Thank you all so much for playing! That was FUN. Hooray! We can all use a little fun now and then, y?
RE the winners...I should NEVER promise I will do something internet-related on the weekend. Weekends are practically internet-free at my house. For more than 5 minutes here and there, anyway. Instead of drawing winners this weekend, we had pancakes with huckleberry syrup, went to an Irish festival, mowed the lawn, barbecued, read books outside in the shade of our crabapple trees, played Wii, watched movies, and bought back-to-school stuff for Child and water shoes for me (for an adventure I'm having soon).
Not much time for drawing winners!
But here they are, better late than never:
A copy of DAY ONE, generously donated by Bill Cameron: Elizabeth Ryann
First dibs on books: Elisabeth Black
Second dibs on books: Rhonda Cowsert
Congrats, guys! Hope you had fun!
Monday, August 16, 2010
Friday, August 13, 2010
Friday the 13th Tiara Day CONTEST!
Hi all!! Happy Tiara Day!!
I'ts raining with a high of 60 today, so I am GLAD I called for the major sparkle patrol. I will need it to see what I'm doing over here. *murk*
So I've got some books to give away. Not ALL of them, but 2. Or maybe 3. There are only TWO things you can do to enter (I like simple contests):
If you can't see them all, that's:
BEFORE I FALL by Lauren Oliver
THE DUST OF 100 DOGS by A.S. King
THE DISREPUTABLE HISTORY OF FRANKIE LANDAU-BANKS by E. Lockhart
HOW I LIVE NOW by Meg Rosoff
THE PALE HORSEMAN by Bernard Cornwell (adult-type book for you non-YA peeps)
BITTER NIGHT by Diana Pharaoh Francis (I just realized mine is signed--I forgot!--so I will BUY one if you pick this. It's really good.)
IF I STAY by Gayle Forman
OOOH, and update!!! Bill Cameron, FABULOUS agent mate, has also thrown in a copy of Day One as a prize!!
So there will be at least 3 winners now. I wanna see some sparkle out there!!!
Contest closes at midnight tonight!
*Drat, I forgot to say North American entries only. That one time I mailed a contest prize to Australia...my husband still talks about that. *cough*
I'ts raining with a high of 60 today, so I am GLAD I called for the major sparkle patrol. I will need it to see what I'm doing over here. *murk*
So I've got some books to give away. Not ALL of them, but 2. Or maybe 3. There are only TWO things you can do to enter (I like simple contests):
- Wear a tiara on your avatar or a pic of a tiara as your avatar today (Friday the 13th). Usually we play on Twitter (hashtag #tiaraday), but feel free to use it anywhere. Or wear one on your actual head and take a pic for me! Points only count once, though. Let me know through a comment here or an @ reply on Twitter (susan_adrian) that you're showing your sparkle. (+3 entries)
- Spread the word about Tiara Day, via retweet or Facebook link. (+1 entry)
BEFORE I FALL by Lauren Oliver
THE DUST OF 100 DOGS by A.S. King
THE DISREPUTABLE HISTORY OF FRANKIE LANDAU-BANKS by E. Lockhart
HOW I LIVE NOW by Meg Rosoff
THE PALE HORSEMAN by Bernard Cornwell (adult-type book for you non-YA peeps)
BITTER NIGHT by Diana Pharaoh Francis (I just realized mine is signed--I forgot!--so I will BUY one if you pick this. It's really good.)
IF I STAY by Gayle Forman
OOOH, and update!!! Bill Cameron, FABULOUS agent mate, has also thrown in a copy of Day One as a prize!!
Contest closes at midnight tonight!
*Drat, I forgot to say North American entries only. That one time I mailed a contest prize to Australia...my husband still talks about that. *cough*
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Announcement: Tiara Day Friday the 13th
Tomorrow is Tiara Day!! Why?
The twist this time: I'm going to give away a book or two.
All you have to do to play is dress your avatar (for Twitter, usually, but can be Facebook or blog or whatev) in a tiara, or use a pic of a tiara AS your avatar. Be silly and have fun.
More details on the contest and prizes tomorrow morning! I hope you join in and spread the word!
- Because it's Friday the 13th.
- To celebrate the coolness that has been WriteOnCon
- To celebrate some sparkliness (good news) for Team Sparkle this week
- To encourage the revisions I'm
slogging throughworking on - Because I need one!!
The twist this time: I'm going to give away a book or two.
All you have to do to play is dress your avatar (for Twitter, usually, but can be Facebook or blog or whatev) in a tiara, or use a pic of a tiara AS your avatar. Be silly and have fun.
More details on the contest and prizes tomorrow morning! I hope you join in and spread the word!
Monday, August 09, 2010
Math and Mortality
Last night I'd just settled down on the sofa with Hubby--Child safely tucked in bed--when we heard the shuffling of small feet.
"Mommy?"
That's my cue. It doesn't happen too often these days, but it used to be pretty common, when she had nightmares or was worried about something. I'm the one who gets up and sorts it out, as many times as it takes, until she's okay.
It feels like a parenting challenge, like I'm stepping up to the plate. What's wrong? Is she sick? Upset? Just not sleepy? Is it a curveball? Will I be able to handle it right this time? Will I be caring and patient?
I take her by the hand, walk her back to her room, sit on the floor in the darkness, and pull her onto my lap. "What's up?"
"I'm worried," she gulps, hesitant. "What if I close my eyes...and then I just don't wake up in the morning?"
Oh dear God. It's not a simple nightmare. It's MORTALITY.
