C'MERE says K. Marie Criddle

Revising for the weak minded and easily distracte--SHINY

2012-01-27T04:05:00.000-08:00

(Wow. Blogger is fighting me on fixing the resolution for this particular drawg so please pardon the fuzziness. Pretend you haven't put in your contacts yet.)

A typed out drawg for your reading pleasure

2012-01-24T18:07:00.000-08:00

So...some of you may have noticed that the drawgs have been mildly sporadic as of late.

I've been doing the drawg thing for over two years now, having started just because my husband needed to use the computer when I wanted to blog. (Ah, the days of having only one computer in the house!) Since then, I've drawn over 50 blogs (including any guest posts that you might find floating around the interwebs) and lost a few more due to fickle computers. It can be pretty time consuming as opposed to a typed blog, but it's incredibly fun. I LOVE drawing and I enjoy writing and any combination of the two is just a barrel of quiggily giggles for me. (and if this were a drawg, there'd be a drawing of a barrel of quiggily giggles, which sounds weird now, but if you saw the drawing you'd totally know what I meant.)

However, since starting the 365 Days of Drawing challenge over at my art blog, drawgging has been lagging. And the CRAZY thing is that I feel strangely guilty when I want to type something out here, as if drawgging is the only reason this blog should exist. Which is wrong, right? There's more I can offer this world besides snarky unicorn drawings, YES?? (Don't answer that.) (okay, insert drawing of surly unicorn)

So please forgive the lack of surly unicorn drawings, at least for this week. If you're dying for silly sketches, you can always check out my quibblies here or my group art blog, Anthdrawlogy! If you're looking for a nice little random tumblr to follow, you can drop in on mine, too. I won't fight you, I promise. And writing? Well, we over at the Alliterati Archives will be able to tickle your brain come February 1st when we start up again.

You know, I'm not as open about my writing projects/successes and failures as a lot of my writing friends are and I apologize for that. Besides my crit groups (and the few people who read that interview I did that one time) not many know what I'm even working on. I guess I'm torn between not wanting to spoil the good news and wanting to whine about the bad news. So I do neither and end up drawing pictures of me "researching" just to cover it up. But if anyone has any specific questions, know that I'm more than willing to answer them! Even if it means doing so in a surly unicorn's voice. (insert yet another drawing of surly unicorn. I've got them in SPADES, people.)

In the meantime, my dear squirmy daughter is down for a nap (ha! Kidding. I just heard a scream.) which means I'm back to writing and making up excuses why I'm not at the gym. (Drawing of me shouting: It's snowing! The gym's broken! I just ate a cheesecake and it has to settle! Might look suspiciously like Cathy. Ack!!)

You guys are the best, and I really mean that. Thank you for your support and love and comments and virtual cookies. Communities are nothing without great people and we've got them in spades! (insert drawing of a spade and me admitting I really don't know what that idiom means)

(Okay fine. I'll do a real drawg next week.)

Your application has unexpectedly crashed. Cry? Y/N

2012-01-16T04:12:00.000-08:00

Combating the cold with love (and heated blankets)

2012-01-04T21:07:00.000-08:00

Hello, everyone! Since the start of the new year, things have been getting colder and colder here in Japan. Yesterday it even SNOWED. I'm a desert rat at heart and being this chilly just makes me cranky. So! To combat the crankiness, I thought I'd pen out of few thoughts on why I like being here, despite the lack of central heating. To the pilot pen, Batman!

There's a million more things, to be sure, but I think I'm pretty warm now. Happy New Year, guys!

(And at the risk of being overwhelmingly annoying about this, would you all do me a big fat favor and visit my contest entry over at Instructables? Maybe vote favorably on it? Thank you all so much. I really want that mixer.)

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-24T05:08:00.000-08:00

Just a quick e-card from my family to yours. Thanks for making this year fabulous, people! I am so grateful for your kind words and support and love. Enjoy the rest of the beautiful year and I'll catch you all in 2012!

"Play me a song, you're the piano/illustrator/fantasy-novelist man..."

2011-12-05T19:15:00.001-08:00

A Writer's Plea

2011-11-29T19:49:00.001-08:00

"Blah blah blah," drawgged moi.

2011-11-20T04:25:00.001-08:00

The Pits...of Despair! (j/k, they're super fun) (DESPAIR!)

2011-11-13T21:12:00.001-08:00

Husband: So what exactly are you doing on Tumblr?
Me: (silent clicking)
Husband: Okay, if you've got a Tumblr, what's your blog for?
Me: (more silent clicking)
Husband: Wait, so Google has a 'plus' now? I really don't get any of this.
Me: (SIGH) Would you like a chart or graph that should finally make it clear?
Husband: No quoting Postal Service, please.
Me: But I've prepared a lecture!

Husband: Sweet mother. I didn't realize it was this bad.
Me: Yikes. Me neither....

...I should tweet it.

Reading ALL THE THINGS (while eating unlimited M&Ms)

2011-11-07T19:23:00.000-08:00

Read this, too. READ ALL THE THINGS.

Guest drawg! Susan Kaye Quinn, OPEN MINDS and partying, partying YEAH

2011-11-01T02:56:00.000-07:00

So I have an incredibly talented and wise friend, Susan Kaye Quinn, who is celebrating the release of her book OPEN MINDS today. Hooray Susan!! I can't tell you how excited I am for this book (being a slobbering fan of her first one, Life, Liberty and Pursuit) and seeing as how I'm already neck deep in this new one, I can safely tell you it lives up to and beyond all the hype it is getting (and so very well deserving.) Being the brave and wonderful soul that she is, Susan agreed to guest drawg for me and explain a little bit about OPEN MINDS:

I KNOW. SO AWESOME. Do I not have the greatest guest posters or what? But wait! Today being the virtual party that it is, Susan is ALSO giving away some fabulous OPEN MINDS stuff (t-shirt! mug! wristbands!) to celebrate the debut! (You can see all the prizes HERE.)

There's three ways to enter (multiple entries allowed!):

1) Leave a comment on this post or at the Virtual Launch Party post HERE

2) Tweet (with the tag #keepingOPENMINDS)

Example: When everyone reads minds, a secret is a dangerousthing to keep. #keepingOPENMINDS @susankayequinn #SF #YA avail NOW http://bit.ly/SKQOpenMinds

Example: Celebrate the launch of OPEN MINDS by @susankayequinn#keepingOPENMINDS #SciFi #paranormal #YA avail NOW http://bit.ly/SKQOpenMinds

3) Facebook (tag@AuthorSusanKayeQuinn)

Example: Celebrate the launch of paranormal/SF novel OPEN MINDSby @AuthorSusanKayeQuinn for a chance to win Open Books/Open Minds prizes! http://bit.ly/SKQOpenMind

So what are you waiting for? Someone to MINDJACK you? Grab yourself a copy and come party it up with us!

Do it.

Dooooo iiiiiitt.

