Last night ended my five day residency for my second semester of my Writing Popular Fiction Master's. It was amazing and informative and fun... and every night I came home with swollen sausage feet. By the last day I had sausage fingers too and I've been so sore that it's not that fun to try to get around today. I've been doing everything right though! I cut down my salt and sodium intake, I put my feet up at night and try to stay off of them. STILL I have sausage fingers and feet!
Dutch was the big celebrity of the residency. Everyone asked me when I was due and what his name was and no one touched my tummy without asking permission first! I thought that was very thoughtful of them. Also, all of my fellow writers LOVED his name! I guess it speaks to us trying to find unique character names.
The down side to this whole thing was that I spent most of my time with a really sore back and was way more irritable because of that. Luckily I didn't make anyone cry, so that was good!
Now that the residency is over this baby can come anytime - the sooner the better as far as I'm concerned!
Monday, June 30, 2008
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
A List for Tuesday
Five Reasons My Sister Heather is a Loser
1. She moved to Japan two months before I am due, ensuring that she will not meet my offspring until he is walking, talking, and out of diapers.
2. She thinks that The Goose Girl sucks, when it is clearly one of the best novels of our modern time.
3. Two of her favorite TV shows are Dawson's Creek and 7th Heaven.
4. She looks good with her hair every length, color, or style - which is very unfair.
5. She plays World of Warcraft. And thinks it's cool.
1. She moved to Japan two months before I am due, ensuring that she will not meet my offspring until he is walking, talking, and out of diapers.
2. She thinks that The Goose Girl sucks, when it is clearly one of the best novels of our modern time.
3. Two of her favorite TV shows are Dawson's Creek and 7th Heaven.
4. She looks good with her hair every length, color, or style - which is very unfair.
5. She plays World of Warcraft. And thinks it's cool.
Monday, June 23, 2008
The Late Great Coco Chanel
It was a year ago that I went (without Chris's permission) and bought the most adorable miniature dachshund the world has ever seen. She was the runt of the litter with an under-bite. I named her Coco Chanel Honey Butter Bailey Davis. Coco for short.
Even though she never got very big (she tipped the scales at a whopping 3 pounds the day she died) she had a big influence on our little family. Chris loved her, Bo loved her, and I loved her more than just about anything. So I wanted to pay a little tribute to our tiny little girl. I still miss her.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Book Review
Book: The Outlaws of Sherwood by Robin McKinley
This is a Robin Hood re-telling with all the characters you would expect - Marian, Friar Tuck, Little John, Will Scarlet and the Sheriff of Nottingham. I have always loved the Robin Hood tales and looked forward to reading this book. Although very slow-going at the beginning, as most of McKinley's books seem to be, I was eventually swept up into the story and my imagination took flight.
I don't recommend this book whole-heartedly though. I thought the ending was contrived, out of left field and wholly disappointing. I also disliked the jarring change of point of view where we learned more about minor characters than we were ever able to learn about Robin Hood or Marian. Anyway, if you're a fan it's a book to read; if you're not perhaps you should look elsewhere for your first Robin Hood adventure.
Happy reading!
This is a Robin Hood re-telling with all the characters you would expect - Marian, Friar Tuck, Little John, Will Scarlet and the Sheriff of Nottingham. I have always loved the Robin Hood tales and looked forward to reading this book. Although very slow-going at the beginning, as most of McKinley's books seem to be, I was eventually swept up into the story and my imagination took flight.
I don't recommend this book whole-heartedly though. I thought the ending was contrived, out of left field and wholly disappointing. I also disliked the jarring change of point of view where we learned more about minor characters than we were ever able to learn about Robin Hood or Marian. Anyway, if you're a fan it's a book to read; if you're not perhaps you should look elsewhere for your first Robin Hood adventure.
Happy reading!
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
A List for Tuesday
Five Stories I'm Working On Right Now
1. Adelaide/Eagan trilogy
2. Lady No-Name and Sir Chadrick the Sunny - a Rapunzel re-telling
3. Falling Backward In High Heels - a story about a girl learning to ballroom dance
4. A re-telling of The Corpse Watchers
5. A picture about a little girl named Harry Pinkwater
1. Adelaide/Eagan trilogy
2. Lady No-Name and Sir Chadrick the Sunny - a Rapunzel re-telling
3. Falling Backward In High Heels - a story about a girl learning to ballroom dance
4. A re-telling of The Corpse Watchers
5. A picture about a little girl named Harry Pinkwater
Friday, June 13, 2008
Book Review
Book: Ever by Gail Carson Levine
From the author of Ella Enchanted and Fairest comes a stylistic departure from her fairy tale roots. This book, instead of being based on fairy tales and folk tales as all of her previous books have been, concerns itself more with mythology than anything else. The story is about faith and love and the lives of gods and the humans who love them. Levine made up her own gods to inhabit the mythology of the story, but they are so beautifully done that you could almost believe that they were worshiped somewhere by some people long ago.
