A little hungry

hungry
Originally uploaded by marielle takes a pic a day....

So, you're on a trip...say, to Paris, and you start to feel a little peckish...hmmm, what could you snack on? Hey, I know! The Eiffel Tower! Hope it was yummy, Marielle!

Yes, I'm wasting time at Flickr when I should be doing other things!

Chadron is a verb! ;)

After beating Colorado, Montana State lost to Chadron last week. Now, the University of New Hampshire beat Northwestern and is hoping not to start a trend with Stony Brook. I like the author's term for what that loss would be.

Union Leader - UNH Notebook: 'Cats don't dwell on big win - Monday, Sep. 11, 2006: "The last thing UNH needs, after all, is to be 'Chadroned' on Saturday at Cowell Stadium in its home opener against Stony Brook. "

My new mantra

I'm still reading Cheryl's blog (I should be doing other things, like writing). I think I've found my new mantra: "When I am old, I will read all those books, but I won't wear purple."

Dreaded rejections

‚“This doesn‚’t fit our present needs, and if it ever does, we‚’ll shoot ourselves.”

I had to laugh when I read this post by Cheryl St. John. She's one of the local authors who encouraged me to join the local RWA chapter. I did, and it's been the best thing I've ever done for my writing.

Right now, I'm just working toward the point where I can GET a rejection. I received my entry back from a contest today. Obviously, I didn't final. I did get some good comments, though. I keep learning, and just plugging away.

Our new houseguest

Missy
Originally uploaded by mdesive.

This is Missy, who is staying indefnitely. She's also known as Quinn's new toy. I just hope he doesn't pull all her stuffing out...but then, none of the other toys could fight back, and she sure does!

Reading a smorgasbord

In response to Tess Gerritson's blog entry, Rebecca Brandewyne says:

Romancing the Blog | Romance Authors and Readers Who Blog: "So, serve me a banquet, a buffet, a feast, a smorgasbord — not just Brussels sprouts and ice cream, but everything else in between, too, because some days, I want Brussels sprouts, and others, I want ice cream, and still others, I want something else entirely."



I say "Yes, Yes, and Yes again!"

Life lesson: Read what you want and don't apologize

This is so true. I read what I want to, but it's still hard for me to tell people what I'm reading sometimes. And when they ask what I'm writing and I say "It's a romance," I still wince when I get that look. The wince is a lot smaller, though, since I joined my local Romance Writers of America group. "I'm not the only one!" my soul cries out.

(The boldface is mine in the excerpt below)

Tess Gerritsen’s Blog» Legume Literature: "This is the greatest cruelty of all. It's one committed every day, by every parent who frowns at the child who’s got his nose deep in a Dean Koontz novel. By every bookseller who laughs at the pasty-faced men who linger near the science fiction shelves. By every highbrow twit who says to a friend, “I’d never read that trash.” Every single one of them is killing the soul of a reader.

So here's a new and revolutionary proposal: let people read what they want to read. Let them eat ice cream for breakfast, lunch, and dinner if they want to. Some of them will eat the occasional Brussels sprout and like it. But don'’t make them think they'’re any less virtuous for shunning it.

And for all those who read, my advice is this: never apologize for your books. They are your friends. And like friends, some of them are complex and demanding, while others are easy to spend time with. Listen to the critics if you choose to, but remember that critics tend to praise the books that make them look intelligent."

Yep, it's been hot here!

It's hot!
Originally uploaded by mdesive.

I took this yesterday while we were out running errands. Afew seconds later it popped up to 105. Bleh!

Fireworks and the Dog

IMG_0031
Originally uploaded by mdesive.

Poor Quinn! He spent half the evening under the bed yesterday.

The Nest by Bart Vargas, UNO Library

The Nest by Bart Vargas, UNO Library
Originally uploaded by mdesive.

I love how sometimes you get a wild hair and end up where you wouldn't normally be and something amazing greets you.

I came across the title of a book at work today & found the UNO library had it. I really felt I needed to go get this book TODAY, and it's on my way home, so I went. When I walked in, this mound of wires, cables, keyboards -- you-name-it -- sat just inside the library. It's apparently a student art project by Bart Vargas called The Nest. It was a little freaky. I think I have a miniature one growing in my garage...

Click on the photo for the larger version and a link to another photo (not mine) with better lighting. I still haven't figured out why my cameraphone made it blue...

Is it in color, or not?

You have to check out this illusion! It's kind of freaky.

Thanks to Katie MacAlister and her "Field Trip Friday" for the link.

Guess who's 18 today!

Josh & Jon
Originally uploaded by mdesive.

Great American or Sexy Novel?

I was a bit distressed last week when I saw the list of the Best Work of American Fiction in the Last 25 Years by the New York Times Book Review and realized I haven't read a single one. Worse, I haven't even heard of most of the judges and have only read one of them. I was an English major! Gah!

I've done only slightly better on the 25 Sexiest Novels Ever Written as chosen by Playboy (I don't see where they said who decided. Their staff, I suppose). I own two of these books (#6 & #13) and have read one (#6). I've often thought I should have read Forever by Judy Blume (#23), but I usually feel like I missed the window on that one (After all, doesn't one read that one in high school?). Maybe I'll have to add it to my summer reading list. I think the only author to make both lists was Philip Roth.

I have no intention of filling in my reading with any of the New York Times' list. They really don't interest me. I'm reminded of what Alice Duncan says on her website: "...I realized that, not only do I not want to WRITE the Great American Novel, I don't even want to READ it." However, some of the "Sexiest" books have been on my TBR list for a long time. I really need to get to those. ;o)

P.S. Susie Bright interviewed the author of the piece & there he explains how he chose the books. They also mention some others that didn't make the list, but which have also been on my TBR list.

Celebrate Fairy Day June 24

The DaVinci WHAT?

Diet
Originally uploaded by mdesive.

This was in the checkout aisle at the grocery store today. All I can do is shake my head and laugh. I was much more interested in the book before all the hype came around. I've still never read it and I'm not sure I'll bother seeing the movie in the theatre (though I'll probably break down & watch when it's on DVD). I guess I'm now seeing the other side of my Titanic mania.

Too much time on your hands at work?

Maybe you should try this:

The Beatles do Shakespeare!

This is hilarious! And Paul ends up with Pyramus' line "Now am I dead." Does anybody else see the irony in this? I think this was before the whole Paul-is-dead thing, though. Thanks to Such Shakespeare Stuff for the link.

Yikes!

Still wasting time...but this is just too true: "You know you're in trouble when Lexus is part of your identity."

Skigersta, Isle of Lewis

Skigersta, Isle of Lewis
Originally uploaded by ßlϋeωãvε.

Wasting time at Flickr, again... at least I can say I'm trying to do research -- looking for pictures from the Outer Hebrides for my WIP.

And apparently there are still dragons in Scotland...look closely! :o)

Mostly, this is just a cool shot.

Another cool shot

Originally uploaded by deborah lattimore.

Yes, I spend too much time at Flickr. I think this is just such an unusual shot, though. The fireworks are just a wash of light in "reality" but you can see them just fine in the reflection. I'm sure there's something profound there...just give me time to think on that and I'll get back to you. :)