"But you will, boo," I say. I stroke her hair. "There's no reason you wouldn't."
"There's no reason," she counters, "but it's possible. It can happen without a reason."
Ah, my logical girl.
"Yes, it can," I concede, because I can give her nothing less than the truth. I'm spinning for ways to reassure her that are truthful, that acknowledge the seriousness of the worry underneath without making the fear worse. "But it's very unlikely."
"But possible," she argues.
"Yes." I nod. "It's possible." I kiss her hair. This is not helping. Think of something helpful. Logical. "But like I said, unlikely. Think how many mornings you've woken up already."
She looks up at me, big-eyed in the dark, interested. Aha. A way to diminish the fear.
"How many mornings do you think you've woken up?" I ask. "Let's see...8 and a half years..." Oh someone help me, MATH. "Times 365." Simplify, simplify. "What's 3 x 8?"
She thinks for far less time than I would've at that age. "24."
"Cool. So 300 x 8 is 2400." I consider if I can do the rest of it in my head, and concede defeat. "Plus all those 65 days times 8. You're probably at like...3000 mornings." (Hey, I was close.)
"That's a lot of mornings." She laughs. We're doing well at fighting the fear demon. She's definitely more interested in the days now than in the possibility of not waking up.
"And what about me?" I ask. "I've woken up a LOT of times and everything's been okay."
"How many?" She bounces on my lap.
Math fails. "Oh...um...I don't think I can multiply that high in my head."
"Let the calculator do it!" she says. It's something she can solve, now. "Get the calculator."
"If you get in bed," I say, "I'll get the calculator and we'll figure it out. And then you can go back to sleep, okay?"
She gets back in bed. I get the (magical) calculator. We figure out the *cough* high-ish number, and she is suitably impressed. Then I kiss her again, tell her I'd see her in the morning, and I love her more than anything.
Not hit out of the park, exactly, but I think I was on base.
It didn't work completely with the restlessness--I had to go in again about 10 minutes later, because she was hot and trying to open her window by herself--but we talked a little more, and shortly after that she really did drop off to sleep.
I never thought I'd use math to soothe my child's fears, or expected that I'd need so much creativity on a daily basis to try to figure out solutions to those everyday fears, struggles, issues. But then you never really know what it's like to be a parent, and face that challenge, until you're a parent, and suddenly it's THERE and you're the one responsible.
As I told her the other day, though: I highly recommend becoming a parent. In spite of occasional struggles, it's the most fun I've ever had.
"Mommy?"
That's my cue. It doesn't happen too often these days, but it used to be pretty common, when she had nightmares or was worried about something. I'm the one who gets up and sorts it out, as many times as it takes, until she's okay.
It feels like a parenting challenge, like I'm stepping up to the plate. What's wrong? Is she sick? Upset? Just not sleepy? Is it a curveball? Will I be able to handle it right this time? Will I be caring and patient?
I take her by the hand, walk her back to her room, sit on the floor in the darkness, and pull her onto my lap. "What's up?"
"I'm worried," she gulps, hesitant. "What if I close my eyes...and then I just don't wake up in the morning?"
Oh dear God. It's not a simple nightmare. It's MORTALITY.
"But you will, boo," I say. I stroke her hair. "There's no reason you wouldn't."
"There's no reason," she counters, "but it's possible. It can happen without a reason."
Ah, my logical girl.
"Yes, it can," I concede, because I can give her nothing less than the truth. I'm spinning for ways to reassure her that are truthful, that acknowledge the seriousness of the worry underneath without making the fear worse. "But it's very unlikely."
"But possible," she argues.
"Yes." I nod. "It's possible." I kiss her hair. This is not helping. Think of something helpful. Logical. "But like I said, unlikely. Think how many mornings you've woken up already."
She looks up at me, big-eyed in the dark, interested. Aha. A way to diminish the fear.
"How many mornings do you think you've woken up?" I ask. "Let's see...8 and a half years..." Oh someone help me, MATH. "Times 365." Simplify, simplify. "What's 3 x 8?"
She thinks for far less time than I would've at that age. "24."
"Cool. So 300 x 8 is 2400." I consider if I can do the rest of it in my head, and concede defeat. "Plus all those 65 days times 8. You're probably at like...3000 mornings." (Hey, I was close.)
"That's a lot of mornings." She laughs. We're doing well at fighting the fear demon. She's definitely more interested in the days now than in the possibility of not waking up.
"And what about me?" I ask. "I've woken up a LOT of times and everything's been okay."
"How many?" She bounces on my lap.
Math fails. "Oh...um...I don't think I can multiply that high in my head."
"Let the calculator do it!" she says. It's something she can solve, now. "Get the calculator."
"If you get in bed," I say, "I'll get the calculator and we'll figure it out. And then you can go back to sleep, okay?"
She gets back in bed. I get the (magical) calculator. We figure out the *cough* high-ish number, and she is suitably impressed. Then I kiss her again, tell her I'd see her in the morning, and I love her more than anything.
Not hit out of the park, exactly, but I think I was on base.
It didn't work completely with the restlessness--I had to go in again about 10 minutes later, because she was hot and trying to open her window by herself--but we talked a little more, and shortly after that she really did drop off to sleep.
I never thought I'd use math to soothe my child's fears, or expected that I'd need so much creativity on a daily basis to try to figure out solutions to those everyday fears, struggles, issues. But then you never really know what it's like to be a parent, and face that challenge, until you're a parent, and suddenly it's THERE and you're the one responsible.
