People can be soooooo disappointing

I just looked around at some blogs, and there were few updates. How boring. So it's my responsibility to fill in the gap.

Let's see. What can I think of to tell you about?

Many years ago, I worked in a fast food restaurant. I didn't really have too many people to talk to. This one time, they hired a new boy who was a year younger than me. My thoughts were the same as any other young dateless girl stuck in a fast food uniform: "Yay! New boy."

Soon enough, he came over to me and held up a hamburger bun, which he had squeezed all around a French fry. "What do you think this is?" he asked.

"A metaphor for man's suffering," I said, displaying my boundless wisdom.

"It's an asshole taking a shit!" he said, then laughed to himself and went to go show it to someone else.

Ah, well.

Rule of life

Always save receipts. Even if it's for, like, fruit. You never know.

I got a bill yesterday for something I had paid for five months ago. Luckily, I saved all my receipts from last year rather than throwing them out right away. So I could prove I paid. (I paid in cash, so there was no credit card backup).

Just a little lesson. Or maybe the lesson is not to pay in cash...but if you do, get a receipt and save it!

Writing

I get these daily e-mailed digests for writers. Today, one of the writers on the chick-lit one contributed this:

I might have the best agent story. Way back, when I first started trying to write, and before the internet and email were well established, I had an agent who was.dead. Yep. He'd died the year before and I'd been represented by his secretary all that time. Argh!

Why does this not surprise me?

Monday will be a special day

50 percent off Easter candy!!

Combonym of the day

Squarrel - n. - An argument with a squirrel.

(I'm sure you'll get to use THAT one every day.)

Almost spring

Thursday is the first day of spring.

Just thought you should know!

Are we done with bad weather, or will we get any surprises?

Hard to tell. The weather reports this winter were not too accurate.

McGreevey and friends

Just when all eyes were on New York's disgraced governor, a former McGreevey aide brings the attention back to Joisey by claiming that he used to have threesomes with the guv and his ex-wife, in order to enhance their sexual relationship. These special Friday nights would start at, of course, T.G.I.Friday's. Then they added their own special dessert.

I am so proud to be one of the first few people blogging this. Now please let me go throw up.

The writin' life

There's this silly essay I worked on for a while about two years ago, then didn't do much with for a while. I vowed recently to just revise and finish the darn thing - it's only three pages long, but I just couldn't get it right. So I revised and revised. The Hubby was kind enough to read it too.

Anyway, I'm probably submitting it to a publication next week. However, I'm anticipating that this thing that took me a few years to finish could be rejected in just a few minutes.

C'est la vie!

Unacceptable

The world has far too many reality stars who take up far too much space on the news.

Therefore, I do not want to read about or see any more of Spitzer's [alleged] ho. I don't want to see her singing on American Idol. I don't want newspaper articles on her. I don't want her to become a celebrity. By the way, if she admits to a crime, shouldn't she be going to jail instead of getting publicity? I don't care if she does or doesn't get arrested, but I just don't want any more newspaper space wasted on her. I'm all for entertainment news, but a day of her is all I can take.

Newspapers, please stop writing about her. Thank you.

Oh, I almost forgot - TGIF!

Update: No, I am not jealous of her!!

Updates

THANK YOU!!! Blog reader Snake Oil Sam e-mailed me to tell me to take the battery out of my phone, then take the chip out, then put them back in. I tried it, and it worked!! My phone is now operational again. I don't have to trek down to Radio Shack, consider buying stuff, or worry about re-inputting my numbers. Thank you so much, Snake Oil Sam! And to anyone else whose phone has the same symptoms, now you know how to take care of it.

Meanwhile, a friend wrote to me: "Remember how in the first season of 'Gilligan's Island' poor Mary-Ann wasn't even mentioned in the theme...reduced to an insulting and downgrading 'and the rest'? I think that's when the trouble began." Well, thanks for plagiarizing me! Just kidding. This person hadn't read the blog, obviously. Also obviously, half the people in their 30s thought of the same joke about Mary Ann. Sigh.

One final note. This past weekend, someone asked me how I got the idea for Carrie Pilby, since she's nothing like me. This caused my Hubby great laughter. Oh well.

Hello!

We just got back from sunny Florida. It was lovely! Of course, it was warm down there (duh), but there were enough breezy periods where I had to wear a sweatshirt too.

There was time for a long walk on the beach (and I mean loooong...I think we almost ended up in Cuba), visiting cute babies-in-law, a dip in the pool, and a visit to a Mets spring training game in St. Lucie. They didn't do so well in the game we saw, but they won the next game they played.

Oh, and I got to walk around the Sawgrass Mills Mall, a very large outlet mall. The Hub was quite patient.

I want to show rather than tell, and I have some nice photos, but they probably won't go up for a week or two, due to busy-ness and technical stuff. So...the baseball diamond and the beach will be yours to ogle next week.

Speaking of technical stuff, my cell phone broke. Well, there's nothing on the display, although it lights up and turns on. So if you called me and left a message, I didn't get it. Please e-mail me or call me at home. (And if you didn't know I had a cell phone, well, I haven't given my number out that much, because of things like the fact that they break, but I should have the phone repaired or replaced by the end of the weekend.) I'm also just catching up on e-mail now, so I apologize if I didn't get back to you.

Brief news

Apparently, while we were away, some interesting news events occurred:

-Eliott Spitzer came out of the closet as a heterosexual!

-"Mary Ann" from Gilligan's Island was arrested for pot use. I bet she needed it, due to lingering resentment over being called "and the rest" at the end of the Gilligan theme in the older episodes. That always really bothered me, too. I'm glad they eventually changed it to "The Professor and...Mary Ann..."

-I feel like I need a third thing here for the list. But what can compare with a prosecutor-turned-governor paying $4,300 for a call girl...and Mary Ann lighting up a fattie? Was the bong made out of a coconut and some bamboo? Skipper! Professor! What are these strange plants by the lagoon?

Wow, I'm tired. At least I got through some of my e-mail, so that's good.

Combonym of the day

Youngry -- adj. Young and hungry. Example: "An agent should be youngry."

Crickets

On Saturday, two things were being given out for free in NYC. Near Macy's, representatives for Tic-Tac gave us some new sour apple Tic-Tacs. They weren't so exciting to suck on, but I liked the tangy flavor once I bit mine.

On 42nd Street some people representing the Food Network were giving out free packets of dried crickets in salt and vinegar, as a snack. It was meant to publicize Andrew Zimmern's show where he eats weird food.

The Hubby and I unwittingly each took a pack, and then threw ours out at a nearby trash pail. The crickets probably would have just tasted like any other dry snack with salt and vinegar, but I wasn't into it. I did consider bringing it to work and leaving it on the table in the kitchen just to hear people's reactions, but I didn't want to carry the dried crickets around that long.

If you would have wanted them, sorry. Maybe next time you're in the big city, you can get equally lucky.

Bet you wish you'd thought of this in eighth grade

This story will totally get picked up nationwide by the AP.

Smile

Hello. I am an omnipotent martian who transformed into a computer screen. Right now I am directing your computer keyboard to have sex with your fingers. I can tell you like it because you're smiling. Shame on you, pervert.

Readers

I haven't gotten any Carrie Pilby-related e-mails in more than six months, but I got one today. That was nice!

Subj: Official: Fan Mail

Dear Caren,

I was meandering around a little used bookstore in my neighborhood the other day and picked up a copy of your CARRIE PILBY novel along with a stack of other novels. I caught the flu over the weekend and have done nothing much...other than sleep, moan-n- groan, and read your book. I just finished it today and felt really compelled to write to you.

