Stacy's Cafe

The Night Garden

2012-02-01T16:53:00.000-08:00

Kyle Cassidy lent this photo to the Night Garden Project, which is working to raise money for Great Lakes Bengal Rescue, an excellent organization that focuses on rescuing Bengal cats.

It's just occurred to me that I should have posted about this much earlier, because the deadline for contest—winning a photo print from Kyle Cassidy—has passed. So has the deadline for submitting your own work. BUT. If you still want to give to the Great Lakes Bengal Rescue, I'm sure they would gladly accept your donation. (GLBR just happens to be located in my hometown. Fort Wayne, Indiana FTW!)

The reason I forgot to post about this is that I was working hard on my own submission, "The Brotherhood," a short story based on Kyle's photo. The format, for whatever reason, didn't translate well from my word processor (MS Word) to the post. At least the font is nice and large!*

Also, you should go over to the Night Garden Project site, read/see the other entries, and say hi to Renata. This is a neat little contest. Next time I'll try to be more punctual in posting about it.

*If the online version doesn't work for you, I'd be happy to send you a pdf. Cheers!

The Happiness Advantage

2012-01-31T19:41:00.000-08:00

Shawn Achor applied to Harvard on a dare. To his surprise, he was actually accepted. So delighted was he with Harvard, that he stayed there for the next twelve years—first as an undergraduate, then a graduate student, then to research his "happiness project."

Achor was intrigued by the difference between his attitude of feeling blessed and lucky to be at Harvard and the stress he routinely saw his classmates go through. Those that weren't happy tended to cut themselves off from their colleagues and friends, and even though they worked just as hard or harder as their classmates, they tended to suffer academically as well as socially. One student, for example, decided to spend all her time at the library, cutting off her friends so she could study. Another opted for study groups, sometimes taking time to enter an Oreo-eating content now and then. You'll never guess which student fared better academically and reported feeling more well-adjusted by the end of the semester.

I confess I used to be the worst example of the first kind of student. I have no problem with the discipline side to creativity—it's the fun part I struggle with. I have a feeling that, had I been a monk in 16th century England, I would have had no problem flogging myself to sleep every night.

Some of this is my genetic makeup. Some of it, I think, is that somewhere along the way I lost the trick of knowing how to be happy. I let the world steal it. It's taken time, and a lot of soul searching, but I can say that these days, both mentally and emotionally (alas, not physically ... at least not yet) that I'm better off than I was a year ago. I've had to learn how to train myself to be happy. THE HAPPINESS ADVANTAGE, by Shawn Achor, confirms my belief that a person can indeed do this. Happiness comes more easily to some people than others. For some of us, happiness is a skill that has to be developed. And it can be.

There's a growing body of empirical evidence that being happy actually increases intelligence and creativity. I think I've found this to be true in my own life: when I have money in the bank, the words and pictures definitely flow much more easily, and the ideas are better. It's when I'm down to my last nickel that I'm not writing, and instead incessantly searching the Internet for the next gig. Those are not happy times.

But I used some time during this last downturn to start examining previously unexamined beliefs. I think it's paid some dividends. It's funny how our most irrational beliefs—some we're not even aware that we have—can power our lives in ways we cannot see.

Voice Lesson

2012-01-05T18:10:00.000-08:00

Those of you who've been around for a while know I dig Gary Oldman. I'm also on Team CoCo, though CoCo has no idea. Here's Sexyface demonstrating his voiceovers for the Call of Duty videogame:

Had to post. Too funny.

Branding Your Platform

2011-12-26T10:03:00.000-08:00

One thing I've been thinking about lately—and this is prompted by Justine Musk's post—are writers who aggressively promote. (Justine has a great blog, by the way, and she's very engaging. Can't wait to read more of her work.)

We've all heard of "branding" and "platform." I confess these are words I can't really get my head around. What do they mean? Are they words coined by some ad exec? Don Draper, perhaps? According to Nathan Bransford, there is no such thing as a brand.

Do you agree? I think I do. I think for me, it's not so much the "branding" or "platform"as the willingness to engage with people. A couple of my "friends" on Goodreads are authors, and they only use the site to promote their own work, rather than share what they read. They're clearly trying to brand, but as a reader, that's a lot less interesting to me than authors who DO share book recommendations. One of them has written a series that looks awesome, but I haven't made time to read it, and I think that's at least in part because s/he does nothing online (that I've seen) but promote the blog and the books. It's kind of a turnoff. Authors who are willing to open up a little—even if it's insecure or negative—are a lot more likely to stay on my radar. It's not so much about the willingness to engage with people one-on-one (although I very much appreciate the authors who do that); it's more about the willingness to show a little personality. Authors on Twitter, for example, who link to articles they've read, who take a stand on some issues, who have opinions and are not afraid to share them—those are the authors to whom I naturally gravitate. Even authors who tweet what they have for breakfast—as long as the breakfast is awesome—are far more likely to attract me than authors who do nothing but aggressively promote their books. I'm still loyal to some authors, such as Stephen King, who don't use social media at all. But he did plenty of engaging in ON WRITING. Engaging can work wonders—whether it's online or off. I did two films (shorts) with a guy I "met" on Twitter, and we still keep in contact, even though we've yet to meet in real life.

I think this is one of the reasons Neil Gaiman is so popular. I wouldn't call what he does as branding or a platform at all. His blog is more like this smorgasbord of great links, book recommendations, advice on writing, etc. It started off as advertising for AMERICAN GODS and just grew from there. Yet he gets requests all the time to post pics of his dogs, cats, beekeeping stuff, etc. His fans think those things are just as interesting as everything else. I think one of the reasons he's so popular now is because he's willing to engage with his fans—perhaps even eager to do so. I once went to one of his readings here in Chicago, and he was a lot more earnest than what I expected. He really wanted people to enjoy the reading, and he spoke with every single person who wanted to get a pic, or a hug, or whatever. Not a bad "platform" for authors to model themselves after, in my opinion. I mean, obviously it helps that his writing is great. It always does. I guess what I'm saying that the people who are really good at branding make it feel like it's not branding. Because it isn't. Not really.

Great Post

2011-12-15T06:56:00.000-08:00

All the things writers should know about rejection.

No Worries

2011-11-09T15:25:00.000-08:00

I've been sweating my NaNoWriMo word count for a few days, but no worries now. Gatsby's been helping.

What's Your Take: Why Do You Write?

2011-11-07T06:49:00.000-08:00

This whole NaNo thing has kicked off a bit of an existential crisis for me: Why am I doing this? This novel is going to suck. It's derivative and poorly written. It will never see the light of day. It's the third idea I've started. Yesterday I started a fourth idea.

It's almost like my brain is creating new ways to get me to fall behind. Yet today, at 10 a.m. Central time, I will put in an hour of writing before going back to slogging around the Internet looking for new work. Then I'll put in another hour. I'm going to try to get in 3,000 words today, but ... who knows if I'll get that far.

The truth is, I don't have the foggiest clue why I write. I pretend it's so that I can have some element of control over my life, but let's face it: the work goes where it goes. That's both exhilarating and terrifying. Mostly it's been terrifying lately. Yet I'm still doing it. It's like I'm the very definition of crazy.

What's your take? Why do you write?

Word Count

2011-11-05T17:07:00.001-07:00

3376.

Starting to catch up.

NaNo Novel

2011-11-03T09:40:00.001-07:00

I've started, though I'm behind. Only about 750 words in. You?

Halloween

2011-10-31T06:30:00.001-07:00

Happy Halloween, folks!

Unfortunately, I'm not taking part in any festivities this year. Deadlines. Yay! Deadlines! And ... oh dear. Deadlines.