(I could be mindjacking you right now, you know. You'll just have to read the book to find out how to stop me.)

Spooky! Scary! This whole premise is sweaty!

2011-10-30T23:26:00.000-07:00

Exciting news, people!! Come back tomorrow for a crazy special GUEST DRAWG in celebration of my friend Susan Kaye Quinn and the launch of her book OPEN MINDS. It will be a blog to behold with contests and prizes and drawings (literally!) and most of all, the debut of one of the COOLEST books I've ready this year. So come back tomorrow! And bring some leftover Halloween candy. I'm a SUCKER for candy corn.

The reason I need the Zelda cartoons on DVD

2011-10-17T22:13:00.001-07:00

Some drawn dumpy thoughts (Drumpughts? Mmm. Drumpughts.)

2011-10-09T06:09:00.000-07:00

While not all of our stuff has made it to Japan yet (including my big happy funtime computer, tablet, and all picture editing software to speak of), one wonderful piece of my life is back: THE SCANNER! So while I can't do my long, coloriffic drawgs yet, I can scan and post the tiny thought dump drawgs that I've been keeping on the back of index cards for the past few weeks. Oh yes, sans scanner, I've still been drawgging. I'm always drawgging, yo.

But if you can't tell from the index cards, life is wonderful and amazing and good here so far. Japan is full of lovely people and lovely things and we're so dang lucky to be here. And I'm so happy to be back on the internet where the rest of the world's lovely people and lovely things hang out! (Yes, I'm talking about YOU.) So, come on ye olde dusty scanner. Process whatcha mama gave you. I gots me thoughts to dump.

Whelp, this might have been a bit more of a thought dump that I had imagined. I REGRET NOTHING.

A joint drawg gone incredibly wrong

2011-08-24T05:10:00.000-07:00

So for the first few days in Japan, we were required by the Navy to attend classes that acquaint us with the surrounding area, culture, language, Navy services and whatnot. For the most part, it's REALLY interesting. And culture shock? Pssh. No such thing. Although we're in a completely different country, the support system here is AMAZING and they work hard to get you comfortable and moving around in the area. The first rule of living in Japan? (Besides do your job and don't be stupid so we have to send you back?) Get out and explore! I can totally get behind that.

However, we were subjected to a few classes that I could have done without. Financial planning, for one. Although I do well with my money, I have a hard time getting interested in what to do with it besides save and spend. I've been known to collapse in boredom at the mere mention of a 401k. So, while taking notes at this particular meeting, my dear husband notices I'm staring off into space.

"This must be killing you," he whispers. I opt to write out my response.

He takes up his own pen to reply:

He knows me so well.

And finds me funny, too. THANK GOODNESS.

Then the presenter starts calling on people to give answers about not only 401ks, but TSPs, MLACs and OMGWTHLOLBBQs.

Sweet husband just decides to put me out of my misery with a missile.

Not ready for that sweet release just yet, I draw myself with anti-missile dynamite. A sure defense!

Just so I know he means business, he adds another swoop to the missile's trajectory. THIS MEANS WAR.

I make the missile into a surfboard instead, complete with Stitch (from Lilo and Stitch...guess what my kid's been watching nonstop for two weeks?) saying something rather rude, were one to understand Stitchese.

Of course, surfing Stitches mean sharks, and lo and behold Jaws is upon us.

But wait! Richard Dreyfuss and Roy Schnieder are back with a bigger boat!

But they're no match for husband's answer to everything: MORE MISSILES! Watch out for Red October!

BUT WAIT! Red October is no match for SWEET NOVEMBER! The crappy movie that bored everyone to death! (sorry if you liked it! It's pretty WMOATy!)

BUT if we've sunk so low as to drop movie bombs, we must go one lower. Husband lands the great and mighty W-Bomb: THE WICKERMAN. Thus the game is over, everyone has croaked (or been punched by Nicholas Cage), and FINALLY...

...the financial planning class is OVER.

Sheesh, how do those people who collaborate on a book (or anything else creative for that matter) DO it? Everything we attempt to make together devolves into missiles and Nick Cage movies.

I BEG TO DIFFER, MOM.

Guestly postish! A letter from Austin Madison

2011-08-21T04:43:00.000-07:00

Hi, good people! We're still getting settled in the land of the rising sun, but I wanted to share a GREAT drawg that I came across the other day on tumblr, courtesy of Pixar artist Austin Madison. It's an open letter to artists everywhere but I think it translates well to all of us of ANY creative ilk. Enjoy and we'll be back to our regularly scheduled program soon! (Meanwhile, you MUST visit and follow Mr. Madison at http://munchanka.blogspot.com/. Great art PLUS insider Pixar scoops. If there was ever a time to squee, now is it. SQUEE!)

Winner winner sushi dinner! And I'm going now, I swear....

2011-08-11T12:21:00.000-07:00

Just a quick note! First off, congratulations to:

Kay Qy!

Hooray! A winner is you!

Please send me your email at kmcriddle (at) gmail (dot) com post haste! The poster the haster!

And a HUGE thank you to all the new readers and followers! And of course, to all the oldies but greaties that hang around and look at my silly pictures. I don't know why I don't reply to people when they comment for contests but I just want to say thank you, thank you for all the great book recommendations and thanks again for stopping by. I want to hug you all, but I suppose this tiny hotel pillow will suffice.

With that, I'm off! See you all in a few weeks! Until then, feel free to visit the Secret Archives of the Alliterati and say hi to our newest members! Or visit one of the many smart and brilliant writing and artsy friends I have over on the blogrolls. Or leave a REALLY AWESOME blog down in the comments that I just HAVE to read. Or just keep coming back here and leaving me funny stories and hullabaloosy what-have-yous that I can giggle over once wi-fi has graced my life again.

You guys are the best. I truly mean that.
Until next time, funny bunnies!

Sayonara, amigos!

2011-08-04T14:45:00.000-07:00

Whew!

Things are wrapping up here in the Criddle household as we get ready to relocate to Japan! My scanner and my tablet are both gone with the movers and the computer is set to jump on a cargo ship in a day or two. So no more drawgs (for a while), but that doesn't stop me from blogging with other things! (Just no blogging with my phone. Baby ate both the "a" and the "w" buttons. It would be a bit hard to read.)

So as a thank you for sticking with me for so long, I thought I'd do a little giveaway! What better way to say "sayonara, America" than with one of my favorite books:

THE STRANGE CASE OF ORIGAMI YODA by Tom Angleberger!

(Get it? Origami? Because...uh...Japan? Okay, let's move on.) And for your own origami needs and whims:

EASY ORIGAMI by John Montroll!

And how can you do origami without:

72 SHEETS OF FANCY PANTS ORIGAMI PAPER!

And once you make some Yodas, sit down with sushi and some:

FANCY CHOPSTICKS with their own handy CARRYING CASE!

And if that's not enough, you can remember yours truly by reading about some really surly unicorns with another one of my favorite books:

RAMPANT by Diana Peterfreund!