Brilliant! What a fun and refreshing read...and very deep insight, with just the right amount of delightful wit! Thank you (and Carrie Pilby) ever so much for helping get me through the flu! It was deliciously better (and more healing!) than a bowl of chicken soup!

My best regards,

Amy
Writings by Amy home <---little shameless self promotion never hurt!

Snowy colonials

(see below, and thanks again to the hub for his patience while I took these.)

Ooh, preeeetty

We were in Connecticut this weekend, and the snow had piled up higher there than here, making some of the colonial houses really beautiful. The Hub was kind enough to stop while I took some photos. So I will post some later so you can enjoy them too.

But the way, so many people make fun of New Jersey, but at least it's easier to spell than Connecticut. What's with the silent "C"?

It snew!!

Trivia Night

My Hubby and I hosted trivia tonight. Thanks to all our friends and trivia vets who came out!!

As usual, the generation gap reared its head. We asked the teams to write down Madonna's first 10 top-40 hits. Some of the teams could only think up 7 or 8 Madonna songs. Doing the math, people have to be at least 21 to be in the bar. If they were 21, that means they could have been born as late as 1987. 1987! Madonna's first 10 hits were between 1983 and 1986.

So I guess asking those young 'uns to name them was like asking me to name Wings' first top 40 hits, or something. But still, Madonna's still around doin' her thing.

This subhead's just six words long

In other news, the folks behind the six-word memoir book are quite good at getting publicity. This week, they rated an article in the New Yorker's "Talk of the Town" section. Almost all the sentences in the article are six words long. Pretty impressive.

It's probably getting so much attention because a) it's a good gimmick, b) it includes a lot of literary people who no doubt have connections*, and c) it's fun.

[*a good number of whom once worked on the U. Penn school paper, like myself...]

Check out its Amazon rank. Damn, I coulda used a rank like that! (No, I don't get any royalties from my six-word contribution.)

Moms are funny

In other news, recently, my mom asked me if it's true that they're not selling records anymore. (Moms are funny like that.) She also said the following: "My mother wanted to name me Amy. My father wanted to name me Annie. (Pause) Nixmary is not a nice name."

And finally

Combonym of the week:

Wrestless -- When you're so antsy, you want to wrestle.

Happy V-D!!!!

I mean, Valentine's Day, of course.

P.S. Hi cutie!!

Weather or not

Conversation from yesterday morning, getting ready for work in the chilly darkness:

Me: Do you know when it's not going to be so cold?

The Hubby: In June.

Well, thanks.

New expressions I thought of recently

(and are probably all over the internet already because it's hard to be original)

"Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die...t."

"Put that in your pipe and choke on it."

Update:

Like I said, it's hard to be original. About a thousand other people have thought of the same thing.

At last

A beagle has won the Westminster Dog Show. They are wonderful pets, very sweet, playful, and have long waggy tails. Some other breeds don't have long tails, and I'd hate to get a dog without one. Part of the fun of having a dog is knowing when he or she is happy.

An article sent to me by The Hubby says this: "His tri-colored image certainly drew a nationwide following, and that will surely prompt a spike in beagle adoptions. Wilkerson had one bit of advice for anyone planning to get one as a pet. 'Better have a fence,' he said."

There are plenty of beagles in shelters, so it's good if people adopt them - as long as they (and I say this for any dog) intend to be good dog owners for up to 15 years, not return their dog to the pound in two years because of some change in circumstance.

The man is right about having a fence. They love to be chased. My beagle used to slip out of her collar when she was a pup and make us chase her around the development. She also would run in front of cars. Luckily we always caught her.

Thanks to Hubby for sending it my way. Yay for beagles!!

Combonym of the day

ENDORPHANAGE -- N. A gym.

Combonym

Monopulative - Able to monopolize a conversation in order to manipulate.

This memoir's just six words long





I have a contribution in this book that just came out. Probably my smallest contribution to a book ever. It's a book of six-word memoirs.

Apparently, they will be having a reading at KGB bar soon, where some of their more famous contributors will read their six-word memoirs. (If you click this link, look on the right.) It promises to be...well, short.

R.I.P. Amy Vining

Disclaimer: This entry is of interest to practically no one, except those who watch, or once watched, General Hospital. Hubby and all men: You may turn away from the blog and go back to your Giants parade.

Anyway...

Shell Kepler, the actress who played Amy Vining on "General Hospital," has died at the age of 49. No cause of death has been released as of yet.

She hasn't been on the show in six years, but I remember fondly her gossipy, funny young character. I grew up watching "GH" right after school, mainly because my mom always had it on. For a little while during the early 1980s, the storylines and dialogue were quite brilliant.

I remember in particular one time that Luke Spencer, who was on the run with Laura, called the hospital to get some information. He was trying to do it secretly, but who should pick up the phone but Amy Vining, who was a nurse and also Laura's sister. Amy blurted out, "HEY, EVERYBODY, IT'S LUKE!"

I guess the actress ended her TV career a few years ago to do charity work or something.

It's funny - I bet I could still turn on GH today and know half of the characters. So Amy Vining was part of my extended TV family.

Rest in peace, Ms. Kepler. http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&q=%22amy+vining%22&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wn

Hot links

Jane was kind enough to forward me this NY Times story about the slowness between getting a book deal and actually seeing your book come out, and all the things that happen afterward...

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/03/books/review/Donadio-t.html?ex=1202706000&en=bb0d330fad7dc58d&ei=5070&emc=eta1

TAB sent me this link to an article about the TV show "The Greatest American Hero" being made into a movie. It's one of my favorite TV shows of all time, which TAB knows. Who wouldn't love seeing a hapless teacher of problem high school kids suddenly get a super suit...and not know how to use it?

http://www.comicmix.com/news/2008/02/01/the-greatest-american-hero-headed-to-theaters/

to give credit, Neil C. also sent me an article on the casting for the movie.

Jon B. sent me some more three-letter male names with two vowels, in response to a recent blog entry:

Lee.
Lou.
Ray.
Avi.
Uwe.

Very good, Jon B., but should we really count "Ray?"

Anyway, I linked to all three people's web pages, so check them out.

Story

A sad story from the Times about hearbreak and hope.

'King' sized

I just saw Reese's peanut butter and banana cups in a store. I looked them up, and apparently, these Elvis-tribute cups have been out for quite a while.

Hmmm, I'm all shook up.

Have a good weekend, all.

Couple of things

A few years ago, I interviewed young writer Marty Beckerman for a story I was writing for a now-largely-defunct literary website. The story was about why Generation Y didn't have any literary spokesmen. In the story, I said Beckerman's book was well-written, but it presented a bleak view of his generation. Despite that criticism, he was very mature about it and took it well, and has written some stuff that I've really found great.

Anyway, he sent out an inspiring e-mail today, which is also posted on his blog, so I guess it's public. Despite having been through the literary ringer with a book he wrote, it's finally going to get published. You can read his announcement on his blog, but it starts off thusly:

Dearest Acolytes,

I am overjoyed to announce: in September 2008 Disinformation will publish DUMBOCRACY: Adventures with the Loony Left, the Rabid Right and Other American Idiots.

I have gone to hell and back for this book.

Retard Nation was originally supposed to hit stores in early 2006. For legal reasons I still can't disclose the entire story of what happened, but essentially I received one of the hardest ass-f**kings in publishing history....