What's Your Take: Ebook Pricing

2011-10-27T05:03:00.000-07:00

This year I bought a Kindle. I didn't buy it because I'm all excited about the ebook revolution; I bought it because, at the time, I was editing fiction for a small publisher, and having an ereader to which I could download PDFs was necessary. I've moved on from that job, but now I'm a script reader for a screenplay competition, and this week I'm reading fifteen scripts—all of which are now sitting on my Kindle, waiting to be read.

I have to say without an ereader, I could not do this job. It's been great for traveling, too. A couple of weeks ago I visited my folks, and instead of having to lug my iMac, as I usually do, I simply downloaded what I needed to my Kindle and I was on my way. It's been great for my fiction reading, too. No more standing in front of my bookcase, trying to decide which book to take. No more bulky backpacks that accidentally smack people in the face on the train whenever I turn an inch. I gotta say this ebook revolution thing has been great for my back and for my safety.

As for ebooks, I've heard a lot of talk about the "problem" of ebook pricing. $9.99, it seems, is too high a price to pay for a novel. Yet ebook sales are increasing all the time, so obviously someone is paying this price. What gives? Why does the ebook price have to equal the mass market price? From my perspective, it seems a couple of dollars more is a small price to pay for the convenience of not having to wait for the book to ship. With nonfiction, I'd buy every book as an ebook (if it were available) since searching through one is SO much easier than in a hard copy.

What's your take? Are ebooks priced too high?

Book Review

2011-10-17T06:46:00.000-07:00

Reviewed Bill Bryson's In a Sunburned Country. Highly recommended.

Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.

2011-10-06T07:53:00.000-07:00

The death of Steve Jobs has lit up the online world. He was a visionary, a person who put art into technology. Not only that, he made it possible for many, many people to share in the success by allowing people to create their own apps and sell them through the iPhone, the iPad, and the Apple computer. That is the mark of someone who is truly innovative. Steve, here's to you.

Read the text of Steve Jobs's commencement address to Stanford in 2005.

Stay hungry. Stay foolish.

All Hallow's Read

2011-10-02T10:15:00.000-07:00

Well, it's now October, and I'm looking for some really good ghost stories. Any recs?

The Country

2011-10-01T06:16:00.000-07:00

When I was a girl, we had to make a weekly visit to my grandparents. Grandma and Grandpa lived out in the country, in the same house they raised four girls and four boys. They were farmers, and their nearest neighbors were I don't know how far away. We could see the houses beyond the cornfields when we were driving along the road, and to my child's eye they seemed miles away. When we pulled into the driveway, my mom would remind me not to go too far back into the corn. (I was known for getting lost, even then.) I think the most I ever went back was four or five rows. I don't think I ever got seriously lost, though late one night, when my brother and sister and I spent the night at Grandma and Grandpa's, everyone went out looking for me anyway. Turned out I had burrowed deep into the covers my brother and sister had thrown off (I was really tiny), and no one found me until my brother accidentally stepped on me. He'd woken up, thought I'd wandered off into the corn, and alerted everyone in the house.

My grandparents were not "interesting" to me, I'm ashamed to admit now. Grandma always had a litany of complaints, and Grandpa, if he spoke, exhibited a Buddha-like patience when Grandma interrupted him. He would fall silent until she finished whatever tangent she was on, and then he would simply pick up where he left off, as if the interruption never took place. In the next room, they had an organ I liked to play, and like most American kids who only knew one tune, I banged out a number-by-number rendition of "The Entertainer" over and over again while they talked, before wandering outside to play.

Like any Midwestern farm, my grandparents' farm had a lot of trees. In an especially large tree in the back, Grandpa built a simple tree house, and me and my cousins spent hours there fighting, playing, and fighting again. There was also a rudimentary track—just some grass laid flat, really—that my cousins would race around on in their go-karts or their tiny motorcycles. I desperately wanted to ride one, too, but I was simply not big enough. My father still had to ride with me on roller coasters, and he always had to hook a finger into my belt loop to keep me from flying out. No way were my parents letting me on one of those homicidal pieces of equipment without a chaperone. But it didn't matter. In the country, there were all sorts of interesting things to look at: rusty tractors, snakes, apples with worms crawling out of them. It sounds impossibly quaint, but Grandma and Grandpa's truly was a big part of my Midwestern upbringing.

After a few hours, Mom would rustle the kids back inside, where we would start our goodbyes, a process that often took an hour or more. Mom would keep gently telling Grandma we needed to go. Like those performance artists whose movements are imperceptible to the naked eye, we kids would back up ever-so-slowly toward the front door. "No need to rush off," Grandma would always say, and Mom would say she needed to get home to start dinner. No matter how long we stayed, Grandma always wanted us to stay a little longer.

Grandma and Grandpa sold their land to a grocery store in the 1990s, and they spent their last ten years or so in a neat little ranch in the suburbs. It was a nice place for them to be, but I never felt it suited them. When Grandpa died (of a heart attack, right there in the house), Grandma began to lose her hold on reality. The dementia had already started before Grandpa died, but it seemed his death accelerated it. She spent another year or two in that house, with my mom and my aunt taking care of her, swearing Grandpa and his friends were playing cards under the bed. When my mom and my aunt simply could not care for her anymore, she moved into a nursing home, where she died. I know it's not what my mom wanted. But what could she do? That time comes for everyone, eventually.

I've been a city girl my entire adult life. As a kid, the country didn't feel interesting. I mean, I didn't think about it that way, even though it was. And while I love Chicago, I'd give a lot to go back to the country now. I wonder if my path will ever lead me there again.

Banned Book Week

2011-09-30T05:57:00.000-07:00

Almost forgot about this. Buy a banned book, folks. Collect them, and be proud.

Don't Give Me An Excuse to Stay Home

2011-09-24T07:00:00.000-07:00

I was over on Mira Bartok's blog the other day and saw this interview with Andy Laties, who wrote the book Rebel Bookseller.

In the interview, he makes the argument for the indie bookseller and why consumers should shop their local bookstores instead of Amazon or one of the big chains. (Or, actually, the only big chain left.) It's interesting reading, and he makes some great points. I haven't read the book yet (though I plan to), but as far as his interview ... I don't agree with the activist approach.

As a reader, I try to support authors by buying new books. And I shop in indie bookstores because I do care about where my money goes after I spend it. But the truth is, I have only a little discretionary income. I don't want to be guilt-tripped into spending my money in certain places. Indie bookstores who talk like they're nonprofits ("Support us!") only grate on my nerves. They're not nonprofits. They're businesses.

Here's an example of a bad experience. One summer I strayed across a one-weekend only book sale stationed outside of an indie bookstore. I made the mistake of attempting to buy a couple of books, only to be berated by one of the staff because they weren't open yet. Not corrected, not "I'm sorry, we're not open yet." Instead, she snapped. I went back and bought those books later that afternoon (they were hard-to-find gems I knew I wouldn't stray across anytime again soon), but after that I never went back to that store. Just one bad experience ruined that store for me.

Perhaps it's capricious of me, but the reality is the onus isn't on me as a consumer to "support" a business. I do what I can, but I'm not going to shop in a store that gives me the same or even worse service than Amazon or a big chain. I think the smartest approach indies can take is to focus on what they can do that Amazon can't: giving welcoming, personalized service in their stores. Appealing to the consumer's sense of fairness and right/wrong will get indies about as far as it has the green movement. Far too often I see indies take their customers for granted. These days, it's just too easy for people stay home and order online. Indies shouldn't make it easier by being jerks to their customers.

9/11

2011-09-11T07:33:00.000-07:00

Like all Americans, I was deeply affected by 9/11. But I don't think I realized just how deeply until 2003, when I was teaching at the Dallas School of Music. Some of us had our students play a little concert for the local firefighters.

