I'm reposting the contest info. It's at the bottom of the post below which is quite possible one of the loooongest posts I've ever written! But that's because yesterday's was such an interesting adventure.
So, between now and Monday at midnight my time (Pacific), guess what's the most number of stings Dr. Laura Hershey, Bee Lady Extraordinaire has sustained in a single episode. Post your number in the comments section. The closest person wins an ARC (Advance Reader's Copy) of Julia Gillian by Alison McGhee or The Year My Sister Got Lucky by Aimee Friedman. The first ARC is a middle-grade novel; the second is young adult.
AND AND AND I'll toss in one of the delicious I So Don't Do Mysteries Hershey Crunch bars!
I'll check the comments section of this post and the one below. No worries
Friday, May 16, 2008
And now a contest....
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Enter the Bee Lady... (and a contest)
Dr. Laura Hershey, Bee Lady, Chiropractor, Sculptor and Avid Surfer, showed up at 6:00 AM to deal with our bees.
She is a DELIGHTFUL personality. And, as a non-morning person, I can't say that about many people at 6:00 AM. Maybe not even any.
But Laura is one of those people (and we've all stumbled across them at various points in our life) that you're just so glad you had the chance to meet. She's truly an individual, very comfortable with what she's doing and where she's at. She's kind and patient and full of interesting tidbits of bee information.
So, Laura arrives. She's got thick dark-framed glasses and polka-dot rubber boot ("wellies" for those of you out there who use the term). She's dressed in her beekeeper's outfit, including long, thick gloves and a hat with netting.
Her equipment: an empty cardboard box that was originally used for holding clay. And two old sheets. One was a faded floral print; the other was a children's sheet with a fun animal motif. I distinctly remember a bunch of surfing pigs and several passive grazing sheep.
Laura observes our bees and informs me that we have a friendly colony of European honey bees.
I feel a little parental proudness about the friendly part. Like the Summy family would even consider hosting mean, African bees in their garden!
Before calling me outside, this is what Laura does: She places a sheet on the ground in the garden. Next, she sets the open and empty card box on the ground next to the cable box. She removes the cable box lid, reaches in and picks up a ball of bees and wax, then shakes said ball over the open card board box. A TON of bees land in the box, including the queen. Laura folds over the flaps on the card box, but doesn't seal it. This means bees can still fly in and out.
I join the scene to see many bees perched on one of the flaps, their little bee bottoms up in the air, their little wings flapping furiously. There is a very definite smell of caramel. Laura explains that the caramel smell tells the bees not yet in the box that a nice new home has been found and invites them to come on in.
After a while, Laura doublewraps the card board box in both sheets and places it in the hatchback of her car. She's transporting our bees to Boulevard, CA (about 65 miles southeast of San Diego, very close to the Mexican border) where she has a friend who keeps bees.
Laura tells me that, by next fall, our bees will have produced some very delicious sage honey. I'm going to call her in October to see if we can drive down to Boulevard to buy some of that honey. And visit our bees. No, no, of course, we won't bring Child #3.
Apparently, there will be some bee activity around the cable box for about a week. There were bees who, for whatever reason, didn't buy into the caramel smell and didn't join their colony in the card board box. And there were bees who were already out foraging and will return to an empty hive. Without a queen, these bees will not start a new colony, but will provide snacks for sparrows and crows.
And here's a SHOCKING AND SCARY NUMBER: Laura estimates there were FOUR THOUSAND bees in our colony!!!! (one exclamation mark per thousand)
I did get some pictures. With Laura's cell phone. My camera's battery had died.
This is Dr. Laura Hershey, (well, her hand, boot and leg!) the bee lady, with the card board box of bees.
Another shot of Laura by the garden.
Laura doublesheets the card board box.
If you live in San Diego county and are ever in need of the bee lady, here's her contact info. Also, I didn't ask, but I bet she'd be willing to do a class visit. Okay, here's the info:
Dr. Laura Hershey, 4783 Pescadero Avenue, San Diego, CA 92107
(619) 222-5299
Now, how about a contest for those of you persistent souls who made it through this loooong post?