As I told her the other day, though: I highly recommend becoming a parent. In spite of occasional struggles, it's the most fun I've ever had.
Thursday, August 05, 2010
Daily Walk Pics: August 5th
Daily walk pics for you!!
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| I love this church. It always looks gorgeous. |
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| Poppies!! |
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| There's something about boarded-up windows, particularly the ones that have been bricked over, that intrigue me. |
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| But this poor house is going a little overboard with the blocked-off windows. I wish someone would fix it up! |
Tuesday, August 03, 2010
Camp Stories
I have been reading DaMomma's Briar Haven series with great interest.
It's so apt. Mare is almost exactly the same age as Child (I've been reading DaMomma's blog since they were both babies), and Child had her first camp experience last weekend.
The difference is we took a softer step first: Child chose the Girl Scout camp that only lasted 3 days, where I got to go with her.
Camp WITH Mom!
It was amazingly fun. We sang (lots and lots and lots of) songs, tie-dyed, made crafts, went on hikes, slightly burnt s'mores, learned to tie knots and build a proper Girl Scout fire, and had a little time for kicking back in the cabin besides. We roomed with a family with 3 girls (6, 7, and 9-almost-10), and Child made friends with them in the first 5 minutes. She spent many hours hanging out with the three of them, which made me only a tiny bit wish there was more Mom-n-me time in this Mom-n-me weekend, but mostly thrilled that she could make and enjoy friends so easily. She was quite upset that she had to leave them at the end.
My one and only camp experience was between Child's and DaMomma's. It wasn't awful, but I sure didn't enjoy it either. I clearly remember sobbing in the camp director's office that I NEEDED to call my mom and go home right now, though of course they wouldn't let me. I was the type of child then who targeted herself for bullies and mockery, so I was bullied and mocked even by strange new kids, almost right off. But I do have a few good memories in there too, of a kind girl named Rachel in my tent, and a counselor I don't remember but I remember I liked.
I'm so glad the next generation (at least in mine and DaMomma's case) seems to be doing this better. :) Child definitely wants to go to camp again next summer...we'll see if she wants me to go along with or not!
It's so apt. Mare is almost exactly the same age as Child (I've been reading DaMomma's blog since they were both babies), and Child had her first camp experience last weekend.
The difference is we took a softer step first: Child chose the Girl Scout camp that only lasted 3 days, where I got to go with her.
Camp WITH Mom!
It was amazingly fun. We sang (lots and lots and lots of) songs, tie-dyed, made crafts, went on hikes, slightly burnt s'mores, learned to tie knots and build a proper Girl Scout fire, and had a little time for kicking back in the cabin besides. We roomed with a family with 3 girls (6, 7, and 9-almost-10), and Child made friends with them in the first 5 minutes. She spent many hours hanging out with the three of them, which made me only a tiny bit wish there was more Mom-n-me time in this Mom-n-me weekend, but mostly thrilled that she could make and enjoy friends so easily. She was quite upset that she had to leave them at the end.
My one and only camp experience was between Child's and DaMomma's. It wasn't awful, but I sure didn't enjoy it either. I clearly remember sobbing in the camp director's office that I NEEDED to call my mom and go home right now, though of course they wouldn't let me. I was the type of child then who targeted herself for bullies and mockery, so I was bullied and mocked even by strange new kids, almost right off. But I do have a few good memories in there too, of a kind girl named Rachel in my tent, and a counselor I don't remember but I remember I liked.
I'm so glad the next generation (at least in mine and DaMomma's case) seems to be doing this better. :) Child definitely wants to go to camp again next summer...we'll see if she wants me to go along with or not!
Friday, July 30, 2010
Phase 2
...and the last couple days have been Illness, Phase 2. Both Child and Hubby came down with my virus at the same time. Fevers and the joys of stomach flu. So I was out of work again taking care of them...
*sigh*
STILL, both are nearly all better today, thank goodness. Just in time for Child and I to head out to the mother/daughter weekend Girl Scout camp we've been planning since April! It was touch-and-go there for a while, but I'm so happy we can go.
I'll be totally away from the internet for the duration, but hope y'all have a lovely weekend!!! See you next week, which I hope will be significantly more uneventful and more full of writing...
*sigh*
STILL, both are nearly all better today, thank goodness. Just in time for Child and I to head out to the mother/daughter weekend Girl Scout camp we've been planning since April! It was touch-and-go there for a while, but I'm so happy we can go.
I'll be totally away from the internet for the duration, but hope y'all have a lovely weekend!!! See you next week, which I hope will be significantly more uneventful and more full of writing...
Monday, July 26, 2010
Daily Walk
Ha. I DID manage to go for a walk today! Victory.
It was cloudy and muggy, but I got a few interesting pictures all the same. Strangely today's seemed to be more about the past and decay...but I love stuff like that too.
We had a busy weekend at Evel Knievel Days. Nope, I'm not kidding. I even rode in a monster truck. :) FINALLY feeling almost all well...thanks for the get-well wishes, guys!
Today's pictures:
It was cloudy and muggy, but I got a few interesting pictures all the same. Strangely today's seemed to be more about the past and decay...but I love stuff like that too.
We had a busy weekend at Evel Knievel Days. Nope, I'm not kidding. I even rode in a monster truck. :) FINALLY feeling almost all well...thanks for the get-well wishes, guys!