Before the concert started, we all stood facing the American flag, our hands on our hearts. One of my colleagues played "Taps." It was one of the most haunting and life-changing experiences I've had. I'll sound crazy when I say this, but I could swear I felt all the fallen souls in the room there with us, silently acknowledging our tribute.

Today I make another tribute of reflection and silence. You will always be remembered.

Savory Oatmeal

2011-09-05T08:21:00.000-07:00

In theory, I like oatmeal. I like it sweet, and for a while I was eating oatmeal sweetened with spices and a banana.

Only I don't crave sweet foods in the morning. I want savory foods, like eggs, cheese, potatoes. That sort of thing. Of course, these foods aren't healthy to eat every single morning, so I usually settle for cereal or maybe some rice.

But today I tried savory oatmeal and I'm pleased to report the results were good. I put a little cheese in the oatmeal and topped it with one sunny side up egg and a little salt. I cribbed the recipe from here (even though I didn't really follow it), but I don't have the "high quality" ingredients the recipe calls for. Just regular grocery store ingredients. Still, I liked the results. Problem solved, I think. Now to try new recipes.

Progress

2011-08-24T19:11:00.000-07:00

Tonight I went to my first training session to register voters. Had to drive an hour to get there, but I don't mind. Can't wait to get out there and start talking to people.

New York Foundation for the Arts Source

2011-08-18T06:25:00.000-07:00

Writing? Creating art? Check out the New York Foundation for the Arts free source for grants, residencies, etc.

Are You Awesome?

2011-08-17T05:48:00.000-07:00

Just came across this no-strings-attached grant that awards $1000 to awesome projects. The "micro-committee" doesn't necessarily stop at the awesome projects, however. If you can convince them you're awesome yourself, you can still have a shot.

Feeling Decidedly Eeyorish This Evening

2011-08-16T15:59:00.000-07:00

Took all day to get ONE online application completed. It was a long application, and I turned it in without one piece of documentation——which I probably won't get by the deadline. Ah well. But I'm still hoping it wasn't a waste of time.

So I'm not making a permanent move right now. Where my folks are is just too economically depressed, and the only way I could make it work is if I were fantastically wealthy ... which I'm not. Too close to the edge. Right now I'm staying where I can be available onsite for work. I just don't think I'd be much use to my folks if I'm having to borrow money off of them because I can't find any work for what I do in their area. I wish I could move; Mom's in the hospital again because her blood's too thin. We don't know yet if she was bleeding internally for a while or what. *shakes head* And this time I can't even make it home.

I'm just thankful I have SOME kind of work right now. I feel like one of those ringwraiths in LOTR that are constantly sniffing out Frodo and the Ring——only it's more work I'm sniffing out. Not depressed, exactly. But I'm definitely feeling a little discouraged. I turned down a bunch of jobs because I thought I was moving. I'm still getting lots of leads, and I'm working, but I need something full-time. Ah well. At least right now I have time to work on my Great American Novel.

Not to mention, Orson has turned into something of a triple threat, if you get my meaning. Doesn't seem to remember what the litter box is for anymore. He's on two units of insulin, which has helped cut down on the frequency of his er, deeds. We're trying a bigger litter box because his arthritis makes it hard for him to aim (did you really want to read about this?). So far, it's ... not working, really. We're getting to our wit's end, but hey. At least we have some Anti-Icky Poo to clean it all up.

Signed,

Eeyore

Reading

2011-08-14T06:24:00.000-07:00

How are folks doing on their reading this year? My goal was to get 75 books in this year, but so far I've only read 27. Probably I could read more instead of watching Lord of the Rings for the eighty-sixth time ...

Very Cool

2011-07-12T05:57:00.000-07:00

Craig Ferguson's Lost Dr. Who Cold Open

2011-07-06T05:52:00.001-07:00

LOL!!

What Helps You?

2011-06-17T07:26:00.000-07:00

A lot of people knock self-help books——and in many cases, they're not wrong. So many self-help books suck. Personally, though, I've found several that have helped me a lot. Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way, Kenneth Christian's Your Own Worst Enemy, and Stephen Pressfield's The War of Art are just a few of the self-help books I go back to again and again when I need a tweak of inspiration.

What about you? Do you read self-help books? If so, which ones have helped you? How have they helped you? For me, the biggest benefit I've gotten from self-help books is that they have helped me to train myself to think differently. They've helped me to think more positively, which in turn helps me to actually do positive things instead of sitting around complaining about my life. (I'm not totally cured of this, but I've come a long way.)

Aside from The Secret,—which is BS, IMHO—what helps you?

Instant Creative Solutions!

2011-06-16T14:10:00.000-07:00

Out of ideas? Check out this site for instant creative solutions. (Cribbed from Janet Reid's blog.)

Your Artist Statement

2011-06-14T06:46:00.000-07:00

Applying for a grant? Getting that writing website up? Need an artistic statement that will impress? Try this arty bollocks generator. For when you need to BS. Fast.

Should You Work For Free?

2011-06-09T05:19:00.000-07:00

This handy flowchart should help you decide. There's a non-f-bomb version available, so look for the link if a few curse words offend you. Hilarious and enlightening.

The Dark Stuff

2011-06-06T07:11:00.000-07:00

I finally read the WSJ article that criticizes the YA publishing market. The article makes me a little angry, but mostly it makes me sad. Once again an industry is getting beaten up by clueless parents.

In case you missed it, the article opens with a woman, Amy Freedman, searching for a YA book in the bookstore as a "welcome home" gift for her 13-year-old daughter. Revolted by all the "vampires and suicide and self-mutilation, this dark, dark stuff," she left the store empty-handed. The article went on to criticize the state of the YA market and questioned the validity of an industry that exposes just too much of the dark stuff to teenagers.

But really, I think what the article reveals is that some people are just not involved parents. How is it that this woman missed her daughter's reading habits for 13 years? If you're a parent involved in your kids' reading habits, trends in the YA market shouldn't come as a surprise. Also. I suppose Freeman has never heard of Amazon, where you can search for books to your taste. Big market out there, you know. And then there are the classics, such as Little Women (one of the most innocent books ever written) and the Laura Ingalls Wilder series, and Jane Austen, and . . . well, you get the point. Plenty of stuff out there from which to choose. If one stop off at a Barnes & Noble was enough for her to start railing about the publishing industry, I'd hate to know what she gets out of the evening news. Or maybe she doesn't watch that, because it's just too much real world.

That's to say nothing of the article's author, Megan Cox Gurdon, who was equally clueless.

YA books about abuse, vampires, and self-mutilation may get published because that's what sells. But those books probably sell because—at least in the cases of abuse and self-mutilation—that's what is. (I'm not so sure about the vampires.) There are kids out there with very real, gut-wrenching problems, problems too big for them to deal with but they're dealing with them, anyway—and guess what? YA literature, just like all literature, can help them make sense of the senseless things that happen to them. That's what story does. I think what Gurdon would like is to pretend that the dark stuff doesn't exist, or even if it does, it should be swept into the sewage system as easily as what we flush down the toilet. And maybe for her life, she's right.

But for many kids and teenagers, that's not the way it goes. Even kids raised in a safe environment have problems. Kids raised in the foster care system or by unstable parents get knocked around by life far too soon. Should we ignore them? Teenagers get ignored enough. By the time a kid gets to middle school, all that creative research that goes into childhood education drops off a cliff, leaving many kids to wander in an educational no man's land until they graduate. Fiction—yes, even YA fiction—can help them make sense of the senseless things that happen to them. That's what story does. Even the dark stuff. I know because I have a teenaged niece who told me so.

Kyle Cassidy weighs in here.

Changes

2011-05-31T03:11:00.000-07:00

Lots of changes this month. Orson has diabetes. He's been losing weight and has been drinking a ton of water, yet he's still dehydrated. We finally got him to the vet and she diagnosed Orson with diabetes. He's on insulin now, though only D has injected it. According to D, Orson "took his first shot like a champ," and injecting the insulin is a cinch. When I get back to Chicago, I'll have him show me how to do it.

