Friday, August 28, 2009

Wanna Meet a Bunch of Authors? and Help Children Read?

Guess where I’m going on Saturday?

Sorry, I should never start a blog with ‘guess where I’m going’. Like anyone could really get the answer right. Like anyone cares enough to make an educated guess.

I should’ve started with, “Anyone want to meet some really cool authors?”

But it’s too late. According to ROB (rules of the blog), I must face the repercussions of my original question.

So, did anyone guess Ogden? And those of you who guessed Ogden, did you further guess the Treehouse Museum?

You did? You win!

I’m going there to get my first page critiqued by some awesome authors, for charity. Wanna mingle with the likes of Shannon Hale, James Dashner, Anne Bowen, Sara Zarr, Emily Wing Smith, Bree Despain and many many more? Then join me!

If you don’t have a first page, type one up. You have almost 24 hours. You can type a page in 24 hours.

Here’s the info:

http://www.treehousemuseum.org/events_and_calendar.php


I tried to take the charity one step further by offering a one-page critique from Smokey the Hairless Cat. But apparently even charity has its limits. (They said that something that ugly could not possibly give a kind critique).

All of the proceeds go to the Treehouse Children’s Museum. Sam complained about me doing yet another writing outing – on a Saturday, no less - to which I responded, “Why do you hate children?”

Hope to see you there!

Wildlife Wandering Past our Blog

Thank you for being kind to the wildlife (yes, you, James) on Wednesday’s blog, and not scaring him away. You can follow more of his hilarity on Twitter (Yesterday, I think he tweeted about a mole, or something). But, as you observe his strange ways, please refrain from feeding the animal.

Conversations with Lucy and Ethel

I went to dinner the other night with “Lucy” and “Ethel” of the famous Twilight Virgins post.

It’s nice to have friends like Lucy and Ethel. Sometimes I get so caught up in eating and breathing YA books (not good for your health. I wouldn’t suggest it), and I forget there’s another world out there. Somewhere.

I was explaining to Lucy and Ethel the different genres of literature, and how Young Adult is it’s own genre, with all sorts of sub-genres like realistic fiction, literary, blah dee blah boop.

They asked what I write, and I told them, “Y.A. paranormal.”

Blank stares.

Me: “You know. Paranormal. For teens. Same genre as Twilight, except mine’s a bit more sci-fi.”

Blank stares.

Me: “Ugh. Remember Twilight?”

Lucy: “Wasn’t that a movie we saw?”

Me: “Yes. Good. But now I’m talking about the book.”

Ethel: “They made a book from the movie?”

Me: softly pounding my head on the dinner table.

You may think I’m kidding. But only if you’ve never met Lucy and Ethel.

Later in the conversation, Lucy told how she made her second-grade son finish a 30 page math project, even though it wasn’t due til the end of October.

The teacher praised her boy, and showered him with gold stars and dancing elephants.

Then Lucy asked how my own Kid C is doing in first grade. All I could report was that Carter came home from school that day, carrying a homework folder with the name “Abby” at the top. Every page inside it had this Abby’s name as well.

I confronted Kid C.

Me: “Carter, why does your folder say 'Abby' on it?”

Kid C: “Abby?”

Me: “Yeah.”

Kid C: “That’s weird. ‘Abby’ wasn’t his name.”

Me: “Wasn’t whose name?”

Kid C (rolling eyes): “His name wasn’t Abby.”

Me: “Whose name wasn’t Abby?”

Kid C: “Brodi. Listen. To. Me. Lot’s of people aren’t named Abby.”

I couldn’t argue with his logic. Lots of people aren’t named Abby. I defy you to prove otherwise.

Finally…
Sam and I watched the last half of Step Up 2 the Streets. I still can’t believe movie-makers show the “dance-off” as if it’s a shootout at the OK Corral.

A dance-off ranks just below the “rap-off” when it comes to dangerous duels.

So, enjoy my favorite rap-off. (Thanks, Shellie, for reminding me of this little gem.)

14 comments:

  1. That video soooo reminds me of my high school days. I can't tell you how many afternoons, me and my 2 best friends would be standing next to my Toyota Tercel with a boom box. I would bust out the 'I'm Hott! You're not!' and we would all just get dancing. I was usually shirtless as that guy in the video just looks silly. Oh man, I miss those carefree days.

    First week down for 1st grade. Kid C is rockin' it even if he keeps stealing Abby's homework folder.

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  2. Sam- remember our first date? That spontaneous rap-off in your car? Rap-offs really are the foundation of a relationship.

    As for Kid C stealing Abby's homework, I just hope this Abby character is smart.

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  3. I can't believe I haven't seen that "rap-off" before. It kind of reminded me when Sam was trying to court you and you were playing hard to get. Did Sam ever throw away that blue tank of his or his hair gel?

    I'm so glad to hear about Kid C. Asher just came in to tell me that he lost our turtle somewhere downstairs and he can't find him. So now I'm just hoping the turtle can't climb stairs and that the dog doesn't eat him.

    Have fun at your writers thingy at the Treehouse place. Long live kids! (Just not Necie :)

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  4. Oh, he still pulls out the blue spandex tank. On really special occasions.

    Good luck finding the frog. We once had a mouse die in our wall. The smell goes away after about a week.

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  5. Ha, your interactions make me think that Kid C and Sam might be a lot alike! =) Thanks for the laugh!

    Maybe Abby stole his homework?

    The writing fundraiser tomorrow sounds great, good luck! And I would think it would be a much sought after prize to have Smokey critique your writing. I love Smokey!

    Erin - what type of dog do you have that could munch through the turtle's shell??

    Hope you all have a GREAT weekend!

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  6. Una- thanks for the Smokey love. And Erin's dog is about the size of my thumb, but I fully believe he could bite through anything. He's a determined little sucker.

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  7. So, because of all the different pictures you have of Smokey, is Smokey really your cat? I've been thinking this whole time that you just find random pictures of a gray hairless cat on the Internet and use that as Smokey.

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  8. Jenni- Smokey is totally my cat! He just lives with my sis-in-law E because I'm allergic to him. But he is most definitely the same cat.

    He's also on facebook, under smoky johnson (no "e" in smokey)

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  9. I win, I win! I saw Shannon was going so when you said 'a bunch of auhors' I figured it was the same thing this weekend.

    Your cat still scares me.

    That Carter story cracks me up. I always think it's cute when my kids call me Debbie. I know they call you guys your first names all the time, does it still make you double take or smile?

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  10. Debbie- I only do a double take when Kid C accidentally calls me "mom".

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  11. oh my gosh I love that video. I say lets make our own version of it when I come home again.

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  12. Shellie- we are so doing that music video. You wanna be the girl or the guy?

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  13. I think you captured the gist of the night! I love your blog? Do you sell t-shirts?

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  14. Lucy- I think you would be the perfect person to make and sell blog tee shirts. Are you for hire?

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