Today's pictures:
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| I admit, I don't know what this is. I just liked the look of it sitting there. |
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| Flowers! |
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| Brief moment of sun. Doesn't this look Greek or something? |
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| This one does not look Greek. I'm still trying to puzzle out what used to be written on the door. |
Friday, July 23, 2010
Not quite so daily.
Well, my "daily" plan got blown out of the water straightaway...Tuesday night I came down with a 24-hour bug, which left me not really wanting to walk more than a few steps Wednesday or yesterday. Today I'm back at work, but still a bit "wobbly on my pins" as an old British woman might say.
Sometimes I channel an old British woman. Don't mind me.
Anyway, I will try to get back on my action plan as soon as energy levels warrant. In the meantime, have a wonderful weekend!! And thanks for your loverly comments!!
Sometimes I channel an old British woman. Don't mind me.
Anyway, I will try to get back on my action plan as soon as energy levels warrant. In the meantime, have a wonderful weekend!! And thanks for your loverly comments!!
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Daily Walk Illustrated
I KNOW. I haven't posted in forever. It's not like I forgot about you--it's been an item on my to-do list nearly every day--and it's not like there hasn't been anything going on. July is festival month 'round here, so we've had 4th of July extravaganzas and the last year of the National Folk Festival, and piles of goings-on in between. I just haven't quite gotten to it.
Today, though, I started a little possible side project, and thought it would be fun to share with you.
Hubby and I had been going for walks pretty regularly in the afternoon, 1-2 miles a day...until we didn't anymore. He got busy, it was too hot, whatever. We stopped, and my clothes are starting not to fit again. Today I decided just to GO by myself, and along the way to indulge another craving I've been having: photography. Lately I see everything in still images, and I've been itching to take the good camera out for a run.
So my plan: go for a walk as often as I can, by myself or otherwise. Daily if possible. Bring the camera, and document interesting stuff. And post a few on the blog! Why not? It's exercise, creative, AND fun.
So here are a few pics from today's adventure, for your enjoyment! All copyright me, because I took them. :P
Today, though, I started a little possible side project, and thought it would be fun to share with you.
Hubby and I had been going for walks pretty regularly in the afternoon, 1-2 miles a day...until we didn't anymore. He got busy, it was too hot, whatever. We stopped, and my clothes are starting not to fit again. Today I decided just to GO by myself, and along the way to indulge another craving I've been having: photography. Lately I see everything in still images, and I've been itching to take the good camera out for a run.
So my plan: go for a walk as often as I can, by myself or otherwise. Daily if possible. Bring the camera, and document interesting stuff. And post a few on the blog! Why not? It's exercise, creative, AND fun.
So here are a few pics from today's adventure, for your enjoyment! All copyright me, because I took them. :P
Thursday, July 01, 2010
Love Day Thursday
I haven't done one of these for a while, so here we go!
Love day is celebrating what you love RIGHT THIS MINUTE. I love:
Love day is celebrating what you love RIGHT THIS MINUTE. I love:
- The sunshine and 70-degree weather going on outside my window. I'm hoping to have lunch on a deck somewhere today.
- My writer friends, and all the new people I've met over the past couple of days!
- Agents and editors who are awesome (most, in my experience) and respond to emails and posts right away even though I know they're busy people.
- The Lindt Dark Chocolate with A Touch of Sea Salt bar I've been snacking off of all week.
- My husband, who just called me with two grammar questions in a row.
- Paychecks.
- The first day of the month, when I get to turn the new page on the calendar.
- The prospect of taking Child to the library this weekend to discover new books.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Envy follow-up
Wow. I have been overwhelmed by the positive response to yesterday's Envy post, both publicly and privately.
You guys are AMAZING. Thank you!
Also, apparently you all have the same issues I have. :)
I had to clarify that I'm not in a bad place right now--I'm happily working away on research for a big revision on SALVAGED, and it'll be a little bit before I'm on submission again. It's probably because I am feeling secure that I could write about it, actually. But obviously it's enough of a universal issue that it's important to recognize and discuss.
Thank you all for reading and discussing!
You guys are AMAZING. Thank you!
Also, apparently you all have the same issues I have. :)
I had to clarify that I'm not in a bad place right now--I'm happily working away on research for a big revision on SALVAGED, and it'll be a little bit before I'm on submission again. It's probably because I am feeling secure that I could write about it, actually. But obviously it's enough of a universal issue that it's important to recognize and discuss.
Thank you all for reading and discussing!
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Envy
This post is going to be brutally honest. I hope you don't think less of me at the end of it. But I think this is an important thing to write about, because I swear all us writers experience it whether we admit it or not, whether we want to or not.
Sour, stomach-twisting, soul-sucking ENVY.
I've been doing this writing thing off and on for 10 years. I've been doing the trying-to-get-published thing hardcore, with agented submissions and revisions and resubmissions, for more than 2. I've gotten close. I have high hopes for the novel I'm working on now. But I haven't yet quite made it past that hurdle, and it's been an emotionally drenched up-and-down run.
The writing community--especially the YA writing community--is close, a tangled knot of interconnected writers, where everybody knows and supports each other. I spend my days surrounded online by YA writers I love. I cheer with them, joke with them, read their work and blogs and emails. I feel that most of them are friends tangentially at least, and many are good friends. I adore these people. I truly want them to succeed.
And yet--and yet.
Still it kicks me in the gut when I read about another 3-book deal with an editor we submitted to. Still I have to take a breath before I smile when I hear someone's book went to auction in the first week of submission. Still I flinch when I see writers half my age sell their fourth book, see people who went on submission long after I did showing their covers or their release dates. Sometimes it's hard to be surrounded virtually by success at something you want so badly, but haven't managed. (yet)
But here's the good news, in my opinion. That horrible envy, those moments of selfishness? They're OKAY. It is perfectly normal and natural to feel a moment of bad for yourself in the midst of feeling glad for others. It's human.