Every writer wonders at what point they should give up on a book they hold near and dear to their hearts. But sometimes, if it keeps getting rejected, you just have to realize that it doesn't mean to other people what it means to you. Other times, you just realize that editors all have different opinions, just like readers do, and just because some of them don't like it, doesn't mean you shouldn't keep looking for the one who DOES. You have to be persistent, while still understanding the realities and taking other people's advice to make the book better.

There are books I've given up on, and others I've rewritten and rewritten. I think I mostly made the right choices. I'm really glad Marty stuck to his guns. He is a great writer and a good guy, and I'm looking forward to reading his book. His struggle is actually inspiring, so if you are a writer, check out his blog entry.

TV news

So are any of you going to watch "Lipstick Jungle" on TV next week? I'm going to watch at least the first 10 minutes to see if it really fills the void that "Sex and the City" left. Although I didn't relate to the SATC crew, I definitely laughed with them (and sometimes at them) and found the show funny and smart. Some of the "Lipstick" women are married, so we won't have the bad dates to laugh at...but hopefully it will actually be a good show. We'll see. My hopes are not high.

You may be wondering whether I'm going to torture my poor hubby with this show. Good question. Well, I mentioned that I'd like to give it a shot, and he didn't run screaming into the river. So he may actually watch some of it with me, bless his poor, patient heart. It probably won't be that good a show. Maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised.

Social networking

I forgot to mention in my blog entry on cyber-networks the other day that I DID end up staying on Facebook.com, but I changed my profile to note, "I am hardly ever on here. So please don't be offended if it takes me a while to get back to you." Still, I get frequent e-mails to my regular e-mail saying someone on Facebook "poked" me or asked me to get into a virtual mud-fight, or some other weird thing that I'd actually have to log in and then download a program for. Of course, it's really anti-social of me to complain about this when I should be happy that any gives a darn about whiny old me. So THANK YOU to everyone for your pokes, etc., etc. I just don't want you to be offended if they sit in my in-box for a while.

Today is hump day.

Will you do your part??

Why or why not?

Huh??!?!?

In response to Monday's entry, James from college writes:

When I was a kid I used to think that when people talked about the “good old days” it was ancient times. But I graduated from High School 19 years ago, and I remember my commencement and most of high school like it was yesterday. 19 years before I was born it was 1952. 19 years before I turned 10 was 1962. When I was 10 if someone talked about 1962 it was like the Mesozoic era or something. Kennedy was president. Men still wore hats. American cars were king. Gas was 22 cents a gallon. If you think about it, though, it wasn’t really that long ago. Even from today.

Funny story – I was at the playground with the family over the past Summer and there were a bunch of kids running around one of those small merry go rounds that you can spin and jump onto. They were pretending it was a time machine. One of the kids said, “If we spin it real fast we can go back to the Dinosaur ages – LIKE THE 1950s.” This kid was probably born no later than 1998 or 2000. [James' wife] and I had to laugh. I always said my parents were dinosaurs. My kids will say it about me.

And Neil wrote to mention the song "1985" by the band Bowling for Soup. Lyrics:

She hates time make it stop
When did Motley Crue become classic rock?
And when did Ozzy become an actor?
Please make this stop!
And bring back...

Springsteen, Madonna
Way before Nirvana
There was U2 and Blondie
And music still on MTV
Her two kids in high school
They tell her that she’s uncool
Cause she's still preoccupied
With 1985

Network

So, there are all sorts of internet social networks. There was Friendster, which I got off long ago. I just didn't feel like logging in every day to do all the things I was getting e-mails saying I should do (friend someone, do this, do that, etc.). Then I got a MySpace account, since that was the new thing, especially for authors and musicians with something to promote, but I didn't have time to keep getting on and reading my mail and "friending" people (or whatever the MySpace version was) and bla bla, so I deleted that, too.

About two years ago, an old friend asked me to join LinkedIn, so I did. That was a mistake. Now I get emails from people saying, "Why haven't you updated your LinkedIn?" I have other things to do.

Plus, how many passwords and LogIn names can I really remember?

I'm just going to have to start Just Saying No to joining these things, because once I'm on, more and more people or groups find me and then I'm afraid they'll be insulted if I don't log in to resopnd, but there are just too many of them.

Recently, Lori invited me to sign up for GoodReads. It's a way to monitor and comment on what your friends are reading, and share what you are reading. It was nice of her. I signed up, but I haven't read any novels in quite a while, so now it's just a testament to my laziness. And I've been getting emails from some nice people asking me to add them to my links, but I don't even remember what my password was when I signed up for GoodReads. So now they'll be offended and think I don't like them, when really, I just don't feel like trying to fish for my lost password.

Yes, yes, I know. None of these are real problems, and I'm whining. But that's what blogs are for!! Kvetching!

Just for fun

1. Time waster

How many boys' names can you come up with that are three letters and have only one consonant?

Joe
Eli
Abe
Ian
Ali
Uri
Ari

2. Just a thought

In the 1970s, there used to be these bumper stickers on small cars that said, "Don't laugh. It's paid for." And I used to think, "That's why we're laughing."

3. Someday

I should post something about how I refuse to get old. I can be mature and responsible, even wiser. But not old.

One part of this is, I refuse to believe that the "80s" can ever be considered part of the "good old days." And even if today's teenagers consider (for example) Duran Duran an oldies group, I will not believe that I am old because I hit puberty at such a glorious, golden era in pop culture. "Good old days" will always signify the FIFTIES. Period. The '80s are reminisce-able and nostalgic, but not "old days." Teens today like the '80s because of the pop culture. But not because they were quaint, like the fifties always seemed.

I remember sitting in my great-aunt's old house in the 1970s and listening to stories of the good old days, when families would have seven siblings and they'd all sit around the radio, that sort of thing. Yes, those are old days. Not the '80s. It just should never, and will never, count.

Bars...yecchhhh

If anyone out there thinks single life in NYC is glamorous, read this girl's blog entry.

I'm not taking a side. I think there was rudeness all around. I'm just glad the hubby and I don't like bars.

Ladies and gi'nts....

The NY (but really NJ ;) Giants are going to the Super Bowl! Holy cow!

Even certain people who can't tell a football from a bowling ball know about it.

Yay!

News of the day

My hubby was kind enough to pass along this very relevant news item from USA Today. Guess what kind of dog is gaining popularity?

It's a...

Drooly...
Jowly...
Pig-like...
Fat...
Messy...

English bulldog!!

I think they're adorrrrrable. BUT I don't think it's a good thing that they are so popular. They have health problems and short lifespans, and people will spend $1,500 on a bulldog instead of adopting a shelter dog. Yes, they are cute (in an ugly sort of way, of course). But...buy a shelter dog.

Now back to our regularly scheduled weirdness. (Oh wait, this is part of that.)

On another note, someone suggested that the reason I dreamed about Boris Yeltsin is because of all the politics that have been in the news in the last week, like Bill and Hillary. Well, maybe. Who knows, comrade?

Dreams

I haven't posted in a while. What can I post about? How about dreams. The kind you have at night. The fact that even though I have a wonderful, adorable hubby, last night I had a dream in which I was at some fancy party, and Boris Yeltsin for some reason came up to me and asked me on a date! Sorry, but I don't think I was very interested. I don't remember what happened next, and I don't remember anything else from the dream.

All this confirms is that my dreams are pretty useless and weird (although I have gotten some ideas for novels out of them).

I swear, I have never thought of Boris Yeltsin in a romantic way. Actually, I haven't thought much about him at all. I don't know what he was doing in my dream.

