Stuff on my camera...

Column for my college paper in which I made the case that every student should have access to e-mail. From around 1992. Bold stance, no?

Smoked gouda mac and cheese I made on Monday when I was off. Conclusion: Really not worth the hour to buy the ingredients and cook it. Sometimes from scratch or homemade just ends up wasting time. It was ok, but I could have probably picked it up at a restaurant somewhere and still saved money and effort.

Short story I wrote in high school. Will explain later.

Blogfan Sam writes:

I think you should have kept it "hivernating".. perhaps spelling it to show it's not a mistake, like HIVEernating or hive-ernating. Maybe you would have gotten an A instead of a B (or a Bee). Just a thought, revisit that story and turn it into a children's book.

Response:

Good idea! It would get a lot of BUZZ!

At least not everyone rejected me.

...thank you, Muffin!

Another found item, this from eighth grade. I think this is from Holmdel Happenings. The only nice thing to happen in snooty ol' Holmdel. I got a $50 savings bond.

Yay!

They only rejected me later. What a tease.

(See more new stuff below.)

One writer's beginnings.

I actually wrote "hivernate," but then I realized teachers would just think I was making a mistake, so I corrected it. Dang.

Yes, it's all for the best

"If at the moment you are wondering if all of your efforts have gone for nought, I can't blame you. But I hope that in time you will come to realize that is not so. Whatever disappointment there may be at not gaining admission to Princeton will eventually pass. What will remain and stand you in good stead the rest of your life are the admirable personal qualities and accomplishments that came through in your application."

It might as well have started, "Dear Shitster..."

P.S. The hubby says: "April 12, 1989? I was in eighth grade!"

Moving

So we've been moving. I've been in my apartment for a whopping 17 years, so there's a lot of stuff. Plus I have childhood stuff in there, since my parents left my childhood home long ago and I had to drag my things to college and various apts. after that.

Moving means finding little things from your past and deciding whether to keep them. Today I went through some papers and found the following two gems:

1. My rejection letter from Princeton.
2. A letter from my brother that begins, "Dear Shitster..."

Jeopardy! On-line test

Baby slept right through it. None of the questions were about spitting up anyway. Here's a Youtube video of someone taking the test. I did so-so.

Had to move some of my (many, many) journals to a new location this week. More explanation forthcoming. Meanwhile, found some original scribblings of my first novel:

This is Poopardy!

I'm going to take the Jeopardy! on-line test this week. The baby is going to help me cheat if any of the topics are as follows:

POOP
BREASTMILK
CUTENESS
SMILES
WAKING UP AT 4:15 AM
CLANDESTINE SOCK REMOVAL

iPhone copy thanks to Brad

Chick lit and 'Sex and the City' being studied academically

Hey, yesterday's entry was all I had time to write! Anyway, there is now an academic book out about chick lit. The author interviewed me several years ago. She's very nice! It started as an article. I'll have to see if I can get my hands on a copy of the book.

I wonder if she's start a class at UNH about chick lit. Ooh, assign my book! Must work on a bribe...

Dogs should live at least as long as cats.

If you're ever feeling hopeless...

...reaching out to someone, particularly a professional, is a good idea. I'm spurred to write this mainly because of something I just read on the internet. Look how quickly things may change for this person. And all she did was write to a wacky advice columnist...

Two nice reviews

After a lull, I got two nice reviews in a row last week! Maybe the snow is keeping people inside and reading... or maybe they knew my 40th b-day was coming and they felt bad for me. Hee!

First one.

And second.

Also, School Library Journal said some nice things, so maybe school libraries will buy it now. Their review is posted on Amazon.

I notice that Amazon says there are 72 reviews, when there were only 71 a few days ago. I don't see the new one up, so it must be pending.

This morning...

In case you were wondering

N.J.S.A. 26:4B-4 Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, a mother shall be entitled to breast feed her baby in any location of a place of public accommodation, resort or amusement wherein the mother is otherwise permitted.

EFFECTIVE MAY 19, 1997

The Legislature finds and declares that: the Surgeon General of the United States recommends that babies from birth to one year of age should be breast fed, unless medically contraindicated, in order to achieve a healthy start on life; breast milk strengthens the immune system of babies, improves digestion and is of better nutritional value than regular milk; other benefits include the establishment of a strong mother-baby bond and a potential increase in baby's IQ level; despite the Surgeon General's recommendation, statistics reveal a declining number of women are choosing to breast feed their children, and nearly half of all new mothers are now choosing formula over breast milk even before they leave the hospital; the social constraints of modern society impede a woman's choice to breast feed due to embarrassment, fear of criminal prosecution and lack of public acceptance; therefore, it is in the best interest of the State to recognize breast feeding in places of public accommodation as an important right which must be encouraged in order to promote child health.

I want to beeeee a part of it, in old Nyack...

Hubby took me for b-day dinner to a lovely restaurant in Nyack. It was my choice, and I chose it as much for the cute town it was in then for how good the food looked. Nyack is an old artsy waterfront town in New Yawk state. Here are some pics from around the restaurant.

A couple was even getting married there! Brrr, it was a bit cold to be wearing your wedding duds outside.

If you go to the restaurant, I definitely recommend their crab ravioli. Good portion, good taste.

What a drag it is getting old

I am sorry this blog has gotten boring. I think I have some good entries brewing, particularly since I'm about to turn...um...30...well, ok, 40...shhhh. So as soon as I find the time, I will write.

Do some of you really not care about getting older? Ugh.

Luckily, I am going to be consuming something on this birthday that harks back to the birthdays of my youth. HINT.

Happy new year!

I had a great 2010, but clearly not everyone did. So...onward and upward!!

Happy new year!

Instead of hunting and wounding helpless animals, my husband brought back THIS delightful meal. The yellowish one is champagne!

Anyway, thanks for being such good readers and friends this year. Stay tuned...I'm turning 40 soon, and that will probably result in at least a couple of entries.

Have a great one!

Worst and best

A few days ago I mentioned that someone thought my book was the worst book of 2010. Well, this person thinks it was the best. Different strokes!