Between now and Monday at midnight my time (Pacific), guess what's the most number of stings Laura has sustained in a single episode. Post your number in the comments section. The closest person wins an ARC (Advance Reader's Copy) of Julia Gillian by Alison McGhee or The Year My Sister Got Lucky by Aimee Friedman. The first ARC is a middle-grade novel; the second is young adult.
AND AND AND I'll toss in one of the famous I So Don't Do Mysteries Hershey Crunch bars!
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
BEE ALERT!
Yesterday, at the bottom of our driveway was a HUGE HUGE HUGE swarm of BEES. Like a CLOUD of bees. (Sorry, I didn't get a picture of this.)
The bees' home: the cable box.
We scooted Child #3 inside the house.
You might remember that Child # has a major allergy to honey bees. As in Epi-Pen allergy.
I called Cox Cable.
We will be getting a visit from.....The Bee Lady!
The dark clumps on the front and side of the "box" are clumps of bees.
If you look closely, you can see a bunch of bees on the left side of the "box." I took these photos after the bees had calmed down and stopped swarming the end of our driveway.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Jennifer Bradbury
When Chris Collins and Winston Coggans take off on a post-graduation cross-country bike trek, Chris's hopes are high. He's looking forward to seeing the country, dodging a dull summer at a minimum wage job, and having one final adventure with his oldest friend. The journey from Hurricane, West Virginia to the coast of Washington state delivers all those things . . . and more.
So much more that when Chris returns home without Win at the end of the summer, he's certain their 10 year friendship is all but over. But when an FBI agent begins asking questions-and raising suspicions about Chris-he learns that saying goodbye to a friend like Win is never as simple as riding away. Shift offers an adventure story and a missing persons tale spinning around a single question: What happens when you outgrow your best friend?
It's book launch time again on the Class of 2k8 blog. This week belongs to Jennifer Bradbury, debut Young Adult author of Shift. Her publisher has already bought the second book!
Without giving too much away, let me just say that Jen is interesting, Very interesting.
Like she and her husband took a two-month long honeymoon to bicycle from Charleston, South Carolina to LA, California. I won't tell you how many tires they changed! Like she's been on a certain game show hosted by a certain Alex Trebek! Like while she was in India on a Fulbright Teaching Exchange, she wrote Shift. Uh, yeah, India!
Read an excerpt from Shift on Jen's author page on the Class of 2k8's website.
Check out interviews with Jen on the Class of 2k8's blog.
It's a fun week over there on the 2k8 blog. Come see us. :)
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Carolyn Wheat, local mystery author
It's that time again: My Town Monday. Only this week, we're talking about books to do with our hometown. 
I'm writing about Carolyn Wheat, a San Diego mystery author.
I first met Carolyn at a San Diego Sisters in Crime meeting. I ended up taking a mystery writing class she taught. It was pretty informal. We all sat around someone's living room while Carolyn talked. You had to pay attention because she was a rambler and, hidden in her ramblings, were nuggets about clues and red herrings and dialogue and characterization and plot. The class also involved her dissecting our manuscripts. Definitely not for the thin-skinned because Carolyn didn't candycoat. I learned a lot. Both from listening to her critique others' WIPs (works in progress) and from her comments about my own stuff.
Carolyn writes a smart mystery. Lots of twists and turns, everything nicely tied up at the end, interesting well-developed characters. She's the kind of writer who always delivers so when you read something of hers, you can kick back and enjoy. No worries that there'll be a gaping hole in the plot.
Carolyn practiced law in New York City for twenty something years. Her series of five mysteries showcases Cass Jameson, an attorney in New York City. It's a good series. Also, Carolyn has edited a few anthologies, and she's written many mystery short stories. 
Personally, I have a weakness for short stories. Especially dark short stories. Which means Tales Out of School is right up my alley. This is a collection of 19 crime stories written by Carolyn Wheat, most of them dark and depressing. Tales Out of School was nominated for a 2001 Anthony.
Funnily enough, Carolyn didn't realize short stories would be a forte. She wrote the first one only because a bunch of other mystery authors were getting into an anthology, and she didn't want to be left out.
We have several really good mystery authors here in San Diego. Carolyn just happens to be one of my favorites.