When I was a kid, I started writing down my dreams. I wanted to see if I was psychic. I wrote down my dreams, but they amounted to nothing. Sometimes, they stemmed from an unfinished throught I'd had during the day...but they never predicted anything.

One thing I found was that the more I wrote down my dreams, the better I became at remembering what I'd dreampt about upon waking up. I have found this to be true; other people have written about that.

But never did I predict any world event with my dreams.

So, I am not attributing any significance to Boris Yeltsin happening to appear in my dream. And I did not go on a date with him. I don't know why he asked. I'm married, after all.

Just say nyet!

Update

Blogfan Sam writes:

I think you're right about useless dreams. I make it a point to remember details of dreams, even though it is rarely helpful. Last night I had a pleasant little dream of a Christmas morning with family. I got some cool little gifts, but gee, it's already Jan 15th. A little late for Christmas dreams. But it produced an interesting idea for office gifts for next Christmas.

Lori's waffles

I know a few people who are great writers, but rarely write.

For instance, there's my friend Jodi, who updates her blog about three times a year. But those are really good entries!

There's my college friend Regina, whom I can't link to because she doesn't have a blog (as far as I know), although I keep telling her to try out for TVSquad.

But now, at last, Lori from high school has a blog. She writes:

"Ta-daaa! My very silly blog:http://applause4breakfast.blogspot.com/Enjoy! Or not. Totally up to you.-Lori"

Every day, you can see what she had for breakfast. Mmm!

Monday got you down?

Cute puppy!!!

Breaking news!!!

My friend saw a cute bunny at a zoo.

Movie review

The Hubby and I rented "Superbad." How was it? Well, just look at the last syllable of the movie's name.

Weather

It's cold.

Why watch cnn.com when you can get news, entertainment, and weather, all in one convenient blog?

A response from Hawaii

Blogfan Sam writes:

Thank you so much for "Home Alone" story. This is your best post in a very long time, and reminded me just why I'm a big fan. A lot of us have had that "Now what the heck do I do?" time in our lives. You feel jubulation at finishing one chapter in your life, then you face that big scary thing called "the future". It's also fun to look back at the moments that change our lives... change one little thing and you could have ended up in a completely different life than you have now. I know it's been a big year for you, but who knows what 2008 will bring. Happy New Year my friend.

Thanks, Sam! Yeah, long posts like that take a while for me to write, but I'm glad it went over well. It wasn't any fun to be so confused at the time, but I'm sure I learned some life lessons from it.

I hope you have a great 2008, too!

Home Alone: New Year's Day, 1993

During my senior year of college, I graduated a semester early -- in December instead of waiting until May -- in order to save money.

I'd spent a lot of college studying and trying to get it all done in three and a half semesters. And it worked.

But when December arrived, I had a new problem: I didn't know what the heck to do next.

The presidential election had just ended, and I cared about politics. I also knew I wanted to be a writer, and mostly likely would apply for publishing jobs in NYC. However, taking the train or bus to NYC for interviews and back was expensive and took an entire day. Some of the interviewers would say, "You came all the way up here from Philadelphia?" and look at me with pity. This didn't help me get the job. (Yes, it did say Philly on my resume, but sometimes the interviewers didn't notice it until the HR people handed them the document.)

I realized that it would be a lot easier to find a job if I actually already lived in NYC. But of course, without a job, it was hard to get an apartment. And certainly hard to pay a deposit and a month's rent.

Besides, I could stay in Philly and relax for a semester, put off the "real world" a little bit.

But I still needed a source of income, and a place to live.

My student status was about to run out. I stayed at my dad's in New Jersey through Xmas, but there wasn't a lot of room there, what with two stepsiblings. I came back to campus and was glad to see that my student ID to the high rise dorm I lived in still worked. I shared a three-bedroom with two roommates. But they were supposed to get a new roommate starting in January. So I'd already packed up my stuff. Some of my boxes were in the closet, and some were at my dad's. I slept on the couch in the living room of the dorm room.

During the rest of winter break, I was alone. Every time I slid my card through the card-reader in my dorm, I was scared it would suddenly stop working.

Finally, it stopped around Dec. 31. When it didn't go through, the security person recognized me and shrugged. "I don't know what's wrong with it," she said. "You live here." She buzzed me in.

Once classes started again, I'd have to hope friends were around to sign me in. But for a day or two, I just pretended I didn't know what was wrong with my card. And I slept on the couch in my dorm room on the 17th floor of my high rise.

Meanwhile, campus was pretty much empty. There was a rooftop lounge in my dorm with walls that were all glass, and I could climb up there and gaze on the buildings of Center City, Phila, read the lit-up messages scrolling across the Philadelphia Electric Company building. Early on New Year's Eve, I went up there and looked around, but there was a couple looking at the lights of the skyline, holding hands. I decided not to intrude. I went back downstairs to my dorm room.

I felt very alone. I didn't have any friends on campus at the moment, hadn't done much dating -- so of course there was no significant other -- and didn't have anyone really worrying about me or where I would live next, except me.

Where should I live? What should I do? And how could I move anywhere if I didn't have a job lined up there?

I used the campus computer room, one where you only had to show ID and not slide it through a card reader, and printed out resumes to send to publishing companies and PR outfits in NYC, Philadelphia, and DC. I applied to any job where I might get to write or edit.

On New Year's Eve, I decided that since Home Alone II was out, I would take myself to see it.

The theater was a block from my dorm, so it wasn't a far walk. It was a cold night, and the multicolored flyers from the wooden kiosks waved in the breeze. I plunked down my four bucks for the movie (it was a cheap theater) and sat and watched "Home Alone II." I enjoyed it.

In "Home Alone II: Lost in New York," a dove and a homeless woman played into the story. It was a sweet tale that gave me hope during a confusing time in my life.

When I was walking back to my dorm, I passed a homeless woman whom everyone saw on campus almost every day. She was a regular. She always gave the same spiel: "Hi, I'm selling these paintings to support myself." Her paintings were on 8x11 paper. I'd seen her since freshman year and never gave her any money. But I had always told myself that when I had graduated, I'd finally give her a few bucks.

So that time had come. I handed her a few bucks, and she gave me one of her paintings. It was a painting of a dove!

I went back home, taped it to the door of my dorm room, and felt glad to be warm and inside.

A few days later, one of my roommates came back and told me about a three-day-per-week temp job in downtown Phila. I could use the other two days per week to go on job interviews or just enjoy campus life.

And that's what I did for the next few months. I saw an ad in the Daily Pennsylvanian for a room for rent just off campus for $275 a month with a chemistry grad student. I went downtown to Odd Lot and bought a futon cushion for $30 and brought it back uptown via the subway, and slept on that.

In May, I heard from a former boss that a girl who had graduated a year behind me had a room for rent in Weehawken, NJ, which was directly across from New York City. The room was only $330 per month! It was so close to NYC, she said, that you could even see some of the Empire State Building from her bathroom. I called her up, saw the place, and put down a deposit.

On a weekend at my dad's, I bought a used car for $875 with some of the money I'd saved working in Philadelphia. I loaded my boxes into the car, hauled them up to Weehawken, and began temping in the New York City area. A year later, I found a job in journalism I liked. I've been here ever since.

Hmmm

I got an e-mail about this thing where my story "Carrie Pilby's New Year's Resolution" is nominated. It didn't come out in 2007, so I don't know how I'm eligible, but I'm on the list, so take a look and vote...third category down!

HAPPY 2008!!!!