The tricks I've found to feeling that way and still going on, without falling into the suck:
And all my dear friends who have succeeded, are succeeding: don't be afraid to share your good news with me! I promise that even if it makes me hurt for a second, that is quickly overwhelmed by my happiness that you really have done it.
And hope that if you can, if I keep pounding someday I will too.
Sour, stomach-twisting, soul-sucking ENVY.
I've been doing this writing thing off and on for 10 years. I've been doing the trying-to-get-published thing hardcore, with agented submissions and revisions and resubmissions, for more than 2. I've gotten close. I have high hopes for the novel I'm working on now. But I haven't yet quite made it past that hurdle, and it's been an emotionally drenched up-and-down run.
The writing community--especially the YA writing community--is close, a tangled knot of interconnected writers, where everybody knows and supports each other. I spend my days surrounded online by YA writers I love. I cheer with them, joke with them, read their work and blogs and emails. I feel that most of them are friends tangentially at least, and many are good friends. I adore these people. I truly want them to succeed.
And yet--and yet.
Still it kicks me in the gut when I read about another 3-book deal with an editor we submitted to. Still I have to take a breath before I smile when I hear someone's book went to auction in the first week of submission. Still I flinch when I see writers half my age sell their fourth book, see people who went on submission long after I did showing their covers or their release dates. Sometimes it's hard to be surrounded virtually by success at something you want so badly, but haven't managed. (yet)
But here's the good news, in my opinion. That horrible envy, those moments of selfishness? They're OKAY. It is perfectly normal and natural to feel a moment of bad for yourself in the midst of feeling glad for others. It's human.
The tricks I've found to feeling that way and still going on, without falling into the suck:
- Allow yourself to feel bad, but NOT FOR LONG. Put a time limit on it. You can feel sorry for yourself for--oh, an hour. Max. And then you get the heck over yourself and you realize that person, that friend, has felt this way too, has had their own struggles, but they've finally made it. And now is their time to celebrate, and your time to HELP THEM CELEBRATE. They need you to. It's okay to feel the envy pangs--it is not okay to wallow.
- Never allow your personal issues to show (erm, outside of this blog post). Envy is personal and private, and okay in that context. It's *maybe* okay to share with a close, trusted friend. It is never allowed, in my opinion, to let any sense of envy dictate your behavior: to say rude things or bring anyone down.
- Realize that everyone feels this way at some point. Even if they seemingly sailed to this achievement, be absolutely certain they've had issues you have no idea about, that there's more behind the scenes.
- Don't let up. Continue to focus on your work, on improving, on things you can control. That is how you will make it to the celebration stage yourself.
And all my dear friends who have succeeded, are succeeding: don't be afraid to share your good news with me! I promise that even if it makes me hurt for a second, that is quickly overwhelmed by my happiness that you really have done it.
And hope that if you can, if I keep pounding someday I will too.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
10 Weird Things about Montana
Because I've been a transplant for 7 years now, and I think it's time I confessed:
Top 10 Weird Things about Montana
(From a California perspective, with great affection. In no particular order other than how I thought of them)
Top 10 Weird Things about Montana
(From a California perspective, with great affection. In no particular order other than how I thought of them)
- People say "crick" for "creek". Really. It has two ee's in the middle. How do you get an "i" out of that? I may let my child say "pop" for soda (even though it makes me shudder a little), but I will not ever let her get away with "crick".
- On the public radio station they interrupt to announce lost dogs.
- Speaking of dogs, they wander around on their own or in packs, all over the place. It is very, very common to have traffic stopped on the main street to let a dog pass. Though now that I think about it, that might just be in this town.
- The air sometimes smells like mountain scent air freshener, naturally.
- They just don't use toilet seat covers. Anywhere. In CA they were *everywhere*.
- They not only accept checks for everything, they EXPECT them. Even in the drive-through for fast food. Though god help you if you're not a local, because only local checks.
- Everybody seems to like their coffee sickeningly sweet. From drive-through coffee stands. With straws in the hole of the to-go cup. Why would I want to sip hot coffee out of a straw and scald my mouth?
- It is *always* okay to be dressed in jeans. It is perfectly acceptable for a woman to wear jeans to a wedding.
- Maybe this isn't weird, but there is a huge loyalty (and discrimination) based on being FROM here, actually born in this town or at least in Montana. If an article is written about you in the paper, it will always say whether you are or are not a "native". This is one of the first questions asked in every social setting.
- I live in a town of about 35,000 people. And it's a big town for Montana. I love that.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Cycling
I like cycles. As I get older, I see that much of life is cyclic, and somehow that makes me feel better. When I'm in a low I know I'll come out of it again, and when I'm in a high I ride it for as long as possible.
One of my more mundane but obvious cycles--and probably yours too--is groceries.
It starts out like this:
Hmm, I think. I need to go grocery shopping.
*Note: this image is a LIE. Even when my refrigerator is empty of useful food, it is still crammed full of sauces and jars of jam you'd have to scrape to get anything from and forgotten jars of purple cabbage stuffed in the back.
I love grocery shopping. It makes me feel all hunter-gathery.
Or Tartar-Warrior-ish. Like that.
Have I mentioned that I want to take archery lessons?