My Town Monday comes to us via Travis Erwin. Thanks, Travis! Click on his site to read his post about The Bone Pickers by Alan Dewlen and find links to the other participants. And thank you Josephine Damian who came up with pairing My Town Monday posts with book reviews.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Photos and Finances
As promised, here are a few photos from April's high school talk.
Here's a staged photo of me showing the Random House Fall Catalogue to a couple of male freshmen. Who were probably wishing I'd included several cute and adoring high school girls in the photo!
Chatting about Sherry in said catalogue
These were a very popular item: Hershey Crunch bars with an extraordinarily beautiful sleeve. The front is the cover of I So Don't Do Mysteries; the back is info like the pub date (Dec. 9, 2008) and the blog's url. Thank you LP for supplying the most beautifully decorated chocolate bars in the whole world!
Way in the background are delightful Class of 2k8 bookmarks. I gave them all away.
In financial news, I spent $55 last night on the way home from a local swim meet. On gas and milk.
That's it. Gas and a jug of milk. Granted, the gas needle was on empty and the light flashed on. And I did buy an entire gallon of milk. But, still, $55 seems somewhat excessive.
I may have to turn to tequila. For my van, that is. Here's an article on a home ethanol refinery that, for roughly $10K, will produce 35 gallons of gasoline a week.
Oh, by the way, congratulations to Child #2 for getting a personal best in the 200 yard free!
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
On sea stars and bat stars
Oh my stars, who knew yesterday's post would raise so many interesting marine life questions!
As near as I can tell, a bat star or sea bat (above), is a type of sea star or starfish. Now, doesn't that sound Dr. Seuss-ish? Anyway, they are both in the echinoderm family, meaning they both have spiny skin.
The bat star is webbed between its arms and it doesn't have pincers for cleaning at the end of its arms. It has little hairs instead. It grows up to about eight inches. Bat stars hang out in the Pacific Ocean from Alaska down to California. When two bat stars meet, they stop and have a little friendly arm wrestle.
Sea stars do have pincers at the ends of their arms. Sea stars can be anywhere from 1/2 inch to 3 feet in size. There are over 1800 speciies and they are found in all of Earth's oceans.
Did you know that sea stars are harvested with a mop-like device? The sea stars readily attach themselves to the mop thing, after which they're plucked off, then ground up and sold as fertilizer and poultry feed. Moral of the story: be careful what or who you glom onto.
The sea stars' biggest talent is its ability to regenerate from even a little bit of an arm.
Take this post with a huge grain of sea salt; I am no marine biologist, just an internet surfer.
And, now, for your viewing pleasure...
Here's a snake star. My favorite.
Here's a serpent star. 
Here's a basket star.
(from: www.edu/restoration/html, www.indyzoo.com, www.montereybayaquarium.com)
Monday, May 5, 2008
My Town Monday: San Diego Tide Pools
A very, very fun and inexpensive and educational San Diego activity is a trip to the tide pools. Our favorite tide pools are located on the rocky shoreline by Cabrillo National Monument in Point Loma. The address is: 1800 Cabrillo Memorial Drive, San Diego, CA 92106-3601
The tide pools are protected, so you can't take anything home with you. Don't even try to slip a shell or stone in your pocket. We take our ecosystems very seriously here in SoCal which is why there are rangers around. They'll help you identify what you're looking at and poking. But they're also kind of policing the area. In a friendly way.
The tide pool area is divided into four different zones, depending on how much of the land is covered by water. For example, the low intertidal zone is where the beach is covered by water 90% of the time. Then there's the middle intertidal zone which is only underwater 50% of the time. Next comes the high intertidal zone which is underwater 10% of the time. Finally, there's the splash zone.
Some creatures you might see are hermit crabs, sea anemones, sea cucumbers, star fish, owl limpets, eels, sea urchins, bat stars, sea hares, maybe even an octopus. And more.
sea anemone
Tide pools are best explored at low tide. There are two low tides a day. Even better, aim for a minus tide when the most beach is exposed. Minus tides occur in the winter. You can call this number for tide time: 619-5450 Ext. 0. Or this tide chart site is supposed to be accurate all year long for tide times. If you're not going to be near a computer when in San Diego, you can send away for this free pocket chart. Send a self-addressed, stamped #10 envelope to: Neal Hribar - tide chart @ Keller Williams Realty 6005 Hidden Valley Road, Suite 200 Carlsbad, CA 92011. I think I might order one of these myself. They look very cute and just the sort of item child #4 would like to tote around in her glittery pink purse.