Thank you to all my friends,

to everyone who has been patient with me this year,

to everyone who reads this...

and most of all, the wonderful boy who married me this year.

I hope everyone has a GREAT 2008!!!

Same old song

I’m sure you’ve heard a song called "Bubbly" by Colbie Caillat:

It starts in my toes
and I crinkle my nose
whereever it goes
I always know

Well, if you are going to splash into public view with a signature song, would you really want it to be a song whose main melody sounds very similar to a song that was out only six years ago?

I’m talking about “Superman” by Five for Fighting.

I’m only a maaaaan
In a silly red sheet
Digging for Kryptonite
On this one-way street

See if you hear a similarity in the melody:

It starts in my toes/
And I crinkle my nose

I’m only a man/
In a silly red sheet

It’s the same darn thing!

Does this make my a hypocrite? After all, rappers use melodies and samples from other songs all the time, and I don't complain about those. Yes, but they don’t try to hide it. In the album, they credit whoever they sampled from (at least, usually).

Now, it’s possible any two people can have similar ideas quite by accident. Even similar sentences. But melodies are familiar enough, especially to people in the music biz, that sometimes it just seems odd when parts of songs (even small parts) are so close together. Maybe I’m just annoyed because every time I hear

It starts in my toes/
And I crinkle my nose

I then want to hear

“It ain’t eeeasy..to be…meeeee…”

On another matter, VH-1 recently released its list of the top songs of the ‘90s. By “top” they may have meant “most corny,” since Rico Suave is at #100 and “I’m too Sexy” is in there, too.

They did a countdown of all the songs on TV last week, and the Hubby and I watched it.

During the countdown, they mentioned “Jump! Jump!” and implied that no one knows what the two boys from “Kris Kross” are doing today. As if they’d be really hard to find. Their names are both Chris. Their last names are on the internet. They’d be about 27 now. How hard can that be?

Well, that’s enough ranting for today. I hope you all have a lovely new year.
TGIF!!

F*****

No blogging today so that instead you can read this, and if you haven't grasped the importance, note what's in bold:

Pakistan opposition leader Benazir Bhutto was assassinated Thursday in a suicide attack at a campaign rally that also killed at least 20 others, aides said.
....The death of the charismatic 54-year-old former prime minister threw the campaign for the Jan. 8 parliamentary elections into chaos and created fears of mass protests and violence across the nuclear-armed nation, an important U.S. ally in the war on terrorism [some aren't as sure about that latter part now...]

'Free rice' is real

A few people have e-mailed me a link to a site that donates rice to poor folks, if you answer vocabulary questions. I started to get a little suspicious, but according to Snopes.com, the urban legends page (which you should always check when you get an email about some promotion or other suspicious story), it's REAL.

So go to freerice.com and play!

I think I will finally post about that song I don't like tomorrow, as long as I have time. I know you just can't wait. Can ya?

This just in: The hubby recommends using http://m-w.com/ to look up definitions so you can score better on the site, thus giving more rice to people who need it. Brush up your vocab - some of those words are hard! Good suggestion, buttercup!!

Merry Xmas to all!

I hope all of you have a wonderful holiday.

Yesterday the Hubby and I went into the city to do a little shopping, see some freight train displays, and see the Rockefeller Xmas tree. This year, the tree came from beautiful Connecticut. Many good things have come out of Connecticut. Many good, sweet things.

The best train display was at Citicorp at 53rd and Lexington. There's something wonderful about freight trains. Maybe because even in this modern era of planes and iPods, you can still spot a vintage boxcar tottering along, stamped with some foreign town you haven't been to (Burlington, Santa Fe, etc.) and an old-fashioned pro-business slogan ("Southern Serves the South!") With model trains, you get to see these boxcars rolling through towns decked out to look just as quaint as the trains, with model Esso gas stations, theaters, ice rinks, post offices...it's really quaint. There was a small line to see the Citicorp display, which is inside.

At night, we ate at the renowned Jackson Hole Burgers, which has several locations. I do not recommend getting a veggie burger. I know, I know, "Why in the world would you go to Jackson Hole to eat a veggie burger?" Well, I did it because they're healthy, duh. But their veggie burgers are thin, too soft, and green. There were actual whole peas in them. I like peas, but really....I have had better veggie burgers that were frozen in a box. They were a little more meatlike in consistency. Next time I am there, I'll probably get a turkey burger as an alternative to beef. The Husband seemed to like his burger.

Today was a football day. The Giants are in the playoffs. Do you care? Well, they are. So there.

Have a nice Xmas!

Is this any way to treat a baseball?

The Hubby, who is a newshound (ha ha, get it? hound? well, you only will if you follow the link), sent me this delightful news story:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3163105

It leaves out an important question: Did the dog get indigestion?

While I'm here, I'll note that soon I will get to two short posts I've been meaning to get to:

1) Explaining why I don't like that "It starts in your nose and goes to your toes" song, and

2) Noting that after I wrote my post about "Lazy Literature" last week, two friends followed up by mentioning in their e-mails to me that they loved "Catcher in the Rye," and one said he couldn't STAND it.

Just goes to show, everyone has a different reaction to a book. (Which is slightly comforting every time one of mine gets rejected!)

What? Ever?

For some reason, in the past few weeks, I've sent e-mails to people and AOL added question marks after every sentence. I don't know why.

But if you get an e-mail from me that has a lot of question-marks in inappropriate places, or seems to be asking a lot of questions that wouldn't ordinarly be questions...like? this?....then it's not me. I apologize.

A few weeks ago, an intern asked if the story she submitted to me was good, and I wrote back saying it was, and AOL added question marks to all my sentences. She wrote back and said, "Are you sure it was OK? I get nervous when I see that many questions."

Anyway...I apologize in advance and I don't know why? it? happened?

How true, how true

Conversation from tonight:

ME: Petsmart is a good name for a store. Because it can mean Pet...Smart, or it can mean Pets...Mart.

HUBBY: I can see that Penn education at work.

T.G.I.F.

I got a press release today that noted, "the longest night of the year falls at around 1 AM on Saturday, December 22." Well, a night can't fall at a particular hour, but it's still interesting: Shortest day of the year means longest night.

On another note, I need to write a post soon about why that song "It starts in your nose and goes to your toes" really annoys me and seems to rip off another song from a few years ago. But not today. I know you just can't wait.

Have a good weekend, all!

Mitten in the ice storm

Storm

Weather forecasters are predicting storms for the next few days, especially here on the East Coast for Saturday night into Sunday. This could all turn to nothing, but one Accuweather blogger seems into it:

Dr. Joe Sobel wrote yesterday: "....But all of this is just the preliminaries setting us up for the main event this weekend. Finally, it looks like a strong jet stream disturbance from the southwest will run eastward and interact with our stalled frontal system in the middle of the country. As a result we will finally see an intensifying storm come out of the southern Plains, toward the central Appalachians, up the East Coast and finally off the New England coast later Sunday. Such a storm should bring some helpful rains to the drought areas in the Southeast, and potentially a blizzard to parts of Pennsylvania, New York and New England. The devil of course is in the details, and since the details aren't yet clear on flat wave number two, they certainly aren't clear on the big weekend storm."

Potentially a blizzard?? Is that a bit exaggerated? Well, you never know, I guess. I haven't seen a blizzard in December since...I don't know, definitely not in the last 20 years.

Offers I can refuse

Two fabulous offers in my mailbox on the same day!