I know it's been out for a while, but it's a KILLER book, people. Unicorns! Killer unicorns! Hot boys! Italy! You WANT this book. You want it like a surly unicorn wants rainbow chip cupcakes.

So how to win this awesome and HUGE prize? Just leave a comment! Tell me what fabulous summer read I should take with me on the plane. Any favorites you've read in the past few months? Any oldies but goodies you just have to recommend? I'll take 'em all!

And if you want to increase your chances of winning, here's a bit of extra credit:

+1 entry for following the blog (new or old)
+2 for tweeting about the giveaway
+3 for blogging about the giveaway
+4 for proving the existence of unicorns

Add them up and make sure to leave your email/twitter handle in your comment so I can get a hold of you...and that's it! I'll pick a lucky winner in ONE WEEK (August 11th) so get those sacrifices to the random number gods a-burning! (Oh, and it IS open internationally! Australia, you know you want somma this.)

Thank you everyone who's stopped by, read, commented or lurked in the past few years. You all make it a complete joy to be in this online writing/reading/fun-loving community.

Good luck!

A bit of a story about a bit of a nerd

2011-07-31T22:31:00.000-07:00

What will I do instead of grocery shopping now?

2011-07-26T12:32:00.000-07:00

So long and thanks for the better mood

2011-07-21T22:21:00.000-07:00

Things I learned in 4th grade sent me to collage

2011-07-18T22:20:00.000-07:00

Frivolous Friday Fun with Flippant Friends and Fff...fdrawings.

2011-07-15T06:01:00.000-07:00

So there was an interview meme going around the intertubes that was full of nice and polite and sweet questions. Then I think it passed through the hands of one Party Pony and it was...mildly mutated. Dear friend Keriann then tagged me to answer them and, guys, who am I to deny the wild willed whims of Keri? (Lifehint: Do not deny Keri's whims.)

Without further ado, the questions. Answered. By me. As I do what I do. Being the end of the week, this is about as deep as I can get.

Are you a rutabaga?

When was the last time you ate lion meat?

Upload a heartwarming picture of something that makes you smile.

In the words of Adam Heine: "Why is your baby screaming at me?"

If you could go back in time and kick the crap out of someone, who would it be?

Name one habit that makes other people plot your demise.

What song would you like to be playing while you are kicking the crap out of someone?

Where da muffin top at?

How many goats, stacked atop one another like Yertle's Turtles, would it take to reach the moon?

Describe yourself using obscure Latin words.

Why does evil exist?

What the chiz are you thinking right now?

And now I tag all of you. Dooooo it, I dare you. It's Friday, what else are you going to do? Work?

Partying, partying (yeah) writing, partying (yeah)

2011-07-12T13:12:00.000-07:00

The other day, my husband and I were standing in a bookstore. This is not an unusual situation. Despite any issues I may have with my current residence, I'm pleased with the fact that my grocery store and the bookstore are literally next door to one another. So. There we were, picking up some milk and two seconds later, we found ourselves in the bookstore.

Husband (pointing to a book's cover): Wait. Don't you know that person? I didn't know they were published. You talk to her on twitter.
Me: Yeah, she's pretty awesome!
Him (pointing to another): That one lives here in San Diego, huh?
Me: You've met her. Twice. And her editor is the one I ran into at that one conference, remember?
Him: So...does everyone get together for some big party online? Is that what you're doing on the computer? Just having one big party?
Me (thinking for a moment): Yes. Some writing. But mostly parties.

As frustrating as certain parts of writing can be (making the introvert share, the waiting, the endless revising) in the end, it's an incredibly fun job. And the writing community that can be found through blogs, twitter, Facebook and now Google plus (help, I've overnetworked and I can't disconnect!)...ahem, this amazing community is so supportive and helpful and...well, it's JUST PLAIN AWESOME. There's contests and auctions, endless cheering and instruction. Got a question/problem/idea? Put it out there and someone will answer/fix it/LOVE IT.

Whoever we are---a reader a writer, a reviewer, an illustrator or NYT Bestseller---we are all at the SAME PARTY. And at that awesome party, we're all working together to make books. Books, people! Who could resist such a thing?

This is for my husband, who thinks this is the reason I'm always making cookies (and, subsequently, going on a lot of milk runs):

And everyone I missed? They're in the kitchen. Still partying, partying YEAH.

This is probably 'cause I missed my UA meeting.

2011-07-07T14:33:00.000-07:00

Look! You can even get your own for...your kid. Sure.

UNICORN CASTLE (via amazon.com)

In which I go totally meta

2011-07-05T10:25:00.000-07:00

Aaaaayyyyyyyyyy! (say it in a surfer tone) (shark jumping optional)

2011-06-27T09:28:00.000-07:00

At the request of my husband, I had to add non-drawn proof of my wave conquering:

That wave totally knows who's boss.

Blog, you seek blog! Take you to it, I will.

2011-06-22T11:57:00.000-07:00

I've made no secret out of the fact that I was, am, and always will be a nerd. But the other night during a brief packing frenzy, I uncovered this little gem of proof in my "I swear I will scrapbook this one day" box.

You see, before the prequels came out--before even the special editions reared their ugly heads--I adored Star Wars. I followed my sister to comic book stores to sift through piles of dusty Kenner toys from the 70s, looking for the elusive "Han Solo in Carbonite" figurine. I played X-Wing endlessly on the computer (still, to this day, saying "shields down, hull damaged, destroyed" when I'm tired at night.) Only a choice few understood me. The rest were none too supportive and for a ninth grader, being mocked for even something as silly as a devotion to sci-fi can be pretty devastating.

However, when the remastered THX editions came out fifteen years ago, I knew I had to get SOMEONE to watch it with me, if only to swoon over Han Solo's redigitized smile.

So, being my unabashedly nerdy 14 year-old self, I planned a party (imagine this folded in half like a card):

And get this...despite my worst fears, people actually came! Never mind the fact that it was on the same night as a huge school dance, PEOPLE CAME! Even people that had outright MOCKED me for my devotion to a hokey show and ancient special effects came! I reveled in the joy of introducing a bunch of friends to the glory and magic that was Star Wars (before Lucas ruined it...ANOTHER POST, ANOTHER DAY.) We even watched HARDWARE WARS between Empire and Jedi!

Adult nerds, I know that most of us have come to happy nerdly terms with ourselves. But nerdlings! This is for you: never be afraid of who you are and what you like. Never be ashamed of your interests, your poor spelling, your admission that you can't provide all the food at your own party single-handedly ("Munchies! Bring some!") Unlike Star Wars over time, life gets better! No matter who you are and what you love, there are people out there just like you...and they're waiting to find you, too. Be loud. Be proud. And please send me an invitation to all your awesome parties.

(I promise to bring munchies.)

