Oh gosh. And I haven't posted all week. I did eat an excellent red velvet chocolate cupcake, however, courtesy of my friend Rick Horne. THANKS, RICK!
Anyhoo. Had this experience walking home from grocery shopping today. Passed a group of jr. high girls hanging out in front of the Sev, when suddenly a Slurpee fight broke out. They started pouring their Slurpees all over each other, filling the air all around with screams and Slurpee-type scents like watermelon and blueberry.
I managed not to get hit with free-flying flavored ice. But the thought did cross my mind, "Seriously? I'm writing for this age group?"
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Violating another one of my own rules
LIFE RULE # 1225: Do not listen to Christmas music before December lst.
Except yesterday I did. And I liked it.
Except yesterday I did. And I liked it.
Friday, November 13, 2009
On your mark!
So it arrived today! The ARC for my book THE CHIHUAHUA CHASE, a middle-grade reader about a girl, a boy, and a lot of AWOL dogs. Like the flap copy says, "the race is on for Addie May to find a missing pooch!" I'm especially pleased with the illustrations by the Lovely and Talented Julie Olson (who, as it turns out, lives and works in Spanish Fork).
I would dearly love to have a Chihuahua of my own to take to signings in the spring when the book comes out. Dude! I would look just like Elle and that would BE SO COOL! But, as indulgent as he is, I think if I brought a Chihuahua home, Bob the Woodworker would have the divorce papers in the mail the very next day . . .
(For the record, my vet says of all the dogs he would never own, a Chihuahua would be at the top of his list.)
I would dearly love to have a Chihuahua of my own to take to signings in the spring when the book comes out. Dude! I would look just like Elle and that would BE SO COOL! But, as indulgent as he is, I think if I brought a Chihuahua home, Bob the Woodworker would have the divorce papers in the mail the very next day . . .
(For the record, my vet says of all the dogs he would never own, a Chihuahua would be at the top of his list.)
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Not writing much . . .
, , , but still spinning scenarios. Does that count?
Like, last night, for instance. My youngest son was in the kitchen, listening to "Ramble On." So I told him that things went down like this before IT WAS HIS TURN ON EARTH!
DECIDING COMMITTEE: You've been such a valiant spirit. As a reward, we're gonna let you choose your mom.
MY SON: Whatever. I'm not picky. Just as long as she loves Led Zeppelin, I'm fine.
And so the Deciding Committee sent my boy to moi, the biggest Led Zeppelin fan on the face of the planet. Lucky him. Lucky me. We can sit in the kitchen together and listen to "Dazed and Confused" to our hearts content.
Like, last night, for instance. My youngest son was in the kitchen, listening to "Ramble On." So I told him that things went down like this before IT WAS HIS TURN ON EARTH!
DECIDING COMMITTEE: You've been such a valiant spirit. As a reward, we're gonna let you choose your mom.
MY SON: Whatever. I'm not picky. Just as long as she loves Led Zeppelin, I'm fine.
And so the Deciding Committee sent my boy to moi, the biggest Led Zeppelin fan on the face of the planet. Lucky him. Lucky me. We can sit in the kitchen together and listen to "Dazed and Confused" to our hearts content.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
How do you . . .
. . . keep writing sometimes?
We've had Big Stuff--some of it good, some of it not so good--going on here lately, and it's all had the effect of making me too tired, too distracted, too uninterested to write. I'm sure you've all been there.
The problem is that I'm trying to treat writing like it's my job. And if I had a traditional job, I couldn't allow myself the luxury of calling in sick day after day. And also after day. I'm pretty sure I would be losing that traditional job in a big old fat hurry if I acted the way I'm acting now.
Gotta get myself in hand. Gotta kick my own butt. Gotta STOP BEING ME.
(Any suggestions? I'm serious.)
We've had Big Stuff--some of it good, some of it not so good--going on here lately, and it's all had the effect of making me too tired, too distracted, too uninterested to write. I'm sure you've all been there.
The problem is that I'm trying to treat writing like it's my job. And if I had a traditional job, I couldn't allow myself the luxury of calling in sick day after day. And also after day. I'm pretty sure I would be losing that traditional job in a big old fat hurry if I acted the way I'm acting now.
Gotta get myself in hand. Gotta kick my own butt. Gotta STOP BEING ME.
(Any suggestions? I'm serious.)
Monday, November 9, 2009
My mom
This is Geoffrey, Ann's son. I know her login information, so I just thought that I would write on her blog. She probably wouldn't be happy with me for doing this, but I'm doing it anyway. This column is one reason I love her more than anything in the world.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
What madness possibly looks like
So I worked the Pioneer Woman event at the bookstore last night.
As you probably already know, Ree Drummond (aka the Pioneer Woman) is an incredibly well-known, likable blogger who has just written a lovely cookbook that is also a glimpse into her life on an Oklahoma ranch. Anyway, she's on a limited tour and TKE was lucky enough to host her here in Salt Lake City.
Well. People started lining up at 4:00 for an event that started at 7:00. AND they came from all over--some had even driven in from Oregon and LA. Everyone was friendly and funny and great, and the staff had worked hard to make sure we were organized and fair. But finally we had to cap the event because there. were. just. so. many. women.
Okay. I completely SUCK anyway at delivering news no one wants to hear. So for me to tell a crowd of fans that they couldn't get in to hear Ree AND that they might not even be able to get their books signed was daunting. Everyone was understandably disappointed. I would have been, too. And given the circumstances, they were gracious. But a few were completely enraged. They didn't just want to burn me in effigy. Dude. They wanted to burn me in person.
When Ree arrived, people screamed and clapped and pretty much threw their room keys at her. It was like watching the Beatles on the old Ed Sullivan show.
Okay. It's totally fun to be a fan. If Derek Jeter walked past me I would scream so hard I would probably slip a disk BECAUSE I'M OLD AND HAVE BACK TROUBLE. But wow. After witnessing what happened last night I wondered how it would feel to be the object of that kind of interest. Seriously, I cannot imagine it. At all.
Anyway. Ree was fabulous. And so were the customers and staff. And I hope that for the most part people walked away satisfied. It was an evening NOT to be forgotten.
As you probably already know, Ree Drummond (aka the Pioneer Woman) is an incredibly well-known, likable blogger who has just written a lovely cookbook that is also a glimpse into her life on an Oklahoma ranch. Anyway, she's on a limited tour and TKE was lucky enough to host her here in Salt Lake City.
Well. People started lining up at 4:00 for an event that started at 7:00. AND they came from all over--some had even driven in from Oregon and LA. Everyone was friendly and funny and great, and the staff had worked hard to make sure we were organized and fair. But finally we had to cap the event because there. were. just. so. many. women.
Okay. I completely SUCK anyway at delivering news no one wants to hear. So for me to tell a crowd of fans that they couldn't get in to hear Ree AND that they might not even be able to get their books signed was daunting. Everyone was understandably disappointed. I would have been, too. And given the circumstances, they were gracious. But a few were completely enraged. They didn't just want to burn me in effigy. Dude. They wanted to burn me in person.
When Ree arrived, people screamed and clapped and pretty much threw their room keys at her. It was like watching the Beatles on the old Ed Sullivan show.
Okay. It's totally fun to be a fan. If Derek Jeter walked past me I would scream so hard I would probably slip a disk BECAUSE I'M OLD AND HAVE BACK TROUBLE. But wow. After witnessing what happened last night I wondered how it would feel to be the object of that kind of interest. Seriously, I cannot imagine it. At all.
Anyway. Ree was fabulous. And so were the customers and staff. And I hope that for the most part people walked away satisfied. It was an evening NOT to be forgotten.
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