I'm out of town because I'm in the Fort (aka Fort Wayne). My mom had congestive heart failure the Monday before Memorial Day and had a pacemaker put in. She's still in the hospital, but we expect her to be released today. I've been here helping my dad get through the week. I'm pretty sure I'll be moving back here by July. It's not 100% certain, but I'm looking at apartments here and eventually a house.

As much as I love Chicago, I just can't see myself staying there now that it's pretty clear my parents won't get back to a level of independence they used to enjoy. Mom's still pretty weak and her recovery is going to be long, and she's going to need someone to help her with grocery shopping and laundry. Right now she can't lift more than two pounds (doctor's orders).

Besides, I've been pining for a life in the country, and that is something I could never afford in Illinois. I can afford it in Indiana, I think, at least eventually. I have to admit I have no idea whether I'd like living in the country. The only time I've ever been in the country was at my grandparents' on their farm, where we would climb trees and hang out in the treehouse my grandfather built for us and race motorbikes and gokarts around his "track," but that hardly counts as living there. I could very well be romanticizing the idea of living in the country. But I want a house. I want a garden. I want a library and a fireplace. I could have all that in a house in the suburbs, but then I would have to have neighbors. I was raised in a suburb, a creepy suburb, and I don't think I could go back to that. Neighbors scare me. I don't want them unless I'm in an apartment where most people keep to themselves. I mean, I like people. Honest. I just don't want them as neighbors. And I'm willing to put up with almost anything not to have neighbors.

So I'll start in an apartment and work from there. I'm slightly worried about the job thing. Fort Wayne is rather economically depressed, and the only jobs available are restaurant jobs and medical jobs. But this could be an opportunity for me to finally start the copywriting business I've been talking about doing. Lots of work in that area, it seems, if I can break in, and it's something I can do from home and still have time to work on my fiction. Copywriting is something I sense I could be really good at and enjoy at least enough to keep doing it until I publish will undoubtedly be my hit novel. ; ) At any rate, I'm 97% sure I couldn't go back to being employed by someone else—especially with the kinds of jobs that are available in the Fort. Being self-employed in grad school and beyond, I got used to making my own decisions and I don't think I could go back to being bossed around. If I need to meet with clients in Indy or Chicago, I can still do that. I've got a pretty big list of businesses to start cold calling and cold writing.

In some ways, I'm really looking forward to the (possible-probable) move. Fort Wayne does have an excellent library (especially the main branch downtown) that is really freaking fun to visit. It also has some great bookshops (though some have closed down, sadly) and a couple of good coffeeshops.

It only has one artsy movie theatre, so I'm going to miss the freedom I had in Chicago to see whatever artsy independent film I wanted. And the thai food. I'm going to miss the great thai food. And Bikram yoga. Oh my God will I miss Bikram yoga and the cutie who taught there.

But this appears to be my new lot in life.

So that's the plan. Wish me luck.

This May Help

2011-05-10T02:51:00.001-07:00

Ever forget the title to a book you're trying to find? This hilarious site may help you. Renames the titles of many classics so you don't have to.

For Writers

2011-04-30T15:58:00.000-07:00

This, fellow writers. This.

The Royal Wedding

2011-04-29T06:35:00.000-07:00

Okay, I was never one to plan my wedding as a little girl or a teenager, (one former boyfriend was disappointed to learn I've never had an "ideal wedding" in mind) but I still think the royal wedding is pretty neat.

1000 Awesome Things

2011-04-28T08:58:00.000-07:00

Because we all need to remember the little awesome things in our lives, here's the blog 1000 Awesome Things. It was started by Neil Pasricha at a time when his best friend had taken his own life and his marriage was falling apart. It was a great idea and now the blog is not one book, but two.

I can think of four things off the top of my head that are awesome:

1. Used bookstores.

2. The first cup of coffee out of the pot.

3. Animals that like your piano playing.

4. Friends that say, "She NEVER does this" when her dog is going spastic with excitement when you visit.

What are YOUR awesome things?

Party Time

2011-04-23T03:58:00.000-07:00

If you're a writer looking to get published, you could do a lot worse than stray across Evil Editor's blog. He provides query critiques, critiques of the first 150 words of your novel or short story (or even a chapter), and most importantly, a lot of laughs. His minions also throw in their two cents, and reserve the right to make fun of you if you get defensive about your writing.

Some minions have put together a party honoring his fifth year anniversary, so if you've been wandering around the Internet, looking for an interesting, fun place to go, you've found it. Don't be shy. We don't bite.

Well, not too hard, anyway.

It Was . . .

2011-04-18T21:38:00.001-07:00

one of Those Days.

I did something to piss of Chicago, because Chicago pretty much ate up my state tax refund today.

Meeting Neil Gaiman

2011-04-13T21:30:00.000-07:00

He did a great reading and I could even hear him from where I was. And he's as personable and kind as his reputation. Really glad I got the opportunity to meet him, and I hope I get to again soon.

Also . . .

2011-04-13T05:05:00.000-07:00

I have been promised by Management that I will get out of work in time tonight to see Neil Gaiman at the University of Chicago. Which means I should figure out where I'm going. Right.

Too Deep Thoughts for 6:30 In the Morning

2011-04-13T04:17:00.000-07:00

Sex Scenes at Starbucks post got me thinking about religion.

For the most part, I don't believe in God. It's not that I'm terribly scientific or that I believe science has disproved the existence of God. (Though I love Neil DeGrasse Tyson's quote (and I'm paraphrasing here), "The great thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it.") It's more that I can't reconcile all the suffering that goes on in the world with any all-knowing, all-loving God who would allow it. Yet, supposedly, we are made in His image, and we allow it. (I'm speaking of the Christian God—the only God I was raised to believe in and the only way my puny mind can conceive the existence of God.)

But that doesn't disprove God's existence, either. It's possible God is a lot more hands-off. And I acknowledge that faith can be a good thing. It's what got my mom through three open heart surgeries. It can be a balm for much of the pain in people's lives, much as a creative life is a balm in mine.

But if there is one, my guess is that the Eastern religions have it more correct. God is in everything, in all of us, a concept by which we choose to do right. In other words, God is our conscience. I think maybe I could believe in God as long as I don't have to put a face on the concept.

Better

2011-04-03T10:00:00.000-07:00

Orson, dog eared.

A bad pic of the sick cat. His ear has been drained twice, and the hematoma came back a third time, but today it seems to be receding. He'll always have that floppy ear now, and I think he actually looks cuter for it. The arthritis supplement is helping him move, but he still needs to lose weight.

I'm still crazy with this yoga thing. Even got up at 6 a.m. on a Saturday morning to make the 7:30 a.m. class because I had to work. I'm not sure I can describe the ways in which my life, my mindset, has changed. It's not just that work seems to be going better, or that I have more energy, or that I'm writing and making art again. It's like I'm coming unstuck and I actually feel like I'm living again, instead of just existing, which feels strange and new, almost like I've been given a magic elixir with unknown properties. I didn't expect changes this quickly. I just . . . I have goals again.

Ah, I'm gushing. Tell me what you do to get unstuck.

Minutiae

2011-03-31T07:02:00.000-07:00

Back on the wagon for yoga after taking off last night to get D's cat to the vet, who drained the ear hematoma and gave me ear-applicable antibiotics for the ear infections (poor thing has a yeast infection in each ear). Also got a supplement for his arthritis, so I'm hoping he'll feel better soon. He's been awfully quiet (he's usually a "talker,") and administering the antibiotics is causing him stress. It's causing me stress, too. First time he's clawed the floor to get away from me.