In which I prepare for change by freaking out

2011-06-19T10:29:00.000-07:00

"Research" or Why I Watched Five Hours of Tina Fey This Weekend

2011-06-13T08:48:00.000-07:00

Adventures with Inner Introverts! Now with more self doubt!

2011-06-03T06:00:00.000-07:00

I think Skynet is onto us.

2011-05-30T00:33:00.000-07:00

New Year's resolutions and goals! CRAP AM I LATE?

2011-05-26T13:24:00.000-07:00

So the art blog is here: BRUSH QUIBBLIES
And the mildly unfocused book tumblr is here: MIND GRAPES

Enjoy! Thanks as always for reading!

Guest drawg! The spouse of a revising writer SPEAKS.

2011-05-18T02:15:00.000-07:00

(He writes tiny! Click through and zoom for a better view)

Awards and Bats and Facts and Bat Facts

2011-05-11T08:38:00.000-07:00

The blogosphere is a wonderful place full of amazing people and funny pictures of cats, amirite? Recently, I was given a nod by two awesome people , the great Keriann Greaney Martin (of Novel Beginnings fame) and Jenny Phresh (of The Party Pony fame) and given a blog award. Yaaaay! Thanks, guys! If you're a fan of hilarious and happy things, both Keri and Jenny's blog are the bomb diggity. Bomb diggity? Do people say that anymore? When I type my blogs, I verbally regress by at least ten years. Sorry.

Anyways, part of the blog award deal is that the recipient has to share 7 things about themselves and then pass the award along to a few others. As if my blog is not already a virtual armory of embarrassing things about myself, I present:

And I want to pass the love on to some FANTASTIC bloggers out there! This is, in no way, a comprehensive list (sorry for everyone I leave off!), but they are certainly rad and certainly deserving of the same love that I have for bats. Also, a plea: everyone else mentioned or not should do a "7 things about me" post too, because I'm just mildly voyeuristic like that.

Peggy of Peg-A-Leg: Quite possibly one of the kindest, coolest people I internet-ively know. And she's got a book that is for certain the NEXT BIG THING. Check her out so you can say "I knew her when!"

Adam of Author's Echo: Serious. You're probably already following him, right? RIGHT? A fellow writer/artist/geek, he blogs from the OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD. Unless you're in Thailand. Then he blogs RIGHT NEXT DOOR.

Susan of Ink Spells: So much awesome going on with Susan! Writing, mom-ery and an awesome newsletter, she is a resource extravaganza for writing and more. And she likes llamas. LLAMAS, people!

Beth of Food to the Rescue: Okay, full disclosure...this is my sister. And fellow co-president of HOTH (the club we made up as kids). But she also blogs restaurant reviews and delicious recipes, so there! Seriously, find and make her French Silk Pie recipe. It is Death by Delight. Murderously Good. Serially Mouthwatering. She is the Dexter of my Tastebuds.

Oh gosh! So many more!! Are you sick of me yet? I can't stop! (This is why I should not type out my blogs!)

Visit writer Jenn Johansson!
And writer Anna Staniszewski!
And artist Victoria Rhodehouse!
And my awesome Sailor Venus friend Robin Ford!
And the ever erudite, always funny Kristan Hoffman!
And the rollicking riotous Abby Mumford!
And the hilarious librarianistas at YAwesome!
And San Diego writers Andrea, Lisa and Nikki of YAKnow!

Oh man, were if not illegal in California, I'd send every single one of you a cuddly bat.

Know of anyone else awesome I forgot? Because I KNOW I did. Leave it in the comments (and chide me later)!
(You can also leave facts about bats. I always welcome those.)

Please tell me we're not the only ones who do this.

2011-05-06T11:23:00.000-07:00

Woulda been more apropos if it was a catclaw bush, AMIRITE?

2011-05-03T08:19:00.000-07:00

(Okay, maybe not purple. Is that purple? I don't know my colors.)

All good vacations involve screaming.

2011-04-28T11:54:00.000-07:00

I find your lack of pants disturbing.

2011-04-14T10:53:00.000-07:00

"It's Friday, I'm [somewhere else]..."

2011-04-08T08:09:00.001-07:00

If you're looking for me today, you'll find me over at the great and brilliant Natalie Whipple's blog for a guest post with the Happy Writer's Society! Every Friday she hosts a gathering at the Happy Writer's Society clubhouse. Go! Visit! Read every week! It's wonderful and inspiring...and she serves virtual cupcakes and cookies! (Even rainbow chip ones, I'm sure.)

Also, as long as I'm pimping out blogs, every Friday I post non-drawgy, writing related thoughts over at the Alliterati Archives! But stick around for L.T. Host on Mondays and Matt Delman on Wednesdays, too! We talk talk talk. Link link link. Talk talk talk.

In the meantime, I have to share this AMAZING video I found on tumblr the other day. I. Have. No. Words. (just kidding, I have a lot of them. TALK TALK TALK.)

Happy Friday, Funny Bunnies!

Yes, you can digress while using a labelmaker.

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

Dr. Jendar the Instigator OR How I learned to stop worrying about the honor roll and love the sketchbook.

2011-03-31T12:03:00.000-07:00

Don't forget! You still have, like, twelve hours to enter a comment only contest for a rad, Japanese Harry Potter book. Go here! Or just scroll down! It's not that far, I promise.

Give support and love to Japan & get a really rad book.

2011-03-17T14:21:00.001-07:00

So, the week has been a disastrous one for our brothers and sisters overseas in Japan, Hawaii and anywhere else affected by Sunday night's earthquake. Most of us are lucky enough to live in areas that have never seen devastation like this and, in the wake of this terrible event, most of our family and friends are safe and happy. Such is not the case for tens of thousands of others halfway across the globe.

A lot of us--myself included--are left wringing our hands in grief, wondering what we can do to help. I want to do what little I can in bringing awareness to a few of the charities that are open to donations of money and goods to help the people of Japan in this time.

The Red Cross
Save the Children
International Medical Corps
ShelterBox
UNICEF
Doctors Without Borders

And of course I know there are a million more places that would benefit from our support. Please consider a donation, a blanket, a tweet raising awareness, ANYTHING that might help the people displaced and otherwise affected by the earthquake.

Now here's the mildly cool part. I'm obsessed with books in different languages and years ago, I got my hands on a few Japanese language edition Harry Potters (do I pluralize Potters or editions? I DIGRESS.) And I've giving one of them away! All you have to do is leave a comment on this here post. That's it! No extra nothings. Just leave a comment and you might get a hardcover of this:

Oooh, isn't that shiny? It can be yours, if the random number is right!

Please, however, consider donating or spreading the word. Not necessarily about this contest (although that'd be rad) but about how we can help Japan. We are a world of amazing people! There is no limit to the good we can do.

So comment! Donate! Tweet! Blog! Go have lunch! Do whatever you do and do it well! Contest is open until Thursday, March 31st at midnight. And it is open internationally.

UPDATE:

The Random Number Gods smile highly on...Peggy! Congrats, Peggy!