Plan to get wet at the tide pools. Wear shoes with decent traction. The rocks get very slippery. Unfortunately, I speak from experience. 
sea cucumber
sea bat
(From: http://www.hribar.com/san-diego-tides.html,http://www.aroundandaboutsandiego.com/pltidepools.html,http://gorp.away.com/gorp/publishers/foghorn/hik_sca2.htm)
My Town Monday comes to us via Travis Erwin. Thanks, Travis! Click on his site to read his post about Charles Goodnight and find links to the other participants.
Friday, May 2, 2008
The company she keeps...
Here is the Random House Children's Books Fall 2008 Catalogue. It is extremely beautiful and full of tremendous reads.
And this is my girl on page 148! That little Sherry Baldwin sure is photogenic. If I do say so myself.
And here is Sherry making friends. I quite approve of who she's hanging with: Sammy Keyes, another 7th grade sleuth. Sammy's a good girl. Quick-witted, persistent and a loyal friend. Actually, I'm not sure Sammy's grandmother will wholly approve of Sherry who tends toward the boy crazy. I've got to believe, though, that these two girls would have a lot to talk about at slumber party. I doubt they'd sleep a wink.
And this is from page 248 where you'll find the ten authors in Random House's "It's a First!" group.
From the bottom of the page: "This fall 2008, Random House Children's Books is proud to collectively bring 10 fresh voices to readers with a list as diverse as it is strong."
And you can't really see from this picture, but there's another Class of 2k8 author in "It's a First!": Kristin O'Donnell Tubb who wrote the historical middle grade, Autumn Winifred Oliver Does Things Different.
Other authors who've been part of the "It's a First!" group include Christopher Paolini (Eragon), Libba Bray (A Great and Terrible Beauty), Jeanne DuPrau (The City of Ember).
Sherry, you're in good company.
You go, girl!
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
First off, BIG 2k8 news. It's Marissa Doyle's launch week. She's written a terrific historical YA, Bewitching Season. I'm reading it right now. Marissa's one of those people who writes well, knows a ton, is super fascinating, and you just know you'll click with in real life. I've really enjoyed getting to know her online. Anyway, here's a link to the Class of 2k8 blog where Marissa's posting all week long.
Second, I've been tagged by JaneyV at Whittering On. First meme, and quite possibly the last, I've ever done. I couldn't say no to Janey because she's so delightful and I love her blog. She tells it like it is. Plus, she's got a wicked sense of humor. I think I was also tagged for this meme ages ago by my good friend Maureen McGowan who is an excellent writer and does fab film reviews too. And lives two blocks from one of my sisters. Which is very weird considering Maureen and I met online and don't even live in the same country.
Anyway, here goes. Six random things about myself. (At least, they're not asking for six INTERESTING random things. I'd be up all night, racking my brains!)
1. If allowed, I will eat licorice until sick.
2. I don't like tea bags with strings.
3. I will never ever go whale watching on a boat again.
4. I'm not the least bit athletic, but my children are. Very.
5. I'm negligent about opening mail. This is not good for bill paying. Just ask San Diego Gas & Electric.
5. I'm going to Canada this summer for a long time. But it won't be long enough.
Okey dokey. That was less painful than I was expecting. Now for the fun part.
Rubbing hands gleefully, I tag:
the mystery starts here
doggybloggy
Deborah Dale
just another day
Nancy Viau
And, last, but certainly not least, I tag Brian-Ohio, who said mean mean things on his blog about my chameleons. (I really do forgive you, Brian.)
Here are the meme rules:
a. Link to the person who tagged you.
b. Post the rules on your blog.
c. Write six random things about yourself.
d. Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs.
e. Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment at their blog.
f. Let your tagger know when your entry is up.