#1

I am miss Vannessa M---, by name and i am 30 years of age from South Africa. I am lady with a pure heart and i am also born again christian. I want you to send an email to my email address so i can give you my picture for you to know whom i am, then i hope you will like what you see and write me to my e.mail ?
My aim here is to meet a man that will love me and be my husband then i will do the same thing to him and i will love him with all my heart . I am not here for any game and i am not looking for a player either so please if you are player dont bother to write me back but if you are seriously looking for a serious relationship like i do then lets make it happen.
Write me to my email and i will write you back with my beautiful picture attach to it. Remeber the distance or colour does not matter but love matters alot in life. Waiting for your email.
Yours Love Vannessa M---.

#2

Your org*sms could be stronger and longer withWonderC*m.
WonderC*m is the leading semen enhancement product on the market. Thisfantastic product helps to increase your power, potency and volume ofejaculate, and thereby intensity of climax.
WonderC*m can be shipped to any country. We have friendly and politecustomer service. Just fill the form privately and securely, and you willreceive your shipment fast in discreet package.

Lazy readers' book club

A friend of mine posted an entry the other day about how she tries to read almost every book to the end before she can fully judge it. While I admire that, I'd think a few chapters would be sufficient. After that, you might be torturing yourself. There are a lot of books out there; why push yourself through 300 pages of a book whose author has not done a passable job of making it swift and interesting and well-written enough? Are there so few good books out there these days?

Actually, it's possible. It's certainly true of movies! The husband and I have had trouble finding decent flicks to rent.

I admit that I'm a lazy reader. I pushed myself through so many books as an English major in college, both books I loved and books I hated, that I don't do it so much anymore. Some books are hard to read but still worth it, of course, for what they teach you. And sometimes they're only hard to read because they're written in Olde English.

But if a book is modern, its author should try not to pile on excess verbiage just to make himself look clever. It's his job not to overwrite.

A great nonfiction book came out a few years ago called A Readers' Manifesto, tearing apart pompous passages in modern award-winning fiction. While I didn't agree with all of his criticism (some of it nitpicked), it was certainly fun and refreshing to read.

I have taken books out of the library recently that I put down after one chapter, because they just were trite, boring, or some other nonsense - and they were bestsellers that won awards. Then again, I'm a jealous writer, so I get picky and impatient.

Of course, no two people will agree on what is and isn't fun to read. Maybe everyone reads and approaches books differently. I got a memoir called Goat a few months ago, a young guy's memoir of brutality and fraternity hazing, and I absolutely loved the taut but evocative writing style. I thought everyone would agree, but I read several reviews on Amazon from people who didn't like the style or called it a "faux hipster" style, which I disagree with. Still, I think it's a breezily-written book and have mentioned it to The Hubby a few times as something he might enjoy.

I have thought that someone should write a book called "Lazy Literature" (if you use that title, pay me) that details good books that are still a pleasure to read. It doesn't have to be difficult or obscure to be classic, does it?

Some classics I absolutely loved in high school and college that were easy to read:

Catcher in the Rye
Lord of the Flies
Of Mice and Men
Goodbye, Columbus

Most of you probably read those in school already, but if you missed 'em, go for it. I would recommend any of those to fellow lovers of lazy literature. But as I said, one person's lazy is another person's tough.

Finally, friends, here are some modern classics:

Drown by Junot Diaz (okay, it's short stories, how lazy am I?)
Kissing in Manhattan by David Schickler (yes, also short stories, but read it - he's an amazing writer)

If you are interested in any of these titles, just click on www.amazon.com or www.bn.com, and type them in. Let me know what you think!

Happy Hannukah!

Tonight is the first of those "eight crazy nights." Enjoy!

Yes, the blogging has been light lately. Things are good. We've been busy. Maybe more blogging next year. MAYbe.

It snowed Sunday night. First snow of the year. Yay!

Oops, time to go home.

"Wanna put your ballot in my slot...."

Who says today's young people are apathetic about politics?

This song parody was on Mad TV on Saturday night.

http://www.hollywoodgrind.com/hilary-clinton-is-under-barack-obama-video/

Mailbag

Got two responses to recent entries.

J. writes, in response to the "helmet" question:

I have to think this is a phonetic spelling of “ailment”, especially if the writer might be used to hearing someone speaking English with some sort of other accent, like British or French. That’s funny stuff. I’ve gotten a few of those Nigerian scam emails lately, after I went a LONG time without getting one.

Lori writes:

Hey C, how are you? I was just catching up on your blog and I had to write you this second and tell you that I too wore sneakers under my wedding dress. The entire time. Not just after the ceremony. Every second of my wedding, I had on my lug-sole white canvas platform Sketchers (it was 2000, and that's what all the kids were wearing.) I still had to go to the podiatrist the next morning though, because by then I was wearing orthotic inserts for the heel spurs I had developed, and they wouldn't fit into those sneakers, so I went without. When I couldn't walk the next morning, I had to get a cortisone shot in my heel so that I could leave for my honeymoon the next day. Ah, good times, good times.
I'm enjoying the Hawaii pics very much!
-Lori

Thanks for writing, Lori and J!

Wow, three entries three days in a row, that might do it for this week. ;)

Tragic

I think today's scam letter was written by a romance novelist. Can anyone out there tell me what a "helmet" is as it relates to illness? Have the Nigerian translators been hit on their "helmets" too often?

Dear Beloved, Calvary greetings to you, I am Mr. Anderson. M. Tubman, from London born on the 12th of May 1943, i am not married and had no children I have been bedridden for two years, and there has been no medical improvement on my health

I have been suffering from a wicked helmet, called Cancer of the Lungs for over five years now, visited all medical homes, herbal, and churches all to no avail.

On the 13 of August 2006, my medical report was that I will not survive the helmet and my doctor advice me to put my home in order and be in expectant of death at any time, I resolved inside of me to sell all my companies, properties and inheritance and deposit it in a Security Company here in London, on the 24th of August 2006 I contacted my lawyer to sell all the inheritance, properties and companies and deposit the fund which is FORTY FIVE MILLION DOLLARS ($45M DOLLARS) ...I have this last wish from God to help me sow this money as a seed into the lives of the needy and helpless, motherless, fatherless, widows and widowers...Beloved, all I require from you is your personal information which includes as below:

Monday

Good afternoon, all!

I had another wonderful weekend with the hubby, as usual. I am thankful for every great thing that happened to me this year, especially marrying him.

For all you people of the Jewish persuasion, or those buying gifts for them, Hannukah is early this year: it begins at sundown on Dec. 4. Surprise! I guess the good news is, I have done most of my shopping already.

On another important note, "Rudolph" is on Dec. 3 on ABC Family. Hey, that matters to some people.

Thoughts on writing and revising

I'm in a writing group that meets once a month. We sit around, read about 1-8 pages of our works-in-progress, and critique each other.

Last Friday, this dude in the group who has been revising his novel told us, "I have a friend who says you should get rid of all adverbs from your writing."

Most of us responded that that sounded like a bunch of hooey served up for consumption in a tired old college writing workshop (or words to that effect).

He agreed, but noted that in one of his sentences, "He scared her and she shook apprehensively," he really didn't need the word "apprehensively." "How else would she have shaken?" he asked.

We also agreed.

Anyway, the point is that there are exceptions to every writing rule, and you can't sit around revising yourself to death. Maybe in that case, that one worked, but not always.

Which leads me to...