As I said before, this is a stylistic departure from her previous works and it was a bit jarring for me at first. The tone was different, but once I got used to the new "voice" of the book I really enjoyed it. There are elements of known myths throughout the story, but it doesn't make the story more predictable or less enjoyable in any way.
If you found her previous books easy reads then this one will be no different. I hope that you like it, if not let me know! Happy reading!
From the author of Ella Enchanted and Fairest comes a stylistic departure from her fairy tale roots. This book, instead of being based on fairy tales and folk tales as all of her previous books have been, concerns itself more with mythology than anything else. The story is about faith and love and the lives of gods and the humans who love them. Levine made up her own gods to inhabit the mythology of the story, but they are so beautifully done that you could almost believe that they were worshiped somewhere by some people long ago.
As I said before, this is a stylistic departure from her previous works and it was a bit jarring for me at first. The tone was different, but once I got used to the new "voice" of the book I really enjoyed it. There are elements of known myths throughout the story, but it doesn't make the story more predictable or less enjoyable in any way.
If you found her previous books easy reads then this one will be no different. I hope that you like it, if not let me know! Happy reading!
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Two Pictures (Ha-ha Heidi)
Here are some pictures from the visit we had from my Mama and Daddy a couple of weeks ago. My belly button seems to be very prominent! I will post pictures from my shower as soon as I have any. Love you!
BIG NEWS
I HAVE EVERYTHING!
Okay, I could be wrong, but other than a nursing cover and rocking chair I think I have everything that I need for my baby! Now I might end up needing more than one of some of the things that I have, but I at least have one!
Pictures of me playing the part of big white pregnant whale coming soon!
Okay, I could be wrong, but other than a nursing cover and rocking chair I think I have everything that I need for my baby! Now I might end up needing more than one of some of the things that I have, but I at least have one!
Pictures of me playing the part of big white pregnant whale coming soon!
Monday, June 9, 2008
A List for Monday
Five Things I Like About Being Pregnant
(in no particular order)
1. I am a very cute pregnant person - I have the basketball look and not the spare tire.
2. I get to buy lots of tiny little things.
3. It's fun to feel Dutch move and watch Chris's face when he feels Dutch move.
4. I've been able to find some cute inexpensive clothes to wear so I don't feel like a shlump.
5. I'm growing a baby! It's a miracle and it makes me feel very much like a super-hero.
(in no particular order)
1. I am a very cute pregnant person - I have the basketball look and not the spare tire.
2. I get to buy lots of tiny little things.
3. It's fun to feel Dutch move and watch Chris's face when he feels Dutch move.
4. I've been able to find some cute inexpensive clothes to wear so I don't feel like a shlump.
5. I'm growing a baby! It's a miracle and it makes me feel very much like a super-hero.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Dutch's Favorite Thing
So Dutch's new favorite thing is to kick me in rhythm. He likes to do this just before I go to sleep and thinks it's great to kick the exact same spot over and over. I usually think this is annoying, but the other night I realized that he does it in time! I am very glad that he has a sense of rhythm and that he likes music so much.
My little Mozart!
My little Mozart!
Book Review
Since most of you are book buddies with me I thought I would review books as I finish them. The first book I'm reviewing I happened upon in Barnes & Noble when I was wandering around. I have found that this is the best way for me to find books (it's also how I found The Goose Girl). It was also a mere $7.95 for the hardback so I couldn't pass it up! Anyway, here it goes:
Book: The Dark of the Woods Edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling
Age: 8-12 or anyone who loves fairy tales!
This is a charming collection of short stories of re-invented, re-imagined and altogether re-worked fairy tales by some great authors. It's a great book to read if you need something that you have to pick up and put down since you can read a story and then come back to the book later. They are all COMPLETELY different stories and it's interesting to see the way that the writers changed the way you view a story (I'll never look at Hansel & Gretel the same again).
Another bonus: Most of them are short enough to be read aloud to little ones. This is especially nice if they already have a favorite fairy tale because now you can show them a different view of their favorite.
So anyway, if you're looking for something quick and fun to read you should pick up this book! Happy reading!
Book: The Dark of the Woods Edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling
Age: 8-12 or anyone who loves fairy tales!
This is a charming collection of short stories of re-invented, re-imagined and altogether re-worked fairy tales by some great authors. It's a great book to read if you need something that you have to pick up and put down since you can read a story and then come back to the book later. They are all COMPLETELY different stories and it's interesting to see the way that the writers changed the way you view a story (I'll never look at Hansel & Gretel the same again).
Another bonus: Most of them are short enough to be read aloud to little ones. This is especially nice if they already have a favorite fairy tale because now you can show them a different view of their favorite.
So anyway, if you're looking for something quick and fun to read you should pick up this book! Happy reading!
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