Stress is something he also went through when the vet cleaned out his ears and drained the hematoma. But this morning his ear started filling up with fluid again, so it's gonna be another pow wow with the roomie to see what we can do. Surgery will require blood work and some tests to make sure he's a candidate for anesthesia, but it would also permanently cure the hematoma and allow his ear to heal. Sigh. We'll see what D thinks. I'm beginning to hate it when he goes out of town because something like this always happens when he does.

I counted my sessions and I've done 23 sessions in 31 days. Not bad, but I'm on a five week plan to complete 30 sessions in 35 days. We'll see how I do.

Other than that, I'm working on a short story with plans to adapt it into a script for a short film. What's everyone up to?

Cat

2011-03-29T21:13:00.000-07:00

My roommate's cat has a very swollen ear, and the ear is drooping. I'm guessing it's an ear hematoma? Any ideas would be great. I'm going to try to get him to the vet tomorrow, if at all possible.

Graveyard Folklore

2011-03-28T13:54:00.000-07:00

Hi. Does anyone know of any good books on graveyard folklore? I'm not particular about the region. I found some decent stuff online about Appalachia, but that's it.

Damn

2011-03-27T00:56:00.000-07:00

Diana Wynne Jones has passed.

Comments

2011-03-23T05:18:00.001-07:00

The rash of spam comments seems to have long since past, so I've turned off moderation.

Coming Along

2011-03-22T03:49:00.001-07:00

Really starting to see some results now. Haven't weighed myself lately (gave up on that), but I'm definitely smaller. And I'm improving in the balance poses, which up until now have been my nemeses. There's a slight problem that's developed in the bow pose, where I feel suddenly and intensely nauseous while I'm in the pose, but it goes away as soon as I'm out of the pose. Maybe should ask about that.

I did my last night of my first month yesterday evening, and now I have to pay for my second month. The first month was cheeeeaaap, and now I'm going to have to pay full price. The people at Bikram know what they're doing. They hook you with a cheap first month, and once you're addicted to the high, well, you just gotta have more. I've experienced so many other benefits than just fitness. I'm much more alert, especially at work. I don't drink nearly as much coffee as I used to. Creatively, I'm becoming unstuck and considering new things. I've started what feel like a million short stories and novels, only to have the blank page eventually kick my ass, and last weekend I actually finished the first draft to a short story. I'm even flirting a bit. If you know me at all, you know this is a HUGE change. (Shy! Unbelievably shy.)

I'm coming to the end of a project at my current freelance assignment, but nothing new is on the horizon yet, so I'm a little worried that I won't be able to keep it up past this month. But we'll see. I'm getting more calls from temp agencies and I'm getting my resume out there. I just hope I land something soon so I can keep this yoga thing going.

Crawling

2011-03-17T21:37:00.000-07:00

Tonight was the hardest night yet. I usually don't take a break during the yoga routine, but tonight I almost couldn't finish. Thought I was going to hurl by the time class was over, and then I thought for sure I was going to have to crawl to the bus stop.

Need to make sure I drink enough water every day. Kind of slacked on that this week.

Mob Nickname Generator

2011-03-16T04:43:00.000-07:00

This is too much fun.

The Eleventh Session

2011-03-10T14:44:00.000-08:00

So I've completed eleven sessions. No weight has come off, unfortunately—at least not outside of the margin of error—but I have a LOT more energy than I had three weeks ago. Like a ton.

Still, I can't say I'm not discouraged. Twice this week I've considered not going to class, but I bucked up and went anyway. Right about three weeks into a new routine is when I start to lose interest and then quit, so I just have to keep at it. (You guys help!!) I'm seeing such improvement this week in terms of holding certain poses, I'd hate to lose the momentum.

Despite the disappointing scale results, I'd say I'm firming up a bit. My jeans fit just a tiny bit less tight. I wouldn't say they fit more loosely yet, because there's still not a lot of room to spare, but I expect at some point to be awash in denim, much like the guys I see on the train with their jeans hanging around their thighs (how they keep them there is a mystery to me . . . is it some sort of special elastic made just for that style of jeans?).

But I need to buy proper yoga clothes. A huge t-shirt and a pair of "yoga pants" (a term I use loosely) that cost $6 from Walgreens isn't really cutting it. I'm still too chubby for a sports bra and shorts, but last night I saw a young woman do the entire 1 hour and 15 minute routine in a strapless top. And no, nothing fell down. If she can do that, I can splurge a bit on new threads.

The instructors are still very encouraging, but now they're starting to call me out in class, which can be a little embarrassing if I can't hear them. I've learned to set my HA's on the distance setting, and tonight I'm going to try to find a sweatband to keep the sweat out of my ears so as not to risk them shutting off in class. It's amazing to me how unprepared I was when I started this. My diet still needs a lot of work (which probably accounts for the lack of weight loss), but I'm at least paying more attention to what I eat, which is a start.

For once I'm not beating myself up about things not being perfect.

Second Week

2011-03-03T20:38:00.000-08:00

Okay . . . eight sessions completed. I've dropped a few pounds, though it's hard to say how many because the scale LIES. Seriously, I'm moving up and down a bit, and it's sort of like those Gallup polls that are always on the news: I'm within the margin of error. So I'm not sure whether I've actually lost weight or not, but I haven't gained any—which I usually do at the beginning of a new workout routine, so I'm still happy. And I'm getting a little stronger with each session.

My feet have (mostly) stopped hurting and tonight after class I only hobbled halfway to the bus stop, then my legs had more of a spring in their step. Until now I've literally hobbled out of class. One night this week I wasn't sure I would make it to the bus stop.

So far the instructors are super sunny when they see me. Most of them break into HUGE smiles when I come in. The vibe I get is that most out-of-shape people tend to quit after a couple of sessions, and there's maybe a little surprise that I'm still going. Except the Cutie doesn't smile. He looks a little . . . relieved? Semi-happy? Not sure, but he's turned out to be the most intense instructor I have by far. That's not a bad thing, mind you, but . . . I wouldn't mind another wink.

Keep your fingers crossed that I'll be able to do a session on Saturday. I will most likely have to work.

105 Degrees

2011-02-27T04:40:00.000-08:00

105-degree yoga. Ow.

I started classes at Bikram Yoga Chicago. It's one of those classes where you practice yoga in a room heated to 105 degrees. I was a bit scared at first (suppose I lose my balance and knock someone else over?), but so far it's been great fun, if hard work.

Completed my first week. Didn't want to say much about it until I'd completed a few sessions. I got four sessions in this week, and next week the goal is to get in five. While I can't say that I'm noticing a difference in my waistline yet, I can say I've made tiny increments of progress in my practice. I'm a little stronger. But the heat seems to have had affected my concentration. It's all over the place now when I'm outside of class. I suspect this will change as I keep practicing.

Taking a class, while more expensive, is a lot more fun than practicing on my own. Making a financial commitment has turned out to be the key to my actually getting off my ass and doing it. I've had to accept I just don't have the discipline to work out on my own at home. I wish I could be one of those people with that internal discipline that keeps them doing the same healthy thing, day in and day out, like some automaton, but I'm not. I'm capricious and, to put it nicely, too much of a free spirit. But this isn't about making some sweeping change in my life or even "getting out there" (although so far that's been a nice byproduct). I'm just tired of being chubby. And really, I want to avoid the health problems my mom has had, which includes three open-heart surgeries and two strokes.

The downside is traveling in wet clothes that slowly freeze as you're waiting for the bus. The upside is that hot shower you get when you get home. (The studio has showers, but so many people take the classes, it's tough to get in any more than a quick rinse, and anyway . . . I'm a bit shy about taking my clothes off in front of other people right now.) I really need to purchase better clothes in which to practice yoga. A loose t-shirt and loose yoga pants just don't cut it for some of the poses (I'm still too chubby for some of the poses, actually).