On the cover of this week's Newsweek is a story about the new handheld systems that let you download books, and you read them on the screen. They ask if this will be the end of books as we know them. Well, I'd say, probably not...but I have no problem with these devices. You still have to pay $9.99 per book, so it will still benefit writers and publishers. You usually will get the first chapter of any book free, which is interesting. I prefer to browse before I buy, so as a consumer, I like the idea. I also think it will lead to writers revising their beginnings a lot more, which they should. Heck, you know I do!

I won't be purchasing one of these devices, because I think they're of most value to people who commute or take planes for business travel a lot. Having to schlep 2-3 new books onto a plane each time would be daunting. But for me, when it comes to reading a book, I'd still rather sit down with a real book rather than with a device. And it needs no batteries.

Newsweek also notes that this innovation means that someday, writers will be able to continually upgrade their books. Ay carumba! Some of us will never finish! I have a few nips and tucks I'd like to go back and make to my book... ;)

Anyway, that's my thoughts on writing for today. HAVE A GREAT THANKSGIVING!!!

Love (and thanks for reading), me

Personal ad jerk

The Hubby e-mailed me a link to this newscast about a guy who sent a jerky response to an internet dater. After she rejected him (following one e-mail exchange), he told her she was out of shape, and reminded her that he was a successful Ivy grad with a car, bla bla.

http://gawker.com/news/john-fitzgerald-page/if-this-could-happen-to-an-ivy-league-grad-someone-with-an-iq-like-mine-this-could-happen-to-anybody-324920.php?autoplay=true

You know, I have thought about posting some thoughts on dating here, but there are so many exceptions to every rule, piece of advice, or experience I can think of. Still, I think people should always follow one rule when dating: DO NOT BE MEAN.

If someone is putting him or herself out there, they are automatically vulnerable. Rejections should be done nicely, and with consideration for the other person's feelings. If you don't like someone, then fine, but don't insult them.

I remember that one time a guy kept e-mailing me with really short emails that said nothing at all about himself. His profile said very little, too. I responded once, asking him some questions, and he didn't answer any of them. So I basically knew nothing about him except for a few words and his constant, continual requests for my phone number. He kept asking for my phone number, both by IM'ing me constantly and emailing for it. I was already corresponding with some other people, and didn't want to give out my number to someone who didn't tell me anything about himself. Finally, I wrote back and said I'd gotten busy, but wished him good luck. He responded, "Fine, I really do not think we'd be a match. I really do not like your new photo at all!" I guess he did that to save face. Ah well. I am so glad to be out of that mess. It's not easy, it really isn't.

Literary thought for the day

Inside every fat manuscript, there is a thin manuscript waiting to get out.

Wicked wintry wet weather



I took this photo on Thursday, actually, but it's just as
wet and yucky today! Except, most of those leaves are gone.

Same song

One of the harder things about writing a novel, especially starting a new one, is trying to write it while avoiding cliches or things that have been done before.

Of course, nothing ever seems completely original -- it's been said that every story uses a plot that has either been in Shakespeare or the Bible already.

Still, I am always surprised when something sells that has a very similar plot to what's already been done. Yet, it's a vague enough plot that if the writing is great, it can still come out as original and new.

So I assume this will be a pretty good novel, even though there are a few chick-lit novels that had similar plots, especially one of my favorite - L.A. Woman by Cathy Yardley, which I read a few years ago.

This is what just sold:

Deirdre Shaw's DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM, about a 29-year-old woman who follows her boyfriend from New York to L.A., to find that her life there is nothing like what she envisioned, leaving her to redefine love, career, and family, to Laura Ford at Random House, by Katharine Cluverius at ICM.

Random House and ICM! Two pretty big entities. OK, I'll give it a shot whenever it comes out.

Anyway, have a great weekend, all!

Tooth or consequences

If I get a postcard from the dentist that says, "It's time for your regular dental check-up. Please call our office today to schedule an appointment," and someone took a ballpoint pen and specifically underlined "Please," should I be worried?

Almost paradiiiiiiise

Here are some photos from Hawaii.

By the way, I am now down to approximately 25 individual readers per day. Ah well - I never claimed to want to be popular!

Monday musings

(I'll get some Hawaii photos up Tue or Wed.)

Writing update

It's been a long time since I've started anything from scratch, writing-wise. The last few years, since my two Red Dress Ink novels came out, I've been revising my teen book.

My agent finally sent out my teen book to a bunch of editors two weeks ago. Yay! I spent a lot of tender loving care on it over the years, shaded in the characters and the story, and pruned the things that slowed the story down - even if there was some cutesy writing in there. Now it moves quickly.

And now I just wait to see if it sells. No more asking for it back to do just a few more revisions. Of course, editors may give it back and ask us for some changes, but I really think it's in good shape - I just have to see if people "get" it.

So that leaves me possibly starting something new some day. I have two ideas for adult novels (I mean, as opposed to kids' novels, not as in "porn" or something) and one pre-teen novel I wrote years ago that I'd like to revise and make much better.

I'm mostly resting now, just waiting to see if anything happens with my current teen novel. It could take months to hear back. I'm glad I have some new novel ideas, but nothing at all that I need to rush on. It's really a rest period, and I've got a new marriage to focus on.

Still, there are always a few projects in mind, and it's important for me to think of a lot of different aspects of them so that when I start writing them, there are some rich plot and character details already to work with.

I am hopeful that the teen book that's being sent out will sell, becase I think people will like it and it'll make them think.

Fight the power

Starbucks has a lot of holiday coffee and cappuccino flavors. But why don't they ever do something more healthy, like Split Pea Cappuccino or Ham & Cheese Mocha Dream? Maybe I'll suggest that. Who's with me?

Wow, the silence is deafening.

Clothes

I just cleaned out my closets. One of the frustrating things about seasons that go back and forth, temperature-wise, is that it's hard to put away things if you think you'll need them again soon. But I just packed my summer clothes away. Whew.

Sneakers

Someone e-mailed me to point out that wearing sneakers would not work with every wedding dress. Just to clarify: You couldn't actually SEE my shoes under my dress, so it really didn't matter what I wore under it, even though some people get really uptight about that sort of thing. If you want more height, I guess you have to wear high heels. But you'll be doing a lot of running around, so if you want to be comfortable, and no one's gonna see your shoes anyway, consider sneakers!

Computers

My computer is an 8-year-old Dell, so me and the hubby may be investing in a new computer soon. If anyone has any Mac-vs.-PC feelings and wants to e-mail me their thoughts and suggestions, feel free. We mostly use our 'puter to surf the internet, check e-mail, write, and I may do some updating on my writing website someday.

P.S.

Speaking of writing, my good friend Jon has written a book, and you should read it next month when it comes out. More to come.

Holy cow!

Brilliant young writer Ned Vizzini is engaged!

Congrats, Ned and Sarah! Remember, do YOUR wedding YOUR way. Avoid the pressure.

Wear sneakers under your dress if you want to!!


(ignore the date in the photo - it's wrong)

To others: Read Ned's books. They read like buttah. (And buy them, 'cause hell, he'll need the money soon. ;)

Oh, the photo below is supposed to be funny; I'll publish some nicer Hawaii photos next week. And not of McDonald's and Quizno's. (Although they were both there).

Paradise


For those who wanted to see photos from Hawaii, here's one!

Don't worry, there are plenty more like this.

Aloha

The hubby and I have returned from our honeymoon. It was beautiful, walking along the beach and swimming in the pool every day. Now we are back to the cold weather.

As many of you know, "honeymoon" is a term derived from the ancient practice of mooning your honey. During our honeymoon, we ate lots of pupu and were lucky to get lei'd.

Mahalo!

