TheMommyBlog

Saturday, June 14, 2008 Other people who write

Eeeee! An advance review copy of Deja Demon just arrived from my pal and author Julie Kemmer (who has a kick-ass author web site, I might add)!

I am so excited–it’s exactly the sort of escape I need today. The gentle a-thump-a-thump of the clothes dryer in the background, the scree-scree-scree of some unidentified piece of metal scraping along the inside of the drum as it turns, the power tools going incessantly across the street. Ahh, suburbia. At least I don’t have to worry about demons and training my teenage daughter to be an apprentice Demon Hunter. Reporting to the Vatican and all that… I don’t think I could stand the micromanagement or the heart-stopping job requirements.

What is killing me at the moment is not knowing whether I read the third book in the series before I start this fourth. I know I read Carpe Demon, and California Demon, but I don’t know if I read Demons are Forever, because Deja Demon seems to pick up just fine, story-wise. But I am compulsive sort, and I searched five huge bookshelves in my house before deciding to just enjoy the one in my hand. If anything, I could just start all over again. They’re really fun… and sexy. I kid you not.

Oh! I just remembered that at least the first book I read in the series was unbound, on paper, so of course there isn’t a book in the shelves! Man. I wonder where that is. Maybe I should just purchase the collection, ya think? Gah, now I need to go read all the synopses!

Anyway, Julie Kenner is incredibly prolific and entertaining, two things that don’t necessarily go hand in hand. Her books always go straight to the top of my review pile (sorry). You can pre--order book 4 on Amazon now!

Friday, June 13, 2008 Familybits

I’ve been thinking that I haven’t been writing much and putting it down to not having anything new to write about, which is total horsepunky, because 2008 is shaping up to be a lot like 2006.

I’m currently employed, but about to receive my last paycheck for a while. The organization I work for has officially run out of grant funds, and the next grant may be months off. That leave approximately one mortgage-sized hole in my budget.

My car is coughing up blood, but nothing so obvious or serious as to be worked on.

The kids are officially out of school for the summer, and about to start day camp, the day camp that cost a bundle because, hey, I need to be able to work during the day. Ha, ha, yes, I get it.

I wiped out an entire section of this site today, not that you’ve noticed because I quickly unpublished anything broken, but MAN was I mad at myself. Any of these things would normally put me over the edge, but frankly, it’s not like I haven’t been here before. It’s almost cozy, in a surreal way.

Speaking of cozy and surreal, you would not believe what we’ve been looking at while having guacamole and beers as a prelude to Tuscan rib eye. There have been fires in the hills, and it’s messing with the atmosphere something fierce.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008 Familybits

I have not yet mastered the art of not asking people what they think.

Logan was dressing for baseball practice today, and asked as he skidded to a stop in the kitchen, “Is this shirt too small?”

I responded, “Nope. Is this dress too big?” I had on a new summer shift from J.Crew and had been considering throwing away what’s in my closet and just wearing it for the rest of my life. I like it.

Phil asked, “What are you talking about?”

“My dress. It feels a little big. Is it the right size, you think?”

“I don’t know how it’s supposed to look…”

“It’s a dress.”

“It looks like a muu muu.”

[Curtain]

Monday, June 09, 2008 Fun Finds

In honor of Father’s Day, I’m hosting a special sports photography giveaway! The winner will receive an 8x10 matted limited edition photo of their choice from Dick Druckman of Gold Medal Impressions.

Gold Medal Impressions is a great place to get special gifts for the sport-lovers in your life. Over the past two decades, Dick Druckman, founder of Gold Medal Impressions, has created an extensive library of stock sports images and he has one of the largest private collections of olympic images in the world. Also included in his library are numerous other sports images from Major League Baseball, Professional Football, Basketball, Hockey, and Tennis. Some of his most popular shots are include Michael Jordan’s final game in Chicago, Mark McGwire’s 70th home run, Wayne Gretsky’s final face-off in New York, and Pedro Martinez’s record all-star performance in 1999. Recent additions to the website include Michael Jordan returns, Cal Ripkin’s Final Game, Barry Bond’s 73rd Home Run, and numerous collegiate highlights. Also added are galleries for LeBron James, Professional Basketball 2003, and Super Bowl xxxvii.

Dick’s photography is currently on exhibit in numerous countries including the US, China, Japan, Australia, France, Germany, Italy and Canada. Dick’s work has been published in numerous publications including Sports Illustrated and the New York Times.

To win the 8x10 of your choice, simply go to Gold Medal Impressions to choose your print, and leave me a comment with your choice, and your name and email, and why you want this particular print. I will select the winner tomorrow in order to ship before Father’s Day, and will notify him/her via email. The contest is limited to the continental United States.

Sunday, June 08, 2008 Familybits

It’s not worth doing something unless you were doing something that someone, somewere, would much rather you weren’t doing.
–Terry Pratchett