E-mail me your address at kmcriddle (at) gmail (dot) com and I'll get that beautiful book out to you as soon as I can. Congrats! And thank you to everyone who stopped by and commented and to everyone who continues to stop by. You guys seriously make my day. I would totally take you all out for ginger ale and cheese fries if I could.

Stop looking at me, Giraffe!

2011-03-14T13:32:00.001-07:00

Talk it out...use your words. WHOA, NOT ALL OF THEM.

2011-03-03T13:35:00.000-08:00

Illustrated Quote #2 from Katherine Paterson (the Weird!)

2011-02-17T08:04:00.000-08:00

Illustrated Quote #1 (by Alice Walker the Patient) here!

Happy Chinese New Year! Out like a tiger, in like a rabbit...

2011-02-04T07:00:00.000-08:00

If I had a vlog, I'd totally sing the theme song for you.

2011-02-01T19:57:00.000-08:00

Next stop: MEGA Treadmill Desk. Take that, Schrute!

2011-01-26T15:50:00.000-08:00

Let's hear it for the Cheerleaders! (silly outfits optional)

2011-01-20T10:59:00.001-08:00

I'm reposting this from my weekly contribution over at the Alliterati Archives...just because I can. You can read it over there but, I'm gonna warn you, they are frighteningly similar. Same exact post but over at the Archives.

I love old books. I mean OLD books---not just the content, but the packaging as well. It doesn't matter if they're first edition, rare or what have you, I just love books with a long, well-loved history. Inscriptions a bonus, better if they have a sweet/weird/bone-chilling/heart-melting story behind it.

This one, LIGHTFOOT THE DEER by Thornton W. Burgess (1922), was a gift from my grandma when I was ten. It was HER favorite book when she was in 3rd grade (as seen by the inscription) and I seriously, with all my Bambi-licious heart, read it and loved it just as much as she did.

Grandma Iva (or Ijahawkiwa, as she was properly known) was one of my very first "creative cheerleaders." On our special days together, we wrote stories and painted pictures. She told me not just that I could be an artist but that I SHOULD. Everyone who created was an artist, whether it be a creation of words, paint, metal, numbers, technology, nature and so on. She taught me the world is made up on lines and circles, the simplest of shapes, but something beautiful and godly can come out of them. The same with simple words and powerful messages: "I have a dream" and "Jesus wept" and "Call me Ishmael" and "The end." Although she's passed on now, so much of what she taught me comes back when I write my silly stories, paint my weird pictures and read awesome books to my kid.

Since then, of course, I've had a gaggle of wicked awesome cheerleaders: any member of my family, who would dive into a new mushy manuscript at the drop of a hat, my beloved "Eat Write Period" crit group from Boston (who I can't think of without craving Panera shortbread) and my dear patient husband, who always has the right words whether I want to hear them or not. I owe pages and pages of thanks to every one of these people and more.

Some people might not realize that a single book, a mere 50,000 plus words is a conglomeration of experience...and not just from the author. In another one of my favorite oldies---BLOW BLOW YOUR TRUMPETS by Seamus Frazer (awesome antediluvian sci-fi from 1945, by the way. Pretty scarce, but totally worth the search)---the author dedicates the book to his wife:

"This tale, written for you at odd moments during my exile in the East, is dedicated to you with all my love. You were with me when I conceived the story; and if there are defects in it now that it is finished, put them down to the fact that I had not the happiness of your wise criticism as I pieced it together in desert tents or under palm thatch in the jungle. There was the monsoon as pattern for the Deluge, and beyond the veranda chorus of the Ark. But memory and the uncertain mail had to supply me with a model for my heroines: remember this difficulty in their creation . . . Anyways, here it is---your book, bless you."

Go hug your creative cheerleader today. At the very least, throw them a cookie and a "bless you."

Contests, a million tiny contests...

2010-12-16T10:32:00.000-08:00

'Tis the season for blog giveaways, amiright? Seems like everyone's in giving spirit of some sorts! If you are anything like me and LOVE to get free stuff, let me kindly direct you to some that I'm seeing around the blogosphere as of late.

This one's from me! I give away nine books, art, and a reminder not to forget to be awesome. (DFTBA!) http://alliteratiarchives.blogspot.com/2010/12/week-of-awesome-continuesgiveaway.html

From L.T. Host! A five book pack of things I'm dying to read, especially Gary Corby's THE PERICLES COMMISSION! Go win it for me, plz. http://alliteratiarchives.blogspot.com/2010/12/woo-hoo-week-of-awesomeness-is-here.html

From Matt Delman! The Ten Word Novel contest is back with a chance to win a steampunked short story, a social media consultation or a detailed line edit. Whoa! Fancy stuff. Go here: http://alliteratiarchives.blogspot.com/2010/12/ten-word-novel-contest.html

Beth Revis' EPIC contest of EPIC! Win one of 100 prizes!! Her book, ACROSS THE UNIVERSE looks amazing, too. Check it here: http://bethrevis.blogspot.com/2010/12/epic-contest-of-epic.html

Cindy Pon doing her own massive giveaway of EIGHT fabulous books! So much fantasy...so little time! http://cindypon.com/2010/choose-your-own-tgifbm/

Oy! This one from The Enchanted Inkpot ends tomorrow! And it's HUUUGE! Don't read anymore, just hurry over there! http://community.livejournal.com/enchantedinkpot/75531.html

Susan Kay Quinn does it for charity! As a huge fan and supporter of Heifer International, I approve of this Llama-licious giveaway/charity commentfest. Enter here! You know, for the kids. http://ink-spells.blogspot.com/2010/12/holiday-celebration-week-of-llamas.html

Who am I missing?? I'm missing a million. If you have anymore you've come across, throw them down in the comments below. Until then, go out there and get yourself something nice for the holidays.

UPDATE: Contests from the comments!

Valerie Geary says: "I've got two gift cards to the bookstore of your choice up for grabs! Two winners. $25 and $15 cards. Who doesn't like free books?" http://valeriegeary.blogspot.com/2010/12/want-to-win-some-book.html I will be right there, Valerie!

Christine offers this from Tor:
http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/12/solstice-countdown-day-16-giveaway-very-big-quite-insane-sff-bookshelf And it's DAILY, even!

And this from Anna Staniszewski! http://www.annastan.com/2010/12/december-book-giveaway/ Oooh...Scorch Trials...

Even better: do you have TOO many books? Looking to donate some for this holiday season? A school library in Massachusetts is in dire need of gently used books! More details here: http://www.annastan.com/2010/12/donate-your-unwanted-books-to-a-library-in-need/

In the meantime, this vintage sketchbook drawing (circa 1999) is brought to the blog specifically for one Miss Jolee, just because I was thinking about you today. Adventures in Babysitting all the way. People from the future ALL wear hula skirts.

Well, well, well...we meet again, Chapter Forty Two.

2010-12-08T11:32:00.000-08:00

If I don't feed them, they get unbelievably surly.