BOO!!!

Scared ya, didn't I? Okay, maybe not.

There is always something pleasurable about getting something for free. Maybe it's the fact that you know you don't have to stop enjoying it because of the price - especially if that free thing is food.

Halloween was something I looked forward to during all of October as a kid. Many of you did, too. It's so odd that this strange holiday, which has us literally asking strangers for candy, has lasted into modern times - but hey, it did.

There were some wonderful aspects beyond the candy, as well. I always enjoyed catching that glimpse into the foyer of a house where you didn't know the neighbor, but you saw the house all the time - and now you got to see how they lived for a moment. You also got to see what they chose to give out. If they gave out any kind of chocolate bar, they got points in my book. Those annoying Bit-O-Honeys and Mary Janes, which broke your braces, had to go. And what were those B-B-Bats (banana taffy on a stick?!) and Sugar Daddys (caramel on a stick?) What out-of-touch person was giving those out?? They would sit in my trick-or-treat bag for a year, along with the red and white swirly mints.

Sucking candy was bottom of the barrel, but if it was a Charms or Life Savers lollypop, at least it was big and had character. I liked those. Dum-Dums pops were just weak.

Although apples and pennies weren't my favorites, I still appreciated them.

My brother and I would ride our bikes around our development of contempra homes weeks before Halloween, mapping out our route. Then, we would forage into the night, trying to collect the most treats before the sun went down. (How did we do all this adventuring without cell phones? Egad!) We always gave up when it started getting chilly and we started getting tired. We came home, spread our loot on the rug, and traded. And we always said the same thing: "We shoulda got more treats!"

One year, brother and I went out as a two-headed monster. We both fit inside one of our dad's white t-shirts and wrote on it, "The two-headed, four-footed monster." We kept our own pants on.

Unfortunately, two older kids from the neighborhood came up and asked to look in our bag, then took some of our stuff. They grinned and walked away. My brother and I wanted to run from them, but it is very hard to run as a two-headed monster.

When we got home, I told my mom about it, and she told me to call one of the kids' mothers, who lived up the block. So I did. She promptly sent the kid over to give us some of HIS candy.

"Don't blame me if there's poison in it," he said ruefully.

Anyway, those were some impromptu Halloween memories. What are yours?

Finally, happy November! I won't be posting for the rest of the week because I'll be in sugar shock, so enjoy yours!

V-J Day

Yesterday, the New York Times had an article on the origins of the term "va-jay-jay." I had actually been wondering about that. They quoted linguistics professors, etc. Aren't you dying to know?

Random

Here are some photos sitting on various parts of my computer, related to brief things I haven't had much chance to mention - and some that are totally random.



Photo of me in camp when I was maybe 8.



Only someone who really knew me and loved me would surprise me by getting me this. And he did! ;)



It's been determined that all members of my household are fans of these annual Entenmann's treats.

Someone hung this up in my neighborhood recently. Either that, or a witch got stuck.

Fall leaves

I love the change in the weather up here for fall, and the beautiful changing leaves - when they actually change. This year, it's been so hot (except for a few spurts of normalcy) that the leaves haven't changed much. However, the Hubby was kind enough to take me to a cool old NY waterfront town to do some leaf-peeping anyway.

Here are a few photos. As you can see, the leaves are falling, but not completely changing. You know, the leaves have to WANT to change!

Hmmmm

Yeah, I have not had much time for blogging. Buuuut I swear that at times, I think of really great ideas for blog entries. Great ones! Not much consolation, is it?

I still want to write my "triage" entry, or series of entries. Triage, as you probably know, is the idea in medicine, particularly during war-time, that if you are dealing with injuries, you have to tend to the most serverely injured first, even if that means neglecting others for a while. I guess it's another way of saying "make priorities," only, it's for really dire situations, and has worse consequences.

What I've thought about is smaller-scale situations in my life. For instance, I work for a relatively small company. There are people whose last names I haven't learned - simply because they are relatively new - but worse, there are also people whose names I don't know at all, just because they are in a different department.

It would be classy and honorable if I actually made an effort one day to know everyone's name (even if some are just there for the short-term). Then again, if I spend the effort on that, it might take away from other more pressing aspects of work. (OKay, it's not a ton of "effort," but it still means making it a priority.)

At a former job of mine, the wealthy owner used to come in and putter around, asking everyone how they were doing, what their problems were, etc. Everyone found that amazing. Yet, I also know that he didn't really need to work, so he had more time to be generous. He also had a huuuuge network of people who loved him and supported him in whatever he did. So he had time to spread that love. But shouldn't I be more like him, palling around with everyone in the office? Would that make me more personable and a better worker, or a phony? It's something that, in a perfect world, I'd do - at least know a little about everyone in my company.

This is at the less significant part of the spectrum of triage. My bigger issue is that I'd like to - cliche on the way - "make the world a better place." But there are so many things that need fixin'...where to start? It's not like I can solve all the problems - best to just pick one small way to help, somewhere. Not at the expense of my loved ones or job, of course. But where to start?

That's an aspect for another post someday....

Disclaimer: I kinda just wrote that, not very well-organized, so judge it that way. Some of this just comes out. Maybe if I revised, it'd be more cohesive. Just my thoughts. Anyway, I wrote it on Saturday but am posting it Sunday. On Monday: Photos of fall leaves, as I went "leaf peeping" with the hubby. Unfortunately, the weather is not so conducive for leaf changes.

BASTARDS!!!

Most smartest

Most reality shows annoy me. But I found one that actually made me laugh.

It's called "America's Most Smartest Model" and of course, the purpose is just to make fun of models. I imagine that the models on the show realize that. They still want the publicity anyway.
The show judges models on their looks and moves, but also asks them history and spelling questions.

During the first episode, they had to walk the runway and say a list of things, with the category given by the judges. For instance, they would tell one guy "Kinds of dinosaur" and he had to walk the runway saying "Stegosaurus, brontosaurus..."

So anyway, during the course of this, they asked a French model to name things that smell bad.

He said: "Socks, trash, dirty laundry, dirty penis..."

At the end, Ben Stein said, "Did you say, 'Dirty penis'?"

The model replied, in his French accent, "Well, does it smell bad?"

Next, they asked a ditsy-looking woman to name things that were round. So she came out and walked the runway saying something like, "Grapefruit, balls, cherries, grapefruit, balls, cherries."

At that point, I broke down and started laughing hysterically. The Hubby just stared at me strangely. Thank God I didn't do this before the wedding or there might not have been one.

Anyway, don't forget to watch "America's Most Smartest Model" so that you can get your jollies pretending you are superior to people who look much better than you.

On another night, we are hosting trivia tonight. See ya!

Trivia

The Hub and I are hosting Tuesday Night Trivia on...well, Tuesday! So come play.

Information and directions here. The press release is a bit old, but the info is the same. Oh, it's in New York City.

Good readin'

My friend Jodi from elementary school only updates her blog occasionally, but when she does, it's REALLY worth reading. She is a stupendous writer, and very funny. If you remember Balki from "Perfect Strangers," read this entry dated Sept. 11. There's a surprise at the end.

Another friend of mine has a touching entry about friends or lovers who may be out of our lives, but left a lasting effect by teaching us something. Read it here.

Finally, a few weeks ago, the New York Times stopped forcing people to pay to read their old articles, so now you can pretty much get anything. Including some of my nutty pieces. Despite the serious headline, this is meant to be funny.

Have a great weekend! It's supposed to be sunny and cool, and I'm hoping the leaves will be purty.