J's 4th grade teacher stopped me on Friday to give me some poems that she said had touched her and she wanted me to read. I'm not a poetry person. Except for Shel Silverstein (who is a God) and the odd bit from Auden, I don't have the patience. None of them had titles, but I wanted to post one here:
#1
Anger breaks the morning silence
When war destroys the peaceful city.
Snow falls like cotton on the bloody red floor.
Newspapers hold the knowledge of the battle.
Memories clog your head with sadness.
My son wrote this. He's 9.
Agent E sent me another don't-think-it's-for-me letter (I'm not going to say the R word) this morning. I think we're close, but no cigars yet. We've been sending revision ideas back and forth via email (did I mention that she is the best agent?) and it's gotten me excited to take another crack at the manuscript. I also had a great idea for my YA that I've been a little stuck on while I was walking the dog so, while not a stellar good-news morning, not altogether a loser.
On this date: In 2003, the war in Iraq began.
Monday, March 19, 2007
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Reading in the 21st Century
T and I were reading tonight when he hops off the bed, turns to me and says, "Mom, put the book on pause - I have to go to the bathroom."
On this date: In 461, St. Patrick died.
On this date: In 461, St. Patrick died.
Friday, March 16, 2007
TK 2.0 Sucks...
On everything. Fingers, towels, hair and just whisper the word "bottle" in his teeny tiny ear and he's gone. See:
He's looking less rat-like and more cat-like. So far so good. Have a great weekend!
On this date: In 1985, Terry Anderson was kidnapped in Beirut.
He's looking less rat-like and more cat-like. So far so good. Have a great weekend!
On this date: In 1985, Terry Anderson was kidnapped in Beirut.
Thursday, March 15, 2007
A Dog and His Guy
When Big Hairy Dog was a baby, we bought him expensive dog-toys from the pet store. Now we're smarter and buy him his "guys" from the thrift store for 50 cents a pop. My mom is a teddy-bear collector from way back and can't be in the same room when I give BHD a new guy - she's even stolen a few from his stash before he could get to them.
The latest guy was missing a few limbs (and a nose), plus BHD left him out in the sprinklers so he was soggy:
Time for a new guy. Now, sometimes BHD will get a guy and just carry him around and love on him for a week or so before tearing him apart. Other times, like today, he grabs the guy and goes to town. The new guy was eviscerated within a minute and a half:
Not sure if this means he loves this particular guy, or hates this particular guy. I think it might be the former, because right after I took this photo, BHD grabbed the guy and dared me to take him back:
Never get between a dog and his guy.
On this date: In 44BC, the Ides of March; Julius Caesar is murdered.
PS: TK2.0 is doing great!
The latest guy was missing a few limbs (and a nose), plus BHD left him out in the sprinklers so he was soggy:
Time for a new guy. Now, sometimes BHD will get a guy and just carry him around and love on him for a week or so before tearing him apart. Other times, like today, he grabs the guy and goes to town. The new guy was eviscerated within a minute and a half:
Not sure if this means he loves this particular guy, or hates this particular guy. I think it might be the former, because right after I took this photo, BHD grabbed the guy and dared me to take him back:
Never get between a dog and his guy.
On this date: In 44BC, the Ides of March; Julius Caesar is murdered.
PS: TK2.0 is doing great!
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Digital Denial
I just spoke to the last woman in America without a cell phone.
I was the second-to-last woman in American without a cell phone until my DH tricked me last fall. He had to get a new one that worked overseas, and came home with two. It was two for one honey, what was I supposed to do? So now, I have a cell phone that is usually sitting on my dresser, and if I do have it on me the batteries are dead. People who know me, know that, so it usually works out. They also know that I never, ever answer call waiting (I hate putting people on ignore) and not to bother sending me chain emails because I'll always opt for the bad luck. I don't GPS, but I do mapquest. I don't text message, but I live on email. I got my laptop for my birthday and it is my most favorite inanimate object in the whole world. But I'll never get a Blackberry.
It's not that I'm a Luddite or anything - I love technology, but I love to pick and choose which technology I become a slave to. I'm just not that important. Don't get me started on people who have those little cell phones hanging off their ears.
Online shopping? Check. Tivo? Check. Blog? Check. Email? Check, check. If you call my cell, be prepared to leave a message. One other thing; the last woman in America without a cell phone? She sounded quite relaxed.
On this date: In 1879, Albert Einstein was born.
I was the second-to-last woman in American without a cell phone until my DH tricked me last fall. He had to get a new one that worked overseas, and came home with two. It was two for one honey, what was I supposed to do? So now, I have a cell phone that is usually sitting on my dresser, and if I do have it on me the batteries are dead. People who know me, know that, so it usually works out. They also know that I never, ever answer call waiting (I hate putting people on ignore) and not to bother sending me chain emails because I'll always opt for the bad luck. I don't GPS, but I do mapquest. I don't text message, but I live on email. I got my laptop for my birthday and it is my most favorite inanimate object in the whole world. But I'll never get a Blackberry.