2010-11-24T14:13:00.000-08:00

Lots of love, everyone.

Superhero, schmooperhero. JUST KIDDING I LOVE YOU STAN LEE

2010-11-09T14:56:00.000-08:00

I promised this story to someone a long time ago...(to be said in an Obi Wan Kenobiesque voice)

I don't make this nerdy stuff up, people. I just tell it like it is. Behold, protector of all things artsy fartsy:

That is all. Let's go about our day quietly.

Fondly fondly fare thee wells...

2010-11-05T13:31:00.000-07:00

I've been waiting to write this post for a while. Not anticipating it, of course, but knowing that I must or forever file myself under "thoughtless" in my proverbial mental file cabinet (see also "easily distracted" and "is that a starburst?")

Nathan Bransford has been my loyal literary agent for over two years. He was the first name on the top of my "hopeful" spreadsheet when I began querying and, naturally, the first one to hear my resounding "WOOT!!" when he offered representation. For two years, he's been nothing but amazingly supportive through my good times and those blindingly awful times that every writer has to sludge through. When we lose complete faith in our own abilities, lucky--so, so lucky--is the person with someone at their side saying, "Don't be silly. You totally got this."

I consider myself beyond lucky to have worked with Nathan for this period of time. Since he's already won publishing (as an agent AND an author!) I can't wait to watch him win the social media game at CNET. He's an amazing guy and will succeed wildly at every venture from here on out.

So thanks for everything, Nathan! Don't think you're getting away from my random emails and pictures of restaurants that make me think of JACOB WONDERBAR. Where's my corndog?

I'm also incredibly grateful to be working with the legendary Ginger Clark from Curtis Brown! As I faithfully follow the adventures of her desk-bound Don Draper doll, I know that we've got some exciting times ahead. (Does Pete Campbell get a doll? More importantly, does it have "the face?")

Cheers, all. Happy weekend!

Oh, happy weekend.

2010-11-05T11:31:00.000-07:00

Presented without much comment:

"And on the handle of the door...was...THE HOOK!"

2010-10-27T17:41:00.000-07:00

This is the book I'm talking about HERE . The more you know...MUA AH AH HA. (Knowledge, Halloween edition.) UPDATE: Scott Pilgrim's precious little bookstore was out of this particular edition. I updated the link to the anthologized edition that the lucky winner will be receiving. Same books! Freakier cover.

UPDATE: The numbers were lined up and scientifically picked by a baby. I would have filmed it, but then baby would have picked the camera as the winner. Unlike her mother, she is easily distracte---HEY WHATS THAT SHINY THING??

But I digress. Congratulations, L.T. Host!

You are the winner of a creepy book! (Maybe you can pawn it off on unsuspecting husband?) Send me your address at kmcriddle@gmail.com and I'll make sure you're reliving your childhood nightmares about Harold in a timely manner. Thanks to everyone who stopped by. In my book, you're all pretty scary.

In which I come up for air...

2010-10-22T16:38:00.000-07:00

Can't get enough of me? (You probably can.) Check out Doctor Fantastique's Show of Wonders! He's featuring a comic done by yours truly. While you're there, check out all of the great, grand, glorious steampunkery the mag has to offer!

Go, Lil Steamo, go!

More Conversational Beasts

2010-09-06T11:15:00.000-07:00

Inspired by the great Italy-bound Abby Mumford and a recent fan-girl encounter by yours truly, I present to you two dear friends of Blank:

And...

These guys are my constant conversational companions.

One more day to enter the contest and win your very own Blank! Go one post down and enter there. Down...down...almost there...right THERE. Oh fine, here's a link.

::chirp chirp chirp::: A WINNER IS...

2010-08-31T22:48:00.000-07:00

Blank wouldn't let me write a caption for him, so it's up to you to come up with his line! Give him something to fill his bubble by September 6th and you'll win your very own 9 x 12 watercolor of Blank! Blank the painting is perfect for sucking up inspiration and providing you with stimulating stupors of thought. Great for sustaining writer's block, pregnancy brain or concussions! Trust me, I've had all three.

Leave a comment! Speak for Blank! Winner will be chosen at random on September 7th because, frankly, I think Tuesdays are nice. And it's open to everyone in the whole wide world. Get captioning, McMurdo Antarctica Research Station!

No really. If you comment from Antarctica, you automatically win.

UPDATE!

The winner has been randomly drawn using the most sophisticated technology known to bloggerdom!

Congratulations, Steph!! A winner is you!

Email me at kmcriddle@gmail.com with your address and I'll draw you a blank, too. Thank you to everyone for participating; I can't tell you how much I appreciate you all for reading, commenting and, all in all, validating my drawg-y existence. Er...end ramble.

I will never talk again. JUST KIDDING HI HI HI.

2010-08-22T21:14:00.001-07:00

Interview! And a flashback Tuesday...

2010-08-10T13:54:00.001-07:00

Today, the wonderful and talented Susan Kaye Quinn interviewed me over at her blog! She's doing a week of "Art Appreciation" and I can't tell you how humbled and happy I am that she appreciates my art. Head on over! Take a look! Enjoy all the other artists and enter her contest! DO IT.

It's here! C'mere!

So in the last few weeks of moving and rearranging my life, a lot of old notebooks and sketchbooks have popped up, giving me a chance to look over the last ten years of my existence in a sketched out form. As with any old journals, there's moments of lucidity, embarrassment, surprise and shock. The crazy thing is that even a drawing of a weird yellow dolphin elicits some sort of memory: where I was, what I was thinking or pining after, etc. Anything from our pasts can do that, really, but I guess I didn't realize how my late teens were so full of snake ladies and men in skirts.

So despite how embarrassing this may be, I thought I'd share a page or two from these old sketchbooks. Prehistoric drawgs! This is, frankly, what the inside of my brain looked like in 2001. Oh, but not now! No...I'm so much more organized and mature...now. Er. Ahem.

Enjoy. Or not. Do what you will.

That's that. Sketchbooks are my memories, though they be strange and scaly ones. What's brings out the nostalgia in you?

I used to collect cogs in elementary school

2010-08-05T08:07:00.000-07:00

Today, this is featured over at the great and glorious Matt Delman's Free the Princess blog. He is a Jedi master of all things steampunk! If the drawg below doesn't cover all your wildly burning questions about this lovely genre of life, then HE'LL have your answers. Make him your only hope. Goggles on, gentlepeople.

My mind also has a game room. Jealous?

2010-07-28T11:29:00.000-07:00

First off, thank you to everyone that visits here. I've been on hiatus with all the moving and grooving and keeping hope alive, so thanks for coming back after all this time. And if you're new, awesome! A great woman once told me that you should never enter a room saying "HERE I AM!" but instead with a sincere "Oh, there you are!" So...there you are!! So happy to see you, I really mean it. Anyways, you people rock, you really do. Lots of love and double rainbows.