Also (and this shouldn't come as a surprise), the little wink I got from one of the cutie instructors after class has been a tiny little inspiration in keeping me going. : )

Thundersnow!

2011-02-02T01:58:00.000-08:00

So thundersnow really does happen.

I missed most of the fun of the thunder and lightning by falling asleep, but in looking outside, I'm glad I'm working from home today.

A Day Late

2011-01-18T04:37:00.001-08:00

I'm late, as usual, but like some people, I didn't get the day off. In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. day, here's MLK's letter from a Birmingham jail. The guy could not only speak, but knew how to write.

President Obama's Speech

2011-01-13T17:52:00.000-08:00

I didn't get to see this live, but I take a great deal of heart in what he said. It was moving to see not only the victims memorialized, but the heroes get their due. So often these people do their deeds in complete anonymity. God bless us all.

Tucson

2011-01-11T05:16:00.001-08:00

I wouldn't say that I'm falling into a depression, but I continue to be a little haunted by the death of the 9 year-old girl, Christina-Taylor Green, who died in the Tucson tragedy. She was born on 9/11. Something good to come from 9/11 and now that light has winked out.

And instead of coming together and mourning as a nation, there's more hate and infighting and mockery and divisiveness. To me, this is a bigger symbol of our decline than any placement on a global scale for education or health care.

Some days the thought of just chucking it all and roaming Europe for a while is very, very appealing.

Resolutions

2011-01-03T05:11:00.000-08:00

Anybody make any New Year's Resolutions yet? I have some kicking around in my head, but I've not gotten around to writing a list. Erm, so I'm off to a good start, yeah?

New Year Wishes

2011-01-01T06:23:00.001-08:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

I hope all your splendid dreams come true this year.

Belated Christmas Wishes

2010-12-27T06:06:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful and safe holiday. I went back to the Fort to visit my folks and my brother and niece. My niece was happy with all the swag she got, which consisted of wanted things and needed things. I'm looking forward to buying her some books soon, too.

Oracular Orb #6

2010-12-17T05:34:00.000-08:00

Me: Will we make the deadline???

Oracular Orb: A Google showed the court case mentioned in this Bookseller article, and in this case summary.

Um, that doesn't sound very good. Sorry I asked.

My Hopes for Chicago

2010-12-15T10:21:00.000-08:00

Really pulling for Rahm (yes, we're all on a first-name basis with him here in Chicago) to get on the ballot. In case you hadn't heard, his residency is being challenged because he rented out his house after he went to Washington to run the White House. I've been told it's "not a frivolous issue," but . . . it is, really. It's not like he tried to sell his home; he just rented it out. And since he pays Illinois taxes and has an Illinois driver's license (and votes in Illinois politics absentee), I'd say he pretty much meets the standards for residency. A person who does all those things and sublets an apartment to take a semi-permanent job in a different city would still qualify as a resident. Why is the residency requirement suddenly at a higher bar? It's like we're saying the candidate has to meet a higher standard of residency than a voter would. That doesn't make any sense.

Granted, I'm no lawyer—just a Chicago voter who wants the candidate who is by far the most qualified. To be honest, if he doesn't get on the ballot, I'd say we're pretty much screwed. No one else has the administrative experience he does (and he's proven to be an excellent administrator), and after 20+ years of Daley, the last thing I want is to turn Chicago over to some newbie. Also, this whole thing about him "not being Chicago enough" is more nonsense. In a way, I think it's great that he left for a couple of years and ran a clean administration. Because, no matter whether you agree or disagree with President Obama, he's not had the scandals we've seen from previous presidents. I think it would be great to have someone who's not quite so "inside" to be the mayor of Chicago. Might just get us out of the rabbit hole for a while.

OracularOrb #5

2010-12-15T04:37:00.000-08:00

Me: Is there really a Santa Claus?

OracularOrb: If you were wondering what kind of a day it was it was a this kind of day.

I think that means the elves have been up to no good.

Questions

2010-12-14T07:44:00.000-08:00

It may seem strange to you that I have already, after only four, run of out of questions to ask the Oracular Orb. If you have a question for the Oracular Orb, I will gladly trek into the dark, magical land of the Orb and bring you back your answer. Or, I suppose you could do it yourself, but that would lose all the fun of pondering together what the answers mean.

Oracular Orb #4

2010-12-14T04:58:00.001-08:00

Me: Will Rahm Emanuel be successful in his Chicago mayoral bid?

OracularOrb: There was no food, for example.

Oracular Orb #3

2010-12-13T05:04:00.001-08:00

For further amusement:

Me: Oracular Orb, will I get everything done I need to get done today?

Oracular Orb: Yours Pat Fox Since 'somewhere' is currently wrong a hundred percent of the time, I'd stop listening to it.

Which E-Reader?

2010-12-12T06:02:00.000-08:00

Like Fairyhedgehog a few months back, I'm considering getting an e-reader. I need something that reads PDF files—not just PDF books, but PDF files. So far the Kindle seems to fit that requirement, and with all the free books I've downloaded from Amazon on my Kindle app on my Blackberry, I wouldn't be surprised if the Kindle has already paid for itself. I know, now that I'm editing, that an iPad would be a better product for my needs, but there's no way I can afford that at the moment.

Thoughts?

Oracular Orb #2

2010-12-12T05:42:00.000-08:00

Me: How many inches of snow will Chicago get today, O Wise One?

OracularOrb: And what she's saying isn't...

The OracularOrb

2010-12-11T06:42:00.000-08:00

So I've been asking questions of Neil Gaiman's Oracular Orb through Twitter (@OracularOrb). I think I may post the answers whenever I ask it questions. This thing is better than the iChing—it's amusing and accurate.

Stacy: Why oh why do I have to go out into the freezing snow today???

OracularOrb: Let's see . . .

Let's see, indeed. I have to work (deadline Monday) and I have to go to the grocery. Not really the way I wanted to spend my day, as I'd planned to spend it writing, editing, and helping D make cookies.

A Helpful Reminder

2010-12-09T03:04:00.001-08:00

Somehow I missed this (on Fairyhedgehog's blog, no less!) at clock-changing time. You can bet your ass I'm never going to forget which way to turn my clocks ever again.

You're welcome.

Sale at Wild Child Publishing

2010-12-07T15:52:00.000-08:00

Hey Folks - There's a sale going on at Wild Child Publishing and its partner site, FreyasBower (if you're into the romance and erotica thing). If you spend a measly $8 and use the coupon code "Happy Holidays" during checkout, you get 25% off. Happy book hunting!

I'm a Wild Child

2010-12-06T05:12:00.000-08:00

I'm excited to say that I'm now a content editor at Wild Child Publishing.

The River of Life

2010-11-30T17:06:00.000-08:00

I don't even know why I bother posting about new projects, etc. Everything gets washed away in the river of Life. I think I've proven I have the attention span of a moth with a severe case of ADHD.

New job, new home (back in Chicago). The apartment is lovely and HUGE. Big kitchen. Job is going well, I'm doing a couple of embarrassingly low-paying side jobs (for experience and samples), but life is good. Bombed on NaNoWriMo. Just don't think this was my month to write a novel. Oh well. Better luck next year, right?

NaNoWriMo - Day 1

2010-11-01T12:58:00.001-07:00

Today I got up and immediately wrote 1674 words on my novel. It's a haunted house/ghost story.

So far, so good!

5 Free E-books

2010-10-25T05:45:00.000-07:00

I've had a glut of luck in finding cheap or free books lately. Not that I'm actively looking, but it's nice since work has been slow in coming in the last couple of months. Here are, according to Hope Clark of Funds for Writers, the top 5 free e-books for fiction writers.