I know how busy life can get, so meme if you have time, peeps. Except Brian because this is his penance. :)
In other news, today marks the release of two books I'll definitely pick up: Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr and One Foot in the Grave by Jeaniene Frost.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Gold Mine, Julian, CA
If you're up in the mountain town of Julian, CA (located about 60 miles northeast of San Diego), the Eagle and High Peak Mine is a must-visit. The mine is at the end of C Street. I'd definitely phone ahead for the hours of operation (760-765-0036).
The Eagle and High Peak Mine offers hour-long tours through the tunnels where the guide will regale you with facts about gold mining and stories of days gone by. The tour isn't too expensive (about $10/adult and $5/child). And it's really, really interesting. By the end, you'll be tossing around terms like sluice box and rockers and stamps and placer gold. Our guide was bitten by the gold bug several years ago and actually pans on her days off. Sometimes successfully.
When you've finished the tour, you can pan for gold yourself, then shop at the Company Store.
And, now, a little history for you. A.E. Coleman discovered gold in Coleman's Creek in 1869 and started a mining camp which later became Julian. Julian is named for Mike Julian, an ex-confederate soldier from Georgia who came to find his fortune in the California mine fields after the Civil War. $5 million in gold was taken from the Julian environs between 1870 and 1880. Albert Robinson, a freed Missouri slave and the first black man to serve on a jury in San Diego County, built the Julian Gold Rush Hotel in 1897. It's the oldest operating hotel in Southern California. (www.desertusa.com, www.glitter.com, www.julianhotel.com)
This isn't history, but it is a fun bit of trivia: Each October, 10,000 apple pies are baked here!
So, while you're waiting for the night sky and star gazing at the Observer's Inn planetarium, go visit the gold mine. You won't be sorry.
Thanks, once again, to Travis Erwin for hosting My Town Monday. For Travis' entry and links to the other participants, check Travis' blog.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Guess what I did today??
Gave my very first ever talk as a published author!
Yup, I spoke to a bunch of freshmen at our local high school. I thought I'd be a nervous wreck, but, uh, no, it turns out I like all that undivided attention. Who knew??
I mean, those students were trapped in a room with nothing to do other than listen to me talk about one of my fave subjects, writing. The students were attentive and polite AND they all had a marvelous sense of humor (or is that marvelous senses of humor?). Anyway, how do I know about the sense of humor thing? They laughed at my jokes!
Hello! I will let you in on a well-kept secret. Public speaking is easier than parenting. And easier than writing. Don't worry Child #1, #2, #3, #4, Agent Rachel and Editor Wendy, I won't be quitting my day jobs. Yet... (Joke)
So, a heartfelt thank you to Mrs. Bagg-Rizzo who forced me to be a part of Career Day. You were right; it wasn't nearly as far outside my comfort zone as I thought. And a heartfelt thanks to the Santana freshmen (including Child #2) at my presentation. You made my day!
And now I'm off to the coffee shop. I'll bring my speech cards. I'll bring my props. Just in case, I get the chance to perform again...
P.S. Someone did take pictures. I'll post them when I get them. Assuming I look young, thin and cute.
Monday, April 21, 2008
The Class of 2k8
Debut young adult author, Debbie Reed Fischer, is celebrating her launch week over at the Class of 2k8's blog with some interesting posts. Her novel: Braless in Wonderland. If you've got a sec, hop on over and tell her congrats!
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Night Sky Gazing, Observer's Inn, Julian, California
Julian, California is a mountain town located about sixty miles northeast of San Diego. It has a population of about 1600. Among other things, it's well known for apple pies, tours of a real gold mine and beefalo burgers. Julian also has an amazing used book store--the Julian Book House.