Anyway. I like to make lists based on weekly menus and go attack the store. I load up, always optimistically thinking OH and we can eat that!, sometimes buying too much for the week.
Aaaahh.
I feel happy and satisfied. I can make ANYTHING I WANT! LOOK! LOOK AT THE CHOICES!
This lasts for a day.
Then I start worrying about the food. How are we going to eat all this before it goes bad? It doesn't help that my husband, every time he opens the fridge, says "How are we going to eat all this before it goes bad?" :)
So we start in with the meals, eating our way through all that good fresh stuff. And about 5 days later, I am relieved. We've done it. The meals have been good, we've eaten it all. Success! But there's a little problem...
*sigh*
Writing's like that too: new idea! Play play play! Hate. Love. Edit edit edit! Send to people. Accept crushing feedback, rejoice in fabulous feedback. Regroup. Edit edit edit! Send to more people. Repeat of above. Edit edit edit! Let go. New idea!
Everything's a cycle. Right now in food I'm at the last image. In writing, I'm at the brain-break-before-editing phase.
It's all good. You've got to relish each part of the cycle--or get through it, if it's a bad bit. Or make do with the food you have on hand.
I think that's enough mangled metaphors for today, don't you?
One of my more mundane but obvious cycles--and probably yours too--is groceries.
It starts out like this:
Hmm, I think. I need to go grocery shopping.
*Note: this image is a LIE. Even when my refrigerator is empty of useful food, it is still crammed full of sauces and jars of jam you'd have to scrape to get anything from and forgotten jars of purple cabbage stuffed in the back.
I love grocery shopping. It makes me feel all hunter-gathery.
Have I mentioned that I want to take archery lessons?
Generally I buy so much fresh stuff--fresh fruits, vegetables, meat, bread, juice, milk--that I have to cram it all in.
Aaaahh.
I feel happy and satisfied. I can make ANYTHING I WANT! LOOK! LOOK AT THE CHOICES!
This lasts for a day.
Then I start worrying about the food. How are we going to eat all this before it goes bad? It doesn't help that my husband, every time he opens the fridge, says "How are we going to eat all this before it goes bad?" :)
So we start in with the meals, eating our way through all that good fresh stuff. And about 5 days later, I am relieved. We've done it. The meals have been good, we've eaten it all. Success! But there's a little problem...
*sigh*
Writing's like that too: new idea! Play play play! Hate. Love. Edit edit edit! Send to people. Accept crushing feedback, rejoice in fabulous feedback. Regroup. Edit edit edit! Send to more people. Repeat of above. Edit edit edit! Let go. New idea!
Everything's a cycle. Right now in food I'm at the last image. In writing, I'm at the brain-break-before-editing phase.
It's all good. You've got to relish each part of the cycle--or get through it, if it's a bad bit. Or make do with the food you have on hand.
I think that's enough mangled metaphors for today, don't you?
Friday, June 11, 2010
Poetry Friday
It's been a difficult, tumultuous week.
Interestingly, after difficult times I find myself thoughtful, introspective, and appreciative of what I have. I seek inspiration and hope everywhere, whether fishing (I caught 7 trout Wednesday night, hurrah!) or reading, hugs or emails.
For Poetry Friday I choose this one, celebrating something that I love.
Books
by Billy Collins
(borrowed from The Writer's Almanac)
From the heart of this dark, evacuated campus
I can hear the library humming in the night,
a choir of authors murmuring inside their books
along the unlit, alphabetical shelves,
Giovanni Pontano next to Pope, Dumas next to his son,
each one stitched into his own private coat,
together forming a low, gigantic chord of language.
I picture a figure in the act of reading,
shoes on a desk, head tilted into the wind of a book,
a man in two worlds, holding the rope of his tie
as the suicide of lovers saturates a page,
or lighting a cigarette in the middle of a theorem.
He moves from paragraph to paragraph
as if touring a house of endless, paneled rooms.
I hear the voice of my mother reading to me
from a chair facing the bed, books about horses and dogs,
and inside her voice lie other distant sounds,
the horrors of a stable ablaze in the night,
a bark that is moving toward the brink of speech.
I watch myself building bookshelves in college,
walls within walls, as rain soaks New England,
or standing in a bookstore in a trench coat.
I see all of us reading ourselves away from ourselves,
straining in circles of light to find more light
until the line of words becomes a trail of crumbs
that we follow across a page of fresh snow;
when evening is shadowing the forest
and small birds flutter down to consume the crumbs,
we have to listen hard to hear the voices
of the boy and his sister receding into the woods.
Interestingly, after difficult times I find myself thoughtful, introspective, and appreciative of what I have. I seek inspiration and hope everywhere, whether fishing (I caught 7 trout Wednesday night, hurrah!) or reading, hugs or emails.
For Poetry Friday I choose this one, celebrating something that I love.
Books
by Billy Collins
(borrowed from The Writer's Almanac)
From the heart of this dark, evacuated campus
I can hear the library humming in the night,
a choir of authors murmuring inside their books
along the unlit, alphabetical shelves,
Giovanni Pontano next to Pope, Dumas next to his son,
each one stitched into his own private coat,
together forming a low, gigantic chord of language.
I picture a figure in the act of reading,
shoes on a desk, head tilted into the wind of a book,
a man in two worlds, holding the rope of his tie
as the suicide of lovers saturates a page,
or lighting a cigarette in the middle of a theorem.
He moves from paragraph to paragraph
as if touring a house of endless, paneled rooms.