To get the last book, The Marshall Plan Fiction Makeover, you have to sign up, confirm your e-mail, and then the site sends you a link for the book. A little more work than the other four books, and I'm a little suspicious of it because it aggressively touts the Makeover Software. And the site is confusing; I wasn't sure what link to click on at first. Just don't click on any link on the site, and you should be fine.

In other news, I just got hired to write some articles through a Funds For Writers e-mail. I will report back on how everything pans out.

Reminder

2010-10-21T07:53:00.000-07:00

Those of you dropping by who might have missed my post on Stephen Pressfield's THE WAR OF ART should know this book is on sale on his site for $1.99. Today's the last day to get it for this price, so don't miss out! It's a kick-ass book.

Six Books Everyone's Gotten Wrong

2010-10-21T04:56:00.000-07:00

Great article about the misinterpretation of six classics here.

The War of Art - Special Deal

2010-10-19T15:17:00.000-07:00

Hey folks - Stephen Pressfield wrote a terrific book titled THE WAR OF ART, which I have and have read, but the book is now in storage. If you've outgrown the gentleness of Julia Cameron's wonderful THE ARTIST'S WAY and need something a little more kick ass, this is your book. The e-book is available tomorrow and Thursday (October 20 and 21) for $1.99. You cannot beat that price unless you steal it. (Don't steal it!) Here's the link.

Kindle App

2010-10-06T04:51:00.000-07:00

Though I've had the Kindle app on my Blackberry for a while, I just downloaded the Kindle app for my Mac desktop. I lucked into finding some free Kindle books on myths ( a big interest of mine), and I just checked my recommendations on Amazon. I think I've downloaded thirty free books.

My head may explode.

NaNoWriMo

2010-10-04T01:07:00.000-07:00

Hey folks - I'm signed up for NaNoWriMo. You can get my screen name by e-mailing me at strictlycraigslistaccount@gmail.com.

Free History Lessons

2010-09-28T05:35:00.000-07:00

In a tiny surge of inspiration this morning, I googled free online history courses. I wasn't able to find the courses I want actually being taught right now, but I did stumble across a plethora of free courses taught in the past at MIT. I don't see that the lectures are available on iTunes, but there's plenty of reading material, copies of tests, and syllabi to go through if you're dying, as I am, to read more of the Greek and Roman classics and learn more about American history. Or pretty much any subject, really. Great resource for writers, I think.

Link here.

MAD MEN

2010-09-25T07:01:00.000-07:00

I'm watching the first season of MAD MEN, courtesy of my local library. I'm surprised at how much of an indictment of misogyny it is. The '60s were a time when a man could get drunk, hit on his employee's wife, and somehow everyone wound up thinking it was her fault. As I recall, things hadn't changed much by the '80s. I think things have improved, but as long as we ask the question "Was she asking for it?" I won't be satisfied.

Review of INTO THE WILD/Jon Krakauer

2010-09-07T07:55:00.000-07:00

When I read Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer, as I have twice now, I find myself criticizing the subject rather than the writer. The book is the story of Chris McCandless, a twenty-four year old man from a well-to-do family who hitchhiked to Alaska to live in the bush. He died there, leaving behind a family he hadn't spoken to in more than two years and bewildered friends and acquaintances he met along his travels.

The book chronicles his approximately two-year hike across the United States. He hitchhiked, tented, slept in the desert, and somehow settled on the idea that a summer in the Alaska bush would—if not change it—give his life a deeper meaning. In his mind, he was following the path of the writers he loved, most notably Jack London. But he also emulated Tolstoy in his lofty ideals: McCandless was one who seemed to believe, as his father put it, “that you should own nothing but what you can carry on your back at a dead run.” Chris reveled in scrounging for the next meal.

To me, as someone who has been poor and will be poor for the foreseeable future, McCandless's endless romanticization of the hobo lifestyle smacked of unbelievable self-absorption and hypocrisy. Here was the son of a man who had top-secret security clearance and a mother who worked alongside her husband to create a successful business. He had excelled academically all through school and could have the job of his choice or create his own business fairly easily. Only someone as well-to-do with such an easy path paved before him could believe he was a better person than the “plastic people” with whom he was forced to share breathing space (such as the people with whom he briefly worked at McDonald's—many who were not financially much above poverty) by hoboing around the country.

But perhaps I am being harsh; McCandless was young and no less hypocritical than I was at his age. And Krakauer, by telling his own story of his relationship with his father, which led to his harrowing climb of Alaska's Devil's Thumb, brings the reader to a more compassionate view of McCandless: he was young and brash and ill-prepared and perhaps even foolish, but he was not stupid, and his death was the result not of his dramatically heeding a “call of the wild,” but of two small errors that turned out to be pivotal and irreversible.

At any rate, Krakauer is a fine, fine writer, and he tells McCandless's story as only a young man who had a similar relationship with his father as Chris did to his can. Yet in the book he is gentle with Chris's parents, writing about them as non-judgmentally as he does about Chris. It's clear that the wisdom he came to in his own life somewhere along the line parallels that of Chris's, only there's a point where Chris's line stops and Krakauer's keeps going. Krakauer was lucky to have survived his own brush with death and not only live to tell the tale, but forgive his father—something McCandless will now never have the opportunity to do.

Also found at The Book Book.

Linked Post

2010-08-29T05:13:00.000-07:00

Natasha Fondren wrote a great post on the Glenn Beck/Sarah Palin rally. Not only that, but she's handled the critics very politely, which I admire.

Ghost Story Recs

2010-08-24T08:53:00.000-07:00

I've been dying for some good old-fashioned European and/or New England ghost stories. Any recs???

ETA: I lucked across a cheap anthology of Victorian ghost stories at Half Price Books. Unfortunately, I have not had time to start it. Sigh.

So I've Joined . . .

2010-08-22T08:34:00.000-07:00

. . . the 2010 McKoala Challenge. Looking forward to it, though I've been warned those claws are razor sharp.

Who Designs These Things?!

2010-08-20T10:24:00.000-07:00

Why is it that women's dress shoes only become tortuous instruments of pain after purchase? They can be totally comfortable in the store, but as soon as you buy them, you walk two blocks and the damn things are cutting into your heels and making your pants all bloody. WTF?!

I drove to Chicago yesterday for an interview and decided on a pair of flats that seemed comfortable for walking. Wrong. After a block or so they rubbed against my heels and took off a bunch of skin. The right one actually cut into my heel. It's a good thing I'm familiar with downtown Chicago and didn't get too lost. I managed to find a Starbucks across the street from where I was to interview and stopped and sat down. At that point it wasn't too bad.

But here's what I learned: When your feet hurt, it's actually worse after you rest. After my 45-minute soiree, I stood up and managed to make it across the street, although by then I was starting to limp. I got to the agency, filled out my paperwork, took a survey, all the while getting up and down. I managed, through pride, to keep everything to a minor limp. Those that saw me for the first time might have thought I once suffered a minor bout of polio. No biggie.

But by the time I got back to my car, I knew I was gonna have to either find a different pair of shoes or drive barefoot. At first I drove with the shoes on, since I drive a stick. I was afraid if I drove barefoot I might miss the clutch or something. But even driving with the shoes on was painful. I managed to find a Walgreens about halfway home. By that time I'd already stopped for gas and went to the bathroom, and was literally hobbling. Alas, Walgreens has moved its merchandise to its Fall season, and had backpacks instead of flip flops. Screw it, I thought, cursing the person who designed my shoes. I'm driving barefoot. Whoever designed these things should be made to walk two miles down Michigan Avenue in a pair of these things. Preferably a pair two sizes too small.

So I drove barefoot. It was pretty comfortable, actually, besides the bleeding heels.

Home

2010-08-14T15:37:00.000-07:00

Home for a week now. Feeling lost in a sea of possibilities. L.A. is beginning to feel like a mirage. I miss the desert.

