey is 6'7". So, lots of giants in NYC, in one form or another. There are also definitely jets.
I could keep going on with this, but that would be unladylike and I should get back to Oprah.
Updates:
I should know better than to write about things that my readers will all know more about than I do, like sports.
Sam from Hawaii writes:
I've never been so dissapointed in you... Da Bears? Indianapolis is my birthplace, and if Payton Manning and the colts lose, he'll be labeled a loser the rest of his career! You don't want THAT on your conscience do you? Also... Shrek is an ogre, not a giant... huge difference! Fire your fact checker!
Aloha, Sam.. Go Colts
A female reader writes:
Super Bowl is two words. I'm rooting for that other Manning 'cause he's adorable. Not the Colts, justthe hottie QB.
Great...confirm men's worst stereotypes of women and why they watch football!
She later added this correction:
Jeremy Shockey is 6-5".
Keeper writes:
I hope the Staleys win also!
Before the white man; there were bears around Chicago, and Indians, like my great grandfather. Whose ancestors once occupied most of New York, and your home state as well. True times have canged; the Indians are now in Cleveland. I got to quit, I can't bare anymore of this!
Okay, I give up. No more writing about sports for me! Pretty, sparkly things only.
1/27/2007
1/26/2007
1/25/2007
Reward up to $12K (from press release)
(Newark, NJ) -- The reward is now up to $12,000 for any information that will lead to the arrest of the perpetrator who sodomized a 10-month-old pit bull in Newark. The Associated Humane Societies and the New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals offered a reward of $5,000 when the incident first happened. Posters went up in the area along with a media alert and an additional $7,000 was raised.
The dog, who has been named “Kate” after her veterinary caretaker, arrived at Garden State Veterinary Specialists in Tinton Falls after being rescued in Newark where she was found in the hallway of an apartment building in a pool of her own blood.
Roseann Trezza, Executive Director of the Associated Humane Societies, says, “Kate was a neighborhood dog, belonging to everyone and yet, no one. She was given infrequent meals and was grateful for any attention or treats she received. Just before the horrible tragedy, she was seen walking on a leash with two teenagers. A short time later, she was found in the hallway near death.”
Since Kate’s arrival in Tinton Falls, she has been given round-the-clock-care. When veterinarians first examined her, she was in the process of shutting down physically and emotionally. She has been fed through a tube and is beginning to take small amounts of food. Her medications are expected to be switched from intravenous to oral and once she is eating and having normal bowel movements, she will be transferred to The Associated Humane Societies Medical Department in Newark.
The Associated Humane Societies is asking anyone who has any information about this incident to come forward. If someone is convicted of the crime, penalties range up to $7,500 in fines and 18 months behind bars. The Associated Humane Societies would be grateful for any donations towards the cost of Kate’s medical care.
The Associated Humane Societies (AHS), founded in 1906, is the largest animal sheltering system in New Jersey. AHS consists of four shelters located in Newark, Forked River, Tinton Falls and Union. The Forked River facility also includes the federally licensed Popcorn Park Zoo which is a sanctuary for abandoned, injured, ill, exploited, abused or elderly wildlife, exotic and farm animals and birds. For more information, visit http://www.ahscares.org/ or to make a donation, send it to Popcorn Park Zoo, PO Box 50, Humane Way, Forked River, NJ 08731. The Society is open 7 days a week from 12:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m.
Update: I found this quote on the web: "Debbie Beyfuss of AHS told 1010 WINS, 'Hopefully Kate will make a complete recovery and be adopted to one of the many wonderful people who have offered her a home.' "
1/24/2007
E-mess
I'm catching up on my e-mails; please be patient. Catching up on work at the same time.
As for novels, right now I'm just waiting for news. No new projects; waiting for word on the recently-completed.
While you wait for me to respond to your e-mail, and I wait for other things, here's some music from back in the '50s.
Gonna blog around the clock tonight
Gonna blog blog blog 'til broad daylight.
Gonna blog, gonna blog around the clock tonight!
They were ahead of their time.
I'm catching up on my e-mails; please be patient. Catching up on work at the same time.
As for novels, right now I'm just waiting for news. No new projects; waiting for word on the recently-completed.
While you wait for me to respond to your e-mail, and I wait for other things, here's some music from back in the '50s.
Gonna blog around the clock tonight
Gonna blog blog blog 'til broad daylight.
Gonna blog, gonna blog around the clock tonight!
They were ahead of their time.
1/23/2007
That's cold
So I heard it was cold and windy this past weekend. Was it? I guess I'll believe you.
Where the Boy and I were, it was 80 degrees and sunny.
I'd never seen ocean water so blue. Downtown was nice as well.
That was the view from our balcony, through the zoom lens. Anyway, we enjoyed the pool.
(The Boy is covered up to protect the innocent.)
I also saw a rainbow one morning!
The Boy was more excited about car-watching, and I can't blame him. There were a lot of interesting high-end cars to see. When it's sunny all the time, people like to show off their convertibles. I kind of liked this car:
But try as I might, I looked up and down A1A and didn't spot Vanilla Ice.
Anyway, hope you enjoyed the show. Signing off, your host... (also hidden to protect the innocent, namely me)
So I heard it was cold and windy this past weekend. Was it? I guess I'll believe you.
Where the Boy and I were, it was 80 degrees and sunny.
I'd never seen ocean water so blue. Downtown was nice as well.
That was the view from our balcony, through the zoom lens. Anyway, we enjoyed the pool.
(The Boy is covered up to protect the innocent.)
I also saw a rainbow one morning!
The Boy was more excited about car-watching, and I can't blame him. There were a lot of interesting high-end cars to see. When it's sunny all the time, people like to show off their convertibles. I kind of liked this car:
But try as I might, I looked up and down A1A and didn't spot Vanilla Ice.
Anyway, hope you enjoyed the show. Signing off, your host... (also hidden to protect the innocent, namely me)
1/21/2007
Quotes
"847 dollars a night to stay at a Days Inn? You couldn't pay me $847 to stay at a Days Inn!" - The Boy (will be explained later)
"I was watching Everybody Loves Raven, and he said that he was a good cooker, and he started a fire in the kitchen and it burned the house." - Boy's anonymous nephew, describing a sit-com episode
"847 dollars a night to stay at a Days Inn? You couldn't pay me $847 to stay at a Days Inn!" - The Boy (will be explained later)
"I was watching Everybody Loves Raven, and he said that he was a good cooker, and he started a fire in the kitchen and it burned the house." - Boy's anonymous nephew, describing a sit-com episode
1/18/2007
Cigars all around!
It's Thursday! You almost made it through another week. Congratulate yourself.
Just for clarification's sake, the post below is from a press release, and is not my writing. I posted it 'cause I felt bad for that dog. I'm sure someone will adopt her. Maybe in time she will get over her trauma.
Happy Thursday!
It's Thursday! You almost made it through another week. Congratulate yourself.
Just for clarification's sake, the post below is from a press release, and is not my writing. I posted it 'cause I felt bad for that dog. I'm sure someone will adopt her. Maybe in time she will get over her trauma.
Happy Thursday!