I hear the voice of my mother reading to me
from a chair facing the bed, books about horses and dogs,
and inside her voice lie other distant sounds,
the horrors of a stable ablaze in the night,
a bark that is moving toward the brink of speech.
I watch myself building bookshelves in college,
walls within walls, as rain soaks New England,
or standing in a bookstore in a trench coat.
I see all of us reading ourselves away from ourselves,
straining in circles of light to find more light
until the line of words becomes a trail of crumbs
that we follow across a page of fresh snow;
when evening is shadowing the forest
and small birds flutter down to consume the crumbs,
we have to listen hard to hear the voices
of the boy and his sister receding into the woods.
Wednesday, June 02, 2010
These are a few of my embarrassing things...
Tawna Fenske started it.
Actually, maybe Linda Grimes did.
And then @BostonBookGirl reminded me of a good tale of my own.
Ah, those shining moments of embarrassment, when you truly wish the floor would swallow you up, because whatever monster is wriggling under the floor is CLEARLY better than where you are. Visible. Hideously exposed. Not only not-perfect-and-cool, but a mockery of humanity.
Or just klutzy.
When people ask me my most embarrassing moment, up till now my mind has always flown back to those agonizing two minutes freshman year of high school, when I slipped and slid--facedown--across the slick floor of the hall...and then the bell rang and everybody in the known universe poured out to find me there. But that's just high school. There are MORE.
Sixth grade. My teacher sent me somewhere--don't remember where, but I was pretty much teacher's pet at that point, so it's not surprising he'd send reliable me on a mission. Except I got easily distracted (then, as now) and didn't look where I was going. I slammed my forehead full-force into the metal pole standing outside the classroom. In view of everyone. Oh, yes. Knocked myself out for a couple seconds, and had to be helped by one of my less-distracted, eye-rolling classmates to the nurse's office to check for a concussion.
*sigh*
Seventh grade, English class. We were doing a word-search contest for some reason, which I usually won (still teacher's pet and always a word nerd). Problem: I had a really bad habit of sucking on the back of my pens while working. Bigger problem: this pen...it exploded. In my mouth.
So I had to decide: try to hide this incident, and possibly die from ink poisoning? Confess, spit, get help?
I trotted to the front of the class, my mouth bursting with ink, blue-black dripping from the corners like I was a vampire dining on octopus. Nurse's office. Spitting. Reputation oh-so-cool.
Geez. It's a wonder I survived at all. I'm sure there's more, too--that's just what I can think of right now.
How about you? Wanna keep me company with somefun tragic episodes of embarrassment?
Actually, maybe Linda Grimes did.
And then @BostonBookGirl reminded me of a good tale of my own.
Ah, those shining moments of embarrassment, when you truly wish the floor would swallow you up, because whatever monster is wriggling under the floor is CLEARLY better than where you are. Visible. Hideously exposed. Not only not-perfect-and-cool, but a mockery of humanity.
Or just klutzy.
When people ask me my most embarrassing moment, up till now my mind has always flown back to those agonizing two minutes freshman year of high school, when I slipped and slid--facedown--across the slick floor of the hall...and then the bell rang and everybody in the known universe poured out to find me there. But that's just high school. There are MORE.
Sixth grade. My teacher sent me somewhere--don't remember where, but I was pretty much teacher's pet at that point, so it's not surprising he'd send reliable me on a mission. Except I got easily distracted (then, as now) and didn't look where I was going. I slammed my forehead full-force into the metal pole standing outside the classroom. In view of everyone. Oh, yes. Knocked myself out for a couple seconds, and had to be helped by one of my less-distracted, eye-rolling classmates to the nurse's office to check for a concussion.
*sigh*
Seventh grade, English class. We were doing a word-search contest for some reason, which I usually won (still teacher's pet and always a word nerd). Problem: I had a really bad habit of sucking on the back of my pens while working. Bigger problem: this pen...it exploded. In my mouth.
So I had to decide: try to hide this incident, and possibly die from ink poisoning? Confess, spit, get help?
I trotted to the front of the class, my mouth bursting with ink, blue-black dripping from the corners like I was a vampire dining on octopus. Nurse's office. Spitting. Reputation oh-so-cool.
Geez. It's a wonder I survived at all. I'm sure there's more, too--that's just what I can think of right now.
How about you? Wanna keep me company with some
Friday, May 28, 2010
The best liar of the day is...
Laurie Lamb! Laurie, send your address to susan (dot) adrian (at) yahoo.com so I can bundle off your copy!
Thank you all for playing along! I had such fun reading these, and I had a tough time deciding. Honorable Mentions go to:
--Bill Cameron, Patrick Lee, and CKHB for their lies about Sean Ferrell and each other. Because everyone loves to lie about Sean Ferrell.
--Linda Grimes (bff) for starting it off and shamelessly pimping the contest all over twitter.
Jenna, Amy Jo, Karla, Morgan, Carina, Sterling, Charles, Kristin, Nikole, Scarlet, I loved reading yours!!
Why did Laurie's win?
Because I wished it was true. And the whole thing made me laugh. Here's her lie:
Susan Adrian has compiled a nude calendar featuring notable people from her writing/twitter world. Highlights include: Miss January—Janet Reid swigging gin while ringing in the new year, Mr. March—Jeffrey Somers with his pussy cats, Miss May—Suzie Townsend and her puppies frolicking through a spring meadow, Mr. June—a sweaty Bill Cameron showing off Skin, and Mr. December—a snow-covered Sean Ferrell looking NUMB. Get yours! On sale now!
