MyTown Monday: Rural Oklahoma

(photo credit YPN--see Psychic Niece, I did credit you!)

This My Town Monday post comes to you all the way from rural Oklahoma where Child #4 and I are hanging with DH's side of the family. Then, on Thursday, I'll be on a panel with four other Class of 2k8ers at EncycloMedia in Oklahoma City ("the City" as they say here). Yikes! So not thinking about that right now. So not getting nervous yet.

Anyway, today I visited Mark, one of DH's best buds from high school. From waaay back when. And this friend and his wife have their very own meat processing business, out here in the country off Highway 270. This is Mark, holding up a steer's tail, which, when boiled, makes great oxtail soup.

Mondays and Thursdays are killing days. I took this photo of a bull yesterday, on Sunday. You can do the math from there. WEIRD TRIVIA: If you're ever planning to have a bull butchered, make sure it happens before he hooks up with a heifer or...the meat will taste funky. Either that or have your bull castrated at birth.

The animal comes in from the pen outside to this pen inside where it's shot in the head. The side of this pen lifts up and the body is rolled out, then strung up by its hind legs way up high on hooks. A barrel is placed under the body to catch the blood. MORE WEIRD TRIVIA: Some people ask the butcher to reserve a jar of blood, which, after it gels, they slice up for fish bait. (Sorry, no pic of the hook system; they weren't descended enough from the ceiling.)

Then the animal us unhooked and laid out on this rack for skinning.

Then, it's back up on the hooks to finish the skinning and take out the insides.

The meat cures in the freezer for a couple of weeks.

The meat is cut into steaks, roasts and ground. A steer (a castrated bull) with a live weight of 1200 pounds dresses out to a bunch of meat packets weighiing about 700 pounds. WEIRD TRIVIA: What we call tri tip in California, they call brisket here.

Here's a bunch of packaged meat in a freezer, waiting to be picked up.



I know there's a gross element to all this, but, honestly, even as a totally citified girl, I found this entire visit fascinating. And not just because I'm a sucker for weird trivia. No, it's because this guy figured out what was missing in his community, filled the void and is making a pretty decent living at it.

And isn't that what it's all about? Finding out where you fit in in life?

Please visit Travis Erwin, the guy who spearheads My Town Mondays. He'll have a list of links to other Mondayers.

negligent blogging

I am guilty of negligent blogging.

I was going through some (there are thousands!) of the pics on my computer. And I came across this lovely shot taken when I visited Random House in Canada's Mississauga office.

Julie Forrest, me, Jessica Scott (Photo credit: Heather Sanderson who was a great sport about photographing us!!)


I had the pleasure of chatting with Julie Forrest, Random House in Canada's Super Smart Plugged In Online Guru. Okay, her title might really be Online Marketing Coordinator. At any rate, she is super smart, knows megabytes about the internet and blogging and books and writing and authors. And probably lots of other topics that we just never made it to.

We were joined by the brilliant and delightful Jessica Scott, another Random House techie wizard. Julie and Jessica offered me all kinds of solid suggestions about blogging and other social networks. Suggestions I really will take. Slowly but surely.

Both Julie and Jessica were really easy schmeasy and interesting to talk with. It was very fun finding out which blogs we all read and learning of new blogs to try out. I was having such a good time that I didn't want to leave. They practically had to throw me out.

Here's a blog you'll want to check out. It's Random House Insiders Blog. A variety of bloggers post here, including Julie herself. And they have authors guest blog from time to time. Yes, yes, yes! You guessed it! I'll be guest blogging there one of these days!

Here's what Random House in Canada, Mississauga office looks like from the outside.


In other negligent blogging...I totally forgot to link to the Class of 2k8. Hop on over to see what Nancy has to say about herself and her debut novel, Samantha Hansen Has Rocks in Her Head. For every different person who leaves a comment on one of Nancy's launch posts, she'll donate $1.00 to the National Park Foundation. It's a worthy cause.

Copy-Edits, High School, Contest Winner

How's this for fun synchronicity?

I sent back the copy-edits for I So Don't Do Spooky (book #2). They arrived at Random House yesterday, Sept. 9, which is exactly three months before the release of I So Don't Do Mysteries (book #1)!!!

Okay, fine, it looked more interesting before I typed it.

In other news--tonight I attended Open House at Child #2's high school. Can I just say that I LOVE Open House at the high school. LOVE it. I don't know why. I didn't particularly enjoy high school the first time around. But there's something about English reading lists and those little desks with the chairs attached and overhead projectors. It takes me back to a time when the future stretched out for miles.

I went from class to class, listening to the teachers, reading the class requirements, chatting with other parents. And I thought to myself, I'd be so so good at high school now. Then I went to Algebra II. Yikes. I am so glad to be done with high school.

In yet other news-- DH, not Child #4 (who is exhausted with her return to school), chose the winner for the exotic Canadian foods contest.

And the winner is (drum roll)... Linda of Flights a Fancy!!

Linda, please have your people email my people at barrie.summy@gmail.com.

Above is the front of bookmark
Above is the back of bookmark

AND I'll toss a few of the cutest most adorable bookmarks in your package.

My Town Monday: Little India, Toronto

I've never met a curry or a lentil or a samosa I didn't like. Plus, I love to meander and window shop and people watch.