It's not that I'm a Luddite or anything - I love technology, but I love to pick and choose which technology I become a slave to. I'm just not that important. Don't get me started on people who have those little cell phones hanging off their ears.
Online shopping? Check. Tivo? Check. Blog? Check. Email? Check, check. If you call my cell, be prepared to leave a message. One other thing; the last woman in America without a cell phone? She sounded quite relaxed.
On this date: In 1879, Albert Einstein was born.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
TK 2.0
So, many of you know the story of TK who came to live with us in October (see post of Feb 22nd). Well, now we have TK2.o taking up residence in the kitchen.
A friend of ours found the litter abandoned under her house but unfortunately he is the only one left. So far, food is going in, food is going out and he's sleeping which is pretty much what should happen with a 4ish day old kitten.
I've had bottle babies this young many times, but so far TK#1 is the only big success. TK2.0 seems to be doing pretty well, he's gained 1/2 ounce in a day which is a good sign. If he does well, I'll keep you updated. The people who found him are anxious to have him back for good, so at least he has a nice home waiting for him.
Cheryl Klein sometimes posts recipes for baked goods, so I thought I'd post my favorite recipe for kitten glop, which is the best thing to feed a newbie.
Kitten Glop
Mix together and set aside:
2pkts Knox unflavored gelatin
2 cups boiling water
Mix together (whisk after every addition):
4 eggs
4 tbsp plain yogurt
2 tbsp safflower oil
1 can (12 oz) evaporated goat milk
1/2 cup canned pumpkin (not pie mix)
2 taurine capsules (get at health food store - open capsules and empty into mix)
After mixing, add the Knox gelatin you had set aside. This will keep in the fridge for about a week. Don't panic when you open the fridge and it's weird orange gelatin - this is what it is supposed to look like. Just scoop out what you need, warm it in the micro (be careful not to make it too hot) and give it to the babies in a bottle. You can also freeze it either in bags or in ice cube trays. Happy feeding!
On this date: In 1969, Disney released The Love Bug
A friend of ours found the litter abandoned under her house but unfortunately he is the only one left. So far, food is going in, food is going out and he's sleeping which is pretty much what should happen with a 4ish day old kitten.
I've had bottle babies this young many times, but so far TK#1 is the only big success. TK2.0 seems to be doing pretty well, he's gained 1/2 ounce in a day which is a good sign. If he does well, I'll keep you updated. The people who found him are anxious to have him back for good, so at least he has a nice home waiting for him.
Cheryl Klein sometimes posts recipes for baked goods, so I thought I'd post my favorite recipe for kitten glop, which is the best thing to feed a newbie.
Kitten Glop
Mix together and set aside:
2pkts Knox unflavored gelatin
2 cups boiling water
Mix together (whisk after every addition):
4 eggs
4 tbsp plain yogurt
2 tbsp safflower oil
1 can (12 oz) evaporated goat milk
1/2 cup canned pumpkin (not pie mix)
2 taurine capsules (get at health food store - open capsules and empty into mix)
After mixing, add the Knox gelatin you had set aside. This will keep in the fridge for about a week. Don't panic when you open the fridge and it's weird orange gelatin - this is what it is supposed to look like. Just scoop out what you need, warm it in the micro (be careful not to make it too hot) and give it to the babies in a bottle. You can also freeze it either in bags or in ice cube trays. Happy feeding!
On this date: In 1969, Disney released The Love Bug
Monday, March 12, 2007
Will Write for Friendship
I went to a kidlit conference over the weekend and it was good to reconnect with some writer pals that I only see there (hi Linda Joy and Cassandra). I was thinking about the first one I went to, which was only two years ago, but it feels like a lifetime. Things are different now; I don't feel the overwheming urge to try and get some face time with whatever agent or editor is there, I've heard most of it before (although there is always a new thought-nugget to come away with) but the biggest difference is that a lot of the time when someone is speaking, I'm fantasizing what I'm going to talk about when it's my turn up there. I'll probably throw up from fear, the Powerpoint will mess up and the microphone will keep coming unplugged ;) but I still think about what it would be like to be on that side of it. Someday, when I have something interesting to say.
More than ever I want to find a local writers group to hang out with. I don't necessarily want to critique, just kibbitz. My other writer buddies live too far away to get together regularly, and online avenues aren't really working out, so I'm thinking about sitting outside my local bookstore with a little cardboard sign and a cup for people to put their phone numbers into. If you should happen to see me, be kind.
On this date: In 1933, FDR gave the first fireside chat.
More than ever I want to find a local writers group to hang out with. I don't necessarily want to critique, just kibbitz. My other writer buddies live too far away to get together regularly, and online avenues aren't really working out, so I'm thinking about sitting outside my local bookstore with a little cardboard sign and a cup for people to put their phone numbers into. If you should happen to see me, be kind.
On this date: In 1933, FDR gave the first fireside chat.
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