P.S. My new house now has more that 500 square feet! You should come visit! We'll make weird cookies and go to the beach!

A little story, if that's your thing.

2010-07-07T22:23:00.000-07:00

A Tale of One City,

Two People, a Baby, some Soup,

a Baseball, lots of Fireworks, Trapeze School,

one Fiesty Cat, some Indian Food, and an Overextended Title

One upon a time, a boy moved to Boston to be a dentist.

There wasn't much to do until school started,

so he passed the first few days

playing Civilization on his roommate's computer.

A week later, the boy met a girl outside the Harvard train station.

She was so stinking graceful.

On their first date, she spilled water on him three times.

She continued to spill water on him for a few months.

Then, being the mature and responsible adults that they were,

they decided to get hitched and start

an equally mature and responsible family.

It was a little harder than expected.

The years passed quickly, as good years are apt to do,

and they found themselves packing up

for another adventure far across the country.

And as the girl flew away with kid and cat in tow

to find a place for them to live in San Diego,

the boy packed everything up and waited for the moving van.

There wasn't much to do before it came,

so he passed the last few days

playing Civilization on his wife's computer.

A.L.Ayyyyyyyy! (ala the Fonz)

2010-07-02T20:45:00.000-07:00

If only this blog were acid-washed, too.

2010-06-18T21:31:00.001-07:00

You got schooled, dude.

2010-06-11T08:01:00.000-07:00

Welcome all! This is a guest post featured over at the uber-fabulous Kiersten White's blog, www.kierstenwrites.blogspot.com. Her book, PARANORMALCY, comes out in September and it's going to be just like her: frigging ah-mazing. Thanks for stopping by!

But honestly, I couldn't brood if I tried.

2010-06-07T20:42:00.000-07:00

I guess I could still read on it or something.

2010-06-07T20:39:00.000-07:00

"Books make cold, constant and frigging AWESOME companions" -Victor Hugo (in a less miserable mood)

2010-05-24T21:07:00.000-07:00

Maestro, cue the huge sigh of relief!

2010-05-02T14:57:00.000-07:00

...in which I try to retell tidbits of trivia

2010-04-18T20:27:00.000-07:00

Guys, you are full of so much awesome trivia! I was quoting this stuff all week. I love you people. Big group hug. I'm posting a few a day until I run out of time, space and/or motivation. Again, thanks so much for the brain dump! I will be even more insufferable at awkward cocktail parties now!

Elephants Die Standing (true, but also a great band name)

2010-04-05T21:03:00.000-07:00

Ah, actual typing! So awkward! It burns!

I'm on a little hiatus/sabbatical/writing retreat/Savin's West Coast Cuteness Tour at the moment, sans tablet and scanner. Regular (ha!) drawgs will resume soon. In the meantime, please indulge me in a teeny, somewhat silly request:

I LOVE random trivia. Seriously. The more ridiculous the better. Dude, I used to keep Trivial Pursuit cards in my purse if that says anything about how much I'll sacrifice my dignity and coolness for trivia. SO: if anyone would be so kind enough to leave me a bit of trivia as a comment, I'll draw something for it when I get back to Boston. And, heck, hopefully we can ALL learn something incredibly useless in the process.

I'll start: Butterflies taste with their toes.

See you sometime next week!

Whose idea was it to start beating it in the first place?

2010-03-30T12:37:00.000-07:00

Blog blog blog: In which I blog (How meta!)

2010-03-17T20:30:00.001-07:00

In other slightly self-absorbed news...

2010-03-10T08:21:00.000-08:00

Make Way For Drunklings: An Allegedly True Story

2010-03-05T21:37:00.000-08:00

Marshmallows and Grapes and Baby and Whatnot

2010-02-26T08:25:00.000-08:00

"No not yet no not yet not yet yet yet.."

2010-02-08T12:48:00.000-08:00

They told me it was a blanket with sleeves...

2010-02-01T21:11:00.000-08:00

In need of tips on brain wrangling, plz.

2010-01-27T10:31:00.000-08:00

The Naming of Names, Part Deux (now with more Cutestory)

2010-01-20T18:09:00.000-08:00

For those even just mildly interested:
The Naming of Names, Part One

The Projectionists! (Not a musical. Unless we make it one.)

2010-01-15T09:07:00.000-08:00

A big little P.S. :

Thank you, as always, for checking out the drawgs. Since I can't link via sketch (technologie, ye still eludeth me), please take a moment to consider the many, many, many organizations out there collecting financial relief for help in Haiti during this traumatic time (like I said, there's millions more out there; go find what suits you best). Money doesn't solve everything, but it sure helps more often than not. Good thoughts and prayers go out to them at this time.

Red Cross
AmeriCares
Oxfam International
LDS Humanitarian Services
Save the Children Foundation
Doctors Without Borders
Lambi Fund of Haiti
International Rescue Committee

Wild Viewing Habits Can't Be Broken

2010-01-10T21:40:00.001-08:00

Due to oversaturation, we have broken the nerd alert.

2010-01-06T11:39:00.000-08:00

UPDATE: Saw this and could NOT help but post it up. NERD.

I better now.

2010-01-03T19:40:00.000-08:00

Goggles, goggles! My kingdom for some goggles!

2010-01-01T23:17:00.000-08:00

Food! Glorious, wonderful, (thesaurus needed), food!

2009-12-22T16:23:00.000-08:00

Gratuitous Garland is the Cowbell of Christmas Letters

2009-12-16T09:30:00.000-08:00

Where the wild thing's at . . . and Agent Appreciation Day

2009-12-11T12:52:00.000-08:00

Nathan Bransford's website here!

"To do"s are for suckers

2009-12-08T22:12:00.000-08:00

Swim off a limb!

2009-12-03T09:08:00.000-08:00

My cat ate my fashion statement

2009-11-23T20:37:00.000-08:00

I am Jack's crippling fear of social networking

2009-11-20T16:15:00.001-08:00

I love stalking writing blogs.

Everyone, really: authors, unpublished authors, people with day jobs who write on the side, agents, editors, people that know GOBS about successful writing and even people who don't know much but are willing to spout links nonetheless . . . it's frankly addicting. I could click for years. Or at least hours. Interspersed with a couple comics and some boingboing. And there goes my afternoon.

Sometimes it's because I truly want to learn more, really. There's nothing in this world I'd rather do professionally except write (and draw pictures . . . and eat chocolate while doing so) for a living, despite the fact I find writing difficult, oftentimes daunting, depressing and . . . hard. (DANG) No, not all the time. A great deal of the time it can be downright delightful (YES I LOVE ALLITERATION) but there's no denying I struggle with it from time to time. These said writing blogs are a stellar way to connect with other such writers, snuffling tears and fears of rejection and---even better--- rejoicing in one another's triumphs.