And, surprise, surprise, there is an awesome private planetarium located in Julian. It's The Observer's Inn. You can choose to stay there (we didn't) or just reserve time in the evening to stare at the heavens through their powerful telescopes (we did). These "sky tours" conducted by Mike Leigh are a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Leigh, an astronomy afficionado for years, built his observatory at an elevation of about 4300 feet, high up enough that he can take advantage of the clear night sky. Then he got a few high-end telescopes. We're talking truly research grade here. As in, at least one is a telescope fit for a small country. This telescope is so good, you can make out details on spy satellites. Which has earned Mr. Leigh a couple of chats with the FBI. (from the San Francisco Chronicle)
Each sky tour is different. Each sky tour comes with Mike's wonderful commentary. And what might you see? Various planets, constellations, stars, double stars, comets, other galaxies. It's truly incredible. And there aren't many places in the world that give you this kind of a show. For about $20 a person. Observer's Inn is actually internationally known.
We went a couple of winters ago. Not to sound corny, but for my little family, it was an out-of-this-world experience.
(And, besides the magical sights from the telescopes, my kids didn't think the little room with hot chocolate and cookies was too shabby!)
My Town Monday comes to us via Travis Erwin. Thanks, Travis! Click on his site to read his post about Charles Goodnight and find links to the other participants.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Need rental movie titles!
I have taken three long unfit weeks off from the gym.
Next week, with shrunken, atrophied muscles, I'm heading back to my early-morning routine. Yes, you can expect some whining.
Please, please, please. I need DVD titles for my iPod. To fake me out on the Elliptical time. So I don't realize how long I've been stepping. (I never claimed brilliance!)
I'm looking for humorous and/or fast-paced. No dramas as they inhibit my endorphins.
Here are a few movies that have worked: Love Actually, The Shawshank Redemption, Grosse Pointe Blank
Movies that have not worked: How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days, Pieces of April, Last Dance Drama, Purple Violets
Also, does anyone know of a decent program that converts DVDs to iPod format?
So, to summarize this extremely important-to-my-health post:
1. Please suggest humorous and/or fast-paced movies for gym viewing.
2. Please suggest a software program that converts DVDs to an iPod format.
I'm begging ya....
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Book #2 is ....
done. And turned in.
Yay!
I have to say, though, clicking on that button to send her to off to meet her editor was tough. It took me about an hour to actually press down.
Like watching your child walk into the classroom on the first day of kindergarten.
Anyway, the manuscript really is gone. Temporarily. She's spending time with the very loving and capable Editor Wendy. After that, there'll be a revision letter. And then she'll come back home and we'll hang out again together until about August.
And what did I do on this first day of empty nest syndrome?
I had a very very excellent cup of Typhoo tea (thanks to one of my sisters). And settled in to begin reading the following books:
The Gollywhopper Games by Jody Feldman
A Curse Dark As Gold by Elizabeth C. Bunce
A Drowned Maiden's Hair by Laura Amy Schlitz
A Thousand Sons by Khaled Hosseini
Tomorrow, I'll catch up on my blog reading, meet a good friend for coffee and take a much deserved nap.
An aside: There's an interesting post up today on the class of 2k8's blog about MP Barker's characters for A Difficult Boy.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Holy Interviewing Toledo! And Parenting
And in exciting writing news...
I had my very first interview ever! We're talking first ever. Online, offline, in outer space....
The delightful Becky Levine did an interview with me for a very cool online kidlit journal, the Edge of the Forest. Here's the interview.
And here's the link to Becky's entertaining blog. Entertaining AND full of good advice. I'm referring to when she tells everyone to run out in December to buy I So Don't Do Mysteries. :)
And now back to the previous blog. Here's the deal. I didn't take the homework up to school. I didn't save Child #3. Yikes.
And here's what happened:
-Child #3 arrives home from school. He is displeased his mother didn't deliver his homework.
-He is, however, pleased to find homemade banana bread.
-After his snack, Child #3 organizes his binder. He, then, completes his homework for the next day and carefully packs it.
Okay. I still don't know whether or not I should have saved this wonderful, delightful, awesome child of mine. It does seem as though maybe I've been doing a little too much saving lately. Anyway, we've moved on. And today's chatter was mostly about swim team and the word "postdate."
Who knows? Maybe this was a teeny tiny slice of a life lesson?
For both of us.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
On motherhood...
So, I'm sitting in the living room with a box of Kleenex (I still can't believe I have a cold), a decent cup of tea and a warm slice of homemade banana bread.