The Bill Cameron and Sean Ferrell lines are brilliant. Congrats Laurie!
Thank you all for playing along! I had such fun reading these, and I had a tough time deciding. Honorable Mentions go to:
--Bill Cameron, Patrick Lee, and CKHB for their lies about Sean Ferrell and each other. Because everyone loves to lie about Sean Ferrell.
--Linda Grimes (bff) for starting it off and shamelessly pimping the contest all over twitter.
Jenna, Amy Jo, Karla, Morgan, Carina, Sterling, Charles, Kristin, Nikole, Scarlet, I loved reading yours!!
Why did Laurie's win?
Because I wished it was true. And the whole thing made me laugh. Here's her lie:
Susan Adrian has compiled a nude calendar featuring notable people from her writing/twitter world. Highlights include: Miss January—Janet Reid swigging gin while ringing in the new year, Mr. March—Jeffrey Somers with his pussy cats, Miss May—Suzie Townsend and her puppies frolicking through a spring meadow, Mr. June—a sweaty Bill Cameron showing off Skin, and Mr. December—a snow-covered Sean Ferrell looking NUMB. Get yours! On sale now!
The Bill Cameron and Sean Ferrell lines are brilliant. Congrats Laurie!
Thursday, May 27, 2010
BEA Sympathetic Swag Contest: Day 3
The winner of FALLEN is... Natalie!! Congrats, Natalie! Email me at susan (dot) adrian (at) yahoo.com with your address, and I'll send it out!
Today, we're gonna have a little more fun. Today, I'm giving away a copy of Justine Larbalestier's fabulous and brain-twisting book, LIAR.
From Justine's website: Liar is a psychological thriller set in New York City told from the point of view of a compulsive liar.
You guys, I had such fun reading this book, never knowing what was truth and what wasn't. I've always loved unreliable narrators--they mess with you so! (It makes me want to write one. Okay, not quite yet. But someday.)
So believe me (ha) when I tell you that you want to win this one. But I'm going to make it a little more challenging.
To win this book, you've got to lie to me.
Post in the comments with your best, most outrageous lie. Bonus points for making the lie about somebody in our crazy cast of characters writing/twitter world (*cough* Janet Reid, Suzie Townsend, Joanna Stampfel-Volpe, Sean Ferrell, Bill Cameron, Victoria Schwab, Linda Grimes, etc..., but really anybody you want or anything you want. Make it a good lie.
Tomorrow I'm actually going to judge my favorite lie (extra judges brought in if necessary) and award LIAR to the winner! Contest closes at 8 am tomorrow.
So GO! Lie to me!
UPDATE: THE CONTEST IS CLOSED. Thanks for playing!
Today, we're gonna have a little more fun. Today, I'm giving away a copy of Justine Larbalestier's fabulous and brain-twisting book, LIAR.
You guys, I had such fun reading this book, never knowing what was truth and what wasn't. I've always loved unreliable narrators--they mess with you so! (It makes me want to write one. Okay, not quite yet. But someday.)
So believe me (ha) when I tell you that you want to win this one. But I'm going to make it a little more challenging.
To win this book, you've got to lie to me.
Post in the comments with your best, most outrageous lie. Bonus points for making the lie about somebody in our crazy cast of characters writing/twitter world (*cough* Janet Reid, Suzie Townsend, Joanna Stampfel-Volpe, Sean Ferrell, Bill Cameron, Victoria Schwab, Linda Grimes, etc..., but really anybody you want or anything you want. Make it a good lie.
Tomorrow I'm actually going to judge my favorite lie (extra judges brought in if necessary) and award LIAR to the winner! Contest closes at 8 am tomorrow.
So GO! Lie to me!
UPDATE: THE CONTEST IS CLOSED. Thanks for playing!
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
BEA Sympathetic Swag Contest: Day 2
Thanks for playing yesterday, everybody! The winner of a copy of RAMPANT is...
Derek Molata! Congratulations, Derek! (You're on a good news roll...) :)
Today's swag is slightly newer, still YA (of course): FALLEN, by Lauren Kate. It's gothic and romantic and intriguing.
Some Angels are Destined to Fall
There’s something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.
Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price’s attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He’s the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.
Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce–and goes out of his way to make that very clear–she can’t let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret . . . even if it kills her.
Dangerously exciting and darkly romantic, Fallen is a page turning thriller and the ultimate love story.
Want to read it for yourself?
For today's contest, I want you to go to today's BEA schedule of author signings. Pretend you're there, and find 5 authors you'd want to go get a signed book from. Even Rick Springfield and Neil Sedaka are there today!
Then post your 5 chosen authors in the comments field. Contest closes at 8 am tomorrow, when the final one will open!
Derek Molata! Congratulations, Derek! (You're on a good news roll...) :)
Today's swag is slightly newer, still YA (of course): FALLEN, by Lauren Kate. It's gothic and romantic and intriguing.
Fallen
Some Angels are Destined to Fall
There’s something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.
Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price’s attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He’s the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.
Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce–and goes out of his way to make that very clear–she can’t let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret . . . even if it kills her.
Dangerously exciting and darkly romantic, Fallen is a page turning thriller and the ultimate love story.
Want to read it for yourself?
For today's contest, I want you to go to today's BEA schedule of author signings. Pretend you're there, and find 5 authors you'd want to go get a signed book from. Even Rick Springfield and Neil Sedaka are there today!
Then post your 5 chosen authors in the comments field. Contest closes at 8 am tomorrow, when the final one will open!
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