Every other day, I think to myself: "I should really get into this. There's stuff to be said, stuff I should get people's opinions on. No more lurking. I should comment. I should send out emails. Connect with these people: MY PEOPLE. This is my clan!! Why am I not connecting with my clan?" Then, as it happens every time I use the word "clan" in my internal thoughts, I start thinking about Highlander. Then I think to myself: "I should watch me some Highlander." And before I know it, I'm off the blogs, staring at my unfinished manuscript and listening to Queen in the background. Internet ADD is no writer's friend, kids.

Perhaps it comes from my crippling fear of social networking. I love being a facebook/blog/forum voyeur, yet the thought of really diving into it, seeing my name and avatar next to an un-erasable comment that ranges from insipid to witty and (usually) back again, I get all wiggly and weirded out. I wish I could blog every day about wonderful things, brilliant observations and/or at least cute pictures, but I can't. I've tried. I last for about a week, then I forget my blogger password and retreat into 1990-level web anonymity (anon1806@aol.com was I once . . . I can be so again!)

If only all my favorite writers, bloggers, and friends all lived here in Boston with me, in the same apartment complex, and we had a giant bulletin board near the laundry room that we just posted cute notes to each other and slipped 3 x 5 note cards under one another's welcome mats and we held big bar-be-ques out in the parking lot every Friday and all went to book signings together and we held writing groups over Skype and pounded on the walls when our Queen music got too loud and, and, and . . . I'd surely be a better, more communicative person then, wouldn't I?

Ah well. Insert brilliant writing advice here.

Insert thought-provoking question here.

Insert amazing links to other amazing writers here.

Insert cute picture of my cat sitting on my laptop here.

Hit publish.

Go watch me some Highlander.

Then brainstorm some more stuff.

No really, go use this thing. Its AWESOME.
(Courtesy of Mr. Andrew Bosley at distractionbeast.com.)

The Road: you have died of trout poisoning

2009-11-10T21:25:00.000-08:00

Once upon a time, Preston and I read The Road by Cormac McCarthy. His aunt hated it, his brother hated it and we . . . well, we didn't hate it. We appreciated it. But it wasn't heartwarming by any means. The writing is sparse and gray, echoing the book's tone itself and although I couldn't put it down, it was simultaneously painful to pick up. I'm not going to "spoiler alert" this, so I won't go too deep into the plot itself, but imagine a dark, post-apocalyptic world with little food, hope, or quotation marks. Thus is The Road.

A few chapters into it, I had a horrible dream that found you, me and everyone we know in similar Road-like conditions (as opposed to Roadhouse conditions, which would have been awesome and far less frightening. Maybe). The dream sufficiently freaked me out, so I didn't want to keep reading but Preston assured me that it got better. The next night, I had another dream in which husband had made a fluffy pastel book cover for The Road so I'd be less scared. Even in my dream, he still really wanted me to finish . . . mostly, I think, so we could talk about the last paragraph. (Norman Maclean, anyone?)

When I woke up, I decided to compromise, using a fluffy pastel birthday card as a bookmark. Success! Fooling me out of my own emotions with color is fun! I finally finished the book.

I tell this story to tell another: the movie's coming out this Thanksgiving, and we've recently discovered a really strange movie tie-in: Survive the Road: the video game. It's a post apocalyptic Oregon Trail! Unfortunately, you can't hunt buffalo and (spoiler alert) you always die. And boy howdy, this time around it's not diphtheria.

Our mockery of such a strange, inappropriate way of advertising the movie has led us down the slippery slope of full blown obsession with the game. Much like the book (and perhaps the movie, I don't know yet) the game is long and depressing but for some reason, I can't stop thinking about it. So here it is: http://www.survivetheroadgame.com. Someone please try to beat it for me. Then tell me how.

And, if you would, spell it out for me in butterflies.

Finish him!

2009-09-28T10:52:00.000-07:00

The title was meant to be said in a "Mortal Kombat" voice. Indulge me!

So this weekend I had the pleasure of sitting in the last tweaks of warm weather that late September New England has to offer, watching two of my favorite people (Husband and good friend Coach S. Lou) participate in the Hollis, NH Applefest Half-Marathon. Well, to explain the enormity of this triumph, let me go back a few months...no, okay, it's gonna be a year. Cue time travel music. (Again! Sounds suspiciously like the "Mortal Kombat" theme. So strange.)

Last year sometime in May:
"Honey, we should totally run a half-marathon," Husband says.
"Hecks yeah!" I cry in excitement. "We'll get in so much shape! We'll run every evening around the harbor, we'll bond, we'll be so awesome! Which half-marathon are we going to run?"
"Look! This one's close and it serves apple crisp at the end!"
"YAY!"

Last year sometime in September:
"Crap, wasn't that half-marathon we signed up for sometime this week?"
"Ah, nuts. Shouldn't we have trained for it or something?"
"Probably. Hey, pass the ice cream."

This year sometime in May:
"Hey, honey! Let's sign up for that half-marathon again! We'll totally get in so much shape, we'll run every evening around the harbor, we'll bond, we'll be so awesome!"
"Umm...I think I'm pregnant."
"I'll do it! For the baby!"

This year a week ago:
"Half-marathon's coming up. I totally forgot to train."
"That's alright. Pass the ice cre---"
"I think I'm gonna do it anyways."

So, having run a total of four miles of training in the past two years, my good/crazy husband jumped into a 13.1 mile race and totally ran it. Er...kinda. The point is he finished it! Pretty freaking awesome, right? He's got this way of just bulling into things and attacking them with breathless determination with no regard to fear, failure or (in the case of running 13.1 miles without proper training) personal injury. Not saying that everything should be approached like this, but when it works, it's pretty dang impressive. I think I really like the guy.

Anyways, go him. Go Ms. Lou, too. This post was meant as nothing but a hearty "I salute you" to all those crazy runners out there. I salute you and the poor knees you lost somewhere around mile 12.

At least you got apple crisp, right?

Division of labor

2009-07-08T20:26:00.000-07:00

Tonight, Preston and I sat down at the kitchen table.
"Let's eat ice cream, play Scrabble and watch a movie," says I.
"Nay, we must pay bills," says Preston.
"Sulk, sulk, sulk," I reply.
So while he wrassled the family finances, I let him go at it alone and made a movie about Scrabble instead.

It was successful! All hail Ben and/or Jerry.

Weight Loss Secret #4962 (wait, no...that's my pin #)

2009-05-05T12:16:00.001-07:00

Before I go running, I like to hold my cat and stand on the scale. That way, when I get back from my 60 second sprint and weigh myself again, it looks like I lost 9.3 lbs. It makes me feel really good all day.

Delusions are awesome.

I should get this cat.

Winner!

2009-04-29T07:45:00.000-07:00

And now, to the tune of Seven Seas of Rhye (because I like it better than "Princes of the Universe"):

Congratulations, Geoff! I'll submit your email to the unnamed Highlander gifting lady. Cheryl and Christine...I'm really sorry. But, as we all knew (say it with me) there can be only one.

Thanks for participating!