On the kitchen counter lies a good portion of Child #3's homework. It's completed. He's very good at that. But, somehow, this little stack didn't make it into his backpack. I don't think he realizes yet. He did remember to take his math, and that's what they'll be correcting now. But in an hour or so, he'll go to pull out his Language Arts papers and have a little panicky moment while he digs through all his stuff. Then, a little light bulb will go on, and he'll think of the counter and know what happened.
There's a part of me that wants to jump up and rush to the school and give him his homework before his name goes on the board for missing assignments.
I want to save him. Because he's 12. And I can still save him. Because he's 12, and he'll still let me save him.
Motherhood is not for sissies...
Monday, April 7, 2008
Chandler, Arizona
Well, I'm totally s-t-r-e-t-c-h-i-n-g the My Town Monday idea by posting about Chandler, AZ.
However, I was just in Chandler, AZ for the weekend, and I did take some pictures. And, hey, I'll be back to San Diego posts next week. Deal?
From Wikepedia, Chandler is named after Dr. John Alexander Chandler, the first vet in the Arizona Territory. He settled in the area around 1891. At first, Chandler's economy was based on growing stuff like cotton and alfalfa. But in the 1910s, ostrich farms started popping up to supply ostrich plumes for women's hats.
And, now Chandler has an Annual Ostrich Festival. It's usually held in early March, and this year was no exception despite the fact that my trip was planned for April.
The AOF (sorry, but I'm getting a cold and must conserve energy) looks fun with a parade and bands and food and rides and face painting and EXOTIC ANIMAL RACES, including camels, zebras and "our frisky ostriches"!!! (quotation from the Chandler Chamber of Commerce)
Even though I totally missed the AOF, there were still all sorts of life-sized artsy ostriches hanging around on sidewalks and in store windows.
Here are a couple of them. Please remember I previously mentioned that my camera is lousy (Pentx Optio E10--don't buy one). Plus the photographer isn't all that skilled. (Just ignore the wrong date. I don't even remember changing it! Which rogue button did I push? I may have thought I was answering my cell phone!)
Dreamin In Style
by Cheryl Fecht
Eat Fresh Buy Local
by Ruth Knowles
So....does an ostrich really bury his head in the sand? Whaddya think?
Travis Erwin is the mastermind behind the My Town Monday posts. Click over to his blog for a list of participants.
I will blog later this week about getting together with Rachel Vater. It was FANTABULOUS.
And speaking of fantabulous, we have a new book launch over at the Class of 2k8's blog. Please click over and congratulate Zu Vincent on the release of her debut young adult The Lucky Place.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Child #3, Upcoming Trip
In honor of National Poetry Month, Child #3 has a poem up on the Class of 2k8's blog!!
Please pop over and see his brilliance!
In other news, I'm packing my bags. I'm headed to Phoenix for a writers' conference this weekend. It'll be a terrific time for several reasons:
1. I get to meet my agent, the amazing and wonderful Rachel Vater, for THE VERY FIRST TIME EVER!
2. I'll be doing some writing research at a real-live (pun intended) cemetery, middle school and a couple of other Phoenix locations. So, if you're in the area and spot a cute (Hertz has assured me) little rental car with a Garmin stuck on the windshield and a woman with beautiful hair (I got new highlights yesterday) at the wheel, honk and wave!
3. I have a room all to myself in a swanky hotel.
4. I'll get some decent uninterrupted writing time. (The revisions on book #2 are coming along swimmingly, BTW. Don't fret, Uncle B., I'll be done on time.)
5. Writers' conferences are always fun!
6. I'll be hanging out with RACHEL VATER, THE BRILLIANT AGENT WHO HELPED MAKE MY DREAMS COME TRUE! (Yes, I know this is very similar to #1, but I'M SO EXCITED!)
Should I take pictures for you guys? I could, although my cheap digital camera isn't always kind to her subjects...
In the throes of all this excitement, I'm throwing caution to the winds and heading to Target without a list!
I've missed you, dear blogging friends. I've been so busy with revisions that I haven't been bopping around to all your blogs as usual. Bear with me, please. Once the book is in, I'll catch up!
And thank you Laura of Catholic Teacher Musings for including me in your poem. What an honor!