So, while in Toronto, I was thrilled to squeeze in an evening with the sisters, wandering around Little India. Little India is found along Gerrard Street East, where it stretches for about nine city blocks. Strolling along, it's hard to believe you're still in a big North American city. There's a variety of shops, mostly catering to Indian culture. For example, you can buy all sorts of Indian wares from pots and pans to incense to books to groceries to clothing to music to very fresh spices. And there's a plethora of Indian restaurants.

I'm sorry to report I didn't get any decent street shots (it was bucketing and dark), but here's a pic of a vendor selling various snacks for noshing as you walk, including roasted corn, a very popular item.


Here's a clothing store.


Hmmmm...maybe after the next book...??? (Kidding, dh!)


And this is where we ended up, my two sisters and I. We had a delicious and, as you can see, inexpensive Indian buffet. Actually, this is a pretty typical price. We were a little disappointed that goat meat wasn't available. Still, we had a delightful time, chatting and solving the world's problems and eating far far too much.

And a little extra trivia: Toronto is a Mohawk word meaning "meeting place." T.O. (for short) is home to more than 80 ethnic groups. That diversity is one of the things I miss about living down here in Southern California.

I also miss my ketchup potato chips. And I can't believe how very polite you've all been and not mentioned how I forgot to have Child #4 choose a winner for that particular contest. Oh, or maybe it's that nobody really wants ketchup potato chips! Seriously, you don't know what you're missing! At any rate, we'll take care of this oversight tomorrow.

I will be out of town for next week's My Town Monday's post. I think I'll do my post from that mystery location. You'll have to check back to find out where I am. Ooooooh.

(From: http://www.buffalonews.com/lifearts/travel/story/427461.html,http://www.toronto.com/guide/visitors/article/375233)

My Town Monday is hosted by Travis Erwin. Check out his very interesting post this week on Amarillo, TX and helium. Also, he'll have a list of the other participants.

Pink Saturday

In the Pink--Back to School with Child #4!

I've joined Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for Pink Saturday.

Pink is Child #4's favorite color.

And fellow writer and 2k8 classmate, N.A. Nelson, is participating in Seattle's Three Day Breast Cancer Walk. This is at the beginning of Oct.

So, pink is on my mind.

Please click here to see a list of the other Pink Saturday participants.

How the World is One Big Shrinky Dink

You may or may not know that I was recently in Toronto. Of course, you know! I was there for FOUR WHOLE WEEKS and blasted you with blogs and My Town Mondays from there.

Anyway, while in Toronto, I visited The Flying Dragon Bookshop, located on Bayview near Eglinton. I realize that tossing off the street names means little to most of you reading this blog. BUT, as someone who is SEVERELY directionally challenged, I'm thrilled that I can actually remember this detail!


The Flying Dragon is this really amazing independent bookstore with a great kids' section. And, well, a great adult section too. And, well a great...Actually, it's an all round great bookstore. Besides the wonderful selection of books, here's an interesting tidbit: The Flying Dragon puts together themed book baskets. A COMPLETELY RANDOM example: if you wanted a mystery book basket, they might include a copy of I So Don't Do Mysteries. Ha! Anyway, themed book baskets. What a novel (pun intended!) idea!

Back to the story. I stop in at The Flying Dragon Bookshop to meet Cathy Francis, the proprietor, and to drop off an ARC (Advance Reader Copy) and some bookmarks.

Cathy and me, sitting in the brand new Author's Chair! (Why don't I ever remember to push up my glasses?!)

So, I'm chatting with Cathy (who is very friendly and fun and knowledgeable). We're talking about blogging and online stuff and I pull out the Class of 2k8's very cute brochure. The convo goes more or less like this.

"Oh, I know about the Class of 2k8," Cathy says.

"Wow. That's great," I say. "How?"

"One of my Saturday employees is a blogger and she told all of us here about you guys."

"Which blogger?"

"Shelf Elf."

Oh my gosh!!! So, Shelf Elf, a terrific kidlit blogger, works Saturdays at The Flying Dragon Bookshop!

I squeal (professionally, of course!), then race back to my car to grab an ARC for Shelf Elf.

And guess what? Shelf Elf read the ARC right away. And posted a lovely lovely review.

You can read the review here.

To recap: I wander into a bookstore in Toronto, learn that a kidlit blogger works there on the weekends, leave said blogger a surprise ARC and, voila, a book review!

That, my dear blogging friends, is why I say the world is one big shrinky dink. Who knows when or where or how we'll meet up with each other.

Back to School

All my kids are now in school.

Gone are Child #1's thumping footsteps as he clomps around the house, a guitar slung over a shoulder.

Gone are the tip-tapping of Child #2's texting fingers and the tinkling cell phone bell that signals an incoming message.

Gone are Child #3's wild shrieks as he jumps out from behind doors and chairs to frighten me.

Gone is the lilting musical voice of Child #4 who sings for everything these days from snack requests to tattling on Child #3 to calling for Dorothy the Dog.


I've walked back down the hill to my quiet house. Well, except for the chug-chug of the washing machine. And the clicking of the Kreepy Krawler as it slurps up eucalyptus leaves from the bottom of the pool. And the whistling of the kettle.

I make a second cup of tea, sink into my large comfortable chair, sighing the sigh of mothers everywhere on that first day back to school.

I drag the heavy envelope from Random House across my coffee table and pull out the copy-edits for I So Don't Do Spooky. For a second, I close my eyes and just breathe.

Realizing how very very ready for this I was.