On the other hand I've developed a new appreciation for the cheap housing prices in Indiana, and I'm seriously considering buying a house once I land a job. The job will have to be an offsite position, unless I make some good contacts here and find something that isn't advertised. But the idea of an offsite position appeals to me. So we'll see how that works out.

Otherwise I'm just still tired. Haven't wanted to do much but read and take baths. Yet, I must carry on.

Done

2010-08-09T13:36:00.000-07:00

Well, school is all over, and I'm no longer in L.A. I wanted to stay, but no apartment buildings or complexes had anything open for at least two weeks at a price I could afford - except for one in a bad part of town that was literally the size of a closet. I couldn't see staying and wasting a bunch of money on hotels, and I didn't feel comfortable asking anyone if I could sleep on their couch for two weeks or more. There was one place that was a room in a woman's house, but . . . I just really wanted to get my own place. I may take up Sarah on her suggestion that I buy a little house in the mountains when I go back. So . . .

I'm back in Indiana. I am utterly wiped out and need some time to rest and regroup. Sarah, I'm sorry we didn't get a chance to meet, but it will happen! I loved L.A. and got a great vibe there. It wasn't at all like the horror stories I've heard. A guy even offered me a tire gauge at a gas station while we were respectively filling up our tires and vacuuming our cars. Never experienced that in a big city before.

AND I got hit on pretty much wherever I went. So naturally I want to go back.

2010-07-17T20:42:00.001-07:00

I really miss you guys . . .

A Contest by Simon C. Larter

2010-07-16T07:47:00.000-07:00

The SHTMCIHHAHTGSA contest.

I Climbed A Mountain

2010-07-07T17:45:00.001-07:00

This morning I woke up at 4:30 a.m. even though I've not had much sleep the past couple of nights. At 6 a.m. two of my classmates knocked on our door. After finding out that none of the guys we're rooming with wanted to "go for a walk," as they put it, one of them asked me.

"Sure!" I said, a little surprised, as The Guys and I don't really hang out all that much.

I didn't know what I was getting into. And I have to preface this by saying I really should have known better because one of them is pretty much the Gandalf in our group: when he's on board, you literally never know what will happen.

The "walk" turned out to be a climb up two-thirds of a mountain. Not a foothill. A mountain. We reached an electricity tower far, far away. I felt like Bilbo in The Hobbit. The last third (which looked more like half) contains the HOLLYWOOD sign, which I think is around on the other side. But you gotta get up to the very top.

I had to stop and take breaks because I'm so out of shape, but they were both really patient. At one point, I stopped and asked if maybe they were coming down the same way they could just pick me up on the way back down?

"Naw, there's a lift. It'll take us down," said one of them.

A few minutes later, as we climbed closer to the tower, I said, "There's no lift, is there?"

He laughed and shook his head.

I would have killed him, and could have gotten away with it, if it weren't for the stitch in my side. I mean, no one would have found him for days. But he knew that would keep me going, and it did.

I bitched and moaned the whole way, but you know, I was so glad I made it to our goal. The whole day has been infused with a feeling of real accomplishment. Afterwards, I could have fought Jason Statham and won. It was awesome and I can't wait to do it again. Although next time I'll have my hair in a ponytail and maybe better shoes. And jeans.

Road Trip: Petrified Forest, Volume 1

2010-07-04T08:54:00.000-07:00

Below are a few shots I got from the Petrified Forest in Arizona.

More pics coming as I get them downloaded!

Miniscule, Not Very Detailed Update

2010-06-30T06:49:00.000-07:00

Made it into L.A. on Saturday. Drive was fun and went well. Pics coming soon!

Meanwhile, we've hit the ground running with our classes and our internships.

ooh ooh ooh - almost forgot

2010-06-15T15:06:00.000-07:00

I don't really believe books should be free, but I found this AWESOME site with FREE audiobooks. Mostly it's classics and nonfiction, but I found things I've been wanting to read that I just haven't had time for. (Yes, I really do want to read all six volumes of THE HISTORY OF THE DECLINE AND FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE.) All of the books appear to be in the public domain.

Because it's all done on a volunteer basis, some of the books are not as successful as others. (RAT CATCHER sounds like it's read in an electronic voice, with the reader joining sentences together and putting inflections in all the wrong places.) Pay attention to the starred books - those are usually keepers. I've downloaded more than I should, really.

The best thing about the site, though, is how easy it is to download the mp3 files. All you have to do is click on the book of your choice and then the link for the zip file and voila! you have your audiobook. (Hint: Dickens's OUR MUTUAL FRIEND is read by a wonderful reader.) For someone who can't afford audiobooks and has a ton of classics to read, this is a godsend.

This makes my trip that much more exciting!

Me and My Big Move and Even Bigger Opinions

2010-06-15T12:54:00.001-07:00

OMG I have spent SO much money preparing for this move. But I needed pretty much everything: a car, new business-y clothes, a new GPS for those "L.A. is one big suburb or a state of mind" directions, a Blackberry so I can read captions during phone calls especially in noisy environments, software updates, and luggage. I've scrimped as much as possible, but I'm still running low enough on funds that I'm getting a little worried that I'll cut into my reserves set aside for the apartment, which I may have to furnish.

The thesis is coming along, but slooooower than I'd like. But I think I'm getting the right tone and sentiment for it. So that's good.

Meanwhile I'm pretty pissed off about this oil spill thing. I have to tell myself BP has gotta be doing everything it can to stop the leak and contain the damage, but the news gets worse every day. Not to mention, one of the execs will say something unbelievably clueless like, "I want my life back." ???? Or President Obama will saying he's not spoken to Tony Hayward. What? Why??? You gotta do that, sir. Just MHO.

Update II

2010-06-03T05:48:00.000-07:00

Bevie's family contacted Fairyhedgehog and confirmed they received the money, so that's a weight off my shoulders. Thanks again to everyone who donated.

Am mostly moved in to my folks for the next three weeks. Going to be busy with my thesis. I've bought a car from a friend for cheap, alleviating some worry about buying a new car and keeping up the payments. I also have a new office chair, which is proving to be much better for my back and less fatiguing than the wooden chair I used for two years in school.

Okay. Thesis time.

Update

2010-05-28T18:02:00.001-07:00

I managed to get the money order off to Bevie's family . . . Monday. Probably should have taken Lisa up on that extension, but I tried to get it out Friday. On my way to the Post Office I received an e-mail from my professor about some last-minute deadlines, so I had to turn around and go home (skipping a lesson to boot) and finish those up.

I went ahead and made the money order for an even $500, and sent it via Priority Mail along with insurance and delivery notification. According to the tracking site, the package was delivered to its destination, but we've not yet received a confirmation from Bevie's family whether they received the money.

In other news, I'm in the last few stages of moving. Or I should be, anyway. Too much to do and too little time. Also feeling really nostalgic and lamenting the lack of time I have to visit old haunts and check out new places in Chicago I've not had a chance to visit. Like the Lyric Opera, for example.

Sigh. There's never enough time.

Together . . .

2010-05-21T12:04:00.000-07:00

. . . we raised just shy of $500 ($498.08) to help Bevie's family. The button is now down. To all who donated, THANK YOU - especially those who donated and didn't comment. You didn't get a thank you yet - until now. : )

I'm off to get the money order!

The Help Bevie's Family Deadline

2010-05-19T12:34:00.000-07:00

Hey folks! If you've not yet made a donation, you have roughly 48 hours to make it. I'll be closing down the donation button at 2:00 p.m. U.S.A. Central Time ("Chicago time"). I need to do that in order to have enough time to get the money order and mail it out to Bevie's family. Thanks!

EDIT:If you stray over here after the deadline and still want to make a donation, Fairyhedgehog or I would be happy to send your e-mail address along to Bevie's family. Thanks for thinking of that, Fairy!